Author: <span>Don Engelhardt</span>

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo Editorial

The Website Corner – Week 1

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

Week one was a rough night.  We have to move on to Canton GlenOak who also lost.  They lost to Toledo Whitmer 38-24.  The outcome of the GlenOak game is essential to the success of our 2017 season.  Next week’s winner will depend on which team is most successful in regrouping and improving on week one.  We all need to get behind our Tigers as our support is critical this week.  Go Tigers! — GV

This year the Tigers are competing in Division 2, Region 7 for one of the eight post-season playoff spots.  Based on last weekend’s scores, certain teams have already established themselves as contenders.  Start with Westerville South.  They competed last year in Division 1 and posted a 1-9 record.  But they moved down this year and started off with a bang, trouncing Dublin Scioto, 50-14.  Running back Jaelen Gill, an OSU recruit, led the Wildcats with 138 yards rushing and four touchdowns.  North Canton’s 43-12 victory over Brush looks good on paper, but aside from that, there were no real eye openers.  Here are the teams that should contend: Massillon, North Canton, Lake, Boardman, Ashland, Wooster, Westerville South, Worthington Kilbourne, Dublin Scioto, New Albany and LIcking Heights. And save a spot for one of the Columbus city teams.  In what is arguably the weakest region in D2, only 12 of the 27 teams posted victories last weekend.  Normally a team would need win seven or eight teams to qualify.  But with the weakness of this region, it is conceivable that one or more teams could get in with just six victories. — DE

This will be the 9th game with GlenOak in the recent series.  In that six of the last seven were decided by three points or less, one can expect the same type of nail biter this time around.  GlenOak’s offense revolves around Tate Rhoads, a returning starter at quarterback.  Stop him, according to Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore, and you win the game. Rhoads is a threat to both run and throw the ball off the read option.  He knows when to run and he knows where to run, causing headaches for opposing defenses. In the passing department, Rhoads favors the short toss, particularly to receiver Darius Stokes.  So it is imperative that the Tigers get pressure on him in passing situations.  Although the skill position starters are a talented group, nearly all of them play both ways.  The offensive and defensive lines, dominated by underclassmen, are considered their weak areas.  — DE

Game statistics start from the line of scrimmage so the first thing I want to talk about is how the yard line (spotting the ball for statistics) is determined. If any part of the ball lies on or above a yard line future action is computed from that yard line. If all of the football has been advanced beyond a yard line the next yard line is the yard line used for spotting the ball and calculating statistics. However, for statistical purposes there must always be at least one yard to be gained for a first down or touchdown This comes into play when the game officials spot the ball within one yard of a first down, or within one yard of the goal line, or between the 11 and 10 yard line. The statistical yard line is one yard back. — JB

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Booster Club Meeting Report – Week 1

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The first General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 8/28/2017.  New Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance.  The following events took place:

Gary Vogt briefly gave an update on the new Booster Club web-site.  He thanked all who worked on this project and then introduced Don Engelhardt, who presented an overview of the new web-site. The site is a work in process but the amount of information available and its design is very impressive.  Be sure to check it out.

Ron Prunty who has been filming the Massillon Tiger football games since 1979 asked if anyone would be interested helping him carry his equipment from his car before the game up onto the stadium roof.  The stairs to the roof have been removed and the only access is through a “hole” in the press box. Ron also would like some help getting the equipment down and back to his car after the game. If anyone is interested in helping please contact President Berecek or Ron.

Coach Moore brought two senior football players to the meeting.  Senior WR Austin Kutscher and Senior DE, RT Ty Keirns addressed the club on the Mentor game and the upcoming GlenOak game.  They also answered questions from the audience.

Coach Moore commented on the Mentor game and how the team was preparing for the next game against GlenOak. He gave an injury update and mentioned several positive performances. He showed film clips from the Mentor game and gave comments on the action. Then he previewed the GlenOak game by showing game film from their first game and reviewing their potential lineup and players.

John Lieberman reminded Boosters to clip the booster coupons from the local newspapers and bring them to future meetings.  We are trying to win this $2,000 contest for the 5th straight year.

Away game bus tickets for Warren and Fitch are available at Keller’s in downtown Massillon for $25 each. See Matt Keller if interested in purchasing one.

Nick Pribich reminded Boosters to bring canned goods to future meetings to help us win the annual food drive vs. McKinley.

