Author: <span>Don Engelhardt</span>

News

A Look at the Teams in Massillon’s Region 7…

calpreps.A Look at the Teams in Massillon’s Region 7 Playoff Bracket

Division 2 Bracket

The 2023 OHSAA football playoffs gets underway this Friday with 448 teams having qualified, distributed among seven divisions, with four regions within each division.  That translates into sixteen teams in each region, which will compete during the next four weeks to determine the regional champion.  That will be followed by two more weeks of semi-final and final games to determine the ultimate champion in each division.  That’s a lot of teams and a lot of games.  A bit of overkill?  Perhaps.  But that’s the OHSAA world we live in right now.

Number 1, unbeaten Massillon will open with Number 16 Grove City Central Crossing (4-6) in a game that appears to be a mismatch on paper, not unlike the last three years when the OHSAA expanded the playoffs, first due to the Covid situation and then further to reap additional revenue through ticket sales.  In 2020 during the first round the Tigers defeated Perry, 48-7.  The next year they beat Columbus Independence, 76-22.  And last year Columbus Walnut Ridge, 56-0.  Expect more of the same this time around and the junior varsity team, which had their final two games canceled, may finally get some time on the field.

Below is a look at each of the teams in Massillon’s Region 7, with a look at their scoring, their results against notable opponents and the various computer ratings and rankings.  Please note that the number next to each team is their final position in the OHSAA computer regional ranking.  Also note that any rating shown within parentheses is negative.  The rankings are for the region only.

 1 – Massillon (10-0)

  • Scoring offense – 40; Rank: No. 1
  • Scoring defense – 8; Rank: No. 1
  • Scoring differential – 32; Rank: No. 1
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 49.2; Rank: No. 1
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 73.1; Rank: No. 1
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 198.0; Rank: No. 1
  • Notable wins – Valdosta, GA (7-2), Lakewood St. Edward (9-1), Middletown, DE (6-1), St. John’s College (4-4), Austintown Fitch (6-3), Canton McKinley (7-3)
  • Notable losses – None

2 – Canal Winchester (9-1)

  • Scoring offense – 28; Rank: No. 3
  • Scoring defense – 11; Rank: No. 2
  • Scoring differential – 17; Rank: No. 3
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 13.8; Rank: No. 10
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 35.4; Rank: No. 3
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 147.8; Rank: No. 3
  • Notable wins – Westerville North (8-2), Delaware Hayes (8-2)
  • Notable losses – Big Walnut (5-5)

3 – Green (7-3)

  • Scoring offense – 27; Rank: No. 5
  • Scoring defense – 16; Rank: No. 6
  • Scoring differential – 11; Rank: No. 5
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 23.8; Rank: No. 4
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 35.5; Rank: No. 2
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 153.8; Rank: No. 2
  • Notable wins – South Range (9-1), Lake (7-3)
  • Notable losses – Canton McKinley (7-3); Perry (4-6)

4 – Lake (7-3)

  • Scoring offense – 22; Rank: No. 14
  • Scoring defense – 15; Rank: No. 5
  • Scoring differential – 7; Rank: No. 7
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 21.3; Rank: No. 6
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 29.8; Rank: No. 4
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 145.7; Rank: No. 4
  • Notable wins – None
  • Notable losses – Canton McKinley (7-3); Green (7-3)

5 – Columbus Northland (9-1)

  • Scoring offense – 38; Rank: No. 2
  • Scoring defense – 11; Rank: No. 2
  • Scoring differential – 27; Rank: No. 2
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: (20.5); Rank: No. 16
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 5.8; Rank: No. 12
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 111.5; Rank: No. 12
  • Notable wins – Columbus East (8-2)
  • Notable losses – None

6 – Columbus DeSales (5-5)

  • Scoring offense – 24; Rank: No. 11
  • Scoring defense – 23; Rank: No. 12
  • Scoring differential – 1; Rank: No. 13
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 24.3; Rank: No. 3
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 23.3; Rank: No. 6
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 141.5; Rank: No. 7
  • Notable wins – Columbus Watterson (9-1)
  • Notable losses – Hamilton Badin (10-0), Walsh Jesuit (9-1), Columbus Ready (9-1), Columbus Hartley (8-2)

7 – Columbus Independence (5-5)

  • Scoring offense – 26; Rank: No. 7
  • Scoring defense – 22; Rank: No. 11
  • Scoring differential – 4; Rank: No. 10
  • com strength of schedule – Rating: (6.4); Rank: No. 14
  • com ranking – Rating: (4.8); Rank: No. 15
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 103.4; Rank: No. 14
  • Notable wins – Columbus Briggs (7-3)
  • Notable losses – Grove City Central Crossing (4-6), Columbus East (8-2)

8 – Columbus Briggs (7-3)

  • Scoring offense – 23; Rank: No. 12
  • Scoring defense – 17; Rank: No. 8
  • Scoring differential – 6; Rank: No. 8
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: (11.2); Rank: No. 15
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: (3.1); Rank: No. 14
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 96.5; Rank: No. 15
  • Notable wins – None
  • Notable losses – Columbus Africentric (7-3)

9 – Westerville South (6-4)

  • Scoring offense – 26; Rank: No. 8
  • Scoring defense – 21; Rank: No. 10
  • Scoring differential – 5; Rank: No. 9
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 18.1; Rank: No. 8
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 24.0; Rank: No. 5
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 140.3; Rank: No. 8
  • Notable wins – Westerville North (8-2)
  • Notable losses – Delaware Hayes (8-2), Canal Winchester (9-1)

10 – Watkins Memorial (7-3)

  • Scoring offense – 26; Rank: No. 7
  • Scoring defense – 12; Rank: No. 4
  • Scoring differential – 14; Rank: No. 4
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 1.6; Rank: No. 12
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 13.0; Rank: No. 10
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 124.0; Rank: No. 10
  • Notable wins – None
  • Notable losses – Sheridan (9-1), Licking Valley (7-3), Granville (10-0)

11 – North Canton (5-5)

  • Scoring offense – 28; Rank: No. 3
  • Scoring defense – 25; Rank: No. 11
  • Scoring differential – 3; Rank: No. 11
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 25.3; Rank: No. 2
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 22.6; Rank: No. 7
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 141.7; Rank: No. 6
  • Notable wins – None
  • Notable losses – Hudson (7-2), Canton McKinley (7-3), Lake (7-3), Green (7-3)

12 – Big Walnut (5-5)

  • Scoring offense – 27; Rank: No. 5
  • Scoring defense – 17; Rank: No. 7
  • Scoring differential – 10; Rank: No. 6
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 21.1; Rank: No. 7
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 21.1; Rank: No. 8
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 142.9; Rank: No. 5
  • Notable wins – Canal Winchester (9-1)
  • Notable losses – Columbus Hartley (8-2), Upper Arlington (7-3), Delaware Hayes (8-2), Westerville North (8-2)

