The Tigers ventured down I-71 on Friday for the regional semifinals. DeSales may have been the host seed, but they never played that way. Massillon outmatched them with a pounding defense and power run game that overwhelmed the Stallions in a 48-14 victory.
1st Quarter
DeSales won the toss and deferred to open Friday night’s battle. Massillon started off by gaining a 1st down on a Manny Patterson to Gio Jackson Jr. pass (1 of only 6 pass attempts on the night), but they were unable to convert again. After a punt, Massillon’s defense went to work. A run behind blockers gained a 1st down for the Stallions, but Braylon Gamble picked up a TFL to push DeSales behind the sticks. A 3rd down run was stopped and a fake punt foiled as the pass went wide. The Tigers took over and got on the board quickly. A pair of 1st down runs (Savior Owens and Anthony McMullen Jr.) were followed by an explosive 22-yard touchdown run by Savior Owens. It was plain to see Massillon’s defense was far better than anything DeSales had seen during the regular season— the Tigers shut down the run game, Christian Culler forced an incomplete pass with a pressure, and the Stallions were eventually forced to punt. The Tigers started at their own 8, but once again moved quickly down the field with the run game. Savior Owens picked up a 22-yard gain and got a second 1st down pickup soon after.
2nd Quarter
A steady dose of running got the Tigers down to the goal line and helped them pick up a conversion on 4th down. McMullen pounded it in from 2 yards out to put the Tigers up 13-0 (the extra point slipped a bit wide). The ensuing kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback (the second of five for kicker Mateo Herrera). A great catch by a DeSales receiver gave the Stallions a 1st down, but Chayce White broke up a pass on 3rd down to force a punt. Massillon was stopped and punted the ball back. The Tigers’ defense handed it right back to the offense as Samuel Dossous stripped the ball and Isaac Maxheimer recovered. A steady dose of Savior Owens led the Tigers to the end zone once again and Owens shot in from 21 yards out, putting Massillon up 20-0. DeSales quarterback RJ Day tried to flick a short pass on their next drive but was picked off by Tiger nose tackle Zay-Shawn Murray, who jumped the route and gave the Tigers another big play. Massillon scored once again on the ground as McMullen annihilated a DeSales defender and ran over him for a score. A slant pass from Day picked up a 1st down on the Stallions’ end, but a deep shot was intercepted by Deontay Malone and run back 43 yards to the DeSales 44. An unfortunate break on a trick play led to a touchdown for DeSales near the end of the half, but the Tigers led 27-7.
3rd Quarter
Massillon’s defense came out fast and strong to start the 2nd half; they forced a 3-and-out and a punt. Savior Owens flew down the sideline for a big gain and Anthony McMullen Jr. pushed the Tigers to the goal line. Owens dove in on 3rd down to increase the Massillon lead to 34-7. Ke’Aun Fowler sack RJ Day to force a punt; the kick was shanked and the Tigers took over at the DeSales 20. Sabastian Harper was the next Tiger back to score as he put it in the end zone to make the score 41-7. A running clock made sure that the game slipped by quickly and the final quarter arrived soon after.
4th Quarter
DeSales threw a few passes over the middle, marched down the field, and scored their only offensive touchdown of the game. This took away the running clock, but Deontay Malone made sure that it went back on quickly. He took the ensuing kick 97 yards to the house, putting the Tigers up 48-14 and putting the icing on the cake in the regional semifinal. Massillon’s defense made one more stand and forced a punt after a big hit and pass breakup by Noah Jenkins. The Tiger backups picked up a 1st down and ran the clock out. Massillon went home happy with a 48-14 victory, but they are still hungry for more. The Tigers will take on Big Walnut next week in a rematch of last year’s regional final.
Stats
Massillon’s run game was phenomenal– they had 309 yards as a team. Savior Owens had 215 yards (11.9 per carry) and 3 touchdowns, Anthony McMullen Jr. had 80 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Sabastian Harper had 19 yards and a score. Deontay Malone had quite the game (well-deserving of the accolades that he was denied in last week’s All-County Team reveal). He had 7 tackles (tied with DeVaughn Williams for the team lead), an interception and a 43 yard return, led the Tigers with 18 yards receiving, and had a 97-yard kick return touchdown. Zay-Shawn Murray also had an interception. Ke’Aun Fowler had a sack and a TFL. Braylon Gamble and Samuel Dossous both had 1.5 TFLs. Mateo Herrera had a career-high 5 touchbacks.
Highights
