A Look Back at Past Moeller Games

A Look Back at Past Moeller Games

Massillon has been playing football since 1891, having compiled a win-loss record of 920-297-36, and owning the third most wins of any team in the country.  During that span they have faced 207 different teams and only nine hold a winning edge over the Tigers when at least two games have been played.  They include:

• Cleveland St. Ignatius (2-12)
• Cincinnati Moeller (2-10)
• Massillon Ex-Highs (no longer exists) (2-5)
• Lorain (0-4)
• Toledo Scott (0-4)
• Upper Arlington (2-4)
• Lakewood St. Edward (3-4)
• Akron (no longer exists) (0-3)
• Toledo Whitmer (2-3)

It’s no surprise that Ignatius and Moeller, two Division 1 parochial school powers, are at the top of the list.  Of course, Massillon was never shy about scheduling these teams when they were also in Division 1.

This year’s opening game marks the 13^th time the Tigers and Crusaders will face each other.  The first meeting came in 1980 when they met in the Division 1 state finals.  Mike Currence was the coach of the Tigers at that time and lost that one.  He then dropped two more in subsequent years, one of which was also in the D1 state finals.  Coach Lee Owens also tried his luck three times, but did not fair any better.  But his successor, Jack Rose did find some success, winning two of four.  The series continued under Coach Rick Shepas for one more year, yet it was another loss.  Finally, the Tigers were invited to Cincinnati for a classic and Coach Tom Stacey left on the losing end.

But it wasn’t like the games were indicative of the series record.  In most of those losses, Massillon was very competitive.  In fact, in five of the ten setbacks they were in the game going into the fourth quarter and three times still in it at halftime.  And two of those losses could have just as easily been wins.

Moeller achieved prominence under Coach Jerry Faust when they ran the table in 1975 and finished off their first state title with a 14-12 win over Lakewood St. Edward, which was led by Coach Mike Currence.  Currence left after that season and took over the head job at Massillon.  Incidentally, these two coaches will be the honorary captains for the coin toss prior to Friday’s matchup.

Moeller continued its success through the 1982 season, eventually capturing six state titles in a span of nine years.  In 2012 and 2013 they grabbed two more and in 2014 finished a respectable 10-4.  But then the Crusaders fell on hard times, compiling a record of just 24-37 through the 2020 season.  Last year, however, they recaptured the magic, going 11-4 and finishing as Division 1 runner-up, under second-year coach Mark Elder.  This season they hope to parlay that success into a state championship.

Meanwhile, Massillon has reached the state finals six times, three in Division 1 (1980, 1982 and 2005) and three in Division 2 (2018, 2019 and 2020).  They also hope to grab a trophy this year, in Division 2.  So, when these two great programs square off on Friday, it should make for a grand matchup, with another large crowd expected.

Here’s a look back at all the past Massillon-Moeller games.

• Year: 1980
• Records: Massillon (10-2-1), Moeller (13-0)
• Coaches: Mike Currence, Gerry Faust
• Venue: Cincinnati Nippert Stadium (22,751); Division 1 State Finals
• Score: 7-10 L
• Game Summary: The Crusaders opened up a 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back. They were led by 6’-2”, 220 lb. running back Mark Brooks, who carried the ball 33 times for 133 yards and scored all four of Moeller’s touchdowns.  While it was the Tigers’ first ever trip to the state finals, the Crusaders were wrapping their fifth title in the last six years.  It was also Coach Gerry Faust’s last game as head coach before heading to Notre Dame to become head coach.

• Year: 1981
• Records: Massillon (7-3), Moeller (12-1)
• Coaches: Mike Currence, Ted Bacigalupo
• Venue: Akron Rubber Bowl (23,950)
• Score: 6-24 L
• Game Summary: This one was supposed to be the first-ever meeting between these two schools, but the previous year’s playoff game kind of got in the way. Massillon was down just 10-6 at the half, but two second half touchdowns by the Crusaders put the game out of reach.

