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Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

Booster Club Report – Week 2

Five games; five wins.  The Tigers had success at every level last week, winning each game from the 7th grade through the varsity.  Here are the scores:

  • 7th Grade: Defeated Elyria Middle School, 36-12
  • 8th Grade: Defeated Oakwood (GlenOak), 34-0
  • 9th Grade: Defeated GlenOak, 44-20
  • Junior Varsity: Defeated GlenOak, 42-6
  • Varsity: Defeated GlenOak, 42-6

The guest players this week were quarterback Aidan Longwell and offensive lineman Cole Jones.  Against GlenOak, Longwell completed 5 of 6 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns.  For his career, he has now tossed 59 touchdown passes and needs just four more to tie the record set by Justin Zwick in 2001.  Jones anchors an offensive line that has yet to surrender a quarterback sack and has helped running backs to a 5.4 yards per carry average.

The guest coach was Jarrett Troxler, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.  “I thought the kids did a great job.” he said.  “We played to our standard (not to the competition).  Our kids handled it really well and put them away early.”

Troxler singled out the play of Longwell and emphasized the experience he brings to the game as a 3-year starter.  On one play, Troxler described how Aidan scrambled out of the pocket and had the poise to point to the spot for Ballard to run in order to convert a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Troxler said that he wants the team to get better and take the next step in this process.  And that next step is this Friday against Warren Harding.  The coach said that Warren is more athletic than GlenOak.  They have good secondary players and a really good player at linebacker in Emarion Perkins, a 6′-0″, 190 lb. junior.

After showing the highlight film of last week’s game against GlenOak and the scout films of Warren, Head Coach Nate Moore gave his impression of the Raiders, who previously lost to Canton McKinley, 32-27, and defeated Cleveland Rhodes, 56-0.  On special teams, they have a really good kicker with good range and excellent skill players in the return game.  The defense alternates between even and odd fronts.  Although smallish like GlenOak, Moore is expecting better line play out of this opponent.  Four seniors start on defense.

Offensively, Harding operates primarily out of the spread.  Leading the attack is junior Elijah Taylor, a 6′-1″, 190 lb. quarterback, who is also a returning starter with a big arm.  Against Canton McKinley in Week 1, he completed 19 of 37 passes for 346 yards and 3 TDs), albeit taking advantage of several blown Bulldog coverages.  But he was not quite as effective against Rhodes. Nevertheless, Taylor has several good receivers to throw to and this may be where you’ll find Warren’s best skill players.  The running game, however, was not productive against McKInley and netted just 81 yards in 25 attempts.  Four seniors start on offense, with a line that lacks a lot of game experience, while averaging 6′-1″, 258.

The Booster Club is sponsoring a bus to the Warren game on September 13.  The cost is $25 and includes a sandwich and drink.  Tickets can be purchased at Keller’s Office Supply.  Departure is planned for 4:30 pm at the old K-Mart on Lincoln Way E.

The WHS Ticket Office is now open on Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00.

Game time: 7:00 pm

Go Tigers!

News

JV Team Wins Again!!! Downs Canton GlenOak

The following story was provided by David Lee Morgan, Jr. WHS English/Journalism Teacher and Varsity/JV Running Backs Coach  

PLAIN TOWNSHIP: Camden Beasley is somewhat of a quiet person. But when the Massillon sophomore walks his 6-foot, 180-pound frame onto the football field, his actions speak louder than words.  Beasley scored four touchdowns in helping the Massillon junior varsity football team defeat GlenOak 42-6 Saturday afternoon (Sept. 6, 2019) at Bob Commings Field.  Although Beasley’s longest touchdown run was just six yards, he showed his durability by carrying the ball 14 times for 64 yards.  “Camden is a kid who comes to practice every day and has gotten better each and every day,” said Massillon’s varsity and junior varsity offensive line coach Chip Robinson. “He continues to do things the right way.”  Another bright spot at running back for the Tigers (2-0) was the performance of 5-7, 135-pound sophomore Ramier Kyles. He may not have size like Beasley, but Kyles has impressive speed and quickness.  Kyles only played the second half but led Massillon with 65 yards and added an impressive 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which was the Tigers’ final score.  And on special teams, sophomore place kicker Shane Rue was perfect on all six PAT (point after touchdown) attempts.

