Another challenging schedule awaits the Tigers for the upcoming football season, highlighted by games against Pickerington Central, Lakewood St. Edward, Canisius and Canton McKinley.  It comes on the heels of three consecutive appearances in the Division 2 state finals, during which time Massillon compiled a 38-4 record.

Hopes are high that this schedule actually comes to fruition after the difficulties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic last year.  Two weeks before the 2020 season got underway, fearing that the spread of the virus would accelerate by Thanksgiving, the OHSAA canceled all existing contracts and shortened the season to just six games, with all teams automatically qualifying for the playoffs.  In essence, the Tigers were forced to completely regenerate a new schedule just two weeks before the start of the season.  They ended up with perhaps the most challenging schedule they had ever faced, with the likes of St. Edward, Cleveland Benedictine, Cleveland St. Ignatius and McKInley.  But they did win five of the six games.

Incidentally, the 2021 season will start August 20, a week earlier than normal, in order to accommodate a sixth week of playoff games.  Starting this year twelve teams qualify in each region instead of the traditional eight, with the top four having byes in the first round.

Here is the full schedule along with some key data:

Pickerington Central – H

• League: Ohio Capital Conference
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2020 Overall Record: 11-1
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 44-3 to Cincinnati St. Xavier in the state finals
• 5-Year Record: 62-8 (.886)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; state titles in 2017 and 2019; runner-up in 2020
• Last Time vs. Massillon: No games played
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 0-0
• Bonus: Returns wide receiver Lorenzo Styles, the Division 1 Offensive Player of the Year

 Canton GlenOak – H

• League: Federal League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2020 Overall Record: 0-8
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 42-0 to Lakewood St. Edward in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 11-38 (.224)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 2 appearances; lost in Round 1 each time
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 55-13 in 2019
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 12-4
• Bonus: Re-hired Scott Garcia as head coach

Reynoldsburg – H

• League: Ohio Capital Conference
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2020 Overall Record: 4-4
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 53-19 to Lancaster in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 34-17 (.667)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 3 appearances; lost in Round 2 twice
• Last Time vs. Massillon: No games
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 0-0
• Bonus: Plays in the same OCC division  as Pickerington Central; lost last year 38-13

Warren Harding – A

• League: All-American Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2020 Overall Record: 6-4
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 35-6 to Hudson in regional semifinals
• 5-Year Record: 34-17 (.667)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost in regional finals in 2016
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 24-0 in 2020
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 57-25-3 (second-longest series)
• Bonus: Return 3 starters on offense and 5 on defense

Lakewood St. Edward – H

• League: None
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2020 Overall Record: 6-2
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 35-31 to Medina in Round 3
• 5-Year Record: 50-12 (.806)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; state title in 2018
• Last Time vs. Massillon: won 24-23 in 2020
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 3-3
• Bonus: Returns 4 starters on offense and 7 on defense, including quarterback Christian Ramos

Austintown Fitch – A

• League: All-American Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2020 Overall Record: 7-1
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 24-10 to Warren Harding in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 31-18 (.633)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 2 appearances; only playoff win was in 2020
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 55-7 in 2019
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 18-8
• Bonus: In games played at Fitch, Massillon leads the series 7-5

Euclid – H

• League: Greater Cleveland Conference
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2020 Overall Record: 5-3
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 30-20 to Cleveland St. Ignatius in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 39-16 (.709)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; never won more than one game in each year
• Last Time vs. Massillon: No games
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 0-0
• Bonus: Defeated Medina 31-28 in the regular season last year; Medina beat both St. Edward and St. Ignatius in the playoffs

Canisius, NY – H

• League: Monsignor Martin Athletic Association
• Playoff Division: Ohio equivalent 2
• 2020 Overall Record: n.a.
• 2020 Playoff Results: n.a.
• 5-Year Record: 30-16 (.652)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; never won more than one game in each year
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Won 49-35 in 2017
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Canisius leads the series 1-0
• Bonus: Did not field a team in 2020

Wooster – H

• League: Ohio Cardinal Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2020 Overall Record: 8-2
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 48-40 to Olentangy Berlin in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 36-16 (.692)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 3 appearances; lost in Round 1 each year
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 53-0 in 1933
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 14-5
• Bonus: Wooster has recently been the dominant force in the OCC

Canton McKinley – A

• League: Federal League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2020 Overall Record: 5-3
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 27-14 to Brunswick in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 37-17 (.685)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 3-5 playoff record; no significant advancements
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 35-7 in 2020
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 73-53-5; Massillon has won 9 of the last 10
• Bonus: Annually a leading contender to win the Federal League; returns 4 starters on offense and 6 on defense, including inside linebacker Mani Powell

The book on Massillon:

• League: Independent
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2020 Overall Record: 10-2
• 2020 Playoff Results: Lost 35-6 to Akron in the state finals
• 5-Year Record: 56-11 (.826)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; lost in the state finals in 2018, 2019 and 2020; regional champion in 2017
• Bonus: Returns 3 starters on offense and 1 on defense, including running back Willtrell Hartson, offensive linemen Toddrick Lee and Jaiden Woods, and safety/wide receiver Austin Brawley