The third General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 9/11/2017. Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance. Steve made the following announcements:
There was a moment of silence in recognition of those lost during 9-11.
Scores from the week: 8th grade won vs. Warren 34-28, 9th grade won vs. Warren 28-14 and the JV lost vs. Warren 20-7.
On-line ordering is being added to the website. Ben Liebermann is working with our Treasurer (Vince Pedro) on this project.
Coach Nate Moore brought Coach Rob Oviatt, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, to the meeting. Coach Oviatt has been a college Strength coach for 30 years and talked about coming to Massillon and specifics about conditioning. He answered questions from the group.
Coach Moore also brought two senior football players to the meeting. Game Captains Senior WR Austin Kutscher and Senior DB Dyson Berry addressed the club on the Warren Harding game and the upcoming game vs. Ursuline. They also answered questions from the audience.
Coach Moore commented on the Warren game and the upcoming Youngstown Ursuline game. He showed film clips from the Warren game and commented on the action. Then he reviewed the Ursuline game by showing game film from their games and reviewing their potential lineup and players. He also answered questions from the audience.
The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Monday September 18, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Media Center of WHS. Memberships will be available at the door.
Chris Easterling – The Independent Sep 08, 2017 10:11 PM
WARREN Massillon and Warren Harding have engaged in more than their share of shootouts over the last two or three seasons. While the faces may have changed, that trend didn’t change on Friday night as they renewed acquaintances at Mollenkopf Stadium.
There were no Austin Jasinskis or Lynn Bowdens on the field. However, players such as Jamir Thomas and Kayron Adams were, both of whom had a hand in what ultimately became a 31-21 Massillon win on “Throwback Night” in Warren.
“First off, (Warren’s) a good football team with some good running backs,” said Massillon coach Nate Moore, whose team is 2-1 heading into Week 4’s home game with Ursuline. “We had a hard time tackling those guys, plain and simple. You just swing harder. You just swing hard and keep playing hard.”
The biggest hammer the Tigers were able to swing was Thomas, who rushed for 148 yards and a score – which gave Massillon a 14-7 first-quarter lead – on 27 carries. He helped Massillon rush for 209 yards on 45 carries as a team, with Zion Phifer adding 61 yards on 14 carries.
Those rushing numbers helped the Tigers offset a Warren offense which gained 276 yards of its own on the ground in the game.
Of those, 202 yards and all three touchdowns came from Kayron Adams. However, 66 yards came on the Raiders’ lone second-half score, a third-quarter touchdown that cut it to 28-21 with 3:50 remaining in the quarter.
“We were vastly improved from Week 1,” said Warren coach Steve Arnold, whose team – which was paying tribute to the old Warren G. Harding Panther teams – falls to 0-2. “We threw the ball better. We’re going to be able to run the ball all year; I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.”
For Massillon, it was a case of never having to play from behind. That meant from the opening seconds of the game.
Game action vs. Warren Harding
Anthony Ballard drew up the perfect start to the game for Massillon. Ballard took the opening kickoff at his own 16, found a crease in the blocking and raced virtually untouched to the end zone for a touchdown just 12 seconds into the game.
“We wanted to kick the ball down the numbers and we kicked the ball down the middle,” Arnold said. “That’s not what we practiced all week. So, consequently, you kick it down the middle on a shift, we have an overload on one side.”
Game action vs. Warren Harding
Almost like a starter’s gun at a track meet, Ballard’s kickoff signaled the start of an early shootout between the two long-time rivals. Four consecutive combined possessions between the teams would result in four combined touchdowns, the last of which was a 15-yard pass from Aidan Longwell to Austin Kutscher with 7:46 remaining in the first half to give Massillon a 21-14 lead.
The two would also hook up for a 37-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter which made it 28-14 Tigers. Longwell finished 8-of-11 for 120 yards, while Kutscher had four catches for 82 yards.
Adams had both first-half touchdowns for Warren: a 7-yard run to tie it at 7-7 and a 15-yard run to even things up at 14-14. The last came with 8:52 remaining in the half.
