Other than the McKinley contest, the highest attended game each year is the opener.  And Head Coach Nate Moore has another whopper on the slate for this year in Cincinnati Moeller.  The last time these two teams squared off was in 2006 in the Queen City as part of the Prep Classic, with the Crusaders coming away with the win.  After suffering through several substandard years, Moeller rebounded in 2021 to finish 11-4, losing in the Division 1 state semifinals to Springfield.  With several returning starters off of that team, they are expected to be strong again this year.

Lakewood St. Edward travels to Massillon for a third year in a row.  Two years ago, the Tigers let the game slip away on a trick play at the end.  Last year it was inexperience and injuries that resulted in a 35-18 loss to the eventual Division 1 Champions, their fifth crown in the last eleven years.  Incidentally, their only setback last season came in overtime against Moeller, by the score of 28-21

The Tigers return 13 starters plus several oft-used backups from last year’s 11-3 team that finished regional runner-up in Division 2.  With several of the returnees in key positions, they are expected to be particularly strong at quarterback, running back and defensive line.  Coach Moore will enter his eighth year and currently owns a 71-20 record while at Massillon, which includes three trips to the state finals.  He also captured the D2 title while previously at Cincinnati LaSalle.

Here is the full schedule along with some key data:

1. Cincinnati Moeller – H

• League: Greater Catholic League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 11-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost to Springfield 22-21 in the state semifinals
• 5-Year Record: 26-30 (.464)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost in state semifinals in 2021
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Defeated Massillon 48-14 in 2006
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Moeller leads 10-2
• Bonus: Returns wide receiver Tennel Bryant and linebacker Joe Ginnetti, both of whom were Honorable Mention All-Ohio, and defensive lineman Chase Brown (2^nd Team All-District).

 2. Canton GlenOak – A

• League: Federal League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 3-7
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 40-12 to Stow in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 8-40 (.167)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 2 appearances; lost in Round 1 both times
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 34-0 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 13-4
• Bonus: Last year’s 3-7 record was the best since 2017.  Returns 8 starters on offense and 9 on defense; 3 are 2-way players

3. Mansfield Senior

• League: Cardinal Conference
• Playoff Division: 3
• 2021 Overall Record: 9-3
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 13-10 to Parma in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 38-19 (.667)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost 14-7 in overtime to Trotwood Madison in 2019
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 55-0 in 2005
• Historical Series vs. Massillon leads 43-4-5
• Bonus: 20-10 league record in the past five years with  one tie for first and two runner-ups; beat undefeated Aurora 27-21 in overtime to advance to the 2019 state championship game

4. Warren Harding – H

• League: All-American Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2021 Overall Record: 5-6
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 35-28 to Austintown Fitch in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 28-24 (.538)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost in Round 3 in 2020
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 49-46 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 58-25-3 (second-longest series)
• Bonus: Returns 2 starters on offense and 3 on defense, including sensational quarterback Dalys Jett (2^nd Team All-District), who last year against the Tigers completed 21 of 34 passes for 358 yards and 6 touchdowns and ran 9 times for 78 yards and a TD.

5. Lakewood St. Edward – H

• League: None
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 15-1
• 2021 Playoff Results: Defeated Springfield 23-13 to capture the state championship
• 5-Year Record: 53-10 (.841)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; state titles in 2018 and 2021
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Defeated Massillon 34-18 in 2021
• Historical Series vs. St. Edward: 4-3
• Bonus: Returns 2 starters on offense and 2 on defense, including defensive lineman Wyatt Gideon (3^rd Team All-State)

6. Austintown Fitch – H

• League: All-American Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2021 Overall Record: 7-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 48-28 to Akron Hoban in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 33-17 (.660)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 3 appearances; 2-3 record
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 31-21 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 19-8
• Bonus: Returns 5 starters on offense and 5 on defense, including offensive lineman Josh Fitzgerald and defensive back DeShawn Vaughn, both Honorable Mention All-Ohio, and kicker Josiah Berni (2^nd Team All-District)

7. Middletown, DE – H

• League: Blue Hen
• Playoff Division: 3 – largest
• 2021 Overall Record: 10-1
• 2021 Playoff Results: Defeated Smyrna 28-22 to capture the Delaware state championship
• 5-Year Record: 46-8 (.852)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 6-4 record; 1 state championship, 3 state runners-up
• Last Time vs. Massillon: did not play
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 0-0
• Bonus: Lost last year to national power St. Joseph Prep, Philadelphia, 24-6; lost to IMG Academy in 2018, 52-7; defeated Smyrna in the 2017 regular season, but lost to Smyrna in the state finals

8. Canisius, NY – H

• League: Monsignor Martin Association
• Playoff Division: Inter-league
• 2021 Overall Record: 6-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: did not qualify
• 5-Year Record: 30-19 (.612)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; 4-4 record
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 23-13 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 1-1
• Bonus: 2020 season was played in Spring 2021

9. (TBD) – H

10. Canton McKinley – H

• League: Federal League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 9-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 42-0 to Lakewood St. Edward in Round 3
• 5-Year Record: 40-16 (.714)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 5-5 playoff record
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 35-13 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 74-53-5; Massillon has won 10 of the last 11
• Bonus: Returns 5 starters on offense and 6 on defense, including wide receiver Cynceir McNeal and defensive lineman Bryan Foster, both Hon. Mention All-District.  Three of four defensive backs return.

The book on Massillon:

• League: Independent
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2021 Overall Record: 11-3
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 26-25 to Green in the regional finals
• 5-Year Record: 59-11 (.843)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; advanced to the state finals in 2018, 2019 and 2020; regional champion in 2017; lost in regional finals in 2021
• Bonus: Returns 8 starters on offense, including quarterback Jalen Slaughter (Hon. Mention All-District), running backs Willtrell Hartson (Hon. Mention All-Ohio in 2020) and Freddie Lenix Jr. (All-District), linemen Marcus Moore, Sam Snodgrass (Hon. Mention All-District) and Mike Mercurio, and receivers Ardell Banks (Hon. Mention All-District) and Jaden Welch.  Returns 7 starters on defense, including lineman Marcus Moore (1^st Team All-District, 2^nd Team All-Ohio), Michael White (Hon. Mention All-District)and Chase Bond, linebacker Maverick Clark, and defensive backs Freddie Lenix Jr., Jaden Welch and Zack Liebler.  Returns kicker Nolan Hendricks.