Obie Logo (Large)

Massillon Uses Aerial Assault and Stiff Defense to Down Canton GlenOak – Game Story and Feature Photos

Statistics

The last time Massillon dropped two games in a row during a season was 2015, Head Coach Nate Moore’s first year at the helm.  That’s long stretch of ten years and they weren’t about to let visiting Canton GlenOak interrupt that.  Intent on erasing the bad taste of last week’s overtime loss to Glenville, while also preventing two consecutive losses, the Tigers came out firing and had the Golden Eagles completely dismantled by halftime, with a lead of 44-3 and a running clock in effect after the break.  The final score was 44-10,

GlenOak had a problem.  Do they defend the run that features Savior Owens and Anthony McMullen Jr., or defend the pass that features quarterback Manny Patterson and a bevy of talented receivers?  They knew they couldn’t do both, with Massillon having this many skilled athletes in their arsenal.  So, they elected to focus the run.  And it worked pretty well, with their 3-4 front-7 gaming as such.  Guarding the pass then was the back end, aligned in cover-4.  With the linebackers focused on the run, the scheme also required that the corners play off the wide receivers, which created some measurable mismatches.  So, the Tigers, although initially intent on running the ball, switched gears and took full advantage of the passing game.

Patterson, just a junior, ended up with a career night, completing 16 of 21 passes (76%) for 200 yards and four touchdowns.  And three of the incompletions were right-on-target long bombs that were simply well defended. His quarterback efficiency rating was a fine 219.  On the receiving end of most passes were Deontay Malone (7 receptions for 102 yards and a TD) and Giorgio Jackson Jr. (7 receptions for 72 yards and two TDs).  In addition, Jadyce Thigpen had a reception for a 22-yard score and Will Hymes also caught a pass.

Defensively, Massillon overwhelmed GlenOak on the ground.  Aside from surrendering an early 83-yard run to Javion McClendon that set up a 27-yard field goal, they held the opponent to negative two yards throughout the first half.  So hampered was the Golden Eagle ground game that by the middle of the second quarter they completely abandoned the run and went exclusively to the pass.  For the game, quarterback Evan Crissey completed 12 of 28 passes for 107 yards and a TD, although all but 11 yards came in the second half.

Massillon scored first when Patterson connected in the end zone with Jackson on a 14-yard strike.  Jackson was well-covered, but at 6’-4” he had a 7-inch height advantage over the much shorter defender and he used that advantage to his benefit.  The score was set up by a pass interception by Isaac Maxheimer at the Eagle 34, which he returned to the 18.  It was his first of two picks for the night.  The TD became the first of five consecutive tallies for the Tigers.  The other four were:

  • 4-yard run by Ja’Dyn Williams; 8-play, 68-yard drive; set up by a 27-yard pass completion to Malone.
  • 22-yard pass to a wide-open Thigpen; 2 plays, 26 yards drive.
  • 12-yard pass to Jackson; 8 play, 21-yard drive.
  • 25-yard run by Savior Owens; 3-play, 55-yard drive; included a 16-yard run by Owens and a 14-yard pass completion Malone.

With 57 seconds remaining in first half Massillon recorded a safety when the GlenOak quarterback was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, upping the score 37-3.  After returning the kick to the Tiger 49, Patterson hit Malone for 12 and then for six more.  On the third play he found Malone once again, this time on a 33-yard throw-back pass for the final Massillon score of the night.

At that point the team held 44-3 lead on the scoreboard and was in front in total yards, 264-98.

The halftime show had a military appreciation theme and the two bands performed together for the final number.

The Eagles kept their first unit on the field for the entire second half, while the Tigers substituted the starting quarterback and starting wide receivers.  GlenOak put up the only points when Crissey tossed a 35-yard touchdown Caydren Saunders.

Next week Massillon will entertain Rabun Gap from Georgia, while GlenOak will host Cleveland East Tech.

Owen Sirgo (53), Kevin Elliott (74), George Rivera (29)

Deontay Malone (6)

Chayce White (35); for GlenOak: Javi’ion McClendon (5)

 

Manny Patterson (10), Anthony McMullen Jr. (24), Davionne Floyd (52), Savior Owens (1), Kevin Elliott (74); for GlenOak: Drew Delp (45)

Giorgio Jackson  (21)

Manny Patterson (10); for GlenOak: Drew Delp (45)

Ja’Dyn Williams (9)

Braylon Gamble (5)

Deontay Malone (6); for GlenOak: Dom Wagner (35)

Savior Owens (1), Robert Blakely (59)

Giorgio Jackson (21), Savior Owens (1)

dengelhardt