Adams added a 66-yard touchdown run one play after the second Longwell-to-Kutscher touchdown pass, cutting the Massillon lead to 28-21. Warren would get inside the Tiger 20 only once more after that, while Massillon would tack on a 21-yard Klay Moll field goal with 6:03 remaining.
Game action vs. Warren Harding
Massillon had a hand in both Raider first-half scoring drives thanks to what has been an early-season issue: penalties. The Tigers had back-to-back flags on the first – a late hit and a pass interference – to move the ball from their own 33 to the 9.
The second drive was aided by a iffy pass-interference call in the end zone on a 50-50 ball on fourth-and-12 from the Massillon 30. The next play, Adams scored his second touchdown of the night.
The Tigers were flagged eight times for 83 yards in the game. That includes six flags for 69 yards in the first half.
Game action vs. Warren Harding
“We have to get back to the drawing board and watch the film and get things corrected,” said Moore, whose team has been flagged 39 times in three games. “It’s a continuous process of getting better every week. That’s just part of it.”
One other early-season trend helped Massillon come up with the game’s first defensive stop. Dyson Berry intercepted a pass in the end zone on third-and-31 for Warren with 3:28 remaining in the half. It was the third pick in as many games for Berry.
Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.
Great week for the Tigers! I am really enjoying watching this young team develop. Names that you may not have expected to hear all season are being large contributors early in the 2017 season. Dyson Berry and Zion Phifer both come to mind immediately on defense and offense respectively. Defensively the Tigers did a great job of forcing Rhoads to get the ball out of his hands and limit his running ability. The Tigers went the entire 1st half without a penalty, but emotions got the best of them in the second half. We have to eliminate the drive extending penalties going forward. This game was a great building block for what is expected to be a tough road game next week vs. Warren. — ES
One additional note, this is the second week in a row where we have seen the impact of the NFHS new rule on defenseless players. Last week it was a crack back block and this week it was in the 4th qtr. on a Glenoak player falling to the ground on an incomplete pass and subsequently getting cracked by Dean Clark. The stands were up in arms about this play and getting on the refs, but as we know, this is the way the NFHS and OHSAA are trending and that has to be communicated to everybody from fan to team. — ES
A lot of kudos to go around after our Tigers out hit Glenoak 24-10. The Tiger defense limited Glenoak to just 43 yards rushing which forced the Golden Eagles to rely on their passing game. A like effort will be needed this week at Mollenkopf Stadium against Warren. The Raiders passed for just 30 yards in their opening game loss to Canton McKinley. Warren was open in week two and undoubtedly worked on their passing game, but expect them to rely on their strength which is running the football. Our Tigers will need another physical effort against the Raiders. So, get out to Mollenkopf Friday and help our Tigers attain their second victory of the season. — GV
Friday will mark the 17th meeting between Massillon and Warren Harding in the current series, which started in 1989 and stands at eight wins and eight losses for each team. The Tigers’ record at Mollencopf Stadium during that time is 2-5, with the last win coming in 2013 by the score of 35-14. Massillon’s wins there have been by an average of 21 points, whereas the losses have been by an average of 7 points. This year Warren appears to be favoring the ground attack, as they possess two pretty good running backs who operate behind a big offensive line. However, in the passing department, they are still searching for an identify, alternating two quarterbacks and occasionally running the Wildcat. Against Canton McKinley, the Raiders aligned their defense in a 4-3 with a cover-4 secondary. Although the skill level here is decent, the defense has many new players from last year. But they do return a pair of good ones in safety Jalen Hooks (6′-1″, 190 lb. Sr.) and defensive tackle Kaprice Sledge (5’11”, 325 lb. Jr.). Hooks has received several D1 offers. Warren has only played one game so far and has had two weeks to prepare for the Massillon invasion. So Coach Moore doesn’t know what Warren will bring. But he also said an early season bye does not necessarily provide an advantage. He emphasized that you need to play games in order to improve.– DE
