Mike Vukovcan HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP– Although it was just a scrimmage, there were plenty of things to be excited about after watching the Hopewell Vikings performance against Ellwood City.
The first team offensive and defensive had three possessions with Hopewell coming out with a 13-0 win (should’ve been 20-0, LOL, I’ll explain).
Just to set the scenario, the first two possessions of the game had each offensive getting 10 snaps, regardless of the outcome. In other words, if Hopewell scored a touchdown on play No. 6, they’d still get to keep the ball for 4 more plays.
On the third possession, it was run in game like scenario, meaning it was down and distance. If they didn’t convert a 3rd down, unless they were deep in the opposing team’s territory, the offensive team would lose possession of the ball.
MY THREE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS:
1) Nasir “Bruiser” Wade Is Special: It was my first time seeing Wade in a game and it didn’t take very long to see that this kid is special. The sophomore running back was the best player on the field today. His combination of speed, strength and breakaway speed is going to make Hopewell’s offensive special over the next 3 seasons. The scary part for opposing defenses will be trying to game plan for Wade and the Vikings passing game with James Armstrong. Not to mention when Armstrong is used as a designed runner.
Hopewell RB Nasir Wade
2) Aris Haniotes Was Unblockable: Earlier I mentioned Wade was the best player on the field, that was a tough call to make because Haniotes was 1B. The junior defensive end resembled Pittsburgh Steeler superstar T.J. Watt this morning. Haniotes was constantly in the Ellwood City backfield because of his lightning speed and power off the edge. It was only a scrimmage, but man did Haniotes look good.
3) Hopewell’s Depth: Looking back, possibly the most encouraging part of today’s performance was that Hopewell played this well and did so without 5 starters. Sophomore Brody Rock (RB/LB), Senior Brian McCabe (OL/DL), Junior Keith Young (OL/DL), Senior Josh Brunton (CB/RB) and DB Julian Baldwin missed today’s scrimmage with injuries. Today’s effort speaks of the depth that’s exists on this team, which all winning teams need to have. Young and McCabe will be huge parts of Hopewell’s defensive line and Rock proved last year how valuable he is on both sides of the ball.
Hopewell Senior DL Brian McCabe
HOPEWELL/ELLWOOD CITY RECAP:
Hopewell’s 1st Offensive Possession:
2nd Play: Armstrong screen pass to Wade, 20+ yards up the left sidelines.
3rd Play: Wade 31-yard run to the left side.
4th Play: Inc in endzone to Cameron
7th Play: Inc pass, coverage sack
8th Play: Armstrong scrambles for 8 yards
9th Play: Armstrong with a perfect slant pass to Cameron for 8-yard TD, Hopewell 6-0.
10th Play: Armstrong rolls out, 15 yd pass to George Tafkov
Hopewell’s 1st Defensive Possession:
-Wade with a big hit in the middle on an Ellwood City 5-yard run up the middle.
-Play 7, Haniotes with a tackle for loss on a run play to the outside
-Play 8, Pressure by Hopewell defensive line forces an incomplete pass
-Play 9, Inc deep pass
-Play 10 (from Hopewell 30-yard line), EC runs a draw up the middle, Hopewell makes the stop.
Hopewell’s 2nd Offensive Possession:
-Armstrong WR screen to Cameron for 6 yards.
-Wade for 6 yards
-Armstrong is pressured but dumps it off to Wade, who runs for 21 yards.
-Inc deep pass to Cameron
-Inc pass to Kingston Krotec
-Armstrong with a very strong, accurate sideline out to Avery Bokor for 15 yards.
-Next play, Armstrong 11 yards to Bokor on the curl.
-Wade tough 5-yard TD run up the middle, Hopewell 13-0.
Hopewell’s 2nd Defensive Possession:
-Haniotes with perfect technique on the edge, stays home, forces the running back outside, who gets hit hard by senior Justin Obeldobel.
-Haniotes with a sack on a speed rush.
-EC with deep inc pass.
-Justin Shegog with a sack due to great coverage by Hopewell’s secondary.
-Once again nice coverage leads to sack by Nick Thomas.
-EC gets to the 1-yard line but Hopewell forces a fumble that EC recovers for 5-yard loss.
-On 4th down, Nick Thomas comes up with a sack.
Hopewell’s 3rd Possession:
1st and 10, Wade runs for a 70-yard touchdown as he starts right, cuts back left and runs away from the defenders. However, the refs called a penalty on something completely away from the play, that frankly, I didn’t see. Although the scoreboard didn’t register it, I count that as a touchdown.
*Because of the 10-yard penalty, Hopewell went to 1st and 20 and weren’t able to convert a first down.
Hopewell’s 3rd Defensive Possession:
-1st down, Haniotes with another sack as he shows tremendous speed off the edge.
-2nd down, Tafkov with a nice tackle for no gain on an attempted screen pass.
FINAL SCORE: HOPEWELL 13 ELLWOOD CITY 0
