Several 2025 Tigers Make Their Mark in the Record…

December 4, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

Several 2025 Tigers Make Their Mark in the Record Book

A feature major of the massillontigers.com website is that of maintaining the historical performance records of both the individual players and the teams, for the categories of single game, single season and career. The effort goes back as far as available resources allow. It started with data gleaned from various newspaper stories. Then, beginning in the 1950s game statisticians were employed to record official numbers, initially on paper and at present using computer programs. Fortunately, most of these resources are preserved in the MassMu’s Paul Brown Museum, which simplifies the overall task of generating the Top Ten records.

This season, although the team finished with a 9-4 record, there were still moments when players shined sufficiently to have their performances recorded in the books. Making their mark are Savior Owens, Manny Patterson, Ja’Dyn Williams, Deontay Malone and Mateo Herrera.

Savior Owens was the workhorse in the ground game, mimicking that of Jamir Thomas from a few years ago. This season Owens rushed 222 times for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns, with an average of 7.1 yards per attempt. He also had eight 100-yard games. His greatest effort came against Big Walnut in the regional finals, when he rushed 35 times for 293 yards and 3 touchdowns. The 293 yards ranks third in the record book, just behind Willtrell Hartson’s 324 yards against Westerville South in 2020 and Travis McGuire’s 302 yards against Canton McKinley in 1991. His 35 carries fell just one short of the Top 10. He also placed 5^th with 304 all-purpose yards. For the season he ranks 6^th in total yards, 7^th in yards per game and 7^th in touchdowns.

Manny Patterson quarterbacked the team for the entire season. Although the Tigers appeared to put the passing game on the shelf following the Week 6 game against Football North, Patterson did have one last opportunity to shine. That moment came in Round 2 of the playoffs against North Canton Hoover, when he completed 12 of 13 passes for 226 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Vikings were obviously concerned about the ability to defend the pass against the Tigers’ athletic receivers and thus played well back in coverage. That opened the door for Manny to exploit the edges with tag screens, which put the receivers in advantageous positions for turning them into long gainers. His 92.3 pass completion percentage in that game ranks 3^rd in the record book and his 339.9 efficiency rating ranks 2^nd. For the season, Patterson completed 112 of 174 passes for 1,415 yards and 19 touchdowns. His 64.4 pass completion percentage ranks 2^nd in the record book and his 159.5 efficiency rating ranks 10^th. He also touches the record book in the career category, as he currently holds the Massillon record with a completion percentage of 63.4%, with a season yet to play.

Ja’Dyn Williams, Massillon’s stellar inside linebackers, had two remarkable years as a starter. As a result, his name is all over the defensive categories. In fact, he placed a whopping 14 times including the following:

13.0 single tackle points vs. Cleveland Glenville (5^th)
59 single season solo tackles (7^th)
83.5 single season tackle points (8^th)
5 single season fumble recoveries (2^nd)
109 career solo tackles (5^th)
101 career assisted tackles (9^th)
210 career total tackles (6^th)
159.5 career tackle points (4^th)
26.5 career tackles for loss (6^th)
124 career tackles for loss yards (3^rd)
11.0 career quarterback sacks (3^rd)
87.5 career quarterback sack yards (3^rd)
3 career forced fumbles (3^rd)
5 career fumble recoveries (2^nd)

Deontay Malone was involved in every aspect of the game: offense as a wide receiver, defense as a cornerback and special teams as a return man. Against Columbus DeSales in Round 3 of the playoffs, Malone returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. That puts him in 3^rd place in the longest kick return category, behind John Francisco, who returned one 105 yards against Alliance in 1952, and Tyler Hackenbracht, who return one 100 yards against Teays Valley last year. For the season, Deontay averaged 15.7 yards per punt return, including a 50-yard romp for the winning score against Canton McKinley. The season average mark ranks 9^th in the record book. He also excelled in kick returns, fielding 15 balls and returning them for 393 yards. The 15 returns ranks 9^th and the yards ranks 4^th. Incidentally, the punt return against the Bulldogs is the first one ever for a TD in the long history of that rivalry.

Mateo Herrera is Mr. Reliable when it comes to kicking points after touchdown. This was his third year as a varsity kicker during which he converted 56 of 57, with a 98.2% success rate. These numbers rank him 5^th for kicks made, 7^th for kicks attempted and 9^th for kick percentage. During his 3-year career, Herrera has converted 133 of 137 kicks, at 97.1%. These marks rank him 4^th for kicks made, 4^th for kicks attempted and 4^th for kick percentage. For makes and attempts he is behind some great company, including Alex Bauer (205 of 213), Steve Schott (171 of 178) and Andrew David (162 of 174).

Congratulations to these fine players, all of whom return next year, with the exception Ja’Dyn Williams, who is off to Indiana University.

Mistakes Prove Costly in Playoff Loss to Big Walnut

November 22, 2025November 22, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

Mistakes Prove Costly in Playoff Loss to Big Walnut

Statistics

Bracket

Revenge was on the minds of the Tiger football family for the entire season as both Massillon and Big Walnut appeared headed for a showdown in the Division II, Region 7 finals. But it wasn’t to be. The Golden Eagles played a nearly perfect game in a 27-21 victory, while the Tigers were the ones that made the mistakes and literally gave the game away.

The errors were numerous. In the first quarter a punt snap sailed high over the head of the punter, placing the ball at the five yard line. Three plays later Big Walnut quarterback Eli Stumpf (2^nd Team All-Central District) found Brody Hatfield (1^st Team All-District) open in the back corner of the end zone for the score. In the second quarter the Tigers surrendered a blocked punt, giving the ball away at the six. Stump subsequently carried it in on second down. And then there were the two Eagle field goals, both following short drives, of 25 and 31 yards. One of these was set up by a pass interception. Then, there were the ten penalties for 100 yards, many of which hampered the Massillon offense early in the game.