13 – Perry (4-6)

  • Scoring offense – 25; Rank: No. 10
  • Scoring defense – 26; Rank: No. 14
  • Scoring differential – (1); Rank: No. 14
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 22.7; Rank: No. 5
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 18.3; Rank: No. 9
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 137.4; Rank: No. 9
  • Notable wins – Green (7-3)
  • Notable losses – Akron St. Vincent (5-5), Canton McKinley (7-3), Lake (7-3)

14 – Columbus St. Charles (5-5)

  • Scoring offense – 23; Rank: No. 12
  • Scoring defense – 20; Rank: No. 9
  • Scoring differential – 3; Rank: No. 11
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 5.9; Rank: No. 11
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 6.2; Rank: No. 11
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 113.8; Rank: No. 11
  • Notable wins – None
  • Notable losses – Columbus Academy (9-1), Columbus DeSales (5-5), Columbus Watterson (9-1), Columbus Hartley (8-2)

15 – Walnut Ridge (3-7)

  • Scoring offense – 20; Rank: No. 15
  • Scoring defense – 32; Rank: No. 15
  • Scoring differential – (12); Rank: No. 15
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: (2.8); Rank: No. 13
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: (13.5); Rank: No. 16
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 86.2; Rank: No. 16
  • Notable wins – Columbus Northland (9-1)
  • Notable losses – Dayton Dunbar (7-3), Columbus Africentric (7-3), Columbus Briggs (7-3)

 16 – Grove City Central Crossing (4-6)

  • Scoring offense – 15; Rank: No. 16
  • Scoring defense – 32; Rank: No. 15
  • Scoring differential – (17); Rank: No. 16
  • calpreps.com strength of schedule – Rating: 15.4; Rank: No. 9
  • calpreps.com ranking – Rating: 4.5; Rank: No. 13
  • Drew Pasteur ranking – Rating: 111.2; Rank: No. 13
  • Notable wins – None
  • Notable losses – Westerville North (8-2), Olentangy (9-1), Pickerington Central (7-3)

 

News

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 10 – Post-Canton…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 10 – Post-Canton McKinley; Preview of the Grove City Central Crossing Game

Massillon (10-0) defeated Canton McKinley (7-3), 35-0.  The Tigers now hold a 76-53-5 advantage in the series.  They have also won eight consecutive games and twelve of the last thirteen.  This week Massillon hosts Grove City Central Crossing (4-6) for a Friday, 7:00 pm kickoff in the first round of the playoffs.  The Tigers finished No. 1 in Division 2, Region 7, while the Comets come in at No. 16.  Massillon has never played Central Crossing.

Link to the Canton McKinley Game Story

Link to the Canton McKinley Game Statistics

Other scores:

  • 7th Grade (4-4): Season is over.
  • 8th Grade (6-2): Season is over.
  • Freshmen (9-2): Defeated Canton McKinley, 44-0.  Season is over.
  • Junior Varsity (3-3-1): Season is over.

Review of the Canton McKinley game

It was win No. 942, which keeps Massillon in the No. 3 position nationally for all-time wins.

It’s not unusual for the game against Canton McKinley to be chippy, given the passion each team has to win in this great rivalry.  But, it was a little more than normal in this one and it unfortunately spilled over afterwards during the handshake.  Partly through, the two teams started to mix it up.  The Tiger players quickly retreated to their own bench at the urging of the coaches, but the Bulldog players followed them enmass to the Massillon side of the field, in spite of both coaches trying to separate the two groups.  Within a few minutes the teams separated and exited the field to their respective locker rooms, sans any victory celebration and award ceremony for Massillon winning the game.

“What happened at the end of the game was really sad,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “I hope everyone learned a lesson.  It was disrespect to the rivalry.”

Then it was time to talk about the game.  “I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” said Moore, who with the win became the all-time leader as a head coach in the series, ahead of Paul Brown, Mike Currence and McKinley’s Thom McDaniels.  “We played with speed.  We dominated in all three phases.  The defense had an historical performance (limiting the Bulldogs to 65 yards of total offense, sacking the quarterback five times and pitching a shutout).   “Big” Mike Wright Jr. just destroyed the center and sacked the quarterback three times.  The offense played really well.  We only punted once and we scored 35 points.”

Vinny Keller

After Massillon opened a 14-0 lead they perfectly executed an onside kick that led to a third score.  Moore credited Special Teams Coach Jason Jarvis for the call.  In film study, he saw that on kickoffs McKinley was back three yards from the fifty and immediately retreated as the kicker approached the ball.  The play called for the ball to be dribbled directly ahead by kicker Vinny Keller, with the player on either side of him tasked with blocking the two players from the receiving team that had the best chance of recovery.  The next two players provided protection for the kicker or recovered the ball themselves in the event the kicker was taken out.  Five plays later the Tigers were in the end zone with a 21-0 lead and the game was essentially over.

The guest players were quarterback Da’One Owens and offensive lineman Sam Snodgrass.  “It was exciting for my first rivalry win,” said Owens.”  Snodgrass added that “the offensive line did a great job.  Fired on all cylinders.  Pringle had a great game (running the ball).”

Statistics leaders:

  • Da’One Owens: 9 of 13 passing for 108 yards and 2 touchdown; 8 carries for 52 yards
  • Ma’Meir Gamble: 15 carries for 71 yards
  • Dorian Pringle: 6 carries for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns; 2 (1-2) tackle points
  • Braylyn Toles: 4 receptions for 61 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Jacques Carter: 3 receptions for 14 yards
  • Emy Louis Jr.: 30-yard touchdown reception
  • Michael Wright Jr.: 4 (4-0) tackle points; 3 quarterback sacks; 3 tackles for loss; 2 carries for 11 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Adonis Marshall: 5 (5-0) tackle points; pass interception
  • Cody Fair: 4.5 (4-1) tackle points

Central Crossing Scouting Report

Central Crossing plays in the Buckeye Division of the Ohio Capital Conference.  The other teams in the division are Pickerington Central, Newark, Reynoldsburg, Groveport Madison and Lancaster.  The Comets this year finished 4-6 with a 2-3 conference record.  Their scores so far:

  • Columbus Independence (5-5): 21-14 W
  • Westerville North (8-2): 21-42 L
  • Columbus Westland (1-9): 27-17 W
  • Grove City (5-5) 63-0 L
  • Olentangy (9-1): 35-0 L
  • Lancaster (5-5): 21-24 L
  • Pickerington Central (7-3): 0-48 L
  • Newark (2-8): 33-27 W
  • Reynoldsburg (1-9): 30-22 W
  • Groveport (6-4): 0-31 L

Central Crossing Scouting Report

The comet offense operates out of the spread with a single running back and occasional tight end.  The best player is senior running back Malik Kamara (6′-1″, 190), a 2-star recruit who has committed to the U.S. Naval Academy.  He is a good, physical runner, a down hill runner, who can break tackles.  Malik also lines up at safety.

