Category: <span>News</span>

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Jamir Thomas Named 1st Team All-Ohio

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
  • Bedford defensive back Kevin Brewer – 3rd Team

2017 Hardnose Award Goes To Jamir Thomas

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.

Congratulations to Jamir Thomas.

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Booster Club Meeting Report – Playoff Week 3

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

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.

Final Announcements:

Go Tigers!! BEAT Winton Woods!!

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Massillon Scoring Streak Continues

A little-known program record continues with Massillon’s win over Ashland last Friday.  The record is for consecutive games in which the Tigers have scored points, a streak that began in 2007 and currently stands at 119.  The previous mark of 106 games was set between 1998 and 2007.  Combined, the Tigers have now scored points in 225 of their last 226 games.  The lone shutout came at the hands of Cleveland St. Ignatius in 2007 by the score of 27-0.

Click here for a complete list of winning streaks, offensive scoring streaks and defensive shutout streaks.

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Booster Club Meeting Report – Playoff Week 2

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club held its latest General meeting in the WHS media center on Monday 11/13/17 at 7:00pm.  Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed everyone and asked for a moment of silence for the recent death of a marching band grandfather at last week’s game and today’s deaths at Affinity Hospital.

There is one bus going to this week’s game in Mansfield vs. New Albany. The bus leaves the Towne Plaza Shopping Center at 4:30 pm. Cost is $25 per ticket, subs and water will be provided; tickets are on sale at Keller’s Office Furniture (see Matt Keller).

Be sure to check out the Tiger flags displayed at local businesses during our playoff run. Thank them for their support if you stop in.

President Berecek then introduced Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore who brought Receivers Coach Cale Miller to the meeting. They showed film from the Ashland game and answered questions from the audience.

Coach Moore then introduced two football players: Junior game Captains LB #18 Kameron Simpson Junior DB/WR #8 Tyree Broyles who addressed the club on the Ashland game and the upcoming tournament game vs. New Albany.  They also answered questions from the audience.

Coach Moore and Coach Miller then reviewed New Albany game film and discussed their potential lineup.  They also answered questions from the audience.

Final Announcements:

Door prizes were announced.

Go Tigers!! BEAT New Albany!!

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Northeast Inland All-District Team Announced

A select panel of sportswriters for the Associated Press has announced its 2017 Division 2 All-Star Football Team for the Northeast Inland District.  The Massillon Tigers, who are playing this Friday in the regional finals against New Albany, landed just a single player on the first team: Jamir Thomas.  Here are all the award winners, along with their current statistics and records:

Jamir Thomas – 1st Team.  Running back.  6′-1″, 212 lb., junior.  298 rushing attempts (1st all-time) for 1,283 yards (10th all-time) and 20 touchdowns (8th all-time).  Had 42 carries against McKinley (2nd all-time), 37 against Ashland (5th all-time) and 36 against Canisius, NY (8th all-time).  Rushed for 196 yards against Ashland, 163 against Austintown Fitch and 160 against Canisius, NY.  Scored five touchdowns against Canisius, NY (1st all-time) and four against Ashland (2nd all-time).  Also caught four passes for 43 yards.

 

Austin Kutscher – 2nd Team.  Wide receiver.  6′-1″, 180 lb. senior.  72 receptions (2nd all-time) for 1,056 yards (5th all-time) and 12 touchdowns (5th all-time).  Caught 17 passes against Canisius, NY (1st all-time).  Recorded 208 receiving yards against Canisius, NY (2nd all-time) and 198 against Youngstown Ursuline (6th all-time).  Scored four touchdowns against Youngstown Ursuline (2nd all-time).  Certainly deserving of First Team All-District.

Ty Keirns – 2nd Team.  Defensive lineman.  6′-5″, 231 lb. senior.  21 solo tackles and 17 assists.  2.5 sacks.  10 solo and 4 assisted tackles for loss.

Kameron Simpson – 2nd Team.  Linebacker.  5′-10″, 195 lb. junior.  39 solo tackles (team high) and 46 assists (team high).  One solo sack.  Four solo and one assisted tackles for loss.

Dean Clark – 2nd Team.  Defensive back.  6′-1″. 189 lb. junior.  37 solo tackles (2nd on team) and 28 assists (3rd on team).

Aiden Longwell – Honorable Mention.  Quarterback.  5′-11″, 161 lb. sophomore.  133 completions on 220 attempts for 1,987 yards (8th all-time) and 19 touchdowns (9th all-time).  Just three interceptions.  60% completion (4th all-time).  9.0 yards per pass (7th all-time).  Efficiency rating of 162 (4th all-time).  Against Youngstown Ursuline, completed 11 of 17 passes for 324 yards (4th all-time) and 5 touchdowns (2nd all-time).  Against Canisius, completed 22 of 30 passes for 297 yards.

Tre-von Morgan – Honorable Mention.  Wide receiver.  6′-6″, 199 lb. junior.  30 receptions for 415 yards and two touchdowns.

Max Turner – Honorable Mention.  Defensive back.  6′-0″, 159 lb. junior.  12 solo tackles and 4 assists. Three pass interceptions.

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Booster Club Meeting Report – Playoff Week 1

Report by Rick Dalsky, Booster Club Secretary

The Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club held its latest General meeting in the WHS media center on Monday 11/6/17 at 7:00pm.  Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed everyone and said “let’s keep it going.”  He encouraged everyone to consider supporting the Massillon Museum levy (Issue 18) and the School renewal levy (Issue 43).

President Berecek then introduced Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore who brought Defensive Line Coach JP Simon to the meeting. They showed film from the Boardman game and answered many questions from the audience.

Coach Moore then introduced two football players: Senior Captain WR/S #3 Austin Kutscher and Junior S/WR #19 Dean Clark who addressed the club on the Boardman game and the upcoming tournament game vs. Ashland.  They also answered several questions from the audience.

Coach Moore and Coach Simon then reviewed Ashland game film and discussed their potential lineup.  They also answered questions from the audience.

Final Announcements:

There is one bus going to Wooster for the Ashland game.  Tickets are $20 each and are available from Matt Keller at Keller’s Office Furniture store in downtown Massillon. The bus leaves the Towne Plaza Shopping Center at 5:30pm this Friday (11/17). No food will be provided. Door prizes were announced.

Go Tigers!! BEAT Ashland!!

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Tigers to Play Ashland in Wooster; Bus Info

Massillon has advanced to the second round of the playoffs on the heels of a 28-23 victory over Boardman.  The Tigers will now face Ashland (9-2), which defeated Columbus Mifflin in overtime, 48-47.  The game will be held at Wooster High School’s football stadium next Friday at 7:30 pm.  The stadium is billed as an 8,000 seat venue.

Link to Playoff Bracket

Link to Ashland’s Scores

The Booster Club is offering bus transportation to the Ashland game at Wooster this Friday November 10.  The bus tickets are $20 and do not include a game ticket.  The bus will leave Towne Plaza at 5:30 PM.   Tickets can be purchased at Keller’s Office Furniture or contact Bill Brown at (330) 704-2548 for further information.