The Tigers might have overcome all of that had they possessed any kind of a passing attack. The quarterback rarely had time to set up, the receivers weren’t getting open and the passes were mostly errant as a result. Perhaps the coaching staff anticipated this, as they spent the entire night running ball. In fact, Massillon threw just three times up to the point when they fell behind 27-21.

While statistics don’t tell the whole story, Massillon did out-gain Big Walnut 355-196 in total yardage, with a 287-100 advantage in rushing yards. Running back Savior Owens, behind the fine blocking of the linemen, was the lone offensive bright spot with a monster game, as he churned out 293 yards and three touchdowns off of 35 carries, while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. Included in that were TD runs of 29, 44 and 58 yards.

Defensively, the players were put in difficult situations. However, they did manage to hold the Central District’s Offensive Player of the Year to just 104 yards (4.7 ave.) and no touchdowns.

It was on Massillon’s second possession that the errant punt snap occurred. After an exchange of possessions, the Tigers went on a 10-play, 83-yard drive, with all plays on the ground, culminating in Owens’ 29-yard touchdown run to tie the score.

On the next series Massillon scored again, this time moving 64 yards in 3 plays, with Owens racing in from the Big Walnut 40. Then came the blocked punt, with the score quickly tied at 14 apiece, followed shortly thereafter by an Eagle field goal by Owen Pyles of 28 yards. Thus, the halftime score was 17-14.

Big Walnut received the kickoff to start the third quarter and produced their only long offense of the night, an 8-play, 66-yard drive, ending with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. It upped the margin to 24-14.

Only, the Tigers got right back into it when Owens broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run on the second play of a 63-yard drive. Now it was just a matter of finding that fourth score. Even with Big Walnut tacking on a 24-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter and a score of 27-21 there was still a chance.

The Tigers had three cracks at it. On the first they drove to the Eagle 22 with 4:30 left and elected to forgo a 4^th down field goal attempt, only to be stopped on downs when a pass was broken up. On the second, following a recovered fumble at the Big Walnut 35, they faced a fourth and four from the eight with 2:45 left. Again they opted to go for the first down. But the attempt picked up just two yards and they turned the ball over.

The final try began at the Eagle 43 with 1:30 left on the clock and all three time outs having been used. The Tigers managed to get off nine plays, with quarterback Manny Patterson completing three passes. The first was four yards to Malone and out of bounds to stop the clock. Following a sack, the second was 16 yards on fourth down to Braylon Gamble, who made a great catch, while leaping high, then bobbling the ball and finally securing it for a first down. The ball was then spiked to stop the clock. Then, on 4^th and 23, following yet another sack, Patterson launched a desperation pass toward the end zone. Within a mad scramble for the ball, Jadyce Thigpen was able to run it down and went immediately out of bounds at the 12 with just 1.7 seconds left. One last try. But Patterson never got the pass off as he was sacked for the third time.

Massillon ends the season with a 9-4 record, the second worst in Nate Moore’s eleven years as Tiger head coach. Big Walnut improves to 12-1 and advances to face Cincinnati Anderson (13-0) in the state semifinals in a repeat of last year’s match.

Photos by Marlene Kanipe

Massillon co-captains prepare for the coin toss

The Tigers take the field

Pre-game hug: Nate Moore and son Eli

Will Hymes (34), Anthony McMullen Jr. (24), Jadyce Thigpen (17)

Mateo Herrera (7) ties the score at 7; Greg Corsale (11) holding for the kick

Savior Owens (1) heads to the end zone; Jadyce Thigpen (17)

Ja’Dyn Williams (9) and Zay-Shawn Murray (56)

Long run by Anthony McMullen Jr. (24) called back for holding; Gio Jackson Jr. (21)

Savior Owens (1) on his third touchdown run

Savior Owens (1) in the wildcat; Robert Blakely (59, Marcus Garner (60), Dayvionne Floyd (52), Kevin Elliott (74), James Wallace Jr. (50)

Savior Owens (1) on the final play; Gio Jackson Jr. (21), Kevin Elliott Jr. (74), Robert Blakely (59)

We’re true to thee! Owen Sirgo (53), Coby Martin (54), Braylon Pachis (39), Owen Boylan, Savior Owens (1), Eli Moore (8)

Ten Massillon Players Receive All-District Honors

November 20, 2025November 20, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

Ten Massillon Players Receive All-District Honors

The Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA) has released its 2025 Northeast Inland District All-Star Team for Division II. Ten Massillon players are included, four on offense and six on defense. All except three are juniors. Massillon currently sports a record of 9-3. This week they participate in the Regional 7 playoff finals against Big Walnut.

First Team

Senior defensive lineman Sam Doussous
Junior cornerback Deontay Malone
Junior running back Savior Owens
Senior inside linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams

Second Team

Junior offensive lineman Dayvionne Floyd
Junior outside linebacker / safety Braylon Gamble
Junior wide receiver Gio Jackson Jr.
Junior outside linebacker Isaac Maxheimer

Honorable Mention

Senior tight end Logan Allman
Junior offensive lineman Marcus Garner Jr.

The Offensive Player of the Year is running back Casey Myser of Medina Highland. The Defensive Player of the Year is Brayton Feister of Akron Hoban. The Coach of the Year is Justin Todd of Wadsworth (10-0).

Massillon Steamrolls Columbus DeSales to Advance in the Playoffs

November 15, 2025November 15, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

Massillon Steamrolls Columbus DeSales to Advance in the Playoffs

Statistics

Bracket

Massillon used a devastating ground attack against Columbus St. Francis DeSales to overwhelm the host team 48-14 in Round 3 of the state playoffs. With the win, the Tigers advance to the regional championship game for a much-anticipated match-up with Big Walnut, which defeated Canal Winchester to move on. Last season, the two teams met in the same venue, with Big Walnut coming away with a 14-7 victory.