Sophomore quarterback Tanner Pierce had a solid performance completing 12-of-20 passes for 102 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The receivers were led by juniors Eric Thurman, who had eight catches for 67 yards, and Daymiere Adams, who finished with four catches for 44 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown reception.  Massillon’s defense gave up its only touchdown midway through the third quarter, and was led by sophomore cornerback Darrius McElroy with six tackles and sophomore defensive lineman Toddrick Lee and Thurman with three tackles each.  “Our kids started out a little slower than we liked but found their stride in the second half,” said Tigers’ varsity defensive ends coach and head JV coach Dave Weber.  Meanwhile, one of the biggest hits of the game came on the last play, and it wasn’t a Massillon player laying the pads. It came when Tigers’ sophomore linebacker Aaron Baecker intercepted a GlenOak pass near midfield, then scrambled down the Massillon sideline looking to return it for a touchdown.  However, a Golden Eagles player hit Baecker so hard that Baecker had his glasses knocked off his face as he landed five yards into the Tigers’ sideline.  That’s when Baecker picked up his glasses, popped right up and started jumping up and down while pumping his chest to signal that the hit didn’t faze him.  “When I caught it, I just gunned it,” Baecker said. “I knew there was a guy behind me but I just saw a clear path and a gateway straight to six points.  Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the biggest quarterback I’ve ever seen.”  Baecker was referring to GlenOak’s 6-2, 225-pound quarterback.  “He destroyed me,” Baecker said. “But when he hit me I didn’t feel anything. My blood was pumping so much I had a big grin on my face and when I saw my teammates I was happy because I proved myself.  That feeling was foreign to me because I haven’t felt that in a long time.”

Baecker’s teammates rallied around him, patted him on the helmet and gave him high fives as the team showed how impressed they were by his toughness.  “Honestly, I feel like to get hit like that takes courage,’’ Lee said. “I was impressed.”  So was Massillon varsity and junior varsity defensive tackles coach J.P. Simon, who is often seen after varsity games wearing a junk-yard dog chain around his neck while carrying a sledgehammer to symbolize the team’s toughness.

 

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

2019: Massillon 55, Canton Glenoak 13

Dominant first half carries Massillon past GlenOak
Chris Easterling
Sep 06, 2019 11:46 PM

MASSILLON Darien Williams took the kickoff and, following his blockers, raced to the left and then down the field to the GlenOak 42.

The only problem, however, was a yellow flag sitting back inside Massillon’s 40. That holding flag negated what would have been a big return, plus extra yards tacked on for a horse-collar tackle.

That would be about the only thing to go wrong for Massillon in the first half of a dominant 55-13 victory over visiting GlenOak on Friday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Once the Tigers were able to snap the ball – following a re-kick and then a GlenOak offsides penalty before the first play – they wasted no time laying waste to any hopes the Golden Eagles had of pulling off an upset. Massillon scored on its first six possessions, along with an interception return for a score by Preston Hodges, to jump out to a 48-0 lead just over 13 minutes into the game.

“We treat this like any other week,” Hodges said. “We come out looking to get as good as we can. We’re just looking to better ourselves as the season goes on.”

That was just the start, however. By the time the teams went to the locker room for halftime, the Tigers had already scored more points than GlenOak had given up in more than two decades, as they held a 55-6 lead.

Then only score of the half for the Golden Eagles came on a 91-yard Leeshawn Johnson kickoff return with 10:37 remaining in the second quarter. That trimmed the Massillon lead to 48-6.