After two weeks of competition only 5 of the 27 teams in Division 2, Region 7 are still unbeaten, attesting to the weakness of the region. Those five are Columbus Northland, Columbus Walnut Ridge, North Canton, Boardman and Columbus Briggs. The big surprise was Westerville South, a 50-14 victor over Dublin Scioto in Week 1. Last Friday South lost to a resurging Gahanna Lincoln team, 34-0. Other highlights included Lake losing to Dover, Ashland losing to Clyde, and Wooster and Dublin Scioto both starting out 0-2. I know it’s early, but the current teams to keep an eye on are Massillon, North Canton, Boardman, New Albany and LIcking Heights. Others in the hunt include Ashland, Lake, Worthington Kilbourne and Westerville South. Once again, there may be several teams qualifying with just six wins. And there may just be two Columbus City teams qualifying. Games of interest this week include Massillon (1-1) vs. Warren Harding (1-1), Boardman (2-0) vs. Jackson (2-0), New Albany (1-1) vs. Licking Heights (1-1), Westerville South (1-1) vs. Hilliard Darby (1-1), and Lake (1-1) vs. Copley (1-1). More as the season goes along. – DE
I have been asked why there are “Team” statistics in the game stats. There are several reasons for this. The most common is when a quarterback “takes a knee” after the snap from center. The loss that results is recorded as a “Team” rush and and the lost yards are charged to “Team”. Another reason you will see “Team” yardage is on a wild pass from center where there is a loss of yards. However, If after a wild pass from center the ball is picked up and a yardage gain is the result, the play is recorded as the if the wild pass from center did not occur. On an unblocked punt the entry is similar. If in the opinion of the scorer an improperly centered ball prevents the punter from carrying out his assignment the resulting loss is recorded as a “Team” loss. If the punter is able to recover the ball and punt, but the ball goes for a loss or out of bounds the punt is recorded as a “Team” punt. If the center snap is proper and it the judgment of the scorer the punter miss handles the ball the result of the rush or pass or kick is charged to the punter. — JB
The second General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Tuesday 9/5/2017. Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance. Steve made the following announcements:
There was a moment of silence on the passing of long-time booster Karen Rogers.
Scores from the week: 8th grade lost to Glenoak 20-10, 9th grade won against Glenoak 28-13 and the JV won against Glenoak 40-6.
Schedule this week: Freshman at home on Thursday 9/7/17 at 6:00 pm vs. Warren Harding.
Booster Club bus to Warren leaves the Town Plaza shopping center at 4:30 pm this Friday (9/8/17). Tickets cost $25; include a snack but not a game ticket. Tickets are on sale at Keller’s Office Equipment store.
Remember to bring the booster coupons from the newspapers to future meetings.
Booster Club meetings will be on Monday nights the rest of the football season.
Remember to bring canned goods to future meetings to help us win the “Beat McKinley” food drive.
Coach Moore brought two senior football players to the meeting. Senior WR Austin Kutscher and Senior OL Jared Foss addressed the club on the Glenoak game and the upcoming Warren Harding game. They also answered questions from the audience.
Coach Moore commented on the GlenOak game and the upcoming Warren Harding game. He showed film clips from the GlenOak game and commented on the action. Then he reviewed the Warren Harding game by showing game film from their first game and reviewing their potential lineup and players. He also answered questions from the audience.
The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Monday September 11, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Media Center of WHS. Memberships will be available at the door.
The Booster Club will be offering bus transportation to the game at Warren this Friday, September 8. The bus tickets are $25 and do not include a game ticket. A sub sandwich and a bottle of water will be provided. The bus will leave Towne Plaza at 4:30 PM, not 11:00 as advertised in the Independent. Tickets can be purchased at Keller’s Office Furniture or contact Bill Brown at (330) 704-2548 for further information. Buses will also be provided for the Austintown Fitch game on September 29.
Chris Easterling – The Independent Sep 01, 2017 10:45 PM
Massillon played a game of keep-away on Friday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers spent much of the game keeping the ball away from GlenOak. That led directly to Massillon keeping the win away from the Golden Eagles as well, as it emerged with a 24-10 victory to even its record at 1-1.
