It was a sopping wet night in Warren, Ohio, and a sparse crowd watched the Massillon Tigers rush for 335 yards and score 6 touchdowns on the ground. Savior Owens led the Tigers with 233 yards (12 yards per carry) and 4 touchdowns; the newly returned Brayton Feister had only 2 touches but scored 2 touchdowns and had 74 yards rushing. The Tigers were coming off their only loss of the season to Cornerstone Christian (TX). They will face 7-2 McKinley in “The Game” this upcoming Saturday.
The Tigers had trouble on the opening drive as Warren was able to break away on several big plays. It started with the opening kickoff as several missed tackles led to a breakaway return stopped only by kicker Mateo Herrera. Brydon Feister would take down the Raiders’ running back for a TFL, but Warren went to the air and caught the Tiger DBs sleeping en route to an touchdown. The extra point banged off the upright, but Warren led 6-0. Massillon was quick to answer the Raiders’ score, taking the lead and never looking back. Massillon went to the air several times on the drive, the most they would do so on a single drive as the rain and wind increased as the game continued. Rasmus Haines found Gio Jackson Jr. twice, once for a 12-yard gain and once down the middle for a big gain into scoring range. Savior Owens finished off the drive by reaching into the end zone for 6. The Tiger defense stood up Warren as they stuffed a run and forced an incomplete short pass. The ball was moved even further back on a penalty and Warren punted. A near block on the kick resulted in good field position for Massillon. They went to Owens on the ground on 3 straight runs and he walked it into the end zone on the 3rd carry. Massillon led 14-6, and they added to their lead as a Warren long snap slipped high over the punter’s hands; the ball was jarred loose by Geovonni Vinson and Isaac Maxheimer fell on the ball in the endzone for a touchdown. The Raiders had another good return on a kickoff; they would end up with a field goal and cut the Tiger lead to 21-9. Brayton Feister was quick to answer as he rolled 67 yards down the field, running over defenders for a touchdown. The Raiders muffed the ensuing kickoff as the ball ricocheted off the returner’s knee and several Tigers and Raiders; Massillon’s Johnny Adams fell on it to give the Tigers the ball once again. Haines found Dashun Williams to move the ball for a 1st and Savior Owens rumbled over the goal line once again for a touchdown and a 35-9 lead. Warren did very little on offense and gave it right back to Massillon. Haines found Jackson on a 3rd down pass to move the chains, but a short pass attempt was batted and intercepted. Brayton Feister put a runner in the turf for a TFL and Warren went 3-and-out again. Massillon went to the ground game again as Owens moved the ball down the field on several carries. Feister finished off the drive with touchdown run number 2 on the night, and the Tigers led 42-9 at the half.
The second half flew by as a running clock was in place. Massillon opened with the ball and rolled down the field behind Savior Owens, who would score his 4th touchdown of the night to put Massillon up 49-9. Warren quickly moved down the field and scored to cut the lead to 49-16. Owens had a good kick return and the Tigers went to their backups to run the offense. Adrian Pascley picked up a couple 1st downs, but the Tigers eventually turned it over on downs. The Raiders let the clock run out and the Tigers took a week 9 victory back home.
Beat McKinley!
