Tag: <span>Quentin Paulik</span>

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

2004: Massillon 58, Mansfield Senior 20

By JOE SHAHEEN
Joe.Shaheen@IndeOnline.com

The seven-game losing streak that dated back to last year and the 0-2 start to the 2004 season are distant memories for the Massillon Tigers, who devastated the winless Mansfield Tygers 58-20 to right the ship in front of an estimated 7,500 fans at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Friday night. The Tigers did it with a two-pronged running game that featured Caleb White and Ramon Kelly, and a passing game triggered by quarterback Quentin Paulik that accounted for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone.

Program Cover

The Massillon defense did its part as well, limiting the Mansfield offense to one first down and minus-6 yards rushing in the first half. The swarming Tiger defense caused six first-half fumbles and recovered four, repeatedly giving the offense a short field with which to work.”These are great kids and we’ve been struggling with injuries,” said Tiger coach Rick Shepas. “I think a lot of guys came out tonight and played motivated football. We got that from Caleb White and Ramon Kelly.

They bothran very hard and our offensive line got a little bit better.” Quentin Paulik really showed his toughness today. He made some great throws. He managed the team really well.”While Shepas sang the praises of an offense that racked up 372 total yards, he acknowledged the tone of the game was established by the Tiger defense, which limited Mansfield’s offense to 2.5 yards per snap.”We came out tonight and really hit people,” Shepas said. “It’s a good shot in the arm for our confidence. We’re going to get one week better and just go one week at a time.” No Tiger team had ever began the season at 0-3, but that’s what Massillon faced had it not tamed the Tygers.”The way we played against Buchtel and Benedictine was uncharacteristic for the type of kids that we have,” Shepas said. “You saw that when they came out tonight and played so aggressively.”

Can they build on the win with their first road trip of the season set for next Friday at Findlay? “We’ll see,” Shepas responded. “We have a long way to go but it’s up to them.” Massillon’s first two touchdowns of the night were set up by the defense. Junior middle linebacker Robert Morris recovered a Tyger bobble on Mansfield’s second possession of the game at the Mansfield 9. Two plays later, Kelly went over right tackle for a one-yard touchdown at 6:02 of the first quarter. Steve Schott’s point after made it 7-0 Massillon. Not to be outdone, Tiger sophomore Andrew Dailey recovered another fumble at the Mansfield 33 on the visitors’ very next possession. Five plays later, on third-and-two from the 10, Kelly went over right tackle, bowled over a Tyger defensive back at the 5, and rolled into the end zone for Massillon’s second score of the night. Schott’s kick made it 14-0 at 2:47 of the first quarter.The Tigers got excellent field position to begin the second quarter following a Mansfield punt and Troy Ellis’ nifty return. On second-and-three from the Tyger 31, Paulik threaded a pass between two defensive backs and into the waiting arms of Dustin Jarvis, who needed just one stride to reach paydirt. Schott’s kick made it 21-0 Massillon at 11:04 of the second quarter. On Mansfield’s next possession, Tiger linebacker Paul Pribich stripped away the football from a Tyger ball carrier and Massillon was in business at the visitors’ 29.

On third-and-10 from there, Paulik rolled left and hooked up with Dailey inside the 5-yard line and the sophomore turned and carried it into the end zone. Schott’s kick made it 28-0 Massillon.A 40-yard Paulik to Wayne Gates pass and run set up the Tigers’ fifth first half touchdown, a two-yard Kelly run at 6:53 of the second quarter. Schott’s boot made it 35-0.An 11-play Massillon drive, extended by a fake punt that turned into a 21-yard Gates to Ellis pass play, was capped by Schott’s 29-yard field goal to close the first half scoring at 38-0 with less than a minute remaining until the band show.It only took the Tigers two plays to open the second half scoring after Massillon defensive tackle Ladrekus Burford recovered yet another Mansfield fumble. Kelly’s 11-yard run set up White’s first touchdown of the game on a pitch play around left end that covered two yards. Schott’s PAT made it 45-0 at 10:32 of the third quarter.Alex Dahlquist blocked a Mansfield punt on the Tygers subsequent possession and Dirk Dickerhoof fell on the loose ball in the end zone for the touchdown. Schott made it 52-0 at 8:25 of the third quarter.It was mop-up time after that as most Massillon starters went to the bench in favor of their backups.

GAME STATS


Kurt Jarvis

Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large) History

2003: Massillon 8, Canton McKinley 40

Bulldogs bottle up Tigers at Fawcett
Brinson’s four touchdowns key McKinley’s 40-8 victory

By JOE SHAHEEN
Joe, Shaheen@ I ndeOnline.com

You had the feeling the Massillon Tigers were in for a long day when they fumbled the first offensive snap of the game, then took a safety on the very next play.

