Author: <span>Don Engelhardt</span>

Obie Logo (Large) News

JV Squad Continues to Roll

There can’t be a lot of difference in execution between the varsity and JV teams if both can continue to put up the big numbers they have so far this season.  On Saturday, the JV Tigers defeated Walsh Jesuit 56-0, with a running clock throughout the entire second half.  Now three games into the season, they have outscored their competition 123-13 in posting a 3-0 record.  And it wasn’t against chopped liver either, with games against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Warren Harding and Walsh.

Behind a relentless passing attack, Massillon picked up yardage in huge chunks and scored touchdown after touchdown throughout the onslaught.  The trigger man was sophomore Zach Catrone, who connected on more than half of his passes, with four going for scores.  The ground game was also very effective.

Meanwhile, the defense was simply stifling.  Walsh only threatened to score once when they moved the ball to the Tiger 5 yard line.  But the defense stiffened and stopped the Warriors on four consecutive plays.

Scoring was as follows:

  • Eric Thurman – 22 yd. run
  • TJ Williams – 40 yd. run
  • Xavier McElroy – 3 yd. run
  • Raekwan Venson – 5 yd. run
  • Jerron Hodges – 65 yd. pass reception
  • TJ Williams 40 yd. pass reception
  • Darien Williams 45 yd. pass reception
  • Daymiere Adams – 10 yd. pass reception

Report from Coach Dave Weber

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo News

Dan Seimetz – Wall of Champions

Dan Seimetz – Wall of Champions

Dan Seimetz

At halftime of this Friday’s football game, former Tiger football / baseball player Dan Seimetz will be inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.  Seimetz was a member of the football team from 1991-93, lettering two years.  Primarily a blocking back, he rushed 56 times for 296 yards, caught three passes for 38 yards and scored four touchdowns.

But it was in baseball where Seimetz really made his mark, lettering three times.  During his 1994 senior season, Dan batted .500 and helped lead the 21-10 Tigers to the state championship game, where they lost a heartbreaker to unbeaten 30-0 Toledo Start.  For his effort, he was named All-Diamond Conference.  He also received the Mike Hershberger Award In both his junior year (when he batted .580) and his senior year. And he excelled in the classroom, being named one of the valedictorians.

Seimetz’s next stop was Ohio State, where he started for four years and broke nearly every batting record at OSU.  His list of accomplishments is remarkable:

  • Career batting average of .370, second all time
  • Career hits leader with 287 (2nd has 271)
  • Career doubles leader with 71 (2nd has 56)
  • Career home run leader with 52 (2nd has 39)
  • Career RBI leader with 236 (2nd has 180)
  • Third in career runs scored with 193
  • Single season record for doubles with 25
  • Single season record for home runs with 19
  • Single season record for RBIs with 80
  • National Player of the Week Award winner
  • 3-time First Team All-Big Ten (one of only two in school history)
  • 1995 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
  • 2-time All-American
  • 3-time Academic All-Big Ten
  • Ohio State Baseball All-Century Team (voted by the Athletic Department)
  • Ohio State Varsity “O” Hall of Fame  Inductee, 2015
  • Elected baseball captain by his teammates in 1998.
  • Drafted by the New York Yankees

Congratulations to Dan Seimetz.

Also to be announced on Friday are five inductees to the Tiger Hall of Fame.  They are:

  • Homer Floyd (football player 1953-54; Stark County HS Football Hall of Fame; All-Ohio running back; WHS Distinguished Citizen)
  • Art Hastings (football player 1958-60; Stark County MVP; All-Ohio running back; Scholastic Magazine All-American; Stark County HS Football Hall of Fame)
  • Elwood Kammer (football player 1923-25; All-Stark County; All-Ohio center; Lorin Andrews Head Coach 1935-41; Massillon Head Coach 1942-44; State Champion 1943; teacher in Massillon for 40 years)
  • Joe Studer (football player 1972-74; All-Stark County; All-Ohio center; Massillon Assistant Coach 1991-94)
  • Paul & Carol David (Generous and continued service to Massillon through the Paul and Carol David Foundation)
Massillon Tigers Letter Logo News

Booster Club Report – Week 3

Another good week for the Tiger football program:

  • Varsity defeated Warren Harding, 51-21.
  • Junior Varsity defeated Warren Harding, 32-0.
  • Freshmen defeated Warren Harding, 18-12..
  • 8th Grade defeated Warren, 8-0.
  • 7th Grade lost to the Mogadore 8th Grade team, 30-6.