Coaches will tell you that when on offense you take what the defense gives. And that works well for the Tigers, as they are very adept with both the run and the pass. When prepping for Hoover, the coaches observed that the Viking secondary presented a sizeable mismatch in Massillon’s favor. So, the game plan was to throw the ball, which resulted in quarterback Manny Patterson having one of his best outings of the season. By game’s end he had completed 12 of 13 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns, with a whopping 340 efficiency rating.

Against the Stallions, the mismatch was found on the lines, where the Tigers outweighed the DeSales front-3 by 50 pounds a man. So, the plan was to run the ball. And it worked as expected, with the offensive line opening holes all night long and with the 2-headed monster of running backs Savior Owens and Anthony McMullen combining for 32 carries, producing 303 yards and five touchdowns, with an average of 9.5 yards per attempt. That, even with the Stallions loading the box with up to eight defenders in their cover-3 alignment. Massillon ended up scoring on seven of its ten possessions, while punting just twice. The tenth was the boggled trick play that resulted in a fumble and TD return by the Stallions. One bad play out of 44, OK then.

Defensively, the aggressive Tiger defense completely grounded the DeSales rushing attack, limiting them to just 54 yards in 21 attempts. To control the Stallion’s short passing game Massillon brought the safeties up closer to the line on most plays and often just matched up with the receivers without a safety. The end result was that, although highly-touted quarterback RJ Day did complete 13 of 26 passes, it was for just 125 yards and one touchdown, that occurring during the running clock portion of the game. Day also threw a pair of interceptions.

The Tigers were hoping to get a quick start after receiving the opening kickoff. But a third down bomb from Patterson to Gio Jackson, who had beaten his defender by a couple steps, was just overthrown by a few inches. Following a 3-and-out by DeSales, Massillon took over at midfield. From there it took just three plays to tally the first points, when Owens threaded the secondary on a 22-yard run. The drive was kick-started with a 36-yard run by Owens.

The next possession was more traditional as Massillon ground out a 14-play, 92-yard drive, with each play on the ground, while picking up six first downs in the process. The final deed was done by McMullen with a 2-yard run up the middle. Unfortunately, Mateo Herrera missed his first PAT try of the year due to a low snap.

Later in the second quarter the Tigers were on the march again after DeSales fumbled the ball at their own 40 on a hit by Sam Doussous and a recovery by Isaac Maxheimer. Owens ran for ten, then for nine, then for 21 and a touchdown, making the score 20-0.

Then came an interception by a leaping 285 lb. Zay-Shawn Murray at the Stallion 37 to squash a screen pass attempt. Three plays later the score was 27-0, following a 16-yard pass to Deontay Malone and two runs by McMullen of 8 and 13 yards.

Then came a wild part of the game. With seconds left in the half Day attempted a deep pass. Only, it was overthrown and tracked down by Malone at the 13. After eluding a several potential tackles near the goal line he crossed the field and headed up the sidelines, not being caught until he had reached the 44. Just 15 seconds remained on the clock. Time for one more score. The call? A trick play. Owens lined up at wide receiver, which of course immediately tipped off many Massillon fans. After taking a handoff while in motion left he reversed and threw back to Patterson for a halfback pass. Only, the backward pass fell to the ground well short of the target and was immediately scooped up John Hockaday, who returned it untouched for the Stallion score, closing the margin to 27-7.

DeSales failed to move at start the third period and put the Tigers on the march once again. It took five running plays to cover the 65 yards, with Owens scoring from a yard out. Again stalling without a first down, this time the Stallions botched the punt, giving Massillon the ball with a short-field at the 20 yard line. Three plays later Sebastian Harper went over from the three, sending the game into a running clock situation.

After that, DeSales finally found their offense, driving 80 yards in 7 plays, with Day connecting with Dax Middleton in the end zone on an 11-yard slant pass. During the drive Day completed all three of his passes for 52 yards. The TD halted the running clock, but not for long. That’s because the speedy Malone promptly returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, making the final score 48-14.

Owens finished the night rushing 18 times for 215 yards (12.1 ave.) and three touchdowns. McMullen had 14 carries for 80 yards (5.7 ave.) and a pair of TDs. Attempting just six passes, Patterson completed three for 34 yards. On defense Malone and DeVaughn Williams had seven total tackles each. In addition, the Tigers recorded 6 tackles-for-loss and a sack.

Photos by Marlene Kanipe

Savior Owens (1), Manny Patterson (10), Kevin Elliot Jr. (74), Will Hymes (34)

Savior Owens (1)

Savior Owens (1) with the score

Celebrating the pass interception by Zay-Shawn Murray (56); Sam Doussos (91), Braylon Gamble (5), Noah Jenkins (16), Christian Culler (2)

Deontay Malone (6)

Anthony McMullen Jr. (24) plows through the defender for the score

Celebrating the TD by Anthony McMullen Jr. (24); Marcus Garner (60), Kevin Elliot Jr. (75), Logan Allman (13), Dayvionne Floyd (52), Eli Moore (8)

Anthony McMullen Jr. (24) falls just short of the goal line

Quarterback sack by Ke’Aun Fowler (43); Isaac Maxheimer (20)

Touchdown

Deontay Malone (6) at the start of his 97-yard kickoff return.

Deontay Malone (6) headed for the end zone.

A well-earned victory! Off to the regional finals.

Seven Tigers Named 2025 All-Stark County

November 12, 2025November 21, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

Seven Tigers Named 2025 All-Stark County

WHBC recently announced its All-Stark County team and six Tigers received honors. The local players, as selected by the area coaches, include Sam Doussous, Marcus Garner, Braylon Gamble, Gio Jackson Jr., Deontay Malone, Savior Owens, and Ja’Dyn Williams. Wiliams was also named as the Defensive Player of the Year. Massillon is currently 8-3 on the season and plays Friday against Columbus DeSales in Round 3 of the state playoffs.

