The Common Thread that Unites Ohio’s Football Dynasties

The Common Thread that Unites Ohio’s Football Dynasties

Throughout the history of Ohio high school football there have always been a select few teams that dominated the scene.  Many have had noteworthy periods of year-to-year success that sports fans like to refer to as “dynasties.”  Several good teams, like Massillon, Cincinnati Moeller and Cleveland St. Ignatius for example, have withstood the test of time and still dominate today, while the dynasties of many others have come and gone.

And it’s no secret that the one trait these dynastic schools have in common is long-term, highly successful head coaches.  The most notable of these are Massillon’s Paul Brown, Moeller’s Gerry Faust and St. Ignatius’ Chuck Kyle.  But there was also Cincinnati Colerain’s Kerry Coomb, Canton McKinley’s Bup Rearick and Upper Arlington’s Marvin Morehead.  Plus many others.

This story presents what is judged to be the best dynasties since the beginning of scholastic football in Ohio, covering a span of some 130+ years.  Also included is some background on each of the teams’ successful head coaches.

First off, a little clarification regarding the definition of the word “dynasty.”  A dynasty is considered to have been achieved when a school develops sustained success over a significant period of time; for this story it is a minimum of ten years, with an unbroken string of season records of 7-3 or better, while at times including the rare outlier.  There must have been dominance over most competitors.  The school must have brought something unique to the game that produced this success.  And finally, after the dynasty ends, it is documented in the history books and/or recalled by most football fans through common knowledge.

The list of dynasties shown below, ranked by duration, includes solely Division I and Division II schools.  With all due respect to the highly successful smaller schools, they aren’t necessarily playing the top competition in the state.  The exception is Division III Toledo Central Catholic, which plays mostly DI and DII schools.

Massillon – 33 years, from 1933 to 1965 (191-30-2; .861).   The winning tradition at Massillon has endured for nearly a hundred years.  But it really took off with the hiring of head coach Paul Brown in 1932.  Throughout his eight years at Massillon, he compiled a record of 80-8-2, winning six state championships and three national championships.  After leaving Massillon he went on to coach Ohio State, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.  Brown put a remarkably successful program together that has endured to this date.  While many coaches have the talent to win a vast majority of their games, often the successful performances diminished once they departed.  But the City of Massillon committed itself to retaining what Brown had built.  As a result, the consistent success of the Tigers has remained ever since, attesting to this endeavor.  Concurrent with that, a string of subsequent successful coaches was also a key to maintaining the program.  Two of these were Chuck Mather and Leo Strang.  Mather (1948-53) won 57 of 60 games and captured the sportswriters’ state title each year, in addition to three national championships.  Strang (1958- 63) also came up big, with a record of 54-8-1, including two state championships and three national championships.  The dynasty concluded with back-to-back unbeaten seasons by future Ohio State head coach Earl Bruce.

Massillon also enjoyed three other noteworthy periods.  Bob Commings (1969-73) had a 5-year record of 43-6-2, with a state championship in 1970 and a spot in Ohio’s first ever state playoffs game in 1972.  He left to become the head coach of the University of Iowa.  Mike Currence (1976-84) had a fine 8-year run from 1976 to 1983, compiling a record of 80-15-2, with two state finals appearances.  And current head coach Nate Moore (2015-24) has a record of 110-25, with a Division II state championship in 2023, six regional championships and five state finals appearances.

 Cincinnati Colerain – 30 years, from 1991 to 2020 (285-33; .843).  Colerain had two coaches during this period: Kerry Coombs (1991-2006) and Tom Bolden (2007-18).  Coombs had instant success with his program and compiled a record of 161-34, with a state title in 2004, along with five regional titles.   Subsequently, he coached at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio State and with the Tennessee Titans.  Bolden took over in 2007 and produced a fine record of 132-21.  During his time there the Cardinals captured three regional titles and reached the state finals once.   He left in 2018 to become the head of coach of Lakota West.

 Cincinnati Moeller – 21 years, from 1970 to 1990 (217-24; .900).  It took a while for inaugural Crusader coach Gerry Faust (1962-1980) to get it going, but once he did there was success after success.  Moeller’s record during his time there was 178-23-2 and during the dynasty he captured five state championships, seven regional championships and four national championships.  Faust left to become the head coach of Notre Dame and then the head coach at the University of Akron.  In 1982 Steve Klonne (1982-2000) became the head coach and during his 19 years he had a record of 169-48.  He won two state titles and three regional titles, plus a national title in 1982.

 Pickerington Central – 19 years, from 2006-24 (191-40; .827).  In 2003 Pickerington High School split into North and Central and Jay Sharett (2003-22) was hired to become Central’s first coach.  Once the program matured his squad became one of the most dominant teams in Ohio, something that has continued to this day.  He retired after last season with a record of 211-42, including two state titles, eight regional titles and two state runners-up.  In fact, Central captured the regional title each year from 2016 to 2020.

 Canton McKinley – 18 years, from 1933 to 1950 (148-25-10; .836).  Three different coaches were the major contributors at this time, including Jimmy Aiken (1932-35), John Reed (1936-40) and Bup Rearick (1942-49).  Aiken compiled a record of 34-7-1 and won a state title in 1934.  He went on to coach at Akron, Nevada and Oregon.  Reed succeeded Aiken and had a record of 39-7-2 over five years, but was stymied by Paul Brown’s Massillon teams, which wiped out four potential unbeaten seasons.  Rearick produced a record of 67-8-4, with state championships in 1942 and 1949.  He was also a long-time McKinley basketball coach.

14 years, from 1968-81 (125-25-3; .827).  Again, three different coaches contributed to the run, including Ron Chismar (1965-69), John Brideweser (1970-79) and Terry Forbes (1980-81).  Chismar coached for five years and was 37-13.   Five years later he was the head coach of Wichita State.  Brideweser coached for ten years, all within the dynasty, and was 77-21-3.  Finally, Forbes coached for the last two, with a record of 22-2.  His 1981 team went 13-0 and captured the Division I state title.  Later, Forbes was an assistant coach for both the University of Akron and Notre Dame University.

