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Massillon, Midpark Wage Spirited Scrimmage

The intensity was high for Saturday’s scrimmage No. 2 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.  Massillon was coming off of what Coach Nate Moore described as a disappointing performance against Avon last Tuesday and looked to ramp up both the execution and the effort.  Meanwhile, Berea Midpark was trying to erase the memory last year’s complete domination by the Tigers in a similar venue.

The much-improved Titans were led by strong-armed quarterback Trevor Bycznski, a 6’-5”, 225 lb. junior.  Massillon, meanwhile, countered with a bevy of skilled athletes.  While the scrimmage started off fairly even, in the end it was clear that the Tigers had shown the improvement they were looking for enroute to another dominating performance versus the Titans.

Tre’von Morgan with the TD Reception.
Preston Hodges pushes toward the endzone. Marcellous Blake looks for a block.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 1 of the scrimmage called for each team to run two 10-play series, starting at their own 40 yardline.  Massillon tallied three times and Midpark twice.

Midpark: TD on a 3-yard run.  TD on a 45-yard pass.  The second score was a sideline throw to the wide receiver, who slipped a potential tackle by the cornerback and raced 40 yards to the end zone.  The Tigers’ Preston Hodges recorded an interception

Massillon: TD on a 25-yard run by Tyree Broyles.  TD on a 60-yard bomb from Anthony Pedro to Dean Clark.  TD on a 50-yard bomb from Pedro to Tre-von Morgan.

Part 2 of the scrimmage called for each team to run a series of plays starting at the opponents 20 yardline.  Massillon tallied four times and Midpark twice.

Midpark: TD on a 20-yard pass.  TD on a 10-yard pass.  Kameron Simpson recorded an interception.

Massillon: TD on a 20-yard pass from Aidan Longwell to Aydrik Ford.  TD on a 5-yard pass from Longwell to Hunter Anthony.  TD on a 1-yard run by Marcellous Blake.  TD on a 10-yard pass from Pedro to Morgan.

The JV team then got into the action, with Robbie Page intercepting a pass.  Jayden Ballard scored from 60 yards out and again from 40 yards out on passes from Jacob Catrone.

Part 3 of the scrimmage was one half of game condition football.  At this point the Tigers appeared to kick it up a notch and were clearly the better team, scoring four times in their first five possessions.  Midpark never threatened.

Midpark had the ball first, starting on its own 20 yardline.  On the first play from scrimmage Cameron Simpson stepped in front of the intended Titan receiver and intercepted a Bycznski pass at the 26.  From there, it took just one play for Jamir Thomas to take a handoff from Longwell and race to the end zone.  Clay Moll’s kick was good and the Tigers were out to a quick 7-0 lead.

The other three scores came on long drives.  Moll connected on a 28-yard field goal, Dean Clark caught a 16-yard pass from Longwell, aided by a terrific block from Morgan, and Thomas ran 53 yards, making the final score 24-0.

Observations:

  • Play was much improved from the Avon scrimmage, particularly when the teams went to game condition football.
  • This is not a “one-man” team. Several players are capable of making the big play.
  • Lots of athleticism and depth at the skill positions. Decent size, but not so much depth along the lines.
  • Overall team speed is much improved from last year.
  • All three quarterbacks (Longwell, Pedro and Catrone) executed the offense well and were fairly accurate on their throws. All showed the potential to go deep.
  • Three good running backs (Thomas, Louis Partridge and Blake) providing both power and speed where called for.
  • Open field tackling needs a bit of work.
  • Still need to improve the pass rush, but this may be due to using a base 3-4 alignment.
  • The kicking game is in good hands with Moll converting all of his PATs plus the field goal try.  His kickoffs were high and deep, with one reaching the end zone on the fly.

The final scrimmage is against Lakewood St. Edward, scheduled for 7:00 pm on Friday, August 18.

Dyson Berry with the pass breakup.
Aidan Longwell throws under pressure.
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First Scrimmage is In the Books

The Tigers opened their 3-game scrimmage schedule with a trip to perennial Division 2 power Avon.  Typical of a first scrimmage, it was an opportunity for the coaches to evaluate individual players as they search for the eventual starting eleven.  A final score is certainly not an indicator of a team’s potential, but the degree of effort certainly carries some weight.  That is what the coaches were looking for and on this night it wasn’t lacking for either team.