The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Tuesday September 5, 2017 at 7:00pm in the Media Center of WHS.  Memberships will be available at the door.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

Massillon and Mentor Eclipsed 100 Points in 2007 Game

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that this 6-4 Massillon team had put up 52 points on the eventual Division 1 state runner-up.  It’s also hard to believe that they also lost the game.  But the offenses prevailed in this one.  And if you weren’t a fan of either team, then it just might have been one of the most entertaining high school games you ever saw.  The final score was 56-52 in favor of Mentor.

Jason Hall’s Tigers entered Week 5 with a 2-2 record, having unexpectedly lost to both Solon and Parma Normandy.  Mentor, meanwhile, dropped their opener to eventual Division 4 runner-up Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, but stormed back to take the next three, beating Strongsville (44-28), Solon (27-0) and Cleveland St. Ignatius (38-17).  So there was no doubt that Mentor was the favored team.  Only the Cardinals have always struggled when playing in Tigertown and this one turned out to be no different.

The two teams lit up the scoreboard right from the onset, with Mentor taking a 21-17 lead after three possessions by each squad.  Following a 29-yard field goal by Steve Schott, KJ Herring scored from 50 yards out and then JB Price returned a fumbled punt 36 yards for a TD.

The onslaught continued right to halftime with 28 more points, 14 by each team, and Mentor holding onto a slim 4-point lead.  For the Tigers, it was two Devoe Torrence rushing touchdowns, from nine and one-yards out, finishing off a pair of 80-yard drives.  Could either team stop the other in the second half?  Not likely.

Each team scored once in the third quarter to set up a thrilling fourth.  Torrence had tallied his third from the nine yardline following a missed 49-yard field goal attempt from Schott.  So entering the fourth quarter, Mentor was up 42-38.

It was one of those games where the team that scored last was going to win.  It started quietly with a Mentor punt.  Then a 24-yard TD by Torrence with 7:25 remaining, gave the Tigers a 45-42 lead.  Mentor answered with a 2-yard TD with 4:01 to play, completing a 16-play methodical drive.  Now it was Massillon’s turn.  JT Turner returned the kickoff to the Mentor 49, with a 15-yard Cardinal penalty tacked on, placing the ball at the Mentor 34.  From there, it took just eight plays, with big Steve Yoder bulling his way up the middle for 21 yards and the score, seemingly carrying half the Cardinal defense on his back.  Schott’s kick was good and the Tigers were up 52-49.

But scoring was not the intent on that play and the TD came too early, leaving 1:52 on the clock.  Too much time for the high-powered Mentor offense.  And they did just what they were expected to.  The winning 8-yard scoring pass came at the end of a 10-play, 79-yard drive, leaving a mere 24 seconds on the clock.  Not enough time for Tigers to pull it out.

Massillon finished with 498 yards, rushing for 433 and passing for another 65.  Chris Willoughby was 6 of 17.  Devoe Torrence rushed 36 times for 283 yards and four touchdowns and KJ Herring added another 109.

Mentor rolled up 588 yards, rushing for 289 and passing for 299.  Bart Tanski was 25 of 38.  Tom Worden rushed 27 times for 226 yards and 3 touchdowns.

So how could a Massillon team that had been basically written off a week before do this to a Mentor team that was destined for greatness?  Simple.  Pure effort and intensity.  And they kept that up for the rest of the season.  Although they dropped a decision to Cleveland St. Ignatius the following week, the Tigers finished strong, winning their final four games and posting a winning record.

 

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Massillon Struggles in Final Scrimmage

A nice crowd turned out at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Friday night to watch Massillon and Lakewood St. Edward square off in a final pre-season scrimmage.  Unfortunately, the Eagles had the better of it, winning 31-0 in one half of football.

St. Eds showed why they won Division 1 state titles in 2014 and 2015, while losing in overtime in a regional finals game last year.  They have great size and speed, plus a wealth of experience.  And their intensity level is beyond what Massillon saw in its first two scrimmages against Avon and Berea MIdpark.  The youthful Tigers just didn’t match up well in this one.

The Eagles scored three touchdowns and a field goal in their first four possessions to open up a 24-0 advantage as the second quarter got underway. For the night, they rolled up 343 yards of offense, scoring on runs of 23, 25, 25 and 2 yards and kicking a 25-yard field goal.  Defensively, they held Massillon to just 44 yards and three first downs.  In fact, the Tigers never crossed midfield, except when Jamir Thomas intercepted a pass and returned it to the Eagle 31.  Only they turned the ball over on downs four plays later.

