
Massillon Releases 2025 Football Schedule
Massillon Releases 2025 Football Schedule
Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore has recently released the schedule for 2025 Tigers. The squad should feel quite at home this year with nine games slated for the friendly confines of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The only road game is the annual Week Ten rivalry against Canton McKinley, which is just a short eight miles to the east, at Tom Bensen Hall of Fame Stadium. There, Massillon enjoys a 4-0 record against the Pups.

The slate features five non-Ohio teams, including newcomers Rabun Gap from Georgia, Bennet from New York, Cornerstone Christian from Texas and Cardinal Ritter College Prep from Missouri. In addition, Football North from Ontario returns from last year’s schedule. For the opener, Massillon has scheduled Cleveland Glenville, which is coached by Ted Ginn. With two recent Division IV championships on the belt Ginn has been jumping up and down for the opportunity to face the Tigers. The opponents last year compiled an overall record of 81-40.
- Cleveland Glenville – H
- Canton GlenOak – H
- Rabun Gap, GA – H
- Bennett, NY – H
- Lakewood St. Edward – H
- Cornerstone Christian, TX – H
- Football North (Clarkson), ONT – H
- Cardinal Ritter College Prep, MO – H
- Warren Harding – H
- Canton McKinley – A
Moore will begin his 11th year as head coach of the Tigers, where he has compiled an overall record of 110-25, broken down as follows:
- Regular season: 78-17
- Playoffs: 32-8
- Playoff regional finals: 6-2
- Playoff state finals: 1-3
- Ohio Public: 81-22
- Ohio Private: 15-9
- Out of State: 14-3
- Canton McKinley: 9-1
- Last seven years: 88-12
Last year Massillon finished with a record of 11-3, while losing 14-7 to Big Walnut in the regional finals. The season began with a trip to Oregon to play NFL Academy-London in an event that was sponsored by Nike. The Tigers won that encounter, 35-20. Later, they defeated 3-time defending Division I state champion Lakewood St. Edward, 31-21. It was Massillon’s third consecutive win over the Eagles. The regular season wrapped up with a 16-7 victory over McKinley. In 2023 the Tigers captured the Division II state championship with a 7-2 victory over Akron Hoban. It was Massillon’s 25th state title overall.
For the 2025 season Massillon will rely on the defense to carry the team early, as the offense returns just two starters: an offense lineman and a wide receiver. But the program is strong underneath and several good prospects are in position to step into the starting roles. The defense, however, returns seven full-time and several part-time starters, including five of the front seven, a group that last year held opponents to a mere 2.8 yards per carry. Fortunately, the schedule top-to-bottom does not appear as strong as last year’s, which was perhaps the stiffest slate of competition that the Tigers have ever faced.
Enjoy the following opponent breakdowns, plus an early preview of Massillon:
Week 1 – Cleveland Glenville – H
- League: Cleveland Senate Athletic League
- Playoff Division: DIV
- 2024 Overall Record: 13-3
- 2024 Playoff Results: 4-1; lost 13-11 in state semifinals to Sandusky Perkins
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 1 in Division IV; rated 44.0
- 5-Year Record: 48-11
- 5-Year Playoff History: 4 qualifications; 18-2; DIV state champions in 2022 and 2023
- Last Time vs. Massillon: In 2009 Glenville defeated Massillon 31-17 in the D1 state semifinals
- Historical Series Massillon vs. Glenville: 3-1
- Bonus: Returns offensive lineman Marquis Whipple (6’-3”, 290), 1st Team All-Ohio, linebacker Cincere Johnson (6’-3”, 225), 1st Team All-Ohio, Defensive Player of the Year, defensive back Aaron Scales (5’-9”, 180), 2nd Team All-Ohio, and running back C.J. Newell (5’-10, 180) 3rd Team All-Ohio.
Week 2 – Canton GlenOak – H
- League: Federal League
- Playoff Division: DI
- 2024 Overall Record: 1-9
- 2024 Playoff Results: Did not qualify
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 55 in D1; rated 5.0
- 5-Year Record: 15-36
- 5-Year Playoff History: 4 qualifications; 1-4 record
- Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 45-0 to Massillon in 2024
- Historical Series Massillon vs. Canton GlenOak: 16-4
- Bonus: GlenOak has had only one winning season in the past eight years, that one coming in 2023 when they went 7-5.
