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A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 4 – The 1993 Season

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

Head Coach: Jack Rose (2nd Year)
Overall Record: 10-2
Regular Season Record: 9-1
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 2; Regional finals
Key Players: Mike Danzy (QB), Leon Ashcraft (RB), Ali Dixon (RB), Alonzo Simpson (WR), Jerry May (WR), B.J. Payne (OL), Mark Fair (OL), Trevor Paisley (DL), Chad Buckland (DB), Willie Spencer, Jr. (DB)
All-Ohio: B.J. Payne (1st Team), Trevor Paisley (2nd Team), Alonzo Simpson (SM)

Massillon won its first nine games, before dropping a 21-13 decision to Canton McKinley.  In the the first round of the playoffs the Tigers defeated  Mansfield (9-1), 46-6.  It was the second time these two faced each other that year, with Massillon winning the regular season encounter, 53-22.  But, the Tigers lost in the second round to unbeaten Walsh Jesuit, 30-20.  Ironically, Walsh had defeated Canton McKinley 19-0 in their first round game.  Quarterback Mike Danzy was a true dual-purpose quarterback, passing for 948 yards (17.2 ave.) and rushing for a team-high 702 yards (7.5 ave.).  Ashcraft and Dixon combined for 1,358 yards (6.4 ave.).  The team’s total rushing average of 6.56 yards per attempt ranks 5th in the Massillon record book, while their 3,223 rushing yards ranks 7th and their 47 rushing touchdowns ranks 10th.  Their 42 points per game ranks 9th.

PIVOTAL GAMES

B.J. Payne

Akron Garfield – The Golden Rams entered the contest with a 7-0 loss to McKinley and a 28-7 win over Akron St. Vincent.  Garfield scored first on a 23-yard pass, but Massillon then reeled off the next 28 points to win convincingly, 28-7.  The Tigers were ahead just 14-7 at the start of the second half, but Payne came up big on defense with three successive stops, forcing the Rams to punt.  The Tigers then drove 53 yards in eight plays to score and take a commanding 21-7 lead.  For the game, Danzy completed 7 of 11 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Dixon, who also scored a rushing touchdown.  The Rams would win the rest of their games that year and finish 8-2.

Austintown Fitch – Both the Tigers and the Falcons entered the game undefeated at 4-0.  In front of nearly 15,000 fans, Massillon scored first on a 2-yard Ashcraft run.  But Fitch, with their misdirection attack, would score the next 15 points on two touchdowns and a safety to lead 15-7 at halftme.  Only, the second half belonged to the Tigers as they tallied four times to win 34-15.  Two of the scores were off of interception returns by Tim Menches (67 yards) and Spencer (54 yards).  For the game, Danzy rushed 11 times for 136 yards and threw a touchdown pass.  Fitch would finish the season at 7-3, including a 1-point overtime loss to McKinley and 1-point loss to Youngstown Ursuline, with wins over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, Warren Harding and Boardman.

Canton McKinley – On a muddy Fawcett Stadium turf Massillon’s potent offense, which was averaging 47 points per game coming into the game, was ground to a halt in a 21-13 defeat by the Bulldogs.  It was also the Tigers’ first loss of the season.  Massillon’s vaunted rushing game managed just 108 yards in the quagmire, while Danzy’s passing was not enough to overcome the deficit.  McKinley, which had a much larger team, managed the conditions better and led 14-7 at the half.  The two teams split touchdowns in the fourth quarter.  The Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-2 record, including a first round loss to Walsh Jesuit, 19-0.

Walsh Jesuit – The Warriors jumped out to a 16-0 lead by halftime and maintained a lead throughout the rest of the game in a 30-20 win.  Walsh had a pair of brothers at quarterback and wide receiver and that combo proved deadly throughout the game.  Nevertheless, the Tiger did cut the deficit to 23-20 in the fourth quarter when Danzy connected to Simpson on a 55-yard pass.  But, Walsh had the last say with a final TD on a 48-yard scoring drive following a 39-yard kickoff return.  The total yards in the game were relatively even and Massillon’s rushing average was a fine 7.4 yards per carry.  But three turnovers contributed to the loss.  Danzy finished with 120 yards rushing off of 10 carries, but managed to complete just 3 of 13 passes for 108 yards and one TD.

Opp.Rec.Loc.Mass.Opp.Res.Att.MediaStats
Alliance4-6H406W10,326StoryStats
Grove City5-5H4210W13,352StoryStats
Akron Garfield8-2H287W13,245StoryStats
Mansfield Senior8-2A5322W8,000StoryStats
Austintown Fitch7-3H3415W14,792StoryStats
North Park, ONH613W10,275StoryStats
Youngstown Rayen1-5H620W10,021StoryStats
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary4-5H427W10,412StoryStats
Youngstown East2-4H636W8,975StoryStats
Canton McKinley8-2A1321L19,625StoryStats
SUBTOTAL43897119,023
PLAYOFFS
Mansfield Senior8-2N466W10,312StoryStats
Walsh Jesuit11-1N2030L11,765StoryStats
TOTAL504133141,100Season Stats
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2025 Booster Club Report – Week 4 – Post-Rabun…

2025 Booster Club Report – Week 4 – Post-Rabun Gap; Preview of the Bennett Game

Massillon (1-2) lost to Rabun Gap, GA (1-2), 50-35.  This week Massillon hosts Buffalo Bennett, NY (1-0).