• Year: 1982
• Records: Massillon (12-1), Moeller (13-0)
• Coaches: Mike Currence, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Ohio Stadium (31,409), Division 1 State Finals
• Score: 14-35 L
• Game Summary: Massillon had Chris Spielman and Jim Bushe, while Moeller countered with the speedy running back combo of Da’Juan and Hiawatha Francisco. In the end the Crusader high-powered offense made all the difference, as they rolled up 479 yards.  Although the Tigers were down just 21-14 at intermission, they couldn’t dent the scoreboard in the second half.

• Year: 1989
• Records: Massillon (10-3), Moeller (11-3)
• Coaches: Lee Owens, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (16,764)
• Score: 7-41 L
• Game Summary: Once again Massillon was in it early, only to fall away in the second half. Massillon was down 14-7 at the half and 21-7 late in the third with a chance to score and close the gap to seven.  But they were stopped on downs deep in Moeller territory.  After that, the Crusaders put up 20 unanswered points and ran away with the win.

• Year: 1990
• Records: Massillon (8-4), Moeller (9-2)
• Coaches: Lee Owens, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (16,764)
• Score: 23-24 L
• Game Summary: A first-ever victory in-hand was taken away by a blown referee call at the end of the game. The well-played contest was even throughout with Massillon owning a 23-17 lead with less than a minute remaining.  For Moeller, it was fourth down in their own territory and a desperation pass bounced on the ground ahead of the receiver.  Only, the referee ruled the pass complete and a close first down measurement gave the Crusaders new life.  So, they cashed in on the subsequent play with a 39-yard Hail Mary pass to tie the score.  The successful PAT then gave the Crusaders the win.

• Year: 1991
• Records: Massillon (10-3), Moeller (6-4)
• Coaches: Lee Owens, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Mason Galbreath Field (10,600)
• Score: 13-27 L
• Game Summary: What started out as a stellar year with a 3-0 start, with Travis McGuire and Falando in the backfield, quickly turn sour during this crucial road game. McGuire scored first on a 42-yard run and then the Tigers forced Moeller to punt.  Massillon also had to punt on their next possession.  But the snap was fumbled and Moeller turned that miscue into a score.  It seemed to swing the momentum in the Crusaders’ favor.  Nevertheless, the Tigers held a 13-12 halftime lead and were down just 20-13 at the end of three.  But they just couldn’t make it all the way back.

• Year: 1992
• Records: Massillon (5-5), Moeller (7-3)
• Coaches: Jack Rose, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (16,762)
• Score: 14-24 L
• Game Summary: Once again Massillon was in the game for three quarters only to lose it at the end. It was Moeller’s seventh win over the Tigers in as many tries.

• Year: 1995
• Records: Massillon (7-3), Moeller (5-5)
• Coaches: Jack Rose, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (15,394)
• Score: 21-18 W
• Game Summary: Massillon finally got over the top with a victory. In the first half, Vinnie Turner scored two touchdowns, while his team held Moeller to just a field goal.  The third quarter played out evenly and the Tigers were now leading 21-11.  So, the question for everyone was: would Massillon once again fold against Moeller in the fourth.  Not this time!  The Crusaders were held to just one score.  Turner ended up rushing 25 times for 200 yards and scored three touchdowns, accounting for more than 75% of the Tigers’ total offense.

• Year: 1996
• Records: Massillon (9-2), Moeller (9-3)
• Coaches: Jack Rose, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (13,102)
• Score: 20-15 W
• Game Summary: The Tigers were ahead 13-12 going into the fourth quarter, when Massillon’s Dave Hodgson ripped off a 74-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers ahead 20-12.  The defense then stiffened, holding the Crusaders to a 46-yard field goal to end the scoring.

• Year: 1997
• Records: Massillon (7-3), Moeller (12-2)
• Coaches: Jack Rose, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Cincinnati Nippert Stadium (6,074)
• Score: 24-28 L
• Game Summary: This is another one that got away. And the loss may have cost Jack Rose his job.  Massillon, playing on the road, opened up a 21-7 lead by the end of the third quarter and was completely dominating Moeller up to that point.  But the game turned quickly after that.  It started with a Crusader 77-yard touchdown pass and never got any better as the Tigers were outscored 21-3 the rest of the way.

