Former Massillon Tiger quarterback Robert Partridge was recently involved in a serious auto accident and unfortunately suffered a severe spinal cord injury. A gofundme page has been set up to enable financial support to help cover the cost of rehab.
Robert was a 2-year starting quarterback for the Tigers. In 2008 he passed for 471 yards and four touchdowns. He followed that up with a stellar 2009 year in which he passed for 2,631 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading his team to the state playoff semifinals against Cleveland Glenville. Robert is 6th all-time in career yards passing and 3rd for total yards passing in a single season. Following Massillon, he accepted a scholarship to play football at Miami of Ohio and later transferred to Hiram College, where he set a new single-season passing record, including 410 yards against Kenyon.
7th Grade football is no longer a youth sport. It is now run through MJHS just as 8th Grade football is. To sign your child up for football you need to register on final forms. This will include everything on one site that you just update throughout the years for other sports. No more paper forms. https://massillon-oh.finalforms.com
Sports physicals this year will not be offered through the Boys & Girls Club. With the hospital closing they lost the volunteers that offered that for our kids. You are responsible to get your child a physical and a physical form filled out and turned in. A copy of that of that physical form can be found at massillontigersathletics.org
Summer workouts will start June 5th. Workouts will be held at MJHS on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:00 – 7:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 – 11:00 am. These workouts are not mandatory, but are encouraged for children not playing a sport through the summer. If your child is playing a summer sport, they made a commitment to that team and that comes first.
I need any child that is coming to the workout to have the final forms registration completed before they arrive. This will include contact information that I need in case of an emergency.
Please share this information with any parent that has a child going into 7th Grade. With the changeover from youth to junior high this season, I expected to have some confusion. Any questions that you might have, please contact me. I have included my email below. Looking forward to a fun season. Go Tigers!!!
It was difficult for the coaches to curb their enthusiasm at the Spring Kickoff when talking about this year’s Massillon football team. That’s because they are blessed with a wealth of talent and experience returning from the 2017 team, which finished 10-4 and captured the Region 7 title. In addition, the entire coaching staff returns.
Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore
Coach Moore and several key assistants spoke at the Kickoff and provided these highlights:
J.P. Simon – Defensive Line and Off-Season Conditioning
“This off-season has been great. Our guys really attacked the weight room and agility. We came back with something to prove.”
“All of the linemen were on the wrestling team. They really worked hard.”
“The (strength and conditioning) program is a throwback to the days of Steve Studer.”
“We’re very excited about this season. We have a lot coming back.”
“We want to be competitive every day.”
Not much will change defensively. The base alignment will be 3-4 with cover 4. But they will have the ability to change to a 4-man front and cover 3.
Goals: Win 1st down 70% of the time; get off the field on 3rd down; dominate the red zone.
“Dean Clark will be the leader of the defense. I wish I had eleven of him.”
John Mazur – Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line
“We’re way ahead of last year; lots of experience. We had four extra weeks of practice last year (e.g., playoff weeks).”
“We (offensive line) will be strong. A lot of 6’-1”, 280 lb. guys that can move. They will have the best feet (he’s seen since he’s been here).”
Three starters return on the offensive line.
Fifteen players have been timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.7 seconds or faster.
The offense will throw the ball a little more this year, in addition to running the power.
Jarrett Troxler – Quarterbacks
Skill guys are hard workers.
Quarterbacks and receivers have been working together over the winter early in the morning. Also working with film.
Lots of depth at the skill positions. A high level of competition is expected this summer.
The offense will be multiple with lots of formations. A lot of guys to get the ball to. No huddle set. Will throw the ball more than last year.
“We need to manage the expectations for next year.”
Nate Moore – Head Coach
“What a different feeling it is this year to know how far ahead we are from a year ago. We have an unbelievable staff.”
Pro Days went very well according to Moore. There were several colleges in attendance, including Ohio State, Northwestern, Illinois, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Miami, Toledo, Bowling Green, Kent State and Eastern Michigan, plus several lower division schools.