On the bright side, the coaching staff has plenty of game film to use in pointing out areas that must be improved upon prior to the season opener against Mentor.

In earlier action, both the JV and the Freshmen teams scrimmaged.  The format was four 10-play series each, starting at the opponent’s 40 yardline.  The JV team lost to St. Eds four touchdowns to two.  The Freshmen team defeated St. Eds six touchdowns to three.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo News

Tigers Prepare to Face Challenging Schedule

This Friday evening, the Tigers will conclude their preseason when they take on perennial state power Lakewood St. Edward.  It will be a difficult task to be sure. But they hope to parlay that experience into a victory over another power in Mentor, which invades Paul Brown Tiger Stadium the following Friday.  For without a league title in which to contend, it’s all about making the state playoffs, which must come before any talk about post-season success.

The magic number is “7.”  That’s the number of wins a typical Massillon team would need to qualify for the playoffs.  But there’s more to it than just winning games. The win total must also include a significant number of teams that are also winners in order to accumulate sufficient computer points.

The playoffs have been around since 1972.  Here’s a look back at the win totals of past Tiger teams regarding the number of teams that would have finished in the top eight of the region, taking into account that the present setup was not in place until 1999.

  • 10 wins: 5 of 5 qualified for the playoffs
  • 9 wins: 7 of 8
  • 8 wins: 12 of 12
  • 7 wins: 8 of 10
  • 6 wins: 3 of 7
  • 5 wins: 0 of 1
  • 4 wins: 0 of 4

So with at least seven wins, the Tigers qualified for the playoffs 91% of the time.  Even with six wins there was a fighting chance.  Of course, seven wins isn’t a guarantee, since a weak schedule can work against you, as it did in both 1978 (9-0-1) and 2011 (7-3).  But an overly strong schedule can also work against.  In some years, the schedule was just too difficult to overcome as the following discussion will point out.

We’ll start by rating the strength-of-schedule for each year using the following point system:

  • Rating 0 – The team is flat out not very good at football; ex. Toledo Bowsher
  • Rating 1 – Public or smaller parochial school that did not win at least seven games and did not qualify for the playoffs
  • Rating 2 – Public or smaller parochial school that did win at least seven games or qualified for the playoffs
  • Rating 3 – Large parochial school

The overall strength-of-schedule is then determined by summing all of the ratings for the ten-game regular season.  For example, in 2015 the strength-of-schedule was 18, given that 9 teams made the playoffs (rating = 2) and one team was rated zero.

In case you were wondering, here is Massillon’s winning percentage against each of these groups since 1972:

  • Rating 0: 32-0-0 (100%)
  • Rating 1: 215-15-1 (93%)
  • Rating 2: 84-80-3 (51%)
  • Rating 3: 2-18-0 (10%)

If you pull out the Massillon teams that won at least seven games, here are the percentages:

  • Rating 0: 21-0-0 (100%
  • Rating 1: 178-8-1 (95%)
  • Rating 2: 69-40-2 (63%)
  • Rating 3: 2-9-0 (18%)

Therefore, it could be concluded that the difference between the Massillon teams that qualified for the playoffs and those that didn’t was better performance against the Rated 2 opponents.  The qualifiers won 63% of these games, whereas the non-qualifiers won just 27%.  Pretty obvious, of course.  But strength-of-schedule still factors in when you consider both number of better opponents on the schedule and Massillon’s traditional winning percentage against those teams.  The list below shows the number of teams that qualified for the playoffs for each total strength-of-schedule rating:

  • Strength-of-schedule 11 to 12: 7 of 10 qualified for the playoffs
  • Strength-of-schedule 13 to 14: 21 of 22
  • Strength-of-schedule 15: 4 of 9
  • Strength-of-schedule 16 to 18: 2 of 7

The data shows that the optimum strength-of-schedule rating is 13 to 14.  But it also shows the problems of both weak and overly strong schedules.  With a weak schedule, the computer points are lacking in spite of having a lot of wins.  Conversely, with a strong schedule, the wins are sometimes lacking, resulting in insufficient computer points.

Historically, since the introduction of the playoffs, Massillon’s strength-of-schedule has trended upward from 13.5 to the current 14.5, right around the optimum.  Last year’s rating was 14.  For the previous year, Coach Nate Moore’s first, it was 18.

