Massillon Rallies Late But Falls Short in Regional Final Loss

Massillon fell for the second year in a row to the Eagles of Big Walnut. A rainy night in Zanesville led to several crucial mistakes that cost the Tigers dearly. Despite falling behind, the Tigers kept clawing back, and had a chance to win it on the final play. Unfortunately for Massillon, the play was blown up by the Big Walnut defense, and the Tigers fell 27-21.

1st Quarter

Massillon started off the game with the ball on their own 17. Savior Owens burst through for a 1st down, but the Tigers were forced to punt after an incomplete pass on 3rd down. The snap on the punt sailed over the punter’s head, and Big Walnut picked it up and ran it back to the Massillon 5. Big Walnut scored on 3rd down as quarterback Eli Stumpf wound a wide open receiver in the end zone for a score. A hold was called on Massillon’s kick return and it set the Tigers back. Facing 3rd and long, Massillon was able to convert as Savior Owens caught a short screen and worked his way past the marker. A second 3rd down play came up short and the Tigers punted. Big Walnut picked up a 1st down on a run, but the Tigers got a stop after Deontay Malone broke up a pair of passes. Following the punt, the Tigers put Savior Owens in at wildcat. He took the ball up the middle and picked up a 1st down. Anthony McMullen Jr. took a sweep for a few yards and a defensive hold soon after gave the Tigers a 1st down. On the next play, a blatant offsides by the Big Walnut edge was missed, but Savior Owens picked up a first down anyway.

2nd Quarter

On a 3rd and 6, Savior Owens shot through the middle and scored to tie the game at 7. On Big Walnut’s drive, Ja’Dyn Williams shut down a run, but a short pass led to a 1st down. The Tigers brought the heat to force an incomplete pass and Christian Culler chased down Stumpf on 3rd down for a sack. The ensuing punt gave Massillon the ball at their own 36. After a personal foul gave the Tigers a 1st down, Savior Owens cut through the line and took the ball 44 yards for a go-ahead score. Big Walnut picked up a 1st down on a very questionable roughing the passer call, but Ja’Dyn Williams sacked Stumpf on 3rd down to force a punt. A holding call took the Tigers back a few yards. Soon after the penalty, Anthony McMullen Jr. seemingly took one to the house for a touchdown, but a flag came from far behind the play and a hold was called. The Massillon crowd and sideline erupted as the call was an extremely questionable and late one. Massillon was forced to punt after the setbacks. The kick was blocked and returned– Big Walnut threw the return forward and were called for an illegal forward pass. They ran it in a couple of plays later and the extra point was good to tie the game (although it is noteworthy to mention that the Tigers may have blocked the kick were it not for the Big Walnut blockers illegally cutting the Tiger rushers). Massillon fumbled a snap and lost yards; they punted soon after. Big Walnut converted a pair of 1st downs and kicked a 28-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead at the half.

3rd Quarter

Big Walnut started the second half with the ball. Ja’Dyn Williams was all over a run, but a second handoff went for a 1st. Multiple penalties on the Tigers marched Big Walnut down the field, and they scored on a short run to take a 10 point lead at 24-14. Massillon answered quickly. Deontay Malone set them up with a good kick return, and Savior Owens stiff-armed a defender into the turf on his way to the end zone. His touchdown cut the lead to 24-21. Massillon’s defense got the stop they needed, as Ja’Dyn Williams broke up a pass to force a punt. Massillon faced a 3rd and 10, but Savior Owens charged through to gain the 1st down. The Tigers faced another 3rd and long, and a pass was hit at the line and picked off. Big Walnut started at the Tigers’ 32 after the turnover.

4th Quarter

Massillon’s defense held strong and forced a field goal, keeping it a one-score game at 27-21. Massillon had another chance to take the lead. They went to Savior Owens once again on 3rd and long– he converted the down once again. He almost broke free on a play soon after but still picked up 12 yards and a 1st down. Facing 4th down, the Tigers decided to heave it to the end zone, but the pass was broken up and Big Walnut took over on downs. On the first play of their drive, Deontay Malone knocked the ball loose and Christian Culler recovered to give Massillon another shot to take the lead with 7:30 remaining in the game. Anthony McMullen Jr. was called upon on a 4th and short and pushed through for a 1st down. On a second 4th down play, the Tigers were stopped 2 yards short of the marker and turned it over on downs. Isaac Maxheimer and Deontay Malone got a stop in the backfield and the Tigers used their timeouts. They forced a punt and got the ball back with 1:30 remaining. Starting from the Big Walnut 43, the Tigers drove down the field. They threw a short pass followed by an incomplete pass and a sack. On 4th and 10, Braylon Gamble made a great juggling catch over the middle to keep Massillon alive and place them at the Big Walnut 27. Patterson was sacked again and the Tigers were running out of time. Facing a 4th and 28 as the seconds ticked off the clock, he heaved it downfield, where Jadyce Thigpen made an incredible play, catching the ball in heavy traffic, picking up a 1st down, and getting out of bounds with 1.7 seconds left on the clock. The Tigers had one play to win it– unfortunately Big Walnut defenders knocked the ball loose and recovered to end the game. The Eagles claimed their second straight regional title with a 27-21 win.

Stats

Massillon outgained Big Walnut 355-196. Savior Owens picked up 293 yards on the ground with 35 carries; he scored all 3 of the Tigers’ touchdowns. Jadyce Thigpen was Massillon’s leading receiver with 28 yards. Deontay Malone and Braylon Gamble had 7 tackles. Malone had multiple pass breakups, a forced fumble, and .5 TFL. Ja’Dyn Willams had 6 tackles, a sack, and TFL, and a pass breakup. Christian Culler also had a sack and picked up 1.5 TFLs as well as a fumble recovery.

Highlights