The Bulldogs also had a good 7-year run, from 1992 to 1998, with all except one year under head coach Thom McDaniels, who had an overall record there of 131-41.  During the run, the Bulldogs captured three regional titles and a state title, in 1997.  They also won the national title that year.  Kerry Hodakievic coached the final year of the 7-year run and also had a state title.

 Lakewood St. Edward – 17 years, from 1970 to 1986 (140-35-3; .795).  The Eagles were highly successful in the ‘70s and ‘80s, mostly under head coach Dan Flaherty (61-23-2), who accounted for approximately half of the seasons.  Other contributing coaches included Fred Orr, Denny Martin, Mike Currence and A. O’Neil.  St. Eds won three regional crowns during that time.

14 years, from 2010 to 2023 (161-25; .866).  This dynasty was led by two coaches: Rick Finotti (62-15) for the first five years and current coach Tom Lombardo (103-22) for the next nine.  During that time, the Eagles captured eight regional titles and seven state titles.  Finotti went on to become an assistant coach at Michigan and head coach at John Carroll.

Cleveland St. Ignatius – 15 years, from 1988-2002 (157-17; .902).  In 1988 St. Ignatius supplanted Cincinnati Moeller as the dominant team in Ohio.  And they went on to put together a string of fifteen very successful campaigns, all under head coach Chuck Kyle (1983-23).  Recently retired, Kyle’s teams went 379-117-1 during his career.  Throughout the stretch, Ignatius won twelve regional championships and nine state championships.  The school was also named national champion in 1989, 1993 and 1995.

 Avon – 15 years, from 2010 to 2024 (178-22; .890).  Avon owes their success to long-time and current coach Mike Elder (2001-24).  He has compiled a career record there of 232-52 and accounts for all fifteen years of the dynasty.  Eight times Avon has won the regional title, including seven times in the last eight years.  Finally, in 2024, the Eagle were able to take home the Division II state championship.

Hilliard Davidson – 13 years, from 2004 to 2016 (132-24; .846).  Head coach Brian White (199-58) spent 17 years at Davidson, from 1999 to 2016.  Under his leadership, the Wildcats were a dominating force in the Columbus area for a 13-year period of time.  Five times they captured the regional championship and twice were the state champions (2006 and 2009).

Toledo Central Catholic – 13 years, from 2012 to 2024 (177-25-2; .873).  Greg Dempsy (1000-24) has been the head coach of the Irish for the last 25 years, with an overall record of 266-55.  He has had an ongoing dynasty for the last thirteen, during which Central has won six regional titles and two state titles in Division III and three regional titles and two state titles in Division II.

Centerville – 12 years, from 1976 to 1986 (112-11; .911).  Bob Gregg coached at Centerville for 28 years, compiling a record of 219-62.  He had his best run from 1976 to 1986 during which time the Elks claimed a Division I regional title, in 1984.  Later, Gregg was the coach in 1991 when Centerville competed in the state finals.

 Upper Arlington – 11 years, from 1964 to 1974 (99-9-2; .909).  The Golden Bears burst onto the scene in 1966 when they scored a 21-6 victory over 2-time defending state champion Massillon.  The following year they also turned the trick with a 7-6 win, this time achieving a state title, a crown they again won in both 1968 and 1969.  Two coaches contributed to the 11-year run: Marvin Moorehead and Pete Corey.  Moorehead coached from 1955 to 1969, compiling a 57-1 record during the streak.  Cory took over from Moorehead and coached through 1986, with a record of 42-8-2 during the streak.  Although Corey left at that time, he returned from 1986 through 2021 as offensive coordinator.

 Akron Hoban – 10 years, from 2015 to 2024 (129-16; .890).  Current coach Tim Tyrell assumed the reigns of Hoban in 2016 and has been the primary contributor to the dynasty, with an overall record of 118-12.  During the 10-year span the Knights captured two state titles in Division III, along with seven regional titles and three state titles in Division II.

Huber Heights Wayne – 10 years, from 1981 to 1990 (85-17-3; .824).  Mike Schneider was the head coach for Wayne for 17 years, from 1981 to 1997, compiling a record of 128-43-3.  His dynasty spanned 1981 through 1990.

Massillon’s Record-Setting Defenders

Massillon’s Record-Setting Defenders

 The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the defense category.  But first a couple of key items.

1. Individual player defensive data was not recorded in detail until 1982. Therefore, the individual player records maintained by the football program are derived only from official game statistics gleaned from that date forward, unless discovered by some other means.
2. Two different methods have been derived over time to calculate a player’s number of tackles. The first is total tackles, which is the sum of both solo tackles and assisted tackles.  The second is tackle points, which is the sum of solo tackles and one half of assisted tackles.  Both methods are prevalent throughout the sports world, so both are recognized in the official Massillon records.

Chris Spielman (1981-83): 5 records

• Single season solo tackles, total tackles and tackle points – In 1982 Spielman in 13 games recorded 113 solo tackles and 43 assists, totaling 156 total tackles and 5 tackle points. He also had four pass interceptions and recovered two fumbles.  Following the season he was named 1^st Team All-Ohio at linebacker.  The Tigers finished the year with a 12-1 record and advanced in the playoffs to the Division I state finals.  Although Spielman wasn’t the fastest player on the field, his ability to read the play prior to the snap based on the opponent’s formation and also anticipate of the flow of the play when it began was perhaps unmatched by any previous Massillon player.
• Career unassisted tackles and tackle points – Spielman was a starter at inside linebacker for three years. Unfortunately, defensive statistics were recorded only during his second and third seasons, so his full career stats are not available.  Nevertheless, he was still able to set two records, including 190 solo tackles and 220.0 tackle points.  In 1983 Spielman was again named 1^st team All-Ohio, but also All-American.  From there, he started four years at Ohio State and enjoyed a long career with the Detroit Lions.

