One of tonight’s marquee games on the football field is a Mid-eastern Conference contest between the (5-0) Hoggard Vikings and (4-1) Laney.
Hoggard is coming off a 49-0 blowout over the Q Foundation. Led by quarterback Christian Poveromo, who’s thrown for 794 yards and eight touchdowns this season, the Vikings will use his experience behind center as one of the keys to victory. The Hoggard running game, behind senior Sheldon Cooper and sophomore Keevin Thompson, is also something the Bucs defense will have to watch out for, as they’ve combined for 933 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns this season.
As for the Bucs defense, the team is filled with talent from linebacker Coult Culler, to Larry Williams, the ECU-bound defensive lineman. Even Hoggard coach Scott Braswell concedes that.
“Laney is as good a football team, on the hoof, as we’ve seen all year. I think they’ve got three guys on defense who will be Division I players,” said Braswell.
Culler is the team’s leader in tackles with 49, while Williams presents a challenge to the Vikings protection scheme in the passing game. Laney is coming off a bye week, which could not have come at a better time as the team had some guys nicked up from earlier in the season.
“We’ve been trying to get healed up,” said Laney coach Greg Ditz. “We think the bye week definitely helped us get some guys back in the positions that we need them to be.”
Tariq Lane is evolving into a standout player in his first year at quarterback for the Bucs, utilizing his arm and legs to get into the end zone 18 times for Ditz’s offense.
Lane will have his work cut out for him as the Vikings defense has allowed only 30 points in five games. “Every week, he (Tariq) has shown that the spotlight does not really scare him, and the guys around him are doing a great job of putting him in good positions to make plays,” said Ditz. “He’s definitely not a kid that gets nervous.”
Both teams are expecting intensity on the sidelines and in the stands as each looks to get an early advantage in the Mid-eastern Conference standings.
“We know the place will be packed and loud. We’re excited to go into that atmosphere and play. It should be a great night for high school football,” said Braswell. Kickoff between the Vikings and Bucs is set for 7:30 p.m. at Holiday Stadium in Buctown.
