Smoke The Burger Joint has generously offered to host a fundraiser for the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club. The event will be held at the Massillon restaurant (15 Tommy Henrich Drive NW) on Thursday, February 22, 2018, from 4:00 pm to 8:00. Fifty percent of the proceeds during the sale event will be donated to the Booster Club, which helps support the Tiger football program with items such as post-game meals and training equipment. Be sure to come and bring all your friends and relatives.
Perry’s foray into the ranks of Division 1 for the post-season playoffs turned out to be a brief one year. Next season the Panthers will return to Division 2, most likely aligned with the Massillon Tigers in Region 7. Starting with last year’s introduction of competitive balance by the Ohio High School Athletic Association, team assignments are now made annually rather than every other year. The reassignment must be welcome news for the Perry camp, which qualified for the playoffs last year with a fine 9-1 record only to lose 24-7 to Cleveland St. Ignatius in the first round. In each of the two previous years the Panthers advanced to the Division 2 state finals, losing both times to Cincinnati LaSalle.
Several schools have vacated Division 2 due to changes in effective enrollment, but they are being replaced by Perry and the following:
Cuyahoga Falls (dropping from Division 1)
Maple Heights (moving up from Division 3)
Toledo Central Catholic (moving up from Division 4 due to a high number of transfers; note that the OHSAA has rescinded the one-division restriction)
Dover (moving up from Division 3)
Tri-Valley (returning to Division 2 from Division 3)
Given these changes, and if the OHSAA continues with the current assignment scheme, Region 5 will have 28 members, Region 6 will have 26 members, Region 7 will have 30 members and Region 8 will have 23 members. To balance out the regions, expect the OHSAA to reassign some of the teams in Region 7 to Region 8.
Notes:
Perry has the highest effective enrollment in Division 2 with 617 (adder of 6)
Massillon is ranked 18th out of 107 schools with an effective enrollment of 550 (adder of 50, which is the highest adder of all D2 public schools)
Tri-Valley and Dover were both moved up to D2 on account of the adder.
23 schools have zero adder.
The average adder among public schools that have a adders is 10.
Parochial school adders are as follows: Toledo Central (200), Cleveland Benedictine (169), Cincinnati LaSalle (137), Akron Hoban (136), Toledo St. Francis (134), Walsh Jesuit (114), Columbus St. Charles (99) and Toledo St. John’s (97).
Toledo Central’s adder of 200 increased their base enrollment by 85%, which is by far the highest percentage increase of all schools in the state.
Regions 5, 6 and 8 each have at least one significant parochial school member.,
Art Hastings, Massillon’s stellar running back from some 60 years ago, has been inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame. He joins the 2018 Class that also includes Alliance quarterback Charles Babb, Canton McKinley receiver Reggie Corner, Central Catholic running back Vince Gliatta, North Canton running back / defensive back Charlie Grandjean, Canton Lincoln coach Don Nehlen and Canton McKinley end Erie Sheeler.
Art Hastings
The list of Hastings’ accomplishments for the Tigers is impressive. After rushing for 571 yards during his 1958 sophomore season, he lit it up the next year by rushing for 1,245 yards with an average of 10.6 yards per carry (3rd all-time). Art also rolled up 1,485 all-purpose yards. For his effort he was named 3rd Team All-Ohio.
Hastings topped it off during his senior year by rushing 159 times for 1,274 yards, scoring 20 touchdowns and tallying 134 points. He also returned 12 kickoffs at an average of 21.5 yards per return. Arguably Hastings’ best performance was a 220-yard rushing effort against Canton McKinley in a 42-0 victory, where he rambled for touchdowns of 15, 29, 51 and 5 yards . He also set the record for the longest touchdown run from scrimmage, 93 yards vs. Springfield South. At the conclusion of the season Art was named 1st Team All-Ohio.
During his 3-year career for the Tigers, Hastings racked up 3,090 yards (first among all Massillon running backs), while scoring 34 touchdowns. He also contributed to three wins against Canton McKinley. His teams, coached by Leo Strang, compiled a record of 28-2-1, capturing two state / national championships (1959 and 1960).
The 2017 Massillon Tigers Football Banquet will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2018, at the St. George Cultural Center, located at 363 1st St. SE in Massillon.
Tickets are $25.00 per person and can be purchased at the WHS Ticket Office or at Keller’s Office Furniture downtown.
Engraved beverage glasses will be on sale for $10 each.
Doors will open at 5:30 pm and dinner will be served at 6:00 pm.
Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of the 2017 Tigers!
The 2017 football season was a banner year for the Tigers as they advanced to the state semi-finals. A fitting tribute to an individual Tiger player or loyal Tiger fan would be to purchase a brick in the Walk of Pride. Be part of one of the most distinctive features of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The entrance to the stadium consists of personalized bricks, which form a walkway for our fans. Named the Tiger “Walk of Pride,” the walkway captures our tradition of excellence. Tiger Football has produced outstanding athletes and the best fans in the nation.
The Tiger “Walk of Pride” provides a unique opportunity to leave an enduring symbol of your support for Washington High School athletics.The bricks are available in 4″x 8″ for $100.00 or 8″x 12 ” for $250.00.
