Author: <span>Don Engelhardt</span>

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo Editorial

The Website Corner – Week 7

Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.

After the 49-35 defeat to Buffalo Canisius we as Tiger fans have to increase our support for our Tiger Team.  Some may not agree with me, but our young men do pick up on the mood of our community.  Therefore, we have to be unusually diligent in our preparation for the upcoming game against Akron Firestone.  It would be easy for we as fans to take the Falcon’s 3-4 record for granted and just expect an easy win.  This is not the case.  Canisius was able to stretch our defense with the combination of a good quarterback, a good running back and a couple of very good receivers.  Akron Firestone has an eerily similar combination of athletes.  They have a tall and athletic quarterback who can throw deep.  His name is Gavin Cornelius and he is 6’ 5” and weighs 220 lbs.  He is also very athletic.  They have a very good running back, Joshua Mitchell, who is 5’ 11” and weighs 170 lbs.  He is not big but he is very fast.  They also possess two 6’ 3” receivers who are 180 lbs.  They both have very good speed.  Their names are Lafeyette Johnson and Darshun Williams. — GV

Akron Firestone comes into Tiger Stadium on Friday with a 3-4 record.  Here are their results to date:

Wadsworth (7-0) 14-55 L
Copley (3-4) 0-42 L
Revere (2-5) 6-28 L
Toledo Scott (1-6) 26-12
Akron North (0-7) 41-6 W
Akron East (6-1) 0-31 L
Akron Kenmore-Garfield (0-7) 45-12

Although the Falcons are not a polished team like others the Tigers have faced this year, they do have some very skilled athletes in several positions.  Offensively, they return seven starters from last year, including 4 of 5 linemen and a pair of wide receivers.  Look for a lot of run/pass option plays, utilizing their strong-armed 6′-5″ quarterback and hard-running speed back.  They will also run some wildcat.  The line is on the smaller side and Massillon should match up well there.  According to Assistant Coach Craig McConnell, the Tigers need to accomplish three things this week on defense: get aligned right, do the job and TACKLE (30 missed tackles were recorded last week).  Defensively, Firestone will line up in in a 3-4 with a cover 4 secondary.  Four starters return, with three on the line.  Head Coach Nate Moore calls it a “good line.”  But Moore, who was extremely dissatisfied with the team’s performance against Canisius, emphasized that the Tigers must be good enough this week to beat the Massillon team of a week ago, regardless of the opponent this week. — DE

Here is a rundown of the Computer Rankings for Region 7:

  • No. 1 Columbus Walnut Ridge – In the playoffs.
  • No. 2 – Columbus Mifflin – Needs one win. HIghly likely.
  • No. 3 Massillon — Currently in the No. 3 spot, the Tigers may need a win over Firestone to assure themselves of a playoff spot.  An additional win is needed for a first-round home game.
  • No. 4 Ashland – Needs two wins.  Favored against Lexington and West Holmes
  • No. 5 New Albany – Needs two wins.  Favored against Big Walnut, Franklin Heights and Groveport.
  • No. 6 Canal Winchester – Needs three wins.  Favored against Franklin Heights, Newark and Big Walnut.
  • No. 7 Boardman – Needs two wins.  Remaining opponents are Youngstown Ursuline (2-5), Austintown Fitch (4-3) and Ashtabula Lakeside (4-3).
  • No. 8 Licking Heights – Needs two wins.  Favored against Watkins Memorial.  Needs to beat either Johnstown-Monroe (5-2) or Licking Valley (7-0).
  • Others in need of an upset or two include Columbus Whitehall-Yearling, Columbus Northland, Westerville South, North Canton, Worthington Kilbourne, Dublin Scioto, Wooster and Columbus Franklin Heights.
  • Click here for the computer rankings.
  • — DE
Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large) History

Timeless Rivals to Debut in Massillon

Timeless Rivals is a documentary film that chronicles the 120 year plus history of football’s greatest rivalry between the Massillon Tigers and the Canton McKinley Bulldogs. They have been playing since 1894. In that century and a quarter, many notable players, coaches and innovations have emerged.

