Lake High School Football Dominates North Canton Hoover 28-0 in Playoff Showdown

HARTVILLE — The Lake High School football team showcased a powerful performance in their playoff game against North Canton Hoover, winning decisively by a score of 28-0. The match, part of the Division II, Region 5 first round, emphasized the team’s tough, physical style of play, with senior Charlie Christopher playing a pivotal role in the victory.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker/running back described the team’s approach with the phrase “smashmouth football.” Christopher was indeed a force to be reckoned with, rushing for 96 yards and scoring three touchdowns on just 14 carries. He didn’t just shine on the offensive side; Christopher also tallied a team-high 10 tackles and contributed one of four critical interceptions by the Blue Streaks.

Lake, entering the game as the No. 7 seed with a record of 7-4, was strong on both offense and defense. The team rushed for a staggering total of 319 yards, following an impressive 491-yard rushing game just a week prior. Operating primarily out of the Wildcat formation, junior Davis Matson put up an impressive 120 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore quarterback Ty DeGeorge added another 96 yards and threw for 22 yards on five completions.

The Blue Streaks’ offensive line, consisting of players like Cohen Stull and Tommy Lombardi, made it exceptionally hard for Hoover’s defense to keep up. In total, Lake’s rushing attack consistently gained yards, pushing through the defense and keeping their own defense rested.

Defensively, Lake was relentless. In addition to Christopher’s interception, senior Ethan Hunt nabbed two picks, while junior linebacker Kyle Hammer’s interception directly led to a touchdown. The defense registered its fourth shutout of the season against a struggling Hoover offense, which managed just 133 yards over the course of the game.

The Vikings had higher hopes but faced a tough end to their season, finishing with a record of 6-5. They were unable to find any rhythm after losing star player Zac Braucher early in the season to a knee injury. However, head coach Brian Baum expressed pride in his team’s resilience throughout the year, emphasizing their “next-man-up mentality.”

Now, with their solid performance, Lake High moves on to the next round, preparing to face the No. 2 seed Hoban next week.