The defense lines up in an odd front with cover-3.  They will blitz often.  The two safeties are very good.  Central Crossing also has a good kicker.

According to Moore, they are well-coached and play a traditional brand of football; i.e., very fundamental, not a junk offense.  Five players go both ways, on a team with many underclass starters.

Central Crossing may not be the best team the Tigers have faced this year, but Moore emphasized the Massillon program “needs to focus on the prize.  Our goal is to win the state title.”

Go Tigers!

History

2023: Massillon 35, Canton McKinley 0

Massillon Crushes Canton McKinley, Wraps Up Undefeated Regular Season

Game Statistics

The 134th game between Massillon and Canton McKinley went to the Tigers by the score of 35-0.  Simply put, Massillon dominated play on both sides of the ball and sent the game into a running clock situation midway through the third quarter.  Offensively, they moved the ball with a multitude weapons, both running and passing, and only punted once throughout the game.  Meanwhile, the defense held the 7-3 Bulldogs to a net 65 yards, with negative yards on the ground.  McKinley never snapped the ball in the red zone.

The victory for Massillon marks the eighth consecutive win in the series and the twelfth in the last thirteen years.  The margin of victory, 35 points, is the greatest on the Massillon end since 1960, when the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs 42-0.  It also ranks fourth overall in Massillon’s long history.  Finally, it was the 24th time that McKinley was shut out in the game.  Massillon now leads the series 76-53-5.

Statistically, no individual Tiger player stood out, although they all had great games.  They do what they do.  Da’One Owens completed 9 of 13 for 108 yards and two touchdowns.  He also ran eight times for 52 yards.  Braylyn Toles caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.  Jacques Carter caught three passes and Emy Louis Jr. scored on a pass of 30 yards.  Ja’Meir Gamble rushed 13 times for 71 yards.  Dorian Pringle rushed for 54 yards and scored twice.  And Adonis Marshall intercepted a pass and recorded five solo tackles.

Mike Wright Jr.

But if there was one player who rose above with his outstanding play it was “Big” Mike Wright Jr.  The 280 lb. junior played on both sides of the ball and was an impact player the entire day.  Playing on the defensive line, he harassed the McKinley quarterback again and again and managed to catch him three times for sacks that resulted in a loss of 22 yards.  Then on offense, when Massillon was in the “jumbo” set, he rushed twice for 11 yards and scored a touchdown.  He also tallied a PAT.  And he was the lead blocker for Pringle when he found the end zone twice.  “Big” Mike stepped up and what a game he had.

McKinley fumbled the opening kickoff, recovered and then lost seven yards in three rushing attempts to start the game.  It was an omen of things to come for the entire day.  After punting into the wind to their own 41, Owens on the first play from scrimmage unloaded a rainbow pass to Toles, who had comfortably beaten the defender on a post pattern.  Toles easily secured the ball in the end zone and the Tigers were on their way.  The PAT, which came following 30 yards in penalties, was wide.

On the next Bulldog possession, they fumbled at the Massillon 44 and the Tigers went right back to work.  However, they were stopped on downs at the Bulldog 14.  McKinley was playing good aggressive defense throughout the game and that meant Massillon needed to use the entire arsenal to move the ball effectively.  This Massillon drive was halted on downs, but not the next four.  For Massillon was able to find the right plays to beat this defense and move the ball effectively, while also overcome numerous technical penalties.

The next time the Tigers had the ball, they drove 39 yards in six plays with Pringle taking it in from the 18 off a great block by Wright.   Wright then ran in the PAT to make the score 14-0.  Now came a perfectly executed onside kick by Vinny Keller to kickstart yet another scoring drive.  This time Wright ran the ball in from the eight at the end of a six play 49-yard effort that was keyed by a 21-yard, third down run by Owens.  Finally, Owens hit a wide-open Lewis on a skinny post for a 30-yard score, upping the margin to 28-0 headed into the locker room.  The drive was kick-started by a 24-yard burst up the middle by Gamble, with a facemask penalty tacked on at the end.  Two plays later Gamble raced for another 28.  Those two runs accounted for most of his yardage, as the Bulldog defense was taking that part of the game away.

The final score came following the second half kickoff when Massillon engineered a masterful 16-play, 74-yard drive that consumed most of the third quarter.  It culminated in a 4-yard touchdown run by Pringle, again with a great block by Wright, and sent the game into a running-clock mode.  Each time the Tigers were faced with short yardage during the drive the “jumbo” set entered the game.  And they never failed to pick up the first down.

Interestingly, on McKinley’s final possession toward the end of the game, the referees huddled for at least two minutes to determine whether Massillon had recovered a fumble.  Meanwhile, the clock continued to run.  Perhaps, the referees had enough of the unsportsmanlike play that was evident throughout the game and they just wanted to get it over with.  Once they agreed that the Tigers had the ball, Owens took a knee twice to end the game.

McKinley quarterback Keaton Rode was the catalyst of the offense and the Tigers did a great job of minimizing his production.  He ended up completing 8 of 12 passes for 80 yards, with one ball intercepted by Adonis Vaughn.  But nearly all were thrown under the coverage.  He was also sacked five times.  Four completions went to Keith Quincy for 35 yards.  Backup running back Stephon Thomas was the leading ball carrier for the Bulldogs and he gained just 19 yards.

Unfortunately, the game turned into a flag fest, with 18 thrown on the Tigers and 14 on the Bulldogs.  For Massillon, sixteen were of the execution variety, while two were for personal fouls.  Eleven of the technical penalties were on the offense, but fortunately not enough to slow down the powerful Tiger offense.  But several of the defensive penalties did aid the Bulldogs to the tune of five first downs.  For McKinley, seven were technical and seven were 15-yarders.  Six of the seven major ones occurred in the second and third quarters, after Massillon had essentially salted the game away.  Losing is tough.

Overall, the penalty part of the game wasn’t pretty.  But show me a team that played penalty-free and I’ll show you a team that lost.  The physicality of play is not absent in this game and sometimes it spills over into extra-curricular activities.  But both sides have that passion to win.  And if that passion goes by the wayside, then this rivalry is surely gone forever.  For the passion within a rivalry greatly outweighs any domination in the win-loss column.

That being said, the negativity spilled over into the handshake and continued when the Bulldog players chased the retreating Tigers to the opposite side of the field.  Most of it was posturing, although a handful of players were looking for some action.  Eventually, the coaches were able to separate the two groups and all departed to their respective locker rooms, foregoing the victory celebration and award ceremony.  It was a sad ending to such a great rivalry and something both schools will need to address.

Massillon will now head into the playoffs where they will first host Grove City Central Crossing (4-6) next Friday at 7:00 pm.  McKinley will host Strongsville (3-7).