This week’s schedule:

  • Wednesday – 8th Grade vs. Akron Buchtel at Massillon Middle School, 5:00 pm
  • Thursday – 7th Grade vs. Tuscarawas Central Catholic at Massillon Middle School, 6:00 pm
  • Thursday – Freshmen vs. Walsh Jesuit at Walsh, 6:00 pm
  • Friday – Varsity vs. Montclair, NJ at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday – Junior Varsity vs. Walsh Jesuit at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, 10:00 am

Dean Clark was the guest co-captain.  He is the third leading tackler on the team and also has also has three pass receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.  Clark recently gave a verbal commitment to Kent State University to continue his academic and sports career.

Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach John Mazur was the guest coach.  Mazur provided a scouting report on Montclair’s defense.  He said that the Mounties line up in a 4-man front, but expects them to pack the box.  Not much blitzing and the defensive backs play back.

Mazur stated that the Tiger offensive line has two primary goals each week.  The first was to keep the quarterback clean.  The second was to force the other team’s defensive line to give up.  This was very apparent not only by the middle of the third quarter of last Friday’s game, but also in the first two contests against Akron St. Vincent and Canton GlenOak.   “You can practice for how we play,” Mazur said, “but not our physicality.  I like our matchup.”  He said his lineman are smart kids and they have good feet.

Head Coach Nate Moore reviewed the film from last week’s victory over Warren Harding.  He also addressed Montclair’s offense.  They operate out of the spread with twin wide receivers.  Some tight end.  Some empty sets.  They are very athletic and very skilled.  Moore billed it as “Ohio vs. New Jersey,” noting that Montclair is the defending New Jersey state champs.  But he also emphasized that the Massillon players are focused on the task at hand.  “Our kids take a lot of pride in what they do,” he said.  “They’re pretty confident.”

Montclair offense:

  • Line averages 6’3″, 270
  • Best players are the running back (5’11”, 195) and two wide receivers (5’7″ and 6’2″)
  • Senior dominated
  • Should be a good test for the Massillon secondary

Montclair defense:

  • LIne averages 6’1″, 230
  • Best players are two lineman, two linebackers and two safeties; keep an eye on Gary Robinson, No. 53
  • Senior dominated

 

Obie Logo (Large) News

Tiger JV Team Defeats Warren Harding 32-0

Game Highlights: Touchdown runs by Zion Phifer, Xavier McElroy and Jean-Luc Beasley.  TJ Williams returned a kick for a touchdown.  Massillon recorded two safeties, one caused by Caiden Woullard and the other a snap over the punter’s head that went through the endzone.  Running clock in the 4th quarter.

JV record is 2-0

Coach: Dave Weber

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo News

Booster Club Report – Week 2

It was a good week of football for the Massillon program.

  • Varsity defeated GlenOak, 49-0.
  • GlenOak canceled the Junior Varsity game.
  • Freshmen defeated GlenOak, 21-0.
  • 8th Grade defeated GlenOak’s Oakwood Middle School, 44-14.
  • 7th Grade lost to the Fairless 8th Grade team, 28-0.

This week’s schedule:

  • Wednesday – 8th Grade vs. Warren Middle School at Massillon Middle School, 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday – 7th Grade vs. Mogadore at Mogadore Wildcat Stadium, 5:30 pm
  • Thursday – Freshmen vs. Warren Harding at Warren, 5:30 pm
  • Friday – Varsity vs. Warren Harding at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, 7:30 pm
  • Saturday – Junior Varsity vs. Warren Harding at Warren, 11:00 am

Bus tickets are available for the October 19 Louisville game for $20.00 each (game ticket not included).  The game starts at 7:30 pm.

Head Coach Nate Moore commented on last week’s 49-0 victory over Canton GlenOak.  “It was a fine ballgame played by our kids,” he said.  “When you score 49 points, something went right.  GlenOak couldn’t handle the physicality of our offensive line.  The defense continues to play really well.  They are disciplined and really focused and tackling well.  It was a good overall effort.  We need to keep working on the kicking game.”

