Hoover football off and running

GLENDALE — A spirited Hoover High school football team picked up a season-opening victory Friday night at home, as it begins to look to turn the program around following recent down seasons.

Against visiting Hacienda Heights Wilson in the nonleague matchup, the Tornadoes showcased a new-look offense with running back Quinton Smith as the main focus.

Smith, who was the quarterback last season, delivered with 210 yards in 25 carries and all four of Hoover’s touchdowns to lead the squad to a 28-13 win at Glendale High School’s Moyse Field.

Along with a fresh offensive attack, the overall mindset felt improved and suddenly positive. With Matt Andersen at the helm, the Tornadoes have added to their coaching staff and to their roster.

“We’re hungry,” said Andersen, who enters his fourth year as head coach. “They’ve been working their butts off. This is the team we’ve been waiting for.”

Hoover wasted little time proving it’s not the same team as it was last year. After Wilson’s snap went over the punter’s head, the Tornadoes offense took the field on the Wildcats 17. Four plays later, Smith punched it in from one yard out to give Hoover a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Wilson struggled to move the ball against a solid Hoover defense.

Smith and the Tornadoes added to their lead with consecutive possessions resulting in a touchdown, the second one minute after the first, thanks to a perfectly placed onside kick.

Both possessions started with Hoover’s offense on the Wildcats 38 and both saw the Tornadoes offense needing just two plays to add six on the scoreboard, capped off by Smith.

“He’s a stud,” Andersen said. “He’s a workhorse. He’s always been a workhorse.”

Wilson got on the scoreboard with a fake punt run taken for a touchdown by Johel Sandoval Franco, cutting Hoover’s lead to 21-7.

The Tornadoes answered on the first drive of the second half, keeping possession for 4 minutes 28 seconds. Smith ran it in from five yards out for his fourth touchdown of the night.

Both offenses were stagnant for most of the second half after the opening drive, instead succumbing to penalties and unsportsmanlike behavior, warranting a plethora of flags that marred the flow of the game.

“We felt our quarterback [Andrew Rangel] wasn’t being protected and there were some late hits on him,” Andersen said. “We played down to their level and lost our discipline. That can’t happen.”

Andersen also praised Rangel for running the offense well. The sophomore was named starting quarterback in the preseason. Smith was the team’s quarterback last year but is off to a fine start as the team’s featured back.

They, along with the rest of the upstart a Tornadoes, will take on Sotomayor on Thursday night.