Program Cover

It all pretty much went downhill from there as Massillon absorbed a 40‑8 thumping at the hands of their arch rivals the McKinley Bulldogs in the 111th meeting between the two storied high school football programs on Saturday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.

The loss marked the first time in the history of Massillon Tiger football the team has dropped five games in a row.

“Well, you know, that would have been a touchdown pass,” Shepas said of the game’s opening play from scrimmage which backed the Tigers to the 1-yard line. “Then we missed another touchdown pass. And we missed a couple of other open receivers. Then we had some interceptions, but that’s the way it goes.

“One way or the other it’s about making plays. They made more than we did today.”

in a tearful post‑game huddle, Shepas apologized to his players, saying he and the coaching staff may not have done as good a job of preparing them for McKinley as they could have.

“I thought our kids fought hard all season,” Shepas said. “We dealt with some different types of adversity and a lot of injuries.

“I’d like to apologize to the Tiger fans. We did not give them a good showing today and I feel responsible for that. One way or the other, I’m the leader of this program. Massillon is a great community. Our community came out and supported us in that parade. It was fantastic. It was just a disappointing day.”

McKinley’s 2‑0 lead held up through the first quarter. But even at that point, McKinley running back Ryan Brinson felt the game belonged to the Bulldogs.

“That first drive, when we got that safety, I knew it was over,” Brinson said. “When we got that safety, I knew we had their hearts.

“We were ready to play. They were scared. They had that sophomore quarterback and he wasn’t ready for this type of game. So we took it to them.”

Massillon penetrated to the Bulldog 22 late in the opening period but gave the ball up on downs following a delay of game penalty.

The Bulldogs began their first scoring drive at midfield after a 15‑yard punt return by Christian Smith. The Pups ran the ball effectively on their first three plays of the march, then junior quarterback Mike Shaffer used play action to freeze the Tiger linebackers and hit tight end Alex Rehfus for 20 yards to the Massillon 14.

On third down, the Tigers dropped a potential interception on a screen pass, and on fourth down Shaffer found Antwon Hight for 16 yards for a first down at the Tiger 2.

Brinson went over left guard and tackle for six on the next play. Zach Campbell tacked on the extra point and McKinley led 9‑0 at 7:11 of the second quarter.

Brinson picked off the Tigers near midfield on Massillon’s ensuing possession, then opened the game up by bursting up the middle for a 49‑yard touchdown at 5:19 of the second quarter. Campbell’s kick made it 16‑0 McKinley.

The Tigers’ second interception of the day ‑ they had four picked off ‑ set up McKinley’s final tally of the first half, a 22‑yard Campbell field goal that made it 19‑0.

“I didn’t think at any one point that we felt that we were going to be out of this football game,” Shepas said. “Even down 19 points I didn’t think so.”

But the Tigers never did get untracked offensively, finishing with 214 total yards, much of it coming after the game was decided. Massillon quarterbacks completed just 10 of 30 aerials for 130 yards.

“The plan that I had was to mix both Steve (Hymes) and Quentin (Paulik) into the game plan,” Shepas said of his quarterbacks. “It just didn’t work out. The idea was to mix up the shotgun run with the pass.”

They were confused on offense,” observed McKinley coach Brian Cross.

“Our defensive coaches did a great job with the game plan. Massillon just couldn’t get into a rhythm. Once they fell behind, we knew they had to throw the ball just about every down.”

Shepas admitted his charges didn’t seem to be at the top of their game mentally.

“I think we could have been more focused,” he said. “But it’s a great lesson.

“Hey, we’ve been on top in most. Sometimes you have to go through this to respect it and work hard to get back on top. We’ve been there before. This team has a lot of young guys. This football team is going to be good down the road.”

McKinley finished with a little more than 300 yards of total offense, but were presented with the short field on several occasions as Massillon’s spate of turnovers continued for the fourth straight week.

Brinson finished with 155 yards in 13 carries, including a 43‑yard touchdown scamper around the right side of the McKinley line. On that play, the 5‑10, 168‑pound junior was virtually untouched and he sprinted down the right boundary.

“I was running and Billy (Relford) was looking inside and I ran right by him so I just kept going,” Brinson said. “It was an excellent call by Coach Cross. I just ran as hard as I could.”

Massillon avoided the shutout on a 16‑yard Paulik‑to-Relford pass play, set up by three fine runs by sophomore Lanale Robinson late in the fourth quarter.

