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10-19-2005, 05:36 PM
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Canton McKinley Bulldogs
CANTON MCKINLEY
"Bulldogs"
10/19/05
Williams had 183 yards and two touchdowns this past weekend in a 38-10 win.
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Last edited by OSUBasketballJunkie; 10-20-2005 at 08:23 PM.
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10-20-2005, 12:49 PM
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Why so serious?
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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10/20/05
Quote:
Looking past Hoover could ruin Bulldogs’ season on two fronts
Thursday, October 20, 2005 By Chris Beaven Repository sports writer
CANTON - Anyone remotely associated with the McKinley High School football team knows what comes next week.
It’s Massillon Week.
It’s a week that all McKinley fans anticipate each season.
McKinley head coach Brian Cross understands that building excitement. But he will have none of it around his unbeaten team this week.
For players and coaches, the focus will be the North Canton Hoover Vikings, a team that easily could spoil McKinley’s season. The two teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at North Canton Memorial Stadium.
“It’s got to be a concern of ours, with everybody talking about Game 10,” Cross said. “If the kids start to listen, it will be a serious problem. We have a very solid opponent in North Canton Hoover, and they’ll be extra hungry, too. A win will get them a share of the Federal League championship and probably assure them a place in the playoffs.
“I’m sure they’re preaching to their players, ‘McKinley’s not going to be thinking about you. They’re thinking about their next game. It’s the perfect situation for us.’ ”
North Canton head coach Don Hertler Jr. wants to see his team respond well to being upset 35-21 last week at Perry.
“You find out what you’re made of as a team when you come off a loss by how you play the next week,” Hertler said. “Hopefully we’ll compete and play hard.”
Cross doesn’t think it should be difficult for his 8-0 Bulldogs to keep their attention locked on this week’s game. With a win, McKinley completes a 7-0 run through the Federal League. The Bulldogs already clinched at least a share of the title last week when they beat Jackson 38-10 and North Canton (6-2, 4-1) lost.
McKinley has not won a league title since sharing one in 1977 when it competed in the All-American Conference. Its last outright title was in 1975. The All-American Conference disbanded after the 1979 season. McKinley was an independent until joining the Federal League last season.
“It’s definitely something we’ve talked about,” Cross said. “We’ve never been Federal League champs, and we have a chance to be outright ... champs. That’s what we want. And it puts us in better position in the playoffs, as far as trying to secure a top-four payoff spot for a home game.”
McKinley is fourth in Region 2, while North Canton is 10th. The top eight make the playoffs, and the top four get first-round home games.
“We look at this week as it’s a (league) championship game, and it increases our chances of hosting a playoff game,” Cross said. “And getting a home game, that’s critical when you look at some of the other teams in the region. You’ve got Toledo St. John’s, Findlay, Elyria. There’s some travel.”
North Canton had won four straight games before the loss at Perry. Hertler does not think his team got caught looking ahead to McKinley.
“We just got beat,” he said. “Perry was really well prepared and made some plays where we didn’t. They just played a very good game. In this league you can’t look at records. The majority of us have the same type of kids. They played better than us that night.”
Hertler thought his Vikings were not as physical as they had been in previous games.
“We’ve been winning close games, and (against Perry) we just didn’t respond like we had,” Hertler said.
Hertler knows his team has little margin for error Friday.
“They’re just so fast and ... physical,” he said of the Bulldogs. “Jackson gave them the best game in the league, and that was still a wide margin. ... There’s a reason why they’re (fourth) in Ohio, and they were in the state finals last year.
“They’ve got good players, they’re well coached, and they are so explosive. Offensively, no one’s really stopped them. We’ve just got to play a really good football game.”
Cross said North Canton’s 5-3 defense will be a challenge for his offense, which has not seen that defensive look.
“They’re going to come after you on defense,” Cross said. “And on offense, just the balance of their running and throwing of the ball is a concern. Any time a team can throw the football, that creates problems for you. And they can beat you by running the ball.” Reach Repository sports writer Chris Beaven at (330) 580-8345 or e-mail: chris.beaven@cantonrep.com
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10-20-2005, 12:52 PM
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Why so serious?
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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10/20/05
Quote:
McKinley at Hoover
SITE North Canton Memorial Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
RECORDS McKinley 8-0, 6-0; Hoover 6-2, 4-1.
LAST WEEK McKinley 38, Jackson 10; Perry 35, Hoover 21.
LAST MEETING McKinley won 49-14 last year.