Keep in mind that for the majority of public school programs across the state, these statistics do not hold up.  When these teams are good, they’re good.  And when they’re bad, they’re bad.  Strength-of-schedule doesn’t seem to matter much.  That’s because their programs are not as solid and predictable as Massillon’s.  The Tigers tend to put out a good product every year, so it’s the strength-of-schedule that can have a larger influence on the outcome.

That brings us to this year.  How strong is the schedule and is it conducive based on the statistics for the Tigers to make the playoffs?-  Let’s start by looking at each opponent.

  • Mentor – Qualified for the D1 playoffs in 8 of the last 10 years. Returns a 3-year starter at quarterback for a team that emphasizes the pass.  Rating = 2.
  • Canton GlenOak – Qualified for the D1 playoffs in 8 of the last 10 years. Rating = 2.
  • Warren Harding – Would have qualified for the D2 playoffs in 5 of the last 10 years. Rating = 1.5.
  • Youngstown Ursuline – Struggled last year. Expected to struggle again.  Rating = 1.
  • Bedford – Now a D2 team, would have qualified for the D2 playoffs in 3 of the last 4 years. Returns a good nucleus of skilled athletes.  Rating = 2.
  • Austintown Fitch – Qualified for the D1 playoffs in 5 of the last 6 years. Rating = 1.5.
  • Canisius, NY – Large parochial school from New York. Parochial state champs last year.  Rating = 3.
  • Akron Firestone – Finished 4-6 in 2016. Expected to be better this year.  Rating = 1.
  • Akron St. Vincent – Qualified for the playoffs in 9 of the last 10 years. Rating = 2.
  • Canton McKinley – Qualified for the D1 playoffs in 8 of the last 10 years. Rating = 2.

Based on the above, the strength-of-schedule for the 2017 season is predicted to be 18.  This would make it the most difficult schedule the Tigers have faced since the introduction of the playoffs, matching that of the 1989 and 2014 seasons.  Seven or eight of the opponents would be expected to qualify for the playoffs and that includes Canisius.  But it is not an impossible task as demonstrated by second-year coach Lee Owens, who also faced a strength-of-schedule rating of 18.  He fashioned his 1989 team into an 8-2 record and advanced to the D1 regional finals before losing to eventual state champ Cleveland St. Ignatius. And Coach Moore’s first team was one play away from qualifying.

Based on both the strength-of-schedule and the expectations of the other teams in the region, with this schedule six wins might just be enough to be playing in Week 11.  But let’s not settle for that.  Let’s just win them all!

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Massillon, Midpark Wage Spirited Scrimmage

The intensity was high for Saturday’s scrimmage No. 2 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.  Massillon was coming off of what Coach Nate Moore described as a disappointing performance against Avon last Tuesday and looked to ramp up both the execution and the effort.  Meanwhile, Berea Midpark was trying to erase the memory last year’s complete domination by the Tigers in a similar venue.

The much-improved Titans were led by strong-armed quarterback Trevor Bycznski, a 6’-5”, 225 lb. junior.  Massillon, meanwhile, countered with a bevy of skilled athletes.  While the scrimmage started off fairly even, in the end it was clear that the Tigers had shown the improvement they were looking for enroute to another dominating performance versus the Titans.

Tre’von Morgan with the TD Reception.
Preston Hodges pushes toward the endzone. Marcellous Blake looks for a block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 1 of the scrimmage called for each team to run two 10-play series, starting at their own 40 yardline.  Massillon tallied three times and Midpark twice.

Midpark: TD on a 3-yard run.  TD on a 45-yard pass.  The second score was a sideline throw to the wide receiver, who slipped a potential tackle by the cornerback and raced 40 yards to the end zone.  The Tigers’ Preston Hodges recorded an interception

Massillon: TD on a 25-yard run by Tyree Broyles.  TD on a 60-yard bomb from Anthony Pedro to Dean Clark.  TD on a 50-yard bomb from Pedro to Tre-von Morgan.

Part 2 of the scrimmage called for each team to run a series of plays starting at the opponents 20 yardline.  Massillon tallied four times and Midpark twice.

Midpark: TD on a 20-yard pass.  TD on a 10-yard pass.  Kameron Simpson recorded an interception.

Massillon: TD on a 20-yard pass from Aidan Longwell to Aydrik Ford.  TD on a 5-yard pass from Longwell to Hunter Anthony.  TD on a 1-yard run by Marcellous Blake.  TD on a 10-yard pass from Pedro to Morgan.

The JV team then got into the action, with Robbie Page intercepting a pass.  Jayden Ballard scored from 60 yards out and again from 40 yards out on passes from Jacob Catrone.

