GREEN — The Hoover Vikings, off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2016, played the Green Bulldogs in a Federal League opener Friday, Sept. 12.

Green, coming off a 42-7 rout of Tallmadge, was looking to even its record after two narrow losses to open the season, including a 28-21 loss to defending Division IV state champion Indian Valley.

Brian Baum’s Vikings used a strong first half to defeat Green 27-21 to stay unbeaten.

Here’s how the game unfolded through our live updates.

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FINAL: Hoover 27, Green 21

The Vikings are 4-0 after opening Federal League play with a harrowing road win.

Hoover led 21-0 and looked unstoppable behind senior quarterback John Collins, but then the Vikings lost a captain to an ejection, and couldn’t stop scrambling Bulldog quarterback Tyson Hunka.

In a fourth-quarter flurry that had a big crowd screaming, Hoover scored but missed an extra point, gave up a quick drive that cut it to a six-point game, then saw Green recover an onside kick and reach the 2 before time rank out.

Green drops to 1-3. It’s Hoover’s first win over Green since 2022, snapping the Bulldogs’ three-game winning streak over the Vikings.

The Bulldogs scored a late TD to get within six points and recovered an onside kick before the Vikings hung on.

Hoover strikes back with long touchdown pass to Brycen Beyer

Green made it tense by pulling to within 21-14 with 11 minutes left, but Hoover pulled away on a 65-yard touchdown catch and run over the middle from to senior Brycen Beyer. Hoover leads 27-14, as Green has only seven minutes to try to score two touchdowns.

Quarterback Hunka pulls Green into one-possession game with Hoover

Down 21-0 early, Green pulled to within 21-14 with 11 minutes left in the game.

Quarterback Tyson Hunka scrambled and hit Caden Worner for a 25-yard touchdown that closed Hoover’s lead to 21-14.

Hoover loses linebacker Chase Lukens to ejection

Green caught a break when a wide-open bomb that could have made it a 28-7 game was dropped. Hoover had to punt, putting Green in position to drive and make it a one-possession battle.

Quarterback Tyson Hunka soon scrambled for a chunk gain, but two dropped passes on potential long gains got Hoover off the hook.

Green’s defense was strong against Tallmadge, and bowed up. Hoover acted as if it was going for it on fourth and 1 from its own 35 but punted.

Green was backed up inside the 10 after a penalty, but Hoover lost one of its top players, linebacker Chase Lukens, on a personal foul with 5:17 left in the third quarter.

Green throws counterpunch behind QB Tyson Hunka

In danger of getting blown out before the half was out, Green responded with a touchdown drive featuring Anthony McMichael III runs and improv from 5-foot-9 senior quarterback Tyson Hunka.

On a 30-yard touchdown pass to senior Evan Georgiou,  Hunka maneuvered in the pocket and put the ball right in Giorgiou’s hands at the goal stripe. It was 21-7 with five minutes left in the half.

John Collins stirs Hoover offense running and passing

The run-pass threat of Hoover senior John Collins came into play as the Vikings surged ahead 21-0 midway through the second quarter.

Green’s bid to force a punt ended when Collins weaved 30 yards on a broken play. That set up a 13-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Jack Andes, who also scored the first two Viking TDs.

Fast Jack Andes adds a TD, same length as the first, for Hoover

Hoover drove again after its defense forced a punt. On third and long, Jack Andes, Hoover’s deep-threat receiver, ran a sweep, sped around the corner, and scored his second TD from 25 yards out. It was 14-0 with 1:09 left in the first quarter.

Hoover drove again after its defense forced a punt. On third and long, Jack Andes, Hoover’s deep-threat receiver, ran a sweep, sped around the corner, and scored his second TD from 25 yards out. It was 14-0 with 1:09 left in the first quarter.

Hoover takes early football lead on Green behind QB John Collins

Green ran and ran some more after the opening kickoff, getting inside the Hoover 35 before QB Tyson Hunka threw his first pass, a fourth-down interception that actually helped the Bulldogs. Hoover would have taken over on downs 20 yards in better shape on an incompletion.

Hoover drove with help from a long scramble by quarterback John Collins, who finished the job with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jack Andes on third and seven. Andes caught the ball at the goal stripe for his fifth TD on the year.

Moment of silence observed for Dylan Channell

The stadium grew completely quiet when a moment of silence was asked to honor the memory of Dylan Channell, a Green High School student who died in a car crash Sunday.

Who were game captains for Hoover-Green football game?

Twenty-five minutes before kickoff, Green sent out seniors Evan Georgiou, Anthony McMichael III, Evan Reed and Zain Alqadhi as game captains along with quarterback Tyson Hunka. Joining them for the coin toss were Hoover’s Jack Andes, Aidan Kish and Carter Lukens, surrounding quarterback John Collins.

The City of Green, population 27,475 in the 2020 census, is larger than that of North Canton’s 17,842, but that is because the Green school district is one big blob in the same city, whereas Hoover takes in Greentown and other areas.

Hoover’s roster is noticeably larger than the 46 on the Green sheet, which could be a factor in depth as the season wears on.

Hoover vs. Green football recent scores

The rivals played a close one last year, won 21-19 by Green. The Bulldogs won a 41-34 shootout in the 2023 regular season and routed Hoover 31-7 in the playoffs.

North Canton football coach Brian Baum pours 3 weeks into one game against Green

Hoover head coach Brian Baum admitted he was saving a little something for the Federal League schedule.

“This is the kind of week you’re ready to use all your plans and all the things you’ve been deciding on about personnel,” he said. 

The Vikings hoped to keep developing the connection between senior quarterback John Collins, who was 21 of 29 passing, and Jack Andes, a big-play artist with four touchdown catches.

Green limited Tallmadge to 28 yards last week, with Dario Lombardi setting a tone on the defensive line.

Green Bulldogs football schedule Fri., Aug. 22, Indian Valley | Loss 28-21 | Recap | StoryFri., Aug. 29, at Painesville Riverside | Loss 16-15 | RecapFri., Sept. 5, at Tallmadge | WIN 42-7 |RecapFri., Sept. 12, Hoover Fri., Sept. 19, at Jackson Fri., Sept. 26, at Canton McKinley Fri., Oct. 3, GlenOak Fri., Oct. 10, Louisville Fri., Oct. 17, at Perry Fri., Oct. 24, Lake North Canton Hoover Vikings football schedule Fri., Aug. 22, Buchtel | WIN 30-0 | RecapFri., Aug. 29, Medina | WIN 42-17 | RecapFri., Sept. 5, Akron North | WIN 65-0Fri., Sept. 12, at Green Fri., Sept. 19, at Louisville Fri., Sept. 26, at GlenOak Fri., Oct. 3, Canton McKinley Fri., Oct. 10, Perry Fri., Oct. 17, at Lake Fri., Oct. 24, Jackson 

Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.