Can’t Get Enough Massillon Football? Join the Touchdown Club

Each Tuesday throughout the season, the Touchdown Club meets at the Massillon Eagles where members can enjoy a delicious lunch and listen to Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore and his player guests discuss both the previous game and the upcoming opponent.  It’s always a great time as the atmosphere is more casual and intimate than the Monday evening Booster Club event, with players and coaches sitting alongside the members during the meal, which makes for some great football talk.

In addition, each member is provided an opportunity to cast a weekly vote that culminates in the selection of the annual Bob Commings Memorial Hardnose Award winner.  Some of the past winners include John Mulbach (Ohio State), David Whitfield (Ohio State), Chris Spielman (Ohio State), Shawn Crable (Michigan) and Brian Gamble (Illinois/Ashland).

The Club is open to anyone eager to discuss Massillon football.  The membership fee is $25 and can be purchased at the door prior to any gathering.  This fee covers the cost of coach and player lunches, the Hardnose Award trophy and administrative fees.  The weekly cost for lunch is $8.00, except for the week of the McKinley game, when the cost is $12.00.  That meeting includes all of the senior players, plus entertainment by the Tiger Swing Band and cheerleaders.  Guests can attend one meeting for the cost of the lunch.

The first meeting of the 2019 season is scheduled for August 27 at 11:30 am.  See you there.

Inquiries can be made to Linda Waechter, Co-Chairman, at (330) 833-8421.

Tiger Offense Rolls Past Avon in Opening Scrimmage

These two Division 2 Top 5 teams squared off once again in the first scrimmage of the year.  As was the case last year, both teams possess powerful offenses and have high hopes for deep playoff runs.  In 2018, Massillon advanced to the state finals where they lost a close game to champion Akron Hoban, whereas the Eagles lost to Hoban in the state semifinals.  But just like last year, Massillon had its way in this event, scoring 6 touchdowns in its 6 series, while holding Avon to 2 scores in its 5 series.

But don’t read too much into the final score.  The format of the scrimmage permitted each team to keep the ball for additional tries after scores until the allocated number of plays (around 20) had been exhausted.  So, if you count just the first series of each possession, then the two teams ended up tied 14-14.  The only real difference in this respect is that Massillon scored relatively quickly, whereas Avon had to work very hard for their scores.  Nevertheless, one cannot totally overlook those other series when assessing the full night of action.

Here is a detailed rundown of the play:

Part 1 – Each team began at its own 35, 1^st and 10, and ran approximately 20 plays each with the final series ending either with a score, a turnover or on downs.

Massillon 1^st Possession

• 1^st Series – On the first play from scrimmage, Aidan Longwell launched a 51-yard bomb to a wide-open Andrew Wilson-Lamp that advanced the ball to the Avon 14.  Two carries by Terrence Keyes placed ball at the one and Zion Phifer scored from there.
• 2^nd Series – Longwell completed a 71-yard scoring pass to Isaiah Roberson.  The speedster caught the ball at Avon 40, cut back twice to elude would-be tacklers and went untouched into the end zone.
• 3^rd Series – Lots of subbing, as was the case for most of the night.  Zach Catrone now at QB.  Both Raekwon Venson and Jean-Luc Beasley were running well during the drive.  At the end of it, Venson fought his way into the end zone from the four.
• Score 20-0.

Avon 1^st Possession

• 1^st Series – Converted a 31-yard touchdown pass.
• 2^nd Series – Lost the ball on a fumble at their own 30.  A certain Tiger touchdown return was called dead (it’s a scrimmage).
• 3^rd Series – Lost the ball on fumble at the Massillon 30.
• Score 20-7.

Massillon 2^nd Possession

• 1^st Series – Longwell completed a 51-yard bomb to Jayden Ballard, who caught the ball in triple coverage at the goal line.  However, Longwell was called down by the referee, negating the TD.  In this scrimmage, the quarterback was given a certain amount of time to get the pass off.  But the line blocking was superb and Aidan just needed time for Ballard to get downfield.  Nevertheless, on the subsequent play Venson raced 51 yards for a touchdown.
• 2^nd Series – Phifer caught a pass in the flat from Longwell and rode the sideline for a 60 yard score.
• 3^rd Series – Lamp gathered in a 65-yard bomb from Catrone and waltzed into the end zone.
• 4^th Series – Catrone’s long bomb to the goal line was intercepted during a battle for the ball.
• Score 41-7

Avon 2^nd Possession

• 1^st Series – Avon connected on a 3-yard pass for a touchdown.
• 2^nd Series – Avon converted a 5-yard pass on fourth down for a touchdown.
• Score  41-21

Part 2 – Punt practice

Part 3 – Overtime simulation.  Each team began at the opponent’s 25, 1^st and 10.

