Tigers Enjoy Bye Week in Round 1 of the Playoffs
The Massillon Tigers have the week off following the big 21-14 victory over Canton McKinley, a record 10th consecutive win in that long series. Head Coach Nate Moore admits that it takes a lot of energy to come away with a positive outcome in that game. In last Monday’s Booster Club meeting he said that the bye is good for both the players and the coaches. The plan this week is to get well rested and dive back into the fundamentals. Then, resume the following week with a schedule of normal game prep.
Next week Massillon will entertain the winner of this Friday’s contest between North Canton Hoover and Columbus Northland. The host Vikings are currently 8-2, with a 1-point home loss to the Bulldogs, while Northland comes in at 7-3.
Division II Bracket
Here’s a brief look at all the teams in DivisIon II, Region 7.
No. 1 – Sunbury Big Walnut
- Record (season / league): 9-1 / 7-0
- Average Points Scored: 37-9
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 2
- Hsratings.com Rank: 1
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 4
- Notable Victories: Westerville South (8-2) 28-7, Worthington Kilbourne (7-3) 35-20
- Losses: Columbus Watterson (9-0) 15-37
- Key Players: Tight end Owen Pollock, quarterback Eli Stumpf, running back Nolan Buirley, linebacker Eli Helton, defensive back Brody Hatfield, offensive lineman Jake Wecker
- Playoff History: 12 qualifications, state title in 2007, 3 regional titles; in 2024 lost 28-24 to Cincinnati Anderson in state semifinals
Big Walnut has a bye week in Round 1. Next week they will host the winner of No. 8 Columbus Walnut Ridge and No. 9 Worthington Kilbourne.
No. 8 – Columbus Walnut Ridge
- Record (season / league): 7-3 / 7-0
- Average Points Scored: 32-8
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 10
- Hsratings.Hsratings.com Rank: 10
- com Strength of Schedule Rank: 11
- Notable Victories: Africentric Early College (7-3) 26-6
- Losses: Cleveland St. Joseph (8-1) 16-27, Canfield (9-1) 20-35, Columbus Hartley (5-5) 0-6 O.T.
- Key Players: quarterback Marquis Lucas, defensive back Lee’Sean Saunders
- Playoff History: 11 qualifications; in 2024 lost 29-26 to Worthington Kilbourne in Round 1
No. 9 – Worthington Kilbourne
- Record (season / league): 7-3 / 5-2
- Average Points Scored: 33-22
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 7
- Hsratings.Hsratings.com Rank: 8
- com Strength of Schedule Rank: 5
- Notable Victories: None
- Losses: Canal Winchester (9-1) 28-48, Big Walnut (9-1) 20-35, Westerville South (8-2), 19-21
- Key Players: Quarterback Jackson Szabo, punter Ben Davis, running back L Page, wide receiver Shion Jamshidi, wide receiver Alex Meek, linebacker Mason Cost
- Playoff History: 13 qualifications, 2 regional titles; in 2024 lost 10-7 to Teays Valley in Round 2
No. 4 – Canal Winchester
- Record (season / league): 9-1 / 6-1
- Average Points Scored: 44-23
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 4
- Hsratings.com Rank: 3
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 7
- Notable Victories: Worthington Kilbourne (7-3) 48-28
- Losses: Pickerington Central (9-1) 30-43
- Key Players: Defensive back/wide receiver Dre Jackson, quarterback Quinton McGhee, running back Jamari Snow
- Playoff History: 13 qualifications; in 2024 lost 37-3 to Massillon in Round 2
Canal Winchester has a bye week in Round 1. Next week they will host the winner of No. 5 Westerville South and No. 12 Louisville.
No. 5 – Westerville South
- Record (season / league): 8-2 / 6-1
- Average Points Scored: 20-16
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 8
- Hsratings.com Rank: 5
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 2
- Notable Victories: Worthington Kilbourne (7-3) 21-19
- Losses: Dublin Jerome (5-5) 13-23, Big Walnut (9-1) 7-28
- Key Players: Safety Isaac Patterson, edge rusher London Vickroy, defensive back Isaac Patterson, quarterback E Andrews, defensive player Manny Norwood
- Playoff History: 15 qualifications, 1 regional title; in 2024 lost 17-7 to Canal Winchester in Round 1
No. 12 – Louisville
- Record (season / league): 6-4 / none
- Average Points Scored: 25-15
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 8
- Hsratings.com Rank: 9
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 8
- Notable Victories: Alliance (8-2) 30-13, Northwest (6-4), 10-3
- Losses: North Canton (8-2) 13-31, Canfield (9-1) 21-23, Green (5-5) 14-27, Cincinnati LaSalle (7-3) 24-35
- Key Players: Running back Owen DiMarzio, quarterback Gabe Stoffer, wide receiver Quin Burick, linebacker Owen Wilson
- Playoff History: 17 qualifications, 1 state runner-up, 2 regional titles; in 2024 did not qualify
No. 2 – Columbus DeSales
- Record (season / league): 8-2 / 2-1
- Average Points Scored: 33-15
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 3
- Hsratings.com Rank: 6
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 6
- Notable Victories: Columbus Northland (7-3) 34-0, Columbus Africentric (7-3) 35-18, Harrison (7-3) 23-21
- Losses: Hamilton Badin (9-1) 21-38, Columbus Watterson (9-0) 7-42
- Key Players: Running back Jonathan Brown, tight end Jordan Karhoff, wide receiver Blake Donnelly
- Playoff History: 31 qualifications, state titles in 1975, 1997 and 1998, 12 regional titles; in 2024 lost 27-14 to Ashland in Round 2
Columbus DeSales has a bye week in Round 1. Next week they will host the winner of No. 7 Ashland and No. 10 Mount Vernon.