Anthony Ballard (21) looks for running room in the bubble screen. Blocking are Deon Williams (50) and Alec Soto (70).
Jamir Thomas avoids a tackler and scores for the Tigers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The scrimmage opened with Massillon’s first team offense running ten plays followed by Massillon’s second team offense running ten plays.  Each possession started at the Tiger 30 yardline. Then it was Avon’s turn.  The series was then repeated once more.

The Tiger first unit advanced to the Avon 32 on its first possession, but failed to pick up a first down on the second possession.  The second unit moved to the Avon 15 on its second possession, but ran out of plays.

Avon’s first possession was stopped at the ten on an interception by Dean Clark.  The second possession stalled at the Massillon 45.  Avon’s second team was stopped at the Massillon 20 on its first possession.

The next phase of the scrimmage involved running a series of plays starting at the opponent’s 25, similar to an overtime or red zone scenario.  Massillon’s first team scored when Jamir Thomas ran in from the 15.  The second team scored twice, on a 3-yard run by Louis Partridge and an Anthony Pedro to Jaden Ballard pass covering 25 yards.

Avon’s first unit scored on a 5-yard run and the second unit scored on a 23-yard pass/run and a 13-yard run.

Between possessions, each team had an opportunity to practice field goals.  Massillon’s Clay Moll was perfect from 20, 32 and 37 yards, and two of four from 42 yards out.

Observations

  • Offensively, Massillon mixed the run and pass equally. Aiden Longwell started at quarterback and, when given the time to throw, was accurate on most of his passes.  In the running department, Jamir Thomas showed the power he exhibited last year, with surprising speed in the open field.  Louis Partridge appears quicker and shiftier than last year and also ran with some physicality.
  • Avon’s defense utilized a 3-4 blitz package, which caused a lot of problems for the Tiger offensive line. And since the quarterback was called down when pressured or when exiting the pocket, many plays were just never completed.  However, Longwell showed the ability to tuck the ball and run when needed.
  • Defensively, Massillon was aligned in a base 3-4 defense with cover 2 and only blitzed on occasion. With Avon opting to throw the ball 90% of the time, it did find success through the air given the minimal pass rush, albeit all of the completions were of the short variety.  But the scheme did set up their few runs nicely.
  • Both offenses appeared ahead of the defenses in this early going, except for Massillon’s inability to handle the blitz. This was probably due to neither team scouting and game-planning the other.  But then again, neither could finish off a drive.
  • There will be a bit of a learning curve for these young Tigers as they become accustomed to both a new offense and a new defense. But they appear to be talent-rich, very quick and better open-field tacklers than last year.
Dean Clark (10) plants the Avon tailback.  Also shown are Preston Hodges (31) and Kameron Simpson (18).
Louis Partridge fends off an Avon tackler

 

 

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2017 Touchdown Club Information

Touchdown Club

The first Touchdown Club meeting will be held on Tuesday August 22nd, 2017 at the Eagles F.O.E. 190 in downtown Massillon. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. and the meeting will take place at 12:00 p.m.

Membership dues are $25.00 for the season and meals are $8.00 per week with exception to McKinley week which is $12.00.

Please contact Matt Keller for more information or an application letter.

Go Tigers!

Matt Keller

330-327-6290

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Orangemen to Meet

The Orangemen are scheduled to meet this Thursday, July 20th at 6:30 pm in the East Press Box of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.  Doors will open at 6:00 pm with some refreshments available.

The cost of the annual membership is $150.00 (checks made payable to “The Orangemen”).  Membership includes a LOWER WEST STADIUM PARKING PASS.

Your name will also be prominently listed on the Orangemen page of every home football program if your dues are received before the August 1st printing deadline.

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Upcoming 7 on 7 scrimmage schedule

The Massillon Tigers begin their preparation for the 2017 season with two 7 on 7 scrimmages this week at PBTS. Monday July 17 @ 6:00 PM the Tigers will host Green, Akron Buchtel, Louisville and Triway.