WHAT TO WATCH McKinley can lock up an outright Federal League title in its second year in the league with a win. The Bulldogs will need to bring the same intensity to this road game that they came with to Jackson last week. McKinley coach Brian Cross said Hoover is tough to prepare for because of its offensive versatility. “They almost have two offensive sets,” Cross said. “In one they come out and run the ball at you, and in another it’s one back or no back, and they throw the ball all over.” Cross said his defense must be prepared for both looks. “They do both of them well,” Cross said. Hoover QB Josh Nettleton has completed 52.4 percent of his passes for 1,212 yards with 14 TDs and 12 interceptions. Cross said Nettleton is “very sound, he’s making good choices, and he throws a nice ball.” Four Vikings have 11 or more catches, led by Kyle Feinberg (35 for 369) and Matt Wakulchik (24 for 353). Those two have combined for nine TD catches. The Vikings average 101.8 yards rushing per game. Hoover’s 5-3 defense will be a new look for the Bulldogs. “It’s an eight-man front we don’t see all year long, and it changes your blocking schemes,” Cross said. McKinley’s offensive line is coming off a strong performance that enabled the Bulldogs to rush for 296 yards last week. Junior TB Morgan Williams averages 170.8 yards per game. The Bulldogs also are getting good productivity from FBs Mike Kirksey and Demetres Hall. The running game opens the play-action passing combination of QB Dan Grimsley to WR Joe Morgan. Morgan has a TD catch in all seven games he has played. McKinley has 19 offensive scores (24 overall) of 30 or more yards. “They’ve got a great running game and all of their backs, including the quarterback, can take it all the way on every snap,” Hoover coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “And with their vertical passing game, and even their short passing game, they can catch it and go all the way every time. Their stats speak for themselves.” McKinley’s defense scored its third TD of the season when D.C. Alexander went 98 yards with a fumble return last week. Senior DB Harriel Moore forced that fumble and intercepted a pass that led to another Bulldog TD. McKinley’s defense has limited opponents to 173 or fewer total yards five times this season, including the last three games. “Defensively, they’re fairly basic,” Hertler said. “They just line up and come at you, and their closing speed is really, really good.”
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10-22-2005, 09:25 AM
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Why so serious?
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Join Date: Apr 2004
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10/22/05
Quote:
McKinley blasts North Canton 39-10
Saturday, October 22, 2005 By CHRIS BEAVEN
Click here to see more
repository bob rossiter McKinley’s Joe Morgan (27) couldn’t quite reach this pass in the end zone as Hoover’s Seth Allman defends during Friday’s game at North Canton. The Bulldogs are 9-0 for the first time since 1997.
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NORTH CANTON - The yards add up quickly once Morgan Williams gets going.
They added up so fast Friday night that his final total surprised even Williams. The junior tied a school record with 335 yards rushing, leading the McKinley High School football team to a 39-10 win at North Canton.
The win completes McKinley’s 7-0 run through the Federal League. It also allows the Bulldogs to take a 9-0 record into next Saturday’s showdown with Massillon, also 9-0. It will be the first time in 41 years both enter the Week 10 matchup 9-0.
“It’s real big to win like this as we get ready for what’s next,” McKinley head coach Brian Cross said.
All nine wins have come by at least 21 points for McKinley, ranked No. 4 in the state in Division I.
Friday’s game was close for two quarters before McKinley broke away. Williams gained 154 yards in the third quarter alone, when the Bulldogs outscored the Vikings, 17-0.
When told he tied Ryan Brinson’s year-old single-game rushing record, Williams offered a surprised, “I did?”
Williams ran the ball 27 times and scored four touchdowns, including runs of 67 and 65 yards in the first half. He becomes just the second Bulldog to eclipse 300 yards.
“It didn’t even feel like a 300-yard game,” Williams said. “I knew I had a lot, but I didn’t think it was that many.”
Williams did know his line gave him huge holes.
“They did a great job, the best they’ve done all year,” he said. “And they’re going to get better.”
Williams had 225 yards before he keyed a 93-yard TD drive in the third quarter. Eight of the 11 plays belonged to Williams, who gained 67 yards.
“I told the guys in the huddle, ‘Let’s keep it going, put it in the end zone and put this game away,’ ” Williams said.
He scored from 10 yards out, taking a handoff to the left and cutting it back to the right with 3:10 left in the third.
A quick defensive stop and a short punt got the Bulldogs the ball back with 1:41 left in the third — plenty of time for Willams. He went for 15 yards on second down, setting up his 30-yard TD on the next play.
What was just a 19-10 lead was now 33-10 and growing.
“Their linemen are good and their back’s good,” North Canton head coach Don Hertler Jr. said. “We couldn’t do anything more to take it away from them. Their X’s are just better than our O’s. ... we got a little better tonight, but we’re still not where we need to be. ”
Cross rested Williams the entire fourth quarter. And midway through the quarter the offensive line joined him. Tackles Zach Slagle and Jarrid Haywood, guards Tyrell McDonald and Anthony Robinson and center Drew McIntyre left en masse to an ovation.
“It was a salute to our to the offensive line,” Cross said. “I’ve been on them all year, on them hard. But they’ve worked hard and so have their coaches (Lynn Wafler and Gary Shier).”
The first half was more of a struggle. The Bulldogs, with Massillon on the horizon, lacked focus at times. They had special teams breakdowns and some foolish penalties.
And the Vikings came to play.
“I knew coming in we would have a tough time,” Cross said. “... They’re so well-coached, and they did some things that made it difficult.”
North Canton’s Kyle Feinberg returned the opening kick 54 yards to set up Alex Bojko’s 32-yard field goal.
McKinley went into quick-strike mode to answer. Williams ran through a huge hole to his left on his way to a 67-yard TD. Zack Campbell’s PAT made the score 7-3 with 7:36 left in the first quarter.