Link to the Raybun Gap Game Story

Link to the Raybun Gap Game Statistics

Other scores:

  • 7th Grade (1-0): The game with Wadsworth was canceled.  Plays at Maple Heights on Wednesday, September 10, at 6:00 pm.
  • 8th Grade (1-2): Lost to North Royalton, 36-30.  Plays at home against South Range (MJHS) on Wednesday, September 10, at 6:00 pm.
  • Freshmen (1-2): Lost to Lakewood St. Edward, 42-0.  Plays at Cincinnati Moeller on Saturday, September 13, at 11:00 am.
  • Junior Varsity (0-2-1): Lost to Lakewood St. Edward, 42-7.  Plays at Cincinnati Moeller on Saturday, September 13, at 1:00 pm.

Review of the Rabun Gap Game

Christian Culler

Massillon played national power Rabun Gap and lost 50-35 in an offensive shootout.  Rabun Gap is a boarding school located in northern Georgia that is stocked high-profile athletes from seven different countries, including Canada and some in Europe.  At least eight players have offers from Division I colleges.  The game was tied at halftime with 21 points apiece and the Eagles held a 35-28 lead entering the fourth quarter.  But a Tiger fumble led to a Rabun Gap touchdown and the 2-score deficit was just too much to overcome.  The difference in the game was Rabun Gap’s massive offensive line, which contains three players with Power-5 offers (1 @ Auburn, 2 @ TBD), and its ability to pass block for their very accurate quarterback (Menphis).  In addition, the Eagles returned two kickoffs for long distances, one for a touchdown and another that set up a short TD run.  For Massillon, quarterback Manny Patterson completed 11 of 17 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns.  The scoring receptions went to Jadyce Thigpen and Deontay Malone.  Running back Savior Owens carried the ball 21 times for 182 yards and three TDs, including a 42-yarder near the end of the game during which he broke numerous tackles.  Defensively, Ja’Dyn Williams had 15 total tackles.  Christian Culler had 8 total tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and caused a fumble.

“They were an excellent team,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore at the weekly Booster Club meeting.  “I was really proud in a lot of ways.  We did a lot of good things.  But we came up short.  We scored 35 points and still thought we left some points on the field.  Defensively, we made them drive the field.  They were high-powered and explosive.”  Moore cited the two long kickoff returns and said that really hurt. “We need to get better this week and move forward,” said Moore.  “Rabun Gap was not the last really good team we’re going to play this year”.

The guest players were Eli Moore and Isaac Maxheimer.

  • Moore – Said that the team needs to toe the line to win these big games.  But he assured that the team will be there for 48 minutes.
  • Maxheimer – Remarked that the team needs to finish four quarters, even when tired (note that Rabun Gap ran 76 offensive plays).

Bennett Scouting Report

Bennett High School, located in Buffalo, New York, has been in existence for exactly fifty years.  In 2018 the school introduced a new curriculum and is now referred to as, “Lewis J. Bennett High School of Innovative Technology.”  It also boasts of several dozen notable alumni, including NBA basketball great Bob Lanier.

The Tigers compete mostly against other Buffalo schools and in New York Playoff Division AA.  They are considered the Number 1 team in Buffalo.  For Ohio computer ranking purposes they are classified as Division IV.  Last year they finished with a record of 7-2 and have a 5-year record of 40-14, with five playoff qualifications.  This is the first time that they have faced Massillon.

Bennett played their first game of the season last week and defeated Niagara, NY, 18-13.  They are currently ranked No. 11 in Division AA (A is the highest in New York).  While they have several very good players in their starting lineup, according to Moore what they are lacking in is the level of execution.  Moore said that they are a step below that of Massillon in that category, particularly since the orange and black has already played three games.  Special teams also have issues in execution.

Offensively, they want to run the ball first, using a heavy set with an I-formation.  They will run iso, power and counter off of that.  They will also switch to the spread with they need to throw the ball.  The offensive line has good size, averaging 6′-2″, 270 lbs.  Both running backs are very good, according to Moore.  The starter is senior Jimmy Valentine (5′-10″, 185), wihle the backup is junior Dontre Hampton (6′-2″, 170).  At times both will be in the backfield.  Valentine last year rushed 51 times for 508 yards (10.0 ave.) and five touchdowns.  He also plays on defense.  The quarterback is just a sophomore in Jacob Dowell (6′-0″, 155).  Another player to watch is senior wide receiver Jack Eskridge IV (5′-6″, 150), who last year caught 26 passes for 281 yards (10.8 ave.) and 8 TDs.

The defense aligns in a 4-front with cover-1 and some cover-3.  Occasionally, they will switch to a bear defense.  The like to pressure the quarterback at times with a blitz.  The best players are in the linebacking corps.  Valentine is at outside linebacker, where last year he recorded 49 tackles and four tackles-for-loss.  In the inside are senior Nyree Feaster (5′-9″, 215) and junior Dontre Hampton (6′-2″, 170).  The best player on the back end is junior Donte Parker (6′-2″, 185).  The defensive line averages 5′-11″, 245 lbs.  Five players on this side of the ball also start on offense.

“We need to be ready to go and get back on the win track,” said Moore in closing.  “We need to get after them (Bennett) so they don’t get any momentum,”

Go Tigers!

 

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Massillon Loses to Powerhouse Georgia Team in Offensive Shootout…

Massillon Loses to Powerhouse Georgia Team in Offensive Shootout – Game Story and Photos

Statistics

If you’re a six foot six, 285-pound athletic high school kid living Belgium it doesn’t take too long for you to realize that European soccer is just not going to be your sport.  So, you pack your bags and head for the States and Rabun Gap, a private boarding school nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia.  With an emphasis on top-level football, you will surely find a place that fits your needs, along with the hope of earning a scholarship to a U.S. college.  Assemble enough of these special out-of-towners and you suddenly have a hellava of a football team.  In fact, Raybun Gap has players from fifty different countries.  AND they are VERY good.