• Year: 1998
• Records: Massillon (4-6), Moeller (7-3)
• Coaches: Rick Shepas, Steve Klonne
• Venue: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (11,518)
• Score: 10-35 L
• Game Summary: A young Massillon team under new coach Rick Shepas kept it close in the first half, trailing just 8-7. But the better team prevailed in the second half.  It also convinced those in charge that a school whose enrollment was shrinking should not be playing those Division 1 parochial schools.  Thus ended the series at eleven games.  At least for eight years.

• Year: 2006
• Records: Massillon (7-5), Moeller (5-5)
• Coaches: Tom Stacey, Bob Crable
• Venue: Cincinnati Paul Brown Stadium (10,000) in the Cincinnati Prep Classic
• Score: 14-48 L
• Game Summary: Coming off a Division 1 state final appearance where they lost a close one to Cincinnati St. Xavier, Massillon was game for another shot at a big parochial school. But it turned into a rout early with Moeller up 24-0 after the first quarter.  The first two scores came via a 49-yard punt return and a 50-yard interception return.  In fact, the Tigers turned it over four times in this one.  And that was it for the series until this year’s opener.

Massillon vs. Akron Buchtel Scrimmage Results

Massillon vs. Akron Buchtel Scrimmage Results

The Tigers and Griffins squared off in the second and final scrimmage prior to next week’s season opener, with Massillon coming out on top in one half of action, 14-2.  The JV teams then got after it in the second half and the Tigers prevailed, 21-0.  Game conditions were played throughout the four quarters of play.

Massillon scored on its opening possession by driving 65 yards, culminating in a 10-yard toss sweep TD by Willtrell Hartson.  Nolan Hendricks tacked on the extra point.  And that was all the scoring for the local team until the final minutes of the half when Jalen Slaughter connected with wide receiver Ardell Banks on a 34-yard touchdown pass.  In between the two scores, the offense sputtered with both the run and the pass during three consecutive possessions, which all ended in punts.  But give some credit to a much-improved, very athletic Buchtel defense that played inspired football all night.  Hartson ran the ball 12 times for 76 yards (6.3 ave.).  Slaughter completed 10 of 19 passes for 109 yards.

On the other side of the ball the Tiger defense was simply stifling, holding the Griffins to just 38 yards of total offense, 21 on the ground and 17 in the air, on 19 plays.  And Buchtel was forced to punt on each possession.  Of course, it didn’t help that the Griffin quarterback was off target most of the night and completed just two of twelve passes, including an errant throw to Massillon’s Adonis Marshall.

Buchtel’s lone score came after the Tigers mistakenly fair caught a punt at their own five yard line.  Hartson appeared to get his team out of the hole with a 15-yard run, but it was negated by a holding penalty.  That was followed by two consecutive jet sweeps.  Only, the first one lost ten yards when the runner tried to reverse his field and the second never made it out of the end zone, resulting in a safety.

The scrimmage also involved liberal substitutions, at least on the Massillon side.  And those player mistakes normally seen during scrimmages.  Nevertheless, the Tigers have lots to work on before they entertain Cincinnati Moeller in next week’s opener.  This is particularly true for the offense line, which will need to develop into a more effective unit in one week’s time.  And for the passing game, which misfired on many solid opportunities.

Statistics (1^st half only)

Massillon – Akron Buchtel

• First downs: 10 – 2
• Rushing attempts: 23 – 7
• Rushing yards: 126 – 21
• Yards per rush: 5.5 – 3.0
• Pass completions: 10 – 2
• Pass attempts: 19 – 17
• Pass yards: 109 – 17
• Yards per pass completion: 10.9 – 8.5
• Total plays: 42 – 19
• Total yards: 235 – 38
• Yards per play: 5.6 – 2.0

Scoring

Massillon

• Willtrell Hartson 10-yard run
• Ardell Banks 34-yard pass from Jalen Slaughter

Buchtel

• Safety – tackle in the end zone

JV Scoring

• Mylen Lenix 10-yard run
• Peytton Mitchell 3-yard run
• Bricen Pledgure 40-yard pass interception return

Touchdown Club to Begin Weekly Gatherings

At the end of the season, the club honors one of the players with the “Bob Commings Memorial Hardnose Award.”