A Mark Jackson interception a minute later led to a 31-yard field goal by Campbell.
The Vikings tied the game at 10 when Scott Gnau scored on a 20-yard pass from Josh Nettleton late in the half.
Again, the Bulldogs answered in a hurry. On their second play of the ensuing possession, Williams dashed 65 yards for a score through the right side on a counter. The Bulldogs missed the PAT, leaving their lead at 16-10.
Campbell’s 39-yard field goal early in the third quarter increased the lead to 19-10 before Williams took over and McKinley pulled away. Reach Repository sports writer Chris Beaven at (330) 580-8345 or e-mail: chris.beaven@cantonrep.com
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10-26-2005, 02:47 PM
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Why so serious?
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 30,276
Points: 238,230.39
Bank: 15,143.41
Total Points: 253,373.80
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10/26/05
Quote:
Countdown to McKinley-Massillon: McKinley’s Williams attacks Pups’ record book
Wednesday, October 26, 2005 By Chris Beaven Repository sports writer
Repository Ray Stewart RECORD RUNNER McKinley High School junior tailback Morgan Williams continues to make his mark in the school’s football record book with his 2005 performance.
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Bulldogs her team since 1942
CANTON - A big play never seems too far away when Morgan Williams gets the football.
Give the McKinley High School junior tailback room to run and the highlight reel begins to roll. He can run through, by or spin away from defenders, maybe dragging them for a few extra yards.
McKinley fans saw this show last year from Ryan Brinson. They are getting a sequel this season from Williams, who has helped McKinley to a 9-0 record.
“I’ve just ... tried to run the best I could,” Williams said.
His best has produced 1,701 yards on 146 carries with 22 touchdowns. Fourteen of his TDs have come on plays 30 yards or longer.
When McKinley meets Massillon at 2 p.m. Saturday at Fawcett Stadium, Williams will be the Bulldogs’ go-to guy.
Brinson played that role last year, rewriting McKinley’s record book. He graduated with career, single-season and single-game rushing records.
Over the course of nine games, Williams has left his own mark. His yardage total this season is second all-time at McKinley only to Brinson’s 2,405 a year ago. Williams tied Brinson’s single-game record of 335 yards last week at Hoover.
“I tried not to think about (replacing Brinson),” Williams said. “... I’ve tried to come in and play the best I can.”
Williams called it “an honor” to have his name already in the McKinley record book. “It won’t hit me until after the season’s over.”
Williams did have jitters in the team’s only scrimmage against Strongsville. But once the season began, the jitters were gone.
Williams gained 178 yards and scored four TDs on 12 carries in his first start, a 49-20 romp over Toledo Start. He had a 90-yard TD run.
More long TD runs have followed: 49 yards vs. Waterdown, 82 and 60 vs. Lake, 74 vs. GlenOak, 80 vs. Fitch, 67 vs. Boardman, and 67 and 65 vs. North Canton. He also has a 91-yard kickoff return and a 44-yard punt return for scores.
Williams has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game, averaging 189.0 yards.
“Really it’s all about the linemen and the job they’re doing,” Williams said.
McKinley’s line features tackles Jarrid Haywood and Zach Slagle, guards Anthony Robinson and Tyrell McDonald, center Drew McIntyre and tight end Dejuan Dickerson.
McKinley head coach Brian Cross said the line along with Williams and the coaches have grown together in the team’s zone-blocking scheme.
“It’s kind of new to our staff,” Cross said. “We ran it a little last year, but we’ve gotten more involved with it this year. It takes a lot of coaching ... a lot of repetition. The back has to read (the holes). Morgan is getting better and better at reading when to cut back and when to read the seam.”
The line play and outstanding downfield blocking by receivers Joe Morgan and Mark Jackson key the long runs.
And so does the all-around talent of Williams.
“He’s bigger than you think, stronger than you think, and he’s got good speed, not great speed,” Cross said. “He runs as fast as he has to.”
Williams has long strides, which creates the illusion of him not running as fast as others. At 5-foot-11, 187 pounds, Williams is not a physically imposing back.
“You come up and hit him,” Cross said, “and you’ll find out he’s tough to bring down.”
Williams learned from Brinson last season, watching him break long runs by running through designed seams and by finding cutback lanes.
He also saw how a run should be finished, with the ballcarrier delivering the blow.
“I don’t think anyone was better than Ryan Brinson at the end of the run,” Cross said. “He punished you. Morgan’s becoming that type of kid, too.”
Williams showed flashes of his ability last season. He returned kicks, saw limited action at defensive back and gained 313 yards on 49 carries, with a 97-yard TD vs. Perry.
“I got the feel for the varsity experience, the speed of the game,” Williams said. “It helped a lot.”
So did his experiences last season on the basketball team. He played significant minutes as a backup on a 26-1 team that won the Division I state title. “I know it’s possible,” Williams said, “to win a state championship if everybody is dedicated to doing it.” Reach Repository sports writer Chris Beaven at (330) 580-8345 or e-mail: chris.beaven@cantonrep.com
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10-27-2005, 02:19 PM
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Why so serious?
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 30,276
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Total Points: 253,373.80
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