“We’ll be back,” Shepas said. “We’ll be back. We have a lot of young kids who have played.

“We’ll get rid of the distractions that have plagued us and get ready for the future.”

Asked if the brutal schedule his Tigers played this season may have sapped the team, Shepas refused to use that as an excuse.

“You’ve got to deal with it,” he said. “Bottom line, we played a playoff schedule. Our guys are not going to the playoffs. We’ve got to rise above it and that will be taking the next step. It’s all part of the journey.”

McKinley 40
Massillon 8

GAME STATS

Massillon 0 0 0 8 8
McKinley 2 17 21 0 40

SCORING
McK ‑ Safety McK ‑ Ryan Brinson 2 run (Campbell kick)
McK ‑ Brinson 49 run (Campbell kick)
McK ‑ Campbell 22 FG
McK ‑ Brinson 21 run (Campbell kick)
McK ‑ Goodright 1 run (Campbell kick)
McK ‑ Brinson 43 run (Campbell kick)
M ‑ Billy Relford 16 pass from Quentin Paulik (Kurt Jarvis pass from Relford)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Massillon rushing: Lanale Robinson 4‑35, Ramon Kelly 3‑21, Tuffy Woods 12‑20
McKinley rushing: Ryan Brinson 13‑147, 4 TDs, Theo Goodright 13‑64, 1 TD

Massillon passing: Quentin Paulik 8­-21‑108, 1 TD, 1 INT, Steve Hymes 2‑9‑22, 3 INT
McKinley passing: Mike Shaffer 3‑9‑55

Massillon receiving: Eric Copeland 3­-54, Wayne Gates 2‑26, Billy Relford 2‑23
McKinley receiving: Alex Rehfus 1‑20, Tyrone Gillespie 1‑20

Brock Hymes

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

2003: Massillon 15, Warren Harding 31

Shepas still sees progress and promise in Massillon Tigers’ ferocity in defeat to Warren Harding has coach proud, excited

By JOE SHAHEEN
Joe.Shaheen @ IndeOnline.Com

You don’t want to be in the midst of a four-game losing streak as you prepare to play your biggest rival, but that’s the scenario facing the Massillon Tigers this week with five days until they face off with Canton McKinley for the 111th time this Saturday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.

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The scoreboard at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Saturday night past displayed the bottom line: Warren Harding 31, Massillon 15.

What it didn’t reflect was how hard the Tigers battled against the No. 3 team in the nation, sending the Raiders back to Warren with injuries to quarterback Alex Engram (Left shoulder), running back Delbert Ferguson (broken right leg), running back Richard David (ankle) and starting split end Peter Sparks.

The Tigers, meanwhile, come into McKinley Week with more to play for than pride and a win over their longtime rivals.

“Believe it or not there is still an outside shot to make the playoff,” Tiger head coach Rick Shepas revealed. “Believe it or not, there is (a chance to get in.) Mathematically some things have to happen but they happened for us last year and we made a run.”

The Tigers are also much more confident about their quarterback position than a week ago. Sophomore Quentin Paulik connected on 23 of 42 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns against one of Ohio’s elite high school football teams.

“Quentin Paulik showed a lot of poise in the pocket,” observed Shepas. “Early on he had a couple of balls get tipped but I think he will learn from it. He’s one week better from last week.

“I thought it was a nice changeup with what we did with Steve Hymes, not to knock him up too much, get him an extra week of rest but still have him on the field.”

Warren Harding head coach Thom McDaniels, a high school and college quarterback himself who takes a great deal of pride in coaching that position, thinks the Tigers may have another rgood one in Paulik.

“We’re going to try to pressure a guy like Paulik who is inexperienced to find out whether or not he can handle that kind of pressure,” McDaniels said. “He more than met the test because he did some good things, his receivers did some good things, and they generated some offense. We just were able to get some turnovers.”

Ah, yes. The turnovers. Massillon gave up six, including five interceptions, continuing a troubling trend that began with St. Edward and continued with Dayton Chaminade-Julienne and was evident against Warren Harding. In that three-game span, the Tigers have turned the ball over 20 times.

Shepas pointed out not all of the turnovers against Warren are on his quarterback.

“We’ve got to catch the ball too,” he said. “some of the turnovers we had were from tipped passes. I thought (Paulik) came out and played well.”

“We started getting back into our style of offense a little bit with Quentin. You see, you need to throw the ball to keep people off balance.”

That’s exactly what the Tigers did on their first possession of the night against Warren. Trailing 7-0 following a nine play, 72-yard opening march by the Raiders, Massillon went back to the ‘pass first, ask questions later’ attack that has been so successful during the Shepas era.