The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 16, at 11:30 am with the speaker event beginning around noon. The guest speaker that week will be former Massillon Head Coach Jack Rose.

Membership for the season is $25.00 and the cost for lunch is $10.00 each week.  Guests are welcome for their first visit; following that they will need to pay the membership fee.

At the first meeting the club will feature a guest speaker.  Then Coach Moore will talk about the Massillon Tigers, plus give a preview of our Week 1 opponent, Cincinnati Moeller.

See you there.

Massillon vs. Moeller Headlines First Week of Action

Massillon vs. Moeller Headlines First Week of Action

Some of the best high school football in Ohio this year will occur in Week 1, with many games involving some of the best teams in state, if not the country.  Massillon typically, at least under Head Coach Nate Moore, has opened the season against a powerhouse.  This time it’s Cincinnati Moeller.  A huge crowd is expected and the game is sure to grab state-wide attention.  Below is a rundown of this one and some of the other top games around the state.

Massillon at Cincinnati Moeller – The Tigers are one of the best teams in Division 2, while the Crusaders are one of the best in Division 1, so this one presents an intriguing matchup.  Last year Massillon (11-3) finished as regional runner-up after playing in three consecutive state finals.  But this year, with a wealth of skill talent on hand, the finals are once again within reach.  Meanwhile, Moeller (11-4) has experienced a recent resurgence and they advanced last year to the state semifinals before losing to Springfield (13-2), 22-21.  With a host of talent returning, their goal is surely to grab the top prize away from Lakewood St. Edward, a team they defeated on the road last year.  The Crusaders own a 10-2 advantage over the Tigers in an on-and-off series that began in 1980.  Twice they met in the state finals, 1980 in Cincinnati and 1982 at Ohio State Stadium, with Moeller winning both.  The two Massillon wins came in 1995 (21-18) and 1996 (20-15) under Coach Jack Rose.  The Tigers almost grabbed a third in 1990 under Coach Lee Owens.  Unfortunately, an incomplete pass on fourth down was ruled a catch and the Crusaders scored the winning points on the very next play with just seconds left.  This game is a chance for Massillon to make a statement about this year’s team, while Moeller can use a victory as a springboard to another successful campaign.

Canton McKinley at Mentor – The Bulldogs will play in a hostile environment for the first of six road games.  Last year McKinley finished 8-5, with a 49-7 loss to the Cardinals (5-6), while working under a new coaching staff and system.  But this Bulldog team is expected to be much improved.  So, this time around the game may be much closer, if not go the other way.

Toledo Central Catholic at Lakewood St. Edward – Last year the Eagles (15-1) bested the Irish (11-3), 33-10.  Can Central make a game of it this year and perhaps find that elusive signature win?

Springfield at Cleveland St. Ignatius – Springfield (13-2) got off to a fine start last year by defeating the Wildcats (8-5), 24-20.  Then, they nearly ran the table, losing by one point to Miamisburg and 23-13 to St. Edward in the state finals.

Cincinnati St. Xavier at Lakota West – St. X has been dominating the Greater Catholic League of late, while West has been the force in the Greater Miami Conference.  Last year these two met in the regular season opener and the Bombers (10-3) came out on top of their 11-2 opponent, 31-14.  But in the playoffs, West turned the tables with a 12-2 victory, only to lose to Moeller 21-17 the following week.

Cincinnati LaSalle at Cincinnati Colerain – Both teams struggled through their seasons last year, with LaSalle finishing 7-6 and Colerain, 5-6.  But this year is a chance for both teams to right the ship.  Colerain hopes to reverse a 20-14 setback from last year.

Cincinnati Elder at Covington Catholic, KY – Last season the Panthers (6-6) defeated Covington (7-3), 28-6.  But this time the game is in Kentucky.

Walsh Jesuit at Cleveland Benedictine – It took two overtimes last year to find a winner, with the Bennies (8-3) coming out on top of the Warriors (11-3), 35-34.  Will this one be more of the same?

