2026 Booster Club Report – Week 6 – Post-Lakewood St. Edward; Preview of the Football North Game

Massillon (5-0) defeated Lakewood St. Edward (4-1), 23-21.  This week Massillon plays at home against Canada Football North (3-1).

Link to the St. Edward Game Story

Link to the St. Edward Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (4-0): Defeated Warren, 36-0.  Plays at home against Chardon on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00 pm.  Game moved to PBTS.
• 8th Grade (3-1): Defeated Warren, 27-8.  Plays at home against Youngstown United on Tuesday, September 22, at 5:00 pm.
• Freshmen (1-4): Lost to Lakewood St. Edward, 33-14.  Plays at home against Canada Football North on Saturday, September 26, at noon.
• Junior Varsity (2-2): Lost to Lakewood St. Edward, 47-20.  Plays at home against Canada Football North on Saturday, September 26, at 10:00 am.

Review of the St. Edward Game

In a game played at Baldwin Wallace’s Finney Stadium, Massillon held off a late charge by Lakewood St. Edward to come away with a hard-fought 23-21 victory.  Sophomore running back Gary Yeager led the offensive attack by rushing 16 times for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Savior Owens also scored a touchdown, while Mateo Herrera added a 30-yard field goal.  On offense the Tigers stayed mostly to the ground for the entire game. For St. Edward, they had difficulty running the ball against the stout Massillon defense and relied on an aerial attack to move the ball.  The Tigers led throughout most of the game, but needed to defeat a Hail Mary pass from the Eagle quarterback to the goal line as time expired to secure the win, Massillon’s fifth straight in the series.  No other team in the last fifty years owns a winning streak this long against St. Edward.

“Eds is a great team,” said Massillon head coach Nate Moore.  “A good program.  I’m just really proud of our team.  They played really well.  They played really hard.  A lot of really good stuff.  Everybody was on the same page.”

Moore had a lot of praise for the backups that stepped up to fill spots vacated by players with injuries or other issues.  He particularly cited the play of Gary Yeager at running back, Wyatt Porter at nose tackle and Worth Hirning at center.

The coach also had good words for defensive lineman Joe Karder.  “Karder became a man,” he beamed.  “He had a great game.”  In fact, the entire offensive line was discussed in length.  “It was the best performance I’ve ever seen,” he said of the line.  In fact, Moore spent a lot of time showing film and discussing the solid techniques used by the linemen against the huge Eagle players, and the holes they were able to open up for the running backs, resulting in several long gains.

Then he talked about quarterback Rasmus Haines.  Although he didn’t throw a lot of passes, his check downs prior to the snaps played a huge part in the victory.  “He got us out of a lot of stuff,” Moore said.

The kicking game also received some kudos.  Good, accurate boots (except the last punt and the blocked PAT).  Great coverage.  Mateo  Herrera’s kickoffs were spot on and he converted a 30-yard field goal attempt, which proved to be the winning margin.

And he didn’t forget the remarkable performance of sophomore running back Gary Yeager.  Moore said that he didn’t know a lot about him when he came into camp.  But once he got into the games, his talent really showed up.  “Gary runs bigger than he is,” said Moore.  “He’s not afraid of contact.  A great player.  A great kid.”

Finally, he thanked the outstanding, boisterous Massillon crowd that attended the game.  “It provided us a lot of energy,” said the coach.

Preview of the Football North Game

North scores to date:

• Hewlett Sports Academy, MD (1-4): 65-0- W
• Propel / Imani co-op, PA (1-2): 44-20 W
• Cleveland Glenville (3-2): 21-37 L
• St. Francis Academy (Regional), MD (0-1): 33-6 W

Massillon hopes to reap revenge this Friday, after last season’s 34-2 disaster.

Once again, the Tigers will be facing a team with huge lines.  The North offense averages 6′-2″, 286 lbs., while the defense averages 6′-2″, 266 lbs. or 6′-2″, 250 lbs., depending on which group of four is in the game.  Incidentally, Massillon averages 6′-3″, 282 lbs. on offense and 6′-2″, 252 lbs. on defense.

The offense is run-first.  But they will also throw the ball around at times off of play action and RPO.

Best players:

• Senior quarterback Brandon Bailey (6′-1″, 195).  Good player.
• Senior running back Peyton Mansfield (5′-11″, 205).  Good player.  Good speed.
• Junior wide receiver Gabriel Tabora (6′-3″, 190).  Top target.
• Senior right guard Matteo Capilongo (6′-2″, 275).  Returning 2-year starter.

North has used as many as twenty different starters on defense throughout the season.  However, the strength of the unit is the front group in their 4-2-5 alignment.  There is a lot of size there and the players are very active.  It is a good group.  They will mix in some odd front on the line, and cover-3, cover-1 and cover-0 in the secondary.

Best players:

• Senior defensive lineman Khalil Felix (6′-3″, 230).  Returning 2-year starter.
• Junior safety Asher Abrams (6′-1″, 195).  Good player.
• Senior cornerback Sean Shook-Falomi (6′-3″, 190).  Best defensive back on the team.

The kicking game is also solid.

Go Tigers!