The tag line is: Professional Roots. College Heroes. The Prep Battle that Shaped Football. These two schools have greatly impacted the modern game. It would not be the same without them. Two pro football hall of famers and ten college hall of famers have participated in the storied rivalry. Fourteen Super Bowl rings have been accumulated between Tiger and Bulldog players. Five McKinley or Massillon graduates have become NFL head coaches. In short, we export football.

The Timeless Rivals crew interviewed close to 50 players, coaches and fans. They will tell the tale of the games, the stories, the anecdotes that have shaped the rivalry and how the rivalry has, in turn, shaped football on all levels. If you played in this game, coached in this game or rooted for one of these teams, you are part of football history. We invite you to witness this great story.

Notable interviews include:

  1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots, Head Coach
  2. John McVay, Former General Manager, SF 49ers
  3. Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots
  4. Bob Vogel, Baltimore Colts, All Pro, Super Bowls III & V
  5. Mark Thewes, Denver Broncos, Personnel Administration
  6. Mike Doss, Indianapolis Colts, player
  7. Mike Brown, Owner and President, Cincinnati Bengals
  8. Chris Spielman, Former Detroit Lions and Broadcaster
  9. Rick Spielman, General Manager, Minnesota Vikings
  10.  Jim Tressel, Former Ohio State Head Coach,
  11.  Earle Bruce, Former Ohio State Head Coach
  12.  Don Nehlen, Former West Virginia Head Coach
  13. Steve Luke, Green Bay Packers, player
  14. Jim Houston, All Pro, Cleveland Browns, NFL Champion, 1964
  15. Jon Kendle, Archivist, Pro Football Hall of Fame

Some others associated with the rivalry are: Professional Hall of Fame Inductees, Paul Brown, Marion Motley and Jim Thorpe, Percy Snow, Knute Rockne and Don James.

DVD’s are $20.00 each and will make great keepsakes and stocking stuffers this year. Go to our Timeless Rivals Facebook page to purchase copies through PayPal during or after our premiers Oct. 21-27.

https://www.facebook.com/TimelessRivals/

Film tickets are $20.00

Massillon’s Lions Lincoln Film dates and show times

Tickets $20.00 Please Call 1-800-838-3006 lionslincolntheatre.org      

Saturday              10/21     3:00pm and 7:00pm (team and band scheduled to be at the 3:00pm show ) reserved seating
Sunday 10/22     3:00pm and 7:00pm
Monday               10/23     7:00pm
Tuesday               10/24     7:00pm
Wednesday        10/25     7:00pm
Thursday             10/26     12:30pm and 3:30pm
Friday                    10/27     12:30pm and 3:30pm

Other Events happening…

Saturday              10/14     10:30 “Sports Time Machine, WHBC radio interview, Ted & Dave, Ray & Justin
Monday               10/16     11:30 PFHOF Luncheon Club, Ted and Dave guest speakers
Friday    10/27     9:00pm – 12:30am Timeless Rivals “After Party” Open to the public!! Come join the party!!
Saturday              10/28     2:00pm First MvM Game in the new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

 

Obie Logo (Large) News

Booster Club Meeting Report – Week 7

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The seventh General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 10/9/2017.  Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance.  Steve made the following announcements:

Only one score from the week: 9th grade won vs. Louisville 28-0.

Props to former Tiger quarterback Kyle Kempt for his outstanding performance helping Iowa State upset Oklahoma.

Steve then introduced Dave Jingo and Ted Bowersox from the Timeless Rivals film.  They showed a trailer for the movie and briefly shared the rich history of the Massillon / McKinley rivalry.  They asked that those in attendance help spread the word about the movie.  It will be shown in Massillon at the Lincoln Theater and in Canton at the Palace Theater starting October 21, 2017.  Cost of a ticket is $20 and there will be a DVD available for $20.