Part 3 of the scrimmage was one half of game condition football.  At this point the Tigers appeared to kick it up a notch and were clearly the better team, scoring four times in their first five possessions.  Midpark never threatened.

Midpark had the ball first, starting on its own 20 yardline.  On the first play from scrimmage Cameron Simpson stepped in front of the intended Titan receiver and intercepted a Bycznski pass at the 26.  From there, it took just one play for Jamir Thomas to take a handoff from Longwell and race to the end zone.  Clay Moll’s kick was good and the Tigers were out to a quick 7-0 lead.

The other three scores came on long drives.  Moll connected on a 28-yard field goal, Dean Clark caught a 16-yard pass from Longwell, aided by a terrific block from Morgan, and Thomas ran 53 yards, making the final score 24-0.

Observations:

  • Play was much improved from the Avon scrimmage, particularly when the teams went to game condition football.
  • This is not a “one-man” team. Several players are capable of making the big play.
  • Lots of athleticism and depth at the skill positions. Decent size, but not so much depth along the lines.
  • Overall team speed is much improved from last year.
  • All three quarterbacks (Longwell, Pedro and Catrone) executed the offense well and were fairly accurate on their throws. All showed the potential to go deep.
  • Three good running backs (Thomas, Louis Partridge and Blake) providing both power and speed where called for.
  • Open field tackling needs a bit of work.
  • Still need to improve the pass rush, but this may be due to using a base 3-4 alignment.
  • The kicking game is in good hands with Moll converting all of his PATs plus the field goal try.  His kickoffs were high and deep, with one reaching the end zone on the fly.

The final scrimmage is against Lakewood St. Edward, scheduled for 7:00 pm on Friday, August 18.

Dyson Berry with the pass breakup.
Aidan Longwell throws under pressure.
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First Scrimmage is In the Books

The Tigers opened their 3-game scrimmage schedule with a trip to perennial Division 2 power Avon.  Typical of a first scrimmage, it was an opportunity for the coaches to evaluate individual players as they search for the eventual starting eleven.  A final score is certainly not an indicator of a team’s potential, but the degree of effort certainly carries some weight.  That is what the coaches were looking for and on this night it wasn’t lacking for either team.

Anthony Ballard (21) looks for running room in the bubble screen. Blocking are Deon Williams (50) and Alec Soto (70).
Jamir Thomas avoids a tackler and scores for the Tigers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scrimmage opened with Massillon’s first team offense running ten plays followed by Massillon’s second team offense running ten plays.  Each possession started at the Tiger 30 yardline. Then it was Avon’s turn.  The series was then repeated once more.

The Tiger first unit advanced to the Avon 32 on its first possession, but failed to pick up a first down on the second possession.  The second unit moved to the Avon 15 on its second possession, but ran out of plays.

Avon’s first possession was stopped at the ten on an interception by Dean Clark.  The second possession stalled at the Massillon 45.  Avon’s second team was stopped at the Massillon 20 on its first possession.

The next phase of the scrimmage involved running a series of plays starting at the opponent’s 25, similar to an overtime or red zone scenario.  Massillon’s first team scored when Jamir Thomas ran in from the 15.  The second team scored twice, on a 3-yard run by Louis Partridge and an Anthony Pedro to Jaden Ballard pass covering 25 yards.

Avon’s first unit scored on a 5-yard run and the second unit scored on a 23-yard pass/run and a 13-yard run.

Between possessions, each team had an opportunity to practice field goals.  Massillon’s Clay Moll was perfect from 20, 32 and 37 yards, and two of four from 42 yards out.

Observations

  • Offensively, Massillon mixed the run and pass equally. Aiden Longwell started at quarterback and, when given the time to throw, was accurate on most of his passes.  In the running department, Jamir Thomas showed the power he exhibited last year, with surprising speed in the open field.  Louis Partridge appears quicker and shiftier than last year and also ran with some physicality.
  • Avon’s defense utilized a 3-4 blitz package, which caused a lot of problems for the Tiger offensive line. And since the quarterback was called down when pressured or when exiting the pocket, many plays were just never completed.  However, Longwell showed the ability to tuck the ball and run when needed.
  • Defensively, Massillon was aligned in a base 3-4 defense with cover 2 and only blitzed on occasion. With Avon opting to throw the ball 90% of the time, it did find success through the air given the minimal pass rush, albeit all of the completions were of the short variety.  But the scheme did set up their few runs nicely.
  • Both offenses appeared ahead of the defenses in this early going, except for Massillon’s inability to handle the blitz. This was probably due to neither team scouting and game-planning the other.  But then again, neither could finish off a drive.
  • There will be a bit of a learning curve for these young Tigers as they become accustomed to both a new offense and a new defense. But they appear to be talent-rich, very quick and better open-field tacklers than last year.
Dean Clark (10) plants the Avon tailback.  Also shown are Preston Hodges (31) and Kameron Simpson (18).
Louis Partridge fends off an Avon tackler