On Thursday, July 20 the Tigers will entertain New Philadelphia, Alliance, Barberton and Blackhawk H.S. from Pennsylvania. Also on Thursday at 6:00 PM our Freshman team will have a 7 on 7 with North Canton Hoover in the Paul David Indoor Facility.

In the case of inclement weather the varsity 7 on 7’s will be moved to the Paul David Indoor Facility.

Print a copy of the roster from the link below and get an early look at our 2017 Massillon Tigers!

2017 Massillon Tiger Football Roster (Pre-Season)

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Chris Spielman Football ProCamp Upcoming

The Chris Spielman Football ProCamp, sponsored by AultCare, is slated for Tuesday, July 18, at Massillon Washington High School.  The event will run from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and is free of charge for boys and girls entering grades 1 through 8.

Throughout his one-day camp, Chris Spielman, along with area high school and college coaches, will offer tips and hands-on instruction, including lectures, fundamental football skills stations, contests and non-contact games in a high-energy, fun and positive environment.  Campers will be placed in small groups by age to ensure that each child gets maximum instruction.

The comprehensive camp experience is great for athletes of all skill levels, whether they are new to the game or have been playing for years.  Individual team awards will be given in each age group.

Each attendee will receive a souvenir autograph from Chris Spielman, a camp team photo with Chris Spielman and a limited-edition Chris Spielman Football ProCamp t-shirt.

Founded in 1998, ProCamps® is a best-in-class event management and sports marketing company specializing in developing, managing, and operating camps, appearances, brand activations, and related experiences for professional athletes and coaches in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, PGA, ATP, NCAA, NASCAR, WPSL, MLL and NFHL. ProCamps helps Fortune 500 brands activate and execute more than 175 events across the country to effectively deliver brand messaging to thousands of parents, kids, and coaches via retail promotions, TV/radio/print, social media, and on-site activations.

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Booster Club Membership Blitz

By Gary Vogt.

This Saturday morning, July 15, your Massillon Tiger players will be canvassing the Massillon neighborhoods selling Booster Club memberships.

By supporting the Booster Club with your membership, you will be helping to provide the resources necessary to keep our football program among the best in the state of Ohio.  The standard membership can be purchased for $10.  Also available above the standard membership are the Bronze ($25 or more), the Silver ($50 or more) and the Gold ($100 or more).  The Bronze, Silver and Gold members are recognized in the Massillon game program each week during the season.  Each member will receive a Membership Card and a hand painted Obie Tiger lapel pin, a tradition started in 1952.  Corporate memberships are also available and are also displayed in the game program.

Please welcome our Tiger Players and support our Booster Club, Team, School and Community with your membership.  Your support is needed and greatly appreciated.  Thank you!

HS Football Rule Changes for 2017

The National Federation of State High Schools (NFHS) continues to tweak its rules governing high school football, this year focusing on protection of defenseless players.  Below is a summary of these changes:

  • A defender will no longer be permitted to punish a receiver in an attempt to jar the ball loose while the receiver is in the act of catching it. In addition, this type of contact must be withheld until the receiver completes the catch and turns himself into a runner.  Prior to this, the defender can use only open hands.
  • A defender can use only open hands against a quarterback who is in the act of throwing the ball or just after releasing the ball.
  • No contact is permitted against a runner whose forward progress has been stopped by other players or who is in the act of sliding feet first.
  • No contact is permitted against a player who is considered to be out of the play.
  • Only open hands can be used against the receiver of a punt or kickoff until he turns himself into a runner.
  • Blindside blocks can only be administered using open hands.
  • The pop-up onside kick has been eliminated in order to protect defenseless receiving players.

Other rule changes include:

  • Face guarding by a pass defender is now permitted provided he does not make physical contact with the receiver.
  • A defender is not permitted to contact a center’s arm or the ball until the ball has been released from the center’s hand.
  • During the last two minutes of either half, an offended team can opt to have the clock restarted on the snap rather than immediately after the penalty has been enforced.
  • Home jerseys must be dark in color and contrasting to white. This may ultimately eliminate those light gray uniforms.