On the Tigers first play from scrimmage beginning at their own 20, Paulik meshed with junior tight end Wayne Gates on short slant over the middle that became a 45-yard gain. Then the sophomore found Ryan Schindler for eight yards, and one play later hit Gates in full stride for an 18-yard touchdown.

Zach Smith’s extra point made it a 7-7 game with 6:16 to play in the first quarter.

“We had them reeling a little bit,“ Shepas said. “We put together one of our best drives of the season early on in the game. It made it exciting for awhile. We’re going to be better from this schedule.”

Warren retaliated with a 35-yard field goal to make it 10-7.

But what sent Massillon sliding down that slippery slope was an interception just three plays into its ensuing possession, giving Warren the ball at the Tiger 46.

Three plays later, Engram hit Sparks on a 10-yard slant and the senior wideout turned on the jets for a 36-yard touchdown. The PAT made it a 17-7 game with most of the second quarter still to be played.

The Massillon defense forced Warren to punt on its next two possession but a Tiger fumble inside their own 20-yard line at the outset of the second half gave Engram and Sparks an opportunity to reprise their touchdown connection and the Raiders were up 24-7.

Warren’s next four possessions ended with a punt, a blocked field goal, and two Engram fumbles as the Tiger defense scrapped and clawed.

“I’m really proud of the way our kids played,” Shepas said. “I’m proud of the way they practiced after the three losses we had coming into this game and playing the No.2 team in the state and No 3 in the country. Plenty of teams could have turned tail and run from that but I don’t think our kids did.”

“We tried to utilize our guys to the best of their ability. I’m excited about it. I’ve always been excited about our kids. I’m happy with the way we played. We’re playing this schedule for a reason and it’s going to pay off for us.”

An Engram to Jonte Stroud touchdown pass made it 31-7 Warren with six minutes to play.

Massillon answered with a 40-yard Paulik to Billy Relford scoring aerial and Relford’s two-point conversion run to cut the Tigers deficit to two touchdowns and two two-point conversations. The ensuing onside kick, though was recovered by Warren, sealing Massillon’s fate.

Warren Harding 31
Massillon 15

GAME STATS

Warren Harding 10 7 7 7 31
Massillon 7 0 0 8 15

SCORING
W – David 1 run (Spain kick)
M – Wayne Gates 18 pass from Quentin Paulik (Zach Smith kick)
W – Spain 35 FG
W – Sparks 36 pass from Engram (Spain kick)
W – Sparks 7 pass from Engram (Spain kick)
W – Stroud 30 pass from Engram (Spain kick)
M – Billy Relford 40 pass from Quentin Paulik (Relford run)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Massillon rushing: Tuffy Woods 6-22.
Warren Harding rushing: Engram 10-89

Massillon passing: Paulik 23-42-310, 2 TD, 5 INT.
Warren Harding passing: Engram 8-12-107, 3 TD.

Massillon receiving: Wayne Gates 7-122, TD; Billy Relford 2-72, TD.
Warren Harding receiving: Sparks 3-50, 2 TD.

Brock Hymes

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

2003: Massillon 24, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne 45

Role reversal
C-J’s Ringer devastates Tiger defense

By JOE SHAHEEN
Joe.Shaheen @ IndeOnline.Com

The shoe was on the other foot and the Massillon Tigers didn’t much like the fit.

A veteran Dayton Chaminade‑Julienne team coming off a state title and ranked No. 7 among Ohio’s, Division III football teams, came into Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and put a 45‑24 thumping on the Tigers in front of 7,748 on an idyllic autumn Friday evening.

Program Cover

Two years ago, it was a sophomore‑laden C‑J squad that came to Massillon and left on the short end of a 48‑27 score to a Tiger team featuring Justin Zwick and Shawn Crable.

On Friday, C‑J had the Division I prospects in running back Javon Ringer ‑ who rushed for 259 yards and three touchdowns ‑ and quarterback Anthony Turner, who completed 8 of 8 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown.

Chaminade‑Julienne coach Jim Place admitted he had mixed emotions as he looked up at the scoreboard and saw his team’s margin of victory, which was the same 21 points that his team lost by in 2001.

“It’s a great win for me and my kids but at the same time I’m looking around and where was No. 33?” Place said. “Where was No. 16? Where was this guy? Where was that guy? Where was No. 5?

“It’s a wonderful feeling. I’m thrilled but it’s tempered with feeling for the other guy. No one from Massillon wants our pity. But I have some empathy for the other side. Massillon is just a young team that is beat up.”

Tiger coach Rick Shepas emerged from an emotional post‑game address to his team and put the 21‑point setback in perspective.