Week 3 – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, Rabun County, GA – H
- League: NCISAA Western
- Playoff Division: NCISAA IU
- 2024 Overall Record: 12-1
- 2024 Playoff Results: 3-1; state champion in North Carolina; defeated Providence Day, NC, 42-39
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 17 in Georgia; ranked No. 4 in North Carolina; rated 52.0
- 5-Year Record: 48-11
- 5-Year Playoff History: 4 qualifications; 7-3
- Last Time vs. Massillon: n.a.
- Historical Series Massillon vs: Rabun Gap: 0-0
- Bonus: Returns senior quarterback Gavin Owens (6’-4”, 198) (198-289-2,815, 35 TDs), senior wide receiver Walker Bryson (5’-11”, 170) (47-593, 7 TDs), senior wide receiver Joshua Buckhalter (5’-8”,165) (40-652, 9 TDs), senior defensive end Ryan Hassett (6’-3”, 230) (37 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, 13 QB sacks) and senior safety Zeke Marshall (6’-5”,180) (6 interceptions).
Week 4 –Bennett, Buffalo, New York – H
- League: Section 6 AA
- Playoff Division: AA
- 2024 Overall Record: 7-2
- 2024 Playoff Results: Lost 28-16 in first round to Jamestown
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 78 in New York; rated 0.7
- 5-Year Record: 40-14
- 5-Year Playoff History: 5 qualifications; 12-4; won championship in 2022
- Last Time vs. Massillon: n.a.
- Historical Series Massillon vs. Bennet: 0-0
- Bonus: Lost 42-0 last year to St. John’s, D.C. Returns Senior running back/safety Jimmy Valentine (5’-10”, 180) (rushed 51 times for 508 yards and 5 TDs; 44 tackles, 6 TFLs), senior wide receiver Jack Eskridge (5’-7”) (caught 26 passes for 281 yards and 8 TDs); senior linebacker Nyree Feaster (5’-8”, 206) (49 tackles, 4 TFLs); sophomore defensive end Jason Hargrove (5’-11, 210) (46 tackles, 8 TFLs).
Week 5 – Lakewood St. Edward – H
- League: None
- Playoff Division: DI
- 2024 Overall Record: 9-6
- 2024 Playoff Results: 4-1; lost 21-7 in the state semifinals to Olentangy Liberty
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 4 in D1; rated 49.8
- 5-Year Record: 60-11
- 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 23-2 record; state titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023
- Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost to Massillon 31-21 in 2024
- Historical Series Massillon vs. St. Edward: 6-4
- Bonus: Returns wide receiver Zach Hackleman (6’-1”, 170), 1st Team All-Ohio, wide receiver Joseph Saffold (7’-0”, 170), HM All-Ohio, offensive lineman Mason Wilhelm (6’-4”, 290), HM All-Ohio and defensive back Brayden Thomas (6’-0”, 175), HM All-Ohio.
Week 6 – Corner Christian, San Antonio, TX – H
- League: None
- Playoff Division: None
- 2024 Overall Record: 5-5
- 2024 Playoff Results: n.a.
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 275 in Texas; rated 18.0
- 5-Year Record: 26-22
- 5-Year Playoff History: n.a.
- Last Time vs. Massillon: n.a.
- Historical Series Massillon vs. Corner Christian: 0-0
- Bonus: Finished 8-1 in 2020 and 6-3 in 2021. Lost 34-16 in 2024 to Legacy School of Sport Sciences. Returns senior quarterback I Gaitan (6’-0”, 170) (132-217-2,015, 19 TDs), wide receiver/athlete Davis McCray (6’-2”, 200) (32-639, 10 TDs; 38 tackles) and junior defensive lineman Cole Clark (8.0 TFLs).
Week 7 – Football North, Clarkson Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario – H
- League: East Coast Power Prep League (plays exclusively teams from the USA)
- Playoff Division: n/a (game does not count in Harbin System)
- 2024 Overall Record: 8-3
- 2024 Playoff Results: n/a
- 2024 Calpreps.com: n/a
- 5-Year Record: 17-24 (no games in 2020)
- 5-Year Playoff History: n/a
- Last Time vs. Massillon: Massillon won 45-6 in 21-24
- Historical Series Massillon vs. North: 1-0
- Bonus: Returns to the schedule for the second consecutive year; may become a regular opponent.