- Sam Doussous – Senior defensive lineman (6′-4″, 220). This was a breakout year for Sam after playing a backup roll last season. He immediately impressed as an impact player at defensive end, to date recording 35 total tackles (4th on team), 8.5 tackles-for-loss (3rd on team) for 31 lost yards, 3.0 quarterback sacks (2nd on team) for 15 lost yards and a forced fumble. He also had 8 total tackles in the game against Football North, Ontario.
- Braylon Gamble – Junior outside linebacker / safety (6′-2″, 190). A 2-year starter, Braylon began the season at safety. Recently, he has begun to line up at times at outside linebacker due to his versatility as a defender. For the season he has recorded 34 total tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 3 pass interceptions, 6 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery and 3 forced fumbles. He also had 6 tackles in the game against Rabun Gap, GA, and 4 tackles and a pass interception against Canton McKinley.
- Marcus Garner – Junior offensive lineman (6′-3″, 285). Marcus is a 2-year starter at offensive tackle, where he helped his team rush for 1,811 yards at 4.9 yard per attempt and score 27 rushing touchdowns. He also played part time on defense as a nose tackle, where he recorded 18 total tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
- Gio Jackson Jr. – Junior wide receiver (6′-4″, 185). Gio has incredible athletic ability as an underclassman, with good ball sense and “go-deep” speed. He leads the team with 41 receptions for 508 yards (12.8 ave.) and 8 touchdowns. Against Hoover, he caught 7 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. He also had 7 receptions for 72 yards and 2 TDs against Canton GlenOak and 6 catches for 61 yards and a TD against Warren Harding.
- Deontay Malone
  Deontay Malone – Junior wide receiver / cornerback (6′-0″, 175). Malone is a 2-year starter at wide receiver. He was selected for the All-Stark County Team as the Massillon MVP. To date on offense he has caught 30 passes for 476 yards (15.9 ave.) and 7 TDs. On defense, he has recorded 25 total tackles, one tackle-for-loss and 2 pass interceptions. On special teams, Malone has returned 6 punts at 18.2 yards per try and 9 kickoffs at 25.2 yards per try. He holds an offer from North Carolina.
- Savior Owens – Junior running back (5′-11″, 210). Owens is a first starter after seeing some time at the position last year, although he plays like a veteran. He also occasionally lines up in the wildcat position. Savior runs with both power and speed, and has the necessary shiftiness to make players miss in the open field. To date, he has rushed 169 times for 1,064 yards (6.3 ave.) and scored 15 touchdowns, to go along with six 100-yard games. His best outings came against Rabun Gap, GA (21 carries for 182 yards and 3 TDs), Cardinal Ritter, MO (27 carries for 168 yards and 2 TDs) and Lakewood St. Edward (32 carries for 162 yards and 2 TDs). He holds an offer from Wisconsin.
- Ja’Dyn Williams – Senior inside linebacker (6′-2″, 205). Ja’Dyn is a 3-year starter at his position. With his knowledge of the game, first-step anticipation and quickness he is always around the ball and has the size and attributes required to play at the next level. To date he has recorded 99 total tackles (1st on team), 11.5 tackles-for-loss (1st on team) for 54 lost yards, 4.5 quarterback sacks (1st on team) for 33.5 lost yards, 1 forced fumble, 5 fumble recoveries, 1 pass interception, 1 pass breakup and 1 blocked kick. He also had 17 tackles against Cleveland Glenville, 15 tackles against Rabun Gap, GA, and 12 tackles against Canton GlenOak. Williams has committed to Indiana University, while also being offered by Ohio State University.

Deontay Malone – Junior wide receiver / cornerback

At the award banquet the Jim Johnson Award for Leadership was given to Massillon’s Eli Moore.

Congratulations to these fine Tigers.

The Playoffs for Massillon Begins on Friday

November 6, 2025November 6, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

The Playoffs for Massillon Begins on Friday

The OHSAA playoff format for this season has been reduced from sixteen teams in each region to twelve, effective in each of the seven divisions. The impact is that a third of the participating schools now earn byes for Round 1. The change came about following a request made by Ohio’s high school coaches.

In 2020 the OHSAA intended to increase the number of regional qualifiers from eight to twelve, but the plan was not implemented due to the high number of game cancellations on account of Covid. Anticipating related problems with the Harbin rankings, the OHSAA thus invited all schools to participate. The following year, the OHSAA increased the number of regional qualifiers from eight to sixteen, citing the enjoyment of participation. However, many believed the change was simply a “money grab” when the OHSAA at the same time assumed control of ticket sales and retained all the revenue. But now it is believed that the 12-team format will remain for awhile. And it’s probably the right number to assure that the best eight teams qualify, given the inherent flaws within the Harbin system.

With Round 1 now in the books, it’s time for the heavyweights to finally join the fray. For Massillon, the bye was much needed following an emotional 21-14 victory over Canton McKinley. A time to rest and heal up, a time to revisit the fundamentals and a time to get re-energized. Friday night the Tigers (7-3) will host the Vikings (9-2) of North Canton Hoover, which advanced following last week’s victory over Columbus Northland.

Aside from statistical and strength-of-schedule comparisons between the two teams for this specific game, there is a lot of successful history for the Tigers under current Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore when it comes to playing suburban schools.

Moore was hired in 2015 and, although his squad did not qualify that first year owing to a 4-6 record, the Tigers have been to the playoffs in each and every year since that inaugural season, which is an achievement that few coaches around the state can match. His overall record in nine years of playoff participation is a remarkable 32-8, which includes a state championship in 2023, six regional titles and four state finals appearances. Compare that to the nine previous Massillon coaches, who combined for a mark of just 28-22. However, it should be noted that most of those games were against Division I competition.

Nevertheless, there is little difference in performance capability between Division I and Division II suburban schools. Moore’s record there is a very fine 23-3, with all of the losses occurring during regional play, including:

2016 – Dublin Scioto (7-3), Round 1, 21-31
2021 – Uniontown Green (8-2), Regional finals, 25-26
2024 – Big Walnut (10-0), Regional finals, 7-14

The average score in all 26 games is 31-13 in favor of the Tigers. Eleven times Massillon played a suburban team at home, winning ten of them. The average score in those is 40-15. On neutral fields, Moore’s record is 12-2, with an average score of 33-11, while the lone game on the opponent’s field resulted in a 43-13 pounding of No. 2 seeded Perry.