GlenOak would have one other chance in Tiger territory over the first 24 minutes of the game. Jamiel Randle intercepted a Massillon pass on the Tigers’ seventh possession and returned it to the Tiger 13.

Four plays later, however, Massillon would get the ball back by stopping the Golden Eagles at the Tiger 9. Nine plays after that, Massillon would tack on its ninth touchdown of the half when Austin Brawley took a quick pass at the line of scrimmage from backup quarterback Zach Catrone and raced 35 yards for the touchdown with 3:39 remaining in the half.

If the scoreboard didn’t show the dominance of the first half, the statistics did. Massillon held a 401-21 edge in total yards, including 211-10 in rushing yards.

The Tigers also forced three turnovers in the first half. Besides Hodges’ pick-six, Robbie Page set up Massillon’s third touchdown of the night on a diving, juggling interception at the GlenOak 30. There was also a recovery by Isaiah Clark of an uncovered kickoff.

GlenOak did not pick up a first down until the 2:45 mark of the third quarter on a 29-yard run by Johnson to the Tiger 38. By that point, Massillon held an 18-1 edge in that stat.

Johnson would score GlenOak’s other touchdown as well on a 9-yard run with 4:54 remaining.

“We’re real young offensively right now,” said GlenOak coach Beau Balderson, whose team was out-gained 466-115 in total yards, and out-first-downed 21-4. “We’re taking our lumps. We’re going to continue to get better and they’re going to continue to fight and not point fingers at each other. We’re going to build from the positives of tonight and move on.”

All of that was done with the Tiger starters essentially calling it a night after Hodges ripped off a 16-yard scoring run to put Massillon ahead 48-0 with 10:53 remaining in the half. That was on the first play after Clark’s kickoff recovery.

Those starters, however, did the most with the little opportunity. Aidan Longwell was 5-of-6 passing for 155 yards and three touchdowns, completing his final five pass attempts.

Jayden Ballard, meanwhile, turned both of his catches into touchdowns for a total of 109 receiving yards. Andrew Wilson-Lamp added two catches for 38 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown catch.

All of that passing came after Massillon ran the ball on 11 of its first 12 plays, for 117 yards. Terrence Keyes would gain 79 of his 83 rushing yards on seven of those plays, while Zion Phifer added 29 of his 47 yards on four carries.

“We weren’t trying to establish the run,” Massillon coach Nate Moore said. “We were just calling the plays we thought would be successful. The kids executed.”

Both would score on 2-yard touchdown runs for a 14-0 Massillon lead with 6:25 left in the first quarter.

Reach Chris at 330-775-1128 or chris.easterling@indeonline.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingINDE

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

Booster Club Report – Week 1

The first Football Booster Club meeting of the 2019 season was held on Tuesday at the WHS Communications Center.  Head Coach Nate Moore reviewed last week’s 44-14 victory over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and previewed this week’s opponent, Canton GlenOak.

Guest players were Inside Linebacker Ben Krichbaum, who will return to action this week, and Defensive Lineman Manny McElroy, who Moore called “unblockable” after his stellar performance last Friday.  Against the Irish, Manny was able to continuously fight through double-teams to totally disrupt the Irish’ iso run game, leaving the linebackers “clean” to make the tackles.

The guest coach was Jason Jarvis, who coaches cornerbacks and special teams.  Jarvis noted that of the three phases of football (offense, defense and special teams), it was the special teams that graded the highest.  Their effort included three kickoffs in the end zone by Magnus Haines, who also averaged 45 yards a punt in his two attempts.  Alex Bauer converted all six of his extra point tries.  Coverage teams were great, according  to Jarvis.  And in the return game, St. Vincent elected to kick off short and out of bounds all night long, except after a safety, which might have been a miss-hit by the kicker.  For Jayden Balled returned that one 66 yards for a touchdown, a play that included a downfield block by Zion Phifer that lasted five seconds, as he waited for Ballard to clear his area.  “The drive to win is what makes them play well,” beamed Jarvis.

