'10 OH RB Erick Howard

[Buckskin86]

Senior defensive end Kevin Johnson, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, helped spearhead a Boardman defense that caused five turnovers ? including four interceptions ? as they held reigning Ohio Mr. Football Erick Howard to just 78 yards on 20 carries and just 55 yards rushing as a team

Boardman’s back: Spartans top Hoover - Sports, Local Sports, High School Football - Vindy.com, The Vindicator

[Buckskin86]

HOWARD CLOSE

Hoover running back and reigning Ohio Mr. Football Erick Howard had a tough time trying to sludge his way through the slop at Boardman on Friday night. The Spartans, led by defensive end J.T. Moore, did a nice job bottling up Howard.

Howard finished with 76 yards, which puts him at 1,051 for the season and tops in Stark County. Against Fitch this week, Howard needs 136 yards to pass E.J. Lilley for second place on the county?s all-time rushing list.

The number Howard is chasing, however, is 152. That?s how many yards he needs to become the county?s all-time leading rusher. That record is held by McKinley graduate and current University of Toledo running back Morgan Williams, who ran for 5,177.

SCORING RECORD WILL FALL

Howard scored Hoover?s only touchdown Friday. That gave him 412 points, putting him in third place just ahead of Williams (408).

Hoover?s Jeff Logan (1970-72) is second (426) on the all-time list, and Northwest?s Scott Weber (2002-05) is the leader with 446 points. Essentially, Howard needs six touchdowns to become the county?s leading scorer, and he has at least four games to do it.

STATE RECORD

Howard?s rushing totals are impressive from a local point of view, but he?s a far cry from setting the state rushing record.

Hoban running back Tyrell Sutton rushed for 9,426 yards from 2001-04. Jason Bainum (Williamsburg) is second with 8,216, and Carlos Snow (CAPE) is third with 7,761 from 1983-86.

If Howard finishes a little better than his season per-game average of 175 yards a game, he would crack the top 20 career rushing leaders in the state. Chad Schulte is 20th with 5,756 yards at Delphos St. John?s from 1995-98.

It should be noted that Robert Smith, the only two-time Mr. Football winner, isn?t among the top 20 career rushers in Ohio history.

Sunday Special: GlenOak turns a corner with win over McKinley - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com

[Drep88]

Originally Posted by Buckskin86

Sunday Special: GlenOak turns a corner with win over McKinley - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com

Should probably post in JT Moore's thread as well. Says a lot about him to help contain Mr Howard. Anyhow, anyone know why the lackluster Rivals profile? Erick Howard - Yahoo! Sports 3 Stars and 36th in the state? Normally I'd say that's great but it has me wondering why with someone who earned Mr Football in his Jr. season. Seems like he still puts up the big numbers in most games and I know the Federal league is no slouch so what gives?

[osuteke]

Sounds like Boardman has a good D. Howard still scored a TD, just saying.

[Buckskin86]

There was nothing secretive about North Canton?s offensive attack. The Fitch defense got a steady diet of 2008 Mr. Football Erick Howard, who rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns to become Stark County?s all-time career rusher. He eclipsed the old mark of 5,177 but Canton McKinley?s Morgan Williams.

Fitch rallies but can’t catch Hoover - Sports, Local Sports, High School Football - Vindy.com, The Vindicator

[FairfaxBuckeye]

Howard sets county rushing mark in Hoover win over Fitch
Chris Beaven
Chris.Beaven@cantonrep.com
Updated: Friday, October 9, 2009

NORTH CANTON Shattering a county record, breaking a school record and being crowned Homecoming King didn?t come close to completing Erick Howard?s night Friday.

The Hoover High School senior wanted something far more important.
?I wanted the win. That?s all I wanted,? Howard said.

One final big run by Howard helped deliver that win ? 31-20 over Fitch ? and complete a memorable night for Ohio?s reigning Mr. Football.

Howard became Stark County?s career rushing leader and Hoover?s career scoring leader in the third quarter, not long after being named Homecoming King at halftime.

?I shouldn?t have won that,? Howard said. ?Luke LePage should?ve been the Homecoming King. I voted for him.?