Records of the opponents don’t seem to matter much either. Against undefeated teams Moore has won four of five, with an average score of 34-15. Against 9-1 and 8-2 teams he is a combined 8-0.

The most common opponents played were Perry, with a 3-0 record, Westerville South, with a 3-0 record, and Big Walnut, with a 2-1 record. The Tigers faced Canal Winchester, Uniontown Lake and Green twice each, winning five of six. Moore is also 1-0 against Hoover, with a 48-23 victory in 2020.

Just for completeness, Moore is 6-1 against city-type schools and 3-4 against parochial schools Akron Hoban (2-3) and Cincinnati LaSalle (1-1).

In regular season games against suburban schools Moore has a record of 30-3, with the three losses coming during his first three years. When added to the playoff mark the combined record is a whopping 53-6.

Below is a list of past games played against North Canton:

2020, Playoffs Round 2, Massillon, 48-23
2009, Playoffs Round 1, Massillon, 17-10
2008, Playoffs Round 1, North Canton, 14-7
2003, Playoffs Round 1, Massillon, 45-14
2002, Playoffs Round 1, Massillon 31-0
2001, Playoffs Round 3, Massillon, 27-7

The numbers in the story above show that history is not necessarily on the side of the Vikings. No. 1, Massillon has simply dominated suburban schools with Moore at the helm, even in the playoffs when facing the better teams. No. 2, they are playing at home, where they have won 11 of 12 playoff matches. No. 3, most scores have not been close, with the Tigers winning three-quarters of the games by at least three touchdowns. And No. 4, the Tigers have won the last 27 games against Stark County opponents. Nevertheless, the two teams still need to play on Friday. Does Hoover have the tools it needs to pull the upset? We will see come Friday.

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

October 23, 2025October 23, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 10 – The 1999 Season

This is the tenth of a 10-part series looking back at all of the Massillon teams of the 1990s.

Head Coach: Rick Shepas (2nd Year)
Overall Record: 10-1
Regular Season Record: 10-0
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 3, 1st; lost to Perry in the first round
Key Players: Quarterback Dave Irwin, running back Jesse Scott, wide receiver Rocky Price, wide receiver Joe Price, wide receiver Rocky Dorsey, linebacker Dan Studer
All-Ohio: Ellery Moore (1st), Rocky Dorsey (SM), Jesse Scott (SM)

A new head coach in Massillon is always given a “free pass” by the fans during the his first year at the helm, thereby providing time to establish his program. But in the second year he is then expected to produce. For Coach Rick Shepas it couldn’t have gone any better, at least during the regular season. Not only did the team win every game, it also handily defeated Perry, Lakewood St. Edward and Canton McKinley along the way. All was well in Tigertown. Only, in the playoffs it came crashing down, as the region’s No. 1 seeded Tigers stumbled right out of the gate, losing at home to Perry in the first round, 23-6. But the year was not without a second drama incident, this one occurring prior to the season. The focus was on 1998 Perry running back Jesse Scott, who had transferred to Massillon right after the season had ended. That did not sit well with Panther Head Coach Keith Wakefield, who promptly filed a complaint with the OHSAA. Only, the transfer was ruled to be legal, setting the stage for the two Massillon-Perry games to come, with Scott as the Tigers’ starting running back.

PIVOTAL GAMES

Massillon Perry (regular season) – It had been fourteen years since Massillon and Perry had hooked up for a football game. What made this one happen was an unusual home-and-home contract whereby the first game (1999) would be played at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and the second at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium, which served in this game as the home field for Perry. In the home encounter it was all Massillon, as they ran away with a 35-14 victory in front of a large crowd of 14,185. Each team scored in the first half, with Jesse Scott crossing the goal line from the one. But the Tigers turned it on in the second half with fourteen points in each quarter. In the third Scott scored on a 5-yard run and Rocky Dorsey tallied on a 22-yard pass from Dave Irwin. After Perry closed the margin to 21-14, Massillon put the game away in the fourth on a 43-yard pass to Dorsey and a 9-yard pass to Joe Price. The Panthers were strong against the run, holding the Tigers to just 94 yards. But they simply couldn’t defend the pass owing to the Tigers’ speedy receivers and the accurate arm of Irwin, who ended up completing 18 of 25 passes for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns. Price caught 6 of the passes for 61 yards and a score. And Dorsey had his 2 TD receptions.

Lakewood St. Edward – St. Edward was not the formidable team in 1999 that they are today, entering the contest with a 3-5 record. But the big story was the loss of quarterback Dave Irwin to a thumb injury that occurred in shop class on the day of the game. That quickly put backup QB Brett Marshall in the spotlight. And he didn’t disappoint, completing 8 of 13 passes for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns. What a marvelous performance. The Tigers led 17-7 at the half on two TD passes from Marshall and a Marshall 29-yard field goal. The passes went to John Stanke (14 yards) and Jesse Scott (71 yards). In the third quarter Irwin toughed it out with his thumb heavily bandaged. He did well, completing 7 of 12 passes for 113 yards and a TD 30 yards to Jesse Scott. But Marshall eventually relieved him and finished game off with a 60-yard toss to Dave Bumgarner, making the final tally 31-14. Massillon rolled up 425 yards of total offense, including 125 on the ground and 300 in the air. Anthony Battle led the receiver corps with five receptions for 75 yards.