Massillon 1^st Possession

• 1^st Series – Ballard outjumped the defender in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass from Longwell.
• 2^nd Series – Catrone completed a 19-yard screen pass to Davin Wenzel and then Beasley scored from the five.
• Score 14-0

Avon 1^st Possession

• 1^st Series – Stopped on downs at the eight.
• 2^nd Series – Stopped on downs at the 17.
• Score 14-0

Massillon 2^nd Possession

• 1^st Series – Longwell connected with Anthony Pedro for a 23-yard touchdown.
• 2^nd Series – Longwell hit Ballard on a 25-yard post pattern for a TD.
• 3^rd Series – Robbie Page caught a 40-yard 4^th down pass from Catrone for a score.
• Score 35-0

Avon 3^rd Possession

• 1^st Series – Converted a 12-yard pass for a score.
• 2^nd Series – Missed a long field goal.
• 3^rd Series – Stopped on downs at the seven.
• Score 35-7

Part 4 – Field goal practice

Observations:

• Quarterbacks – Aidan Longwell was a field general and showed the poise of a 3-year starter.  Both Longwell (4 TD passes) and Zach Catrone (2 TD passes) can throw deeper and more accurate than most high school quarterbacks.
• Running backs – Terrence Keyes, Zion Phifer, Raekwon Venson, Preston Hodges and Jean-Luc Beasley.  All of the backs ran with authority.  But Keyes was a level above the rest with his quickness and elusiveness.  Very dangerous, especially once past the line of scrimmage.  Venson was simply a power beast.  Phifer knows where the end zone is, while Hodges and Beasley were slashers.
• Wide receivers – As billed.  This may be the best passing combination in the state.  Not only can they consistently get open to catch the ball, but they can do it in traffic and then run effectively thereafter.
• Offensive line – Provided great protection for the quarterbacks.  QBs were rarely pressured all night.  Run blocking consistently opened holes for the running backs.
• Run defense – The Tigers controlled the line of scrimmage.  Safeties were quick to the line to defend the run.  Avon simply could not effectively move the ball on the ground.
• Pass defense – This was the only bright spot for the Eagles, as they were able to move the ball down the field with 5-10 yard passes.  But they could not go over the top at all owing to the Tigers’ speed in coverage.  But that just might be Avon’s strategy against quicker, more athletic teams.
• Kicking – Magnus Haines and Alex Bauer alternated PAT kicks.  Overall, they converted 10 of 11.  Both demonstrated good field goal range in that phase of the scrimmage.
• Punting – Magnus Haines booted several long punts, a few with 5-second hang time.  None of the punts were returnable.

Tiger Moms Can Count On the Massillon Merchants to…

Football practice is underway for the the 2019 season and as in previous years it begins with two-a-days.  That means the hungry Tigers will need lots of healthy food to continue their quest in returning to the Division 2 State Finals.  Stepping up to the plate this year as usual are the Tiger Moms, without whom the effort to secure the meals would be sorely lacking.  So take some time to thank the Moms and please visit all of these area merchants:

• Amherst Meadows
• Arbys
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Charlie Brown Catering
• Danbury of Massillon
• Eagles 190
• East of Chicago Pizza Erie Street Pub
• Grace United Church of Christ
• Kraus Pizza Amherst
• Santangelos
• Top of the Viaduct
• Your Pizza

FUNDRAISER: Vendor Bingo Night

The Massillon Tiger Moms are hosting a Vendor Bingo NIght to help raise funds in support of the Massillon Tiger football team.  The event will be held at BW3 (235 Lincoln Way W., Massillon 44647) on Monday August 5, 2019, starting at 7:00 pm.  ADULTS ONLY!!!  The cost is $10 per player and is good for ten games and a chance to win some great prizes donated by the vendors that support the Massillon Program.  Additional cards can be purchased at the door.  Also, a dinner for purchase is also available starting at 6:00 pm.

Formidable Schedule Once Again Awaits the Tigers

On paper, Massillon is expected to field another outstanding football team, with a 3-year starter returning at quarterback, two wide receivers expected to eventually land at major D1 colleges, a huge offensive line and a pair of running backs that will keep the pressure off the QB.  The defense also returns solid players at many key positions, while the kicking game has no apparent weaknesses.  Plus, the Tigers had the opportunity last year to play five additional games as they advanced through the Division 2 playoffs to the state finals.

