Massillon came into game one as the #1 team in the state of Ohio. Facing a tough Glenville squad who defeated them last year en route to a DIV state title, Massillon had something to prove. The Tigers had some rust to shake off as they kept the Tarblooders in the game with several mistakes, but they overwhelmed Glenville in most facets in their 13-point victory. The Tigers outgained Glenville 369-146 (and held a 266-54 advantage at the half) but special teams mistakes and turnovers kept the game closer than it would seem on paper. Overall, Massillon lived up to the hype with a quick and sharp offense and a smothering defense that may stand as the best in the state when all is said and done.
Game Recap
First Half
The Tigers started out with the ball after winning the toss and electing to receive. Savior Owens started out his 180-yard night with a 17-yard run and a 1st down. First-year starting quarterback Rasmus Haines completed a 9-yard throw to Deontay Malone, but the Tigers were stopped short and lined up to kick. A gift offside penalty on the ensuing punt led to a Massillon 1st down, and the Tigers made Glenville pay for giving them an extended drive. Haines found Malone over the middle for a 31-yard gain, and several plays later a 4-yard crossing route to Gio Jackson Jr. resulted in the first score of the game. Massillon made a few mistakes on Glenville’s first drive, allowing the Tarblooders to march down the field. Two costly 15-yard penalties put them on the Massillon 30, and a defensive holding call nullified a 3rd-down chase down and sack by Christian Culler, giving the Tarblooders a fresh set of downs. They pushed into the endzone on 3rd down to get on the board, but a missed PAT kept the Tigers in the lead with a score of 7-6. Massillon nearly made another costly mistake on the ensuing kickoff as the ball was lost and batted around, but Kysen Crable made a leaping snag to keep the ball with the Tigers. Not long into the drive, Rasmus Haines launched the ball downfield to a wide open Deontay Malone, who flew down the remainder of the field for an 82-yard score. Leading 14-6, the Tiger defense stepped to the plate. Brydon Feister took down Glenville QB LaMarques Greenwood in the backfield after a mishandled snap, and soon after the Tarblooders punted. A screen to Malone picked up a 1st down near the end of the quarter, and the Tigers took the lead into the second period.
Brayton Feister rumbled for a 1st down to start the quarter for Massillon, and Malone picked up another big gain on a Haines rollout and throw. Savior Owens fought for a pair of 1st downs on 3rd-and-longs to set up the Tigers in the red zone. The Tarblooders stopped the Tigers short as they recovered a fumble at their own 11 (although upon review the runner’s knee seemed to be down before the ball came loose). Braylon Gamble picked up another tackle-for-loss to push the Tarblooders back, but Greenwood pulled the ball down and ran for a big gain to get out of the hole. A holding penalty and a sack by Ke’Aun Fowler and Joe Karder forced a Glenville punt soon after. A booming 47-yard punt from Glenville’s Eniere Lemon pinned the Tigers at their own 30, but the Tigers soon started to move downfield once again. A 1st-down pass to tight end Da’Shun Williams and a pass to Braylon Gamble set Massillon up for a last-second chance to score. A pair of throws came close to touchdowns, but Massillon was forced to kick as time ran short. Gio Jackson Jr. caught a pass to set the Tigers up comfortably in field goal range, and a Mateo Herrera 19-yard field goal made the score 17-6 Tigers at the half.
Second Half
A mistake to start the second half gave Glenville a gift score as a short squib kick was fielded and taken 68 yards for a touchdown. A 2-point conversion attempt was stopped as De’Vaughn Williams recovered a loose ball. Leading 17-12, Massillon attempted to respond. Despite moving into Tarblooder territory, the Tigers’ drive was stopped short. Rasmus Haines booted an excellent punt that was poked out of bounds by Gio Jackson Jr. at the Glenville 3-yard line. The Tarblooders did not climb out of the hole this time. Twice Brayton Feister cut down Glenville runs, and on 3rd down, Christian Culler pursued the Tarblooder quarterback and forced a throwaway. Another great punt gave Massillon the ball at Glenville’s 47, but Savior Owens flipped the field immediately and took the first play 47 yards down the sideline and into the end zone for 6. The following PAT made the score 24-12 in favor of Massillon. The Tiger DBs stepped in on Glenville’s drive as Gamble and Malone both broke up passes and forced a punt. A sack quickly ended Massillon’s drive and they gave the ball right back. A screen pass picked up a Tarblooder 1st down, and a penalty on 4th down gave Glenville another opportunity. Brydon Feister and Joe Karder planted Tarblooder quarterback Greenwood in the turf and Feister chased him out of bounds on a 4th down scramble to give Massillon the ball.
The Tigers kept the ball on the ground and quickly punted at the start of the fourth quarter. Glenville picked up a first down but their drive was stunted as Noah Garner sacked Greenwood on 3rd down. Another mistake by the Tigers on the punt kept Glenville in the game as the punt was muffed and recovered by the Tarblooders. An injury to the Tarblooders’ starting quarterback led to backup Elvis Koutsakis leading the offense, but despite the disadvantage, Glenville made most of it. Massillon pushed back the Tarblooders after two errant snaps led to huge losses, but a big pickup on a screen led to a manageable 4th-and-10. Koutsakis scrambled around the end and ran for an 18-yard score on the 4th down play, making the score 24-18. Another 2-point conversion failed and was shut down in the backfield. Massillon needed a response, and they quickly got one from Savior Owens. He put the dagger in the game with a 40 yard run, dodging Glenville defenders en route to the game-clinching score. With the brand-new, largest high school scoreboard in the nation reading 31-18 Tigers, the crowd of 15,000+ could breathe a sigh of relief. Glenville turned the ball over on downs, and the Tigers ran some clock before punting it back to Glenville. Brydon Feister put the frosting on the cake with his 4th sack of the game, and the clock ran out to put the Tigers at 1-0 on the season.