Coach Moore singled out Andrew Wilson-Lamp for his record-setting  performance last week in which he caught eleven passes for 232 yards and a touchdown.  The all-time Massillon single game record for yards now stands as follows:

  • Andrew Wilson-Lamp, 232 yards vs. Akron St. Vincent, 2019
  • Austin Jasinski, 222 yards vs. Mentor, 2016
  • Austin Kutscher, 208 yards vs. Canisius, NY, 2017
  • Devin Jordan, 206 yards vs. Dayton Chaminade, 2001
  • Reggie Rogers, 206 yards vs. Austintown Fitch, 2013

GlenOak enters this week’s contest against the Tigers coming off a 42-13 win over John Adams of South Bend, Indiana.  New coach Beau Balderson is trying to right the ship after the Golden Eagles suffered through a 1-9 campaign last season, which included a 49-0 home loss to Massillon.

On offense GlenOak utilizes multiple sets, some with tight ends and some with spread.  Two players share responsibility at quarterback, one a sophomore and the other a junior.  Moore likes the soph, Isaiah Knox, 6′-0″, 143 lbs.  Defensively, the coach says their are strong at cornerback, a position that includes Kindel Richardson, last year’s quarterback and a Michigan recruit.  Recall that It was Richardson that the Tigers put out of action for the remainder of the season when he tried to run the ball up the middle of the Massillon line after failing to find an open receiver.  Also keep an eye on inside linebacker Devon Blanchard, a 5′-10″, 220  lb., sophomore.

Depth may be a problem for the Golden Eagles in that several players go both ways.  They will also start seven underclassmen on offense and six on defense.  The offensive line averages 6′-0″, 248 lbs.and includes two seniors.  The junior-laden defensive front four average 5′-11″, 201 lbs., which may be a problem matching up against Massillon’s 278 lb. line.

“This is a rivalry game,” said Moore.  “A Stark County game.  They have some good players.  They will come ready to play.”

The Booster Club is sponsoring a bus to the Warren game on September 13.  The cost is $25 and includes a sandwich and drink.  Tickets can be purchased at Keller’s Office Supply.  Departure is planned for 4:30 pm at the old K-Mart on Lincoln Way E.

Go Tigers!

News

JV Team Off and Rolling

The following game report was provided by Coach David Morgan

After Massillon junior wide receiver Andrew Wilson-Lamp set a single-game receiving record for yards in a game (232, on 11 catches) against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday, junior wide receiver Eric Thurman had his own spectacular performance in the junior varsity game the following day.  Thurman caught three passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns (39 and 74 yards) as the Tigers defeated the Irish 29-7 in the season-opener for both teams Saturday morning at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Sophomore quarterback Tanner Pierce completed 7 of 10 passes for 261 yards and two touchdown passes and junior Daymiere Adams showcased his speed and quickness with a 65-yard touchdown run.  Sophomore Camden Beasley scored on a 1-yard run and sophomore kicker Shane Rue kicked a 37-yard field goal to complete the Tigers’ scoring.

Defensively, Massillon was led by sophomore defensive back Austin Brawley with six tackles and an interception, while junior defensive lineman Michael Billman added five tackles.  Rue had four tackles at linebacker and sophomore defensive back Darrius McElroy and Defensive lineman Toddrick Lee had three tackles each.  Junior linebacker Raekwon Vinson registered two sacks.

The Massillon junior varsity (1-0) will play at GlenOak Sept. 7 at 12 pm.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

2019: Massillon 44, Akron St. Vincent St. Mary 14

Record-setting night by Wilson-Lamp keys Massillon win
By Chris Easterling
Independent sports editor
Aug 30, 2019 10:30 PM

MASSILLON It must be something about season openers that brings out the best in Massillon receivers.

