Massillon vs. Pickerington Central

• Friday, August 20, 7:30 pm
• Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
• Internet broadcast via Washington High School (access link through massillontigers.com)
• Plenty of tickets available at the gate

Massillon Head Coach: Nate Moore

• 7^th season
• Record at Massillon: Regular season 44-12, playoffs 16-5, total 60-17 (.779)
• Won Division 2 State Championship in 2014 while coaching Cincinnati LaSalle

Pickerington Central Head Coach: Jay Sherrett

• 19th season
• Record at Central: Regular season 151-26, playoffs 40-15; total 191-41 (.823)
• Named head coach in 2003 after Pickerington HS split into two schools, Central and North

Massillon’s recent success

• Division 2 state finalist in 2018, 2019 and 2020; regional champion in 2017
• 2020 Results: 10-2 record; Division 2 finalist; lost to Akron Hoban 35-6
• Defeated East St. Louis (IL) in 2018, Akron Hoban in 2019 and Cincinnati LaSalle in 2020; won the last five games against Canton McKinley
• 31-game winning streak against public schools, longest in the state in D1 and D2.  Includes wins over Canton McKinley (3), Winton Woods, East St. Louis, Penn Trafford (PA), Gateway (PA) and Avon.  Last loss was in 2017 to Winton Woods.

Pickerington Central’s recent success

• Division 1 state champion in 2017 and 2019; state finalist in 2020; regional champion in 2016 and 2018
• 2020 results: 11-1 record; Division 1 finalist; lost to Cincinnati St. Xavier 44-3
• Defeated Cincinnati Elder in 2016 and 2019, Mentor in 2017, 2019 and 2020, Huber Heights Wayne in 2016, Colerain in 2017 and Hilliard Davidson twice in 2018.
• 21-game winning streak against public schools, second longest in the state in D1 and D2.  Includes a pair of wins against Mentor.  Last loss was in 2019 to Groveport Madison.

Massillon key players

• Willtrell Hartson: 5’-10”, 195 lb. junior running back; returning starter on offense; 138 carries for 1,111 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2020; named Honorable Mention All-Ohio; several Division 1 offers
• Austin Brawley: 5’-9”, 190 lb. senior, safety / wide receiver; returning starter on defense; 2^nd in tackle points in 2020 with 47.5; 5 receptions for 125 yards
• Toddrick Lee: 6’-2”, 250 lb. senior, offensive tackle; returning starter
• Jaiden Woods: 5’-10”, 260 lb. senior, offensive center; returning starter
• Te’Jamere Nash: 6’-3”, 305 lb. senior, offensive tackle; returning part-time starter
• Riley Campbell: 6’-3”, 210 lb. senior, wide receiver / outside linebacker; transfer from Canton Central; leading receiver with 37 receptions; 2^nd Team Division 6 All-Ohio at linebacker
• Marcus Moore: 6’-2”, 340 lb. junior, defensive lineman; transfer from Beachwood; 3^rd Team Division 5 All-Ohio
• Freddie Lenix: 5’-10”, 180 lb. junior, wide receiver / cornerback
• Camden Beasley: 6’-2”, 190 lb. senior, backup running back / outside linebacker; 44 carries for 248 yards and 2 touchdowns

Pickerington Central key players

• Olando Kamara: 5’-11”, 205 lb. running back
• Kobe Asamoah: 6’-4”, 295 lb., senior offensive lineman; 3 star recruit
• Alex Styles: 6′-4″, 215 lb. junior defensive back; 5-star recruit
• C.J. Doggette: 6’-2”, 285 lb. senior defensive lineman / wide receiver; Honorable Mention All-Ohio; 3-star recruit
• Kobi Gorman: 6’-0”, 260 lb. junior defensive lineman
• Reece Brancifort: 6’-0”, 195 lb. senior inside linebacker
• Tyler Gillson: 6’-4”, 245 lb. senior defensive lineman / running back; 3-star recruit
• Dakari Frazier: 6’-4”, 245 lb. senior defensive lineman / wide receiver; 3 star recruit

Massillon offense

• A few starters return, mostly on the line; rebuilding the wide receiver corp.
• 1,000+ rusher returns
• Skill players talented, but lacking varsity game experience
• Big, experienced offensive line
• Offensive line / running back is the strength
• Spread formation
• Run first
• Power and zone blocking

Massillon defense

• Only one returning starter, at safety
• Talented group, but lacking varsity experience
• Potential to be strong across the board
• 3-4 alignment; some 4-3
• Some secondary cover-2, some cover-4

Pickerington Central offense

• Lost nearly the entire offense from last year
• Unbalanced line
• Run first
• Quarterback under center, occasionally in shotgun
• 1-back and 2-back sets; some double wing
• Mostly power and zone blocking; some draw plays; some jet sweeps
• Quarterback will have designed runs from the shotgun
• Good sized line

Pickerington Central defense

• Returns several very good players within the front seven
• Secondary is new
• 3-4 alignment
• Press coverage on all receivers; DBs play back on trips
• Inside linebackers play close to the line; one middle linebacker blitzes on nearly every play
• Good size and team speed

Keys to success for Massillon

• Establish the run by winning the battle between the offensive line and Central’s defensive front seven.
• Play from in front on the scoreboard; neither team may have the firepower at this point in the season to come from behind.