News

Entering the McKinley Game Unbeaten is No Guarantee of…

Entering the McKinley Game Unbeaten is No Guarantee of a Victory

The Massillon Tigers have produced a stellar season this year while fashioning a perfect 9-0 mark, with only Division 1 front runner Lakewood St. Edward keeping the final score close.  And it’s not like the schedule was weak.  In fact, with the likes of Valdosta, St. John’s, Austintown Fitch and Middletown, and of course St. Eds, it ranks right up toward the top compared to other Massillon slates of the past thirty years.

This week is the annual rivalry game against Canton McKinley.  But entering the fray unbeaten is certainly no guarantee of a victory, as history has shown.

Quarterback Dave Sheegog scores the winning touchdown in the 1964 game.

Including the time of Paul Brown, Massillon has been undefeated going into the finale thirty times.  Twenty-two of those games occurred in the 1930s through the 1970s, during which the Tigers have a record of 18-4-1.  The average margin of victory was 27-4, with ten shutouts recorded.  Eight times both teams were undefeated and the Bulldogs were able to win just two of those games.  It was a good trend.

But during the forty-some years since that time, Massillon has been undefeated just eight times.  So, it’s a much rarer situation today.  And the record against McKinley in these games is even, with four wins apiece.  The Tigers won on average by a 22-6 margin, while the Bulldogs won 24-7.  So, it has been quite balanced in the results of those games.

But those four setbacks also have their own stories:

  • In 1980 Massillon lost 16-7 at home in a game that McKinley completely dominated, holding the Tigers to a total offense of just 86 yards. But it was also the first year of the playoffs that the number of qualifiers per region was increased from one to two.  Surprisingly, while the Bulldogs took first, Massillon was able to grab the second spot, which set up a rematch the following Saturday.  In one week’s time the Tiger coaches were able to make the necessary adjustments and then turned the tables on McKinley, coming away with a hard fought 14-6 victory at Faucett Stadium.  After getting by Willoughby South 21-6 the following week, Massillon advanced to the state championship game, where they faced Cincinnati Moeller.
  • In 1993 the Tigers had one of their best rushing attacks in their long history, recording a season average of 6.5 yards per carry, although the passing attack wasn’t the greatest.  Unfortunately for Massillon, the Faucett Stadium grass turf that Saturday was a quagmire due to a week’s worth of rain and it neutralized the smaller Tiger running backs, who never got untracked in a 21-13 loss to an 8-1 Bulldog team.
  • In 1996 Massillon lost 17-0 to 8-1 McKinley, which advanced in the playoffs to the state semifinals.
  • In 2005 the Tigers suffered five turnovers and were dominated on the scoreboard by the undefeated Bulldogs, 38-8. Three weeks later these two teams would meet again in the playoff regional finals.  This time it was the Tigers that owed the day, coming away with a 21-3 victory.  The following week, Massillon defeated Lakewood St. Edward, the best team in the state, and punched their ticket to the state finals, where they lost to Cincinnati St. Xavier.

But there were also four really great wins.

  • In 1982 Chris Spielman scored the only touchdown in the game to give the Tigers a 7-0 victory. That team would later face Cincinnati Moeller in the state championship game played at OSU Stadium.
  • In 1999 the Tigers ran McKinley out of their own stadium, winning 34-7. Quarterback Dave Irwin passed for 130 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense held McKinley’s passing attack to just 32 yards.
  • In 2018 Massillon won 24-17.  Jamir Thomas carried the ball 35 times for 269 yards and scored two touchdowns.  The Tigers would advance in the playoffs to the state finals, where they lost to Akron Hoban.
  • The following year the Tigers bested the Bulldogs 24-14. Terrence Keyes rushed for 141 yards and scored a touchdown, while quarterback Aidan Longwell completed 17 of 26 passes for 206 yards and two scores.  Nine of the completions and both TDs went to OSU-bound Jayden Ballard.  Again, Massillon parlayed that success into a trip in the playoffs to the state finals, where they faced Cincinnati LaSalle.

Again, being undefeated and winning the game against that team to the east is certainly no sure thing, as history shows.  But with the proper preparation by our players and coaches and the overwhelming will to win these young Tigers should do just fine.  Former Massillon Coach Lee Owens captured it best at the Touchdown Club last Tuesday when he said there were three things the players need to focus on to win the game.  The first is to play physically, for the more physical team usually comes away with the win.  The second is to play smart and keep the penalties to a minimum.  And the third is to handle adversity.  Because there will be adversity.  No plan ever goes according to script.  Handle the adversity smartly and then move on.  If all that happens, then it should be a great afternoon of football.

Go Tigers!

News

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 9 – Post-Warren…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 9 – Post-Warren Harding; Preview of the Canton McKinley Game

Massillon (9-0) defeated Warren Harding (4-5), 48-14.  This week the Tigers travel to Canton McKinley (7-2) for a Saturday, 2:00 pm kickoff.  Last year the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs, 23-13.  Massillon holds a 75-53-5 advantage in the long-time series.  they have also won the last seven games and eleven of the last twelve.

Link to the Warren Harding Game Story

Link to the Warren Harding Game Statistics

Other scores:

  • 7th Grade (4-4): Defeated Western Crusaders, 14-12.  Season over.
  • 8th Grade (6-2): Season is over.
  • Freshmen (7-2): Defeated Warren Harding, 28-0.  Plays home to Canton McKinley on Wednesday, October 18 at 6:00 pm.
  • Junior Varsity (3-3-1): Last week’s game against Warren Harding was canceled.  Season over.

Review of the Warren Harding game

Massillon effectively took care of business on senior recognition night, downing visiting Warren Harding, 48-14.  In fact, they built a large enough lead throughout the first half (42-7) that there was a running clock for nearly the rest of the game.  The Raiders overloaded the line to stop the run, so the Tigers went to the passing game with great success, with quarterback Da’One Owens completing 16 of 22 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns.  Two touchdown passes went to Jacques Carter.  Defensively, Massillon held Warren to a negative 26 yards on the ground on 21 attempts and controlled the pass sufficiently to limit the Raiders to a single touchdown while the first team was on the field.

It was win No. 941, which keeps Massillon in the No. 3 position nationally for all-time wins.

Statistics leaders:

  • Da’One Owens: 16 of 22 passing for 277 yards and 3 touchdown; 11 carries for 134 yards and 3 touchdowns
  • Bishop Cupp: 5 carries for 51 yards
  • Jacques Carter: 5 receptions for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns
  • Braylyn Toles: 4 receptions for 52 yards
  • Emy Louis Jr.: 2 receptions for 62 yards and 1 touchdown; 92-yards kickoff return for a touchdown
  • Lenix Lemmon: 4.5 (4-1) tackle points
  • Dorian Pringle: 4.0 (4-0) tackle points; 1 sack; 3 tackles-for-loss
  • Cody Fair: 3.5 (2-3) tackle point; 2 tackles-for-loss
  • Ryan Page: 1 sack; 1 tackle-for-loss; 1 pass interception
  • Mateo Herrera: 6 for 6 on extra point kicks

Canton McKinley Scouting Report

The Bulldogs are 7-2 and have achieved at least a tie for the Federal League championship, depending on the outcome of this week’s Lake vs. Green game.  Their scores so far:

  • Warren Harding (4-5): 33-14 W
  • Avon (9-0): 7-28 L
  • Dublin Coffman (6-3): 24-14 W
  • Perry (4-5): 44-6
  • Green (6-3): 28-27 W
  • North Canton (4-5): 37-28 W
  • Lake (7-2): 29-22 W
  • Jackson (5-4): 27-7 W
  • Canton GlenOak (5-4): 3-7 L

“Canton McKinley is a very good football team,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “They lost to an excellent Avon team and had an off night against Canton GlenOak.  But they are very talented.  They have good players at every position.  Great size on the lines.”