President Berecek then introduced Coach Nate Moore who introduced two senior football players: Senior OL/DL Ty Kearns and Senior DB/WR Dyson Berry who addressed the club on the Canisius game and the upcoming game vs. Akron Firestone.  They also answered several questions from the audience and then left to finish their homework.

Coach Moore brought Defensive Coordinator Craig McConnell to the meeting. They reviewed and commented on film clips from the Canisius game and then they reviewed Akron Firestone game film and discussed their potential lineup and players.  They both answered many questions from the audience.

Final Announcement: everyone is invited to attend the Massillon Museum’s Expansion Groundbreaking (Paul Brown Museum) scheduled for this Thursday October 12, 2017.  Social at 5:00pm and Remarks and the ceremony at 5:45pm.

Door prizes were announced.

The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Booster Club is scheduled for Monday October 16, 2017 at 7:00pm in the Media Center of WHS.  Memberships will be available at the door.

Go Tigers!! Beat Firestone!!`

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo Editorial

The Website Corner – Week 6

Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.

Friday’s Tiger victory over Austintown Fitch was a total Tiger victory.  Our Tigers defeated Fitch 38 to 28.  The trip to Austintown was very satisfying as the Tiger Nation showed their best against a very good Austintown Fitch team.  Our players played with a world of heart and used all aspects of the game to bring home a victory.  The offense scored 38 points and used both a dominant running game and key pass completions to score and keep drives going.  The defense registered key stops to get the ball back for our offense.  Special teams played a key role in the game’s outcome, which was highlighted by a 39-yard Klay Moll field goal that provided the final margin of victory.  Our coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for the win.  They gave our Tigers a solid game plan and were instrumental in getting a large number of players on the field.  This showed as the Tigers dominated the fourth quarter.  Good job coaches. — GV

The Tiger Swing Band was the obvious superior band on the field that night.  Jason Neel’s group out performed their Austintown counterparts and provided great support to our team.  Good job Band. — GV

The Tigers will take a 5-1 record into Friday’s game against Canisius, a parochial school from Buffalo, New York.  The Crusaders, currently at 4-1, have a record of 50-7 over the past five years and were Catholic school champs in New York last year.  This year’s offense features quarterback Jayce Johnson, who stands 6′-5″, 205 lbs.  He doesn’t run much, but he has a big arm and a favorite target in Paul Woods, who has committed to Rutgers.  Running back duties fall to Kenyatta Huston, a 5’10’, 170 lb. speedsters, who has been clocked at 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash.  Woods will run behind a massive line that averages 6′-2″, 284 lbs.  The attack is balanced, although not flashy, preferring to beat teams with their edge in talent.  Defensively, the Crusaders also have good size on the line, averaging 6′-2″, 251 lbs.  They will line up mostly in an odd-front, but will occasionally switch to an even front.  The kicker normally places the ball deep in the end zone.  Classified as a Division 2 team using Ohio standards, Canisius has five players going both ways, something that could work in the Tigers’ favor.  “I feel really good about our matchups,” said Massillon coach Nate Moore.  “I have a lot of confidence in our kids,”  — DE

The weakness of Region 7 is really showing through, with just five of 27 teams sporting winning records.  Here is a rundown of where the contenders stand after six weeks:

  • Massillon — Currently in the No. 2 spot, the Tigers are a lock to make the playoffs.
  • Boardman — The Spartans have Warren, Ursuline, Fitch and Ashtabula Lakeside remaining on their schedule.  They need to win three of these games.
  • North Canton — The Vikings need to beat either Bishop Hartley (6-0) or Jackson (5-1), along with Lake and Green.
  • New Albany, Canal Winchester, Franklin Heights — New Albany and Winchester both have upcoming games against Franklin Heights.  All three should win their remaining games.  To qualify, New Albany needs to beat Franklin Heights.  Winchester also needs to beat Franklin Heights.  Franklin Heights needs to beat both New Albany and Winchester.
  • Ashland — The arrows need to beat a good Mansfield (5-1) team this week and then Wooster (3-3) in Week 10.
  • Westerville South — Needs to beat either Olentangy Liberty (4-2) or Olentangy Orange (6-0).
  • Worthington Kilbourne — Needs to beat Hilliard Darby (3-3) and Dublin Jerome (4-2).
  • Licking Heights — After the next two easy wins, Licking Heights needs to beat either Johnstown-Monroe (4-2) or Licking Valley (6-0).
  • Columbus Walnut Ridge — They are a lock.
  • Columbus Mifflin — Almost certain to make it in.
  • Click here for the computer rankings.
  • — DE
Obie Logo (Large) News

Booster Club Meeting Report – Week 6

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The sixth General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 10/2/2017.  Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance.  Steve made the following announcements:

There was a moment of silence for the lives lost in the recent Las Vegas shootings.

Scores from the week: 8th grade won vs. Akron Buchtel 18-14, 9th grade lost vs. Fitch 16-0 and the JV won vs. Fitch 26-22.

President Berecek then introduced Coach Nate Moore who thanked Steve and the Booster Club for their continued assistance.  He then introduced two senior football players: Senior OL/DL Ty Kearns and Senior DB/WR Anthony Ballard who addressed the club on the Fitch game and the upcoming game vs. Canisius (Buffalo).  They also answered several questions from the audience.

Coach Moore reviewed and commented on film clips from the Fitch game and then he reviewed Canisius game film and discussed their potential lineup and players.  He also answered many questions from the audience.

Coach Moore brought Assistant Coach Dave Weber – Special Teams and Offensive Line Coach to the meeting.  He is excited to be back in Massillon and tries to share the great Massillon Tiger tradition and history with this year’s team. He also answered questions from the group.

Final Announcement: please support the Eagles 190 fall draw-down on 10/21/17.  Tickets are $50 and if you are interested please see Steve Berecek.

Door prizes were announced.

The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Monday October 9, 2017 at 7:00pm in the Media Center of WHS.  Memberships will be available at the door. Go Tigers!! Beat Buffalo!!

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo Editorial

The Website Corner – Week 5

Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.

Chris Easterling’s game story refers to some big numbers put up by the Tiger’s offense.  When you score 56 points and gain 420 yards in total offense, you have put up some impressive numbers.  However, the most important numbers from the Bedford game may have been four and zero.  A four to zero turnover edge was huge in determining the ultimate winner of this game.  Zero turnovers in a game is the result of good coaching by our coaching staff and good execution by our Tiger’s.  We are going to need a good week of practice by our team to keep the zero turnover record  going.  So, let’s all get out to Austintown and support our team.  It’s going to take a total Tigertown effort. — GV

Last week we faced a team with a group of tremendous athletes. When you face a team like Bedford you know there are going to be the chance for big plays and scoring that happens quickly. We saw that on Friday night, but it was the Tigers who struck first. I was impressed with the game plan our coaches came up with offensively and the toughness of our defensive to handle their responsibilities as they have been coached. Forcing two early turnovers really helped this defense have a great confidence throughout the game.  Each week I like to point out a different aspect of our team that is growing and getting better. This week that honor goes to our offensive line. They are playing in the shadows of the 2016 team which had arguably one of the biggest offensive lines since the early 90’s. These guys are gritty, tough and fundamentally sound in their responsibilities. You can see the push each week they are getting for our running backs to get down field. Great job O-Line!  See you in Austintown! Beat  Fitch! — ES

We’re halfway through the season and Region 7 is starting to take shape.  These are the contenders as I see it and they may finish in this order: Licking Heights, Columbus Walnut Ridge, Massillon, New Albany, Ashland, Canal Winchester, Columbus Mifflin and Boardman.  Westerville South is about to get into the meat of its schedule and I see just one more win for them.  North Canton (2-3) has a tough road ahead with Perry (4-1), Jackson (4-1) and Columbus Bishop Hartley (4-1). The Vikings will need to win two of these games to overtake Boardman.  Worthington Kilbourne’s finishing schedule is also a killer.  Based on all of this, and barring any collapses, the final eight should be pretty well set.  Now it’s just a matter of the final placement. — DE