Michael Wright Jr. (2021-24): 3 records

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  Single season quarterback sacks – Wright was a 4-year starter on the defensive line and set a record with 10.5 quarterback sacks during his 2023 junior season. It was a year in which the Tigers captured the Division II state championship at the end of an unbeaten16-week campaign.  In a 35-7 victory over Canton McKinley, he recorded 3.0 quarterback sacks, setting a game record for that series.

• Career quarterback sacks and tackles for loss – Wright finished his career with 23.0 quarterback sacks, 9.5 sacks ahead of the second place Dorian Pringle (2022-23). He also had 49 tackles for loss, eclipsing Pringle’s mark by 3 TFLs.  What is remarkable is that Wright played at 5’-10”, 280 lbs.  But he had tremendous strength and an uncanny quickness off the snap to enable this success.

Billy Relford (2001-03): 2 records

• Single season pass interceptions – In 2002 Relford intercepted 12 passes to set the single-season record. Four of the picks came against North Canton Hoover during a 31-0 playoff game victory.  Included in that was returned 50-yard return for a score.  He also ran back an interception 80 yards for TD against Cleveland St. Ignatius.  The Tigers finished 12-3 that year and advanced in the playoffs to the Division I state semifinals.
• Career pass interceptions – During his 3-year career Relford intercepted 16 passes. Three were returned for touchdowns.

 Spencer Leno (2007-09): 2 records

• Career assisted tackles and total tackles – During his 3-year career Leno, playing at linebacker, recorded 123 solo tackles and 173 assisted tackles, for a total of 296 tackles. He also had 21 tackles for loss.  His most productive games came in 2009 against Steubenville (11 solos, 4 assists) and Cleveland St. Ignatius (6 solos, 7 assists).  Following the 2009 10-4 season Leno was named Special Mention All-Ohio.

 Chuck Vliet (1948-50): 1 record

• Single game total tackles – In 1950 in a game against Warren Harding, Vliet recorded an unbelievable 42 tackles. Vliet’s asset was that he was incredibly adept at finding the ball carrier during the play, whether it was a running back or a receiver.  So for this game, Head Coach Chuck Mather told Vliet that he wanted him to make all of the tackles.  Meanwhile, the remaining ten players were instructed to prevent the Harding players from blocking Vliet.  The ploy worked and the Tigers went on to win 23-6.

 Paris McCall (2003-05): 1 record

• Single game quarterback sacks – In the 2005 season opener against Dover, McCall set a single-game record with 5 quarterback sacks. He also had 8 solo tackles and one assist, with 2.0 tackles for loss.  Massillon won the game, 34-0.  By season’s end, McCall led the team in total tackles, tackles for loss and quarterback sacks.  He was also named 2^nd Team All-Ohio.  As a team, the Tigers finished 13-2 and advanced in the playoffs to the Division I state finals.

Troy Ellis (2003-05): 1 record

• Single game pass interceptions – In Game 2 of the 2005 season Massillon traveled south to face Cincinnati Elder in Paul Brown Stadium. Defensive back Troy Ellis had a career day against the Panthers by intercepting 5 passes.  He also returned a fumble 25 yards for a score.  Massillon led 35-7 at the end of the third quarter, but managed to hold on to win, 35-31.

 Ben Krichbaum (2016-18): 1 record

• Single season assisted tackles – In 2018 Krichbaum recorded 78 assisted tackles in a 15-game season. He also led the team that year with 119 total tackles and 80.0 tackle points, with 10.5 tackles for loss.  As a team Massillon was perfect in the win-loss column until the Division II state finals.

Dorian Pringle (2022-23): 1 record

• Single season tackles for loss – In 2023 Pringle recorded 24.5 tackles for loss, while also finishing second in total tackles and quarterback sacks. His 2023 record erased the previous mark of 21.5, which he also set in 2022.  His fortes were the abilities to find the ball in a crowd to make the tackle and also exhibit a ferocious pass blitz.  Simply put, he was a “player,” along the lines of a Chris Spielman.

Massillon’s Record-Setting Kickers and Punters

Massillon’s Record-Setting Kickers and Punters

 The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the kicking and punting categories.

KICKERS

Note: The website contains a host of kicking categories, but only the most significant ones are shown below. 

Alex Bauer (2018-20): 6 records

• Single game PAT kicks made and points kicking – In a 2018 game against Sun Valley, PA, Bauer, just a sophomore at the time, converted on all 14 of his PAT attempts in a 101-7 victory.  He also kicked a 39-yard field goal to account for 17 scoring points.
• Single season PAT kicks made and field goal percent – In his senior season, Bauer was good on 46 PAT attempts, missing only one that year. In 2018, he was good on 7 of 8 field goals attempts for a mark of 88%.  His most memorable field goal came in the playoff regional finals against Akron Hoban when he kicked a 31-yarder with just seven seconds remaining in the half to push the Tigers ahead on the scoreboard.  That margin held up for the remainder of the game in a 17-14 Massillon victory.
• Career PAT kicks made and field goal percent (tie) – Bauer kicked three years for the Tigers. In his sophomore year he converted 76 of 83 PAT attempts and 7 of 8 field goal attempts.  In his junior year he converted 81 of 83 PAT attempts and 6 of 8 field goal attempts.  In his senior year he converted all 47 PAT attempts and 8 of 11 field goal attempts.  Thus, for his career Bauer converted 205 of 213 PAT attempts.  He was also good on 21 of 27 field goal attempts for a mark of 78%.

 Andrew David (2011-14): 2 records

• Single game longest field goal – Andrew David had perhaps the longest range of any kicker to suit up for Massillon.  And that was put to the test in a 2014 game against St. John’s Collegiate of Ontario.  With the Tigers up 38-0 to the begin of the second quarter, they had just made a first down at the St. John’s 41 yard line.  To the surprise of all, Coach Jason Hall sent David onto the field in an attempt to stretch the kicking distance record.  That he did in booming a 58-yard monster.  It also ranks No. 5 in the OHSAA state record book, just three yards shy of the record-holder.  And it appeared long enough in the video to have beaten that mark.
• Career field goals made – In his four years, David kicked 6 of 7 field goals in his freshmen year, 7 of 15 in his sophomore year, 7 of 14 in his junior year and 12 of 17 in his senior year for a total of 32 career field goals. David’s 50-yarder in the 2014 game against Canton GlenOak was the difference in a 17-14 victory.