It was a great challenge for Massillon to take on the Eagles, especially for the youthful players sprinkled throughout the lineup.  There are no average players on the field for Rabun Glen.  They have great size and they have exceptional speed and well-developed skill.  But the Tigers hung in there as best they could and played their hearts out for four quarters.  But by the end it was just too much to overcome and they fell by the score of 50-35.

It was a back-and-forth contest for the better part of three quarters, but then came a turning point.  The Eagles held a 35-28 lead and were driving to gain their first 2-score lead.  But on second and ten at the Tiger 29 they lost the ball on a fumbled snap.  Massillon then took over at the 45 and were in prime position to once again tie the score.  Only, on the first play of the series they fumbled the handoff on a jet-sweep and that quickly negated the opportunity.  The Eagles went on to score five plays later, upping the margin to 42-28 and putting the Tigers in a difficult situation from which they never recovered.

Massillon received the ball to start the game and drove 62 yards in six plays, scoring when quarterback Manny Patterson connected with Jadyce Thigpen on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

That’s when the penalties began.  On three successive kickoffs following the TD, Mateo Herrara booted the ball out of bounds in failed attempts to reach the coffin corner.  In each case Rabun Gap accepted a 5-yard penalty requiring a re-kick.  It was a precursor of three things to come:

  • Penalties: The Tigers were flagged 16 times for 142 yards; the Eagles 17 times for 173 yards.
  • Field position: Rabun Gap’s average starting position was near midfield.
  • Special teams: The Eagles returned a kickoff to the end zone and another to the Massillon 12; three successive PAT attempts by the Tigers began with errant snaps, making life difficult for the holder and kicker; fortunately, they did a marvelous job of converting the points.

The Eagles scored on that first drive on a 31-yard pass from quarterback Gavin Owens to Obrokta.  It was evident in that early stage that, given the size of the Rabun Gap offense line (6’-286 ave.), the accuracy of the quarterback and proficiency of the line in pass blocking, Massillon was in for a tough fight in the passing part of the contest.

The Tigers scored again on their third possession when Patterson threw across the field to a wide open Deontay Malone for 20-yard strike.  Then it was the Eagles turn, with back-to-back rushing touchdowns of 12 yards by Grayson Clary, following a 76-yard kickoff return, and 8 yards by Walker Bryson, making the score 21-14 in their favor.

With three minutes remaining in the half Rabun Gap was facing a 4th and 27 from their own 19 and was lined up to punt.  But the punter, apparently sensing an opportunity, elected to try running for a first down.  Only, Massillon’s Ja’Dyn Williams showed why he’s headed to Indiana when with a burst of speed ran down ball carrier after a gain of just eight yards.  Massillon then, on the third play of the drive, tied the score when Savior Owens broke through the line for a 26-yard score.

The Eagles did drive to the Massillon four following the ensuing kickoff, but after a fumble on the ensuring play set them back,  they ended up missing on a 37-yard field goal attempt.  So, the two teams headed to the locker room tied at 21.

Savior Owens

The third quarter resumed the back-and-forth action.  First Joshua Buckhalter return Hererra’s kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown.  The Tigers then responded with a 2-yard run by Owens, which he set up with a prior 29-yard run.  The Eagles came right back with a 14-play drive that ended when Gavin Owens completed a 15-yard pass to Buckwalter for a TD.  That was followed by the two fumbles described above.

Buckwalter would score again from two yards out and his team would convert a fake PAT to up the margin to 50-28, before Savior Owens would have the last say on a 42-yard TD run.

Savior Owens finished the game with 21 rushing attempts for 182 yards and three touchdowns.  Patterson completed 11 of 17 passes for 138 yards and two scores, to Jadyce Thigpen and Malone.  Unfortunately, Patterson left the game with eight minutes left on account of an injury and his status for next week is unknown.

For Rabun Gap, Gavin Owens completed 13 of 23 passes for 196 yards and two TDs.  Buckwalter caught 7 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown and also scored a rushing touchdown.

Teamwise, the Eagles led in total yards, 404-316, although in yards per play, the Tigers were slightly ahead, 5.9 ave. on their 54 plays to Gap’s 5.3 ave. on their 76 plays with their ball control scheme.

The difference in the game?  Both had equal talent in the skill positions, but Raybun Gap had those big lines.  On offense their tight splits across it kept the Tiger rushers at bay, providing ample time for the quarterback to locate his receiver.  And on defense, they put Patterson under constant pressure, often forcing him to step up  into the pocket to avoid a sack.  Nevertheless, Patterson did handle it very well.  But it also led to his injury.

Next week Massillon will entertain another out-of-state team in L.J. Bennet, which hails from Buffalo, New York.  Raybun Gap hosts Ambassador in the first of several games against North Carolina opponents.  Due to their sports structure the high school athletic association in Georgia bars them from playing in their post-season tournament.  Thus, the Eagles secured a home with the Carolina teams.