This Friday the Tigers will travel to Austintown to take on the Fitch Falcons, which currently stands at 3-2.  After dropping their first two games to Hudson (4-1) and Brunswick (3-2), the Falcons have rebounded against Louisville (1-4), Warren Harding (0-4) and Youngstown East (1-4), outscoring these three three teams by an average margin of 38-16.  Offensively, Fitch operates out of the spread formation, normally with a tight end on one side and trips to the other.  The run/pass ratio is 80:20.  The quarterback is new this year, having started at middle linebacker in 2016.  Passing is not his specialty, but he regularly puts up around 100 yards rushing per game.  Both running backs return and have good ability.  The line is undersized in some positions.  Defensively, look for a 3-3 odd stack, similar to what Cincinnati St. Xavier ran against Massillon in the 2005 state title game.  When the outside guys scoot in, the 8-man front can put a lot of pressure on the opposing offense.  Fitch will blitz more than 50% of the time.  The defensive line is smallish, averaging around 200 lbs.  According to Coach Moore the Falcons are very aggressive against the run and will present a good challenge.  The are well-coached, disciplined and play with good technique.  And they really play hard to make up for the lack of size. — DE

Obie Logo (Large) News

Booster Club Meeting Report – Week 5

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The fifth General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 9/25/2017.  Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance.  Steve made the following announcements:

Scores from the week: 8th grade won vs. Akron Ellet 42-36, 9th grade won at Bedford 36-0 and the JV lost at Bedford 35-12.

We are honoring Walt Bronczek for 40 years as the Paul Brown Tiger Stadium announcer at the Akron Firestone game on 10/13/17.

Businesses that supported the Summer Feeding Program will be honored at the Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary game on 10/20/17.

This Friday is an away game at Austintown Fitch.  The booster club is selling bus tickets for $25 each at Keller’s Office Furniture store.  This price includes a sandwich and a drink but no game ticket.

Coach Moore then spoke about how happy he was with a good win against a good Bedford team with several great players. He then answered many questions from the audience and gave an injury update.

Coach Moore brought Assistant Coach Jarrett Troxler – Quarterback Coach to the meeting.  This is Coach Troxler’s first year on the staff. He is excited to be in Massillon. He explained his coaching background and reviewed the quarterback position at Massillon. He also addressed the upcoming game vs. Fitch and answered questions from the group.

Coach Moore brought two senior football players to the meeting.  Game Captains Senior OL Lucas McGuire and Senior WR/Safety Austin Kutscher addressed the club on the Bedford game and the upcoming game at Austintown Fitch.  They also answered questions from the audience.

Coach Moore and Coach Troxler commented on film clips from the Bedford game and then they reviewed Fitch game film and discussed their potential lineup and players.  They both answered questions from the audience.

The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Monday October 2, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Media Center of WHS.  Memberships will be available at the door. Go Tigers!! Beat Fitch!!

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo Editorial

The Website Corner – Week 4

Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.

Ursuline coach Larry Kempe said, “For the first time in four weeks we played with great passion.”  Despite winning by 29 points the game was much closer than the score indicates.  Our Tigers had 418 yards in total offense while Ursuline had 375 yards.  That is a difference of just 43 yards.  To state the obvious our Tigers have to keep getting better.  Getting better means working to contain the speed of this week’s opponent, Bedford.  So, Tiger fans we need to get out and support our guys with great energy.  This is a BIG GAME! — GV

