2025 Season

PREVIOUS  SEASON

Overall record: 9-4
Regular season record: 7-3
Head Coach: Nate Moore (11th Year)
Record To-Date at Massillon: 119-29
Team Captains: Eli Moore, Ja’Dyn Williams, Davionne Floyd, Braylon Gamble, Deontay Malone, Savior Owens
All-Ohio: 1st Team: Ja’Dyn Williams, Savior Owens; 2nd Team: Deontay Malone; 3rd Team: Sam Dossous
Playoff Assignment/Computer Ranking: Division II, Region 7, 3rd seed
Tournament Results: Lost in regional finals
All-Time Record: 968-306-36
Series Record vs. Canton McKinley: 78-53-5

Noteworthy items: 

  • Pre-Season Outlook – Head Coach Nate Moore entered the 2025 season on the heels of a 110-25 overall record, six playoff regional titles and one state title.  Given a small senior class, the majority of starters were expected to be underclassmen, with minimal varsity experience.  Nevertheless, it was considered to be a very athletic group.  It was also a year of transition in that both coordinator positions saw new hires.  For the offense it was previous Tiger player Evan Berbari and for the defense it was Jeff Kent, who hails from Georgia.
  • Schedule – The schedule once again was one of the toughest that Massillon has ever faced, equal to that of the 2024 season.  It included five out of state teams, including Georgia’s Rabun-Gap and Ontario’s Football North, both of which are football academy schools.  Also on the schedule were always powerful Cleveland Glenville, Lakewood St. Edward and Canton McKinley.
  • Regular Season – The two biggest wins were 21-14 over Lakewood St. Edward (No. 1 in Ohio Division 1 at the time) and 21-14 over Canton McKinley.  Against the Eagles Massillon rolled up nearly 400 yards of offense, with Savior Owens gaining 162 yards rushing and quarterback Manny Patterson running and passing for 196.  It was the fourth consecutive year that the Tigers had defeated St. Eds.  In the game against the Bulldogs, Deontay Malone returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown late in the game to break a 14-14 tie for the win, upping the series record to 78-53-5.  It was the first time in the long history of the rivalry that a Tiger player had ever accomplished this feat.  It was also the 1th consecutive victory over the Bulldogs.  The season losses were to Cleveland Glenville in overtime, Rabun Gap and Football North.
  • Post-Season Playoffs – Following a Round 1 bye the Tigers routed North Canton Hoover, 62-7.  Patterson completed 12 of 13 passes for 226 yards.  In Round 3 Massillon went to the ground and overcame Columbus DeSales, 48-14.  Owens rushed for 215 yards and scored three times.  The run came to an end with a 27-21 loss in the regional finals to Big Walnut.  Owens rushed for 293 yards to lead the offensive attack, while the defense held the Golden Eagles in check for most of the game.  However, a couple of crucial special teams mistakes that led to short-field TDs spelled the difference.
  • Top 10 Records Performers – Savior Owens (single game rushing yards; single season rushing yards, yards per game and touchdowns); Manny Patterson (single game and single season pass completion percentage, and pass efficiency); Ja’Dyn (1 single game defensive category, 3 single season categories; 10 career categories); Deontay Malone (single season average yards per punt return, kick returns and kick return yards); Mateo Herrera (single season and career PAT kicks made, PAT kicks attempted and PAT kick percentage).
  • All-District Team – 1st Team: Sam Doussous, Deontay Malone, Savior Owens and Ja’Dyn  Williams; 2nd Team: Dayvionne Floyd, Braylon Gamble, Gio Jackson Jr., and Isaac Maxheimer; Honorable Mention: Logan Allman and Marcus Garner Jr.  Seven of the ten are juniors.

Related Stories

Booster Club Reports

OPPONENTDIV.REC.LOC.OFF.DEF.RES.ATTEND.DATEMEDIASTATS
Cleveland GlenvilleIV12 - 3H2733 O.T.LAug. 22StoryStats
Canton GlenOakI2 - 8H4410WAug. 29StoryStats
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, Rabun County, GAVI6 - 5H3550LSep. 5StoryStats
L. J. Bennett, Buffalo, NYI10 - 2H350WSep. 12StoryStats
Lakewood St. EdwardI11 - 3H2114WSep. 19StoryStats
Football North, Clarkson Secondary School, Mississauga, ONTIV5 - 4H234LSep. 26StoryStats
Cardinal Ritter College Prep, St. Louis, MOV9 - 4H2814WOct. 3StoryStats
Cornerstone Christian, San Antonio, TXIII6 - 4H4520WOct. 10StoryStats
Warren HardingII3 - 6H4210WOct. 17StoryStats
Canton McKinleyI9 - 3A2114WOct. 24StoryStats
SUBTOTAL300199
PLAYOFFS
North Canton HooverII9 - 3H627WNov. 7StoryStats
Columbus DeSalesII9 - 3A4814WNov. 14StoryStats
Big WalnutII12 - 2N2127LNov. 21StoryStats
TOTAL431247

The Big Walnut game was played at Zanesville

JV Record: 2-6-1
Freshmen Record: 3-5-1