Four players have received scholarship offers to play Division 1 college football, including Jamir Thomas (Michigan State, Pitt and Kentucky), Tre’von Morgan (Akron, Toledo and Eastern Kentucky), Dean Clark (Yale, Toledo, U.S. Air Force and Army), and Jayden Ballard (Akron, Bowling Green and Eastern Kentucky). Three other players have received offers from lower division schools.
The Booster Club has been instrumental in helping to fund several summer camps, including Notre Dame of Cleveland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Pitt.
The coach is really excited about the schedule, citing eight home games. “There is nothing better than playing at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.” The schedule also features three out of state teams and a first time visit to Louisville
“Talent-wise we’re in a really good place. The quality of our young men is outstanding. We have great kids and great coaches.”
“Last year’s team loved playing for Massillon. That has to continue.”
Keys for this year: summer development utilizing position units; leadership (much difference place than a year ago) and continue to win with toughness.
He was only in Massillon for a brief amount of time, but Earle Bruce left an indelible mark on this town with his success on the football field, compiling a 20-0 win-loss record and capturing two Ohio High School State Championships. He died at 87.
Having prepped with stints at Mansfield, Salem and Sandusky, Bruce took over the Massillon job in 1964, replacing long-time, highly successful coach Leo Strang, who had moved on to Kent State. But it didn’t take long for Bruce to experience the pressure to win. Following a rocky start against Cleveland East, Game No. 2 was slated against Niles McKinley, which owned a 48-game winning streak and had topped the Tigers in the state championship voting just a few years before when both teams finished undefeated. The venue was the Akron Rubber Bowl, selected as a neutral site for this intense battle. After falling behind 8-0 early in the second quarter, Massillon fought back to take a 14-8 lead by halftime. And that score stood up in front of a near-capacity crowd of 30,128. After the game, Earle Bruce stated that “it was night I became a Tiger.”
The comeback victory was characteristic of several more games to come that season, particularly the one against Canton McKinley. Both teams entered the season finale with 9-0 marks, with Massillon No. 1 and the Bulldogs No. 2 in the A.P. Poll. The interest in the game was so high that a Cleveland television station opted to broadcast it live throughout northeast Ohio. After falling behind 14-0 at the half, the Tigers roared back to score 20 fourth-quarter points behind backup quarterback Dave Sheegog to pull out a 20-14 win, capturing the state title and finishing second in the national poll. For the year, Massillon scored 297 points (a high amount for that era) and gave up just 46.
Season No. 2 for Bruce went a little easier, but again it was a déjà vu struggle against Canton McKinley, with the Tigers again falling behind 14-0 by halftime. This time, however, the comeback starter earlier and Massillon escaped with an 18-14 victory and another state title. It was also Bruce’s 43rd consecutive win. Looking back later, Bruce said that he felt more pressure to win the Massillon-McKinley game than he ever did when facing Michigan while at Ohio State.
The predominant characteristic of Bruce’s teams was defense. In 20 games his teams surrendered just 126 points or just six points per game. They also recorded nine shutouts and only one team scored more than twice. Offensively, no opponent held the Tigers to less than two touchdowns. His methodical full house T, grind-em out offense was the rule of the day and the “smash mouth” football style seemed to be the right formula for this future Buckeye boss.
Based on his success in Tigertown, Ohio State Coach Woody Hayes hired Bruce away to become an assistant coach. Bruce stayed six years there and left to become the head coach of Tampa, but stayed for just a single year, finishing 9-1. This writer particularly remembers his close win in the Rubber Bowl against the Akron Zips. The next stop was head coach of Iowa State (current position of former Perry player Matt Campbell). Following Hayes dismissal by OSU, Bruce took over the reigns there for the next nine years. He finished his college coaching with short tenures at Northern Iowa and Colorado State before moving on to the professional American Football League.
By the end of his career Earle Bruce had compiled high school mark of 82-12-3 and a collegiate mark of 154-90-2. But for Massillon, he will always be remembered for his two unbeaten seasons and a pair of state titles. And he was also a superb gentleman off the field. Earl will be missed.
Ohio – The Ohio high school football 73rd annual North South Classic all-star game will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Massillon, Ohio at Washington High School’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The North South Classic is contested between the top senior football players in the state of Ohio as selected by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.
