Howard sets county rushing mark in Hoover win over Fitch
Chris Beaven
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Updated: Friday, October 9, 2009
NORTH CANTON Shattering a county record, breaking a school record and being crowned Homecoming King didn?t come close to completing Erick Howard?s night Friday.
The Hoover High School senior wanted something far more important.
?I wanted the win. That?s all I wanted,? Howard said.
One final big run by Howard helped deliver that win ? 31-20 over Fitch ? and complete a memorable night for Ohio?s reigning Mr. Football.
Howard became Stark County?s career rushing leader and Hoover?s career scoring leader in the third quarter, not long after being named Homecoming King at halftime.
?I shouldn?t have won that,? Howard said. ?Luke LePage should?ve been the Homecoming King. I voted for him.?
But there?s little doubt that Howard earned the county?s all-time rushing title. His 222 yards in near-constant rain pushed his career total to 5,248, surpassing the 5,177 by McKinley?s Morgan Williams from 2004-06.
. . .
?He?s a great competitor,? Hertler said of Howard. ?He doesn?t like to lose. If everyone didn?t like to lose like him, we wouldn?t lose on Friday nights.?