Junior Andrew Wilson-Lamp set a single-game school record with 232 receiving yards on 11 catches, helping the Tigers to a season-opening 44-14 win over St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. It breaks the old record of 222 yards, set by Austin Jasinski in the 2016 opener at Mentor.

“I just came out ready to play,” Wilson-Lamp said after his record-setting performance. “I wasn’t expecting to break anything.”

It didn’t take long for Wilson-Lamp to get into the groove, as he hauled in a 51-yard catch on Massillon’s third play to set up its first touchdown, 13-yard Terrence Keyes touchdown with 7:15 remaining in the first quarter. By halftime, he would have six catches for 163 yards and a score, a 45-yard catch to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead.

In between that catch and his record-setting 17-yard catch-and-run late in the third quarter, his final catch of the game, however, Massillon would go from on its way to a rout to a close game back to a rout. The Irish would score two touchdown in the final 56 seconds of the first half to cut it to a 21-14 halftime deficit.

“The first post I caught, I was like, ‘This is going to be a good game,'” Wilson-Lamp said.

The Tigers, though, would come out of the locker room by scoring 16 points in the first 4:45 of the third quarter to open up a 37-14 lead. They would get a opening-drive Preston Hodges touchdown run, as well as a safety on a bad punt snap by St. Vincent-St. Mary.

On the subsequent free kick, Jayden Ballard return it 66 yards for a touchdown with 7:15 remaining in the third. Ballard, who had 63 yards on five catches on the night, added a 33-yard touchdown catch on the first play of the fourth quarter.

“We just coached them up,” Massillon coach Nate Moore said of the halftime talk. “The coaches just got together, made the adjustments we needed to make, tried to take care of it. We just came out and played better.”

Or, essentially, play much like the Tigers did to start the game.

Massillon couldn’t have scripted a better opening 20 minutes. It had the football for four possessions and had found the end zone three times for a 21-0 lead with 4:18 remaining in the half.

Not only that, but the Tigers were doing just about what they wanted on offense, especially in the passing game. Aidan Longwell connected on 12 of his first 13 passes for 215 yards, including the 45-yard touchdown pass to Wilson-Lamp to give Massillon a three-score lead.

Included in Longwell’s start was a run of eight consecutive passes to open the second quarter, all but one of them to either Wilson-Lamp or Jayden Ballard. Longwel was 20-of-23 for 322 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Beyond the passing, Keyes was making the most of his Massillon debut. Playing against the team for which he played his first three seasons, Keyes had a the Tigers’ initial two touchdowns on runs of 13 and one yard.

Keyes would finish with 58 yards on 14 carries.

“I really like how we spread the ball around,” Moore said. “We take pride in getting the ball to all of our athletes.”

St. Vincent-St. Mary, however, would find life in the final 56 seconds of the first half. Enough life to turn what appeared to be heading to a halftime blowout into a one-score game.

The Irish cracked the scoreboard with a 10-yard Luke Lindsay-to-Josh Nickerson touchdown with 56 seconds left in the half to make it 21-7. Then, after Quinn Knox came up with an interception for St. V-St. M at the Irish 49, Lindsay hit Darrian Lewis for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-14 with 21 seconds left.

“We showed a lot of resiliency,” said Irish coach Bobby Nickol, whose team finished with 179 total yards. “We could have fell behind 28-0 at halftime and hung our heads. We made a few plays there at the end of the half.”

Reach Chris at 330-775-1128 or chris.easterling@indeonline.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingINDE

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Massillon Football Kickoff Rally Photos – 2019

Tiger Swing Band Enters the Rally
Tiger Players Enter the Rally
Tiger Players Enter the Rally
Tiger Players Enter the Rally
Huge Crowd at the Rally
The Massillon Tigers
Massillon Tiger Cheerleaders
Massillon Tiger Cheerleaders
Massillon Tiger Swing Band
Coach Nate Moore
Superintendent Paul Salvino
Massillon Tiger Cheerleaders
Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry with Coach Nate Moore
Former Massillon Tiger Player Ellery Moore
Co-Captain Preston Hodges

 

News

Scrimmage Report: Massillon vs. St. Edward

The final tune-up of the preseason pitted 2018 Division 2 State Runner-up Massillon against 2018 Division 1 State Champion Lakewood St. Edward.  This was a great match-up in that both of these teams are ranked nationally and expected to contend once again for their respective state titles.