The Tigers showed continued growth this week vs. Youngstown Ursuline. While our defense was challenged by what appears to be a very talented running back in Joe Floyd, the Tigers never broke and held Ursuline out of the endzone for most of the game. This week the Tigers will again face a talented team that will surely test them and show if they continue to grow. Offensively our Tigers continue to gel in both the running and passing game. Our special team’s punting and field goal kicking have been very good for us. Our freshman punter Magnus Haines is averaging 33.1 yards per punt and has had two downed inside the 20 yard line. Klay Moll is 2-2 on his FG attempts this season and 15-15 on his extra points for the season! – ES

We’re four games into the season and just one team in Massillon’s region remains unbeaten: Columbus Walnut Ridge.  Based on performances so far and considering the remaining opponents, it appears that ten teams are in contention for the coveted eight playoff spots.  They are Massillon, Boardman, Westerville South, Wooster, New Albany, Canal Winchester, Licking Heights, Columbus Walnut Ridge, Columbus Mifflin and Columbus West.  Another five teams are on the bubble, including North Canton, Westerville North, Ashland, Franklin Heights and Columbus Northland.  Wooster (1-3) will need to win out, but may stumble against Mansfield in Week 8.  New Albany (1-3) will also need to win out.  North Canton will need to beat either Columbus Bishop Hartley (3-1) or Jackson (3-1).  Ashland may fall short even with an 8-2 record due to poor scheduling.  This week, keep an eye on Massillon vs. Bedford, Boardman vs. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, North Canton vs. Canton McKinley and Columbus West vs. Columbus Marion Franklin. — DE

The Tigers are no stranger to fierce competition and annually seem defeat a team or two that finishes 8-2 or better.  This week’s test is Bedford, which comes in with a 4-0 record and is on a quest to post an undefeated season.  Although the schedule so far has been substandard, Bedford has won each game convincingly like a good team should.  The Bearcats possess a host of athletic talent at the skill positions, particular at running back and wide receiver.  Offensively, the they will line up in a Power-I formation and run the ball between the tackles utilizing No. 11 Kenneth Wilkins.  When they need to pass, it’s down the field to No. 4 Davion Johnson. Both of these players have track speed.  The offensive line is not as big as Massillon’s earlier opponents, but they fired off the ball well. According to Coach Nate Moore, the Tigers will need to line up correctly, read their keys, react properly and gang tackle.  Defensively, the normal alignment is 4-2, with the linebackers over the defensive ends, but they occasionally push one inside.  Moore expects something similar to what Youngstown Ursuline did in the first half of last Friday’s game; i.e., pushing a safety up into the box.  The linebackers are the strength of the defense, while the secondary also plays well.  The line is undersized and does not seem to have an overwhelming pass rush.  The kicking game is a challenge for them. — DE

Obie Logo (Large) Booster Club

Booster Club Meeting Report – Week 4

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The fourth General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 9/18/2017.  Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance.  Steve made the following announcements:

Scores from the week: 8th grade won vs. Akron East 14-8, 9th grade won vs. Ursuline 34-8 and the JV lost at Tri-Valley 40-26.

Next Friday is an away game at Austintown Fitch.  The booster club is selling bus tickets for $25 each at Keller’s Office Furniture store.  This price includes a sandwich and a drink but no game ticket.

The annual Beat McKinley parade is scheduled for Friday 10/2717.

The Beat McKinley Booster Club meeting is scheduled for Monday 10/23/17 at 7:00 pm in the WHS Auditorium

We are honoring Walt Bronczek for 40 years as the Paul Brown Tiger Stadium announcer at the Akron Firestone game on 10/13/17.

Coach Moore then spoke about practice going well today and how he was happy with the victory vs. Ursuline even though many things still need to be worked on.

Coach Moore brought Coach Spencer Leno – Inside Linebackers Coach to the meeting.  Coach Leno is a former Tiger player and this is his first year on the staff. He explained his coaching background and reviewed the Ursuline game from a defensive standpoint. He also addressed the upcoming game vs. Bedford and aanswered questions from the group.

