NORTH CANTON By no means is making the state semifinals such an easy task.

Hoover High School’s football team did it while also playing with heavy hearts.

This has not been an easy playoff season for the Vikings. They had to come from behind to beat Massillon and Twinsburg in their first two games. Saturday’s Division I regional final rematch against GlenOak remained too close to call until Erick Howard’s touchdown run with 31 seconds left sealed the 14-0 win.

Off the field, the Vikings have rallied around a teammate and team staff member.

Receiver Greg Beck’s stepfather died after suffering a heart attack at the Massillon game. Tim Kidder, the team’s assistant equipment manager, lost his wife a few weeks ago after she suffered a stroke.

“We’ve had a lot of quiet adversity here,” Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “Our guys just keep pluggin’.”

Beck battled through the heartache he has endured to a couple of big catches in the win over the Golden Eagles. He caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brett Tulodzieski midway through the third quarter which opened the scoring. He also hauled in a 42-yard pass from Tulodzieski late in the first half.

“For him to come up with two big plays was huge,” Hertler said.

Playing for other family members who are grieving the loss of his stepfather fuels Beck.

“It’s been a big deal,” Beck said. “It’s just different without him in my life now. This has been really hard on my mom and my family. It’s been great to play for them, especially my mom.”

ALL FOR ONE

The GlenOak victory helped salve the wounds the Vikings suffered last season when they lost to Brunswick in a regional final.

That defeat also ended the high school careers of many talented players. They came out in full force Saturday.

“All those guys, the senior class from last year were here,” Tulodzieski said. “It was great to see them supporting us.”

HARD TO BELIEVE

Cleveland St. Ignatius, Hoover’s opponent Saturday at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, has not made it to the state semifinals since 2001.

That completed a stretch of 12 final four appearances in 14 seasons for the Wildcats. They won all nine of their state titles during that period.

BREAKING NEW GROUND

The Vikings set a single-season school record by winning their 12th game Saturday.

The old mark of 11 wins was shared by the 1984, 1986, 2001 and 2003 teams.