But once again Massillon will need to navigate a formidable schedule in order to secure a playoff spot for a fourth consecutive year.  Included in this year’s slate are ten teams that last year posted a combined record of 69-31, with six qualifying for post-season play.  In addition, two of the opponents are outstanding squads from the same league in Pennsylvania.  And these are not “Sun Valley” teams, folks.  Finally, four of the games are on the road and each of these could cause Massillon to stumble.  It should be a great season ahead.

Here is a quick rundown of the Tigers and of each opponent:

 Massillon

• 5-year regular season record: 36-14
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 4 / 7-4
• Playoff division: 2
• Notes: The Tigers advanced to the Division 2 state finals in 2018, losing to Akron Hoban.

Akron St. Vincent

• Game location: Home
• Series record: 21-6
• Last year’s score: 35-7
• 5-year regular season record: 37-13
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 4 / 9-4
• Playoff division: 3
• Notes: The Irish lost in the Division 3 state semifinals in 2017 and this will once again be an entertaining opener for both teams.

Canton GlenOak

• Game location: Home
• Series record: 11-4
• Last year’s score: 49-0
• 5-year regular season record: 24-26
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 2 / 0-2
• Playoff division: 1
• Notes: New coach Beau Balderson hopes to return the Golden Eagles to competitive status.  But GlenOak’s first four games may be insurmountable with opponents including John Adams of South Bend, Indiana, Massillon, Austintown Fitch and North Canton Hoover.

Warren Harding – A

• Game location: Away
• Series record: 54-25-3
• Last year’s score: 51-21
• 5-year regular season record: 31-18
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 3 / 3-3
• Playoff division: 2
• Notes: Harding is 2-4 against the Tigers in the latest series.  A Week 1 game against Canton McKinley will provide an idea of this year’s potential.

Harrison City Penn-Trafford, PA

• Game location: Home
• Series record: 0-0
• Last year’s score: n/a
• 5-year regular season record: 46-4
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 5 / 6-5
• Playoff division: AAAA (similar to Ohio D2)
• Notes: The Warriors have lost only four regular season games in the last five years, but have struggled in the playoffs.  They face Tiger opponent Gateway in Week 1.  Last year Penn-Trafford lost to Gateway, 27-7.

Akron Firestone

• Game location: Home
• Series record: 8-0
• Last year’s score: 42-0
• 5-year regular season record: 15-35
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 0 / 0-0
• Playoff division: 2
• Notes: A welcome breather for Massillon.

Austintown Fitch

• Game location: Away
• Series record: 17-8
• Last year’s score: 42-14
• 5-year regular season record: 34-16
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 3 / 1-3
• Playoff division: 2
• Notes: The Falcons have won two of last three meetings at home.  In addition, the score was tied in the 2017 game at 28-all with 4:30 remaining.  But the Tigers scored the final ten points to secure the victory.  This will be a formidable test and a potential trap game.

Monroeville Gateway, PA

• Game location: Home
• Series record: 0-0
• Last year’s score: n/a
• 5-year regular season record: 34-16
• 5-year playoff appearances / record:  3 / 8-3
• Playoff division: AAAA (similar to Ohio D2)
• Notes: The Gators have found much success over the past two years, with a regular season record of 19-1 and a playoff record of 7-2.  Gateway was ranked 16^th among all Pennsylvania teams last year by CalPreps.com (5^th in AAAA).  Expect another strong test for the Tigers.

Barberton – A

• Game location: Away
• Series record: 37-7-1
• Last year’s score: n/a
• 5-year regular season record: 39-11
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 3 / 2-3
• Playoff division: 2
• Notes: The Magics return to the schedule after an absence of 24 years.  But the Tigers will face a much better team this time around, in spite of Barberton losing stellar running back Kyrie Young, who transferred in from Akron St. Vincent, but has since moved on to Akron  Buchtel.  That’s because Barberton returns a wealth of skill talent on the heels of three straight playoff appearances.  They also compiled a regular season mark of 28-2 during that time, including a current 25-game regular season winning streak.  More importantly for Barberton is that the game against the Tigers is at home.

Louisville

• Game location: Home
• Series record: 1-0
• Last year’s score: 41-0
• 5-year regular season record: 36-14
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 2 / 1-2
• Playoff division: 3
• Notes: The Leopards have struggled with a much tougher schedule since being booted from the Northeastern Buckeye Conference, boasting a record of just 18-12.  Last year they were thrashed early by Massillon at home, but hope to keep it closer this time around.  Only, the game will be held at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, which will be a tall challenge in itself.

Canton McKinley

• Game location: Away
• Series record: 71-53-5
• Last year’s score: 24-17
• 5-year regular season record: 32-18
• 5-year playoff appearances / record: 3 / 1-3
• Playoff division: 1
• Notes: The Bulldogs are considered a regular qualifier for the D1 playoffs, but still struggle to beat the Tigers, having dropped the last three contests and seven of the last eight.  But they are once against expected to give Massillon their best game of the season.