Two games will be played. The first at 12:00 noon, featuring senior athletes from high school football divisions IV, V, VI and VII. The second at 4:00 p.m., featuring senior athletes from high school football divisions I, II and III.
First held in 1946, the North South Classic is the nation’s oldest-running high school football all-star game. The game boasts a legacy of top athletes who have participated in it over the years, including Pro Football Hall of Famers Len Dawson, Roger Staubach, Jack Lambert, Alan Page, Larry Csonka and Paul Warfield.
The Ohio High School Football Coaches Association operates the North South Classic with the support of Tournament Director Steve Channel, Head Football Coach at Miamisburg High School. The game is supported locally by professional staff and volunteers from Visit Canton, the City of Massillon, the Massillon City School District and Ohio’s Region 7 high school football coaches.
Event sponsors from Massillon and the greater Stark County business community include: Visit Canton, The City of Massillon, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Aultman Sports Medicine, Massillon Parks & Recreation Department, The Canton Repository, Massillon Eagles Aerie #190, Donatos Pizza, Buffalo Wild Wings in Massillon, Kimble Recycling & Disposal, Papa John’s Pizza in Massillon, Farmers National Bank, New-Talk 1480 WHBC, Massillon Washington High School Alumni Association, Up in Smoke BBQ and Catering, TIG Grille & Catering, Smiley’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, Bella Sera Pizzeria, Mid’s Homestyle Pasta Sauces, and Farris Produce Inc. For more information on becoming an event sponsor contact Mary Vlahos, Vice President of Sales at Visit Canton, at MaryV@VisitCanton.com or 330.454.1439.
CONTACTS:
Steve Channell, Region XV Director/All Star Game Coordinator, schannell@miamisburg.k12.oh.us
James France, President – Ohio High School Football Coaches Association, james.france@manchester-panthers.org Tony Carr, Region VII Director – Ohio High School Football Coaches Association, Phone, tony.carr@perrylocal.org
The weights were clanking, the muscles straining and the sweat flying as nearly 100 Tiger athletes gave it their all, attempting to set personal bests and perhaps win some awards. The annual event honors Steve Studer, the late strength and conditioning coach, who was also eager to display the energy exhibited by these fine young men to their friends and relatives. After compiling the marks for both squat and bench press, medals were awarded to the top three in each weight category. But in the eyes of the couple hundred fans in attendance, all of the athletes came away as winners.
The overall champion lifter was Senior Hunter Wantz, who competed in the Super Heavyweight Division. He had a combined lift of 1,049 lbs., including a squat of 665 lbs. and a bench press of 384 lbs.
“I thought we had a great turnout,” said Massillon Defensive Line Coach J.P. Simon who, along with Cornerbacks Coach Terrence Roddy, organized the event. “I thought the crowd was awesome. Just first glance, looking at the numbers, I think we blew it away. It shows how hard the guys have been really working in the weight room. We had a little success last year and went on a run and things could have gone two ways this offseason. It’s either guys get happy and complacent and feel like they’ve arrived a little bit, whereas I think this group has taken it as we got that close and didn’t finish and really had a chip on their shoulder. They’ve really gotten after it and attacked the weight room this winter. It’s been really impressive to see them work.
So how does all this translate into success on the football field? “I’ve always said that you win your games in the offseason,” said Simon. “We do all our work and prepare all offseason long. What you see on Friday night is just a product of all this. And since I’ve been back, this will be Year 3, this is hands down the best offseason. And to be honest it’s not even close.”
The annual Steve Studer Memorial Lift-a-Thon will be held in the WHS main gym on Sunday, April 15 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Come out and support our Tigers.
One Tiger, now in its ninth year of operation, is non-profit organization whose purpose is to “benefit Massillon youth by supporting and promoting the institutions and programs that deliver success skills.” Annually, One Tiger honors individuals that have an extensive track record of giving support to the kids in this manner. This year’s honorees are Dale Walterhouse and Esther Bryant.