Klay Moll (2015, 17): 2 records

• Career PAT percent and career field goal percent – Moll kicked for the varsity in both 2015 and 2017. In 2015 he connected on all 19 PAT attempts and his lone field goal attempt.  In 2017 he converted 54 of 55 PAT attempts and 6 of 8 field goal attempts.  Thus, his career numbers were 73 of 74 PAT attempts for 98.6% and 7 of 9 field goal attempts for 77.8%.  Also, in 2017 Moll kicked a 21-yard field goal during the first quarter of a 16-15 victory over Canton McKinley.

David Abdul (2000-01): 1 record

• Single season field goals made – In 2001 Abdul converted 15 field goals to establish the season record. He also had 14 during the previous year.   In the 2001 game against Mansfield Abdul kicked a 54-yard field in a 17-14 victory.

PUNTING

 Quentin Paulik (2004): 2 records

• Single season average yards per punt – Paulik punted six times in 2004 with an average of 43.5 yards per punt with a long of 63 yards, two yards shy of the record.
• Career average yards per punt – Since Paulik had at least three punts, having only punted during 2004 season, his 43.5 yards per punt average also qualifies for a career record.

 Horace Gillom (1940): 1 record

• Single game longest punt – During the 1940 game against Canton McKinley, Gillom unloaded a 65-yard punt to set a record that stands today, some 85 years later.

Andrew David (2011-14): 1 record

• Single game average yards per punt – David punted three times in the 2014 Warren Harding and averaged 50.0 yards per punt. His kicks went for 50, 49 and 51 yards.  He also connected on field goals of 38 and 21 yards in a 46-24 victory.   For the season, David averaged 37.5 yards per punt.

Massillon’s Record-Setting Scorers

Massillon’s Record-Setting Scorers

 The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the scoring category.  This will be a short one, since there are just a couple of entries.

Edwin “Dutch” Hlll (1922): 3 records

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  Single game touchdowns and points – Against Akron North in 1922 Hill scored 8 touchdowns and 48 points in a 94-0 victory.  The fullback scored twice in the first quarter, three times in the second, once in the third and twice in the fourth.  Included were runs of 49, 43, 25, 15 and 10 yards.  I guess with a roster of just 24 players there really wasn’t a second string, so Hill naturally played the entire game.  In addition, given a halftime score of 45-0, the third and fourth quarters were reduced from 15 to 12 minutes, with the Tigers even threatening to score once again as the game ended.  The 94 points set a team scoring record that held up for 96 years, until the Tigers defeated Sun Valley, PA, in 2018 by the score of 101-6.

• Single season touchdowns (tie) – In 1922 Hill scored 34 touchdowns and 204 points.  Included in that performance were eight TDs against Akron North, five against Cambridge and four each against Alliance and Warren.  Massillon, which outscored its opponents by an average of 38-3, went on to finish 10-0 and captured a third state title, by popular acclaim.

Willtrell Hartson (2020-22): 2 records

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  Single season touchdowns (tie) and points – In 2022 Hartson scored 34 touchdowns and recorded 208 points. Four scores were against both Cincinnati Moeller and Austintown Fitch, while three each were against six other teams.  In fact, Hartson tallied points in 13 of the 14 games in which he played.  His longest run was 79 yards, against Big Walnut, with a second longest of 63 yards, against Canisius, NY.  All of the TDs, except two, were on the ground.  Those two were on pass receptions of 43 and 20 yards.  Massillon that year finished with a 12-2 record and advanced in the playoffs to the state semifinals.   Hartson’s best game was in 2020 against Westerville South when he rushed 27 times for 324 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-36 victory.  The yardage stands today as Number One in the single game rushing category.

Jamir Thomas (2015-18): 2 records

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  Career touchdowns and points – Thomas played linebacker during his freshman season, but was moved to running back for the remainder of his career.  In his sophomore year he scored 10 touchdowns and 60 points, with the team finishing 8-3.  In his junior year he scored 21 touchdowns and 126 points, with the team finished 10-4, while advancing in the playoffs to the state semifinals.  In his senior year he scored 25 touchdowns and 152 points, with the team finishing 14-1, while advancing in the playoffs to the state finals.  Thus, Thomas finished his career with 57 touchdowns and 344 points.  All but one of the TDs were on the ground.  His best game came against Canton McKinley in 2018 when he rushed 35 times for 269 yards and two TDs in a 24-17 victory.

Massillon’s Record-Setting Wide Receivers

Massillon’s Record-Setting Wide Receivers

 The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the receiving category.

Devin Jordan (2000-02): 6 records

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  Single season receptions, yards, touchdowns (tie), average yards per game and average receptions per game – During his 2001 junior season Jordan caught 98 passes for 1,492 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. The quarterback that year was Justin Zwick and the team finished with a record of 12-2.  Jordan followed that up during his senior year with 45 receptions for 893 yards and 12 TDs, with an average of 19.8 yards per catch and 7.0 receptions per game.  The quarterback that year was Matt Martin and the team ended with a record of 11-3 and advanced in the playoffs to the state semifinals.

• Career receptions – Over his 3-year career Jordan caught 152 passes for 2,503 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.

Jayden Ballard (2017-20): 4 records

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  Longest reception – In 2019 Ballard was on the receiving end of a 95-yard pass for a touchdown. The score came against Monroeville Gateway of Pennsylvania and was thrown by quarterback Aidan Longwell.  Ballard caught five passes that day for 145 yards in a 48-12 victory.

• Single season touchdowns (tie) – In 2019 Ballard caught 68 passes for 1,202 yards and 18 touchdowns. The quarterback that year was Aidan Longwell and the team finished with a record of 14-1, while advancing to the playoff state finals.
• Career receiving yards and touchdowns – Ballard enjoyed a 4-year career at Massillon, catching 143 passes for 2,737 yards and scoring 39 touchdowns.

