Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2009
One seam in the middle of the line, an open lane around the outside.
If Hoover’s Erick Howard or McKinley’s Bryce Wilder see that little bit of running room Friday night, look out. It could change the game and perhaps the course of their team’s season.
Hoover and McKinley — led by their senior tailbacks — meet Friday night at 7:30 in a key Federal League game at North Canton Memorial Stadium. The Vikings (5-2, 3-1) are looking to stay in contention for a third straight league title while trying to nail down another playoff spot. McKinley’s hopes of a league crown are slim, but a win goes a long way to helping the Bulldogs (4-3, 3-2) get back into the postseason hunt.
“It should be a great football game because it’s their strength vs. our strength,” Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. said.
Each team’s biggest strength is found in the backfield. Howard and Wilder rank 1-2 in rushing this season in Stark County. Howard has 1,291 yards, and Wilder has 1,087 yards.
Howard became the county’s all-time leading rusher last week, pushing his career total to 5,266 yards. He is two touchdowns shy of becoming the county leader for career points, too.
“He keeps you in every game,” McKinley head coach Ron Johnson said of Howard, who also stands out at linebacker and on kick returns. “As long as he’s on the field, you’re never out of the football game.”
Howard averages 28 carries a game and has reached 40 carries twice. Despite that heavy workload, he’s a guy who rarely puts the ball on the ground.
“I think he respects the football, which is the first thing I put a premium on as a running back guy,” said Johnson, who coached several elite tailbacks at Miami University.
Wilder doesn’t have the career numbers that Howard does. This is his first season as a full-time starter as a featured back. But he’s making the most of it, having eclipsed 200 yards three times.
Wilder’s 297 yards at Lake in Week 3 is tied for the fourth-best performance in McKinley history. Last week’s 283 yards at Perry ranks sixth all-time.
“He’s very explosive,” Hertler said. “Any time he touches the ball, whether by run or pass or special teams, he can take it all the way. We have to do a great job playing team defense and be solid in our kicking game to try and contain him.”
Both backs have the requisite speed to be breakaway threats.
At 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Howard has a raw power seldom seen at the high school level. He routinely runs through two, three and four defenders. Howard has rushed for at least 235 yards in four of his last five games, including 240 last week.
“Anybody that can have all eyes on him at all times and still produce the way he has, it speaks volumes about this ability level and resolve,” Johnson said. “And they do an awfully good job up front. That’s the key to any running back is the ability to get started. He’s blessed with having a really good offensive line, then once he gets a step on somebody, he’s a strong and physical runner.”
At 5-9, 167 pounds, Wilder relies more on quickness.
“He can definitely make you miss,” Hertler said.
But Wilder, too, does not go down easily. Run after run, he’s proven an ability to break tackles with a relentless leg drive to push a pile or shred arm tackles.
“Bryce is a very strong runner,” Johnson said.
Wilder also benefits from something else, a partner in the backfield to share the workload. Elijah Farrakhan has produced two 100-yard games and has gained 473 yards.
“Farrakhan can break it at any time, too,” Hertler said.
Johnson is able to avoid overworking Wilder, who averages 18.6 carries a game. Farrakhan gets 11.4 carries per game.
“The fact that we can throw two guys at you really helps us,” Johnson said.
Those two Bulldogs lead what Hertler considers “the most athletic team” his Vikings have seen.
“They’re definitely a big-play offense,” Hertler said. “Any time they run an offensive snap, it can be a touchdown.”
