Massillon’s Record-Setting Running Backs

The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the rushing category.

SINGLE GAME RUSHING RECORDS

Most rushing yards – 324 yards

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  Willtrell Hartson (2020) – Starting running back Raekwon Venson was injured near the end of the Week 9 game against Cleveland St. Ignatius and was unavailable for the rest of the year.  In came sophomore backup Willtrell Hartson, who burst onto the scene the following week against Canton McKinley.  On his first carry he ripped off a 61-yard run and proceeded to put up a 188-yard, 2-touchdown performance in a 35-7 victory.  Two weeks later he recorded a 196-yard, 4- TD effort in a playoff win over North Canton Hoover, setting the stage for his record-setting outing the following week vs. Westerville South.  In that one he was nearly unstoppable, as he carried the ball 27 times for 324 yards (7 rushes of 10 yards or more) and scored three touchdowns on runs of 53, 54 and 25 yards, all the while leading his team to a 45-36 victory.  The Tigers finished the year with a 10-2 record and advanced in the playoffs to the state finals.

Most rushing attempts – 44

• Elwood Kammer (1925) – Kammer was a literal workhorse against Erie Academy, PA, in a 17-10 victory. Kammer also scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the win.  The Tigers finished the year with a 7-2 record.

Highest rushing average – 20.0 yards per attempt

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  Mike Mauger (1970) – Mauger was the starting tailback for a Massillon team that finished the season with a 10-0 record and final state poll championship. He ended up rushing 159 times for 1,200 yards, with an average of 7.3 yards per attempt.  His most proficient outing came against Cleveland Benedictine in a 32-7 victory when he rushed 11 times for 220 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns, to go along with a punt return score.  The Bennies finished the year 9-1.  Post-season, Mauger was named the Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year.

Most touchdowns scored – 8

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  Edwin Hill (1922) – Edwin “Dutch” Hill was the obvious leader of a Tiger team that finished 10-0 and captured the state championship. Against Akron North he set a record for eight rushing touchdowns in a single game.  But he was certainly aided by the level of competition, as Massillon put up 94 points, which was also a team record at that time.  Hill scored once in the first quarter, three times in the second, twice in the third and twice in the fourth.  Included were runs of 49, 43 and 25 yards.  I guess with just 19 players on the squad the Tigers didn’t have much of a bench for substitutions.

Longest touchdown run – 99 yards

• Chauncy Watson (1991) – Travis McGuire and Falando Ashcraft may have dominated the rushing stats that year, but Watson, just a sophomore at the time, had his moment against Akron Garfield when he ripped off a 99-yard TD run (99-1/2 yards according to him) in a substitution role. Along the way he broke five or six tackles as he sped to his left and then rode the sideline for the score.  The play was set up by Dan Seimetz, who had unfortunately slipped at the one yard line on a kick return.  On the flip side, Seimetz made a key block to aid in Watson’s run.  Massillon won the game, 60-13.

SINGLE SEASON RUSHING RECORDS

Most rushing yards – 2,042

• Willtrell Hartson (2022) – Hartson rushed 334 times for 2,042 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per attempt. He also scored 31 touchdowns.  His high games were 274 yards against Austintown Fitch, 211 against Big Walnut, 198 against Middletown, DE, and 175 against Uniontown Lake.  The Tigers finished with a 12-2 record.

Most rushing attempts – 349

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  Jamir Thomas (2017) – Thomas, a junior that year, rushed 349 times for 1,506 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per carry in a 14-game season. He also scored 21 touchdowns.  His high marks were 42 carries against Canton McKinley, 37 against Ashland and 33 against New Albany.  Against the Bulldogs, he picked up 124 yards and scored one touchdown on a 2-yard run.  The Tigers finished with a 10-4 record, while advancing to the regional finals.

Highest rushing average – 12.2 yards per attempt

• Jim Wood (1959) – Wood, playing alongside Art Hastings, rushed 40 times for 488 yards and scored three touchdowns. The Tigers finished with a perfect 10-0 record.  They were also awarded both state and national championship honors.

Most yards per game – 152.0 yards

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  Travis McGuire (1991) – McGuire rushed 251 times for 1,976 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry during Massillon’s 13-game season. He also scored 26 rushing touchdowns.  Ten times he eclipsed the 100-yard mark, with high games of 302 yards against Canton McKinley (5 TDs), 229 against Toledo St. John’s, 198 against Akron Ellet and 187 against Toledo St. Francis.  The Tigers finished with a 10-3 record, while advancing to the state semifinals.

Most touchdowns scored – 33

• Edwin Hill (1922) – Hill scored at least one touchdown in every game during which he played, leading his team to a 10-0 record and a state championship, Massillon’s third. His high games were 8 touchdowns against Akron North, 5 against Cambridge, and 4 each against Alliance and Warren Harding.

CAREER RUSHING RECORDS

• Yards – 4,025 – Jamir Thomas (2015-18)
• Attempts – 773 – Jamir Thomas – (2015-18)
• Rushing average – 12.2 – Jim Wood (1959)
• Average yards per game – 132.8 – Willtrell Hartson (2020-22)
• Touchdowns – 56 – Jamir Thomas (2015-18)