But there?s little doubt that Howard earned the county?s all-time rushing title. His 222 yards in near-constant rain pushed his career total to 5,248, surpassing the 5,177 by McKinley?s Morgan Williams from 2004-06.

. . .

?He?s a great competitor,? Hertler said of Howard. ?He doesn?t like to lose. If everyone didn?t like to lose like him, we wouldn?t lose on Friday nights.?

Howard sets county rushing mark in Hoover win over Fitch | FridayNightOhio.com

[FairfaxBuckeye]

Hoover stuns McKinley with 2nd-half flurry, 38-34

Chris Beaven
Chris.Beaven@cantonrep.com

Updated: Friday, October 16, 2009

NORTH CANTON They wandered around the locker room with dazed expressions on their faces.

They hugged each other. They shouted encouragement. They laughed a lot.

But the Hoover Vikings did it all with the look of high school football players still trying to soak in what they had just done. And it might take this one awhile to soak in ? erasing a 32-point halftime deficit Saturday to beat McKinley, 38-34, at North Canton Memorial Stadium.
. . .
A euphoric Erick Howard ? who became Stark County?s career scoring leader during the comeback ? looked to longtime assistant coach Dick Gross for the answer.

?What did we do?? Howard asked rhetorically as Gross came over to congratulate him. ?How did we do that??

Gross slapped Howard?s broad shoulders and just smiled.

?Thirty-four to two,? Howard said, referring to McKinley?s halftime lead. ?We just didn?t give up. Wow. Wow. ... I?m in shock.?
. . .
Howard was on his way to a 144-yard third quarter as he played with a heavy wrap around his left hand to protect a hand injury suffered early on.

?Our line came out in the second half just kicked their butts,? said Howard, who finished with 279 yards on 34 carries.

When Hoover got the ball back, Howard ripped off runs of 24 and 36 yards during an 80-yard TD drive. Jordan Witt ended it with an 11-yard TD run through the middle. It was 34-16 with 5 1/2 minutes left in the third.
. . .
Except it wasn?t a rout. Hoover had something else in mind.

?That?s called never dying,? Howard said. ?You go down swinging.?

Hoover stuns McKinley with 2nd-half flurry, 38-34 | FridayNightOhio.com

[FairfaxBuckeye]

Defensive scores lift GlenOak past Hoover, 13-9

Chris Beaven
Chris.Beaven@cantonrep.com
Updated: Saturday, October 24, 2009

PLAIN TWP. Not much made sense Friday night at Bob Commings Field.
With first place in the Federal League on the line, the GlenOak and Hoover high school football teams kept things as unpredictable as the weather. Momentum shifts on the field happened as suddenly as rainstorms started and stopped all night.

So it was only appropriate GlenOak?s defense struck twice out of nowhere with long touchdown returns to take away a 13-9 win on a night of bizarre twists and turns.

. . .

Friday, led by Erick Howard?s 183 yards, the Vikings outgained the Eagles, 258-129. But it wasn?t enough

. . .

Defensive scores lift GlenOak past Hoover, 13-9 | FridayNightOhio.com

[Buckskin86]

HOWARD IS STRONG

Hoover running back Erick Howard played a phenomenal game against GlenOak on Friday night in the rain. Howard appeared to be injured early in the fourth quarter when GlenOak?s Zach Rinehart blew a Hoover offensive line into the backfield and Howard was undercut by his own teammate.

Hoover head coach Don Hertler Jr. said Howard was fine, though the senior had a bit of a limp.

But to give you an idea of how the kid gets stronger and plays with pain, Howard carried the ball six times for 63 yards after that hit.

?He?s tough,? said Golden Eagle linebacker Spyro Spondyl, whose 93-yard fumble return tied the game at 6. ?Him and Jim Luther (Lake) are the toughest backs I?ve went against. I respect him greatly.?

GlenOak defenders said they ached from tackling Howard for four quarters. Defensive back Brandon Martin, who gave up about 50 pounds to Howard, said Howard is a beast.

?When he gets to high stepping ... and his pads are low, wow,? Martin said. ?He runs how a running back should run.?

Andrew Garman, who probably had more collisions with Howard than any GlenOak defender, said his shoulders hurt.

