The Tigers played their Junior Varsity season opener versus Glenville. Massillon took a 7-6 lead into the half, but in the second half it was all Tarblooders. The final score was 28-7 in favor of Glenville.
First Half
The Tiger defense got a stop on the first drive of the game. Glenville took the ball deep into Massillon territory but the Tigers made a couple of good defensive plays on the way. Reymir Jackson picked up a tackle-for-loss and Xavier Hargrove knocked down a pass in the end zone. An incomplete pass on 4th down gave Massillon the ball. Logan Thornsberry picked up a first down on a run but the Tigers were stopped afterwards and had to punt. Massillon picked up more TFLs on Glenville’s drive as a bobbled snap led to a loss and a Reymir Jackson/Wyatt Porter combined tackle pushed the Tarblooders backwards. Early in the 2nd quarter Glenville would strike with a long touchdown pass on 4th down. The receiver slipped on the 2pt try and the score remained 6-0. The Tigers put together their best drive of the game during their next possession. Quarterback Rasmus Haines scrambled for a 1st down and fired a 1st down throw to Van Hawkins. Logan Thornsberry capped off the drive with a touchdown run and Gregory Corsale booted the extra point through to make the score 7-6 in favor of the Tigers. Glenville moved down the field and appeared to fumble the ball– the play was blown dead despite the ball carrier never being down. Massillon’s defense kept working and forced a turnover on downs a few plays later. Haines put a perfect ball across the middle to Van Hawkins and Joe Pierce picked up a first down on a catch but the Tigers ran out of time in the half.
Second Half
Massillon punted on their first drive of the second half. The Tarblooders quickly scored on a run and took a 14-7 lead after a successful 2pt conversion. Massillon picked up one 1st down on their end after Haines kept a play alive with a scramble and took a late hit, but the Tigers were eventually forced to punt again. Massillon forced a punt early in the 4th quarter after an Anthony Hoover sack stifled Glenville’s drive. The Tigers had a chance to tie the game after a leaping grab by Joe Pierce set them up deep in Glenville territory, but a TFL on 3rd down led to an intercepted 4th down pass. The Tarblooders scored quickly on a long screen pass and converted again from 2 to make the score 22-7. Massillon punted; the Tarblooders added another score on a pass to make it 28-7. The Tigers’ possession ran out the time on the game clock.