“Jim Place came up here two years ago to get a young team ready to play for a state championship down the road,” Shepas recalled. “They were a sophomore group and the situation was reversed. Now they’re seniors and a talented group of guys.

“Ringer, what can you say? I love Turner and No. 1 the wideout (Ryan Patrick), he’s special.”

Shepas explained the Tigers are trying to prepare their youngsters the same way Place did in 2001.

“We’re in the same situation this year,” Shepas said. “We’re playing a lot of young people. We’re playing the same kind of schedule. We want to play people so that hopefully things will work out the same way. We don’t want to lower the bar just so we can win football games, so we’ve raised the bar and we’re finding out how we respond and that’s the way it goes.”

C‑J jumped out to an early 14‑point lead on Patrick’s 82‑yard punt return at 7:10 of the first quarter and a 47‑yard Turner‑to‑Patrick pass play that began as a 10‑yard slant and ended up in the end zone.

But the Tigers clawed their way back in the game. Tuffy Woods capped off a five‑play, 59‑yard march with a one‑yard touchdown plunge at 11:11 of the second quarter. It was set up by a 25‑yard sweep by Lanale Robinson and a grinding 21‑yard run by Woods.

Billy Relford ran under the ensuing pooch kickoff and the Tigers regained possession at the 31. After a 12‑yard run by Woods, the drive stalled and Zach Smith drilled a 28‑yard field goal to pull Massillon back to within four points at 14-10.
Relford came up with another huge play on C-J’s next possession, stripping Patrick after a pass completion and falling on the pigskin to give the Tigers the ball at the visitors’ 43.

Again Woods ran effectively gaining 12 yards on first down. Three snaps later, though, on third‑and‑seven, the Tigers fumbled the ball back to the Eagles, who took just four plays to cover the 67 yards to the end zone.

“That’s something that happened to us when we first came here.” Shepas said of the key turnover. “Our resilience after a turnover. We survive one, we survive another. But when stupid things start to happen like the miscues with the bad snaps and stuff like that, those are things our guy have to learn from and get better from.”

C‑J’s lead was 21‑10 at 4:33 of the first half. The Eagles then forced Massillon into a three‑and‑out series, and followed with a seven‑play, 80‑yard scoring march capped by Ringer’s never‑say‑die 24‑yard touchdown run that made it 28‑10 at halftime.

“The one time (Ringer) ran for a touchdown, we missed six tackles,” Shepas said. “There were times when we didn’t line up correctly. We had them in some third‑and‑long situations. Our guys have to line up. That’s the bottom line.”

Massillon finished with six fumbles, losing five. That comes on the heels of a nine turnover game a week ago against St. Edward.

In his first varsity start after being idled for more than a month with a broken wrist, sophomore quarterback Quentin Paulik struggled but passed for 119 yards and a touchdown without being intercepted.

“Here he comes in his first start after those injuries and he has to play against the fastest team we will face all year,” Shepas pointed out. “That’s a tough thing to do.”

Massillon falls to 4‑4 and will host No. 2 ranked Warren Harding next Saturday.

Chaminade‑Julienne improves to 7‑1, locks up a playoff berth, and now has two games to secure home field advantage. But the way the Eagles played on the road Friday, being at home may not matter much.

Dayton C‑J 45
Massillon 24

GAME STATS

Dayton C‑J 14 14 14 3 45
Massillon 0 10 0 14 24

SCORING
CJ ‑ Ryan Patrick 82 punt return (kick failed)
CJ ‑ Ryan Patrick 47 pass from Anthony Turner (Patrick run)
M ‑ Tuffy Woods 1 run (Smith kick)
M ‑ Smith 28 FG
CJ ‑ Javon Ringer 25 run (Grant kick)
CJ ‑ Javon Ringer 24 run (Grant kick)
CJ ‑ Javon Ringer 86 run (Grant kick)
CJ ‑ Turner 5 run (Grant kick)
CJ ‑ Grant 24 FG
M ‑ Billy Relford 57 pass from Quentin Paulik (Smith kick)
M ‑ Hendricks 35 pass from Weisand (Smith kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Massillon rushing: Woods 13‑72, 1 TD
Chaminade‑Julienne rushing: Ringer 24‑261, 3 TDs, Turner 11‑47, 1 TD

Massillon passing: Paulik 7‑22‑119, 1 TD
Chaminade‑Julienne passing: Turner 8‑8‑172, 1 TD

Massillon receiving: Relford 3‑72, 1 TD
Chaminade‑Julienne receiving: Patrick 5‑109, 1 TD

Brock Hymes