Tiger co-captains Jamir Thomas, Keyshad Mack and Justin Gaddis addressed the GlenOak game and the upcoming contest with Warren Harding.

The guest assistant coach was Cale MIller.

Offensively, Warren is led by running Kayron Adams, a 5′-11″, 195 lb. senior, who has committed to play in college at Rutgers.  He is very quick and physical.  The quarterback is just a sophomore, but better than the two QBs used last year. The 5-man line is huge, averaging 6′-1″, 297 lbs.

Defensively, the coaches expect Warren to show something different than in the first two games, which seems to be norm now for teams facing the Tigers.  The defensive backs have been using press coverage with a single safety, but they may play off this week and use a pair of safeties to guard against the deep pass.  Also, look for an even front from the line, averaging 6′-0″, 234 lbs.  Their best player on this side of the ball is middle linebacker Kayron Adams.  Yes, the same guy.

Six players go both ways, with a mix of seniors and juniors.

The key to victory, of course, is stopping Kayron Adams.

 

Obie Logo (Large) Booster Club

Newborn Footballs

If you are a Tiger fan and have a newborn in your family and you did not receive a miniature football, the Booster Club would be glad to make sure your newborn gets an official Tiger Football.

Your newborn can receive a football from the Booster Club by contacting this year’s President, Ben Lieberman, at 330-564-6265.  Or you can email him at  benxrow2002@yahoo.com. He will see that you get a football from the Booster Club.

Proud of our Traditions! Go Tigers!

Mini-football given to newborn Massillonians
History

John McVay, Wall of Champions

John McVay always wanted to be a football coach.  You see, he was drawn to the profession when he saw first-hand the stability provided by some great leaders in the sport, specifically Massillon head coach Chuck Mather and Miami of Ohio coaches Woody Hayes and Ara Parseghian.  But eventually he would become much more than that.  Not only did McVay coach in the high school, college and professional arenas, he also served as general manager at the highest level, enjoying tremendous success in the process.  Here is his story.

John McVay was born on January 5, 1951, in Bellaire, Ohio, and moved shortly afterward to Massillon.  It was there in Tigertown that he received his first exposure to organized football.  His first two years of varsity play were under Coach Bud Houghton.  But his senior season saw a change in leadership when Chuck Mather arrived in town.  Mather’s tutelage provided the spark that would eventually launch McVay’s long career in football.

During McVay’s first season, which was his final year in high school, Mather fashioned a 9-1 record and a first place finish in the Associated Press state poll, ahead of Canton McKinley, which also finished 9-1.  John McVay was instrumental in this success and was named for his efforts as 2nd Team All-Ohio at the center position.  But McVay was also a good student at Massillon, as he was accepted into the National Honor Society.

College found him at Miami of Ohio, where he played his first two years under Woody Hayes.  Hayes finished 9-1 during his second year and then departed for Ohio State.  In came Ara Parseghian who, during McVay’s final two years there, recorded 15 wins in 19 starts.  Again McVay was right in the mix.  A 2-time MVP for Miami, McVay was also selected as All-Mid-American Conference center and served during his senior year as team captain.  With an education degree under his belt, he would later earn a Master’s Degree in School Administration at Kent State.

Now it was time for his dream job; i.e., coaching football.  After serving as an assistant at Lancaster High School for three years, McVay landed his first head coaching assignment at Franklin High School in 1956.  Although his team struggled during his only year there, he was able to return home the following year to assume the head reigns at Canton Central Catholic, a position he held for five years.  While there, McVay fashioned a fine record of 41-7, including a 9-1 mark in 1959, when his team finished 7th in the state.  When he departed, he was the winningest coach ever at Central.  Today, McVay is honored with a scholarship in his name.

McVay’s success at Central was notable and he was able to jump then to college.  His first stop was Michigan State University, where he served under legendary coach Duffy Daugherty.  Three years later, in 1965, he was hired as head coach at the University of Dayton.  During his eight years there, he recorded a record of 37-41-3, finishing 8-2 in 1962, which was one of the best marks in the Flyers’ history.

