Massillon and McKinley have the most storied history of any two high school football foes. With a combined 37 state championships, 11 national titles, 1,856 wins, and over 75 professional football players (as well as many college and professional football coaches), there is little evidence to the contrary. Since 1894, Massillon and Canton have struggled on the gridiron almost every season. Canton jumped out to a dominant lead early in the series, but Massillon gained and surpassed the Bulldogs– they are now left in the Tigers’ dust as Massillon holds a 78-53-5 record in the 136 games that the two arch rivals have clashed in. The past decade (and, in fact, the 21st century) has been good to the Tigers. Massillon has now won 10 straight rivalry games– they are also 23-7 against McKinley since the year 2000. The 10-game streak is now the longest for the Tigers in the history of the rivalry, breaking the previous record of 9 (1957-65).
Defense and Deontay Malone helped the Tigers hold off the Bulldogs on Saturday. In front of a nearly sold-out Tiger side and a substantially-filled home side, Massillon jumped out to a 14-0 lead on a few defensive stops and a pair of Savior Owens touchdowns. Just when it seemed that the Tigers were going to dominate, McKinley put together a rally and tied the game before the half. After a grueling quarter-and-a-half of tough defenses (McKinley was limited to just 26 yards of offense), someone broke through. That someone was Deontay Malone. With only 5 minutes left in the game, he cruised through the McKinley defense for a 50-yard game-winning punt return touchdown. With the win the Tigers are now guaranteed to keep the bell in Washington High School for at least 3,653 days.
1st Quarter
Massillon received the ball first and quickly moved down the field. On the first play from scrimmage, Savior Owens burst out for a 25-yard gain. A couple of plays later, Manny Patterson escaped pressure, rolled out, and fired a pass to Gio Jackson Jr., who made an incredible inside turnaround catch (while being interfered with) for a 39-yard gain. Unfortunately for Massillon’s offense, a pair of penalties and a run for a loss set them back and forced a punt. The Tiger defense was all over the Bulldogs on the ensuing drive. A run on 1st down was swarmed by a bevy of Tigers and Joe Karder finished off the play for a 1-yard loss. A pitch-play was smashed after a 1-yard gain on the next play. McKinley had no success on their 3rd down play either– Braylon Gamble was all over a screen play and pushed the receiver backwards. He battled and stripped the ball away, and the Tigers were quick to swarm it as Tra’Yon Williams recovered. Savior Owens slipped through the line and put the ball in from 4-yards out for a touchdown. Mateo Herrera’s extra point was true and the Tigers took a 7-0 lead. McKinley moved the ball but hurt themselves on a wide snap that resulted in a loss. The next play was a toss downfield that was picked off by Chayce White, who leaped over his receiver to pull in the high pass. Manny Patterson found Jadyce Thigpen coming across the middle for a 1st down, and Anthony McMullen Jr. pounded the rock to pick up a 1st down at the end of the 1st quarter.
2nd Quarter
Savior Owens took the ball to the outside and stiff-armed the one Bulldog who had a chance to catch him on his way to a 14-yard touchdown. The score put Massillon up 14-0. It seemed as if Massillon may pull away, but McKinley had other plans. Running back Kyelin West took the ball to the edge twice for huge gains, with the second being a touchdown run. With the score cut to 14-7, McKinley’s defense stepped it up as well. The Tigers put together a good drive, with a few passes and runs sprinkled in, but McKinley eventually got a sack and a stop on 3rd down to force a punt. The Bulldogs made use of their good starting field position. A 1st down on a comeback route and a big gain over the middle set McKinley up deep in Massillon territory. The Tiger defense got a stop as Ja’Dyn Williams shut down a 3rd down run, but Massillon was called for leaping on a field goal attempt and McKinley was moved up to a 4th-and-short. A pitch play hit the edge and went for a Bulldog touchdown to tie the game at 14. Massillon had a chance to score before the half following a good Deontay Malone kick return, but they were unable to move close enough and a sack ended their hopes. The Bulldogs took the ball after a punt and took a knee with the score remaining 14-all at the half.
3rd Quarter
The second half was all defense for both teams. Massillon’s defense had the first go– Ja’Dyn Williams brought the heat and forced an incomplete pass on 3rd down and a punt. The Tigers picked up a 1st down but were picked off to give the Bulldogs the ball back. McKinley was stopped quickly as well– Christian Culler and Samuel Dossous made a stop in the backfield to force a punt. The kick was shanked, fluttering only 22 yards to the Bulldogs’ 33 and giving Massillon great field position. The Tigers were once again unable to move the ball and a 4th-down sack ended their drive. Massillon’s defense stepped up to the challenge again. Chayce White broke up a pass and an incompletion on 3rd down forced a 3-and-out and a punt. Massillon was able to convert on 3rd down with a Patterson to Thigpen pass. Patterson picked up another 1st down himself with a scramble. Massillon came close to a 1st down at the close of the 3rd quarter, but faced a 4th-and-3 when the final quarter opened.
4th Quarter
Savior Owens came up just short on a 4th-down run, giving the ball back to McKinley. It was becoming clear that the first team to have a big play would pull out the victory. Massillon’s defense was determined that it would not be McKinley who had the big gain– Braylon Gamble batted a ball away and a hot pursuit from Ja’Dyn Williams on a 3rd down play forced Canton to give the ball up once again. The Tigers picked up a pair of 1st downs on a penalty and a McMullen run; they seemingly scored a touchdown on a long McMullen run but it was called back for holding. A 3rd down pass fell incomplete and Massillon was forced to give the ball back. Massillon’s defenders once again stood against the Bulldog offense. Samuel Dossous got good backside pursuit to force a throwaway and Christian Culler stopped a play in the backfield for a loss on 3rd down. The next play will go down in the lore of the Massillon-McKinley game. Deontay Malone weaved and picked his way through for a 50-yard punt return touchdown with only 5 minutes remaining in the game. He was untouched in the final stretch, giving Massillon the lead for good at 21-14. McKinley could not move the ball as penalties moved them back– a 4th down interception by Braylon Gamble on a desperate heave sealed the deal on the drive and the game. Anthony McMullen Jr. picked up one more 1st down and the Tigers went to visit their fans in downtown Massillon with a 21-14 victory over McKinley, their 10th in a row.
Stats
Savior Owens led the Tigers with 114 yards rushing on 21 carries. He scored 2 of Massillon’s 3 touchdowns. Anthony McMullen Jr. had 60 yards on 14 carries. Manny Patterson was 6-10 in the air for 100 yards. Defensively, Isaac Maxheimer led the Tigers with 8 tackles. Ja’Dyn Williams was close behind with 6. Braylon Gamble had an interception and a forced fumble as well as a pass breakup; Chayce White also had a pick. Massillon’s defense limited McKinley to just 26 yards of offense in the second half.
Game Highlights
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Photos