 

Ja’Dyn Williams (9), Noah Jenkins (16), Christian Culler (2), Gio Jackson Jr. (21)

 

Anthony McMullen (24)

Anthony McMullen (24)

Mateo Herrera (7), Savior Owens  (1)

Christian Culler (2), Ja’Dyn Williams (9)

Deontay Malone (6)

Will Hymes (34), Savior Owens (1), Owen Sirgo (53)

Jadyce Thigpen (44)

Will Hymes (34)

Deontay  Malone (6)

Kevin Elliott Jr. (74), RJ Harris (23), Gio Jackson Jr. (21)

Gio Jackson Jr. (21)

Savior Owens (1)

 

Kevin Elliott Jr. (74), Manny Patterson (10)

 

Kevin Elliott Jr. (74), Savior Owens (1)

 

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A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 3 – The 1992 Season

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

Head Coach: Jack Rose (1st Year)
Overall Record: 5-5
Regular Season Record: 5-5
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 3; did not qualify for the playoffs
Key Players: Mike Danzy (QB), Andre Stinson (RB), Alonzo Simpson (WR), Jerry May (WR), Dan Hackenbracht (DB), Marty Gugov (DB), Leon Ashcraft (RTN), Jason Brown (K)
All-Ohio: Dan Hackenbracht (1st Team), Brandon Jackson (SM)

Assistant Coach Jack Rose was promoted to head coach following Lee Owens’ departure and began the first season of a 6-year career in this position.  Typical of a new head coach, he struggled to a 5-5 record.  But his team did register a few quality wins, one of which snapped a 4-game losing streak to Akron Garfield (6-4), Cincinnati Moeller (7-3), Austintown Fitch (8-2) and North Central of Indianapolis (8-3).

PIVOTAL GAMES

Alliance – Massillon opened the season with a 17-8 victory over the Aviators, which finished the year with an 8-2 record and runner-up spot in the Federal League to unbeaten Perry.  The Tigers scored the first 17 points on a 20-yard field goal by Brown, a 27-yard touchdown pass from Danzy to Simpson and a 10-yard run by Hackenbracht.  Alliance scored their lone TD in the fourth quarter.

Walsh Jesuit – Week 2 brought the Warriors to town.  Down 14-0 at the end of the third quarter, Massillon exploded in the fourth to win in overtime, 27-24.  In that fourth, the Tigers scored three consecutive touchdowns: a 5-yard pass to Simpson, a 75-yard punt return by Hackenbracht and a 59-yard pass from Danzy to May.  But Walsh clawed back and tossed a TD pass to tie the score, finishing off a 78-yard drive with just 19 seconds remaining in regulation.  In the overtime, the Warriors moved to the one, but needed to settle for a 24-yard goal due to a penalty.  The Tigers then found paydirt when Danzy connected with May on a 15-yard pass.  Walsh finished the year with a 7-2 record.

Bloomington South, IL – The Panthers were cruising through the season unbeaten with seven consecutive victories and a defense that had given up less than seven points per game.  But a 3-4 Massillon squad found something in tank and came out with a superb defensive performance to grab a convincing 38-0 victory.  In the first half alone they scored 32 points to put the game away early.  For the game, the Tigers held South to just 134 total yards, with negative two on the ground.  Following the game the Panther head coach said that Massillon was very physical and hurt his team with the blitz.

 Canton McKinley – The Bulldogs, with a 8-1 record entering the contest, were a clear favorite.  But the Tigers played them tough, at least on the scoreboard, and lost by just 14-6.  The six came in the form of two field goals by Brown, of 22 yards and 24 yards.  And Massillon even led 3-0 at the half.  But McKinley scored in the third on a long pass off a double screen and in the fourth with a 15-yard run.  The Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-1 record, but failed to qualify for the 4-team regional in the playoffs due to insufficient second-level points.

Opp.Rec.Loc.Mass.Opp.Res.Att.MediaStats
Alliance8-2H178W11,640StoryStats
Walsh Jesuit7-2H2724W11,731StoryStats
Akron Garfield6-4H1314L9,950StoryStats
Cincinnati Moeller7-3H1424L16,762StoryStats
Austintown Fitch8-2A014L8,000StoryStats
North Central, Indianapolis, IN8-3N2035L11,000StoryStats
Bloomington South, IL9-1H380W9,571StoryStats
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary3-6H440W10,497StoryStats
Youngstown East2-8H5520W7,000StoryStats
Canton McKinley9-1H614L17,000StoryStats
TOTAL67-31234153113,151Season Stats
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A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 2 – The 1991 Season

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

 Head Coach: Lee Owens (4th Year)
Overall Record: 10-3
Regular Season Record: 8-2
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 2; advanced to the state semifinals; lost to Cleveland St. Ignatius, 14-13
Key Players: Nick Mossides (QB), Travis McGuire (RB), Falando Ashcraft (RB), Jason Stafford (WR), Eric Wright (LB), Brandon Turley (LB), Troy Burick (DB), Jason Woullard (LB), Steve Miller (OL)
All-Ohio: Travis McGuire (1st), Eric Wright (1st), Jason Woullard (2nd), Steve Miller (HM), Falando Ashcraft (HM)

The backfield tandem of Travis McGuire (Ohio State) and Falando Ashcraft (US Army) led the Tigers in the playoffs to the Division I state semifinals.  There, they lost to eventual champion Cleveland St. Ignatius, 14-13, with a missed extra point spelling the difference.  McGuire rushed for 1,976 yards that year, setting a new Massillon single-season record.  He also scored 20 touchdowns.  Ashcraft added 1,353 yards rushing and 21 TDs.  Eric Wright and Brandon Turley recorded 103 and 98 total tackles, respectively.

PIVOTAL GAMES

Travis McGuire 302 Rushing Yards and 5 TDs.

 Canton McKinley – The Tigers handed the Bulldogs their worst rivalry loss in 31 years, winning 42-13.  It was back in 1960 that Massillon defeated McKinley, 42-0.  It was also the second highest number of points ever scored against the Bulldogs in this rivalry game, ranking just behind the 48 points tallied in 1953.  Massillon was ahead just 21-13 at the half, but pulled away in the final two quarters with three McGuire touchdown runs, of 6, 1 and 79 yards, for a total of five rushing TDs for the day.  He also set a new Tiger record with 303 yards rushing (8.4 yards per att.).  With Ashcraft sitting out most of the game on account of an injury, McGuire told Coach Owens that he would carry the load.  And that he did.  “Just give me the ball,” he said.  What made the win even more special is that the Tigers had not defeated a quality team up to that point, with losses to Cincinnati Moeller and Akron St. Vincent.