The World Football League, a short-lived venture started in 1974, called on McVay to coach Memphis.  He immediately signed three standout athletes from the Miami Dolphins that were nearing the ends of their playing careers in order to bolster attendance.  They included Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick (two are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame).  At Memphis, McVay finished a respectable 24-7, good enough to be named head coach of the New York Giants the following year.  He coached there for three seasons, which were his final years as a coach.  Following a 20-year span of head coaching assignments, McVay had won 117 games against 85 losses and 6 ties.

But he wasn’t done with football just yet.  In 1979, McVay was hired by the San Francisco 49ers to become Vice President and General Manager, a position he held for 18 years.  Under his leadership, McVay stocked the team with some outstanding players, including Joe Montana, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley and Fred Dean.  In all, he brought in some 50 players who were later selected as All-Pro.  But his crowning achievement was the five Super Bowl Championships captured by the 49ers during his tenure.  Coach Bill Walsh once said, “It’s quite possible that the 49ers would not have won five Super Bowls had it not been for John McVay.”

And the beat goes on.  His grandson, Sean McVay, is the current head coach of the Los Angeles Rams.

McVay has been inducted into the following halls of fame:

  • Massillon High School Wall of Champions, 1963 (charter member)
  • Massillon High School Distinguished Citizen, 1996
  • Massillon High School Tiger Football  Hall of Fame, 2016
  • Stark County, Ohio, High School Hall of Fame, 2005
  • Miami of Ohio University Football Red Hawks, 1977
  • San Francisco 49ers, 2013
  • San Francisco Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, 2018

John died on November 1, 2022, in Granite Bay, California.

Can the Pro Football Hall of Fame be far off for John McVay?

Mike Riordan provided the materials for this story.

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo Booster Club

Booster Club Report – Week 1

President Ben Leiberman called the meeting to order.

Booster Club Officers for 2018 are Bruce Gallagher (Vice President), Eric Smith (Vice President), Rick Dalsky (Secretary), Vince Pedro (Treasurer), Bob Marks (Associate Treasurer), Gary Vogt (Historian), Brock Herring (Touchdown Club Chairman), Phil Elum (Orangemen Chairman), Mark Fair (Sideliners Co-Chairman), Anthony Repp (Sideliners Co-Chairman), Ron Prunty (Videographer) and Bob Hollender (Obie Crew Chairman).  Steve Berecek is the outgoing Booster Club President.

Every Massillon football team recorded a victory last weekend:

  • Varsity: Massillon 25, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 7
  • Junior Varsity: Massillon 35, Akron  St. St. Vincent-St. Mary 13
  • Freshmen: Massillon19, Mansfield 13
  • 8th Grade: Massillon 36, Mansfield 16
  • 7th Grade: Massillon 8, Mansfield 6
  • 6th Grade Varsity: Massillon Black 7, Green Black 0
  • 6th Grade JV: Massillon Black vs. Green Black: won
  • 4/5th Grade Varsity: Massillon 7, Canton Saints 0
  • 4/5th Grade JV: Massillon vs. Canton Saints: won

Game schedule for this week:

  • Varsity: Canton GlenOak, Away, Friday, 7:00 pm
  • Junior Varsity: Canton GlenOak, Home, Saturday, 12:00 n
  • Freshmen: Canton GlenOak, Home, Saturday, 10:00 am
  • 8th Grade: Oakwood Middle School, Home (Massillon Middle School), Saturday, 10:00 am
  • 7th Grade: Fairless, Home (Massillon MIddle School), Tuesday, 5:00 pm
  • 6th Grade Varsity: Green Orange, Home (Massillon MIddle School), Saturday, 3:00 pm
  • 6th Grade JV: Green Orange, Home (Massillon MIddle School), Saturday, 4:30 pm
  • 4/5th Grade Varsity: Green Orange: Away (Green Arris 1), Saturday, 1:00 pm
  • 4/5th Grade JV: Green Orange: Away (Green Arris 2), Saturday, 2:30 pm

Per Bill Brown, buses will be available for the Louisville game for the cost of $20.  This does not include the game ticket.  Bus tickets can be purchased at Keller’s Office Furniture.

A big thank you to Bill Dorman for leading the effort to secure a new scoreboard.  Definitely has the “wow” factor.

The Booster Club Website (massillontigers.com) set a new record last Friday for page views in a single day with 9,600.  The Tiger Facebook page numbers are in the thousands.  It is unknown at this time how many people viewed last Friday’s game online, but it believed to be a significant number.