?It takes a toll on your body after four quarters,? Garman said. ?You start to feel it. I understand why he?s All-Ohio.?

Sunday Special: Is Cinncinati the new state power in college football? - Canton, OH - CantonRep.com

[FairfaxBuckeye]

Hoover preps for playoffs with win over Jackson
Mike Popovich

Mike.Popovich@cantonrep.com
Updated: Friday, October 30, 2009

NORTH CANTON The definitive word didn?t come their way until later Friday night.

Earlier, the Hoover Vikings went out and took care of business. It?s a prerequisite for high school football teams who aspire to be in the playoffs.
. . .
Running back Erick Howard was very productive once again. Ohio?s reigning Mr. Football rushed for a game-high 205 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns. He left to a standing ovation with five minutes left in the final home game of his career.
. . .

Hoover preps for playoffs with win over Jackson | FridayNightOhio.com

[wadc45]

Division I football playoff preview - cleveland.com

IMPACT PLAYERS

Erick Howard, North Canton Hoover: The 2008 Ohio Mr. Football winner is among state leaders with 1,957 yards rushing and 26 TDs, which is 400 yards and five TDs fewer than last season.

[docdarrah]

Howard's numbers after 10 games are actually higher than last years. If Hoover makes another run to the state semi's, it will be because of Howard, meaning he could easily hit 2,500 yards this season. That is an impressive encore to a Mr. Football campaign. The beauty about Howard is, he doesn't care about the stats. He celebrates far more when a kid who doesn't get to play much scores than he ever has for his own touchdowns. Also, he could demand to play offense only in order to stay fresh, but plays defense, kickoff, kick return, punt, and punt return. The only team he doesn't play on is the field goal team. Hoover does not have great depth, and he knows they need him everywhere to win. That is part of the reason Hoover has done so well these past few years as a very undersized D1 public school. Those guys love each other and would do anything for each other, and that starts with their leader, Howard. If he doesn't go to Ohio State, I hope he goes to Akron U so I can watch him play another four years, although, I know he will end up at a much better football school than the Zips.

Also, someone asked about Rivals rankings recently. They are a joke. They don't even have Howard's stats right from last year. If they can't find the correct stats for the reigning Mr. Football in the state of Ohio, I have a hard time believing that they put much effort into anything they do.

[Buckskin86]

Ohio running back in the picture

With running backs Caulton Ray and Andre Anderson no longer on the active roster, Michigan State is looking to add a top-flight ball carrier to the class of 2010. One player that is getting a serious look is Erick Howard (North Canton Hoover, Ohio).

Howard is the reigning Mr. Football in Ohio. This year he has rushed for 1,975 yards 29 touchdowns. He has done this despite teams stacking the line of scrimmage to stop him. Howard currently holds scholarship offers from over a dozen schools, including BCS programs like Cincinnati, Illinois and Colorado.

Michigan State and Ohio State are both taking a close look at Howard and are waiting to see his academic progress before they extend a scholarship offer. Howard camped at Michigan State this summer and was one of the top performers there.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Howard could be the top option at running back for Michigan State due to the fact that Georgia's Storm Johnson is now off the board. Johnson, who officially visited Michigan State the weekend of the Michigan game, verbally committed to Miami (FL) late last week.

Howard plans on setting up his official visits as soon as his senior season comes to a close. Rivals.com rates Howard a three-star running back and the 43rd best prospect in the Buckeye State for the class of 2010.

New target emerges for MSU | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

[pnuts34]

I would really hate if this kid got away, even with Smith on board and the wealth of RBs we should have next year. This kid just seems like that RB that could really help our offense go, and we could go back to the power I at times and pound teams. It'd really suck to see him leave for MSU or especially any other Big ten team

[osubartender23]

Originally Posted by pnuts34

I would really hate if this kid got away, even with Smith on board and the wealth of RBs we should have next year. This kid just seems like that RB that could really help our offense go, and we could go back to the power I at times and pound teams. It'd really suck to see him leave for MSU or especially any other Big ten team

I agree. Although I am not necessarily sure how you would fit Smith, Hyde and Howard all in the same class. With the Rb's we have returning I dont think 3 would be necessarily doable. I could be wrong though.