Austin Kutscher (2016-17): 3 records

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  Single game receptions – In the 2017 game against Canisius, NY, Kutscher caught 17 passes for 208 yards in a 45-39 victory. His longest receptions went for 42, 26, 23 and 20 yards.  Ironically, he did not score a touchdown during that game.

• Career average yards per game, receptions per game – For his 2-year career, Kutscher caught 109 passes for 1,593 yards and scored 19 TDs, with an average of 69.3 yards per game and 4.74 receptions per game.

Wendell Lohr (1932-34): 1 record

• Single game touchdowns – In 1934 Lohr caught five touchdown passes against Barberton in a 54-0 victory. The TDs were of 16, 44, 10, 29 and 20 yards.  The first three gave the Tigers a 20-0 lead.  On the passing end of the touchdowns were Bob Shertzer (2 TDs) and Mike Byelene (3 TDs), who were tossing the ball in place of the injured Howard Dutton.  Lohr also returned a punt for a 50-yard score.  Massillon finished 9-1 that year under head coach Paul Brown.

Jim Wood (1957-59): 1 record

• Single season average yards per reception – In 1959 Wood caught 12 passes for 373 yards and five touchdowns, with an average of 31.1 yards per reception. The quarterback that year was Joe Sparma, who also set a record for yards per completion.  The team finished with a record of 10-0 and captured both the state and national championships.

 Austin Jasinski (2014-16): 1 record

• Single game average yards per reception – In 2016 Jasinski caught three passes for 140 yards and scored a TD off of each catch in a 75-7 win over Toledo Bowsher. The receptions went for 74, 14 and 52 yards, with an average of 46.7 yards per catch.  The quarterback was Seth Blankenship.  Jasinski also returned a punt 80 yards for a score.  The team finished with a record of 8-3.

 Andrew Wilson-Lamp (2018-19): 1 record

• Single game receiving yards – Wilson-Lamp had a career day to open the 2019 season by catching 11 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown in a 44-14 win over Akron St. Vincent. The TD went for 45 yards on a pass from quarterback Aidan Longwell.  Wilson-Lamp also had receptions of 51, 40 and 24 yards.

Emy Louis Jr. (2023): 1 record

• Career average yards per reception – During 2023 Louis caught 14 passes for 364 yards and 7 touchdowns, with an average of 26.0 yards per reception. The team that year finished 16-0 and captured the Division II state championship.

Top Tens

 Five players have dominated the single game, single season and career receiving records book.  Below are the number of spots each holds throughout the various Top Tens:

• Austin Jasinski – 17
• Devin Jordan – 16
• Jayden Ballard – 15
• Devon Smith – 14
• Austin Kutscher – 13

Massillon’s Record-Setting Quarterbacks

Massillon’s Record-Setting Quarterbacks

The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the passing category.

Justin Zwick (2000-01): 9 records

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  Single game yards – In a 48-27 victory over Dayton Chaminade during the 2001 season, Zwick completed 24 of 39 pass for 407 yards and four touchdowns. On the receiving end were Devin Jordan (206 yards) and Joe Jovingo (137 yards).

• Single game attempts – Massillon fell behind early against Cleveland St. Ignatius in a 2000 battle and Zwick was forced to the air. He ended up completing 27 of 60 passes for 360 yards and three TDs in the 21-36 loss.  Montale Watkins,  who caught seven  passes, was his favorite target.
• Single game completions (tie) – The game plan was passing in a 51-26 victory over Akron Garfield in 2000. Zwick completed 29 of 43 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns.  Ten completions went to Jeremiah Drobney, for 137 yards.
• Single game touchdowns – Fremont Ross was outmatched in a 2001 game, losing to the Tigers, 58-6. Zwick completed 22 of 37 passes for 238 yards and six touchdowns.  Two scores each went to Devin Jordan and Robert Oliver, with Marquis Williams and David Hill each having a TD catch.
• Single season completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns – In Zwick’s 2001 senior season he completed 246 of 426 passes for 3,281 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also helped his team to a 12-2 record, while advancing in the playoffs to the state semifinals.  Zwick’s favorite target was Devon Jordan, who caught 98 passes for 1,492 yards and 18 touchdowns.
• Career average yards per game – For his 2-year career, Zwick passed for an average of 229.4 yards per game. During that time, Massillon compiled a 20-5 record.

Aiden Longwell (2016-19): 6 records

• Longest completion – The record was set in 2019 against Monroe Gateway, PA. The Tigers were up 10-0 midway through the second quarter and they were faced with a second down and nine at their own five yard line.  That’s when Longwell went back to pass and threw long to the speedy Jayden Ballard, who caught the ball in stride and outraced the Gateway secondary to the end zone for the 95-yard touchdown.  Massillon went on to win the game, 48-12.
• Career completions, attempts, yards, touchdowns and completion percentage (tie) – For his 4-year career, Longwell completed 484 of 795 passes for 7,705 yards and 84 touchdowns.  He also completed 60.9% of his passes.  His favorite targets during that time were Jayden Ballard (109 receptions), Austin Kutscher (93 receptions) and Andrew Wilson-Lamp (63 receptions).  As a starter, Longwell’s teams compiled a record of 25-7.

Kyle Kempt (2010-12): 4 records

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  Single game completions (tie) – In a 2012 game against Canton GlenOak, the Tigers trailed throughout, forcing Kempt to throw 41 passes. A record total of 29 were completed for 327 yards and a touchdown, but not enough to pull out the win.  The final score was 26-24.

• Single season average yards per game and completion percentage – During his 2012 senior year Kempt completed 194 of 292 passes for 3,056 yards and 32 touchdowns. That translated into 235.1 yards per game and a 66.4 completion percentage.  Kempt led his team to an 11-2 record and advanced to the playoff regional finals.
• Career completion percentage (tie) – For his 3-year career, Kempt completed 399 of 665 passes for 6,034 yards 62 touchdowns, with a completion percentage of 60.9. The Tigers during that span, when Kempt was the starter, compiled a record of 25-7.