Competitive Balance Observations

Starting with the 2017 season, the OHSAA will begin assigning each school to a football playoff division using both its current enrollment and an adder that takes into account the number of roster players that arrived at the school via the transfer route.  Termed “Competitive Balance (CB),” the goal is to “level the playing field,” particularly with the parochial schools, who are perceived to have an advantage over public schools in drawing area when it comes to securing players. The idea is that moving certain parochial schools up a division will level the field within each division.

Ohio’s football playoff system has been in place since 1972.  Throughout its 45 years of existence, the parochial schools have claimed a sizeable number of state championships when compared to public schools, in spite of comprising just 18% of the total school count.  In recent years, parochial schools have dominated the playoffs in the upper divisions, capturing 9 of the last 10 titles in D1, 4 of the last 5 in D2, the last 8 in D3 and the last 3 in D4.  In 2016, the state title went to a public school only in Division 6.  This history of imbalance has caused the ire of many public school administrators and led to a 2012 proposal to conduct separate playoffs for public and parochial schools.

Although a majority of school superintendents approved a referendum to place the proposal on the ballot, the OHSAA intervened fearing that if passed the parochial schools would leave the OHSAA.  Thus they engineered a compromise that changed the proposal to an “adder” system.  In 2014, the proposal was approved and it is scheduled for implementation starting with the current season.

In essence, if a student from outside the school district enrolls in a public high school, two points are added to the school’s enrollment.  If the student had originally enrolled in the school system in the seventh or eighth grade, one point is added.  For parochial schools, if a student from a public school enrolls in the high school, two points are added.  If a student from a parochial elementary school enrolls in the high school, one point is added.  An exception is that a parochial high school may identify a home elementary school and no points are added for any enrollees from that school.  The adder can have the effect of moving a school up a single division, but not two.

Here are some observations as CB takes affect:

  • For Division 1, splitting the playoffs would have produced a more competitive environment among the public schools. However, CB will only create the potential for adding yet more parochial schools to the division and make it that much harder for the public schools to compete.  It’s only a coincidence that no parochial schools were added this year.
  • Several schools moved up or down throughout the various divisions, mostly due to changes in base enrollment. However, many parochial schools moved up a division due to the effects of the CB adder.  This was likely the intent of the change.
  • As expected, the highest CB adders belong to the parochial schools. Top among the group is Lakewood St. Edward, with an adder of 381.  In terms of percent change in enrollment, the highest is Toledo Central Catholic (TCC), with an adder of 94%.  Interestingly, the change in base enrollment would have dropped TCC from D3 to D4.  However, the adder was sufficient enough to move them up two divisions to D2.  But per the rules schools can move up only one division.  Thus TCC finds itself back in D3.  Avid football fans will note that TCC annually dominates its conference, which is comprised primarily of D1 and D2 teams.
  • While D1 remains effectively unchanged, D2 got stronger with the addition of Cleveland Benedictine, Akron Hoban, Mentor Lake Catholic and Dayton Carroll, which join holdovers Cincinnati LaSalle, Toledo St. Francis, Toledo St. John’s, Walsh Jesuit and Columbus St. Charles.
  • The only large public school to move up a division due to CB was Tiffin Columbian. Tiffin advanced from D3 to D2 on account of a CB adder of 88.  Massillon Perry moved up to D1, but this is due only to an increase in base enrollment, not their CB adder of 21.
  • Traditional large public school powers Mentor, Toledo Whitmer, Hilliard Davidson, Huber Heights and Cincinnati Colerain do not have open enrollment. Thus, their adders are in the single digits.  Of course, they’re D1 anyway.
  • Massillon is the 32nd largest school in D2 (104th largest school the state) with an enrollment of 500. With the CB adder, Massillon climbs to the 18th position in D2 (90th in the state), with an adjusted enrollment of 538 or an increase of 8% (7th largest increase among public schools in D2; 189th largest increase among all schools in the state).
  • It takes an adjusted enrollment of 618 to qualify for D1. Therefore, with a current adjusted enrollment of 538, it does not appear likely that Massillon will return to D1 anytime soon.
  • The OHSAA may need to modify its CB formula in a couple of years after they find little change in the playoff results. Either that or administrators may once again push to split the playoffs.