Offensively, McKinley features senior quarterback Keaton Rode (6′-0, 175), a 2-year starter, who is much improved from the previous season.  Last year against the Tigers he completed 11 of 24 passes for 173 and two touchdowns.  A 61% passer, he can also run the ball, both off of called plays and scrambles out of the backfield.  To date, Rode has completed 104 of 170 passes for 1,715 yards (16.5/rec.) and 13 touchdowns, with seven interceptions.  On the ground he is the second-leading rusher with 488 yards in 101 attempts (6.0 ave.) and five scores.  “The quarterback really makes their offense go,” said Moore.

On the receiving end are Keith Quincy (6′-2″, 180) (28 rec. for 556 yards and four TDs) and junior Dante McClellan (6′-2″, 190) (24 rec. for 406 yards and 1 TD).  Quincy has offer from Akron and is their best receiver.  He has good speed and a tall frame.  McClellan has an offer from Southern Cal.

Two running backs have carried the load, including returning junior starter and leading scorer Nino Hill (6′-0″, 200) and junior Stephon Thomas (5′-6″, 168).  Combined, they have gained just over 1,000 yards and average 6.2 yards per tote.  In last year’s game, Hill carried the ball 10 times for 27 yards.  He is a downhill runner and can break tackles.  Hill has an offer from Kent State.  Thomas has good speed and is a shifty runner.

The offensive line has good size, averaging 6′-4″, 273 lbs., with only one player weighing less than 280 lbs. and the shortest coming at 6′-3″.  Two are seniors.  The best two players are junior Dior Garner (6′-4″, 285), who is a 3-star recruit with an offer from Bowling Green, and senior Kaelub Edwards (6′-3″, 310).

The Bulldogs operate out of the spread, normally with 10 personnel, some 11.  Other times, Rode will be alone in an empty backfield with five wide receivers.  Against GlenOak Rode struggled to get the passing game going against a 3-man rush with eight players dropping into coverage.  The run game also found the going difficult and they managed just 69 yards in that area.

Defensively, the Bulldogs are very good across the board, especially in the front seven.  “They will create quite a challenge for us,” said Moore.  “We need a great week of practice.”  They utilize a 3-4 four in the box with cover-2.  All three defensive lineman are good.  Junior Ka’Voune McNeal (6′-3″, 210) is active and physical and has recorded ten tackles-for-loss and nine quarterback sacks.  Garner, a 2-way player, is physical and good a breaking through double-teams.  Senior Braylon Minor (6′-2″, 230) may be the best lineman.  He is very active and has ten tackles-for-loss and six sacks.

McClellan, a 2-way player, leads the linebacker corps.  He is big and physical and they like to move him around.  Senior Shaukeer Hatcher (5′-10″, 185) has recorded 13 tackles-for-loss and three interceptions.

Junior cornerback K’Vuone McNeal (6′-3″, 210) has ten TFLs and nine sacks.  Senior safety Alex Vazquez (6′-0″, 180) is a 2-star recruit with an offer from Akron.

Moore then addressed how they handle all of the distractions that occur during the week leading up to the game. “We’ve always focused on the game at hand and this week is no different, he said. “Our guys know that the distractions are for the fans and parents.  But, our job is to play the game and win.  We’re looking forward to a great week of preparation for the renewal of the greatest game in high school football.”

Go Tigers!

News

2023: Massillon 48, Warren Harding 14

Massillon Blasts Warren Harding to Remain Unbeaten Ahead of Rivalry Game

Game Statistics

Week 9 of the regular season is always a tough time for the Massillon program with the annual rivalry with Canton McKinley looming the following week.  But there would be no looking ahead for these Tigers as they effectively took care of business on senior recognition night, downing visiting Warren Harding, 48-14.  In fact, they built a large enough lead throughout the first half that there was a running clock for nearly the rest of the game.

Expect that Massillon will quickly put this outcome behind them and focus entirely on the task ahead; i.e., defeating the Bulldogs.  Unfortunately for that team to the east, they will enter the fray on the heels of a 7-3 last-second loss to Canton GlenOak, a team that the Tigers defeated in Game 2, 56-7.  But don’t think for one second that the difference in scores will have any affect on either the pre-game preparation or the intensity level these Massillon players will bring to the game.

Da’One Owens

Last week Ja’Meir Gamble rushed for 233 yards and scored two touchdowns, while the passing game produced a paltry 5 of 14 for 60 yards.  But, if anyone thinks that this Tiger offense is one-dimensional, they are entirely mistaken.  Warren, knowing that they had to stop the run to stay in this game, played man-to-man against the wide receivers, which permitted them to commit the remaining defenders to the run by stacking the box with up to eight players.  Of course, this pretty much negated the Massillon ground attack by clogging up all the running lanes.  Once this was evident, the Tigers went strictly to the air, with quarterback Da’One Owens putting up his best passing performance of the season.  Through three quarters, prior to being lifted in favor of the backups, he completed 16 of 22 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns, with a long of 54 yards.

On the receiving end, the stars shone greatly.  Jacques Carter caught five passes for 130 yards and two scores.  Braylyn Toles grabbed four for 52 yards, Kyler Wiggins snagged three for another 18 and Emy Louis Jr. caught a pair for 62 yards and a TD.

Dorian Pringle

Defensively, the Tigers were again stifling on the ground.  And Dorian Pringle did pick up a sack to become the all-time single-season record holder for that mark.  Warren knew they would not be able to run the ball, and they didn’t, losing a net 26 yards on 21 attempts (with most of the carries coming when the game was out of reach in order to keep the clock running and end the game as quickly as possible).  So, they went strictly to the air and did achieve some modest success.  But not enough to keep pace with the Tiger scoring machine.  Three different quarterbacks spent some time behind center and they combined for 200 yards, while completing 14 of 34 passes.

The game began with a bang when Lewis returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.  He caught the ball at the eight yard line and then crossed the field to the right.  The pre-positioned blockers did a magnificent job of plowing the road and Lewis then blew through and outraced any challenger to paydirt.  It took 14 seconds.  Mateo Herrera converted his first of six PATs and the Tigers were on their way to their ninth win.

