Forget Pups,
‘Bear’ down
Tigers say
Owens
hopes ‘right Massillon team’
shows
up after 20‑7 loss to McKinley
By
STEVE DOERSCHUK
Independent
Sports Editor
A great season may
still await them.
But there is only one
way to attain it, one of the Massillon Tiger football captains said after
Saturday's 20‑7 loss to McKinley.
"The only thing
that can help us get over this," senior cornerback Chad Buckland said,
"is if we go all the way."
"All the
way" means a four‑game winning streak against competition that will
get nastier each week.
The Tigers are one of
16 teams in the Division I playoffs. The one that wins the next four weekends
will be state champ.
Right now, though, the
Tigers are a 7‑3 team needing just one win to get over a loss to their
arch‑rival.
Two months ago, the
Tigers were a play away from beating mighty Cincinnati Moeller. Now they are a
team that must prove itself all over again.
"Can we come
back?" said Tiger coach Lee Owens, repeating a question put to him.
"We didn't do a good job of it the last time we were in a similar
situation (losing in Austintown a week after falling to Moeller). I hope we do
better than we did the last time.
Owens senses it will
be easier to rebound this time. He noted the Tigers didn't seem crushed by the
McKinley loss the way they were after getting nipped by Moeller.
But the team needs a
spark, he said.
"Some of the fans
have been saying, , Which Massillon team will show up today?' And I see their
point," Owens said. "There have been times when we've been good
enough to play with any team in Ohio. There have been other times when we could
be defeated by any one of the teams entering the playoffs.
"It will depend
on which Tiger team shows up. I hope it's the right one."
Were the Tigers
lacking fire in their bellies against McKinley because they knew a playoff spot
was locked up?
"I don't think
so," Tiger defensive tackle Ron Humphrey said. "I hardly even
thought about the playoffs all week. I was just thinking about McKinley.
"There's nothing
you can say or do to change what happened today. We lost. It's over.
"We've got to get
our sulking out of the way in one day and get back to work."
"We have to get
this one behind us as soon as we can," agreed senior wide receiver Steve
Brown.
"We can't hang
our heads," echoed tight end Chris Roth.
"We have to
forget McKinley and regroup," said junior linebacker Eric Wright. "We
can't feel sorry for ourselves. We've got to play hard in the playoffs and try
to win all our games."
"We've got to
keep our heads up and not make a big deal out of the McKinley game," said
running back Falando Ashcraft.
Every Tiger
interviewed gave the Bulldogs their due.
"I knew they were
capable of playing like this," Buckland said. "I thought all along
they were going to explode. Unfortunately, they did ... against us.
"On the positive
side for us, McKinley has to sit home. It's a lot better knowing you're going
to get to play again.”
Owens learned Sunday
that his team will face Jackson in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at
Fawcett Stadium. He had little to say on the matter, in keeping with the tight
ship he says will be run this week.
"It does not
matter who we play this week," the coach said Sunday night at 8 from his
office.
"We're just glad
to be in the playoffs." His only comment on Jackson: They must be a good
team, having won nine games. When a team loses only once you assume they're a
fine team."
Owens had been through
a busy Sunday already. He wasn't finished.
"It's going to be
a long one," he said.
MASSILLON 7
McKINLEY 20
Ma
Mc
First downs rushing 3
10
First downs passing 4
7
First downs by penalty 1 1
Totals first downs 8
18
Yards gained rushing 68
183
Yards lost rushing 20
19
Net yards rushing 48
164
Net yards passing 113
143
Total yards gained 161
307
Passes attempted 22
22
Passes completed 8
14
Passes int. by 1
3
Times kicked off 2
4
Kickoff average 57.5
47.3
Kickoff return yards 42
16
Punts 6 2
Punting average 30.2
42.5
Punt return yards 2
13
Fumbles 3 3
Fumbles lost 1 1
Penalties 3 7
Yards penalized 45
70
Number of plays 46
70
Time of possession 17.21 30.39
Attendance 16,741
McKINLEY 0 7 7
6 20
MASSILLON 0 0 7
0 7
McK ‑ Martin 28
pass from Henry (Curtis kick)
Mas ‑ Roth 38
pass from Burick (John kick)
McK ‑ Curtis 1
run (Curtis kick)
McK ‑ Kaiusin 3
run (kick failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing:
(Mass) Ashcraft 14‑41.
Stafford 1‑7. McGuire 6‑5.
(McK) Richards 27‑114.
Katusin 11‑32.
Passing:
(Mass) Shertzer 7‑19‑3
75. Burick 13‑0 38.
(McK) Henry 14‑22‑1
143.
Receiving:
(Mass) Brown 5‑44.
Roth 2‑57.
(McK) Martin 3‑72.
Richards 3‑24. Johnston 3‑22.