 

 

History

The Buddy LaRosa Football Classic

It began as a modest 30 x 30 square foot neighborhood eatery and grew in size to over 50 locations throughout the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas.  Today, LaRosa’s Restaurants employ some 2,000 full and part-time workers and are one of the most popular venues in the Queen City.  As a way of giving back to the community that supported him so well, Buddy LaRosa staged one of the finest high school football invitationals that Ohio has ever seen.

The event was held in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium on September 1, 1990, and billed as “Cincinnati versus the USA.”  In fact, the list of opponents for the classic was a literal “who’s-who” of prep school football, matched in the following five games (1989 records shown):

GAME 1: Brentwood Academy, TN (11-2), currently ranked No. 1 in the nation vs. Cincinnati LaSalle (7-3)

GAME 2: Berwick, PA (14-1) vs. Fairfield (5-5)

GAME 3: Massillon (10-3) vs. Covington Catholic, KY (11-2)

GAME 4: Mount Carmel, Chicago, IL (13-1), the 1989 Illinois state champion, vs. Cincinnati Moeller (11-3), Ohio’s 1989 state runner-up

GAME 5: Booker T. Washington, Tulsa, OK (13-2) vs. Cincinnati Elder (10-1)

In the opening game LaSalle upset Brentwood Academy 10-0 and then Fairfield beat Berwick 20-6, giving Cincinnati a 2-0 edge in the series.  Now it was time for the orange and black to take the field.

Covington returned an experienced team under 15th year head coach Lyn Ray.  In fact, the Colonels were 38-4 over the past three years, including a pair of state titles.  Massillon was coached by Lee Owens, who was in his third year as headman of the Tigers.  Considered as one of the top powers in Ohio each year, Massillon was coming off an impressive 51-0 opening week victory over Stow, which finished the 1990 season with an 8-2 record.

Covington struck first, one minute into the game, by intercepting a pass and returning it 35 yards for touchdown.  On their second attempt, the Tigers stalled at their own 25 and were faced with a punt situation.  Only it was a fake.  Up man Troy Burick took a direct snap and tossed a flair pass to Travis McGuire, who had adjusted his position to the outside.  McGuire gathered the ball and raced 20 yards for a first down.  From there, the Tigers drove to the end zone, with James McCullough scoring from the three.  The PAT failed, but the gap was closed to 7-6.

In the second quarter Massillon began to take control, with touchdowns by Quarterback Barry Shertzer and McGuire, putting the Tigers up a halftime, 18-7.

Covington scored in the 3rd to close the deficit to four points, but the Tigers exploded for 21 points late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.  First Shertzer went over from the 15 following a recovered fumble.  Then Falando Ashcraft tallied from 35 yards out.  Finally, Scott Karenbauer returned a punt 77 yards for a TD to ice the game.  Ryan John converted all three PATs.  All of this occurred in less than two minutes of play.

The Tigers ended up completely dominating the Colonels in the stats department, leading in total yards, 369-111.  On top of that, Ashcraft had a career day, rushing 28 times for 190 yards and was named the game’s MVP.  It made for a great ride home from Cincinnati.

In the late games, Mount Carmel bested Moeller 20-7, and Booker T. Washington turned back Elder 21-9, giving USA the edge, 3-2.

Covington Catholic finished 9-1 that year, winning a District championship, while Massillon ended up 8-3, losing to Sandusky in the playoff regional finals.  But this victory and rest of the season would set the stage for a greater 1991 season to follow.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo News

Orangemen to Meet

The Orangemen are scheduled to meet this Thursday, July 20th at 6:30 pm in the East Press Box of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.  Doors will open at 6:00 pm with some refreshments available.

The cost of the annual membership is $150.00 (checks made payable to “The Orangemen”).  Membership includes a LOWER WEST STADIUM PARKING PASS.

Your name will also be prominently listed on the Orangemen page of every home football program if your dues are received before the August 1st printing deadline.