 Toledo St. John’s – The Titans opened up a 21-7 lead one play into the third quarter and it appeared that the Tigers were in trouble in this regional finals playoff game.  But they were able to right the ship after that and outscored St.  John’s 35-0 the rest of the way behind a crushing ground attack.  Massillon ended up gaining 438 yards (7.7 yards per att.) on the ground, with McGuire putting up 229 and Ashcraft contributing 165.  Each scored three touchdowns.  The defense once again played superbly against the rush, holding St. John’s to just 59 yards in the 42-21 victory.

Cleveland St. Ignatius – It was a defensive battle throughout as these two state powers went toe-to-toe for all of four quarters.  Massillon led 7-0 at the half, with quarterback Nick Mossides hooking up with Marc Stafford on a 53-yard touchdown pass.  In the third quarter the Wildcats tied the score, setting up a dynamic fourth quarter finish.  With under two minutes remaining, Mossides again went long again, this time to Jason Woullard, for a 42-yard score.  But the extra point was missed just wide of the college-width narrower goal post.  Subsequently, a mis-hit on the ensuing kickoff gave Ignatius good field position.  The Wildcats were then able to consume the remainder of time on the clock for one final drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown run.  The PAT was good, thereby giving Ignatius a 14-13 win.  The Wildcats would defeat Centerville the following week to win the state titlte.  For the Tigers, however, the road to the finals had suddenly come to an end.  Massillon led in total yards, 293-182, with McGuire rushing for 118 yards.  But for the first time that season, neither McGuire nor Ashcraft were able to find the end zone.

Opp.Rec.loc.Mass.Opp.Res.Att.MediaStats
Alliance6-4H356W11,365StoryStats
Walsh Jesuit6-4H287W13,273StoryStats
Akron Garfield2-8H6013W10,752StoryStats
Cincinnati Moeller6-4A1327L10,600StoryStats
Austintown Fitch3-7H267W11,376StoryStats
Toledo St. Francis DeSales6-4H3514W12,105StoryStats
North Central, Indianapolis, IN5-5H410W10,869StoryStats
Youngstown East3-7H7626W10,243StoryStats
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary10-3H2528L12,300StoryStats
Canton McKinley6-4A4213W18,376StoryStats
SUBTOTAL381141121,259
PLAYOFFS
Akron Ellet9-2A286W11,000StoryStats
Toledo St. John's8-3N4221W10,809StoryStats
Cleveland St. Ignatius12-2N1314L20,150StoryStats
TOTAL464182163,218Season Stats
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Massillon Drops Season Opener to Glenville – Game Story…

Massillon Drops Season Opener to Glenville – Game Story and Feature Photos

The Tigers have played in many classic games throughout their long history and came out victorious in most of them.  But against Cleveland Glenville in Friday’s season opener they were just a tad short, losing in overtime by the score of 33-27.

It was a game of contrasting halves, with Glenville exerting its brute force behind a massive offensive line that averaged 308 lbs. and several skilled athletes that possessed uncanny speed.  It was characteristic of what Massillon faced last year against Bergen Catholic and Dematha.  Twice the Tarblooders used a pounding ground control offense along with a long bomb TD to take a 19-7 lead into the locker room.  They also held the advantage in total yardage, 223-77.  Meanwhile, the Tigers spent most of the half shuffling personnel on the defensive line trying to find the right combination to neutralize the attack.

Savior Owens

But the second half was a complete reversal and nearly all Massillon, as the Glenville players began to tire from the heat and the long evening.  For the Tigers, in order to bolster the defensive line, they resorted to using two of their best offensive linemen in 285 lb. Marcus Garner and 270 lb. Kevin Elliott.  Running back Savior Owens was also utilized several times in the wildcat position, akin to what his older brother Da’One did during the 2023 championship run.  He ended the night as the game’s leading rusher with 25 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown.  As such, the Tigers were also able outscore the Tarblooders and draw fairly even in yardage by game’s end, trailing just 311-365.  In addition, they held the opponent in the second half to just 42 yards on the ground, while themselves picking up 134 of the total night’s 145 yards rushing.

But the overtime period went to the Tarblooders.  The Tigers had the ball first.  Two Owens carries netted just four yards and a Manny Patterson pass into the end zone fell incomplete.  Subsequently, a 34-yard field goal attempt was blocked.  In Glenville’s turn they picked up a first down at the nine and then on second down quarterback Arvell Nelson rifled a slant pass to Joseph Saffold for the winning score.

Massillon opened the game with three successive runs and a punt.  Glenville then went to work, moving the ball 68 yards in 16 plays, with the drive culminating in a 4-yard run by Chris Newell.  Five times they converted on third down.

The Tigers immediately responded with a 6-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to tie the score.  The tally was setup by a 48-yard pass from Patterson to Gio Jackson that advanced the ball to the Tarblooder 30 and the TD came when Patterson again connected with a double-covered Jackson on a 12-yard fade pass.

But Glenville took the lead right back on a 55-yard bomb from Nelson to Pauly Sadler.  Richard Harris, who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash had the coverage, but he wasn’t fast enough to keep up with the speedy Sadler.  The kick was wide right, making the score 13-7.

A Tiger fumble at their own 43 set up a third Glenville score.  It took five plays to do the damage, with Nelson passing to Londen Hearn for a 14-yard score.  Again, the PAT was missed right.  And the half came to an end shortly thereafter, with Glenville on top 19-7.