Canton McKinley – It was unbeaten Massillon against 7-2 McKinley at Fawcett Stadium. In an unusual start the Tigers scored in the first quarter on a 31-yard pass interception return by Steve Eyerman and then the Bulldogs countered in the second with an interception return of their own. That made the score 7-7 at the half. In the second half Massillon took over and completely overwhelmed the opponent by scoring 28 unanswered points and winning 35-7. All four scores came on pass plays from Dave Irwin: Jon Stanke (12 yards), Jeremiah Drobney (10 yards), Rocky Dorsey (39-yard catch and run on a crossing pattern) and Jesse Robinson (35-yard bomb). Irwin ended up completing 12 of 21 passes for 130 yards and 3 TDs. Jesse Scott added 93 yards rushing, while Dorsey had five receptions and Price had four. In the playoffs, the Bulldogs would defeat Hoover 7-6 in the first round and then lose 7-0 to Perry the following week.

Massillon Perry (playoffs) – In a surprising turnaround from the regular season game, Perry upset Region 3’s top-seeded Massillon in the first round of the playoffs, 23-6. The big change for the Panthers was incorporating a delay blitz package that put constant pressure on Tiger quarterback Dave Irwin, who made all the difference in the first match with three touchdown passes. The blitz was effective enough that Irwin was able to complete just 9 of 24 passes for 137 yards and zero touchdowns. On offense, Perry this time around was also able to finish drives with a more consistent ground game. Massillon’s lone touchdown came in the first quarter when Jesse Scott scored from the four. Perry led in total yards, 282-213, including a 261-76 advantage on the ground. With the win, it would appear that Perry Coach Keith Wakefield got the last laugh. The Panthers would go on to beat McKinley 7-0 the following week, before losing 16-14 to Pickerington in the regional finals. In the state semifinals, Pickerington would lose to eventual state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius, 48-8.

Opp.	Rec	Loc.	Mass.	Opp.	Res.	Att.	Media	Stats
Akron Buchtel	10-3	H	35	25	W	9,511	Story	Stats
Lima Senior	6-4	A	33	19	W	8,000	Story	Stats
Akron Garfield	7-3	H	28	20	W	10,256	Story	Stats
Mansfield Senior	7-3	H	24	7	W	10,041	Story	Stats
Austintown Fitch	2-8	H	41	7	W	7,977	Story	Stats
Youngstown Chaney	3-6	H	23	14	W	8,420	Story	Stats
Massillon Perry	9-4	H	35	14	W	14,185	Story	Stats
Fremont Ross	4-6	A	20	14	W	6,000	Story	Stats
Lakewood St. Edward	4-6	H	31	14	W	8,351	Story	Stats
Canton McKinley	8-4	A	35	7	W	23,987	Story	Stats
SUBTOTAL	60-47		305	141		106,728
PLAYOFFS
Massillon Perry	9-4	H	6	23	L	12,250	Story	Stats
TOTAL	69-51		311	164		118,978		Season Stats

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

October 16, 2025October 16, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 9 – The 1998 Season

This is the ninth of a 10-part series looking back at all of the Massillon teams of the 1990s.

Head Coach: Rick Shepas (1st Year)
Overall Record: 4-6
Regular Season Record: 4-6
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 3, 16th; did not qualify
Key Players: Quarterback Dave Irwin, quarterback Steve Eyerman, quarterback Thomas Fichter, running back Marc Cleveland, running back Julian Miller, wide receiver Rocky Dorsey, defensive lineman Ellery Moore, defensive back Jason Jarvis, linebacker Dan Studer and punter Luke Shilling
All-Ohio: Luke Shilling (1st), Ellery Moore (SM)

Newly hired Coach Rick Shepas is credited with ushering the modern-day offense into the the Massillon football program. Gone were the days of the wing-T and power-I; in came the spread, with multiple receivers and the quarterback in the shotgun. But the change was not without some growing pains as the youthful Tigers finished the season with a 4-6 record, their first losing campaign in 32 years and the second since the time of Paul Brown. Massillon opened with national power Clovis West from Fresno, California, losing respectfully, 21-6. In the middle of the season Glen Mills, which is a prison team of older players, overwhelmed the Tigers 19-0. And it wrapped up with a 42-20 loss to eventual Division I state champion Canton McKinley. But there was a big win over Akron St. Vincent.

PIVOTAL GAMES

Mansfield – In spite of the expected loss to Clovis West, Massillon entered the game with a 2-1 record, owing to victories over Lima Senior and Akron Garfield. But a 21-0 road loss to the Tygers was a preview of the difficult times come. Mansfield scored in each of the first three quarters, while outgaining the Tigers 359-191. Meanwhile, the spread offense, which is designed to throw the ball around 40% of the time, managed just 42 yards in the air on a 5 of 14 effort. The only bright spot was Marc Cleveland rushing 20 times for 121 yards.

Akron St. Vincent – It was Week 9 and Massillon was sitting on a 3-5 record, with three consecutive losses to Glen Mills, Division III state runner-up Walsh Jesuit (13-1) and Cincinnati Moeller (7-3). Yet another challenge awaited the Tigers with the 6-2 Irish coming to town. This appeared to be only chance to salvage some kind of success, with No. 1 Canton McKinley looming the following week. Fortunately, Massillon turned in its best performance of the year, winning the game, 36-7. By that time junior quarterback Dave Irwin had become the starter and he had a great day, completing 12 of 17 passes for 93 yards and three touchdowns. And Marc Cleveland added to that production, rushing 16 times for 126 yards and two scores. The Tigers opened the game with 23 consecutive points, with touchdowns coming from Marcus Simpson (9-yard pass), Cleveland (1-yard run), Joe Price (6-yard pass) and Brett Marshall (19-yard field goal). In the fourth quarter Massillon put the game away with scores coming from Price (10-yard pass) and Cleveland (40-yard run). Luke Shilling punted six times, averaging nearly 40 yards per attempt.

Canton McKinley – The Tigers trailed the Bulldogs (8-1) just 19-17 at the half, but just couldn’t keep up in the second, eventually falling 42-20. Quarterback Dave Irwin scored in the first quarter on a 2-yard run, giving his team a brief 7-6 lead. In the second, after Brett Marshall converted a 23-yard field goal, Julian Miller (photo) followed with a 2-yard touchdown run. In the third quarter Marshall kicked another field goal, this one from 20 yards, and Massillon again had the lead, at 20-19. But McKinley owned the rest with 23 consecutive points, including the return of a blocked punt. Marc Cleveland rushed 22 times for 122 yards, Irwin completed 15 of 23 passes for 133 yards and Ron Lynn caught seven balls for 66 yards. The Bulldogs would go on in the playoffs to revenge a regular season loss to Cleveland St. Ignatius and then capture their second consecutive Division I state title with a 33-10 victory over Cincinnati St. Xavier.

