The ground game was the Tigers’ push on Friday versus GlenOak at Bob Commings Field. Massillon accumulated 345 yards rushing, divvied up amongst Savior Owens (107 yards), Gary Yeager (156 yards), Brayton Feister (46), Adrian Pascley (29 yards), and Manny Patterson (12 yards). All of the Tigers’ 7 touchdowns came on the ground as well. Owens accounted for 4; Yeager, Feister, and Patterson each took it over the goal line once. Massillon’s defense shut down the Eagles’ offense for most of the game, giving up one score in the first half and shutting GlenOak out in the latter two quarters. The Eagles gained only 15 yards on the ground.
This type of result versus GlenOak is nothing new for Massillon. The Tigers have now defeated the Eagles in 10 straight matchups (the Tigers own a 29-game in-county win streak as well). Over this streak, the Tigers have shut out GlenOak thrice and have given up only one score in three more. The Eagles average only 7.5 points per game (75 total) while the Tigers average 42 (420 points). It is safe to say that the Tigers have thoroughly dominated the series, in which they hold an 18-4 all-time advantage.
Game Recap
First Half
The Tigers once again started out the night with the ball. Quarterback Rasmus Haines got the drive moving early with a screen to tight end Dashun Williams to pick up a first down. Savior Owens got his 100+ yard night started with a 1st down run. Haines moved the ball again on a ball fake and a quick slant to Gio Jackson Jr. He then found Williams again, this time over the middle for a big gain. Owens converted on 4th-and-short to continue the drive as he plowed forward; he would carry it twice more and take it into the end zone for the Tigers’ first score. Mateo Herrera booted the extra point through and drilled the ensuing kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. Brydon Feister was quickly on the ball for the Tigers’ defense and picked up a tackle for loss as well as a pressure to force an incomplete pass. GlenOak lined up to punt and nearly had it blocked as the snap rode high. With good starting field position, the Tigers quickly moved into scoring range. A run full of broken tackles by Gary Yeager, another pass over the middle to Williams, and a sideline route to George Rivera put Massillon at the goal line. Owens walked in for 6, and the Tigers led 14-0. Herrera booted the kick into the end zone once again for a touchback (the second of his three on the night) and Massillon’s defense– powered by a Brydon Feister tackle for loss and a Sabastian Harper pass breakup– forced another quick punt. As the second quarter began, the Tigers gave the ball to Brayton Feister on the ground. He drove his way down the field on several runs and dove into the end zone for a score to make it 21-0. GlenOak responded with what would be their best drive of the game (although the Tigers should have had the ball early on after a fumbled ball was ruled down) as their pass game came into play. A big gain on a screen and two long balls where the Tigers were caught flat-footed led to a score, cutting the lead to 21-7. On Massillon’s end, the offense faced a 2nd-and-34 after an Owens touchdown run was called back– Yeager responded with an 86-yard touchdown run to put Massillon up 28-7. Brayton Feister tackled GlenOak’s running back in the backfield and forced a punt. The Tigers drove the ball once again but the drive was stunted by an interception in the end zone. The time ran out in the first half with Massillon up 3 scores.
Second Half
GlenOak started the third quarter off with a special teams blunder as Mateo Herrera’s well-placed kickoff was left to lie in the turf; Kysen Crable scooped it up to give the Tigers the ball. Herrera hit a short field goal to give Massillon a 31-7 lead shortly after. The Eagles gave it right back to the Tigers as another nifty kick set up a big hit by Anthony Hoover and Sabastian Harper, who knocked the ball out. George Rivera fell on it, and Massillon was given another short field. Savior Owens smashed it in for his 3rd touchdown on the night to extend the lead to 37-7. Once again the Eagles’ special teams ran into trouble; a bad snap on a punt led to a turnover on downs as Noah Garner made a flying tackle to give Massillon the ball in plus territory. Owens once again walked into the end zone as he picked up touchdown number 4 on the night, giving Massillon a 44-7 lead. Brayton Fiester forced back the Eagles on a tackle for loss and a pursuit by both Feister brothers set up another GlenOak punt. The Tigers put in many of their second-stringers, but they still continued to move the ball going into the fourth quarter. Gary Yeager put the Tigers in scoring range with a first down run, and Mateo Herrera drilled a 45-yard field goal to extend the lead to 47-7. The Tiger defenders stepped up again as Hoover had a big hit on a pass and a pursuit; DeVaughn Williams batted and almost intercepted a pass and the Eagles punt team once again came on the field. Massillon’s offense was not done yet– Adrian Pascley and Manny Patterson led the Tigers down the field as Pascley’s runs and a big gain on a pass to Aamir Jones moved the ball near the goal line. Patterson took it in for 6 as he met a defender at the goal line. The Tigers led 54-7, which would be the final score as the clock quickly ran out on the Eagles.
