ON TO THE PLAYOFFS
Tigers
overcome mistakes,
McKinley in 13‑9
win
James
runs over, around, through Bulldogs
By JOE SHAHEEN
Independent Sports Editor
It
wasn't pretty and it wasn't especially impressive, but the Massillon Tigers
came up big in the fourth quarter to post an uneven 13‑9 victory over the
McKinley Bulldogs in front of a capacity crowd of 17,957 Saturday afternoon at
Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The
Tigers trailed their arch‑rivals 9‑7 with 10:45 to play when they
began the game‑winning march at their own 9‑yard line. With
everyone in the crowd looking for the vaunted Massillon passing game to come
into play, head coach Rick Shepas instead turned to 1,000‑yard rusher
Perry James, and the senior responded in a big way.
Massillon's
resulting 11‑play scoring drive included no fewer than nine running
plays, including a 38‑yard burst by James that moved the football from
the Massillon 37 to the McKinley 25.
James
put the football in the end zone on a sweep around the right side of the
Massillon offensive line, which did its job so well that the Tiger running back
was never touched on the play.
Massillon's
pass for the two‑point conversion failed, but the Tigers were up by four
points with just 5:43 to play.
After
the ensuing kickoff, a sack of McKinley quarterback Ben Palumbo by Tiger
defensive end Brian Leonard doomed the drive, and the Bulldogs were forced to
punt the ball away. Canton would get the pigskin back deep in its own territory
with less than 30 seconds to play, only to see a Justin Princehorn interception
seal their fate.
The
victory gives the Tigers an 8‑2 regular season slate and improves Rick
Shepas' three‑year record at Massillon to 22‑9. Up next is a home
playoff game Saturday against 8‑2 Marion Harding.
The
Tigers first touchdown Saturday came on Robert Oliver's eight‑yard run
that capped off a nine‑play, 56‑yard drive at 8:29 of the second
quarter. David Abdul's kick made it 7‑0.
A
McKinley 23‑yard field goal in the final minute of the first half made it
7‑3 and the Bulldogs took a 9‑7 lead on Chad Anderson's one‑yard
vault into the end zone at 10:50 of the fourth quarter.
The
Pups then kicked off to Massillon and the Tigers had to begin their march at
their own 9.
That
only prolonged the agony for McKinley as the orange‑and‑black rang
the victory bell in the 107th all-time meeting between the Ohio high school
football powers.
Sideline
moods
told
game story
By MIKE KEATING
Independent Sports Writer
With 10:50 left to go in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game between the Massillon Tigers and McKinley Bulldogs, a sense of urgency rippled along the Massillon sidelines.
The
Tigers had just fallen two points behind on a one‑yard dive into the end
zone by McKinley fullback Chad Anderson.
"Let's
go, right now," Massillon head coach Rick Shepas said to his offensive
unit. "We have to pick it up."
The
Massillon offensive line, which had been neutralized by the smaller McKinley
defensive front, received a tongue‑lashing from tackles coach Frank Page.
"You
guys have to come off the ball better," he said, while looking at each
member of the interior line in the eye. "You have to move."
The
Tigers listened and responded, driving 91 yards in 11 plays for the game‑winning
touchdown. Perry James' 12‑ yard touchdown run with 5:43 to go reclaimed
the lead for Massillon, which overcame three turnovers and 60 yards in
penalties to finish 8‑2 in the regular season and earn its second
straight playoff berth.
When
James crossed the goal‑line at the northeast corner of the field, the
Massillon players erupted with jubilation.
"Way
to block, baby," sophomore linebacker Shawn Crable yelled to senior center
Kreg Rotthoff, who had just trotted off the field with the rest of the
offensive unit.
"This
is our game, now," added offensive tackle Jamarr Moore, who hobbled over
to talk with sophomore tackle Reggie McCullough."
The
jubilation was tempered a bit, however, as McKinley prepared to receive the
ensuing kickoff.
There
was still plenty of time for the Bulldogs to rally.
Nobody
knew that better than senior defensive lineman Mike Burchell, who paced the
sidelines between the 40 and 50, reminding his defensive teammates to maintain
their concentration.
"This
game isn't over yet," he screamed. "We still have to stop them."
Just
in case Burchell's words weren't heeded, defensive tackles coach Gary Wells
issued one simple message to the defense as McKinley began the possession on
its own 13.
"Hold
them to three‑and‑out," Wells said.
The
Massillon defense responded, forcing McKinley to punt from its own end zone as
the clock wound down under 4:00.
The
Tigers regained possession at their 33 with 3:47 showing. Sensing victory,
several Massillon players on the sidelines enthusiastically supported the
offense.
"Let's
go, ‘O'! Let's go, ‘0’” they shouted. "Let's move the ball!"
Once
again, Massillon responded. Six running plays and a personal foul penalty
flagged on McKinley helped the Tigers move the ball from their 33 to the
McKinley 25.
While
the Bulldogs stopped the Tigers on a fourth down running play, they had only 30
seconds to move 75 yards for the game‑winning touchdown.
Massillon
defensive coordinator Chris DiLoretto strode confidently along the sidelines,
but said nothing.
He
was content to watch the defense try to make a play to cement the victory.
With
fans for both teams roaring, the Massillon defense made the big play.
Anderson's
option pass was picked off by linebacker Justin Princehorn near midfield,
setting off a wild celebration along the Massillon sidelines.
"Now,"
smiled sophomore offensive tackle P.J. Simon. "It's over."
In
the first half, the mood on the Massillon sideline was businesslike.
When
one Massillon receiver failed to catch a long pass in the waning seconds of the
first quarter, Shepas waited for the player to come off the field, then calmly
said a few words to him.
"That
was a catchable ball," Shepas said. "Just relax."
The
game was scoreless for most of the first half. The Massillon sideline was
relatively quiet, observing the action, waiting for the "Air Raid"
offense to sustain a drive.
Massillon
did, moving 55 yards on eight plays. Quarterback Justin Zwick's 14‑yard
scramble to the McKinley 8 was greeted with thunderous applause from his
teammates on the sidelines.
"It's
gonna happen," Crable said.
The
"it" ‑ an anticipated Massillon touchdown ‑ came two
plays later on an eight-yard run by Robert Oliver at the 8:29 mark of the
second quarter, a score that broke a scoreless tie.
"Great
job, offense," Shepas said calmly.
Shepas
was anything but calm, however, on‑the second of two pass interference
penalties that moved the ball to the Massillon 16 during a drive that began at
the McKinley 12. He pointed a finger at the side judge and gave him an earful
of opinion on the call.
McKinley
went on to score on a 29‑yard field goal by Matt Prendes, and seemed
energized by that three pointer.
The
Bulldogs refused to go away the rest of the game. As the third quarter was
winding down and McKinley driving for its first and only touchdown, the
Massillon sideline grew quiet.
Strength
and conditioning coach Steve Studer noticed the silence. It irritated Studer,
an All‑Ohio center for the Tigers in 1970. He understood what the
McKinley rivalry meant.
"You
guys are dead on this sideline," he yelled to the players. "Let's
show some life. Let's make something happen."
In
the fourth quarter, the Tigers made things happen on both sides of the
football. When the clock hit three zeroes in the fourth quarter, Studer smiled
as he listened to the Massillon players whoop it up, celebrating a hard‑fought
victory.