Jalen Slaughter (2021-24): 3 records

• Single game completions (tie) – Slaughter had a career day in the 2024 season opener against NFL Academy-London, completing 29 of 44 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns.  Braylyn Toles caught nine of his passes and Ricardo Wells caught seven.  Massillon won the game, 35-20.
• Single season yards per attempt and season pass efficiency – Although Slaughter played primarily a backup role in 2023, he still put up some impressive numbers. He completed 34 of 60 passes for 685 yards and nine touchdowns, setting records for 11.4 yards per attempt and a pass efficiency rating of 188.7.  The Tigers finished 16-0 that year and captured the Division II state championship.

Zach Catrone (2018-20): 3 records

• Single game yards per attempt, completion percentage and pass efficiency – Catrone led the Tigers in 2020 to the playoff state finals. His best outing came against Massillon Perry in the playoff regional finals, when he completed all ten of his pass attempts for 234 yards and three touchdowns.  He set records for 100% pass completion, 23.4 yards per attempt and 395.6 efficiency rating.  Seven of the passes and all three touchdowns went to Jayden Ballard, on tosses of 72 yards, 15 yards and 33 yards.  Andrew Wilson-Lamp also caught a 72-yard TD pass.  The Tigers won the game, 43-13.

Dave Null (1959-60): 2 records

• Career yards per completion (tie) and yards per attempt – Null shared the quarterbacking duties in 1960 with John Larson, but still performed well when he was on the field, completing 15 of 28 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Career records were set with 19.9 yards per completion and 10.7 yards per attempt.  Massillon posted a final record of 10-1 and captured the large-school state championship.

Joe Sparma (1957-59): 1 record

• Single season yards per completion – The future Ohio State starting quarterback completed 28 of 85 passes for 660 yards and 14 touchdowns, while setting a season record with 23.6 yards per completion. The Tigers in 1959 finished the year 10-0 and captured both state and national championships.

Anthony McCormick (2008-10): 1 record

• Career yards per completion (tie) – McCormack was a backup in 2010 to Kyle Kempt and thus played sparingly. But he did throw a sufficient number of passes to qualify for tying a record with 19.9 career yards per completion.  His team that year finished with a 7-4 record.

Massillon’s Record-Setting Running Backs

Massillon’s Record-Setting Running Backs

The MassillonTigers.com website maintains all of Massillon’s football records, which can be found at this link.  Below are the record setters for the rushing category.

SINGLE GAME RUSHING RECORDS

Most rushing yards – 324 yards

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  Willtrell Hartson (2020) – Starting running back Raekwon Venson was injured near the end of the Week 9 game against Cleveland St. Ignatius and was unavailable for the rest of the year.  In came sophomore backup Willtrell Hartson, who burst onto the scene the following week against Canton McKinley.  On his first carry he ripped off a 61-yard run and proceeded to put up a 188-yard, 2-touchdown performance in a 35-7 victory.  Two weeks later he recorded a 196-yard, 4- TD effort in a playoff win over North Canton Hoover, setting the stage for his record-setting outing the following week vs. Westerville South.  In that one he was nearly unstoppable, as he carried the ball 27 times for 324 yards (7 rushes of 10 yards or more) and scored three touchdowns on runs of 53, 54 and 25 yards, all the while leading his team to a 45-36 victory.  The Tigers finished the year with a 10-2 record and advanced in the playoffs to the state finals.

Most rushing attempts – 44

• Elwood Kammer (1925) – Kammer was a literal workhorse against Erie Academy, PA, in a 17-10 victory. Kammer also scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to secure the win.  The Tigers finished the year with a 7-2 record.

Highest rushing average – 20.0 yards per attempt

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  Mike Mauger (1970) – Mauger was the starting tailback for a Massillon team that finished the season with a 10-0 record and final state poll championship. He ended up rushing 159 times for 1,200 yards, with an average of 7.3 yards per attempt.  His most proficient outing came against Cleveland Benedictine in a 32-7 victory when he rushed 11 times for 220 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns, to go along with a punt return score.  The Bennies finished the year 9-1.  Post-season, Mauger was named the Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year.

Most touchdowns scored – 8

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  Edwin Hill (1922) – Edwin “Dutch” Hill was the obvious leader of a Tiger team that finished 10-0 and captured the state championship. Against Akron North he set a record for eight rushing touchdowns in a single game.  But he was certainly aided by the level of competition, as Massillon put up 94 points, which was also a team record at that time.  Hill scored once in the first quarter, three times in the second, twice in the third and twice in the fourth.  Included were runs of 49, 43 and 25 yards.  I guess with just 19 players on the squad the Tigers didn’t have much of a bench for substitutions.

Longest touchdown run – 99 yards

• Chauncy Watson (1991) – Travis McGuire and Falando Ashcraft may have dominated the rushing stats that year, but Watson, just a sophomore at the time, had his moment against Akron Garfield when he ripped off a 99-yard TD run (99-1/2 yards according to him) in a substitution role. Along the way he broke five or six tackles as he sped to his left and then rode the sideline for the score.  The play was set up by Dan Seimetz, who had unfortunately slipped at the one yard line on a kick return.  On the flip side, Seimetz made a key block to aid in Watson’s run.  Massillon won the game, 60-13.

SINGLE SEASON RUSHING RECORDS

Most rushing yards – 2,042

• Willtrell Hartson (2022) – Hartson rushed 334 times for 2,042 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per attempt. He also scored 31 touchdowns.  His high games were 274 yards against Austintown Fitch, 211 against Big Walnut, 198 against Middletown, DE, and 175 against Uniontown Lake.  The Tigers finished with a 12-2 record.

Most rushing attempts – 349

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  Jamir Thomas (2017) – Thomas, a junior that year, rushed 349 times for 1,506 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per carry in a 14-game season. He also scored 21 touchdowns.  His high marks were 42 carries against Canton McKinley, 37 against Ashland and 33 against New Albany.  Against the Bulldogs, he picked up 124 yards and scored one touchdown on a 2-yard run.  The Tigers finished with a 10-4 record, while advancing to the regional finals.