Following the halftime show by the Tiger Swing Band, the fans were introduced to this year’s hall of fame inductees.  For the Wall of Champions it was Cy Rigler, a 30-year National League baseball umpire in the early 1900s.  For the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame it was former Tiger players Don Snavely, Ben Mast, Antonio James and Gareon Conley, plus Booster Club contributor Don and Mary Lou Wilton (current Club president).

The Tarblooders started the second half and ran off twelve plays only to punt from the Massillon 38.  But now the offense was ready to go, beginning with a 7-play, 80-yard drive.  Owens kicked it off with a run through the middle of the line for 43 yards and it ended when Patterson completed a pass to Deontay Malone for a 25-yard score.  Patterson was flushed out of the pocket on the play and rolled toward the right sideline.  It was then that he saw Malone ten yards downfield heading in the opposite direction, with his coverage man shading toward Patterson.  Football experts always advise against a throw of this type, but Malone was wide open and the attempt was difficult to pass up.  The aerial was just a bit high, but Malone was able to jump to pull it in and scored easily.  Mateo Herrera’s PAT made the score 19-14.

After holding Glenville to a 3-and-out the Tigers were on the march again.  But it was a short march of just 14 yards owing to a 6-yard Glenville punt.  Only two plays were need as Anthony  McMullan Jr. carried for four yards and then Owens took it in from the ten.  Ahead now by one at 20-19, Massillon opted to go for two points on the conversion attempt, but fell short on the end run.

However, the lead did not last long.  Just two plays later, backup quarterback Chase Youngblood,  who had replaced the leg-cramping Nelson, tossed a screen pass to Romell Phillips and behind several blockers found a lane down the left sideline for a score.  A successful 2-point conversion put Glenville back on top 27-20.

Now it was Massillon’s turn.  It took just four plays to cover 63 yards: a 21-yard Owens pass to George Rivera, a 7-yard pass from Patterson to Malone, a 10-Owens run and a 20-yard pass from Patterson to a leaping Malone in the back the end zone.  The PAT tied the score at 27 apiece with 8:37 left in the fourth quarter.  And that was how regulation play ended.

The Tigers did have a chance to win it at the end after using 15 plays to move the ball 70 yards to the Glenville 11.  But a 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked and the ball returned to the Massillon 30.  From there, the Tarblooders attempted a field goal of their own, but it was wide left.  All of that was followed by the overtime period.

Patterson finished the game with 8 of 11 passing for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns.  Six receptions went to Malone for 9 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Linebacker Ja’Dyn Williams recorded 17 tackles (9 solos and 8 assists) and 1.5 tackles for loss.

For Glenville, Nelson completed 8 of 13 passes for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Massillon will be back in action next week when they host Canton GlenOak.  Glenville travels to Olentangy Liberty, the defending Division I state champion.

Sabastian Harper (3)

LaCardis Murray (79), Isaac Maxheimer (87), Richard Harris Jr. (23)

Logan Allman (13)

 

Ty’Jah Card

Tra’Yon Williams (27)

Gio Jackson (21)

Savior Owens (1), Marcus Garner (60)

Deontay Malone (6), Jayden Williams (9)

Sebastian Harper (3), Anthony McMullenJr. (24), Bishop Cupp (20), Landon Hose (22), Andrew Holland (36)

Part of the crowd that made life difficult for Glenville with their tremendous noise as the Tigers were coming back in the second half.

Hall Fame Recognition Night – Mary Lou Wilton family

Hall Fame Recognition Night – Ben Mast family

Hall Fame Recognition Night – Gareon Conley family

Brooklyn Watson

Savior Owens (1)

Jadyce Thigpen (44), Owens (1), George Rivera (29)

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Massillon Tigers – Kickoff Rally Photos

Massillon Tigers – Kickoff Rally Photos

Photos by Rob Engelhardt

Cheerleaders
Mayor Jamie Slutz with grandson
Tiger roar
Tiger roar
Tiger roar
Tiger Swing Band
2025 Massillon Tigers and Tiger Swing Band
Superintendent Paul Salvino with Austin Pryor (12) and Will Hymes (34)
Tiger fans
Booster Club President Mary Lou Wilton
Obie Tiger mascot
Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore and Savior Owens (1)
Savior Owens (1) signing the raffle ball. Also shown is Van Hawkins (4)
Braylon Gamble (5), Jayden Williams (9) and Savior Owens (1)
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A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part…

A Look Back at Past Massillon Teams – Part 1 – The 1990 Season

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

Head Coach: Lee Owens (3rd Year)
Overall Record: 8-4
Regular Season Record: 7-3
Playoff Results: Division I, Region 2; advanced to the regional finals; lost to Sandusky, 27-7
Key Players: Barry Shertzer (QB), Falondo Ashcraft (RB), Travis McGuire (RB), Steve Brown (TE), Duane Scott (OL), Eric Wright (LB), Dan Hackenbracht (DB), Chad Buckland (DB), Brent Bach (OL)
All-Ohio: Duane Scott (2nd)

The Tigers were coming off of a very successful 1989 campaign in which they recorded a win over Canton McKinley followed by playoff regional championship.  The 1990 season promised more of the same beginning with wins over Stow (8-2) and Covington Catholic (9-1), along with a 1-point loss to Cincinnati Moeller.  But a 14-7 setback to Austintown Fitch (8-2) showed that there were kinks in the armor.  And those kinks were ever so present in one-sided losses to McKinley and Sandusky at the end of the season.  On the plus side, Massillon would return several promising junior players for the next season.

