This year’s clash with Football North, one of Canada’s top high school football programs, was far from the stunning 30+ point loss from last season. The Massillon Tigers, now 6-0, handled business versus a tough North team, jumping out to a 14-0 lead at the half and continuing to roll for most of the second half en route to a 31-8 victory. The Tigers will now have a bye week in what would have been a week 7 matchup with Farrell (PA). The Steelers canceled the game in a rather unusual manner, but the Tigers will take the rest and prepare for Cornerstone Christian (TX) in week 8.
Game Recap
Massillon started out with the ball, but a pair of incomplete passes forced a quick 3-and-out and a punt. North moved the ball on short slants, and despite being behind the chains several times (courtesy of a Brydon Feister tackle-for-loss and a Sabastian Harper sack), the Canadians pushed the ball downfield. Deontay Malone got to the quarterback on another 3rd-and-long and forced a bad pass, halting the drive and forcing a punt. Massillon picked up a 1st down on a screen to Savior Owens, but faced 4th down going into the 2nd quarter.
The Tigers punted it back to North to start the 2nd, but Brydon Feister stuffed a 3rd down quarterback run to force the Canadians to punt it back to Massillon. The Tigers put together a big drive, powered by a Rasmus Haines to Gio Jackson Jr. downfield connection, and capped off by a Haines to Dashun Williams touchdown pass. Brydon Feister and Jaxson Perry combined on a sack on the defensive side of the ball, but North moved into Tiger territory. The Canadians tried some trickery on a 4th down, but Brayton Feister was there to blow up the play and give the ball to the Tigers. Savior Owens cut back inside and took a handoff 43 yards to the house to push the Tiger lead to 14-0. North made another push but a pair of passes went out of reach and they once again punted. Massillon ran out the clock and went into the half with the lead.
North put together their best drive of the game to open the 2nd half, pushing their way downfield and scoring as well as adding on a 2-point conversion. With a lead of just 6 points, Massillon’s offense went to work. A 3rd-and-long screen to Savior Owens went 79 yards to the house as Owens cut outside and picked up key blocks on his way downfield. With a score of 21-8, the Tiger defense made quick work of North. A Brydon Feister sack and a Geovonni Vinson pass breakup led to a punt. Owens broke tackles on his way to a 1st down, and Haines pushed his way to a 1st down on a 4th-and-short. The Tigers could not put the ball in the end zone, but Mateo Herrera added to the lead with a field goal. Going into the final quarter, North tried to rally and put a drive together. Brydon Feister forced a fumble and gave the ball right back to the Tigers as Braylon Gamble fell on the loose ball. Savior Owens made quick work of the North defense and added to the Tiger lead. The Feister brothers and Isaac Maxheimer made a few big defensive stops as the Tigers tried to run the clock down. A couple punts were exchanged and neither team threatened; the clock ran out with the Tigers well in front and they took a 31-8 win into week 7.
