Scrimmage Report – Massillon vs. Cincinnati Moeller
Two of the better teams in Ohio hooked up at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on this hot Thursday summer day in a final scrimmage before the regular season gets underway next week. Massillon is always in the mix of the Division II state title chase, whereas Cincinnati Moeller has been tabbed this year as the team to take the crown in Division I. As expected, it was a physical encounter on a field that was loaded with outstanding athletes on both sides of the ball. The first units faced each other in game-like conditions for one half of football plus a second-half possession, with the Tigers coming out on top, 21-14.
Moeller is currently rated 71st in the country by hsratings.com (formerly calpreps.com) and is led by all-everything quarterback Matt Ponatoski, who is ranked No. 18 in America. In their first two possessions the Crusaders certainly resembled the team that they are expected to become, while taking an early 14-0 lead on drives of 65 and 74 yards. Ponatoski was hot in the two possessions, completing 5 of 6 passes for 96 yards, including a 12-yard scoring toss. And the running game was on track too, covering 48 yards in just eight plays.
But after that the Tigers themselves started looking like the team they will eventually become. First, the defense began to find itself, after spending those first two series searching for effective defensive linemen. Eventually, they settled mostly on Joe Karder, Isaac Maxheimer and Logan Allman, who was moved to the line from his inside linebacker position, while being replaced by De’vaughn Williams. In Moeller’s subsequent four possessions they were held to just 86 yards.
Meanwhile, the offense, which sputtered in its first two possessions, righted the ship behind quarterback Mandwel Pattersson. If Ponatoski was hot, then Mandwel Patterson was even hotter. He ended up completing 9 of 13 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, while showing tremendous athleticism when the need arose to escape the pocket and throw on the run.
After Moeller took the 14-0 lead, Massillon drove 65 yards in four plays, with the big one a 69-yard pass to Gio Jackson. Jackson was well covered, but Patterson delivered the ball right into his outstretched hands. Jackson secured the ball around the 30 and was just a step better than the defender from there to the end zone.
Following an exchange of punts and a stop of the Crusaders at the 20, the Tigers were on the march again. This time it took nine plays to cover 80 yards, with Savior Owens powering up the middle of line to score from the four. During the drive Patterson completed a 34-yard pass to Jackson, with the remaining plays of the short run/pass variety. The score was now tied at 14 apiece, with the half coming to an end two minutes later.
Massillon opened the second half needing just two plays to score. After Owens picked up six yards, he next burst through the right side of the line and used his speed to outrace the Moeller secondary and finish a 59-yard scoring run.
Moeller did come right back by moving the ball to the Tiger four. However, a crucial sack, the sixth of the afternoon, forced them into a field goal attempt, with the kick being missed wide right. So, the final score for the first units was 21-14 in favor of Massillon.
The Tigers continue to show great potential in the run game, particularly in this one by Savior Owens, with the line starters appearing to be settled as well. The passing game also showed its wares behind Patterson, along with a host of athletic receivers. The defense struggled early, particularly against perimeter runs, but improved when the personnel issues were sorted out. But there were some coverage issues in the secondary that will need to be worked on. Nevertheless, it was a good outing against what will be a great team down the road.
Final statistics for the first units:
- Massillon vs. Moeller
- First downs: 10-9
- Rushing attempts: 16-20
- Rushing yards: 91-70
- Yards per carry: 5.7-3.5
- Pass completions: 9-8
- Pass attempts: 13-14
- Pass yards: 174-155
- yards per catch: 19-3-19.4
- Total plays: 29-34
- Total yards: 265-225
- Yards per play: 9.1-6.6
- Penalties: 6-2
- Penalty yards: 45-10
- Punts: 2-2
- Sacks by: 6-2
Following the first unit play the backups finished the remainder of the four quarter event. Each team scored one touchdown. For Massillon, quarterback Eli Moore hit Joe Pierce in double coverage on a long catch-and-run touchdown pass as time expired.
Tigers will open the 2025 season with a home match with Cleveland Glenville. The Crusaders will host Cincinnati Princeton.