Week 8 – Cardinal Ritter College Prep, St. Louis, Missouri – H
- League: AAA (Five parochial schools)
- Playoff Division: D5
- 2024 Overall Record: 10-2
- 2024 Playoff Results: 2-1; lost 30-18 to Lafayette
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 6 in Missouri; rated 44.7
- 5-Year Record: 49-13
- 5-Year Playoff History: 13-2; state champions in 2022 and 2023
- Last Time vs. Massillon: n.a.
- Historical Series Massillon vs. Cardinal Ritter: 0-0
- Bonus: Returns senior wide receiver De’shaun Stevenson (52-652, 3 TDs), junior linebacker Marshaun Ivy (6’-3”, 220) (71 tackles)
Week 9 – Warren Harding – H
- League: All-American Conference
- Playoff Division: DII
- 2024 Overall Record: 8-4
- 2024 Playoff Results: 1-1; lost 41-21 to Austintown Fitch
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 26 in DII; rated 23.8
- 5-Year Record: 26-29
- 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 8-5 record
- Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 45-14 to Massillon in 2024
- Historical Series Massillon vs. Warren: 61-25-3 (second-longest series)
- Bonus: Returns junior backup quarterback James Jones (6’-3”, 200) (39-65, 415, 5 TDs) and senior linebacker Tyler Smith (6’-0”, 195) (86 tackles).
Week 10 – Canton McKinley – A
- League: Federal League
- Playoff Division: DI
- 2024 Overall Record: 8-5
- 2024 Playoff Results: Lost 31-0 to Mentor in Round 3
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 20 in DI; rated 34.1
- 5-Year Record: 36-23
- 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 8-5 playoff record
- Last Time Massillon vs. Massillon: Lost 16-7 to Massillon in 2024
- Historical Series vs. McKinley: 77-53-5; Massillon has won 13 of the last 14 games
- Bonus: Returns 4 starters on offense and 4 on defense. The best player is 2-way senior starter Damere McClellan (5’-11, 173). Against Massillon last year he recorded 6 tackles, including 2 TFLs. Junior running back Isaac Brooks (5’-11”, 200) caught 3 passes for 18 yards and McKinley’s lone touchdown.

The Book on Massillon
- League: Independent
- Playoff Division: DII
- 2024 Overall Record: 11-3
- 2024 Playoff Results: Lost in the regional finals to Big Walnut, 14-7
- 2024 Calpreps.com: Ranked No. 5 in DII; Rated 50.5
- 5-Year Record: 61-10
- 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 22-4 record; advanced to the state finals in 2019, 2020 and 2023; won state championship in 2023; won regional championship in 2022
- Bonus: Returns 2 full-time starters on offense; returns 7 full-time plus 4 part-time starters on defense. Returnees include:
- Junior offensive tackle Marcus Garner (6’-1”, 285)
- Junior offensive lineman Kevin Elliott Jr. (6’-0”, 265)
- Junior wide receiver Deontay Malone (5’-11, 175)
- Junior defensive lineman Isaac Maxheimer (6’-0”, 200)
- Junior defensive lineman Dayvionne Floyd (6’-1”, 260)
- Junior defensive lineman Joseph Russ-Karder (6’-4”, 215)
- Senior defensive lineman Anthony Neal (6’-3”, 310)
- Senior defensive lineman Zey’shawn Murray (6’-1”, 290)
- Senior inside linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams (6’-1”, 200)
- Senior inside linebacker Logan Allman (6’-1”, 215)
- Junior outside linebacker R’Celle Hill (6’-0”, 190)
- Senior cornerback Lennox Lemon (6’-1”, 175)
- Senior cornerback De’Mari Clemons (5’-10”, 165)
- Senior safety Tra’Yon Williams (5’-10”, 190)
- Junior safety Braylon Gamble (6’-0”, 185)
- Senior long snapper Francesco Salvino (5’-10”, 190)
- Junior place kicker Mateo Herrera (5’-5”, 140)