Head Coach Nate Moore begins his 11th season as head coach of the 2025 Tigers, having compiled an overall record there of 110-25. Included in that mark are six Division II regional playoff championships and one state championship (2023), which was the 25th in Massillon’s long history. Last year the Tigers finished with a record of 11-3, while losing 14-7 to Big Walnut in regional finals. During the regular season Massillon defeated defending 3-time Division I state champion Lakewood St. Edward for the third consecutive year. The Tigers also posted a 16-7 win over Canton McKinley, which was the ninth consecutive win in that series. The goals for the 2025 season, of course, are to beat McKinley and return the state championship game.
With five non-Ohio teams on the schedule, Massillon will once again play a national slate, something that has been the norm of late. Nine of the ten games will be played at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, with the finale on the road against Canton McKinley (8-5). The out-of-state teams include newcomers Rabun Gap (12-1) from Georgia, Bennet (7-2) from Buffalo, New York, Cornerstone Christian (5-5) from San Antonio, Texas, and Cardinal Ritter College Prep (10-2) from St. Louis, Missouri. A fifth one, Football North (8-3) from Mississauga, Ontario, returns from last year’s schedule. For the opener, Massillon has scheduled Cleveland Glenville (11-3), which is led by long-time coach Ted Ginn. With two recent Division IV championships on the belt Ginn has been jumping up and down for the opportunity to face the Tigers. The slate also includes Canton GlenOak (1-9), St. Edward (9-6) and Warren Harding (8-4). The opponents last year compiled an overall record of 81-40.
The Massillon offense, led by new offensive coordinator Evan Barberi (Ashland University), will be looking at a lot of new faces for the 2025 season, as it returns just two full-time starters, including a pair of junior offensive tackles in Marcus Garner (6’-1”, 285) and Kevin Elliott Jr. (6’-0”, 265).
Three quarterbacks will vie for the starting position. They are senior Eli Moore (6’-2”, 170), junior Mandwel Patterson (5’-10”, 150) and sophomore Rasmus Haines (6’-3”, 160). None have significant varsity experience.
Junior Savior Owens (5’-10”, 205) is expected to play a major role at running back. Last year as a backup he rushed 32 times for 126 yards (3.9 ave.) and scored one touchdown. Owens is the younger brother of Da’One Owens, who as a dual-threat quarterback helped the Tigers capture the 2023 state championship.
The wide receiver position has several talented players available, although speedy junior Dante Malone (5’-11”, 175) is the only one with any significant varsity time. Last year he caught 22 passes for 248 yards (11.3 ave.) and two touchdowns. Also, keep an eye on senior Richard Harris Jr. (5’-8”, 155) and junior Gio Jackson (6’-3”, 170).
Expect the Tigers to have a run-first mentality in offense, with several players providing a deep-ball passing threat. But in order for the Tigers to be successful in this phase of the game, two areas must first be resolved. The first is molding an inexperienced offensive line into the performance level of veteran group. The second is settling on a starting quarterback and establishing the team’s passing capability.
While the offense will be challenged to find the necessary starters, the defense enjoys just the opposite situation and may be called upon early in the season to produce the wins. Seven full-time and four part-time starters return to this side of the ball, which should make this unit extremely formidable.
The 3-man line returns junior Isaac Maxheimer (6’-0”, 200), junior Dayvionne Floyd (6’-1”, 260) and junior Joseph Russ-Karder (6’-4”, 215), to go along with newcomers senior defensive lineman Anthony Neal (6’-3”, 310) and senior defensive lineman Zey’shawn Murray (6’-1”, 290), who played for the Tigers as a freshman.
Highly recruited senior Ja’Dyn Williams (6’-1”, 200) returns at inside linebacker. Last year he was second on the team in tackles with 38 solos and 43 assists, including 12.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks. Senior Logan Allman (6’-215”) also returns at inside linebacker, but he may be featured at another position this year. Outside linebacker junior R’Celle Hill (6’-0”, 190) saw significant playing time at the position in 2024.
Both cornerbacks return, including senior Lennox Lemon (6’-1”, 175) and highly recruited senior De’Mari Clemons (5’-10”, 165). Senior Tra’Yon Williams (5’-10”, 190) is back at safety, along with part-time starter junior Braylon Gamble (6’-0”, 185).
Junior place kicker Mateo Herrera (5’-5”, 140) returns for a third year as does senior long snapper Francesco Salvino (5’-10”, 190).
But the biggest change this year on defense will be at the coaching position. Long-time coordinator Spencer Leno left to become the head coach at Massillon Perry and Moore went out of state to find his replacement in Jeff Kent. Kent has significant experience and has had very good success as a coordinator at several highly successful high school programs in Georgia and Tennessee. Look for the Tigers to once again be strong on defense, while exhibiting an attacking style of play.
In the playoffs Massillon is favored to win Region 7, but will need first to get by a Big Walnut squad that returns several outstanding starters off their 13-2 state semifinal team of last year. Beyond that, stiff competition will come at the state level from defending champion Avon, along with Akron Hoban and Cincinnati Anderson.