Green vs. Hoover: Key Players and Strategies in Federal League Opener
Both teams face key injuries as Green visits Hoover to kick off Federal League play. Here’s what to watch for at 7:00 p.m. this Friday at North Canton Memorial Stadium.
Key players are sidelined on both teams as Green travels to Hoover this Friday to start Federal League play. With talents missing, players will need to step up for both the Bulldogs and Vikings.
Here’s everything you need to know and what to expect when the game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. at North Canton Memorial Stadium.
Hoover’s Newfound Backfield Enable Power on the Ground; Defensive Star and Veteran Coordinator Ready for the Vikings
Hoover will see relatively new quarterback play against Green after junior receiver John Collins stepped up at QB for an injured Zac Braucher in week three. Braucher, a senior, transitioned to play QB for Hoover this year after a short stint at the position in 2023; his time taking snaps last year was due to, coincidentally, another injured quarterback.
As a result, head coach Brian Baum’s Vikings will most likely play with a more grounded gameplan. Senior AJ Dolph has been Hoover’s go-to guide for consistent rushing yards. Against Buchtel in week one, Dolph had already amassed 11 carries for 93 yards on the ground at halftime. He currently has 279 total yards and three touchdowns rushing.
Senior linebacker Cole Rembielak took on the starting middle linebacker position last year, where he led the Vikings with 107 tackles and 13 tackles-for-loss. Additionally, he emerged as one of the top punters in the area, averaging about 40 yards per punt. Currently, Rembielak has 11 tackles-for-loss through three weeks of the 2024 season.
Veteran Hoover assistant coach Doug Burwell has made a return to the varsity sidelines as the Vikings' defensive coordinator.
How Green’s Adjustments Shape Their Federal League Opener
As head coach Mark Geis says, despite their first Federal League game being on Friday, Green started their conference play the Saturday after defeating Tallmadge 14-6.
“It’s definitely a mental adjustment. ‘Cause we know regardless of who you play non-league, when you get into Federal League the level of physicality is definitely a step up.” Geis said.
Green stumbled in their first offensive and defensive drives against Tallmadge, where they let up a 96-yard receiving touchdown that put their opponents up by six after a failed two point conversion. The Bulldogs quickly regained control, though; senior Anthony Fortunato returned a punt from deep inside Tallmadge territory to put Green on the board first. Junior running back and safety Anthony McMichael III, who’s split rushing reps with fellow junior Evan Reed, won the game for Green on a 29-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Reed had 82 yards rushing against Tallmadge.
For the injury-bugged Bulldogs, coach Geis’s philosophy has remained the same throughout the season.
“It’s always a next man up mentality, [especially in] the sport of football. At the drop of a hat someone could get hurt, and that next person always has to be prepared.” Geis said.
Senior Wyatt Knowlton, who had stepped into a lineman position the first two weeks, filled in for an injured all-Ohio linebacker AJ Fortunato against Tallmadge. Junior Anthony Swank also filled in as an inside linebacker for Green. Expect to see both of them again on Friday.
“We’re definitely preparing those same guys we prepared last week in the case of some of those injuries, and whether the injury bug is nice to us or not, we’ve got to make sure the next guy’s up and ready to go.” Geis said.
Junior QB Tyson Hunka had 10 completions in 22 pass attempts last Friday. There’s no denying that Hunka has a talented arm, but it’s his quick and elusive feet that make him stand out amongst a long list of Federal League talent; against Tallmadge, he had 17 rushing attempts for 69 total yards.
Hunka’s two main targets this week will be the senior receivers Anthony Fortunato and Kaden Gregory. Fortunato had four targets on top of his punt return touchdown. Gregory had five targets and 68 receiving yards.
Possibilities and Outlook for the Bulldogs and Vikings
Hoover will likely focus on a run-heavy offense, using power running schemes with AJ Dolph to control the clock and limit passing risks. Defensively, they’ll stack the box and play gap control to contain Green’s rushing attack, while mixing in zone coverages to defend against Tyson Hunka’s deep receiver core. Green, on the other hand, will utilize inside zone runs and RPOs to keep Hoover’s defense off balance. On defense, Green will most likely play a base 4-3 or nickel package, focusing on run fits to stop Dolph and using blitz packages to pressure Hoover’s new-look pocket.
The outcome will come down to which team controls the line of scrimmage and makes fewer mistakes under pressure. This matchup could be decided by who executes better in critical moments.
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Veteran sportswriter Mike Popovich and I are doing a special The Letter Podcast live from North Canton prior to Friday’s game between Green and Hoover with guest appearances from former Green basketball head coach Mark Kinsley, Hoover athletic director Larry Kinnard, and legendary Hoover softball and baseball coach Jeff Hite. you can tune in beginning at 4:30 p.m. by clicking on this link or the image above.