On Massillon’s first possession they were stalled due to Warren’s stacked defense and Gamble found little running room.  So, on the second possession the Tigers switch to an empty backfield formation and put together a 12-play, very methodical 83-yard drive that ended when Big Mike Wright plowed in from the one.

On their next possession they needed just five plays to cover 71 yards.  Short passes to Toles and Wiggins got the drive started and then Owens hit Toles for 22 yards to advance the ball to the Warren 42.  From there, Owens fired a dart to Louis on a skinny post and he did the rest, slipping by a potential tackler at the 15, to put the Tigers up 21-0 and essentially salt the game away.

There was no stopping Massillon at that point.  On the first play of the subsequent possession Owens connected with Carter on a 54-yard score, who caught a short pass, turned the corner and outraced the secondary down the sideline.  Two possessions later, the Tigers scored again following a fumbled punt snap.  Gamble scored from the five on the 1-play drive, making the score 35-0.

Warren finally responded with a touchdown off a screen pass when LeMarcus Provitt secured a pass from Drew McKowan, broke a tackle and raced 79 yards to the end zone.  But, Massillon responded 3-plays later with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Owens to Carter.  It was another skinny post.  The score placed the game in a running clock situation for the start of the second half.

In the latter stages Warren and Massillon’s backups each scored once.  For the Tigers it was a 4-yard run by freshman Savior Owens.  A 2-point PAT try failed, making the final score, 48-14.

Now, it’s off the McKinley game, where the Tigers own 75-53-5 advantage.  They have also won the last seven games and eleven of the last twelve.  And Massillon is where it wants to be: undefeated heading into next Saturday’s big game.

Go Tigers!

Editorial

Will Top Defensive Performances Translate into State Championships?

Will Top Defensive Performances Translate into State Championships?

There’s an old adage in football that goes: Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.  So does one need to look no further than the teams with the great defenses in order to predict the eventual winners?  Maybe it’s as simple as that.  But maybe it’s not.  For, there is still a slew of teams with good records that have their goals set on taking home a state crown.

In the top two divisions there are 45 teams that have compiled records of 6-2 or better.  But, only about a third of them have given up two touchdowns or less per game, in spite of most possessing high-scoring offenses.  Here’s a look at the ones with the good scoring defenses.

Division 1 – Six of the 23 top teams in this division have good defensive numbers.  They are:

  • Lakewood St. Edward (7-1) – Average score, 33-13. Lost to Massillon (8-0).  Wins over Center Grove, IN (7-1) and Good Counsel, MD (5-1).  Finishes with Cincinnati Moeller (5-3) and Akron Hoban (8-0).
  • Gahanna Lincoln (8-0) – Average score, 34-9. No big wins recorded.  Plays Pickerington North (8-0) in Week 10.
  • Cincinnati Princeton (8-0) – Average score, 28-10. Wins over Lakota West (6-2) and Hamilton (6-2).  No challengers remain.
  • Westerville North (6-2) – Average score, 26-13. Lost to Westerville South (4-4) and Canal Winchester (8-0).  No challengers remain.
  • Centerville (7-1) – Average score, 24-13. Lost to Dublin Coffman (6-2).  Win over Miamisburg (6-2).  Plays Huber Heights Wayne (6-2) in Week 10.
  • Hamilton (6-2) – Average score, 22-13. Lost to Hamilton Badin (8-0) and Cincinnati Princeton (8-0).  No big wins.  Plays Lakota West (6-2) in Week 10.

Division 2 – Eight of the 22 top teams in this division have good defensive numbers.  They are:

  • Troy (7-1) – Average score, 35-4. Lost to Tippecanoe (6-2).  Win over Vandalia Butler (6-2).  No challengers remain.
  • Akron Hoban (7-0) – Average score, 40-7. Wins over Walsh Jesuit (7-1) and Cleveland Glenville (5-3).  Plays Lakewood St. Edward (7-1) in Week 10.
  • Cincinnati Winton Woods (6-2) – Average score, 23-7. Lost to Cincinnati Anderson (7-1) and Milford (8-0). Win over Trotwood-Madison (7-2).  No challengers remain.
  • Avon (8-0) – Average score, 40-8. Wins over Canton McKinley (7-1), Cleveland Glenville (5-3) and Olmsted Falls (6-2).  Plays Avon Lake (6-2) in Week 10.
  • Massillon (8-0) – Average score, 40-9. Wins over Valdosta, GA (5-2), Mansfield (6-2), Lakewood St. Edward (7-1), Middletown, DE (4-1) and St. John’s College, DC (3-3).  Plays Canton McKinley (7-1) in Week 10.
  • Canal Winchester (8-0) – Average score, 33-9. Win over Westerville North (6-2).  Plays Delaware Hayes (7-1) in Week 9.
  • Medina Highland (7-1) – Average score, 43-13. Win over Hudson (6-2).  Plays Aurora (7-1) in Week 10.
  • Uniontown Lake (6-2) – Average Score, 23-13. Lost to Alliance (4-4) and Canton McKinley (7-1).  Plays Green (5-3) in Week 10.

Will the eventual state champions come from these groups and thereby prove out the adage or will strong offenses rule the roost?  We’ll know the answer in another eight weeks.

News

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 8 – Post-Austintown…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 8 – Post-Austintown Fitch; Preview of the Warren Harding Game

Massillon (8-0) defeated Austintown Fitch (4-3), 42-7.  This week the Tigers return home to host Warren  Harding (4-4).  Last year the Tigers defeated the Raiders, 41-12, and currently own a 7-game winning streak in the series, which they lead, 59-25-3.

Link to the Austintown Fitch Game Story

Link to the Austintown Fitch Game Statistics

Other scores:

  • 7th Grade (3-3): Plays home to Western Crusaders on Tuesday, October 10 at 6:00 pm.
  • 8th Grade (6-2): Canton Crenshaw, 8-6.  Season is over.
  • Freshmen (7-2): Defeated Austintown Fitch, 58-15.  Plays at Warren Harding on Thursday, October 12 at 6:00 pm.
  • Junior Varsity (3-3-1): Last week’s game against Austintown Fitch  was canceled.  Plays at Warren Harding on Saturday, October 14, at 10:00 am.

Review of the Austintown Fitch game

Massillon traveled to Austintown Fitch for their first road game of the season and came away with a convincing 42-7 victory. The Tigers rolled up 499 yards of total offense, while the defense held Fitch to just 12 yards on the ground. Junior running back Ja’Meir Gamble had a breakout game, rushing 17 times for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Near the end of the first half and with Massillon on top 21-7, the Falcons were driving for a margin-closing score, when defensive back Kyler Wiggins intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards to the Fitch 33 with just 21 seconds remaining in the half. From there, the Tigers managed to get in six plays, with Braylyn Toles catching a 6-yard pass from Da’Owens for the touchdown as time expired. The TD improved the score to 28-7 and put the game out of reach for the Falcons.