Opp.	Rec.	Loc.	Mass.	Opp.	Res.	Att.	Media.	Stats
Clovis West, Fresno, CA	9-1	H	9	21	L	13,147	Story	Stats
Lima Senior	2-8	H	28	18	W	10,981	Story	Stats
Akron Garfield	6-4	H	21	10	W	10,180	Story	Stats
Mansfield Senior	8-2	A	0	21	L	8,317	Story	Stats
Austintown Fitch	3-7	A	10	3	W	4,800	Story	Stats
Glen Mills, PA	6-3	H	0	19	L	8,018	Story	Stats
Walsh Jesuit	13-1	H	7	34	L	9,266	Story	Stats
Cincinnati Moeller	7-3	H	19	35	L	11,518	Story	Stats
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary	6-4	H	36	7	W	7,102	Story	Stats
Canton McKinley	12-1	H	20	42	L	19,848	Story	Stats
TOTAL	72-34		150	210		103,177		Season Stats

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

October 9, 2025October 9, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 8 – The 1997 Season

This is the eighth of a 10-part series looking back at all of the Massillon teams of the 1990s.

Head Coach: Jack Rose (6th Year)
Overall Record: 7-3
Regular Season Record: 7-3
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 2, 12th; did not qualify
Key Players: Quarterback Tip Danzy. running back Christian Morgan, running back Dave Hodgson, linebacker Jared Stafenko, linebacker Seth Venables, defensive back Josh Krieder, punter Luke Shilling,
All-Ohio: Josh Krieder (1st), Christian Morgan (SM), Josh Hill (SM)

Massillon was led by two outstanding running backs: Christian Morgan, who rushed 181 times for 1,061 yards (5.9 ave.) and 11 TDs, and Dave Hodgson, who rushed 115 times for 810 yards (7.0 ave.) and 7 TDs. Hodgson was also the team’s leading receiver with 12 catches for 188 yards (15.7 ave.) and 2 TDs. The Tigers finished the season unbeaten at home, but lost all three road games to outstanding teams, including to Lima Senior, Cincinnati Moeller and Canton McKinley. Lima qualified for the playoffs, while Moeller and McKinley faced each other in the playoff state finals. Also, in the Moeller game the Tigers led 24-7 early in the fourth quarter, but then surrendered three TDs to lose by four. Luke Shilling had a great year punting, placing 5th in the Massillon record book with a 39.9 yard average.

PIVOTAL GAMES

Lima Senior – In 1996 Massillon gave state champion Lima Senior its only loss of the season. In the return game the Spartans got revenge in a big way, winning 25-7. Lima scored two touchdowns in the second quarter on a short run and a return of an intercepted pass to take a 12-0 lead into the locker room. They increased the lead to 18-0 on another short run, before the Tigers finally got on the board. It came on a 59-yard punt return by Josh Kreider, as Massillon’s offense failed to score a point in this one. The Spartans added one final TD in the fourth on a 17-yard pass. In a game of complete dominance, Lima led in total yards, 209-38. Lima would finish the season 8-2, but lose to unbeaten Upper Arlington in the first round of the playoffs.

Walsh Jesuit – Walsh was the only significant opponent that the Tigers beat, by the score of 27-14. Two Massillon TDs came in each of the first two quarters, with Dave Hodgson scoring on two short runs, Christian Morgan scoring on a 41-yard jaunt and Josh Hill returning a fumble 25 yards to the end zone. With the Tigers on top 27-0, the Warriors finally found the end zone on a 72-yard pass, giving Massillon a 27-7 lead at the half. There was only one score in the second half, that by Walsh on a fumble recovery at the end of a drive. Morgan rushed 23 times for 146 yards, while Hodgson added 96 yards on 15 carries. The Warriors would finish the season with a 10-3 record. In the Division III playoffs they advanced to the regional finals, only to lose 13-7 to state runner-up Youngstown Chaney.

Cincinnati Moeller – This is the one that got away. It’s hard enough to defeat a team like Moeller, which was ranked No. 3 in the state entering this the game. But, giving away a 17-point advantage with one quarter left and losing 28-24 put a dagger into the heart of all Tigers. The Crusaders opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 21-yard pass, but Massillon tallied the next 24 points to take a presumed comfortable lead. Christian Morgan’s 3-yard run and Josh Hose’s PAT gave the Tigers a 7-6 lead at the half. In the third quarter Morgan hit paydirt again, this time from 80 yards out. That was followed by a 28-yard pass from Tip Danzy to Tyrie Clifford and a 36-yard fourth-quarter field goal by Hose. There might have been additional points, but dropped passes were an omen of the doom to come. It came when the Crusaders changed offensive tactics by going to a 3-receiver spread formation. First was a 77-yard touchdown pass. Then came a 2-yard run. Finally, the go-ahead was a 5-yard TD run with three minutes left in the game. Moeller led in total yards, 430-341, including 12 of 17 passing for 292 yards. Both Morgan and Hodgson eclipsed the 100-yard mark rushing. But the passing game was effective only 8 times in 23 attempts.

