Statistics

Bracket

Statistics provided by Matt Hersher

Rodney Dangerfield’s classic stage line was “I don’t get no respect.” And that was the feeling in Massillon throughout the season, with area fans mocking the 7-3 record and a pair of losses to perceived mediocre out-of-state teams. It’s that they just didn’t realize how good these out-of-state teams are and just how good this Tiger team is. Well, North Canton Hoover got a taste of that after being blown away 62-7 in a second-round playoff match. It didn’t help the Vikings that the Tigers had ample time to prepare owing to a well-earned bye week.

Massillon was the favorite in this one, but not by much. That’s because the Vikings entered the fray as one of the top teams in the Federal League, with just two losses: one by a touchdown to Lake and another by a single point to Canton McKinley, a team that the Tigers defeated by just seven points. Plus, according to Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore, they had the best player in the county in the speedy and shifty Jack Andes, who excelled as both a runner and a pass receiver.

At the start it looked like the Tigers were in for a dog fight when Andes caught a pass uncovered at midfield while running a post pattern and outraced the Massillon secondary to the end zone. But that turned out to be North Canton’s only highlight of the night. For the rest of the game, it was all Massillon.

Following that touchdown, the Tigers made some tweaks in the secondary to the both the defensive alignment and the player matchups. That basically put a stop to any significant passing danger. By game’s end, aside from that one big play, Hoover ended up running the ball 29 times for 67 yards (2.3 ave.) and quarterback John Collins completed 8 of 15 passes for just 99 yards. He also ran the ball 16 times for 26 yards, but most of those attempts were made to avoid coverage sacks. Also, three of his passes were intercepted: two by Noah Jenkins and one by Isaac Maxheimer. Andes, aside from his TD, ran 7 times for 31 yards and caught 2 passes for 44 yards. Best player in the county? Perhaps Tiger fans have another opinion.

Massillon also welcomed first-time starter Zay-Shawn Murray, who regained eligibility for this game. The 295-pound nose tackle had an immediate and disruptive impact on the interior of the Viking line. For the night he recorded 5.5 total tackles, just behind Maxheimer, who had 6.5, and just ahead of Christian Culler, who recorded 5.0. The team also recorded three sacks.

For Massillon on offense, quarterback Manny Patterson had a performance that landed him in the Tiger record book once again by completing 12 of 13 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns. The 92% completion mark now ranks 3rd and the 340 efficiency rating ranks 2nd.

It was obvious that the Hoover defenders respected the abilities of the Massillon receivers, who were quicker and more athletic, as they were giving ample cushions on the edges in their alignments. And they did not blitz. So, they basically set the table and Patterson took full advantage. While he never went deep against the Vikings’ cover-4 group, most of the tosses were to the sidelines, with the receivers using their talents to avoid tackles on a few of them for long gains. Particularly involved was Giorgio Jackson Jr., who caught 7 passes for 109 and a touchdown. Adding to that was Jadyce Thigpen, who caught two for 37 yards and two TDs, and Deontay Malone, who grabbed a pair for 76 yards and a score.

As good as the passing attack was, the running attack was superb as well, in spite of Hoover at times adding players to bolster their front-4. The offensive line simply overpowered the Viking defenders, helping Savior Owens and Anthony McMullen Jr. to combine for 14 carries and 169 yards (12.1 ave.), with 3 touchdowns.

Behind by a touchdown early, the Tigers went right to work. First was an out-pass to Malone for a first down, followed by a second out-pass to Jackson for another first down. On the third play Owens broke through the right side of the line and he wouldn’t be caught, speeding 51 yards to tie the score.

Hoover went to ground on their second possession, with Collins picking up most of the yards while vacating the pocket. Only, the drive stalled when Maxheimer intercepted a fourth down pass at the Massillon 18. From there it took the Tigers just four plays to grab the lead, with Owens taking the ball around the left side of the line and scoring from eight yards out. The TD was set up by a 42-yard catch and run by Jackson.

On the third Viking possession they were hampered by penalties and faced a 3rd and 20 from their own ten. It didn’t go any farther when an errant pass was intercepted by a leaping Jenkins, who was subsequently escorted to the end zone, upping the score to 21-7. There was a sense then among fans that this game wasn’t going to be close. And, indeed it wasn’t. Massillon from that point on just poured on the points.

Four touchdowns were tallied in the second quarter: a 46-yard run by McMullen, a 21-yard pass to Thigpen, a 66-yard catch-and-run pass to Malone and a 20-yard pass to Jackson in the corner of the end zone. That made the halftime score 42-7, with 350 yards of offense in the books.

The first team had one final series to start the second half, which ended in a 16-yard pass to a wide-open Thigpen. The backups then quickly finished it off under a running clock. Even this group scored. At the end of a 9-play, 45-yard drive, quarterback Eli Moore vacated the pocket when he couldn’t find an open receiver and outraced the defense to the left edge of the goal line. It was the final touchdown of the ten games played at home this year, fittingly scored by the coach’s son.

Hoover closes out the season with a fine 9-3 record. Meanwhile, Massillon (8-3) will travel to Columbus next week to face No. 2 seeded St. Francis DeSales (9-2), which defeated Ashland 33-29 in the final seconds to remain alive. Had Ashland won that game, the Tigers would have been at home once again. Special thanks to Dave Weaver for displaying the end of the Ashland game on the big screen to the several hundred fans that stuck around, watching in anticipation.

Photos by Marlene Kanipe