It was win No. 940, which keeps Massillon in the No. 3 position nationally for all-time wins.  “I’m really proud of the guys,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “They played well.  Offensively, defensively and special teams.  It was a breakout game for Ja’Meir Gamble.  He really lit up the field.  He’s got a gear most players don’t.  The offensive line also played well.”

The Scout Team Players of Week were Bishop Cupp, Francesco Salvino and Nolan Davenport.

The guest players were defensive safeties Ryan Page and Zach Liebler.  “Overall, we had a pretty good game,” said Page.  “The defense played really well,” added Liebler.  Both agreed that the offense petered out toward the end of the first quarter after opening a 21-0 lead, but picked up shortly thereafter and put the game away.

Statistics leaders:

  • Ja’Meir Gamble: 17 carries for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns
  • Da’One Owens: 4 of 15 passing for 60 yards and 1 touchdown; 11 carries for 134 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Mylen Lenix: 6 carries for 23 yards and 1 touchdown
  • Braylyn Toles: 1 touchdown receiving
  • Kyler Wiggins: pass interception, returned for 47 yards
  • Dorian Pringle: 8.0 (8-0) tackle points; 1.0 sacks; 2.0 tackles-for-loss; punted 3 times, averaging 40.7 yards per attempt
  • Malachi Card, Adonis Marshall, Cody Fair, Vito McConnell: 1 tackle-for-loss each
  • Mateo Herrera: 6 for 6 on extra point kicks

Warren Harding Scouting Report

The Raiders are 4-4, having won their last three games.  Their scores so far:

  • Canton McKinley (7-1): 14-33 L
  • Akron Buchtel (3-5): 20-16 W
  • Farrell, PA (7-0): 17-24 L
  • Akron St. Vincent (4-4): 28-42 L
  • Youngstown Ursuline (8-0): 20-56 L
  • Youngstown Chaney (4-3): 26-7 W
  • Boardman (1-7): 38-20 W
  • Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (4-4): 24-21 W

Moore emphasized that Warren’s greatest assets are their speed and the ability to make big plays.  “They are a bunch of guys that can really run,” he said.  Offensively, they operate out of the spread, with both five and six man lines.  Look for Warren to spend most of the night throwing passes from junior quarterback Chaz Coleman (6′-3″, 200).  He was the starter the last two games and has a good, long arm.  He is also a good runner and scrambler.  His targets are four very talented receivers, including senior Naugeat Jones, who last year caught four passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.  The running back is senior Antonio Smith (5′-10″, 170).  He is really fast and shifty.  Will also run some wildcat.  The offensive line is not the largest Massillon has faced, but they do get off the ball well.

Defensively, the Raiders line up exclusively in an odd front with a cover-2 secondary.  Their best overall player is senior linebacker Ryan Powell (6′-1″, 215), a 3-star recruit who has an offer from Boston College.  He is very good at the position and will often blitz.  The best lineman is senor Devonte Ellis (6′-0″, 230).  He has good speed and power and runs all over the field.  But, the best way to describe the defense is that they are really fast as a team.

Go Tigers!

History

2023: Massillon 42, Austintown Fitch 7

Tigers Take Care of Business, Defeat Austintown Fitch, 42-7

Game Statistics

Traveling to Austintown Fitch for Massillon has always been a difficult assignment.  Some strange things have happened over the years that always plagued the Tigers and kept them from coming home with a victory.  Entering the game, Massillon led the series 20-8 , but ahead just 7-6 when playing on the road.  But that was not the case in this latest encounter.  Aside from a few tense moments, Massillon played like the great team it is and came away with a convincing victory in a game that was played very cleanly and sportsmanlike between both teams.

By the time Fitch, who entered with a 4-2 mark, had run just six plays and punted twice, Massillon had opened a commanding 21-0 lead on the strength of 235 yards of offense, averaging 10.2 yard per play.  Leading the attack was the 3-headed monster of senior quarterback Da’One Owens, who ran for 97 yards, junior running back Ja’Meir Gamble, who picked up 94 yards and junior back Mylen Lenix, who added another 19 in limited duty as he returns from an injury.  All of this behind some great blocking by the offensive line.

Meanwhile, the defense did its part by holding the Falcons for the game to a net 12 yards on the ground.  They did give up 205 in the air, but that was by design as, with a big lead, they simply kept the receivers in front of them to prevent a big play, while forcing Fitch to score from within the redzone, where it is much more difficult to complete a pass.  The strategy worked to perfection, as Fitch was able to score just one touchdown on the night.

The Tigers received the opening kickoff and went to work starting at their own 41, following a great return by Zach Liebler.  After picking up three yards on his first carry, Gamble broke through the line and was gone, owing to his 4.39 second 40-yard dash time.  For Fitch had pulled the safeties up to within five yards of the line of scrimmage in order to stop Owens, and there was no one to make the tackle after Gamble broke free.  Later in the game they dropped the safeties, but it was too late then.  The damage had been done.

After holding the Falcons to a 3-and-out, Massillon engineered an 11-play, 94-yard drive, all on the ground, and ended when Dorian Pringle bulled in from the one.  The third score came following a 10-play, 77-yard drive, culminating in a 2-yard TD run by Lenix, which made the score 21-0 early in the second quarter.

It was later in that quarter that the Falcons played their best football, abandoning the run entirely and going  strictly to air.  They scored their lone touchdown when quarterback Deshawn Vaughn fired a flare pass to wide receiver Dan Evans, who then sped past the secondary and down the left sideline for a 57-yard score.  Then, after holding the Tigers on a 3-and-out, they marched the ball with their short passing game to the Massillon eight yard line.  But they were held on downs when Cody Fair tackled the runner for no gain on fourth and one.

Once again the Tigers were forced to punt and the Falcons drove to the Massillon 29.  But an errant pass from Vaughn, who was under tremendous pressure the entire night from the Tiger front-3, was intercepted by Kyler Wiggins at the 20.  Wiggins, a wide receiver by trade, was inserted into the game to bolster the secondary, as Massillon was using both nickel and dime defenses (5 or 6 defensive backs) to control the pass and assure that tackles would be made.  He returned the ball 47 yards to the Fitch 33 with just 21 seconds left in the half.  But Massillon still had three times out available used them wisely.  Six plays later the they were sitting in the end zone when Owens connected with Braylyn Toles as time expired.  It was a potential 14-point turnaround and literally salted the game away.

The second half involved mostly short passes from Fitch and occasional miscues that thwarted drives.  But in the fourth quarter Massillon extended its lead with two additional scores.  Three carries by Owens for 63 yards and fourth by Gamble for 20 resulted in the first score and a 58-yard run up the middle by Gamble was the second.  Meanwhile, Fitch never threatened in the second half.

Ja’Meir Gamble

Gamble led all rushers with 17 carries for 233 yards (13.7 ave.).  The yardage mark is six yards shy of tenth all-time in the Massillon record book.  Owens carried eleven times for 134 yards (12.2 ave.).  Lenix picked up 23.

