2024 Season

PREVIOUS  SEASON

Head Coach: Nate Moore (10th Year)
Record To-Date at Massillon: 110-25
Team Captains:
All-Ohio: 1st Team:
Playoff Assignment/Computer Ranking: Division II, Region 7, 3rd seed
Tournament Results: Lost in regional finals
  • Playoff Bracket

All-Time Record: 959-302-36
Series Record vs. Canton McKinley: 77-53-5

Noteworth items: Pre-season outlook – The Tiger offense was led by a new offensive coordinator, former Massillon player Alex Wood. Wood has an extensive resume, including head coaching stints at several colleges and assistant coaching positions with four different professional teams.  He welcome back a wealth of returning players to that side of the ball.  Massillon returned just three starters on defense, but had enough talent on the roster to adequately fill the other eight positions.  The Tigers also had enough talent to repeat at Division II state champions.  Schedule – The schedule was formidable, with the likes of national powers Bergen Catholic, NJ (11-1), DeMatha Catholic, MD (9-2) and Lakewood St. Edward (15-1), the defending Ohio Division I state champion, plus Canton McKinley (9-4), Canisius, NY (5-6) and NFL Academy-London.  The schedule included six out-of-state opponents, more than in any previous season.  It was also perhaps the most difficult slate ever faced by the Tigers.  NFL Academy-London Game – Massillon opened the season with a unique experience by traveling to the west coast to face a team from Europe.  The game was part of the 3rd Annual Nike Football Kickoff Classic, which was held in Eugene, Oregon at Nike World Headquarters.  In a 35-21 victory, quarterback Jalen Slaughter passed for 403 yards, which ranks No. 2 in the Tiger record book.  Lakewood St. Edward game – Massillon traveled to Lakewood for this game and in front of a packed house defeated the Eagles, 31-21.  It was the the Tigers’ third consecutive win over the 3-time defending Division I state champions.  Legacy School of Sport Sciences – Through most of the season it appeared that Week 8 would be an open date.  However, at the last minute Legacy had a schedule opening and traveled by bus to Massillon for the game.  The Tigers won 41-0 behind Ja’Meir Gamble’s 290-yard rushing effort (No. 3 in the record book).  Canton McKinley game – The Tigers recorded their ninth straight victory over the Bulldogs with a 16-7 win.  The Tigers held the Bulldogs to under 100 yards rushing and under a 100 yards passing.  Post season playoffs – A pre-season  favorite to win Region 7 and contend for the state title, Massillon cruised through the first three games, outscoring the opposition, 126-27.  However, they were upset 14-7 by Big Walnut in the regional finals, in spite of outgaining the Golden Eagles 378-170 and Gamble rushing for 184 yards.  The Tigers were hampered throughout nearly every offensive drive by false start penalties, 19 in total, which is an unprecedented number for any football game.  Whatever was happening on the field seemed to neutralize the effectiveness of the line at the moment the ball was snapped.  The penalties also turned many short 3rd down plays into passing situations.  The Defense – The Tigers returned just three starters off of last year’s team, but were able to assemble another dominating group of players.  That is a credit to both the strength of the program, the athleticism of the players and a very effective defensive scheme that is utilized.  Nose tackle Michael Wright Jr. leaves Massillon as the career leader in sacks and tackles-for-loss.  Jalen Slaughter – Slaughter returned to his starting position at quarterback after sharing the role last year with Da’One Owens.  It was his fourth year as a starter and has found his place throughout the record book.  All-District Team – Fourteen players were named to the Northeast Inland District All-Star Team, six on 1st Team, four on 2nd Team and four Honorable Mention.  Coach Nate Moore – With the victory over NFL Academy-London Moore won his 100th game as a Tiger head coach.

Related Stories

Booster Club Reports

OpponentDiv.Rec.Loc.Mass.Opp.Rec.Attend.MediaStats
NFL Academy-London1 - 3N3520W200 (est.)StoryStats
Canton GlenOakI1 - 9A450W3,322StoryStats
Bergen Catholic, NJII10 - 1H2135L5,060StoryStats
Canisius, NYII9 - 2H417W5,068StoryStats
Lakewood St. EdwardI9 - 6H3121W6,700StoryStats
DeMatha Catholic, MDI10 - 1A1420L4,950StoryStats
Football North (Clarkson), ONIV8 - 3H456W4,743StoryStats
Legacy School of Sport Sciences, TXVI7 - 4H410WStoryStats
Warren HardingII8 - 4A4514WStoryStats
Canton McKinleyI8 - 5H167WStoryStats
SUBTOTAL331130xxxx
PLAYOFFS
Licking HeightsII4 - 7H416WStoryStats
Canal Winchester (Big Time Sports Broadcast)II8 - 4H377WStoryStats
Teays ValleyII8 - 5N4814WStoryStats
Big WalnutII13 - 1N714LStoryStats
TOTAL464171xxxx

The Teays Valley game was played in Zanesville.
The Big Walnut game was played at Mansfield’s Arlin Field

JV Record: 4-1-1
Freshmen Record: 5-5