Other Games to Keep an Eye On:

• Warren Harding at Medina
• Solon at Hudson
• Wadsworth at Barberton
• Toledo St. John’s at Dublin Coffman
• Upper Arlington at Reynoldsburg
• Dover at Mentor Lake Catholic

Several Top Athletes Will Face the Tigers this Year

Several Top Athletes Will Face the Tigers this Year

Every high school football team has a few good players that stand above the rest and lead their teams to whatever success they can achieve.  One website that attempts to identify these athletes is 247sports.com, which ranks players across the country. Below are the ranked players from Massillon and those from the teams the Tigers will or may face this year.  The ranking numbers correspond to Ohio’s composite list, without regard to playing position:

Massillon

• No. 26, Class of 2023 – Ardell Banks – wide receiver, 6′-4″, 180
• No. 35,  Class of 2023 – Willtrell Hartson – running back, 5′-9″, 200
• Not ranked, Class of 2025 – Jalen Slaughter – quarterback (ranked by cleveland.com)

Avon

• No. 3 Class of 2024 – Luke Hamilton – offensive tackle, 6′-5″, 290

Cincinnati Moeller

• No. 32, Class of 2023 – Tennel Bryan – wide receiver, 5′-10″, 162
• No. 87, Class of 2023 – Isaiah Summerlin – safety, 6′-3″, 186
• No. 103, Class of 2023 – Mattew Seliga – safety, 5′-11″, 180
• No. 107, Class of 2023 – Peyton Wilp – defensive lineman, 6′-2″, 275
• No. 115, Class of 2023 – Joe Ginnotti – linebacker, 6′-2″, 225
• No. 3, Class of 2024 – Jordon Marshall – running back, 5′-10″, 205
• No. 27, Class of 2024 – Karson Hobbs – cornerback, 6′-1″, 180

GlenOak

• None

Mansfield

• No. 88, Class of 2023 – Mekhi Bradley – linebacker, 6′-0″, 225

Warren Harding

• No. 22, Class of 2024 – Ryan Powell – running back, 6′-1″, 215

Lakewood St. Edward

• No. 22, Class of 2023 – Michael Kilbane – edge rusher, 6′-4″, 240
• No. 43, Class of 2023 – Wyatt Gedeon – linebacker, 6′-1″, 235
• No. 9 – Class of 2024 – Ben Roebuck – offensive tackle, 6′-7″, 320

Austintown Fitch

• No. 41, Class of 2023 – Cam Smith – athlete, 5′-11″, 184
• No. 101, Class of 2023 – Jamell James – running back, 5′-11″, 215
• No. 10, Class of 2024 – Brian Robinson – edge rusher, 6′-4″, 230

Middletown, Delaware

• None ranked in Delaware

Canisius, New York

• None ranked in New York

Canton McKinley

• None

Big Walnut

• No. 8, Class of 2024 – Garett Stover – athlete, 6′-2″, 195

Cincinnati Winton Woods

• No. 10, Class of 2023 – Jermaine Mathews – athlete, 6′-0″, 175
• No. 15, Class of 2023 – Cameron Calhoun – cornerback, 6′-2″, 175
• No. 43, Class of 2023 – Trey Cornist – running back, 5′-11, 209
• No. 88, Class of 2023 – KC Spears – athlete, 5′-10″, 190
• No. 104, Class of 2023 – Lorenzo Hudson – safety, 6′-3″, 170
• No. 110, Class of 2023 – James Minor – running back, 5′-10″, 200
• Not ranked, Class of 2025 – Raphael Green – offensive lineman (cleveland.com)

Toledo Central

• No. 45, Class of 2023 – Braden Awis – athlete, 6′-0″, 180

Akron Hoban

• No. 20, Class of 2024 – Jackai Long – quarterback, 6′-2″, 195
• Not ranked, Class of 2025 – Micah Rice – safety

Defense Plays a Big Role in Resurgence of Massillon…

Massillon has built quite a resume over the past seven years in the Ohio high school football scene, the span of time during which Nate Moore has been the head coach.  Consider that the Tigers have qualified for the playoffs in six consecutive years, advanced to the regional finals five times and advanced to the Division II state finals three times.  In addition, over the past four years the Tigers have lost just seven times out of the 56 games played, four of which occurred during the playoffs.