Your order will be processed quickly and you will have your choice of placement. Contact John Liebermann @ 330-445-9250 or v1968vet@yahoo.com if interested.
The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club held its last General meeting of 2017 in the WHS media center on Monday 11/27/17 at 7:00pm. Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed everyone and thanked the players and coaches on a great season. He then announced that the Canton Repository has 5 former Massillon Tiger players up for election to the Stark County HOF. Please consider voting for them.
President Berecek then introduced Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore who was greeted with a standing ovation. 14 Tiger football players came to the meeting and they individually gave their thoughts on the season. Quarterbacks Coach Jarrett Troxler also was at the meeting.
Coach Moore talked about the season and mentioned how proud he was of his players. The Winton Woods game file was shown and Coach Troxler commented on the offense and Coach Moore on the defense. They also answered many questions from the audience.
Next year’s schedule is as follows:
Akron St. Vincent/St. Mary
at Glenoak
Warren Harding
at Youngstown Ursuline
Akron Firestone
OPEN
OPEN
Austintown Fitch
at Louisville
Canton McKinley
John Liebermann thanked all who helped us win the coupon bonanza for the fifth consecutive season. The Booster Club receives $2,000 for this accomplishment.
Door prizes were awarded.
Thank you to the team, coaching staff and fans for a great season.
Jamir Thomas, Massillon’s ironman running back, was named 2017 Division II 1st Team All-Ohio by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. He was the lone Tiger to be represented in this group. The 6′-1″, 212 lb. junior finished the year with 1,506 yards on 349 attempts. Thomas also tallied 21 touchdowns in helping his team win the regional championship. Last year Jamir was named Special Team All-Ohio linebacker.
Other players of note making the list are as follows:
Ashland quarterback Keagan Armitage – 1st Team
Bedford running back Kenny Wilkins – 1st Team
Cincinnati Winton Woods linebacker Chris Oats – Defensive Player of the Year
Cincinnati Winton Woods quarterback Kenny Mayberry – 2nd Team
New Albany defensive lineman Will King – 2nd Team
Ashland offensive lineman John Valentine – 3rd Team
The Touchdown Club annually presents the Bob Commings Hardnose Award to a deserving Massillon Tiger football player, emulating one that plays hard, hits hard and well represents his team. Bob Commings was a very successful coach for the Tigers from 1969 to 1973, compiling a record of 43-6-2, including Massillon’s last state championship (1970). HIs 1972 team qualified for Ohio’s first ever state playoff game. Commings departed following the 1973 season to become head coach of the University of Iowa and later coached at GlenOak High School, for which their field was later named.
Jamir Thomas Accepts the 2017 Hardnose Award
The selection of the deserving player is based on a weekly accumulation of votes cast by the members of the Touchdown Club at their Tuesday meetings. This year’s award winner is Jamir Thomas. Just a junior, he joins a stellar list of past recipients, including John Mulbach (Ohio State), David Whitfield (Ohio State), Charles Danzy (NFL coach), Chris Spielman (Ohio State), Shawn Crable (Michigan) and Brian Gamble (Illinois/Ashland)
Thomas was slated to play this season on defense almost exclusively at linebacker. But due to an early unforeseen depletion of running backs, he was thrust into the primary offensive position. According to Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore, Jamir readily accepted the change and was prepared to do anything he could to help the Tigers be successful. His performance was more than was expected, eventually being named First-Team All-District at the position, and helped his team capture the regional title in the playoffs.
Thomas finished the year with 1,506 yards, 3rd among all Massillon players. The yards came on 349 carries, blowing away the previous mark of 253. He also scored 21 touchdowns, which ranks 5th. The 42 carries against Canton McKinley in a 16-15 victory ranks 2nd and the 37 carries against Ashland ranks 5th. The five TDs against Canisius, NY, set a new single-game record and the four touchdowns against Ashland and three against Austintown Fitch are both in the Top 10 of the category. But Jamir also played some defense, recording 22 solo tackles and 10 assists in a part-time effort.
The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club held its latest General meeting in the WHS media center on Monday 11/20/17 at 7:00pm. Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed everyone and stated he is enjoying the ride. He then introduced Bill Brown who made the following announcement:
There are three busses going to this week’s game in Columbus vs. Winton Woods. The busses will leave the Towne Plaza Shopping Center at 4:00 pm. Cost is $25 per ticket, subs and water will be provided; tickets are on sale at Keller’s Office Furniture (see Matt Keller).
President Berecek then introduced Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore who brought Quarterbacks Coach Jarrett Troxler to the meeting. They showed film from the New Albany game and answered questions from the audience.
Coach Moore then introduced two football players: Junior S/WR #19 Dean Clark and Junior DB/WR #8 Tyree Broyles who addressed the club on the New Albany game and the upcoming tournament game vs. Winton Woods. They also answered questions from the audience.
Coach Moore and Coach Troxler then reviewed Winton Woods game film and discussed their potential lineup. They also answered questions from the audience.
30 West to 71 South (for 62 miles). Take Exit 115 for Cooke Rd. Turn left onto East Cooke Rd. Use the right lane to turn left toward East Cooke Rd. Turn right onto East Cooke Rd. Turn left onto Karl Rd.