Canton McKinley – The season ended on a down note with a 27-14 road loss to Canton McKinley, in spite of a gallant effort by the over-matched Tigers. Massillon fell behind 21-0 in the first half on three Bulldog TD runs. Massillon finally converted a first down and eventually found the end zone on a 14-yard run by Tip Danzy. But McKinley answered right back on a 17-yard return of a blocked punt to take a 24-7 lead into the locker room. That score remained until the fourth quarter, when Danzy connected with Neil Buckosh on an 8-yard pass. Dave Hodgson rushed 18 times for 109 yards. Danzy completed 15 of 31 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Ironically, McKinley led just slightly in total yards, 317-297. And the 27 points was their lowest-scoring output of the season. But in the end, the Tigers couldn’t overcome three turnovers. For the undefeated Bulldogs, they would go on capture a well-earned Division I state title, which included during the run a second victory over Cleveland St. Ignatius (35-32, 20-19) and a state finals win over Cincinnati Moeller (31-16). For the 7-3 Tigers, this would be the final game for head coach Jack Rose.

Opp.	Rec.	Loc.	Mass.	Opp.	Res.	Att.	Media	Stats
Cordozo, DC		H	72	6	W	11,000	Story	Stats
Lima Senior	8-3	A	7	25	L	5,500	Story	Stats
Akron Garfield	6-4	H	20	14	W	9,000	Story	Stats
Mansfield Senior	1-9	H	42	0	W	8,340	Story	Stats
Austintown Fitch	2-8	H	34	6	W	7,862	Story	Stats
Walsh Jesuit	10-3	H	27	14	W	11,023	Story	Stats
Canton Central Catholic	6-4	H	41	6	W	11,350	Story	Stats
Cincinnati Moeller	12-2	A	24	28	L	5,074	Story	Stats
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary	4-6	H	10	3	W	7,000	Story	Stats
Canton McKinley	14-0	A	14	27	L	22,512	Story	Stats
TOTAL	TOTAL		291	129		98,661		Season Stats

Big Plays Highlight Massillon Win over Cardinal Ritter

October 4, 2025October 4, 2025
by Don Engelhardt

Big Plays Highlight Massillon Win over Cardinal Ritter

Statistics

Across four long quarters of football Massillon and Cardinal Ritter slugged it out. Back and forth they went. Ground-pounding, old-style football. Gaining yardage little by little. But by the end of the night, it was the big plays that spelled the difference, giving the Tigers a hard-earned 28-14 victory over a very good opponent.

Cardinal Ritter, a private school from St. Louis, Missouri, came into the contest with a 2-2 record. But all four opponents were ranked in the Missouri Top 50, including No.1 Christian Brothers, which had a close win over previous Massillon opponent Rabun Gap, GA, on this same night. The Lions were huge up front, with an offensive line that averaged nearly 300 pounds. In addition, every skill player had extreme speed and was very athletic. And the Lions knew how to play the game. It was quite a challenge for Massillon, coming off last week’s one-sided loss to Canada’s Football North. But by game’s end they had made more big plays than Ritter and that really made most of the difference in the game.

The other difference was a Massillon defense that refused to let the Lions cross the goal line when they got close. They stopped the Lions with an interception at their own 29. They recovered a fumble at their own 13. And they held on downs at their own 7 late in the game.

But some of Ritter’s undoing was their own fault. Sixteen times they were whistled for a penalty, accounting for 144 lost yards. Add to that three turnovers and it became just too much to overcome.

Nevertheless, the Tiger fans could never get comfortable unless the lead was at least two touchdowns. That’s because the Lions had the talent to score on any play, either running or passing. In fact, several times they launched a long bomb to a slightly open receiver, only to have the ball sail just past his hands.

Massillon wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On the first play from scrimmage junior running back Savior Owens ripped off a 14-yard run, setting the tone for the night. Two plays later he sped around the right side of the line and raced 45 yards for a touchdown. Mateo Herrara’s PAT then put the Tigers up 7-0.

On Ritter’s second possession they drove 46 yards in 10 plays to the Massillon 13, but fumbled the ball away to Joe Karder.

Early in the second quarter, the Tigers scored again, after first stopping the Lions on downs at the Massillon 46. The 10-yard TD by Owens came at the end of a 7-play drive that covered 54 yards.

But Ritter got right back into it when Manny Ellis sped 70 yards to the end zone. Lacking a kicker, the Lions went for two and were successful on a pass from Kashmir Manuzuk to Elijah Lucas, making the score 14-8.

Massillon responded by driving to the Ritter 17, but Manny Patterson lost control of the ball while scrambling out the pocket and the Lions took possession at their own 27. Only, they gave it right back on a punt snap that literally dribbled along the ground, never reaching the punter. The stop gave Patterson a chance to redeem himself. Lining up in the slot, he took a reverse lateral from Owens, who first took the snap from the shotgun, and launched a perfectly thrown ball to Jadyce Thigpen in back corner of the end zone for the score.

Although there were just 19 seconds left in the half, it was enough time for the quick-strike Lions to have the last say. It came in the final play when Manuzuk fired a 46-yard “Hail Mary” dart into end zone and somehow Ryan McDavis found the ball for a TD. The PAT pass was incomplete. So, the two teams headed to the locker room with the Tigers up, 21-14.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with the Tiger defense keeping the Lions out of the end zone and the offense finding a way to score one more time. It came early in the fourth quarter when Christian Culler, who was in the game for the injured Owens, broke loose for a 44-yard run down the right sideline. It was Culler’s first carry of the season, having been relegated so far exclusively to defense.

Cardinal Ritter led in total offense, 321-259. For Massillon, Owens rushed 27 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Patterson was 3 of 8 for 30 yards and one score, that pass going to Thigpen. Isaac Maxheimer led the defense with 9 total tackles, one TFL and a fumble recovery. Ja’Dyn Williams had seven total tackles and 0.5 TFLs. Chayce White intercepted a pass to spoil a Lion drive.

For Ritter, Ellis rushed 22 times for 164 yards and one TD. Rylan Moore completed 6 of 10 passes for 91 yards, while Manuzuk completed 3 of 9 for 42 yards and a touchdown. The defense was led by Da’Ryan Stringer, who had 11 total tackles and 0.5 TFLs.

Next week Massillon (4-3) will entertain Cornerstone Christian (4-2), from San Antonio, Texas. Ritter (2-3) will host Roosevelt (1-4).