2024 Booster Club Report – Week 7 – Post-Football North; Preview of the Legacy Game

Massillon (5-2) defeated Football North (Clarkson), ONT (4-2), 45-6.  It was also historical win No. 953.  This week Massillon hosts Legacy School of Sports Sciences (3-3), from  Texas.

Link to the Football North Game Story

Link to the Football North Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (3-4): Lost to Austintown, 28-14.  Plays home (PBTS) against Canton Tuesday, October 8, at 6:00 pm.
• 8th Grade (6-1): Defeated Austintown, 32-18.  Plays home against Canton on Wednesday, October 9, at 6:00 pm.
• Freshmen (3-4): Lost to Cleveland Glenville, 40-6.  Plays home against Akron Hoban on Thursday, October 10, at 6:00 pm.
• Junior Varsity (3-1-2): Tied Cleveland Glenville, 22-22.  Plays home against Ironton on  Saturday, October 11, at 1:00 pm.

Review of the Football North game

Football North, a high school all-star team from Ontario, certainly had the size, speed and coaching to compete with most teams in the U.S.  But Massillon is on a different level than the five teams they played previously.  And in this match-up they couldn’t stop the Tigers’ big-play offense, nor run effectively against the its stout defense.  As a result, they trailed 31-6 at the half and eventually lost the game, 45-6, with a running clock in effect for nearly the entire second half.  Quarterback Jalen Slaughter had another great night, completing 8 of 12 passes for a whopping 205 yards and a pair touchdowns, while mixing those passes among six different receivers.  His 13.1 yards per pass attempt enters the Massillon Records Top 10 for that category, as does the team’s 11.5 yards per play.  On defense, inside linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams was simply a monster, coming up with seven solo tackles and two assists.  He also caused a fumble.

The guest players were offensive lineman Chris Fair and defensive lineman Michael Wright Jr.  “Both of these guys played really well,” said Tiger head coach Nate Moore.  “The offense had its best game of the year.  The defensive played really well.  The Canadian team was as a good football team.  Big up front.  Good skill players.”  Moore said the defense got after the quarterback and that was a big factor in the win.  “I’m really proud of these guys,” he added.

Legacy Scouting Report

Legacy School of Sports Science is located in Spring, Texas, which is a suburb of Houston.  The trip to Massillon will be the farthest they have ever traveled for a game.  Legacy is a state accredited charter elementary/secondary school that serves grades six through twelve and focuses on both sports and education, while intertwining the two in the course curriculum.  It would be similar to the football-focused NFL Academy-London, which the Tigers played in Oregon this year.  To date, they have a record of 3-3, including a 2-point loss and an overtime loss.

“This team has some really good pieces, especially on the offensive side of the ball,” said Moore.  The quarterback is rated as the No. 1 junior in Texas and is the best QB the Tigers have seen this year, according to the coach.  There are two great receivers.  One offensive lineman has an offer from Texas A&M.  “It’s a good team,” Moore stated.  “Top 500 in the country.  Top 100 in Texas.  They score a ton of points.”

The offense aligns mostly in 10 personnel (one split end with everyone else tight) in their spread offense.  They want to throw the ball first, especially trying for the big play.  But don’t sleep in the running back, who has breakaway speed.  The offensive line is huge, averaging 6′-2″, 314 lbs.  On run plays they prefer zone read.  The best players are:

• Junior quarterback Keisean Henderson (6′-4″, 185); 4-star recruit; committed to the University of Houston; can throw with great accuracy; has a big arm; scramble threat to run, but he wants to throw the ball first.
• Junior running back Landon Binford (5′-10″, 190); hits the hole hard; good speed; screen pass target.
• Junior wide receiver Michael Brown (6′-1″, 175); 3-star recruit; Ohio State offer; favorite target; quick change of direction; good  hands.
• Senior wide receiver Joseph Smith (6′-0″, 170); 3-star recruit; Arizona State commit; deep threat.
• Senior wide receiver Kameron Williams (5′-11″, 170); deep threat; good speed.
• Senior offensive center Joshua Moses (6′-3″, 315); 3-star recruit; Texas A&M commit; best offensive lineman; one of the best centers Massillon has seen this year.

The defense mostly aligns in a 4-2 with cover-1.  But they sometimes shift into a 5-down alignment on short yardage.  They also at times will use cover-4 in the secondary.  Like the offense, this side of the ball also has some good players.

• Senior defensive end Jayvon Dean (6′-1″, 260); best defensive lineman; explosive off the ball; plays strong and fast; lines up wide off the edge.
• Senior outside linebacker Mexhi Campbell (6′-1″, 200); Air Force commit.
• Senior cornerback Joseph Smith (6′-0″, 170); plays wide receiver on offense; best secondary player on defense; covers well and tackles well in open space.

“It’s another great test for the defensive line,” said Wright.  “They have a big line.

“They have a couple of good defensive lineman,” added Fair.  “They are big.  We’re working on our tempo in order to run plays quicker.”

Go Tigers.

3 receiving targets – 1, 4, 7