In the Tigers’ 10th straight victory over McKinley, there were many heroes. Massillon played team ball– there were many outstanding performances. This week’s spotlight features a few more players than usual, but it was a special game with quite a few standout performances.
Offensive Spotlight
Savior Owens, Running Back
After missing some time over the last couple of weeks, Savior Owens got right back in it starting on the first play. Owens ended up with 114 yards on 21 carries and twice scored touchdowns. He was the Tigers’ go-to all day, and he muscled his way through a loaded box repeatedly to pick up extra yardage. For his 2-TD performance and vital role for the offense, Savior Owens is in the offensive spotlight this week.
Defensive Spotlight
Braylon Gamble, Safety/Linebacker
Braylon Gamble had his best game of the season. He rotated from safety to linebacker (a move that has not often been seen this season) and he excelled at both positions. Whether it was deep pass coverage or stopping short plays, Gamble was on top of the ball for the entire game. A pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a game-sealing interception were among Gamble’s stats on Saturday, but his impact on the field went far beyond that. The receivers he covered were consistently locked down. The short plays were smothered. Perhaps most importantly, Gamble was instrumental as a leader, calling out alignments and making sure that the Tiger defense was set up for success. For this leadership and performance, Braylon Gamble is in this week’s defensive spotlight.
Samuel Dossous, Defensive End
Samuel Dossous has now appeared several times in the defensive spotlight. His growing importance on the defensive line has solidified what is now a Massillon front that is a force to be reckoned with. On Saturday, Dossous was in the backfield so often that it seemed he lined up there. A sack, 3 tackles-for-loss, 3 QB hits, and 4 QB pressures highlighted his day. This performance was key for the Tigers late in the game as McKinley was attempting to move with the long ball; multiple incomplete passes and throwaways were forced by Dossous’ rush. For this performance where he seemed to live in the backfield, Samuel Dossous is in the defensive spotlight.
Isaac Maxheimer, Linebacker
Isaac Maxheimer was all over the run game on Saturday. His team-leading 8 tackles, coupled with a tackle-for-loss, was key to stopping both the Bulldogs’ run and short pass game. For his excellent performance, Isaac Maxheimer is in this week’s defensive spotlight.
Ja’Dyn Williams, Linebacker
It seems that a spotlight cannot be complete with Ja’Dyn Williams. Excellence is what Tiger fans have come to expect with this elite linebacker– Williams delivered again on Saturday. He was on the edge tearing past blockers, opening up holes for Tiger defenders, and bringing the heat on McKinley’s quarterback. Multiple rushed throws were forced by Williams’ pass rush– he once again delivered in crucial moments and helped the Tiger defense hold McKinley to only 26 yards in the second half. For this performance, Ja’Dyn Williams is in the defensive spotlight.
All-Around Spotlight
Deontay Malone, Wide Receiver/Cornerback/Punt Returner
It would be a travesty to not laud the Tiger who made the game-winning play. Deontay Malone made THE play of the game, taking a punt back 50 yards late in the 4th quarter to break the tie. This untouched return for a score was the first Massillon punt return for a touchdown in the 136 games versus McKinley. Deontay Malone did not just play special teams, but he also made plays on the offensive and defensive side. He was the second-leading receiver with 31 yards on a pair of catches, and had 3 tackles and a pass breakup (while playing lockdown defense in the defensive backfield). Malone excelled all 3 ways and had a play that will go down in Massillon lore for generations; for this epic performance, Malone is the all-around spotlight player.