Aided by a 33-carry, 107-yard effort from Jamir Thomas, Massillon was able to run 80 plays in the game to just 43 for GlenOak, which is 0-2 for the first time since 1998. The Tigers finished with 356 total yards, while the Golden Eagles’ 188.
“There’s no doubt about it he was a part of it,” Massillon coach Nate Moore said of Thomas, who had missed the season-opening loss to Mentor due to disciplinary reasons. “But great performance by our offense and a great performance by our defense, especially in the first half. I’m proud of those guys.”
The tone of the game was set in the first half. Massillon’s first two drives took 19 and 21 plays, respectively.
Even more importantly, they both resulted in points. Klay Moll ended the first one with a 23-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead; Thomas ended the second one with a 1-yard plunge to give the Tigers a 10-3 lead.
By halftime, Massillon had already run 45 plays for 166 yards to just 16 plays for GlenOak for 61 yards. Of those, nine plays and 30 yards came on the Golden Eagles’ first drive, which ended in a Dean Sarris 20-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
Game Action vs. Canton Glenoak
“The first half, obviously, we just couldn’t get off the field defensively,” GlenOak coach Scott Garcia said. “They ran the ball right down our throats. I think it was 45 plays for them in the first half to 16 for us. You’re not going to win games like that.”
The running game certainly was the backbone of the Tiger win. Massillon ran for 157 net yards on 55 carries – including 28 yards on 12 carries on a 15-play, game-sealing fourth-quarter scoring drive that ended on an Aidan Longwell 1-yard run with 2:33 remaining.
Game Action vs. Canton Glenoak
However, two pass plays may have been the ultimate difference. The first was a 33-yard Longwell-to-Austin Kutscher touchdown pass immediately after a Dyson Berry interception in the third quarter to put the Tigers in front 17-3.
The second, maybe bigger, one came on the final scoring drive. Facing a second-and-21 from the GlenOak 38, Longwell hit Dean Clark on a wheel route for 36 yards to the Eagle 2.
Three plays later, Longwell powered in from the 1 for a 24-10 Tiger lead. GlenOak would go four-and-out on its next possession to squelch any further threat.
“It was a great throw,” Moore said of the Longwell-to-Clark pass. “It was sort of a back-shoulder throw. Great call by our offensive coaching staff. The kids executed, and that’s what it takes to win big games.”
Longwell, in his second start, was 15-of-25 for 209 yards with the one touchdown pass.
Meanwhile, GlenOak quarterback Tate Rhoads was never able to get the one part of his game that had Tiger defensive coaches most concerned in the week leading to the game. That would be his rushing ability.
Game Action vs. Canton Glenoak
Rhoads, who had 78 yards on six first-half carries before leaving with a broken collarbone in the teams’ 2016 meeting, was held to just six rushing yards on four carries.
“He missed a couple of reads that he should’ve given the ball,” Garcia said. “He just didn’t do it. He didn’t play very well and he knows it, and we’re going to move on.”
Rhoads was 16-of-24 for 145 yards with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chris Armstead with 8:01 remaining to cut Massillon’s lead to 17-10. He also had the interception, which Berry made on a diving catch after the ball deflected off of the receiver. Click Here for: Game Statisitics
Each week, the staff of massillontigers.com will provide input of their choice related to the current season or Massillon football in general.