PIVOTAL GAMES

Covington Catholic, KY –  In Week 2 of the season the Tigers traveled to Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium to participate in the multi-game Buddy LaRosa Classic.  The event was billed as Cincinnati vs. the rest of the country; Massillon was part of the “country” and was matched with Covington Catholic, which is located just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.  Covington scored early in the first quarter when they returned a pass interception 35 yards for a touchdown.  But after that it was all Massillon, as they outscored the Colonels 39-7 the rest of the way, eventually winning 39-14.  Falando Ashcraft came up big in Owens “run-and-boot” offense, rushing 28 times for 190 yards and a touchdown run of 35 yards.  Quarterback Barry Shertzer also tallied twice from his quarterback position.

Cincinnati Moeller – The Tigers had lost four straight games to the Crusaders coming into this one, but saw ahead of them a great opportunity to finally turn the table.  And they nearly pulled it off.  After the first quarter it was tied at seven.  After the second it was tied at 14.   And after the third the Tigers led 21-17, expanding the lead to 23-17 during the fourth.  But in the closing seconds of the game, with Moeller facing a fourth down near midfield, they threw a pass toward the front of the Massillon bench.  Upon seeing the ball skip to the receiver, the coaches removed their headsets and began to celebrate.  However, it was short lived when the referee ran to the spot and ruled it a catch.  Dramatically, on the next and final play of the game, Moeller launched a 39-yard pass into the end zone to Carlos Collins for a game-tying touchdown.  The Crusaders then walked off with a 24-23 victory following the successful PAT.  It would take a few more years before the locals finally conquered Moeller.

North Central, Indianapolis, IN – It is not unusual for the Tigers to play opponents from out of state. But the invite to North Central surprisingly turned into a 5-game series.  In this opener, Massillon came out on top in a close, competitive battle, 21-15.

Canton McKinley – Massillon was never in this one and lost to the Bulldogs, 20-7.  The Tigers did manage to tie the score at seven apiece in the third quarter, but McKinley had the last say, closing the season with a 5-4 record.

Massillon Jackson – In the first round of the playoffs the Tigers were paired with Jackson, which entered the fray with a 9-1 record.  The Polar Bears came out hot both running and throwing the ball and grabbed a 15-0 lead after one quarter behind a 54-yard run and a 21-yard pass.  Nevertheless, Massillon scored the next three touchdowns to win 21-15.  But the win was not without controversy.  Jackson had the ball inside the Tiger 30 near the end of the game and ahead 15-13.  On a pass play the Tigers’ Mark Murphy shot through the line unblocked and sacked the quarterback, who apparently lost the ball and then rolled over it.  At that point everyone thought the play was dead, including a celebratory Murphy as he sprinted to the sidelines waving his arms.  All except Jeff Perry.  And the referees.  So, Perry quickly scooped the ball up and raced 72 yards for the winning score.  Many today still wonder if the QB might have been down before the fumble.  But the game film proves otherwise.  Ashcraft led Massillon with 23 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Sandusky – The University of Akron’s Rubber Bowl was host to Massillon’s second round playoff game against unbeaten Sandusky.  Although the Tigers led 7-0 after the first quarter, the Blue Streaks controlled the rest of the game and won 27-7.  The following week Sandusky would lose to eventual state champion Warren Harding, 27-14.

Opp.Rec.Loc.Mass.Opp.Res.Att.MediaStats
Stow8-2H510W11,020StoryStats
Covington Catholic, KY9-1N3914W15,000 StoryStats
Akron Garfield6-3H2014W11,370StoryStats
Cincinnati Moeller9-2H2324L16,764StoryStats
Austintown Fitch8-2A714L11,500StoryStats
Nordonia5-5H700W9,872StoryStats
North Central, Indianapolis, IN7-4H2115W10,002StoryStats
Youngstown East1-9H457W6,500StoryStats
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary4-5H249W10,327StoryStats
Canton McKinley5-4H720L16,600StoryStats
SUBTOTAL62-36307117118,955
PLAYOFFS
Massillon Jackson9-2N2115W18,124StoryStats
Sandusky12-1N727L11,729StoryStats
TOTAL83-39335159148,808Season Stats

Gareon Conley Inducted into Massillon Tiger Football Hall of…

Gareon Conley, a 2013 WHS graduate, was recently inducted into the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.  During his football career he enjoyed time at all three levels: high school, college and professional.

At Massillon, Conley played three years under Head Coach Jason Hall.  As a junior, he started at cornerback and recorded 25 tackle points and intercepted four passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown.  During his senior year he also played wide receiver, where he was a deep-ball specialist, leading the team with 50 pass receptions for 1,096 yards (21.9 ave.) and scored 16 touchdowns, all Top 10s in the record book.  He also played special teams, returning kickoffs (22.2 ave.).  The squad that year finished with a record of 11-2, while advancing in the state playoffs to the regional finals.  Significant wins were:

  • Steubenville (9-3) 24-7
  • Austintown Fitch (9-2) 34-14
  • Akron St. Vincent (13-2) 44-23
  • Canton McKinley (8-3) 37-29 and 28-19

Following the season, the 6′-2″, 175 lb. Conley was named 1st team All-Ohio at wide receiver.

Gareon Conley Ohio State Buckeyes
Gareon Conley – Ohio State Buckeyes

The 4-star athlete then left for Ohio State, after first committing to the University of Michigan.  Following a redshirt year, Conley became a 3-year starter at cornerback and was a member of OSU’s 2014 national championship team.  As a senior, he was team captain and was named 2nd Team All-Big Ten Conference.  He ended his career by playing in 41 games, where he is credited with 66 solo tackles, 25 assists, 91 total tackles and 6 pass interceptions.

