Get Ready for Some Great High School Football: Massillon vs. Canton McKinley

Massillon versus Canton McKinley.  It only happens once a year, but it’s always a great event and an enjoyable week leading up to the game.

No high school football rivalry in the nation can claim the extraordinary tradition of Massillon vs. Canton. The rivalry has festered for over 100 years. It’s bigger than a family feud and it’s more intense than a street fight. In fact, it’s almost akin to going to war. And the success or failure of each team’ season is often based on its outcome.

There is a sense of pride and purpose and the game spills over into every walk of life. The players celebrate each victory and vow to avenge any loss the following year. Such is the intensity of the competitiveness that exists between the Massillon Tigers and the Canton McKinley Bulldogs. For there is no love lost between them and the two schools really do hate each other. But they have also earned each other’s respect. For it takes two great teams to make a great rivalry.

“It was bigger than anything I did in college as a player,” said former Massillon player and Washington Huskies Head Coach Don James. “As a coach, the excitement, buildup and preparation compares to the Rose Bowl.”

But it’s also intense. A game that brings out the best in the players. “All I know is that you have a bulldog on your helmet and I have a tiger on mine. And I don’t like you,” said former Massillon player Ellery Moore.

Here’s some trivia to get you better prepared for the game.

Series started

  • 1894
Eddie Bell
Eddie Bell scores the winning touchdown in the 1974 game.

Number of games played

  • 134

Series record

  • 76-53-5 in favor of Massillon

Longest winning streak

  • Massillon – 9 games (1957- 65)
  • McKinley – 11 games (1894-1906)

Points scored

  • Massillon – 1,909 (14.2 ave.)
  • McKinley – 1,758 (13.1 ave.)

Most points scored in a game

  • Massillon – 48-7 in 1953
  • McKinley – 46-0 in 1900

Fewest points scored in a win

  • Massillon – 3-0 in 1914
  • McKinley – 5-0 in 1900 and 1903

Most shutouts

  • Massillon – 24
  • McKinley – 26
McKinley’s Jimmy Aiken and Massillon’s Paul Brown – 1936

Playoff games

  • 1994 – McKinley won 42-41
  • 2001 – Massillon won 35-19
  • 2005 – Massillon won 21-3
  • 2009 – Massillon won 10-7
  • 2012 – Massillon won 28-19

Overtime games

  • 1988 – Massillon won 10-7
  • 1994 – Massillon won 42-41
  • 2007 – Massillon won 23-20

Number of times both teams were unbeaten prior to the game

  • 1934 – McKinley won 21-6
  • 1936 – Massillon won 31-0
  • 1938 – Massillon won12-0
  • 1940 – Massillon won 34-6
  • 1942 – McKinley won 35-0
  • 1943 – Massillon won 21-0
  • 1955 – McKinley won13-7
  • 1964 – Massillon won 20-14
  • 1970 – Massillon won 28-0
  • 2005 – McKinley won 38-8

Coach with the most wins

  • Massillon – 8 by Nate Moore
  • McKinley – 11 by Thom McDaniels
Quarterback Dave Sheegog scores the winning touchdown in the 1964 game.

Paul Brown Tiger Stadium W/L

  • 28-17-1 in favor of Massillon

Fawcett Stadium W/L

  • 23-16-1 in favor of Massillon

Tom Bensen HOF Stadium W/L

  • 4-0 in favor of Massillon

Largest attendance

  • 29,110 in the Akron Rubber Bowl playoff game

First televised game

  • 1955

Calpreps.com point spreads

  • 2015 – Massillon by 3; score –  McKinley won by 2 (30-28)
  • 2016 – Massillon by 3; score – Massillon won by 2 (21-19)
  • 2017 – McKinley by 7: score – Massillon won by 1 (16-15)
  • 2018 – Massillon by 14; score – Massillon won by 7 (24-17)
  • 2019 – Massillon by 21; score – Massillon won by 10 (24-14)
  • 2020 – Massillon by 18; score – Massillon won by 28 (35-7)
  • 2021 – Massillon by 14; score – Massillon won by 22 (35-13)
  • 2022 – Massillon by 14; score – Massillon won by 10 (23-13)
  • 2023 – Massillon by 32; score – Massillon won by 35 (35-0)
  • 2024 – Massillon by 34; score – ???

Massillon player records

  • Travis McGuire 302 Rushing Yards and 5 TD’s.

    Most yards rushing – 302 by Travis McGuire in 1991

  • Most rushing touchdowns – 5 by Travis McGuire in 1991
  • Most yards passing – 285 by Kyle Kempt in 2012
  • Most touchdown passes – 3 by Rich Crescenze in 1953, Dave Irwinn in 1999 and Kyle Kempt in 2012
  • Most receiving yards – Devin Jordan 154 by Devin Jordan in 2001
  • Longest field goal – 47 yards by Steve Schott in 2006
  • Most tackle points – 11.0 by Stephan Laury in 2011 and Jamir Thomas in 2015
  • Punt returned for a touchdown – Never!
dengelhardt

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