For the first time since the 2023 state championship season, the Massillon Tigers are off to a 3-0 start. It hasn’t been an easy path this season, as the Tigers took on a strong Glenville squad in week one and a physical and talented NFL Academy team last night; Massillon has stood up the challenge and handled both.
NFL Academy UK is an NFL-funded, United Kingdom based team that recruits the best players from Europe, Africa, and Asia to give them experience and prep them for the next level. Numerous alumni of the Academy now play for college and NFL teams, and many of their current players hold multiple D1 offers. NFL Academy currently has players from Germany, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Syria, Egypt, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Spain, France, Switzerland, and the DRC.
NFL Academy was big all around and had speed. They were also physical. The Tigers were just better. Massillon wore down the Academy and established the run game early, eventually beating down on the physical Academy defense. Massillon’s defense held their own in the 21-16 win, with the only NFL points being given up on a long field goal, a short drive after a failed fake punt, and a touchdown that was gifted by questionable rulings at the end of regulation. The Tigers took on the world and controlled the game– they will look next week to defeat Canisius (NY) and stay undefeated.
Game Recap
Massillon started off the game with the ball for the third time in three games this season. Rasmus Haines got the offense sparked with a 1st down run on 3rd and 6. The Tigers were behind the chains again and faced a 3rd and 13, but Savior Owens got near to the marker on a screen pass and pushed forward for a 1st on 4th down. The Tigers faced another 4th down, but Rasmus Haines found Deontay Malone downfield on a leaping grab for a big gain. Owens punched it in a couple plays later to give Massillon a 7-0 lead. NFL Academy started out in Tiger territory after a big return by Leon Donato (Japan). Christian Culler sacked quarterback Viktor LaChambre (Canada) and Geovonni Vinson broke up a 3rd down pass intended for Donato and forced a punt. A solid boot by punter Diego Tamez (Mexico) put the Tigers back deep, but Savior Owens picked up a quick first down to move out of the hole. Massillon faked a punt on 4th down a few plays later but were marked just short of the line to gain. NFL Academy took advantage and drove down the field as LaChambre ran for a big gain and running back Nathan Morris (Jamaica/Canada) punched it in for the game-tying score. As the second quarter rolled along, Savior Owens picked up 8 on 1st down for Massillon but the Tigers could move it no further and punted. NFL Academy almost found a wide-open Donato for what may have been a score, but the ball was dropped. LaChambre scrambled and picked up a big gain with his legs, and despite a tackle-for-loss by Isaac Maxheimer, Academy moved the ball for another big gain on a screen pass. The Tigers were able to push them back on a Brayton Feister sack and hold Academy to a field goal. The Tigers trailed 7-10, but responded quickly. Rasmus Haines found Gio Jackson Jr. over the middle for a big gain, and Savior Owens juked defenders and broke four to five tackles on his way to the end zone for an impressive touchdown and a 14-10 lead. Mateo Herrera booted the kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. A draw play to running back Andrew Gomon (Canada) moved NFL Academy down the field, but Brydon Feister cleaned up a run on 3rd down to force a punt. Massillon ran the clock out and took a 14-10 lead into the locker room.
The second half started off with another Mateo Herrera touchback. NFL Academy moved the ball on a screen to Jamil Secka (Germany). Gomon found a hole and picked up a 1st on the next play. Brayton Feister stopped a QB run and Isaac Maxheimer broke up a pass to put Academy in a 3rd and long situation. Brayton Feister once again stopped LaChambre on a scramble to force a punt. The Tigers took over at the 20 and quickly moved downfield as Savior Owens caught a screen pass and picked up a long gain after the catch. Gio Jackson Jr. had a good catch-and-run and Brayton Feister picked up a 1st down on a pair of runs to move the Tigers deep into NFL Academy territory. Facing a 3rd and long, Savior Owens burst through a hole (opened wide by center Dayvionne Floyd) and took it 24 yards for a touchdown. Leading 21-10 with 3:52 left in the 3rd, the Tiger defense took control. A pair of incomplete passes forced a quick punt, and the Tigers moved to the final quarter with a 2-score lead and the ball. A targeting call gave Massillon a 1st down on 3rd and long. The Tigers put the ball on the ground, running the clock and wearing the NFL Academy defense down. Gary Yeager and Brayton Feister ran for 1st downs and put Massillon into scoring position, but a bad snap pushed the Tigers back and forced a field goal try. The long kick fell short and no penalty was called despite kicker Mateo Herrera being knocked down; NFL Academy took over. Donato picked up a 1st down after some broken tackles. Johnny Adams broke up a deep pass intended for Secka and Brayton Feister picked up a 3rd down sack to force a punt. The kick was downed at the 2 yard line and the Tigers started with their backs to their own goal line. Yeager pushed the Tigers out of the hole– Massillon kept the ball on the ground and punted soon after. Rasmus Haines booted it around 45 yards out to flip the field with under 1:30 left in the game. A pass was tipped by Braylon Gamble and almost picked, but soon after a penalty gave NFL Academy a 1st. Deontay Malone flew over to break up a pass, but a second long pass was ruled a catch (although it hit the ground) and NFL Academy had a shot at the end zone with seconds to play. A pass to tight end Silas Floche (Denmark) was caught and Floche was taken down near the goal line with no time left. The officials ruled that he crossed the plane although he looked to be short, making the final score 21-16 in favor of Massillon.