Conley opted to forgo a fifth year at Ohio State and entered the draft early, where he was picked 24th overall in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2017 event.  However, he was hampered by injuries throughout his time in Oakland and was eventually traded in 2019 to the Houston Texans.  The following year he became a free agent.  He finished his career with a 2023 season playing for the DC Defenders of the United Football League.

“It’s a shame that Conley’s NFL career didn’t pan out the way that Ohio State football fans thought it would.  He was still a great Buckeye and his contributions to Ohio State won’t be forgotten.  He was part of some of the best secondaries that the Buckeyes have ever had.”…Scarlet and Game, 2024.

 

Congratulations to Gareon Conley.

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Massillon’s History with a Theoretical 12-Team Playoff

Massillon’s History with a Theoretical 12-Team Playoff

“There’s no place like home,” Dorothy exclaimed near the end of the legendary movie, “The Wizard of Oz.”  And Massillon Tiger football fans can say the same following the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) decision to revamp the state football playoffs.  With the change, in spite of fewer teams now qualifying, there are better opportunities to host post-season games.

The OHSAA’s playoff system used to determine football state championships was introduced in 1972 at the request of the association coaches.  But inspite of the great intentions the OHSAA had at the time, it was not an optimal system at the start and a host of changes have occurred since that time.  Initially, just one team qualified from each of four regions across three divisions.  In 1980 two more divisions were added and the number of qualifiers per region doubled.  In 1985 it became four teams per region, followed in 1994 by the addition of a sixth division.  Four per region became eight in 1999 and a seventh division was added in 2013.  Whew!  That’s a lot of changes.

But it might have remained that way, except that the Covid year of 2020 messed it all up.  On account of several canceled games due to the impact of the ailment and the resulting difficulty in selecting qualifiers, the OHSAA opened the door to every team in the state.  The following year, with the OHSAA believing that it was beneficial for many schools to enhance the number of participants, the number of regional qualifiers was increased to sixteen.  Not discussed was the additional revenue afforded to the OHSAA from the additional 112 games across the seven divisions, considering that the OHSAA also at that time took over control of sales and collection of money from the purchase of playoff game tickets.

Regardless of the OHSAA’s beliefs, the coaches apparently were never in favor of a 16-team region, preferring twelve instead, with the top four qualifiers receiving byes in the first round.  It should be noted that a 12-team format was the format going into the 2020 season until it was derailed by Covid.  Now finally, the coaches have gotten their way.

Per this author, the right number is probably eight teams per region.  However, the method used to select the teams, i.e., the Harbin System, has several flaws and is considered incapable of selecting these eight teams, let alone seeding them properly, as compared to algorithm-based methods that utilize true strength-of-schedule components, not just a simple summation of opponent wins.  For, all teams are just not created equal.  The author’s study shows that, in order to assure that the best eight teams are included, at least twelve teams from the Harbin System must be selected.  Thus, a 12-team format is therefore considered optimal, although it doesn’t solve the seeding problem and corresponding earned rights to home games.

With the recent modification, the top four seeded teams receive a bye in the first round.  The remaining teams face off, with 5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9.  In Round 2, No. 1 faces the winner of 5 vs. 12, No. 2 faces the winner of 6 vs. 11, etc.  The next two weeks are then used to determine the regional champion.  In Weeks 1-3 the higher-seeded team hosts the game.  The Week 4 championship game is then played at a neutral site.

With this format, the ideal seeded positions are Nos. 1 and 2.  Not only do these teams receive a bye week, they are also guaranteed the potential of two home games.  The next favorable positions are Nos. 3 and 4.  These teams receive a bye week plus one guaranteed home game.  After that comes Nos. 5-8, with one guaranteed home game.

Now for the fun part.  Had the new playoff format been in place since the start of the playoffs in 1972, a span of some 53 years, how would Massillon have faired year-to-year?  The chart below presents the raw numbers.

The Tigers were in Division I from the start through 2012.  The data shows that they would have qualified for the playoffs 36 times out of 41 attempts, or 88% of the time.  Of the five years in which they failed to qualify, twice (1998 and 2004) they had four wins and twice (1974 and 2007) they had six wins, so that’s understandable.  Ironically, they would have qualified in every year under a 16-team format.

The outlier came in 1978 when Massillon finished in the 14th position with a record of 9-0-1 and would have failed to qualify.  Again, the flaws of the Harbin System are cited.  The problem that year was with the opponents, most of which failed to win many games.  In fact, outside of Canton McKinley (7-2) and Warren Harding (7-2-1), the remaining teams won just a third of their games, something the Tigers had no control over.  Of course, there were only three divisions at that time.  In a 7-division format they would most likely have qualified.

About a third of the time they would have been seeded first or second.  They would have finished in the top four and received a first-round bye 20 times, or about half.  And they would have finished in the top eight and hosted at least one game 30 times, or about three-quarters.

In 2013 the divisions were restructured, with the Tigers assigned to Division II, since the number of teams placed in Division I was lowered.  Over the next twelve years Massillon would have qualified in every year.  Seven times, or 58%, they would have been seeded first or second.  They would have received a first-round bye ten times, or 83%.  And they would have hosted at least one game eleven times or 92%.  The only year in which they would not have hosted a game was in Coach Nate Moore’s first year, when the team finished in 11th place with a record of 4-6.  However, the playoffs would have been interesting that year, given that Massillon defeated eventual regional champion Perry during the regular season.

Thus, if Massillon’s success over the past several years continues, there is a high probably of having a bye in the first round of the playoffs, something that is beneficial for three reasons.  The first is that it provides the program a chance to regroup both physically and mentally following an intense rivalry game.  Second, they could reach the finals while playing one less game than previously.  And third, they could continue to have a high probability of hosting two playoff games.  Because, let’s face it; there’s no place like home!