Massillon is 27-1 against Federal League schools since 2016. This year they toppled the Fed leader (McKinley) and pummeled the league runner-up (Hoover) 62-7. The Tigers proved once again that they are by far the best in Stark County, but their eyes are on a far higher prize– a state title. The road to the title began against the Hoover Vikings. Massillon went down 7-0 early but very quickly turned on the heat, piling on 62 straight points to easily finish off the second round of the OHSAA playoffs. They will now be on the road for the rest of the playoffs, starting next week against 2-seed DeSales in Columbus.
1st Quarter
Mateo Herrera started the game off with a touchback on the opening kick. Zay-Shawn Murray, playing in his first game this season, made his mark early as he stuffed a quarterback run play. Hoover quarterback John Collins found Vikings’ star player Jack Andes over the middle for a 73-yard score on the following play– a play that would be one of Hoover’s few bright spots in the game. Massillon’s offense was on point all night– they quickly moved down the field on their first drive of the game. Manny Patterson found Deontay Malone and Gio Jackson Jr. for first downs and Savior Owens shot through the middle for a 51-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7. On the Hoover side Andes and Collins both escaped tackles for 1st downs, but the Tiger defense made a stand from inside their 20. Zay-Shawn Murray started it off with a sack, Isaac Maxheimer stopped a QB run in the backfield, and Maxheimer picked off a 4th-down trick play pass to give the ball to the Tigers. Patterson found Jackson Jr. on a 42-yard screen and fired it to him yet again on a 15-yard crossing route. Savior Owens bounced it to the outside and took the ball in for an 8-yard touchdown. Hoover threw another interception on their next drive– this time it was Noah Jenkins with the pick on a ball thrown nowhere near the intended receiver. Jenkins cruised down the sideline with a group of blockers and scored to put Massillon up 21-7. Hoover picked up a big gain on the ground with Andes but Joe Karder sacked Collins on 3rd down to force a punt.
2nd Quarter
Massillon had to punt after a 3rd-down pass was dropped (quarterback Manny Patterson’s only incompletion on the night). Massillon’s defense stepped up again– Isaac Maxheimer picked up another TFL and the Vikings faced 4th down. An attempt to QB sneak was stifled by the Tigers as Isaac Maxheimer and Christian Culler pulled back QB John Collins and Braylon Gamble gave the final hit to stop them short of the marker. soon after the stop, Anthony McMullen Jr. got past the initial line on a run and shook off a final defender on a 46-yard touchdown as the Tigers started to pile on the points. Lennox Lemon lit up Andes to force an incomplete pass and Hoover punted the ball right back to the Tigers. Manny Patterson found Jadyce Thigpen wide open in the end zone for the Tigers’ 5th touchdown of the night. Hoover’s pass game was shut down again as incomplete passes and a Braylon Gamble pass breakup forced a punt. Massillon made quick work of the Vikings as Patterson tossed a pass to Deontay Malone, who flew down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown. Zay-Shawn Murray, Christian Culler, and the Tiger defense continued to pound Hoover on the Vikings’ drive. The Tigers called timeouts to get the ball back– that strategy paid off as Zay-Shawn Murray blocked the punt to give Massillon the ball at Hoover’s 28. Manny Patterson found Gio Jackson Jr. in the back corner of the end zone and the Tigers took a 49-7 lead. Hoover took a knee of surrender and went into the half.
3rd Quarter
A running clock greeted North Canton to start the 3rd quarter. They attempted an onside kick, but despite a few bounces the Tigers recovered the ball. Savior Owens dragged a defender for a big gain and Anthony McMullen Jr. picked up a 1st. Jadyce Thigpen cut around defenders with some help from Gio Jackson Jr. to score a touchdown, putting Massillon up 56-7. A downfield pass by Hoover was intercepted once again by Noah Jenkins. The Tigers’ offense fumbled it, but Hoover gave it right back on a fumble that was recovered by Ja’Dyn Williams.
4th Quarter
The Tiger second-string offense came in and put a drive together. Eli Moore found Bennie Anthony and Sabastian Harper for 1st downs. Joe Pierce was the next target– he also picked up a 1st. Harper picked up a 1st on the ground and Van Hawkins moved the Tigers close to the goal line on a catch. Eli Moore took it around the edge for a touchdown to cap off the victory with a score of 62-7. Hoover ran out of time and the Tigers celebrated their final victory at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium this season.
Stats
Manny Patterson went 12-13 for 226 yards and 4 touchdowns. Gio Jackson Jr. was his leading receiver with 7 catches for 109 yards. Isaac Maxheimer was the leading tackler with 9 tackles; he also had 3 TFLs and a sack. Zay-Shawn Murray had 7 tackles, a sack, 1.5 TFLs, and a punt block in his first game this season.