But although the offense has been spectacular, most of the credit for the improvement goes to the defense, particularly the defense against the run.  In the past four years, Massillon has surrendered a mere 3.3 yards per carry, which is a full two yards per carry better than during Moore’s first three years, a time when he was installing his program.  Also, the mark is significantly better than that of the previous coach.

From the fan perspective, credit a change in the scheme in that the Tigers now heavily involve the free safeties in run support.  This is something that has evolved as defenses must counter the more mature spread offenses.  Prior to the spread, the offenses were throwing the ball 20 to 30 percent of the time.  So the defenses aligned with four or five linemen and three or four linebackers to stop run-oriented teams.  But now, with offenses throwing around 40 percent of the time, more support was needed in the secondary.  However, this came at the expense of the defensive line, which was reduced to three or four lineman.   With fewer linemen at the point of attack, defenses became more vulnerable to the run, particularly to the outsides.  That’s where the safeties now come into play.  Whereas previous safeties focused almost exclusively on pass protection, safeties must now also run downhill to the edge to defend the run and not be shy about delivering the big hits.

Years ago, if a team’s safety was the leading tackler, there was a serious problem on defense.  Not anymore.  In 2019, Robbie Page recorded 3.9 tackle points per game, fourth best on the team.  Austin Brawley has similar numbers in 2020.  And then last year, Brawley AND safety teammate Ryan Zentkovich chalked up 5.1 and 5.3 tackle points per game, respectively, leading the entire defense in that category.

But Massillon’s defensive improvement against the rush has also had a marked impact on scoring.  Whereas the Tigers gave up 26 points per game during Moore’s first three years, that number has been lowered to just 11 points, which is an excellent result against the spread offense.  And that also translates into wins.

Meanwhile, the defense against the pass has remained fairly constant, hovering around 6.4 yards per pass attempt.  This statistic is not unlike that of previous Massillon coaches that gamed against the spread offense.

Offensively, from Moore’s first three years through his next four, it has been “steady Eddie.”  Points have increased by about a touchdown a game, yards per rush have increased by 1.3 yards per game and yards per pass attempt have increased by 0.6 yards per game, about what one would expect as a new system settles into place.

Now, with the 2022 season fast approaching, the Tigers return several starters that man the front seven positions.  And many of those are underclassmen.  So, one would expect the defense against the run to again be very strong, for at least the next two years.  Trust me.  It will be a fun group to watch.

2022 Lift-a-thon Results

And energetic group of players and fans gathered in the WHS gym for the annual Steve Studer Memorial Lift-a-thon, the first in front of a live audience since the Covid-19 Pandemic hit the country.  Once again, Strength Coach Dan Studer did a fantastic job of organizing and conducting the event.

Three lifts were performed by each participant: clean lift, bench press and squat. Each lifter selected his preferred weight for each lift and then attempted as many lifts as he could until his arms or legs gave out.  A composite score was then used to determine the winner of each of twelve weight classes based on the total weight lifted and the number of reps.  Achievement medals were then awarded to the top three lifters in each category.  Here are the winners:

140 lb. weight class – Gage Gordon (Jr.)

• Total Load – 780 lbs.

150 lb. weight class – Zach Leibler (Jr.)

• Total Load – 815 lbs.

160 lb. weight class – Kyler Wiggins (Jr.)

• Total Load – 775 lbs.

170 lb. weight class – Ma’Taeaun Frazier (Jr.)s.

• Total Load – 825 lbs.

180 lb. weight class – Stephen Hogan (Jr.)

• Total Load – 740 lbs.

190 lb. weight class – Freddie Lenix Jr. (Sr.)

• Total Load – 875 lbs.

200 lb. weight class – De’Airre Pringle (Sr.)

• Total Load – 1,005 lbs.

215 lb. weight class – Cody Fair (Jr.)

• Total Load – 995 lbs.

230 lb. weight class – Dorian Pringle (Jr.)

• Total Load – 1,025 lbs.

Heavy weight class – Seth Voshel (Jr.)

• Total Load – 970 lbs.