Week one was a rough night. We have to move on to Canton GlenOak who also lost. They lost to Toledo Whitmer 38-24. The outcome of the GlenOak game is essential to the success of our 2017 season. Next week’s winner will depend on which team is most successful in regrouping and improving on week one. We all need to get behind our Tigers as our support is critical this week. Go Tigers! — GV
This year the Tigers are competing in Division 2, Region 7 for one of the eight post-season playoff spots. Based on last weekend’s scores, certain teams have already established themselves as contenders. Start with Westerville South. They competed last year in Division 1 and posted a 1-9 record. But they moved down this year and started off with a bang, trouncing Dublin Scioto, 50-14. Running back Jaelen Gill, an OSU recruit, led the Wildcats with 138 yards rushing and four touchdowns. North Canton’s 43-12 victory over Brush looks good on paper, but aside from that, there were no real eye openers. Here are the teams that should contend: Massillon, North Canton, Lake, Boardman, Ashland, Wooster, Westerville South, Worthington Kilbourne, Dublin Scioto, New Albany and LIcking Heights. And save a spot for one of the Columbus city teams. In what is arguably the weakest region in D2, only 12 of the 27 teams posted victories last weekend. Normally a team would need win seven or eight teams to qualify. But with the weakness of this region, it is conceivable that one or more teams could get in with just six victories. — DE
This will be the 9th game with GlenOak in the recent series. In that six of the last seven were decided by three points or less, one can expect the same type of nail biter this time around. GlenOak’s offense revolves around Tate Rhoads, a returning starter at quarterback. Stop him, according to Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore, and you win the game. Rhoads is a threat to both run and throw the ball off the read option. He knows when to run and he knows where to run, causing headaches for opposing defenses. In the passing department, Rhoads favors the short toss, particularly to receiver Darius Stokes. So it is imperative that the Tigers get pressure on him in passing situations. Although the skill position starters are a talented group, nearly all of them play both ways. The offensive and defensive lines, dominated by underclassmen, are considered their weak areas. — DE
Game statistics start from the line of scrimmage so the first thing I want to talk about is how the yard line (spotting the ball for statistics) is determined. If any part of the ball lies on or above a yard line future action is computed from that yard line. If all of the football has been advanced beyond a yard line the next yard line is the yard line used for spotting the ball and calculating statistics. However, for statistical purposes there must always be at least one yard to be gained for a first down or touchdown This comes into play when the game officials spot the ball within one yard of a first down, or within one yard of the goal line, or between the 11 and 10 yard line. The statistical yard line is one yard back. — JB
The first General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club was held in the Media Center of WHS on Monday 8/28/2017. New Booster Club President Steve Berecek welcomed all in attendance. The following events took place:
Gary Vogt briefly gave an update on the new Booster Club web-site. He thanked all who worked on this project and then introduced Don Engelhardt, who presented an overview of the new web-site. The site is a work in process but the amount of information available and its design is very impressive. Be sure to check it out.
Ron Prunty who has been filming the Massillon Tiger football games since 1979 asked if anyone would be interested helping him carry his equipment from his car before the game up onto the stadium roof. The stairs to the roof have been removed and the only access is through a “hole” in the press box. Ron also would like some help getting the equipment down and back to his car after the game. If anyone is interested in helping please contact President Berecek or Ron.
Coach Moore brought two senior football players to the meeting. Senior WR Austin Kutscher and Senior DE, RT Ty Keirns addressed the club on the Mentor game and the upcoming GlenOak game. They also answered questions from the audience.
Coach Moore commented on the Mentor game and how the team was preparing for the next game against GlenOak. He gave an injury update and mentioned several positive performances. He showed film clips from the Mentor game and gave comments on the action. Then he previewed the GlenOak game by showing game film from their first game and reviewing their potential lineup and players.
John Lieberman reminded Boosters to clip the booster coupons from the local newspapers and bring them to future meetings. We are trying to win this $2,000 contest for the 5th straight year.
Away game bus tickets for Warren and Fitch are available at Keller’s in downtown Massillon for $25 each. See Matt Keller if interested in purchasing one.
Nick Pribich reminded Boosters to bring canned goods to future meetings to help us win the annual food drive vs. McKinley.
The next General Meeting of the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club is scheduled for Tuesday September 5, 2017 at 7:00pm in the Media Center of WHS. Memberships will be available at the door.
Chris Easterling The Independent Aug 25, 2017 10:48 PM
MASSILLON Things were going just fine for Massillon for a quarter in its season opener against Mentor at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The Tigers held the lead and were keeping the high-flying Cardinals out of the end zone.