One Tiger Managing Director Bob Clendenin kicks off the One Tiger 2018 Award Ceremony
A lunch at Washington High School kicked off the event and then the recipients were honored in the auditorium by proclamations from Mayor Kathy Catazoro-Perry, by those closest to them with short speeches (each one punctuated by an enthusiastic ring of the Massillon-McKinley victory bell) and finally by presentation of the One Tiger awards. The event concluded with dinner at Tiger Town Grille and Pub.
One Tiger 2018 award recipients Esther Bryant and Dale Walterhouse
Dale Walterhouse accepts congratulations from Massillon Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry
Dale Walterhouse
At the request of his Upper Sandusky High School coach Leo Strang, Dale Walterhouse moved to Massillon to coach at Lorin Andrews Junior High. After stints as Jones Junior High and Washington High School sophomore coach, Walterhouse became varsity assistant and served under head coaches Strang, Earle Bruce, Bob Seaman, Bob Commings and Mike Currence. He coached six state championship and two national championship teams and was a member of the inaugural class of the Tiger Hall of Fame. His Massillon coaching career spanned 24 seasons, compiling a record of 201 wins, 21 losses and 4 ties.
Coach Walterhouse taught health, physical education, and general chemistry in the Massillon School System, served as district supervisor of health and physical education, and was briefly Washington High School’s athletic director. An active member of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club, Walterhouse has served as president and treasurer as well as president of Sideliners.
Walterhouse has served his community through the Massillon Alumni Scholarship Committee, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Civil Service Commission, the Spring Hill Historic Home board of directors, the Lions Club as chairman of the eye screening program, the Ohio North-South All-Star football game assistant events director, and state football playoffs parking coordinator. He served as a Massillon city councilman and the manager of The Elms Swim Club.
Dale Walterhouse receives One Tiger Award from Bob Clendenin
Walterhouse and his wife Jo have three children—Kathy, Kurt, and Steve, eleven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
“You’ve been a wonderful asset for this city,” said presenter and former Tiger player and past Football Booster Club President Brock Herring. “You always had the best interest of the Massillon kids in your heart. You were like a dad to many of us.”
“It’s our community that comes out on top because of people like these (Dale and Esther),” added former Football Booster Club President Steve Berecek. “For Dale, it was a labor of love. He always wanted to give back to the community.”
Dale graciously thanked One Tiger and all of the presenters. “Massillon has been very good to us,” Dale said. “I’ve surrounded myself with great people and it is great people that make you successful. I give football a lot of credit for my being here today. You can do a lot more with team than individual.”
Esther Bryant receives 2018 One Tiger Award from Bob Clendenin
Esther Bryant
A 1959 graduate of Washington High School, Esther Bryant studied at Kent State University and the Washington Beauty Academy in Akron, where she taught for many years. She also taught at the Jane Skinner Modeling School and Christina’s Hair Weev (the inventor of the hair weave) before opening her own beauty salon and boutique in Massillon, Juannee’s Total Image.
As a Stark County Human Services foster parent, she recognized a need to provide basic life skills and cultural experiences for foster children. With the assistance of Rev. Reginald Hye at Friendship Baptist Church in Massillon, she founded Lighthouse Visions. For 22 years, as CEO/executive director of Lighthouse Visions, she tirelessly bettered the lives of foster children, until she suffered a serious stroke in 2015.
Bryant served the community in many capacities, volunteering with Westark Family Services, Downtown Massillon Association, Massillon WestStark Chamber of Commerce, the Fair Housing Board, Massillon Museum, Canton NAACP, Massillon Woman’s Club, CAN (Collaborative Agency Association), Board of Stark County Community Action and the Massillon Parks and Recreation board.
Bryant has two daughters—Judge Valarie Hill and Bridget Hill, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She is a member of Friendship Baptist Church, where she served as pianist for more than 50 years. She now sings in the choir. She also attends Massillon Connections Church and leads praise workshops.
Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore has released the 2018 schedule, having filled the remaining open spot with Montclair, New Jersey. Montclair joins two other out-of-state opponents, including East St. Louis, Illinois, and Sun Valley, Pennsylvania. This marks the fifth time that three or more non-Ohio teams have appeared on the schedule. The Tigers also have eight home games for the first time since 2004. Once again it will be a very challenging schedule.