Austintown’s Vaughn completed 20 of 39 passes for 205 yards.  Their leading rusher, Deon’Dray Richard, gained just 17 yards.

It appears that the Massillon offense is settling down to what it will be; i.e., a formidable rushing attack, featuring both Owens and Gamble, with several other backs finding roles at times.  They average 7.1 yards per carry, which is currently third in the record book.  The passing game is a bit inconsistent, but still a threat to opponents.  The defense against the run is the best seen in Massillon in a long time.  Though eight games, the first unit has yet to surrender a touchdown on the ground and is giving up just 2.3 yards per carry, which is second all-time in the book and first against the spread.  The secondary is also very athletic and has the ability to cover receivers closely in space.  The kicking game has shown improvement recently and will only get better.  Punting chores against
Fitch rested with Owens, due to both Tyler Hackenbracht and Jalen Slaughter not being available.  But Owens was magnificent, averaging 40.7 yards per punt, with a long of 54 yards.

The Tigers (8-0) return home next week when they host Warren Harding (4-4).  Fitch (4-3) travels to Boardman (1-7).

History

Dual-Threat Quarterbacks in High School Are a Rare Breed

Dual-Threat Quarterbacks in High School Are a Rare Breed

Simply put, a dual-threat quarterback is one that possesses the passing attributes of a traditional quarterback and the rushing attributes of a running back.  When combined, these traits create incredible havoc for the defense, for it must defend both aspects simultaneously.  And those visual cues that defenders read that dictate the play simply go out the window.

There are two types of dual-threat quarterbacks.  The first involves the “read option”, where a quarterback either hands the ball off to the running back or keeps the ball and runs it himself, selecting which option is most favorable.  The decision to keep or hand off is not pre-determined in the play call; it is made during the execution of the play itself.  In other words, the quarterback must read the execution of the backside defensive end and choose which option to employ based on whether the end attacks or holds his position.  If he attacks, then the quarterback keeps the ball and heads for the end’s initial position.  Otherwise, it’s a handoff to the running back up the middle.  This scheme has been very effective at the high school level and was run successfully for a number of years by Mentor.

The second type is of a more traditional concept where the quarterback lines up in the shotgun behind the center and simply runs the ball like a running back, sometimes off a fake handoff.  But keep in mind that the quarterback must also be an effective passer and not just a running back playing the position.  Otherwise, the play is not as productive, since defenders will simply key on the quarterback, assuming that he is much less effective in the passing game.  By utilizing an empty backfield, defenders are forced to cover up to five wide receivers, which reduces the number of defenders in position to attack the quarterback.

Massillon fans may recall the 2014 playoff game against Perrysburg.  In that one, quarterback Gus Dimmerling rushed 21 times for 302 yards and scored four touchdowns.  He also completed 13 of 18 passes for 112 yards.  Following the game, the Perrysburg coach remarked that he likes to select a good running back for the quarterback position and teach him how to throw.  It might sound good on paper, but it just isn’t that easy.  Players with the ability to both well just don’t come around very often.  And they are extremely difficult to manufacture.

One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks seen in Ohio, one that employed the wildcat version, was Zanesville’s Buster Howe.  During his senior year in 1987 he rushed for 1,700 yards and scored 34 touchdowns, leading his team to an 8-2 record.  Subsequently, he was named Mr. Ohio Football, the first player to be awarded such an honor.  For his career, he rushed for 3,075 yards and scored 59 touchdowns.  After graduation he had a short stint with Ohio State.

Massillon has never had a dual-threat quarterback that used the read-option concept.  But they have had a few that were pretty adept at running the ball.  Here are the ones that stand out:

Willie Spencer (1994) – Second on the team in rushing with 129 carries for 775 yards.  Averaged 6.0 yards per attempt.  Also passed for 941 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Scored 108 points.  Led his team to a 42-41 overtime win over Canton McKinley in the 100th game.  In that one Spencer rushed for 94 yards and scored a touchdown.  He also threw two touchdown passes.  The team finished with a 10-2 record.  Spencer later played for the University of Akron and Tiffin.

Mike Danzy (1993) – First on the team in rushing with 93 carries for 702 yards.  Averaged 7.5 yards per attempt.  Also passed for 948 yards and 15 touchdowns.  Scored 62 points.  Rushed for 136 yards against Austintown Fitch (7-3) in a 34-15 victory.  The team finished with a 10-2 record.

Steve Hymes (2002) – Third on the team in rushing with 64 carries for 448 yards, as a backup quarterback.  Averaged 7.0 yards per attempt.  Scored 38 points.  The team finished with an 11-3 record.

Darius McElroy (2021) – As a starter early and backup later in the season, rushed 84 times for 431 yards.  Averaged 5.1 yards per attempt.  Passed for 448 yards and two touchdowns.  Led the team in scoring with 72 points.  McElroy was the catalyst behind the 35-13 victory over Canton McKinley, during which he broke the game open in the second half by rushing 13 times for 88 yards and scoring two touchdowns.  The team finished 11-3 and advanced in the playoffs to the regional finals.

Dave Sheegog (1965) – Rushed 106 times for 405 yards.  Averaged 3.8 yards per attempt.  Also, passed for another 427.  Led the team in scoring with 59 points.  During his junior year he was instrumental in leading the Tigers to a 20-14 comeback victory over No. 2 Canton McKinley, during which he scored the winning touchdown on a 14-yard run with less than a minute remaining in the game.  Both Massillon teams finished 10-0 and were named state champions by the Associated Press.  Also, both teams finished second in the country.

Dennis Franklin (1970) – Third on the team in rushing with 79 carries for 363 yards.  Averaged 4.6 yards per carry.  Also passed for 699 yards and 12 touchdowns.  Second on the team in scoring with 66 points.  Rushed for 58 yards in a 28-0 victory over No. 3 Canton McKinley.  Scored on a 37-yard run.  The team finished 10-0 and was named state champions by the Associated Press.  Franklin subsequently started at quarterback for three years for the University of Michigan.

That leads us to this year’s quarterback, Da’One Owens, who would be considered a pure dual-threat quarterback of the second variety.  When featured in the play, he will normally line up in the shotgun in an empty backfield formation.  Sometimes, he would run in combination with a jet-sweep fake handoff and other times he would simply run the ball.  The offensive line would block like on a traditional handoff to a running back, using both power and zone blocking schemes, while Owens, at 6’-1”, 200 lbs., would simply become the running back.

Through seven games, Owens has rushed 60 times for 649 yards and scored nine touchdowns, averaging an incredible 10.8 yards per carry, aided by his 4.5-second forty time.  Numerous times this year he has broken through the defense and taken the ball a great distance to the house.  Owens has also completed 29 of 53 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns.  All that, while sharing the quarterback role with Jalen Slaughter.  The sky is the limit for this young man.

Go Tigers!