No. 7 – Ashland
- Record (season / league): 9-1 / 6-1
- Average Points Scored: 40-13
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 5
- Hsratings.com Rank: 7
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 10
- Notable Victories: None
- Losses: Lexington (9-1) 35-43
- Key Players: Quarterback Nathan Bernhard
- Playoff History: 15 qualifications, 1 regional title; in 2024 lost 28-10 to Big Walnut in Round 3
No. 10 – Mount Vernon
- Record (season / league): 6-4 / 5-2
- Average Points Scored: 28-26
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 11
- Hsratings.com Rank: 11
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 9
- Notable Victories: Johnstown (7-3) 35-34 O.T.
- Losses: Marion Harding (3-7) 14-21, Delaware Hayes (2-8) 34-41, Licking Valley (10-0) 13-58, Granville (7-3) 13-35
- Key Players: Quarterback Mason Richards, defensive lineman Landon Dawson, linebacker Luke Mullins
- Playoff History: 2 qualifications; in 2024 did not qualify
No. 3 – Massillon
- Record (season / league): 7-3 / none
- Average Points Scored: 30-20
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 1
- Hsratings.com Rank: 2
- Hsratings.com Strength of Schedule Rank: 1
- Notable Victories: Lakewood St. Edward (8-2) 21-14, Cardinal Ritter, MO (4-3) 28-14, Canton McKinley (8-2) 21-14
- Losses: Cleveland Glenville (7-3) 27-33 O.T., Rabun Gap, GA (5-4) 35-50, Football North, ONT (5-4) 2-34
- Key Players: Running back Savior Owens, wide receiver Gio Jackson Jr., wide receiver/cornerback back Deontay Malone, offensive/defensive lineman Marcus Garner, offensive lineman Davionne Floyd, linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams, defensive lineman Sam Doussous, safety Brian Gamble, cornerback Lennox Lemon
- Playoff History: 31 qualifications, state title in 2023, 6 state runners-up, 16 regional titles; in 2024 lost 14-7 to Big Walnut in regional finals
Massillon has a bye week in Round 1. Next week they will host the winner of No. 6 North Canton Hoover and No. 11 Columbus Northland.
No. 6 – North Canton Hoover
- Record (season / league): 8-2 / 4-2
- Average Points Scored: 33-15
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 3
- com Rank: 6
- com Strength of Schedule Rank: 6
- Notable Victories: Louisville (6-4) 31-13
- Losses: Canton McKinley (8-2) 20-21, Uniontown Lake (7-3) 14-20
- Key Players: Offensive lineman Jack Ziarko, quarterback John Collins, RB Jack Andes, linebacker Carter Lukens, defensive lineman David Tully, defensive lineman Owen Williams, Aaron Brubaker, cornerback Carson Morris
- Playoff History: 22 qualifications, 1 state runner-up, 3 regional titles; in 2024 lost 28-0 to Uniontown Lake in Round 1
No. 11 – Columbus Northland
- Record (season / league): 7-3 / 6-1
- Average Points Scored: 22-13
- Drew Pasteur Rank: 12
- com Rank: 12
- com Strength of Schedule Rank: 12
- Notable Victories: Columbus Linden-McKinley (8-2) 20-14 O.T.
- Losses: Columbus Academy (8-2) 7-14, Columbus DeSales (8-2) 0-34, Columbus East (9-1) 0-26
- Key Players: Defensive back TeJuan Barger, quarterback Akeilles Harrison, linebacker Amari Mallory, linebacker Mahari Bowles, defender Quinez Walker, defensive back Tejuan Barbour
- Playoff History: 6 qualifications; in 2024 lost 34-6 to Massillon Perry in Round 1
