2026 Booster Club Report – Week 10 – Post…

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 10 – Post Warren Harding; Preview of the Canton McKinley Game

Massillon (8-1) defeated Warren Harding (4-5), 49-16.  This week Massillon hosts Canton McKinley (7-2).

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (8-0): Defeated Canton, 38-20.  Season complete.
• 8th Grade (5-1): Defeated Canton, 34-6.
• Freshmen (1-7): Lost to Warren Harding 40-24.  Season complete.
• Junior Varsity (3-5): Defeated Warren Harding, 34-6.  Season complete.

It was the “Beat McKinley” rally at the Booster Club meeting.  Players.  Fans.  Band.  Majorettes.  Cheerleaders.  Victory Bell.  The whole works.  A rousing start to rivalry week.

“We play a really good team on Saturday,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “They have a good quarterback.  Big up front.  A great running back.  A good linebacker.  A good backside safety.  Two of the best defensive linemen we’ve seen all year.  We will see a lot.  We need to be ready.  We have our work cut out for us on Saturday.”

Then the coach talked about the senior players.  “A lot of great leadership, in spite of some bumps along the road.  They’ve done a good job all year.  I’m really proud of them.  Great leaders.  Great kids.  Great football players.”  Each of the seniors then had an opportunity to address the crowd by recalling his favorite memory of a Massillon-McKinley game.

Review of the Warren Harding Game

Massillon got back on the win track by defeating the Raiders 49-16, in a game that was literally over after one quarter. Leading the way was running back Savior Owens, who put up monster night running the ball. Coming off last week’s loss to Cornerstone Christian, the No. 22 team in Texas, the Tigers came out firing on all cylinders. Not only was the offense putting up 42 points in the first half, the defense was holding the Raiders to negative yards rushing. That, in spite of several Massillon starters being held out of the game for various reasons. Owens recorded a season-high 232 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just 19 carries (12.2 ave.). He was nearly unstoppable throughout, adding several long runs to go along with his scoring totes. And it all happened in just over one half of football. Plus, it came against a Warren team that is trying to win its way into the Division II playoffs. Also showing in the run category is Brayton Feister who, after not seeing the offensive side of the ball for a while, took off on his first carry for a 63-yard touchdown run. Later, he added a second score.

Preview of the Canton McKinley Game

McKinley scores to date:

• Warren Harding (4-5): 33-0 W
• Lakewood St. Edward (8-1): 8-22 L
• Sandusky (1-8): 53-7 W
• Canton GlenOak (1-8): 48-14 W
• Massillon Perry (4-5): 32-0 W
• Green (4-5): 35-0 W
• North Canton (5-4): 35-7 W
• Uniontown Lake (4-5): 34-7 W
• Massillon Jackson (7-2): 14-30 L

McKinley competes in the Federal League and is a Division I team for playoff purposes.  Last year the Bulldogs posted a record of 9-3, while losing 21-15 to Massillon in the regular season finale and 25-24 to Mentor in Round 2 of the playoffs.  Their 5-year record is 40-23, including an 8-5 mark in post-season play.  Historically, Massillon leads the series 78-53-5.

The Bulldogs come into the game with a 7-2 record, on the heels of a 30-14 setback to last Friday to Jackson.  Although they have handled the teams as expected against which they were a big favorite, they have yet to beat a team that has a winning record; i.e., Lakewood St.Edward and Jackson.  This week they face another team with a winning record and would like to find something positive to help propel them into the playoffs.  But it will be big challenge, given that they have lost the last ten times they played the Tigers.

The McKinley offense utilizes multiple formations.  Most employ a tight end with 11 and 21-personnel.  They also spread at times with 20 personnel.  Most of the passes are to the flats, while they occasionally throw the ball deep and trust the receiver’s ability to track it down.  The quarterback is junior Braylon Crook (5′-11″, 175).  He has great accuracy and is not afraid to tuck the ball and run.  To date he has completed 99 of 149 passes (66%) for 1,588 yards (15.7 ave.) and 13 touchdowns.  By far, his favorite target is senior Darius Hill (5′-9″, 175), who has caught 42 passes for 835 yards (19.9 ave.) and 7 TDs.  But the focus of the offense is senior running back Keyelin West (5′-11, 185), who was named 1st Team All-Ohio last year.  The speedster has carried the ball 77 times for 811 yards (10.5 ave.) and 16 touchdowns.  Last year against Massillon he rushed 19 times for 113 yards and a TD and also caught 4 passes for 4 yards.  However, he is currently fighting through a hamstring injury and is spelled at times by DeMario Rozier (5′-11, 190).  Rozier has 85 carries for 427 yards (5.0 ave.) and 3 scores.

The defense aligns in a 3-4, similar to Massillon.  They are quick and they play aggressively.  Senior defensive end Javier Moore (6′-0″, 220) has 10 TFLs.  linebackers Amare Mitchell (6′-3″, 205) has 11 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks.  Linebacker Chase Ivory has 3 pass interceptions.  Senior linebacker Antonio Stevens (6′-0″, 218) was 3rd Team All-Ohio).  And senior safety Shad Davis (5′-11″, 185) was 2nd Team All-Ohio last year.  Stevens and Davis each had 7 tackles against Massillon in 2025.

Crook is also the punter and he is a good one, averaging 35.0 yards per kick.

Massillon will counter with an offense that averages nearly seven yards per play.   Several players on this side of the ball own Division 1 scholarships, including 225 lb. running back Savior Owens (1st Team All-Ohio, Michigan State), wide receiver Deontay Malone (2nd Team All-Ohio, Ohio State), Gio Jackson Jr. (All-District, Miami of Ohio) and Braylon Gamble (All-District, Boston College).  In addition, several offensive lineman have collegiate offers on the table, including Davionne Floyd (All-District), Marcus Garner (All-District), junior Mikah Walker and junior tight end Da’Shun Williams.  Junior 6′-4″ quarterback Rasmus Haines, has grown tremendously over the course of the season.  He manages the offense well, can escape from the pocket while still looking down field and has a big arm.  In games against Canada’s Football North and Texas’ Cornerstone Christian, he threw for a combined 477 yards.  These are great assets in the Tigers’ run-first offense, which is bolstered by sophomore running back Gary Yeager, who put up a 232-yard performance in the victory over Lakewood St. Edward, and occasionally by Brayton Feister, who is nearly unstoppable once in the secondary.  Finally, Owens last week rushed for 232 yards against Warren Harding.

The defense is focused around senior All-American, 240 lb. linebacker Brayton Feister, who averages nearly 11 tackles per game.  Junior defensive end Brydon Feister (1st Team All-Ohio) leads the team with 13 tackles-for-loss.  Senior outside linebacker Issaac Maxheimer was All-District last year.  Senior lineman Joe Karder holds offers.  This unit is extremely difficult to run against and surrenders just 3.5 yards per attempt, that against a schedule that includes some of the best teams in the nation.  It is also stingy on third down, with a 26.5% success ratio.

Keys to the game.  For Massillon on offense, control the line of scrimmage sufficiently to move the chains.  On defense, force the McKinley offense to drive the length of the field, while limiting big plays.  For McKinley on offense, find a way to move the ball on the ground.  On defense, control the potent Massillon ground attack, which could enable the pass rush to pressure the quarterback.

“Do the things we do really well,” Moore closed with while addressing his players. “Emotions will be high.  The team that handles the moments has the best chance to win the game.”

Go Tigers!

Massillon Downs Warren Harding with Overwhelming Rushing Attack

Massillon Downs Warren Harding with Overwhelming Rushing Attack

Nothing cures a loss like a win.  On a cool and rainy night at Warren’s Mollenkopf Stadium, Massillon got back on the win track by defeating the Raiders, 49-16 in a game that was literally over after one quarter.  Leading the way was running back Savior Owens, who put up monster night running the ball.

Coming off last week’s loss to Cornerstone Christian, the No. 22 team in Texas, the Tigers came out firing on all cylinders.  Not only was the offense putting up 42 points in the first half, the defense was holding the Raiders to negative yards rushing.  That, in spite of several Massillon starters being held out of the game for various reasons.

Owens recorded a season-high 232 yards rushing and four touchdowns on just 19 carries (12.2 ave.).  He was nearly unstoppable throughout, adding several long runs to go along with his scoring totes.  And it all happened in just over one half of football.  Plus, it came against a Warren team that is trying to win its way into the Division II playoffs.  Also showing in the run category is Brayton Feister who, after not seeing the offensive side of the ball for a while, took off on his first carry for a 63-yard touchdown run.  Later, he added a second score.

With the win, Massillon maintains its position in the computer standings for a potential first-round bye in the post-season playoffs.  In addition, the series record with the Raiders improves to 63-25-3.

Warren, after returning the opening kickoff to midfield, found the end zone on the back of three consecutive pass completions from quarterback James Jones to No.  1 receiver Matt Richardson.  For a moment it appeared that this one might be a game.  Only, the Raiders didn’t see the end zone again until the Tigers had piled on 49 points.  Simply a brief moment of joy for the few Raider fans that braved the weather.

It took Massillon just four plays to respond, by covering 80 yards of turf and grabbing a 7-6 lead, with Owens scoring from the eight yard line.  The TD was set up by a perfectly thrown deep ball from quarterback Rasmus Haines to Gio Jackson Jr.  Mateo Herrera then converted the first of seven successful PATs.

Following a short Warren punt to their own 38, Owens ran for 12 yards, then 16 yards and finally for 10 yards to the end zone for the score.

Then disaster struck for the Raiders.  A snap over the head of the punter left the ball lying in the end zone.  Following a scramble, Massillon’s Isaac Maxheimer came out on top and the Tigers now led 21-6.

Warren, on their next possession, passed their way to the opposite end of the field, but were stopped at the 18 and settled for a 35-yard field goal by Jeron Edmonds.

Two plays later it was Feister that found his way into the end zone on a 63-yard run.  The first-quarter score was now 28-9.

Disaster came again for Warren when they failed to cleanly field the ball on the subsequent Massillon kickoff.  Now into the second quarter, Owens scored his third touchdown of the night, this time from the 14 yard line.

The final score of the half came from Feister on a seven yard run.

The Tigers received the second half kickoff under a running clock situation and made the most of it with a seven yard touchdown by Owens, his fourth of the night.  And that was it for the senior running back.

Warren got their second TD when Elijah Phillips carried it in from the eight, making the final score 49-16.  Massillon then ran out the clock, which didn’t seem to stop one time throughout the entire half (Massillon had the ball twice and Warren once).

Next week Massillon (8-1) entertains Canton McKinley (7-2) in the annual rivalry game.  Meanwhile, Warren (4-5) will have one more chance to qualify for the playoffs when they travel to Austintown Fitch (7-1).

 

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 9 – Post…

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 9 – Post Cornerstone Christian; Preview of the Warren Harding Game

Massillon (7-1) lost to Cornerstone Christian, TX (5-2), 35-28.  This week Massillon travels to Warren Harding (4-4).  Last season the Tigers topped the Raiders, 42-10.

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (8-0): Defeated Canton, 38-20.  Season complete.
• 8th Grade (6-1): Defeated Canton, 34-6.
• Freshmen (1-6): Lost to Akron Buchtel, 16-6.  Plays at home against Warren Harding on Thursday, October 15, at 6:00.
• Junior Varsity (2-5): Lost to Avon, 14-6.  Plays at home against Warren Harding on Saturday, October 17, at 10:00 am.

Review of the Cornerstone Christian Game

Massillon’s 7-game winning streak was erased by Cornerstone Christian, the No.  24 team in Texas, by the score of 35-21.  The major difference in the game was Warriors’  speed advantage that resulted in more big-gain plays than the Tigers.  The score was tied at 14 apiece entering the fourth quarter and 21 apiece with just over five minutes remaining, but Massillon could not answer Cornerstone’s next score on account of penalties and a dropped pass.  The Tigers running game was stifled throughout, but quarterback Rasmus Haines contributed with a season-high 250 yards passing and two touchdowns: 24 yards Gio Jackson Jr. and 73 yards to Deontay Malone.  Running back Savior Owens also scored a TD from 12 yards out.  Massillon’s defense seemed out of sync, while being hampered with several starters unavailable for the game and the previous week’s cancellation of the match with Farrell, PA.

Ironically, in the past few weeks Cornerstone beat Massillon, who beat Lakewood St. Edward, who beat St. John’s College, DC, who beat Cornerstone.  All of these teams are high in the national rankings.

“We took a loss last week,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate at the weekly Booster Club meeting.  “I’m really proud of how hard the guys played.  It (Cornerstone) was a really good team.  They have really good players.  We have really good players.  We had a chance to win in spite of the mistakes.  A lot to build off of.  A loss is the greatest teacher.  We have a lot to learn from that game.  Overall, the effort was there.  We didn’t out-physical them.  But we had a chance to win.  Give Cornerstone credit.  They were the better team last Friday.

Moore also praised the punt team, saying that they provided good protection for the punter.  He also thought that the Tigers handled the size mismatch on the lines well.

The guest speakers were offensive lineman Davionne Floyd and defensive back Chayce White.

Floyd – A sloppy night.  Shot ourselves in the foot.  But we need to move on.  Warren’s defensive line has some size.  As long as we do our jobs, we’ll be OK.

White – We had a lack of focus during the game.  All of us weren’t there.  Just not enough.

Preview of the Warren Harding Game

Warren scores to date:

• Canton McKinley (7-1): 0-33 L
• Youngstown (2-5): 20-12 W
• Massillon Perry (3-5): 34-7 W
• Massillon Jackson (6-2): 37-44 L
• Youngstown Ursuline (5-3): 7-40 L
• Toledo Scott (1-7): 52-0 W
• Boardman (1-7): 33-14 W
• Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (5-3): 3-24 L

Harding is a Division II program that competes in the All-American Conference.  Over the past five years they have compiled a record of 28-29, including 3-6 last year.  Four times during that period they qualified for the playoffs, where they have a 3-4 record.  Massillon has played Warren more than any other opponent, with the exception of Canton McKinley, and lead in the series 62-25-3.   The Raiders return 8 starters on offense and 6 on defense, including defensive back Matt Richardson (3^rd Team All-Ohio) and offensive lineman Zayvion Smith (HM All-Ohio.  In last year’s game Makhai Brogden rushed 8 times 27 yards and Richardson caught 2 passes for 36 yards.

“They have a lot of good players,” said Moore.

Offense – Good sized line, averaging 6′-2″, 297 lbs.  All are either 6′-2″ and 6′-3″, with the lightest weighing 270 lbs.  The best lineman is senior right tackle and returning starter Michael Wade (6′-3″, 310).  The quarterback is senior James Jones (6′-3″, 215).  Jones was a backup last season.  His numbers are 68 of 127 (54%) for 937 yards (13.8 ave.) and 9 touchdowns.  The best player on offense is junior running back Makhi Brogdon (5′-10″, 195).  To date he has rushed 93 times for 536 yards (5.8 ave.) and 5 touchdowns.  The leading receiver is senor Matt Richardson (5′-10″, 175), a 2-year returning starter, who has caught more passes than the rest of the receiving corps combined, with 38 receptions for 607 yards and 5 TDs.  A spread offense team, the warriors employ a lot of different formations.  They will line up in a lot of heavy set, 13-personal, formations and then add in some empty sets and 10-personal alignments.

Defense – The odd-front line also has good size averaging 6′-1″, 250 lbs.  The best lineman is senior Zayvion Smith (6′-5″, 275), a 2-year returning starter.  He has four tackles for loss.  Three of four linebackers return from last year, led by junior outside linebacker Asa Burch (6′-5″, 235), who is a potential Power-4 recruit.  Through eight games Burch has recorded a team-high 65 tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss.  The best player in the secondary is Richardson, a 2-way player.

On special teams, senior Jeron Edmonds excels in kicking and punting.  Twenty-five of his 31 kickoffs have gone into the end zone.  He averages 35.2 yards per punt.  And he was good on a 47-yard field goal.

Go Tigers!

Massillon’s Unbeaten Streak Halted by Texas Team

Massillon’s Unbeaten Streak Halted by Texas Team

STATS

Massillon’s 7-game winning streak came to an abrupt halt when visiting Cornerstone Christian, from San Antonio, Texas, left town with a 35-21 victory.  Although the Warriors finished with a slim edge in total yards, they used their speed advantage to simply make more big plays than the Tigers.

Massillon running backs Savior Owens and Gary Yeager were stifled throughout most of the game.  That put quarterback Rasmus Haines in the spotlight.  In spite of facing a fierce rush on nearly every attempt, he managed to throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns.  But it was the penalties that were the real culprit.  Time and again, good gains were brought back on account of holding.

On the other side of the ball, the Tiger defense seemed out of sync.  Perhaps it was not playing a game the week before on account of the Farrell, PA, forfeit.  Or it might have been that several key starters were not available, resulting in some backups in the game and some regulars playing out of position.  Regardless, most evident was that the tackling was certainly not up to par.  But much credit must also go to speedy Cornerstone running back Jaylen McKane.  He accounted for most of his team’s 208 rushing yards, in addition to scoring three touchdowns, two of the breakaway, long-run variety.

Massillon must now regroup and get comfortable with personnel changes, while they prepare for the home stretch against Warren Harding and Canton McKinley.

The Tigers received the opening kickoff and drove to the Warrior 16.  But they were stopped on downs and missed on a 33-yard field goal attempt.

On Cornerstone’s first try they went right to the air, throwing a 15-yard pass from quarterback Seth Schuler to Isaiah Regge to the right sideline.  Only, the Massillon cornerback missed on the tackle, allowing the receiver to take the ball to the endzone on a 72-yard score.  The PAT was kicked by Christopher Valasquez.

On the Tigers’ third possession they drove 53 yards for a score, when Owens, who was doing most of the work up to that point, raced 12 yards around the left side of the line for a touchdown.  Mateo Herrera’s PAT tied the score at seven apiece.  That’s the way the first half ended, but not before the Warriors had driven to the Massillon 12, only to be thwarted by multiple penalties.

Massillon received the second half kickoff, but disaster struck when Haines’ attempt at a center screen went awry and was intercepted.  The end result was a 14-yard TD run by McKane.

Not to be outdone, the Tigers came right back. It began when Deontay Malone returned the kickoff to the Massillon 49.  Owens did score from the 24 yardline several plays later, but the TD was called back due to a holding penalty.  However, on fourth down from the 24, Haines lofted a perfect rainbow into the endzone to a double-covered Gio Jackson Jr. for a touchdown, tying the score once again.

In the fourth quarter McKane first got off a long run to the Massillon 11 and then scored his second TD on a fourth down run from the three.

Only, the Tigers once again came back.  Haines, after being flushed from the pocket at his own 27, scrambled to his right and found Malone slightly open near the middle of the field.  Haines then fired a desperation pass to a leaping Malone.   Malone then shed two potential tacklers before racing to the endzone to finish off a 73-yard touchdown pass for the tying points.

But not to be outdone, Cornerstone threw another sideline pass to Regge, this time from quarterback Rogan Parson, the cornerback whiffed once again and the Warriors had a 50-yard TD to go up 28-21 with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

The Tigers did manage to move to the Cornerstone 47, but multiple holding penalties killed the drive.

The Warriors then finished it off with a meaningless touchdown when McKane scored his third TD on a 53-yard run.

 

Statistics (Mass-Corn)
First Downs: 17-14
Rushing: 108-209
Passng: 250-191
Total: 358-400

Photos by Marlene Kanipe

Senior Night.  Brayton Feister (18) and Brydon Feister (8)

National Anthem.

 

Rasmus Haines (13) hands the ball to Savior Owens (1)

Worth Hirning (62), Savior Owens (1), Marcus Garner (60)

Savior (1) Owens scores.

Deontay Malone (6), Aamir Jones (81)

Micah Walker (78), Landon Barnhart (72), Davionne Floyd (52), Rasmus Haines (13)

James Gatsios (61), Savior Owens (1), Marcus Garner (60)

Deontay Malone (1) catching a pass and then scoring.

Braylon Gamble (5), Da’Shun Williams (84), Anthony Hoover (25), Geovonni Vinson (24)

Anthony Hoover (25) making the tackle.  Joe Karder (94), De’vaughn Williams (23), Braylon Gamble (5)

 

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 8 – Cornerstone…

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 8 – Cornerstone Christian Preview

Massillon (7-0) defeated Farrell, PA (4-2), 1-0. Farrell decided to forfeit the game a few weeks ago rather than play, citing “injuries.”  In the Harbin system, the Tigers will be awarded points for each Farrell win.  This week Massillon hosts Cornerstone Christian, TX (4-2).  Last season the Tigers came out on top, 45-20.

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (7-0): Defeated Akron Buchtel, 32-0.  Plays at home against Canton on Tuesday, October 6, at 5:00, at PBTS.
• 8th Grade (5-1): Defeated Akron Garfield, 28-8.  Plays at home against Canton on Wednesday, October 7, at 6:00 pm, at PBTS.
• Freshmen (1-5): Did not play.  Plays at home against Akron Buchtel on Thursday, October 8, at 6:00.
• Junior Varsity (2-4): Did not play.  Plays at home against Avon on Saturday, October 10, at 10:00 am.

The guest players were senior safety Braylon Gamble, senior defensive lineman Joe Karder and senior offensive lineman Landon Barnhart.

• Gamble – We all know what happened last year (against Football North following an open date).  They matched up well against St. John’s College last week (St. Edward defeated St. John’s by one point).  They are not the same team we played last  year.  This is a good team and we need to be ready.
• Karder – Monday practice was good.  They are bigger, but we are faster.  We’re not afraid.
• Barnhart – We need a good week of practice.

Preview of the Cornerstone Christian Game

Cornerstone scores to date:

• Autonoma de Neuvo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico: 62-21 W
• IMG Academy, FL (National No. 1) (6-0): 10-59 L
• Center, TX (Texas No. 709) (0-5): 51-14 W
• Parish Episcopal, Dallas, TX (Texas No. 108) (5-2): 42-16 W
• Lake Travis, Austin, TX (Texas No. 40) (2-1-1): 48-35 W
• St. John’s College, DC (D.C. No. 1) (5-1): 28-35 L

Cornerstone continues to build their program, apparently with goal of achieving the status of a national power.  Last year they finished 6-4, while their 5-year record is 25-25.  The Warriors return six lettermen on offense and five on defense.  Included in that group is running back Jaylen McKane, who rushed 13 times for 48 yards and a TD against Massillon last year.  He also caught six passes for 61 yards.  Also back is safety Elijah Fayall, who recorded eleven tackles and has committed to Arizona.

“This is a great matchup for this week,” said Massillon head coach Nate Moore.  “They return some good players from last year.  A really good team.  Well coached.  The style is a little different.  Wide open on offense.  Lots of spread.  We had a good Monday.  We need to keep that moving.”  In the state of Texas the Warriors are ranked No. 24 by maxpreps.com and No. 26 by hsratings.com (computerized ranking system).

The offense aligns mostly in spread, some with tight end, some empty.  They play two quarterbacks: senior Seth Shuler (6′-3″, 205), who is primarly a passer, and senior Rogan Parson (6′-1″, 200), who likes to run the ball.  The running back, junior Jaylen McKane (5′-9″, 190), is perhaps the best player on offense.  He is extremely fast, can break tackles and is someone Moore calls, “twitchy.”  He is a threat every time he touches the ball.  According to Moore, the entire receiving corps is athletic and fast.  The Tigers have faced some really big lines this year, but this one is simply monstrous, averaging 6′-5″, 321 lbs.  Included in that are a couple of tall bookend tackles in junior 4-star recruit Jaistrorm Knight (6′-9″, 340) and senior Joseph Games (6′-10″, 385).  “It will be a great challenge for our defense,” said Moore.

The Cornerstone defense shows four linemen and three linebackers, but the preferred alignment is 4-2-5.  The strength of the unit is the line, featuring senior Ahzan Bacote (6′-3″, 270).   Moore said he is a good as anyone the Tigers have faced this year.  Across the line, it averages 6′-3″, 255 lbs.  Behind are a couple of really good linebackers in senior Dominique Moore (6′-1″, 215) and senior Malcolm Carter (6′-0″, 200).  Both play downhill.  But they don’t seem to blitz a lot.  The Warriors return both starters from last year at safety.  The secondary uses a lot of man-to-man coverage, with some cover-3.

The kicker is good and they have a good return team.

Go Tigers!

 

 

Massillon Defeats Farrell, Pennsylvania, Team by Way of Forfeit

Massillon Defeats Farrell, Pennsylvania, Team by Way of Forfeit

Farrell is one of the more successful small-school programs in Pennsylvania.  In fact, last year they posted a record of 12-3 and advanced to the state finals in Class 2A (Class 6A is the highest).  In addition, they have lost just 14 games over the last five years.  Perhaps, in an attempt to test the waters, they elected to schedule a game against the nationally-ranked Tigers.

However, a few weeks ago Farrell backed out of the game citing, according to media releases, a number of injuries.  Possibly, the reason was the expectation of injuries that might arise in a game of that level, given their lack of depth.  Regardless, the game was canceled and later ruled as a forfeit in Massillon’s favor, by the official score of 1-0.  The implications are as follows:

• Massillon’s record improves to 7-0, while Farrell’s falls to 4-2.
• Massillon’s historical number of wins improves to 975.
• In terms of Harbin points, Massillon will receive the full benefit of each Farrell win, both those already earned and those going forward. However, given that Farrell is equivalent to an Ohio Division VII team, the benefit will be minimal.  That’s because the Tigers will gain just 3.5 points in the first level and just 3.5 points in the second level for each Farrell win.  Fortunately, Farrell is predicted to have a record of 7-2 by the end of Harbin point counting.

Next week Massillon will host Cornerstone Christian, Texas (4-1), a team that the Tigers defeated last year, 45-20.  However, the Warriors continue to build their program and are much improved this time around.

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 7 – Post-Football…

2026 Booster Club Report – Week 7 – Post-Football North

Massillon (6-0) defeated Canada Football North (3-2), 31-8.  The game this week against Farrell, PA, has been forfeited in Massillon’s favor.  The score will be registered as a 1-0 win.  Next week the Tigers will host Cornerstone Christian, TX (4-1).

Link to the Football North Game Story

Link to the Football North Game Statistics (later)

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (6-0): Defeated Youngstown United, 50-8.  Plays at home against Akron Buchtel on Tuesday, September 29, at 5:30.
• 8th Grade (4-1): Defeated Youngstown United, 21-6.  Plays at home against at Akron Garfield on Wednesday, September 30, at 6:00 pm.
• Freshmen (1-5): Lost to Football North.  Plays at home against South Range on Thursday, October 1, at 6:00.
• Junior Varsity (2-4): Lost to Football North, 34-14.  This week’s game against Farrell, PA, has been canceled.

Review of the Football North Game

In yet another hard-fought game, Massillon used a strong defense along with big plays on offense to upend Canada Football North, 31-8.  It was historical win No. 974, which is ranked No. 2 in the country.  Throughout the game, each team’s running backs had little success on the ground, aside from some big gainers by Savior Owens.  But Massillon was just that good defensively with their front-7, particularly brothers Brayton and Brydon Feister.  In the air, Tiger quarterback Rasmus Haines had enough completions to move the chains.  However, the greatest difference between the two teams was the Tigers’ ability to finish drives.  In fact, after failing to advance on their first two, they scored on each of the next five.

Massillon head coach Nate Moore had praise for all three aspects of the Tigers’ performance.  “We had a lot of good play on Friday,” he  said.  Got a lot of good film.

Special teams – Good coverage on kickoffs.  Almost returned a kickoff to the end zone.  Mateo Herrera converted a 27-yard field goal and booted several kickoffs into the end zone.

Defense – “Pretty good job against the run all game.  This was a problem has year.”  Had praise for Brydon Feister, who was in on several quarterback sacks.  “He is so strong.”  Maxheimer had a great game.

Offense – Quarterback Rasmus Haines was instrumental in the win with his ability to audible at the line to give his team the best advantages.  He also received his first Division 1 offer: Miami of Ohio.  Gio Jackson Jr. had a big game.  Savior Owens had some big runs.  Great blocking was provided by Da’Shun Williams.

The players were off on Monday, while the bye week gives them a chance to heal up.

Go Tigers!