Highest rushing average – 12.2 yards per attempt

• Jim Wood (1959) – Wood, playing alongside Art Hastings, rushed 40 times for 488 yards and scored three touchdowns. The Tigers finished with a perfect 10-0 record.  They were also awarded both state and national championship honors.

Most yards per game – 152.0 yards

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  Travis McGuire (1991) – McGuire rushed 251 times for 1,976 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry during Massillon’s 13-game season. He also scored 26 rushing touchdowns.  Ten times he eclipsed the 100-yard mark, with high games of 302 yards against Canton McKinley (5 TDs), 229 against Toledo St. John’s, 198 against Akron Ellet and 187 against Toledo St. Francis.  The Tigers finished with a 10-3 record, while advancing to the state semifinals.

Most touchdowns scored – 33

• Edwin Hill (1922) – Hill scored at least one touchdown in every game during which he played, leading his team to a 10-0 record and a state championship, Massillon’s third. His high games were 8 touchdowns against Akron North, 5 against Cambridge, and 4 each against Alliance and Warren Harding.

CAREER RUSHING RECORDS

• Yards – 4,025 – Jamir Thomas (2015-18)
• Attempts – 773 – Jamir Thomas – (2015-18)
• Rushing average – 12.2 – Jim Wood (1959)
• Average yards per game – 132.8 – Willtrell Hartson (2020-22)
• Touchdowns – 56 – Jamir Thomas (2015-18)

2024 Massillon Tigers Featured a Big-Play Rushing Attack

2024 Massillon Tigers Featured a Big-Play Rushing Attack

There are few events in football more exciting than when a running back takes the ball a long distance to the house for a touchdown.  The play may start simple enough with a nonchalant handoff from the quarterback.  But suddenly the running back breaks free of the line and explodes into the secondary.  And then we see the speed of the ball carrier as he maneuvers himself to evade would-be tacklers and then outrace them to the end zone.  The crowd quickly shifts its focus from the line of scrimmage to the entire field of play, all the while hoping that the back finds clear sailing and then erupting in boisterous cheers when he does.  What a marvelous happening it is.

Every team has a few of these long runs each year.  But for the 2024 Tigers, they had a lot more than the norm.  Credit All-Ohio running back Ja’Meir Gamble, who rushed for 114 yards per game with a whopping average of 8.7 yards per carry.  The speedy senior, who was clocked at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash, scored twenty rushing touchdowns this past season, with fourteen of his jaunts exceeding twenty yards.  And when the hole in the line was closed he was able to plant his foot in the ground and quickly turn toward to the edge, from where he scored most of his TDs.

This high number of long touchdowns in a single season is a rare occurrence indeed, in spite of the consistent success that Massillon has had over its 129-year history.  The passing game also had its share of long touchdowns, but that is not considered unusual, since this has been the case every year since the spread offense was introduced.

The chart below shows the median distance (half more than and half less than) for both rushing and passing touchdowns during the era of Head Coach Nate Moore (2015-2024).  The data shows that the median distance for rushing touchdowns per season has varied between 3 and 7 yards.  Except the 2024.  In that year median value skyrocketed to 20.

The two charts below were arbitrarily selected and display all of the rushing and passing touchdowns for the 2018 and 2021 seasons.  The vertical bars represent the relative distances of the scores, spread left to right from longest to shortest.  Rushing TDs are grouped together on the left side of the chart and with passing TDs on the right.  The charts are typical of what was seen in every year from 2015 through 2023.  The 2018 season featured running back Jamir Thomas, who averaged 137 yards per game at 7.3 yards per attempt, whereas the 2021 season featured Willtrell Hartson, who averaged 146 yards per game at 7.3 yards per attempt.

The statistics for both of these backs are outstanding.  But neither had the number of long distance jaunts that Gamble did, as shown in the chart below for the 2024 season.  Note the contrasting difference between the slope of the data for the 2024 season, which is relatively straight, and that of the previous two, which have severe bows, indicating that the vast majority of rushing touchdowns for those two years were of the short distance variety.

One might ask, how often did Massillon have a big-play rushing attack like the one recently experienced?  It turns out that, since the time of Paul Brown, who departed in 1940, it has happened only twice.   The first was the 1949 season, which featured running back Irvin Crable.  He averaged 113 yards per game at 11.3 yards per attempt.  The second was the 1959 team, which featured Art Hastings.  He averaged 125 yards per game at 10.6 yards per attempt.  Below are the charts of those two years.  However, it should be noted that neither team faced the caliber of competition that the 2024 team did.  There were a lot of blowouts against much weaker opponents, which certainly contributed to the high number of long runs.

So it turns out that the 2024 team, with Ja’Meir Gamble in the backfield, is indeed in small company.  But the commonality is that all three backs possessed great speed and running ability.

Finally, did the long rushing touchdowns make a difference on the scoreboard?  Not really.  As exciting as they were for the fans, it just meant that the Tigers scored quicker with their TD drives.  The 2015-2023 teams averaged 6.4 plays per drive, while the 2024 team averaged 4.6.  But in terms of scoring, the 2015-2023 teams averaged 36 points per game, while the 2024 team averaged 33.  About the same.  But it sure was sure was exciting to watch Gamble, and even running mate Mylen Lenix, break free on those long runs.

Rating the 2024 Massillon Football Team

Rating the 2024 Massillon Football Team

The 2024 Massillon football team, which finished with a record of 11-3, will be remembered as one that performed at a high level, in spite of playing an extremely difficult schedule.  Included were teams such as Bergen Catholic (NJ), Canisius (NY), Lakewood St. Edward, DeMatha (MD) and Canton McKinley.  But how does it stack up against the teams of the past ten years, corresponding to the tenure of the very successful Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore.  Under Moore, Massillon has enjoyed great success, as detailed below:

• Won 82% of games, with only one losing season, that coming in Moore’s first year; averaged 30 or more points per game in nine of ten years; four times ranked nationally in the Top 100.
• Holds a 9-1 record against arch-rival Canton McKinley.
• Qualified for the Division II playoffs nine times; won 32 of 40 playoff games; captured four regional championships; appeared in the state finals four times; won a state championship in 2023.
• Maintained a winning program, in spite of significantly elevating the strength of schedule.