Coach Moore brought two senior football players to the meeting.  Game Captains Senior DB Dyson Berry and Senior LB Logan Anania addressed the club on the Youngstown Ursuline game and the upcoming game vs. Bedford.  They also answered questions from the audience.

Coach Moore and Coach Leno commented on film clips from the Ursuline game and then they reviewed Bedford game film and discussed their potential lineup and players.  They both answered questions from the audience. Coach Moore gave an injury report.

The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Monday September 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Media Center of WHS.  Memberships will be available at the door.

Massillon Tigers Letter Logo Editorial

The Website Corner – Week 3

Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.

Touchdown Club September 12, 2017 – (first row L-R) Dyson Berry, Anthony Ballard, Lucas McGuire; (second row L-R); Ty Kearns, Head Coach Nate Moore, Touchdown Club President Bill Keller, Assistant Coach Bob Oviatt

There were a number of things one could point to in describing the Tiger’s efforts that resulted in a victory over Warren Friday.  The defense contained a pretty good Warren running game, our passing game was very efficient, but our ground game was the clincher.  Those two fourth quarter drives are examples of how to play with a lead.  They ate up the clock and kept the Warren offense off the field.  The first drive was huge as it ended with a Klay Moll 21-yard field goal that gave the Tigers a two score lead.  The second ate up the clock and ended with Aiden Longwell taking a knee to end the game.  That is how to finish.  A like effort will be needed this Friday against Youngtown Ursuline.  We will need a good defense against the run, timely passing and of course a physical run game. — GV

Three weeks into the season, just three unbeaten teams remain in Division II, Region 7: Columbus Mifflin, Boardman and Columbus Walnut Ridge.  Massillon continues to position itself for a qualifying position with a big win over Warren Harding, which should provide plenty of second-level points down the road.  Hoover, which lost to Akron East last week 27-20, remains a mystery team.  But it should sort itself out on Friday when the Vikings travel to GlenOak.  Licking Heights edged New Albany 35-30, but both teams should finish in the Top 8.  The crystal ball says that the final eight teams in Region 7 should come from this group: Columbus Walnut Ridge,  Massillon, Columbus Mifflin, Licking Heights, Canal Winchester, New Albany, Boardman, Dublin Scioto and Columbus West.  Time will tell for North Canton, Lake, Ashland, Westerville South and Worthington Kilbourne. — DE

Youngstown Ursuline comes to Massillon sporting a 1-2 record.  The lone win was over hapless Youngstown East 40-19, while losses were to Cleveland Benedictine 39-29 and Akron Hoban 49-0.  The offense revolves around the quarterback, who returns from last year.  Coach Nate Moore says that he throws and runs equally well. The running backs have good size, but not the speed of Warren’s.  The receiver corps is all new.  The offense uses a similar scheme to Massillon, except that the running backs are aligned closer to the QB.  A weaker area would be the defense, which returns just three starters, one on the line, one at linebacker (although he was a defensive end last year) and one in the secondary.  The two corners are both sophomores and just 5’9″ tall.  The Irish operate out of a 4-3 alignment.  Six players go both ways. — DE

In the Warren game you may have noticed the Warren quarterback threw a backward pass to the receiver while they were behind the line of scrimmage. If the pass is completed the statistician makes the judgment, if the pass is forward or backward. If the pass was backward the play is recorded as a rushing play. If incomplete the action of the game officials determines if the pass is a forward pass or a lateral. In the Warren game the play was recorded as a rushing play. There were a couple of other stats that are interesting from the Warren game. Massillon made 4 of 8 third down conversions and Warren made 2 or 8. On fourth downs, Warren only made 1 or 3 forth down conversions. Massillon was winning at half time but the time of possession was in Warren’s favor 8 minutes to Massillon’s 4 minutes. That was turned around by Massillon in the second half, Massillon controlled for 16:32 minutes and Warren for 7:28 minutes. Warren only having 8 plays from scrimmage in the 4 quarter. — JB