Then, on Massillon’s second play of the second quarter, a tipped deep ball was intercepted by Mentor’s Billy Gorka – with Gorka lying on his back.
Almost like it was an omen, that play changed everything.
The Cardinals would score on their next seven possessions, turning a seven-point Tiger lead into a 49-14 Mentor opening-night rout.
“They played well,” a subdued Massillon coach Nate Moore said afterwards. “They’re really good offensively.”
Game Action vs. Mentor 2017
After being held to just 40 yards on 11 first-quarter plays, which ended with Massillon in front 7-0, the Cardinals would gain 413 over 29 plays in the next two quarters alone. They would lead 42-14 after three quarters, then make it 49-14 three plays into the fourth quarters.
Mentor finished the game with 501 yards. Massillon, which had 96 yards in the first quarter, ended things with 249 total yards.
Of those 249 yards, 66 came on a touchdown pass from Aidan Longwell to Austin Kutscher in the third quarter. That made it briefly 28-14.
Game Action vs. Mentor 2017
“We just needed to settle in,” Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno said. “They were really geared up, and probably too much. I tried to crack a joke, but it didn’t work. After that, we were a really good football team.”
The ending was such a far cry from the beginning, especially for the Tigers.
Massillon couldn’t have scripted a better start to the football season. A three-and-out by the Tiger defense on the first Cardinals possession led to great starting field position, at the Mentor 42.
A bad snap on first down, though, was followed by a 23-yard pass from Aidan Longwell to Austin Kutscher. The very next play, Marcellus Blake raced virtually untouched for a 21-yard touchdown run to give Massillon a 7-0 lead 94 seconds into the season.
“It was a good start,” Moore said.
Game Action vs. Mentor 2017
Blake, who finished with 10 yards on 47 carries, found himself in a featured role due to the absence of a pair of Tigers, Jamir Thomas and Louis Partridge. Both players did not play, according to Moore, due to internal matters he wouldn’t discuss further.
Compounding things, Blake left the game early in the third quarter with an injury on a punt coverage. His status for the Week 2 home game against GlenOak is unknown.
Mentor’s offense began to get going on the next two first-quarter drives, reaching Massillon’s 25 and 34, respectively. The first one, though, ended on a diving interception by Dyson Berry, while the second one was halted on a fourth-down incomplete pass in the end zone on the first play of the second quarter.
Gorka’s interception may have been the play that stood out the most as the momentum-changer, but it wasn’t the only one. Massillon’s second possession reached the Mentor 16, but the Tigers fumbled the ball away on first down.
“Not punching it in for a second touchdown also hurt,” Moore said. “If we stick that in, we go up 14-0. Obviously, that puts us in a much better position.”
That’s when the Mentor offense, which had been tuning up in the first quarter, hit the gear for which it’s become known. Three second-quarter possessions led to three second-quarter touchdowns for the Cardinals, who took a 21-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Game action vs. Mentor 2017
Outside of a Tiger personal foul flag on the first play of the first second-quarter possession and a Massillon offsides flag on the sixth play of the third, the three drives were textbook displays of crisp offensive football. A combined 23 plays over those three drives: 15 rushing plays for 103 yards, while 7-of-8 for 59 yards passing for quarterback Tadas Tatarunas.
All three scores were rushing for Mentor: 3-yard game-tying run by Chris Edmond; a 12-yard Tatarunas scamper for a 14-7 lead; and a 1-yard Nick Saginario plunge for a 21-7 lead.
Edmond finished with 111 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown run to make it 28-7 Mentor. Tatarunas rushed for 66 yards while completing 17-of-25 passes for 188 yards and two third-quarter touchdowns.
Wednesday, August 23, 2017 6:30 Tiger Growl 7:00 Rally Duncan Plaza
Kick off the 2017 Massillon Tiger Football Season with us tonight at Duncan Plaza. Meet the 2017 Massillon Tiger Football Team and Coaches See the Massillon Tiger Swing Band and Cheerleaders Head to the Massillon Museum afterwards for Tiger Stripe Ice Cream
Booster Club 