The Booster Club is raffling off 2 club seat tickets to the Cleveland Browns game on September 20, 2018 vs. the New York Jets at First Energy Stadium – kickoff at 8:20 PM.  Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20.Tickets will be available at the weekly Booster Club meeting, Touchdown Club luncheons and Sideliner dinners. The winning ticket will be drawn at the September 17th Booster Club meeting.

The Booster Club is collecting Bonanza coupons, which can be cut out from Friday’s Independent or Repository.  The winning school receives $2,000 for its booster club.  Last year Massillon was victorious in this effort and needs your support to repeat.

The canned food drive contest between Massillon and Canton McKinley is well underway.  Monetary donations are also accepted and are factored in at 7 lbs. for a dollar.

Kyshad Mack, Tyree Broyles and Tre’van Morgan were the guest co-captains.  Each spoke about the St. Vincent game and this week’s opponent, Canton GlenOak.

The guest coach was Jason Jarvis.  He noted that the special teams played very well, especially during the kickoff return by Broyles for a touchdown.  The return is something he anticipated based on the Irish scouting report.  Jarvis applauded Magnus Haines for his directional punts.

Jarvis summed up the defensive effort by saying the players were “fast, physical and hungry.”

Head Coach Nate Moore stated that “last Friday’s game was a “good victory against a good opponent.  But this week we’re starting over.  I’m proud of the kids.  The kids played hard.  It was a good performance.”

Following the film review, Coach Jarvis mentioned that the Massillon defense is the same as last year.  Only this year the players are more disciplined.  Everybody is where they need to be when they need to be.  “Our kids are experienced,” he said.  The defense played so well that St. Vincent’s star running back, Terrence Keyes, who gained 198 yards last year, was held to just 10 yards in 11 carries, the longest run being just four yards.

Coach Moore gave the scouting report for GlenOak, this week’s opponent.  He said that quarterback, Kindel Richardson is their best player.  Although considered an average passer, he is very dangerous running the ball.  They have a couple of good receivers with speed, who will get their opportunities in this big-play offense.  Look for lots of empty set formations.  The defense has converted from a 3-4 underfront to odd stack 3-3.  Seven players go both ways and up to eight sophomores see action.

 

Obie Logo (Large) News

Massillon Posts a Clean Sweep over Akron St. Vincent

It was a great start to the 2018 season as Massillon scored big wins over Akron St. Vincent’s varsity, junior varsity and freshmen squads.

The varsity team bested the Irish 35-7, turning in one of the best defensive performances by a Tiger team in many years.  This coming against a state-ranked opponent that returned a boatload of starters from the previous year.  Stellar running back Terrence Keyes, who rushed for 202 last year, was held to just 10 yards on 11 carries.

The junior varsity team defeated St. V, 35-13.  Sophomore quarterback Zach Catrone connected on four touchdown passes, two to Andrew Wilson-Lamp and one each to Heath Manson and TJ Williams.  Eric Thurman punctuated the scoring by returning a punt for a touchdown.

The freshmen team defeated the Irish, 19-13.

TIG!!!

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo Facilities

Middle School Complex Christened

Story by Gary Vogt

On September 15, 1939, Tommy “Red” James scored the first touchdown in the inaugural game played at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.  His Tigers were victorious that evening as they went on to defeat Cleveland Cathedral Latin by a score of 40-13.

On Wednesday, August 22, eighth grade running back William Marshall duplicated James’ feat by scoring the first touchdown in the newly opened Massillon Middle School Athletic Complex.  He scored from eight yards out to give the young Tigers a 6-0 lead.  Like the 1939 squad, Marshall’s 8th grade team, coached by Bo Grunder, went on to defeat Mansfield by a score of 36-16.

The Massillon Middle School Complex is impressive to say the least.  As a football facility it out-classes many high schools.  The surface is Field Turf, there are light for night games, a score board equipped with a sound system, handicap accessible bleachers, a flag pole and a locker room facility complete with a team room meeting area.  In addition, it is a multi-sport facility.  Obviously, it is a great football venue as it is also equipped to handle soccer and when completed will be the best track and field facility around.

Do yourself a favor and take in a game.  Support our future Tigers and see for yourself what a fine complex this is.  Middle school schedules are listed on this site under “Game Schedules.”