Super Heavy weight class – Mike Looney (So.)

• Total Load – 1,070 lbs.

For complete results, click here.

140 lb. weight class – (1) Gage Gordon, (2) Zahnii Berry, (3) Ransom Els

150 lb. weight class –  (1) Zach Liebler, (2) Jaden Welch, (3) Landon Smith

160 lb. weight class – (1) Kyler Wiggins, (2) Shon Robinson, (3) Adonis Marshall

170 lb. weight class – (1) Ma’Taeaun Frazer, (2) Trent Campbell, (3) Jameir Gamble

180 lb. weight class – (1) Stephen Hogan, (2) Chance O’Neil, (3) Riley O’Neil

190 lb. weight class – (1) Freddie Lenix Jr., (2) Marquavion Young, (3) Chris Fair

200 lb. weight class – (1) De’Airre Pringle, (2) Willtrell Hartson, (3) Kendall Thomas

215 lb. weight class – (1) Cody Fair, (2) Christian Kring, (3) Maverick Clark

230 lb. weight class – (1) Dorian Pringle, (2) Chase Bond, (3) Malachi Card

Heavy weight class – (1) Seth Voshel, (2) Brady Jones, (3) Chase Finnegin

Super weight class – (1) Mike Looney, (2) Isaiah McElroy, (3) Mike Mercurio

Moeller, St. Edward Highlight 2022 Massillon Football Schedule

Other than the McKinley contest, the highest attended game each year is the opener.  And Head Coach Nate Moore has another whopper on the slate for this year in Cincinnati Moeller.  The last time these two teams squared off was in 2006 in the Queen City as part of the Prep Classic, with the Crusaders coming away with the win.  After suffering through several substandard years, Moeller rebounded in 2021 to finish 11-4, losing in the Division 1 state semifinals to Springfield.  With several returning starters off of that team, they are expected to be strong again this year.

Lakewood St. Edward travels to Massillon for a third year in a row.  Two years ago, the Tigers let the game slip away on a trick play at the end.  Last year it was inexperience and injuries that resulted in a 35-18 loss to the eventual Division 1 Champions, their fifth crown in the last eleven years.  Incidentally, their only setback last season came in overtime against Moeller, by the score of 28-21

The Tigers return 13 starters plus several oft-used backups from last year’s 11-3 team that finished regional runner-up in Division 2.  With several of the returnees in key positions, they are expected to be particularly strong at quarterback, running back and defensive line.  Coach Moore will enter his eighth year and currently owns a 71-20 record while at Massillon, which includes three trips to the state finals.  He also captured the D2 title while previously at Cincinnati LaSalle.

Here is the full schedule along with some key data:

1. Cincinnati Moeller – H

• League: Greater Catholic League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 11-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost to Springfield 22-21 in the state semifinals
• 5-Year Record: 26-30 (.464)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost in state semifinals in 2021
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Defeated Massillon 48-14 in 2006
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Moeller leads 10-2
• Bonus: Returns wide receiver Tennel Bryant and linebacker Joe Ginnetti, both of whom were Honorable Mention All-Ohio, and defensive lineman Chase Brown (2^nd Team All-District).

 2. Canton GlenOak – A

• League: Federal League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 3-7
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 40-12 to Stow in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 8-40 (.167)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 2 appearances; lost in Round 1 both times
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 34-0 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 13-4
• Bonus: Last year’s 3-7 record was the best since 2017.  Returns 8 starters on offense and 9 on defense; 3 are 2-way players

3. Mansfield Senior

• League: Cardinal Conference
• Playoff Division: 3
• 2021 Overall Record: 9-3
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 13-10 to Parma in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 38-19 (.667)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost 14-7 in overtime to Trotwood Madison in 2019
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 55-0 in 2005
• Historical Series vs. Massillon leads 43-4-5
• Bonus: 20-10 league record in the past five years with  one tie for first and two runner-ups; beat undefeated Aurora 27-21 in overtime to advance to the 2019 state championship game

4. Warren Harding – H

• League: All-American Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2021 Overall Record: 5-6
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 35-28 to Austintown Fitch in Round 1
• 5-Year Record: 28-24 (.538)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; lost in Round 3 in 2020
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 49-46 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 58-25-3 (second-longest series)
• Bonus: Returns 2 starters on offense and 3 on defense, including sensational quarterback Dalys Jett (2^nd Team All-District), who last year against the Tigers completed 21 of 34 passes for 358 yards and 6 touchdowns and ran 9 times for 78 yards and a TD.