FUNDRAISER: 2019 Golf Outing

Massillon Tiger Football Alumni Association GOLF SCRAMBLE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019
WHERE: Elms Country Club
TIME: Shotgun Start: 1 p.m.
COST: $300 foursome or $75 per golfer

Price Includes:
Green fees & cart, lunch & dinner at the course, beverage truck, football challenges, & raffle prizes!

SPONSOR A HOLE

SPONSOR LEVELS
Individual Sponsorship: $100.00 (One hole sponsor sign included)
Corporate level sponsorship: $450 (Two hole Sponsor signs and foursome)

Make check payable to: MTFAA
Mail to: MTFAA
C/O Glen Weirich, 725 Woodview Dr. NE, Massillon, OH 44646.

The Massillon Tigers and Coach Moore thanks you for your support.

For more information you can contact Glen Weirich at 330-844-8462. Glen’s Email: uabulldog91@gmail.com.

OHSAA Makes Modest Changes to Divisional Assignments

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has adjusted its divisional assignments for the 2019 football season following updated competitive balance numbers.  However, regional assignments have yet to be made.  Here are the changes based on last year’s regions:

• Region 5 – Copley moves to Division 3
• Region 6 – Perrysburg and Toledo Bowsher move to Division 1
• Region 7 – New Albany moves to Division 1; Ashland, Dover and Tri-Valley move to Division 3
• Region 8 – Dayton Belmont moves to Division 3

Several teams have been relocated to Division 2 to fill the vacancies created by those that have left, including:

• From Division 1 – Austintown Fitcn, Cleveland John Marshall and Cleveland Rhodes
• From Division 3 – Parma Padua, Alliance, Akron North, Olentangy Berlin, Columbus DeSales, Piqua and West Carrollton

If the new D2 teams are placed geographically based on last year’s regions, then Region 5 would be heavy by a few teams and Region 6 would be short by a few teams.  So it appears on the surface that Region 5 would need to surrender some teams to Region 6 in order to create balance.  Or, given that none of the Region 5 teams would be considered candidates to move to Region 6, then the OHSAA could opt to move some Region 5 teams to Region 7 and some Region 7 teams to Region 6.  The obvious additions to Region 7 would be Akron Ellet, Akron Firestone and Akron Kenmore-Garfield while the logical subtractions would be Barberton, Wadsworth and Medina Highland, all of whom were in Region 6 in 2017.

But regardless of who moves, Massillon, Cincinnati Winton Woods, Akron Hoban, Toledo Central and Cincinnati LaSalle will remain as the teams to beat in Division 2,  It should be noted that Massillon and Winton Woods have the highest competitive advantage number for a public school in the division.  Toledo Central and Akron Hoban have the highest numbers for a parochial school in D2 (4th and 5th, respectively, among all divisions).

Tiger Nation Loses a Long-Time Friend

Dale Walterhouse, former Tiger assistant coach and WHS teacher, passed away May 29.  As a long-time member of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club, Dale was a friend of everyone.  But most of all, he was always there to help when a project needed done.

He began his coaching career in Massillon in 1959 as the coach of Jones Junior High, moving onto sophomores the following year.  By 1964 he was the sophomore head coach and a varsity assistant under the legendary Earle Bruce, then Bob Seaman, Bob Commings and Mike Currence.  Overall, his coaching tenure spanned 24 seasons.  His last coached in 1984, which was Currence’s final year at Massillon.  John Moronto, Currence’s replacement elected not to renew Walterhouse’s contract.  But Dale did not fret, for he said it freed up his time to watch son Kurt play football in college.  By the end of his career, Walterhouse had been influential on six state championship teams, two of which were named national champions.

When not coaching, he taught health, physical education and general chemistry at the high school.  He also served a short stint as Athletic Director.

Later, he was a Massillon City Councilman and Manager of the Elms Swim Club.

As a member of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club, Dale served as vice president in 2001, president in 2002 and treasurer from 2003 to 2011.  He was also president of the Sideliners in 1999.

In 2016, Coach Walterhouse was featured on the game program cover for the Akron Firestone game (see photo).

As a reward for his stellar career, Dale was inducted into the Tiger Hall of Fame in 2015.  He also received the One Tiger Heritage Award in 2018.  According to Managing Director Bob Clendenin, this honor is given to individuals who contribute decades of time and effort toward bettering their community and helping kids.

Dale and wife Jo are the proud parents of children Kathy, Kurt and Steve, 11 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

POW / MIA Empty Chair Event Slated for June…