Massillon Downs Warren Harding with Overwhelming Rushing Attack
Nothing cures a loss like a win. On a cool and rainy night at Warren’s Mollenkopf Stadium, Massillon got back on the win track by defeating the Raiders, 49-16 in a game that was literally over after one quarter. Leading the way was running back Savior Owens, who put up monster night running the ball.
Coming off last week’s loss to Cornerstone Christian, the No. 22 team in Texas, the Tigers came out firing on all cylinders. Not only was the offense putting up 42 points in the first half, the defense was holding the Raiders to negative yards rushing. That, in spite of several Massillon starters being held out of the game for various reasons.
Owens recorded a season-high 232 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just 19 carries (12.2 ave.). He was nearly unstoppable throughout, adding several long runs to go along with his scoring totes. And it all happened in just over one half of football. Plus, it came against a Warren team that is trying to win its way into the Division II playoffs. Also showing in the run category is Brayton Feister who, after not seeing the offensive side of the ball for a while, took off on his first carry for a 63-yard touchdown run. Later, he added a second score.
With the win, Massillon maintains its position in the computer standings for a potential first-round bye in the post-season playoffs. In addition, the series record with the Raiders improves to 63-25-3.
Warren, after returning the opening kickoff to midfield, found the end zone on the back of three consecutive pass completions from quarterback James Jones to No. 1 receiver Matt Richardson. For a moment it appeared that this one might be a game. Only, the Raiders didn’t see the end zone again until the Tigers had piled on 49 points. Simply a brief moment of joy for the few Raider fans that braved the weather.
It took Massillon just four plays to respond, by covering 80 yards of turf and grabbing a 7-6 lead, with Owens scoring from the eight yard line. The TD was set up by a perfectly thrown deep ball from quarterback Rasmus Haines to Gio Jackson Jr. Mateo Herrera then converted the first of seven successful PATs.
Following a short Warren punt to their own 38, Owens ran for 12 yards, then 16 yards and finally for 10 yards to the end zone for the score.
Then disaster struck for the Raiders. A snap over the head of the punter left the ball lying in the end zone. Following a scramble, Massillon’s Isaac Maxheimer came out on top and the Tigers now led 21-6.
Warren, on their next possession, passed their way to the opposite end of the field, but were stopped at the 18 and settled for a 35-yard field goal by Jeron Edmonds.
Two plays later it was Feister that found his way into the end zone on a 63-yard run. The first-quarter score was now 28-9.
Disaster came again for Warren when they failed to cleanly field the ball on the subsequent Massillon kickoff. Now into the second quarter, Owens scored his third touchdown of the night, this time from the 14 yard line.
The final score of the half came from Feister on a seven yard run.
The Tigers received the second half kickoff under a running clock situation and made the most of it with a seven yard touchdown by Owens, his fourth of the night. And that was it for the senior running back.
Warren got their second TD when Elijah Phillips carried it in from the eight, making the final score 49-16. Massillon then ran out the clock, which didn’t seem to stop one time throughout the entire half (Massillon had the ball twice and Warren once).
Next week Massillon (8-1) entertains Canton McKinley (7-2) in the annual rivalry game. Meanwhile, Warren (4-5) will have one more chance to qualify for the playoffs when they travel to Austintown Fitch (7-1).