A detailed data analysis was performed to rate the performance of the 2023 team against the other nine teams.  The analysis studied four statistics for which teams have control over, including yards per rush, pass efficiency, penalty yards per game and turnovers per game.  These are referred to as control statistics.  Also studied are four additional statistics, which are the end results of the control stats.  These include performance rating, yards per play, punts per game and 3^rd down efficiency.  Of course, the analysis would be remiss if it didn’t also review strength of schedule, season record and scoring.

The following are the results of the 2024 season analysis:

The Season Overall

• Strength of Schedule – High Rating – Each year this author rates the schedule using a point system in that a major power is worth three points, a playoff public school or mid-sized private two points, a non-playoff public school one point and a non-competitor zero.  This year’s team had a strength of schedule rating of 22, which is the highest measurement of any team over the last ten years, and perhaps all-time.  Close behind are the 2020 and 2022 teams, each with a rating of 20.  The average over the ten-year period is 18.  Certainly, some consideration of this high rating must be respected by the readers of this story when reviewing the discussion that follows.
• Season Record – Medium Rating – Massillon ranks 5^th with an 11-3 record, against an average of 11.0 wins and 2.5 losses.
• Scoring – Medium-High Rating – The offensive scoring is rated medium and ranks 7^th at 33 points per game, against an average of 35. The defensive scoring is rated high and ranks 2^nd at 12 points per game, against an average of 17.  The point differential of the offense and defense ranks 4^th at 21 points, against an average of 18.

The Offense

Control Statistics

• Yards per rush – High rating – Ranks 2^nd at 6.3 yards per rush, against an average of 5.3.  It is also ranked 7^th all-time and 2^nd among spread offense teams, behind the 2023 team’s 6.6.  Leading the rushing effort was the speedy Ja’Meir Gamble, who averaged a whopping 8.7 yards per carry.
• Pass efficiency – Medium rating– Ranks 6^th at 150, against an average of 154.  However, the team did have its moments with efficiency ratings of 293 against Football North and 269 against Teays Valley, contributed mostly by quarterback Jalen Slaughter and a host of high-level receivers.  The 2019 team with quarterback Aidan Longwell produced the best mark, of 185.
• Turnovers per game – High rating – Ranks 2^nd at 1.0, against an average of 1.4.  The 2017 team leads the group with 0.9 per game.
• Penalty yards per game – Low rating – Ranks 10th at 101 yards per game, against an average of 69. In fact, this is the highest value in the last 25 years.  Ironically, the second highest mark was produced by last year’s team, which recorded 81 penalty yards per game.  It is possible that the high mark influenced the number of punts per game and the 3^rd down proficiency, as shown in the following statistics.  But it should also be noted that in the vast majority of the big Massillon games over the ten-year study period the number of penalties per game had little influence on the final outcome.

Impact Statistics

• Performance rating – High rating – The performance rating measures a team’s ability to “move the sticks.”  In other words, it measures the success rate of team achieving a first down (or touchdown) after beginning with a first down.  Ranks 3^rd at 85%, against an average of 82.5%.  It also ranks third among all Massillon spread offense teams.
• Yards per play – High rating – Ranks 4^th at 7.2 yards per play, against an average of 6.5.  The rushing attack certainly had the most influence over this mark.
• Punts per game – Low rating – Ranks 9^th at 3.5 punts per game, against an average of 2.8.
• 3^rd down efficiency – Low rating – Ranks 10^th at 37%, against an average of 45%.  The 9^th place team is 2020 at 40%.  Perhaps this stat is a bit over-emphasized, given that the 2020 team ended up in the playoff state finals.

The Defense

Control Statistics

• Yards per rush – High rating – Ranks 2^nd at 2.8 yards per rush, against an average of 3.6. This success was achieved in spite of the team returning few starters on that side of the ball.  Nevertheless, the defensive front-7, led by Michael Moore Jr., and run support provided by safety Tyler Hackenbracht, became the strength of the team.  The 2023 team is tops with 1.7 yards per rush.
• Pass efficiency – Medium rating – Ranks 5^th at 106, against an average of 108.
• Turnovers per game – Low rating – Ranks 9^th at 1.3 per game, against an average of 1.6.

Impact Statistics

• Performance rating – High rating – Ranks 2^nd at 56%, against an average of 63%.  The 2024 team is slightly better than the 2023 team, coming in at 54%.  Among all spread offense teams, the 2024 squad ranks third, while the 2002 team is second at 52%.
• Yards per play – High rating – Ranks 2^nd at 3.9, against an average of 4.7.  The 2023 team leads the field, at 3.5.
• Punts per game – Medium rating – Ranks 4^th at 4.9, against an average of 4.4.
• 3^rd down efficiency – High rating – Ranks 2^nd at 26%, against an average of 30%.  The 2023 team comes in at 22%.

Summary

The statistics of the 2024 team were ranked against all of Nate Moore’s squads, covering a span of ten years.  Overall, the 2024 team receives a high mark, based on a 30% differential between offensive and defensive performance ratings.  That comes in spite of the team playing what is perhaps the most difficult schedule ever in Massillon’s long history.  The 30% mark is also the second highest among all spread offense teams (1998-2024), and just behind the 35% differential posted by the 2023 team.

The offense ranks medium-high on the basis of a high rating for the rushing attack and medium rating for the passing game.  But it also receives low marks for penalty yards, punts per game and 3rd down efficiency.  The defense ranks high, with high marks for the rushing attack and a medium rating for pass efficiency.  Most of the statistics measured ranked second, just behind the outstanding 2023 team’s defense.

So, how do all of the teams stack up?  The best way to figure this may be to jointly consider the following statistics, while weighting each one equally:

• Season record – Because, in spite of all the stats, you still need to win the game.
• Strength of schedule – It certainly impacts any game statistic.
• Offensive performance – The best measurement of a team’s proficiency.
• Defensive performance – Ditto.

In spite of what may have happened in the playoffs, here are how the teams rank, based on their performances over the entire season: