2023 Booster Club Report – Week 6 – Post-St. …

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 6 – Post-St.  John’s College; Preview of the Austintown Fitch Game

Massillon (7-0) defeated D.C.’s No. 1 St. John’s College (3-2), 28-7, in a game that was marred by multiple 15-yard penalties and halted midway through the fourth quarter.  This week the Tigers travel to Austintown Fitch (4-2).  Last year the Tigers defeated the Falcons, 39-26, and lead the overall series, 20-8.  They are 7-6 in games played in Austintown and have won the last three times there.  The Falcons own the sixth most wins over the Tigers, historically.  This Friday marks the first road game of the year for Massillon, which also travels to Canton McKinley in Week 10.

Link to the St. John’s Game Story

Link to the St. John’s Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (3-3): Lost to Canton GlenOak, 33-12.  Plays at Canton Crenshaw on Tuesday, October 3 at 6:00 pm.
• 8th Grade (6-1): Lost to Youngstown East, 28-0.  Plays at Canton Crenshaw on Wednesday, October 4 at 5:00 pm.
• Freshmen (6-2): Defeated Cleveland Glenville, 7-0.  Plays home to Austintown Fitch on Thursday, October 5 at 6:00 pm.
• Junior Varsity (3-1): Tied Cleveland Glenville, 30-30.  Play home to  Austintown Fitch on Saturday, October 7, at 10:00 am.

Review of the St. John’s game

It was Win No. 939, which keeps Massillon in the No. 3 position nationally for all-time wins.  “I’m proud of our kids,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “It (St. John’s) was a really good team.  Full of Power-5 players.  Some were really good.  Our kids answered the bell.  Played hard.  Played as a team.  We set some goals prior to game and checked all the boxes.”

The guest players were inside linebacker / running back Dorian Pringle and defensive lineman Michael Wright Jr.  “Our team played very well at all three levels,” said Pringle.  “They all executed very well.”  Wright thought the team played good all around, on both sides of the ball.  “No team can hang with us for four quarters,” he said.  Wright felt that St.  John’s knew they were in trouble midway through the first quarter when they saw how physical the Tiger players were.

Statistics leaders

• Ja’Meir Gamble: 17 carries for 91 yards
• Da’One Owens, Dorian Pringle and Michael Wright Jr.: one rushing touchdown each
• Da’One Owns: 7 of 16 passing for 155 yards and 1 touchdown
• Braylyn Toles: 4 receptions for 103 yards and 1 touchdown
• Adonis Marshall: pass interception
• Tyler Hachekbracht: 5.5 (5-1) tackle points; 3 punts (34.3 ave.)
• Maverick Clark, Lenix Lemon: shared a quarterback sack

Austintown Fitch Scouting Report

The Falcons are 4-2, having had an open date last week.  Their scores so far:

• Euclid (1-6): 40-6 W
• Central Valley, PA (5-1): 35-36 L
• Canton GlenOak (3-4): 35-3 W
• Cleveland St. Ignatius (1-6): 24-21 O.T. W
• Stow (1-6): 41-0
• Youngstown Ursuline (7-0): 14-32 L

Fitch operates offensively out of the spread, with a single back and off-and-on tight end.  The catalyst of the attack is senior quarterback and returning starter Deshawn Vaughn (5′-10″, 175).  A 3-star recruit and Toledo commit, Vaughn both runs and throws very well, according to Moore.  He has a long arm and can sling it.  Watch for a lot of screen passes and quarterback draws.  Last year against Massillon Vaughn had a good night, completing 16 of 23 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.  He also ran eight times for 26 yards.

On the receiving end are two outstanding players.  Senior Dan Evans (5′-9″, 160) is a 2-year returning starter and considered the best skill player.  Very quick.  In last year’s game Evans caught six passes for 48 yards.  Sophomore Allen Hill Jr. (6′-5″, 205) is a 4-star recruit with an offer from Penn State.  The running back is senior D.J. Williams, a 2-year returning starter.  He is a 2-star recruit and is committed to Ball State.  Williams has good speed and vision.  The offensive line is of modest size and averages 6′-1″, 261 lbs. They are an effective unit and they play hard according to Moore.

Defensively, Fitch uses both odd and even fronts, while also employing the 3-3 odd-stack.  The top players are:

• Senior defensive lineman Xavier Dahn (6′-3″, 250).  3-star recruit.  Ball State commit.  Good pass rusher.
• Sophomore  linebacker Allex Hill (6′-5″, 205).  Good both in the box and in pass coverage.
• Junior middle linebacker Rocco Deflorio (6′-0″, 210).  Runs well to the ball and good in the blitz.
• Senior cornerback Davion Pritchard (6′-0″, 170).  3-star recruit.  Pittsburgh commit.  Best cornerback.  Five tackle points and an interception last year.
• Safety Deshawn Vaughn.  2-way player.  Covers well and is physical.  5.5 tackle points and an interception last year.

Fitch, according to Moore, has been a thorn in Massillon’s side at times.  But, he also said that the players are fully aware of this and are preparing to manage an expected hostile environment in Austintown.

By the Numbers

The spread offense, which has been around now for some 25 years, has opened up the game of football tremendously.  Years before, offenses would pass the ball around 20% of the time, with an effectiveness of around 40-45%.  But, the spread utilizes more receivers and teams now pass the ball around 40% of the time with an effectiveness of 55-60%.  One would think then that the best teams during the era of the spread are those that are most effective in passing the ball.  However, statistics for Massillon teams show just the opposite to be true.  A study was performed relating a multitude of performance and outcome stats to a team’s win-loss record to see if any high correlations exist.  The results show that the highest correlation between a particular stat and the W-L record is the defense against the run (64%).  In other words, the teams that are the best at stopping the run end up on average with the best overall records.  The next highest correlation is the rushing the ball (45%).  In third is pass offense (43%).  No other statistic (i.e., pass defense, 3rd down conversions, time of possession, turnover margin, number of penalties, etc.) have a significant influence on the final record (on average).

So, how does this year’s team stack up against those of the past 25 years?  Judge for your self.

• Rush defense: 61 yards per game (1st); 2.5 yards per carry (1st)
• Rush offense: 242 yards per game (1st); 6.6 yards per carry (1st)
• Pass offense: 169 yards per game (13th); 9.7 yards per pass attempt (3rd)

The 2023 team hits mark quite well.  And all of this impacts the stats for the combined offenses and defenses:

• Total offense: 411 yards per game (3rd); 7.6 yards per play (1st)
• Total defense: 195 yards per game (2nd); 4.0 yards per play (2nd)
• Scoring offense: 39.1 points per game (5th)
• Scoring defense: 8.7 points per game (1st)

Go Tigers!

2023: Massillon 28, St. John’s College, D.C., 7

Unruly Play Overshadows a Great Victory by Massillon Over St. John’s
College

Game Statistics

For the record, Massillon, one of the top teams in the state of Ohio regardless of division, defeated St. John College, the Number 1 team in the District of Columbia, 28-7.  But the storyline wasn’t the magnitude of the game (Top game in the country this week according to Maxpreps.com), nor was it the great offensive plays, nor was it the relentless defensive efforts.  It was the magnitude of personal fouls and chippyness between both teams that seemed to dominate the scene.  It was a sight rarely seen in a Massillon football game.  It started out OK, but as the game wore on and the final outcome became more inevitable, any initial good sportsmanship just waned away.

But it was also like a 10-round, heavyweight boxing match.  Jab after jab.  Blow after blow.  Constant attacks to gain the upper hand and deliver a crushing blow, hoping to get the opponent to yield.  But these teams weren’t going to yield, as both were trying to prove that they were worthy of being in the national spotlight, a blessing that they deem needs protecting.  It’s great when events go your way.  But when they don’t, emotions take over.  And paybacks are inevitable.  But, all of this leads to detractions from the game.

Was there a trigger point?  Perhaps.  It might have occurred late in the second quarter when Massillon quarterback Da’one Owens completed a 22-yard pass to Braylyn Toles on a crossing route.  The St. John’s defender on the play closed quickly from the opposite direction and delivering a crushing hit with his shoulder, something you would see in a pro game, that literally lifted the diminutive Toles off his feet and sent him flying in the opposite direction.  Surprisingly, he hung onto the ball.  Multiple flags flew following the play, but the referees ruled that there was no foul.  It was the correct call, but the force of the tackle was certainly unnecessary.  After that, the level of physical play seemed to just accelerate, which then led to the deterioration of proper sportsmanship and multiple personal foul penalties.  Eventually, the two coaches met in the middle of the field and mutually agreed to end the game with about a half quarter remaining.  It was unfortunate, to say the least.

By game’s end, the Cadets had been whistled for nineteen penalties, seven of which were the 15-yard variety.  The others were technical.  Massillon, on the other hand, was flagged ten times, with five of the long-yardage variety.  Three between the two teams were ruled offsetting.  Winning in a game like this is difficult and losing is bitter.  And sometimes emotions take over.  But the referees didn’t help matters, for it appeared that they were in over their heads in a game of this magnitude.  They literally set a record for the number of meetings held to discuss penalties and were often indecisive in even trying place the ball in the right spot after a penalty, which resulted in even more meetings.  In fact, as a result of the delays and not necessarily  the number of plays run, the third quarter wasn’t over until two hours and fifteen minutes into the game.

The Game

St. John’s received the opening kickoff and scored on its third play when quarterback Isaiah French connected with Reece Williams for a 63-yard touchdown pass.  On the play, French was flushed out of the pocket and escaped toward the left sideline with an intent to run.  But at the last moment he launched the pass.  Only, the Massillon defender, who sensed the run, left his man and in anticipation of making the tackle, leaving the receiver wide open.  Such is the life of a defensive back.

The Tigers came right back and, with their best drive of the night, drove 71 yards in seven plays to tie the score.  It started with a 29-yard run by Ja’Meir Gamble.  Two plays later Owens connected with Jacques carter on a 25-yard pass that advanced the ball to the Cadet 25.  From there Massillon just drove it into the end zone, with Michael Wright Jr. carrying the ball in from the two.

St. John’s returned the kickoff into Massillon territory, but the subsequent drive was halted when Adonis Marshall intercepted the ball in the end zone.

After an exchange of punts, the Tigers found themselves at their own 33.  They did pick up a first down at midfield, but a series of penalties placed them in an uncharacteristic second and 42 from their own 18.  That’s when Owens launched a perfectly thrown, high-arcing pass to Toles, who was streaking down the right sideline, with a defender right on his heels the entire way.  The pass-catch combination was thing of beauty.  Something you see in a college game.  The ball hung in the air for what seemed liked forever.  And fans were in the edges of their seats in anticipation of the outcome.  It was right on the money and Toles secured the ball at the Cadet 29, completing a 53-yard pass.  It was also reminiscent of the play in the 2005 state semifinals game against Lakewood St. Edward, when Brian Gamble caught a pass from Bobby Huth and converted an unconceivable 3^rd and 30, propelling Massillon to the state finals.  Four plays later Dorian Pringle plowed in from the one to give the Tigers a lead that they never relinquished.

Two series later the Tigers scored again, finishing off an 11-play 79-yard drive.  On 4th and 3 from the Cadet 24, Owens, under great pressure from the rush, threw a dart to Toles on a skinny post for the touchdown.  That put Massillon up 21-7 headed into the locker room.

After receiving the second half kickoff, Massillon put the final score on the board.  It came at the end of a 13-play, 80-yard drive that consumed over half the quarter.  There were no big plays, just constant pounding of the ball.  Only one pass was thrown and it was incomplete.  At the end of it, Owens scrambled forward to avoid a sack and didn’t stop until he was in the end zone, avoiding several potential tacklers along the way.  The play covered 23 yards.

St. John’s responded with a drive to the Massillon 23, but a fourth down pass was broken up by Maverick Clark.

Wrapup

The Cadets have ten players that have received Division 1, Power-5 offers, while the Tigers have just one.  But this game proves that it takes more than just great athletes to win a big game.  It also takes sound fundamental execution.  And this is where Massillon held the edge.  Massillon ended up besting St. John’s in total yards, 332-241, although the Cadets did lead in yards per play, 6.9-5.5.  But ball control was the deciding factor.  And that’s where fundamentals came into play.  The Tigers ran 60 plays to St. John’s 35 and led in first downs, 22-9.

Gamble led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 91 yards (4.8 ave.).  Owens, who never got untracked with his run game owing to good targeting defense by the opponent, gained just 47 yards.  But he did complete 7 of 16 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown.  Four of those passes went to Toles, who had a tremendous night of football.  Tyler Hackenbracht also had a great night, leading the team with five solo tackles and one assist.  He also punted three times, averaging 34.3, with a long of 47 yards.

St. John’s was the type of team that, with the athletes they have, one feels that they could score on any play.  So, it was of utmost importance to control, not necessarily stop, the best of the lot.  That included Oregon-bound 4-star recruit Da’Juan Riggs.  He carried the ball 11 times for 73 yards (6.6 ave.) and caught three passes for 26 yards.  To handle French the Tigers put him under constant pressure when trying to pass, although he was quick to escape the pocket and was only sacked once.  French ended up completing 7 of 16 passes for 117 yards, but for only 47 yards after that initial score.  Mission accomplished.

Next week undefeated Massillon will play its first road game, at Austintown Fitch (4-2).  St. John’s (3-2) will host Good Counsel, MD (4-1).

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 5 – Post-Middletown;…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 5 – Post-Middletown; Preview of the St. John’s College Game

Gary Vogt and Paul Engelhardt contributed to this report.

Massillon (6-0) defeated previously unbeaten Middletown, Delaware, 41-7.  This week the Tigers host nationally ranked St. John’s College, D.C. (3-1).

Link to the Middletown Game Story

Link to the Middletown Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (3-2): Lost to Austintown-Red, 6-0.  No game this week.
• 8th Grade (6-0): Defeated Austintown – Blue, 30-28.  Plays at home to Performance Academy Eastland on Wednesday, September 27 at 6:00 pm.
• Freshmen (5-2): Lost to Akron Hoban, 30-28.  Plays at home to Cleveland Glenville on Thursday, September 28 at 6:00 pm.
• Junior Varsity (3-3): Defeated Ironton, 38-20.  Plays home to Cleveland Glenville on Saturday, September 30, at 10:00 am.

Review of the Middletown game

Prior to the game the Middletown players entered the field by running through the band formation, in spite of plenty room to go around.  Then, they pounded the Obie logo in the center of the field with a sledge hammer.  The Middletown administration apologized later for the disruption.

It was Win No. 938, which keeps Massillon in the No. 3 position nationally for all-time wins.  “The guys played hard and made plays,” said Head Coach Nate Moore.  “We wore them down in the second half.  The defense did a good job in the run game and an excellent job getting after the QB.”  In all, the defense sacked the quarterback five times for a loss of 48 yards.  That contributed greatly in holding the Cavaliers to a negative 39 yards on the ground.

Massillon’s first touchdown of the game came on their initial play when Jalen Slaughter connected with Braylyn Toles on a 53-yard touchdown pass.  Then, he came right back with a screen pass to Jacques Carter, who ran through the entire Middletown secondary enroute to a 48-yard score.  “The Jacques Carter rocket screen was a special run after catch,” said Moore.  “He is turning into a special player.”

The guest players were center Brady Jones and safety Ryan Page.  “We wore them down in the second half, said Page.  “The front seven did a great job of making our job easier.”

Statistics leaders

• Jalen Slaughter: 15 of 29 passing for 293 yards and 3 touchdowns
• Jacques Carter: 8 receptions for 142 yards and 1 touchdown
• Emy Louis Jr.: 3 receptions for 81 yards and 1 touchdown
• Braylyn Toles: 2 receptions for 53 yards and 1 touchdown
• Ja’Meir Gamble: 13 carries for 77 yards
• Dorian Pringle: 6 carries for 32 yards and 3 touchdowns; 4.5 (4-1) tackle points; 2 sacks; 3.5 tackles for loss
• Shon Robinson: 5.5 (3-5) tackle points; 1 sack; 2.5 tackles for loss

St. John’s  Scouting Report

The Cadets are 3-1 and currently ranked No. 1 in the District of Columbia and 112 nationally according to Calpreps.com.  Their scores so far:

• American Heritage School, FL (2-1) 20-35 W
• Washington, D.C. Roosevelt (0-4) 37-0 W
• Gray Collegiate Academy, SC (6-1) 42-28 W
• Mission Viejo, CA (4-2) 39-17

St.  John’s will present a formidable challenge for the Tigers and may turn out to be the best team they face during the regular season.  Last season the Cadets defeated Middletown 42-0, and may be just as strong this year.  The Cadets are loaded with Power-5 recruits, although they are mostly underclassmen, including the following:

• Sophomore left tackle Adrian Hamilton (6′-5″, 285); 2-star recruit; West Virginia offer; best offensive lineman; good come-off; strong.
• Junior center Kenneth McManus (6′-3″, 290); 3-star recruit; Maryland offer; has good footwork; strong; best center this year.
• Sophomore right tackle Jordan Harrison (6′-3″, 300); 2-star recruit; West Virginia offer; good with protection; will finish blocks.
• Sophomore tight end Breyon Williams (5′-9″, 205); Maryland offer; athletic
• Senior running back/wide receiver Da’Juan Riggs (5′-10″, 200); 3-star recruit; Oregon commit; may be the best player the Tigers face this year.
• Junior defensive lineman Marcus Ogbogu (6′-3, 220); 2-star recruit; Maryland offer; good pass rusher.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Tariq Boney (6′-3″, 230); 3-star recruit; West Virginia offer; best defensive lineman; long and fast; will run around blockers.
• Senior inside linebacker Montay Weedon (6′-1″, 210); 3-star recruit; Cincinnati commit; physical player.
• Senior safety Shamar McIntosh (6′-2″, 190); 3-star recruit; Tennessee offer; covers well.
• Junior safety Tariq Hayer (6′-1″, 185); 4-star recruit; Notre Dame offer; covers well; plays downhill; physical.
• Sophmore cornerback Hakim Satterwhite (6′-2″, 185); 3-star recruit; Penn State offer; great in man coverage; great feet.

The offense operates out of the spread, using alignments similar to Massillon; some with five linemen with a single back and some with a tight end and a single back.  The defense uses both odd and even fronts, with various schemes in pass coverage.

Go Tigers!

2023: Massillon 41, Middletown, DE, 7

Massillon Defense Dominates in Victory over No. 1 Delaware Team

Game Statistics

If anyone thought the Tigers would suffer a letdown following last week’s big win over Lakewood St. Edward, they were entirely mistaken.  That, after Massillon completely dismantled previously unbeaten Middletown, Delaware, 41-7, using a big-play offense and a relentless defense.

Middletown is rated Number 1 in Delaware in several publications, with the game against them sandwiched between two other Number Ones, last week’s St. Edward of Ohio and next week’s St. John’s College of Washington D.C.  Massillon is currently rated in the Top 25 nationally and Number 1 in its Division 2 computer region.

How was this game scheduled?  Middletown so enjoyed their experience in coming to Tigertown last year that they requested an opportunity to return for a second visit.  Of course, Massillon was more than obliging in welcoming them back.

The strength of the Cavalier offense resides with their skill position players; i.e., quarterback, running back and wide receivers.  As such, Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore speculated that, given the strength of the Tiger run defense, they might put the ball in the air up to fifty times.  Last year Middletown attempted to throw the ball 44 times out of 58 plays, while managing to get off 35 and completing 20 for 303 yards and three touchdowns.  To counter that this time around, the Tigers employed a constant blitz to pressure the quarterback into errant throws and perhaps achieve a few sacks.  And it worked for nearly the entire game.  Quarterback Austin Troyer was pressured on every attempt and five times found himself on his backside behind the line.  Two sacks were recorded by linebacker Dorian Pringle and one each by linebacker Shon Robinson, linebacker Cody Fair and lineman Mike Wright, for a loss of 51 yards.  Troyer ended up completing only 11 of 33 passes for 117 yards, with Matthew Priestly catching six for 81 yards.  Middletown’s Matthew Kolbjornsen did complete a 55-yarder, but it was off a fake punt.

In the run game, the Cavaliers never got off the block.  Three different running backs carried the ball and they collectively gained just 12 yards on 19 carries, netting an overall rushing total of negative 39 yards when the sack yardage is factored in.  For the second year in a row then, the run game was held to less than zero yards.  In total, the offense was held to 133 yards at 2.4 yards per play.  And it converted just 2 of 14 third down attempts.

Meanwhile, Massillon came out throwing, behind junior quarterback Jalen Slaughter, who played the entire game at that position.  He had an extremely productive evening, completing 15 of 29 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns.  And he was never sacked.  On the receiving end was junior Jacques Carter, who caught eight balls for 142 yards (17.8 ave.) and a touchdown and Emy Louis Jr. who snagged three for 81 yards (27.0 ave.) and a score.  Braylyn Toles also caught a touchdown pass.  Middletown did try to blitz at times, but Slaughter was always able to step through the rush and get the pass off.

The run game, however, was sluggish at times, perhaps owing to the aggressiveness of the Middletown defense.  But it got stronger as the game went on.  Ja’Meir Gamble led all ball carriers with 77 yards on 13 attempts (5.9 ave.).  Pringle, Peyton Mitchell and Wright also combined for 79 yards.

Overall, Massillon rolled up 449 yards of offense, an average of 7.5 yards per play.  They also converted 7 of 11 third down attempts and 1 of 2 fourth down attempts, while punting only twice.

The Cavaliers received the opening kickoff and after three plays they were forced to punt.  Slaughter immediately went back to pass and found Toles streaking down the middle of the field, three yards in front of the defender.  Slaughter dropped the ball perfectly into Toles’ hands around 20 yard line and he did the rest, finishing off a 53-yard touchdown.

Middletown responded by completing their one long pass, advancing the ball to the Massillon 35.  But they gave it up on downs at the 34.  The Tiger offense then went back to work.  On third and ten from the Cavalier 48, Slaughter dropped the ball on a jailbreak screen to Carter, who ran through nearly the entire defense to the right sideline, broke a tackle, turned the corner and was gone down the sideline, for a 48-yard touchdown.

Massillon scored twice in the second quarter to take a commanding 28-0 lead.  The first was when Pringle carried it in from the one, capping a 2-play 13-yard drive, set up by a 6-yard punt from the end zone.  The second came when Slaughter connected with Louis on a 21-yard pass at the end of a 7-play, 66-yard drive.

Middletown then got on the board right at the end of the first half.  Following the aforementioned 55-yard pass during the fake punt.  Troyer then passed 23 yards to Priestley on skinny post for the score.

Pringle tallied two more touchdowns in the second half, both on runs of one yard, when the offense was aligned in the “jumbo”, 2-back package.  A seventh tally was negated when Ronnell Davis intercepted an underthrown fade pass in the end zone.  With Vinny Keller not available for this game, freshman Mateo Herrera came in and converted all five of his PAT attempts.  Both he and freshman Gregory Corsale shared the kickoff duties.

Next week Massillon (6-0) will host St. John’s College High School (2-1) from Washington, D.C.

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 5 – Post-St.…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 5 – Post-St. Edward; Preview of the Middletown Game

Massillon (5-0) defeated Division 1’s No. 1 team Lakewood St. Edward (4-1), 15-13.  It was the second straight win over the Eagles in a series that the Tigers now lead 5-4.  The victory also vaulted Massillon into the national rankings of several publications.  This week the Tigers hosts Middletown, Delaware (3-0), which so much enjoyed their visit last year that they requested a return visit.

Link to the St. Edward Game Story

Link to the St. Edward Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (3-1): Plays at Austintown – Red on Wednesday, September 20 at 5:30 pm.
• 8th Grade (5-0): Defeated Akron East, 22-14.  Plays at Austintown – Blue on Wednesday, September 20, at 7:00 pm.
• Freshmen (5-1): Lost to Lakewood St. Edward, 7-6.  Plays at Akron Hoban on Thursday, September 21, at 6:00 pm.
• Junior Varsity (2-3): Lost to Lakewood St. Edward, 22-12.  Plays at Ironton on Saturday, September 22, at 2:00 pm.

Review of the St. Edward game

Entering the contest both teams were unbeaten and highly ranked in Ohio.  The game was also judged by Maxpreps.com to be the second biggest game in the country for that week.

“Win No. 937,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “What can you say about last week!  The kids played great.  We set goals last week and checked every box on our goals.  Our lines played phenominally.  We had a fine day on special  teams.  We played smart, mostly.  We knew we needed to make some plays and we did.  It was a great performance.  Very physical.  Came down to the wire.  I’m proud of our guys.”

During the week’s preparation several starters volunteered to participate on the scout team.  Coach Moore was very proud of that effort and said that it was instrumental in helping the players fine tune their game.  And four of them ere named Scout Team Players of the Week.

The guest players were defensive lineman Chase Bond and quarterback Da’One Owens.  “They were big up front and well coached,” said Bond.  “We just wanted it more.  We executed well.”  Owens spoke about St. Eds having the best offensive line in the nation, with an average of 6′-5″, 299 lbs.  And the Tigers held them to a mere 59 yards in 31 carries (1.9 ave.).

In the question and answer part of the meeting, Moore addressed the decision to go for two points following the second touchdown.  “The decision was made at halftime,” he said.  “It was a great call by Coach Jarrett Troxler.”  He also praised center Brady Jones, who pushed the Eagle nose tackle backwards four yards, thereby clearing the way for Owens to score the points.  The benefit of the successful two-point conversion was that it put the Tigers ahead by two scores and entirely changed the complexion of the game.

Moore noted that the Eagles nearly always align in an even front on defense and the Tigers worked all week in preparation for that.  However, St. Eds changed to an odd front for this game, which allowed them to employ two deep safeties rather than their traditional one safety, fearing the speed of the Massillon receivers.  But the offensive line did a great job adjusting to the switch.  It turns out that overall the Tigers just had too much team speed for the Eagles to manage.

Moore finished by saying that it was a big win and well-enjoyed, but following the game the team immediately turned its attention to this week’s opponent, undefeated Middletown.

Statistics leaders

• Da’one Owens: 8 of 11 passing for 50 yards; 26 carries for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Braylyn Toles: 5 receptions for 30 yards
• Dorian Pringle: 8.5 (7-3) tackle points; 2.0 sacks; 3.5 tackles for loss
• Cody Fair: 5.5 (5-1) tackle points; 1.0 sacks; 1.0 tackles for loss
• Vito McConnell: 4.5 (4-1) tackle points
• Ryan Page: 4.0 (4-0) tackle points
• Adonis Vaughan: 1 pass interception

Middletown Scouting Report

The Cavaliers are 3-0 and currently ranked No. 1 in Delaware by Calpreps.com.  Their scores so far:

• Urbana (Ijamsville, MD) (2-1), 41-14
• Sussex Central (Georgetown, DE) (1-1), 41-7
• Odessa (Townsend, DE) (0-3), 56-0

Last year the Tigers defeated Middletown, 42-24.  After falling behind 12-0 by early in the second quarter, Massillon rallied to take a 21-12 lead into the locker room.  The advantage swelled to 35-12 by the end of the third quarter, before the Cavaliers scored twice in the fourth.  Willtrell Hartson rushed for 198 yards and scored three touchdowns and quarterback Jalen Slaughter completed 10 of 18 passes for 148 yards and three TDs.

Middletown boasts good skill players on both sides of the ball, which according to Moore will provide a great challenge for Massillon’s  counterparts.  But the Tigers should have a sizeable advantage on the lines.

The Cavaliers run a spread offense, with a single running back and four wide receivers.  At times they employ a tight end in the formation.  The quarterback is senior returning starter Austin Troyer (6′-3″, 195).  He has a good arm and is very accurate.  He can push the ball down the field.  Last year against Massillon he completed 20 of 35 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns.  Moore believes that he may throw the ball fifty times on Friday.

On the receiving end are four very sizeable, talented receivers, including:

• Senior returning starter Ronnell Davis (6′-1″, 180), a 3-star recruit who has an offer from Duke.  He is quick, has great hands and is very good at running routes.
• Senior returning starter Matt Priestley (5′-11″, 175).  He is a very good route runner and has great hands.  Last year he caught four passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
• Sophomore BJ Garrett (6′-3″, 175), a 3-star recruit who has an offer from Pittsburgh.  Quick with a long stride.
• Senor Aviyon Matthews (6′-2″, 210).  A good sized receiver who runs routes well.

At running back is sophomore Amare Glover (6′-0″, 200), who has an offer from Syracuse.  He is very athletic and has good speed.

Defensively, Middletown aligns in a 4-3 front.  They are not a heavy blitzing team.  The best player is senior returning starter, defensive end Tristen Graham (6′-2″, 250), a 4-star recruit who has committed to Syracuse.  Moore said that he may be the best defensive lineman they will see this year.  He is extremely physical, comes off the ball well and uses his hands well.  Keep an eye on junior linebacker Malachi Stewart (5′-11, 215), a physical, downhill player.

Both safeties are good.  Start with 2-way player Ronnell Davis.  He is a great open field tackler and runs to the football. A big hitter.  Then there is senior Akendre Matthews (6′-3″, 180), a 2-star recruit.  He is big and physical and runs to the ball well.

Go Tigers!

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 4 – Post-Elkhart;…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 4 – Post-Elkhart; Preview of the St. Edward Game

Massillon (4-0) defeated Elkhart, Indiana (1-3), 55-0.  It was the third straight game that the Tigers eclipsed the 50-point mark and the first time since 1935 that this feat was accomplished.  This week Massillon hosts Lakewood St. Edward (4-0), the 2-time defending Division 1 state champions.

Link to the Elkhart Game Story

Link to the Elkhart Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (3-1): Lost to Warren, 56-14.  Plays home vs. Akron Firestone on Tuesday, September 12, at 6:00 pm.
• 8th Grade (4-0): Defeated Warren, 28-0.  Plays home vs. Akron City Schools on Wednesday, September 13, at 6:00 pm.
• Freshmen (5-0): Defeated University School, 38-0.  Plays at Lakewood St. Edward on Thursday, September 14, at 6:00 pm.  This game will be broadcast live on the Eagle website.
• Junior Varsity (2-2): Lost to Avon, 13-12.  Plays at Lakewood St. Edward on Saturday, September 16, at 10:00 am.

Review of the Elkhart game

“Win No. 936,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “I’m proud of our guys.  They played hard.  They played fast.  They played physical.  They took care of business.  A  lot of guys played well.  We were overwhelming in all phases of the game.  And we didn’t play down to the level of our competition.”  But Moore did admit that he thought the Lions would present a better challenge.

Guest players were senior inside linebacker Dorian Pringle and cornerback Adonis Vaughn.  “I thought our offense, defense and special teams all played very good,” said Pringle.  “It was great to get a shutout.”  When asked about the distribution of tackles being more even among the players as opposed to last year when a handful of players dominated the stats, Pringle responded that it was a mark of a much improved defense.

“I thought we had a really good game,” added Vaughn.

Statistics leaders

• Jalen Slaughter: 5 of 7 passing for 130 yards, 1 interception and 2 touchdowns
• Da’one Owens: 2 of 3 passing for 18 yards; 3 carries for 55 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Peytton Mitchell: 11 carries for 91 yards (8.3)
• Braylin Toles: 3 receptions for 23 yards
• Jacques Carter: 3 receptions for 112 yards and 1 touchdown
• Braylyn Toles: 2 receptions for 18 yards and 1 touchdown
• Cody Fair: 4.0 tackle points (3-2)
• Tyler Hackenbracht, Daylan Pringle: 1 pass interception each
• Maverick Clark, Francesco Salvino: 1 sack each

Lakewood St. Edward Scouting Report

The Eagles are the 2-time defending Division 1 state champions.  In the past 2-1/2 seasons they have compiled a record of 34-2, with regular season losses of 28-21 (o.t.) to Cincinnati Moeller in 2021 and 31-28 to Massillon last season.  Massillon and Eds have played each other eight times throughout history with the series record even at four wins apiece.

So far this year the Eagles are 4-0 with the following results:

• Center Grove, IN (3-1): 27-10
• Good Counsel, MD (1-1): 28-7
• Rock Creek Christian, MD (1-2): 42-14
• Cincinnati Elder (2-2): 34-33

The offense operates out of the spread, with a base set of three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back, with the quarterback in the shotgun.

Receiving the snap is senior returning starter Casey Bullock (6′-2″, 205).  He is an adequate passer, while excelling in the run game off the read-option.  He possesses good speed and power, and runs like a running back.  Last year the Tigers were able to keep his run production under control, when he carried the ball 13 times for 34 yards.  In the air he completed 12 of 21 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown.

At running back is is senior Josh Groudle (5′-11″, 200).  He runs with power and normally needs more than one defender to bring him down.  The top receiver is senior returning starter Kyan Mason (5′-8″, 155), a 3-star recruit and commitment to the University of Akron.  As the No. 1 target he is explosive and fast, and is adept at going high for the ball.  Against the Tigers last year he caught two passes for 18 yards.  He also returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.  Also, keep an eye on senior returning starter, receiver Brian Sullivan (6′-1″, 175).  He is considered to be a deep threat.

But the strength of the offense is the massive, talented line, which averages 6′-5″, 299 lbs.  Three of the players are committed to Power-5 universities.  Begin with senior 2-year returning starter, right tackle Ben Roebuck (6′-8″, 320), a 4-star recruit who is committed to Michigan.  Then, there is senior returning starter, left guard Devontae Armstrong (6′-5″, 305), a 4-star recruit who is committed to Ohio State.  Finally, there is Devontae’s brother Deontae (6′-7″, 295), who plays right tackle.  He is also a 4-star recruit and committed to Ohio state.  He is very physical and will finish blocks.  Coach Moore considers Deontae to be their best offensive lineman.

Defensively, the Eagles use mostly four down linemen, while occasionally opting for three.  The secondary has transitioned from a 1-high look to a 2-high.  But watch for a 3-high on 3rd-and-long, against which Moore believes that any team will struggle.  Expect lots of blitzes, particularly on 3rd down.

The strength of the defense is the front-7.  The two inside linebackers are really good, making this position much improved from last year.  The Mike is junior returning starter Nate Gregory (6′-0″, 230), who has received an offer from the University of Illinois.  He is very active and physical.  The Will is senior returning starter Jon Slaper (6′-0″, 210).

Senior Loghan Thomas (6;-4″, 210) mans one of the defensive end positions.  He is a 4-star recruit and Notre Dame commit who transferred in from Texas just prior to camp.  His expertise appears to be in the pass rush.  Senior returning starter Troy Regovich (6′-5″, 255) plays defensive tackle.  He is also a 4-star recruit and has committed to Northwestern.  He is strong and has good technique.

The bottom line, according to Moore, is that every player on this team is good.  But there are enough VERY good players to make this a great team.  With two of the top teams in the state going after each other this should be an outstanding matchup and without argument Ohio’s Game of the Week.

Go Tigers!

2023: Massillon 55, Elkhart, IN, 0

Massillon Rolls Over Elkhart, Indiana, to Post Fourth Straight Win

Game Statistics

It’s time for the Tigers to get more serious and down to business.  The tune-ups are over.  For Lakewood St. Edward, the No. 1 team in Ohio and defending Division 1 state champion, is rolling into Paul Brown Tiger Stadium next Friday bent on erasing the bad taste the Tigers handed them last year in a 31-28 upset.

Those prior tune-ups involved victories over Canton GlenOak, Mansfield and Elkhart, on the heels of a win over a pretty good Valdosta, Georgia, team in the season opener.  In the last three weeks Massillon has posted scores of 56-7, 51-10 and 55-0, marking the first time since 1935 that the Tigers scored at least fifty points in three consecutive games.  On top of that, the first team defense in those three contests has given up just one lone field goal.

It didn’t take long for Massillon to assume control against an overmatched Lions team.  After holding them to a 3-and-out in the game’s initial possession, quarterback Da’one Owens needed just one play to sprint 42 yards off a fake jet sweep untouched into the end zone.  On the next possession Dorian Pringle capped off a 5-play, 39-yard drive of run/pass combination with a 1-yard run.  Then, on the Tigers’ third possession following a Lion turnover Owens did it again, this time from seven yards out.  By the end of the first quarter Massillon was on top 21-0.