Here is a rundown of each opponent:
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary – 2017 record: 10-4. The Irish move to the opener from Week 9, replacing Mentor. Last year St. V scored a touchdown with 3:15 remaining in the game to defeat the Tigers 13-10. In the Division 3 playoffs they advanced to the state semifinals where they lost to Tri-Valley, 24-6. The Irish have defeated Massillon in four of the last five years.
Canton GlenOak – 2017 record: 3-7. Last year the Golden Eagles had an uncharacteristic subpar season, which included a 24-10 loss to Massillon. The Tigers have won four of the last five matches.
Warren Harding – 2017 record: 3-6. The Panthers suffered through the loss of graduated quarterback Lynn Bowdon. One of the losses was to Massillon, 31-21. The Tigers own a 3-2 edge over the past five years.
Montclair, NJ – 2017 record: 12-0. Last year Montclair captured the New Jersey North I Group 5 championship with a 35-14 win over Union City. This should be a balanced matchup for the Tigers.
Akron Firestone – 2017 record: 4-6. The Falcons return to the schedule for the third consecutive year. Last year the Tigers defeated Firestone 35-6. The Falcons were 3-2 in Akron City Series competition.
Austintown Fitch – 2017 record: 6-4. Last season Massillon broke a 28-28 tie in the fourth quarter by scoring 10 consecutive points. The Tigers have now won the last two meetings following three consecutive losses.
East St. Louis, IL – 2017 record: 10-2. This may be the toughest opponent on Massillon’s schedule. East St. Louls, with Cleveland Glenville-like talent, is considered to be a national power and annually plays teams from across the country. Last year they lost to another national power in Evangel Christian Academy (Shreveport, LA), 14-6. There is a chance that this game will be televised nationally.
Sun Valley, PA – 2017 record: 5-7.
Louisville – 2017 record: 5-5. Having been booted out of the NBC, the Leopards are now forced to schedule independently. Ergo, the Tigers will visit Lousville this year in a first-ever meeting. Last year the Leopards started out with three consecutive losses: Canfield (28-48), North Canton (14-41) and Austintown Fitch (21-42).
Canton McKinley – 2017 record: 8-3. Last season Massillon held off the Bulldogs 16-15 in the inaugural meeting of these two teams at Canton’s Tom Benson Stadium. The Tigers now have beaten McKinley in six of the last seven games, with the lone loss coming in 2015 by the score of 30-28. The Bulldogs advanced to the playoffs last year but were defeated in the first round by Lakewood St. Edward.
Robert was a 2-year starting quarterback for the Tigers. In 2008 he passed for 471 yards and four touchdowns. He followed that up with a stellar 2009 year in which he passed for 2,631 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading his team to the state playoff semifinals against Cleveland Glenville. Robert is 6th all-time in career yards passing and 3rd for total yards passing in a single season. Following Massillon, he accepted a scholarship to play football at Miami of Ohio and later transferred to Hiram College, where he set a new single-season passing record, including 410 yards against Kenyon.
The predominant characteristic of Bruce’s teams was defense. In 20 games his teams surrendered just 126 points or just six points per game. They also recorded nine shutouts and only one team scored more than twice. Offensively, no opponent held the Tigers to less than two touchdowns. His methodical full house T, grind-em out offense was the rule of the day and the “smash mouth” football style seemed to be the right formula for this future Buckeye boss.
“I thought we had a great turnout,” said Massillon Defensive Line Coach J.P. Simon who, along with Cornerbacks Coach Terrence Roddy, organized the event. “I thought the crowd was awesome. Just first glance, looking at the numbers, I think we blew it away. It shows how hard the guys have been really working in the weight room. We had a little success last year and went on a run and things could have gone two ways this offseason. It’s either guys get happy and complacent and feel like they’ve arrived a little bit, whereas I think this group has taken it as we got that close and didn’t finish and really had a chip on their shoulder. They’ve really gotten after it and attacked the weight room this winter. It’s been really impressive to see them work.