5. Lakewood St. Edward – H

• League: None
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 15-1
• 2021 Playoff Results: Defeated Springfield 23-13 to capture the state championship
• 5-Year Record: 53-10 (.841)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; state titles in 2018 and 2021
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Defeated Massillon 34-18 in 2021
• Historical Series vs. St. Edward: 4-3
• Bonus: Returns 2 starters on offense and 2 on defense, including defensive lineman Wyatt Gideon (3^rd Team All-State)

6. Austintown Fitch – H

• League: All-American Conference
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2021 Overall Record: 7-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 48-28 to Akron Hoban in Round 2
• 5-Year Record: 33-17 (.660)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 3 appearances; 2-3 record
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 31-21 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 19-8
• Bonus: Returns 5 starters on offense and 5 on defense, including offensive lineman Josh Fitzgerald and defensive back DeShawn Vaughn, both Honorable Mention All-Ohio, and kicker Josiah Berni (2^nd Team All-District)

7. Middletown, DE – H

• League: Blue Hen
• Playoff Division: 3 – largest
• 2021 Overall Record: 10-1
• 2021 Playoff Results: Defeated Smyrna 28-22 to capture the Delaware state championship
• 5-Year Record: 46-8 (.852)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 6-4 record; 1 state championship, 3 state runners-up
• Last Time vs. Massillon: did not play
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 0-0
• Bonus: Lost last year to national power St. Joseph Prep, Philadelphia, 24-6; lost to IMG Academy in 2018, 52-7; defeated Smyrna in the 2017 regular season, but lost to Smyrna in the state finals

8. Canisius, NY – H

• League: Monsignor Martin Association
• Playoff Division: Inter-league
• 2021 Overall Record: 6-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: did not qualify
• 5-Year Record: 30-19 (.612)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 4 appearances; 4-4 record
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 23-13 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: 1-1
• Bonus: 2020 season was played in Spring 2021

9. (TBD) – H

10. Canton McKinley – H

• League: Federal League
• Playoff Division: 1
• 2021 Overall Record: 9-4
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 42-0 to Lakewood St. Edward in Round 3
• 5-Year Record: 40-16 (.714)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; 5-5 playoff record
• Last Time vs. Massillon: Lost 35-13 to Massillon in 2021
• Historical Series vs. Massillon: Massillon leads 74-53-5; Massillon has won 10 of the last 11
• Bonus: Returns 5 starters on offense and 6 on defense, including wide receiver Cynceir McNeal and defensive lineman Bryan Foster, both Hon. Mention All-District.  Three of four defensive backs return.

The book on Massillon:

• League: Independent
• Playoff Division: 2
• 2021 Overall Record: 11-3
• 2021 Playoff Results: Lost 26-25 to Green in the regional finals
• 5-Year Record: 59-11 (.843)
• 5-Year Playoff History: 5 appearances; advanced to the state finals in 2018, 2019 and 2020; regional champion in 2017; lost in regional finals in 2021
• Bonus: Returns 8 starters on offense, including quarterback Jalen Slaughter (Hon. Mention All-District), running backs Willtrell Hartson (Hon. Mention All-Ohio in 2020) and Freddie Lenix Jr. (All-District), linemen Marcus Moore, Sam Snodgrass (Hon. Mention All-District) and Mike Mercurio, and receivers Ardell Banks (Hon. Mention All-District) and Jaden Welch.  Returns 7 starters on defense, including lineman Marcus Moore (1^st Team All-District, 2^nd Team All-Ohio), Michael White (Hon. Mention All-District)and Chase Bond, linebacker Maverick Clark, and defensive backs Freddie Lenix Jr., Jaden Welch and Zack Liebler.  Returns kicker Nolan Hendricks.