Elkhart attempted to get back into the fray with a nice drive toward the Tiger goal line.  But they were held on downs and the Tigers immediately responded with a 3-play 98-yard drive.  It ended when quarterback Jalen Slaughter connected with a wide-open Jacques Carter at around the 20 yard line.  Carter subsequently broke a tackle and sprinted to the goal line to complete a 60-yard TD pass.

Three more scores came in the second quarter, including:

• A 48-yard punt return by Kyler Wiggins.
• A 1-yard pass from Slaughter to Braylyn Toles.
• An 18-yard return by Adonis Vaughan following a Lion fumble during a kickoff.

That made the score 48-0 as the two teams headed for the locker room.

Halftime involved a great performance by the combined Tiger Swing Band and the alumni band, totaling around 200 musicians.

Aside from the first five plays following halftime, the Massillon backups held sway for the rest of the night’s action, under a running-clock situation.  In the fourth quarter Jaydyn Willams scored the final Massillon touchdown from the two yard line.  The play was set up by a boot around the left side by quarterback Eli Moore.  Meanwhile, Elkhart never threatened after their first quarter challenge.

The No. 1 offense played like a finely tuned instrument throughout most of the game, except for the few times when Elkhart’s massively athletic line was able to break into the backfield to stop a Massillon runner.  But in the end the Tigers were able to roll up 457 yards of total offense, including 271 on the ground (7.7 ave.) and 199 in the air.  And they did not need to punt for the second consecutive week.

Peytton Mitchell led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 91 yards.  Owens added another 55 and two scores with his three carries.  Passing-wise, Slaughter had another good night, completing 5 for 7 for 130 yards and two touchdowns.  His one errant throw was a near miss TD on a post pattern when the defender was just able to step in front of the intended receiver for the interception.  Owens completed 2 of 3 for 18 yards.

Defensively, Massillon was just too much, particularly in the speed and technique categories.  Elkhart managed just 24 net yards on the ground off of 21 carries (1.1 ave.) and 9 of 20 passing for just 77 yards.  There was just not much going Elkhart’s way.  One success, however, was a long pass completion when the Tiger secondary lost track of the receiver that advanced the ball to the Massillon five.  The other modest success was when they switched their offense to a Perry wing-T type look and used their big line to pound the ball up the middle.  But that worked only for a short while, as the game became more and more out of reach for them.

Go Tigers!

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 3 – Post-Mansfield;…

2023 Booster Club Report – Week 3 – Post-Mansfield; Preview of the Elkhart Game

Massillon (3-0) eclipsed the 50-points mark for the second straight week in a 51-10 victory over Mansfield (1-2).  This week the Tigers host Elkhart, Indiana (1-2), the second of four out-of-state opponents the Tigers will face this year.

Link to the Mansfield Game Story

Link to the Mansfield Game Statistics

Other scores:

• 7th Grade (3-0): Defeated Akron Jennings, 24-20.  Play at Warren on Wednesday, September 6, at 6:00 pm.
• 8th Grade (3-0): Defeated Maple Heights, 38-14.  Plays home vs. Warren on Wednesday, September 6, at 6:00 pm.
• Freshmen (4-0): Defeated Youngstown Ursuline, 34-14, and Mansfield JV, 35-12.  Plays home to University Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 pm.
• Junior Varsity (2-1): Defeated Canton Canton McKinley, 27-13.  Plays home vs. Avon on Saturday, September 9, at 10:00 am.

Review of the Mansfield game

“Win No. 935,” said Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore.  “Mansfield was a good team.  They had a lot of good players.  We’re happy we won.  Happy with a lot of things.  I thought the offensive line played well.  The defense gave up three points and played a lot of good football.  But not happy with the turnovers.  We still have things to work on.  But we need to keep the pedal to the metal.”

Guest players were senior inside linebacker Cody Fair and junior offensive lineman Michael Looney.  “At halftime we got a little lazy,” said Fair.  “The quarterback ran over us.”  “We need to expand on the little things,” added Looney.  “We threw the ball really well and the pass protection was good.”

Statistics leaders

• Jalen Slaughter: 6 of 9 passing for 84 yards, 2 interceptions and 2 touchdowns
• Da’one Owens: 2 of 5 passing for 39 yards, 1 interceptions and 1 touchdown; 5 carries for 130 yards (26.0) and 2 touchdowns
• Peytton Mitchell: 17 carries for 112 yards (6.6) and 1 touchdown
• Braylin Toles: 3 receptions for 23 yards
• Ja’Meir Gamble, Emy Louis and Jadyce Thigpen: 1 touchdown receiving each
• Cody Fair: 5.5 tackle points (4-3); 2.5 tackles-for-loss
• Isaiah McElroy: 2 tackles-for-loss

Elkhart Scouting Report

As an independent school Massillon often begins with a nearly clean slate when filling out a schedule.  By chance early in the year both the Tigers and Elkhart both had open dates in Week 4.  So, Massillon offered the game to the Elkhart and they accepted.  One game only.

Elkhart, a suburb of South Bend, participates in Division 6A, the largest in Indiana, which is comparable to Division 1 in Ohio.  Over the past five years the Lions have compiled a record of 38-18 and appeared in the state playoffs each year.  Three times they advanced to the regional finals.  Their best record in this time period was 9-1 in 2020.  Last season they finished with a 7-3 record, losing 14-9 to Warsaw in Round 1.  So far this year Elkhart is 1-2, having defeated Hammond Morton (1-2) 38-28 last week, while losing 16-6 to Concord (2-1)  and 35-29 Northridge (2-1).

The strength of the Elkhart team is found on the offensive and defensive lines, which each boasts good size.  The offense averages 6′-3, 270 lbs. and is led by junior Ethan Mann (6′-6″, 260).  He has good feet and a has good punch off the ball.  He also protects well in the pass game.  The 4-front defensive line averages 6′-4″, 254 lbs.  “The defensive line is the biggest we will see all year,” said Moore.  All of these players are good and bring physical play to the game.  But Mariyon Dye, a 6′-5″, 275 lbs. junior stands above the rest.  He is a 3-star recruit who is being looked at by Tennessee, Cincinnati and Minnesota.  Dye is very athletic, uses hands well and is a good pass rusher.  “They’ve got some good looking guys,” said Moore.