The scoring part of the venue involved a half of regulation football and the Eagles came out on top 14-0.  But for the Tigers, it was turnovers and missed opportunities that defined the night, at least from a fan’s observation.  From a coach’s perspective, however, it was a great opportunity for the Tigers to face one of the best teams in the state with the goal of exposing their weaknesses.  This will only make Massillon better as they prepare for next week’s opener against Akron St. Vincent.

Massillon led in total offensive yards, 163-152, so play was fairly even throughout.  However, there were those missed opportunities that kept them off the board.  The Tigers had a golden opportunity on St.  Ed’s first possession when Preston Hodges went high to tip a bubble screen pass and Isaiah Roberson snagged the ball, returning it to the Eagle 15.  However, a fumble at the eight negated the opportunity.  Later in the scrimmage, Massillon drove to the red zone, but fumbled a pass reception into the end zone.  Finally, with 50 seconds remaining, St. Edward scored on a 1-yard run, capping a 38-yard drive, which was set up by a pass interception off a tipped ball.

After a short intermission, the two teams traded 10-play series starting with the first teams and progressing through the JV players.  For Massillon, Jayden Ballard caught a 51-yard touchdown pass and Andrew Wilson-Lamp hauled in a 70-yard TD pass, both coming from Aidan Longwell.  Alex Bauer kicked a pair of extra points.  St. Edward scored once, on a 7-yard run.

It should be noted that the Massillon quarterback was “hands off” and the referee was quick to whistle Longwell down, many times before the receiver patterns were fully developed.  Also, any attempt by Aidan to run the ball out of trouble was quickly halted.  Such is life in a scrimmage.

Offensively, Massillon had difficulty running the ball against a very veteran Eagle defensive front, which returns several starters from last year.  It didn’t help that running back Terrence Keyes was not in uniform, although Zion Phifer and Preston Hodges ran as well as expected.  In the passing game, St. Eds had the speedy athletes to stay with Ballard and Wilson-Lamp on the deep routes and few of these passes were successful.  However, Longwell and his receiving corps did an excellent job with the shorter passes and ended up with 116 yards in this area.

Defensively, the Tigers played physically, but at times were often overwhelmed by the size of the St. Ed’s line (note that big Manny McElroy was held out) and vulnerable to quarterback keepers (different scrimmage rules for the Eagles).  Nevertheless, the secondary continues to show improvement.  St. Edward finished with 72 yards rushing and 80 yards passing.

The following is the drive sequence for the regulation part of play:

  • St. Edward – Started at their own 30.  Interception returned to the 15.
  • Massillon – Started at the St. Edward 15.  Fumbled at the 8.
  • St. Edward – Started at their own 8.  92-yard drive for a touchdown; pass of 11 yards.
  • Massillon – Started at their own 30.  3 and out, punt.
  • St. Edward – Started at their own 28.  3 and out, punt.
  • Massillon – Started at their own 30.  35-yard pass from Longwell to Ballard to the 16.  Pass reception at the 5, but fumbled into the end zone and lost.
  • St. Edward – Started at their own 20.  Advanced to the Massillon 43 and punted.
  • Massillon – Started at their own 20.  Lost ball on downs at the St. Edward 28.
  • St. Edward – Started at their own 28.  3 and out, punt.
  • Massillon – Started at their own 19.  Interception at their own 38.
  • St. Edward – Started at the Massillon 38.  Touchdown drive; 1-yard run with 50 seconds remaining.
  • Massillon – Started at their own 30.  Advanced to the 45 and ran out of time.