Massillon Defeats Licking Heights in Round 1 Playoff Game

November 2, 2024November 4, 2024
by Don Engelhardt

Massillon Defeats Licking Heights in Round 1 Playoff Game

Statistics

The Tigers opened defense of their 2023 Division II state title with a 41-6 victory over Licking Heights on a crisp fall evening at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. But it was no easy task, as they struggled to secure early control of the fray. Perhaps it was a post-McKinley game hangover. Or maybe just the environment of the playoffs. For it’s win or go home in the post-season. And the Hornets were not intent on fading quietly into the night.

Everyone knows that Massillon with Nate Moore in command likes to run the ball. And it was expected to go well in this game. And why not. They have 1,000 running back Ja’Meir, plus some very capable backups. And they were an overwhelming favorite. But it appeared that Licking Heights was well aware of this and geared their defense to stop the run by playing man-to-man against the receivers and committing the remaining players solely to the run. Something like the Bulldogs did last week. They even mixed it up by alternating the line play with odd and even fronts. The result was that the Tigers gained just 87 yards on the ground in the first half and couldn’t break free for any big gainers. In addition, they were constantly placed in passing situations.

Only, just like that as in the McKinley game, the Tigers are not a one-dimensional team. So, quarterback Jalen Slaughter went to work in the first half, completing 11 of 14 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. That in spite of being sacked three times and throwing what was his third interception of the season.

Fortunately, the rushing performance was much better in the second half, as Massillon pulled away with three touchdowns and a fourth that should have counted, which sent the game into a running clock for the entire fourth quarter.

Defensively, the Tigers completely shut down the Hornet rushing attack. In fact, Heights put that part of their offense in the drawer for the entire second half and just passed the ball. Heights, however, did have a goodly number of athletic players to use in the passing game and this area went fairly well. Quarterback JJ Shackleford was extremely adept at escaping the pocket against constant blitzing by the Massillon defense and in several cases was able to find an open receiver. On a few scrambles he just ran the ball for good gains. Shackleford finished the game with 13 completions out of 22 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for another 15. He was sacked four times. The Hornets were stopped on downs four times in Tiger territory.

Massillon received the opening kickoff and immediately drove 68 yards in eight plays for the initial points, which came on a 33-yard pass into the end zone to a well-covered Jacques Carter. Mateo Herrera’s PAT kick was good and the Tigers led 7-0. They had a chance for another score on their third possession, but a pass was intercepted at the Hornet 40 and returned to the Massillon 44.

From there it took Licking Heights just five plays to find the end zone. On fourth and one from the Tiger 35, Shackleford faked the handoff on a read option and sped around the right end all the way to the 17. Then on the next play, he found Josiah Ayers for the score. On the PAT Massillon was called for encroachment, which prompted the Hornets to go for two. Only, the running back was quickly put down in the backfield.

Slaughter then went to work, completing 5 of 5 passes for 37 yards, moving the ball to the Heights ten yard line. Two Peytton Mitchell runs later the Tigers had a 14-6 lead.

That might have been the halftime score. But with under two minutes left in the half, the Hornets gave the ball right back with a fumble at the ten. This time Lenix did the deed on a fourth and one play with a 16-yard run around the right side of the line. So, the two teams headed to the locker room with Massillon up, 21-6.

The second half went much better. In the third quarter, Ja’Meir Gamble scored from eight yards out to cap a 7-play, 42-yard drive and then Slaughter connected with a wide-open Braylyn Toles for a 28-yard score, covering 63 yards in just three plays. Finally in the fourth Gamble was able to break free for a long run, of 64 yards, down the left sideline.

After that, a running clock was in effect with the backups in the game. Quarterback Mandwell Patterson did throw a 9-yard touchdown pass into the end zone to Gio Jackson, but the referee ruled it incomplete. A replay shows a successful catch, however.

Gamble finished with 18 carries for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while catching another four balls for 33 yards. Slaughter completed 17 of 23 passes for 159 yards and two scores. Toles caught seven passes for 50 yards and one TD. The defense came up with eight tackles-for-loss and four quarterback sacks, spread among six different players. Lucas Shertzer had a fumble recovery that was forced by Mylen Lenix.

For the Hornets, Ayers caught five passes for 94 yards the TD. Reese Powell recorded ten tackles and Jake Popinto had nine, plus the interception.

The Tiger led in total yards, 360-177.

With the win, Massillon (9-2) advances to the second round of the Region 7 bracket and will face Canal Winchester in a game next Friday at home. Canal Winchester, a previous Tiger playoff opponent, knocked off Westerville South, 17-7. Licking Heights closes out with a 4-7 record.