Hoover Beats San Marino in an Unexciting Game, 24-6

Excitement came to Glendale High School’s Moyse Field early in the third quarter of Thursday night’s matchup between Hoover and San Marino, when the winner of another lottery, Hoover’s “50/50” drawing, collected her check. Ursula Murphy went home $68 richer, so her time wasn’t wasted.

But San Marino’s time was. The Titans’ highly touted defense was almost as inept as the offense, and Hoover scored a 24-6 nonleague victory in unexciting fashion.

Hoover was not all that impressive, either. But blessed with good field position, the Tornadoes had to try hard not to score. It was the Hoover defense that held San Marino to only seven first downs.

Defensive lineman Steven Hieber bothered San Marino quarterback Jim Wanger throughout the game, forcing Wanger to scramble and throw off-balance passes. Wanger completed only 12 of 29 for 93 yards.

The Titans could never press Hoover into bad field position. San Marino gave Hoover the ball on the Titan 24, resulting in a score. It gave Hoover the ball near midfield, and that resulted in a score. On Hoover’s only real touchdown drive, fourth downs were saved by San Marino penalties.

The game marked the return of running back Al Roberson, who missed last week’s game “because of a combination of sickness and problems with the district office,” according to Coach Fred Cuccia.

Those problems had to do with Roberson’s residency, but Cuccia said that Roberson does indeed live in Hoover’s district and is eligible to play football there.

Roberson, who gained 347 yards on 38 carries in Hoover’s first two games of the year, returned with 106 yards in 15 carries and 2 touchdowns. Danny Esparza, the other half of Hoover’s split-back offense, gained 65 yards in 14 carries.

San Marino was held to three downs and a punt on its first series, a pattern that would become the norm for the night. Hoover took control on its 29 and promptly drove 69 yards in 12 plays but stalled on fourth down at the two-yard line, Esparza unable break through the San Marino line.

The Hoover defense continued to contain Wanger into the second quarter. A shanked punt gave Hoover the ball on the San Marino 23, and four plays later Roberson made a 10-yard run around the left side for a touchdown.

Hoover’s second touchdown of the first half came on a John Alaimo quarterback sneak from one yard out. It was set up by a 20-yard Roberson sweep.