Elkhart operates normally out of the spread with a 3-receiver set; one back next to the quarterback and a fullback on the edge of the line.  Receiving the snap is junior Quinn Rost (6′-0″, 190).  Moore calls him a “savy player”, one that can audible his team into a favorable play.  He can also pass and scramble effectively.  The running back is junior Conner Dow (5′-9″, 185 lbs.).  He has decent speed and is a downhill, tough runner.  The best skill player may be junior wide receiver Zach Anderson (5′-10″, 175 lbs.).  He can get downfield quickly on deep routes and also runs some jet sweeps.

The defense aligns in a 4-3.  The best skill player on that side of the ball is cornerback Darreon Newson (6′-1″, 185), a senior.  He covers well and has the ability to shed blocks.

The punt game is a different animal in that they use a unique alignment of players.  They line up with three players on either side of the center, but spaced a good way from the center, while the punter is around 10 yards from the line, protected by three blockers.  From there they will either punt or fake the punt, which they have done three times in three games.  Moore said the defense will need to be coached up to handle either option.

Moore believes that with the personnel they have the Lions should be better than 1-2 at this point in the season.  they are not a bad team.  But they have given up some big plays, particularly against Northridge.

Season Statistics Leaders

Through three games

• Jalen Slaughter: 14 of 24 passing for 262 yards and 4 touchdowns
• Da’one Owens: 12 of 23 passing for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns; 18 carries for 371 yards (20.6) and 4 touchdowns
• Peytton Mitchell: 36 carries for 263 yards (7.3) and 1 touchdown
• Kyler Wiggins: 6 receptions for 116 yards (19.3) and 2 touchdowns
• Ja’Meir Gamble: 5 receptions for 68 yards (13.6) and 1 touchdown
• Dorian Pringle: 24 points; 13.0 tackle points; 6.5 tackles-for-loss; 2 sacks
• Cody Fair: 12.0 (6-12)  tackle points; 4.0 tackles-for-loss

Go Tigers!

2023: Massillon 51, Mansfield 10

Massillon Cruises to 3-0 with a Dominating Win Over Mansfield

Game Statistics

The Mansfield Tygers rolled into Paul Brown Tiger Stadium fresh off a 24-14 victory over defending Division 3 champion Canfield.  But they were no match for a Massillon team that appears headed for another deep run in the state playoffs.  The Tigers led at the half 35-10 and never looked back enroute to a running clock finish of 51-10.

Mansfield’s football capability appeared to be somewhere between Valdosta and Canton GlenOak, the Tigers’ previous two opponents, in that they had many skilled athletes within a very potent offense.  They were led by 6’-4” quarterback Duke Reese, who finished the night passing for 136 yards, while rushing for another 54, tops on the team.  On the receiving end was the very dangerous Amarr Davis, who has incredible speed and can catch the ball in traffic.  Also used as a runner in spots, he caught six passes for game-high 109 yards.

Massillon countered with a constant blitz from the linebackers, rather than sitting back in coverage and permitting Reese to target Davis unopposed.  As a result, Reese spent most of the night running away from would-be tacklers in the backfield.  Forty-one times he dropped back to pass.   And on nearly every occasion he was forced to scramble out of the pocket to either keep the ball or attempt to throw while on the run.  Twice he was caught for a sack.  Reese did manage to get off 28 passes, while completing only eleven, with very few originating from the pocket.

Defensively, once again the Tigers held the running backs in check, this time limiting them to a negative 19 yards in 13 carries.  The Massillon front-7, and particularly the constantly-rotating front-3, just played in the Tyger backfield.

On the other side of the ball the Tygers just didn’t match up, surrendering 320 yards rushing on 37 attempts for an average of 9.0 yards per carry.  Junior Peytton Mitchell rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Da’one Owens got loose for two good runs, of 72 and 23 yards, both for scores.  He finished with 130 yards.

Massillon continues to alternate quarterbacks.  Jalen Slaughter connected on 6 of 9 for 84 yards and two touchdowns, while Owens completed 2 of 5 for 34 yards and one score.  Slaughter also had a nice called-run for 17 yards.  On the receiving end, Braylin Toles caught three for 23 yards and Ja’Meir Gamble grabbed two for 39 and a TD.

The Tigers jumped on Mansfield early, like they did in the previous week against GlenOak.  After holding their foe to a 3-and-out on their first try, Massillon drove 65 yards in four plays for their initial score, a nifty 32-yard pass from Slaughter to Emy Lewis Jr.  Vinny Keller’s PAT was good, the first of seven he connected with on the night.  Owens came in next and he needed just one play to skirt through the center of the line following a fake jet sweep and traverse the necessary 72 yards.

Slaughter’s turn, following a Mansfield fumble.  Four plays covering 15 yards, with Dorian Pringle doing the honors from the three.

One quarter.  21 points.  Game over.  Well, not quite.  On Massillon’s next possession Owens telegraphed a 10-yard sideline pass that was picked by Ja’ontay O’Bryant at the 28 and returned for a touchdown.  Fortunately, the Tigers came right back with an 8-play, 54-yard drive, ending when Owens hit Gamble on a 31-yard strike.  After that the Tigers simply extended the lead, taking a 35-10 advantaga into the locker room, aided by Owens’ 23-yard jaunt for a score.

The Tigers put two more on the board in the second half.  The first was a 1-yard run by Mitchell and the second off a 28-yard pass from Slaughter to Jadyce Thigpen, after the ball deflected off the hands of Ricardo Wells at the goal line.  The safety came when Mansfield snapped the ball over the punter’s head and after the kicker retrieving the ball in the end zone conceded the safety rather than punt.

In spite of the lopsided score, it wasn’t perfect game for Massillon.  Two areas need to be improved upon.  The first is in the passing game, where the two quarterbacks combined for three interceptions.  The first was a pick-6, the second was a long pass thrown up for grabs and the third appeared to be off-target.  The other area is with the pass rush.  The blitzers seemed to always pinch in rather than contain to the edges.  That allowed the QB to constantly escape the rush from either side.

Next week the Tigers (3-0) will entertain Elkhart, Indiana (1-2).  Mansfield (1-2) will play league rival West Holmes (2-1) in a match that may determine the eventual Cardinal Conference champion.