Offensive Spotlight: Savior Owens, Running Back
The Tigers can’t get enough of junior back Savior Owens. He was a force once again for Massillon on Friday versus Ritter Prep, amassing a team-leading 175 yards of offense (168 rushing, 7 passing). Owens also added a pair of touchdowns. On the season Owens now has 859 yards rushing, 11 rushing touchdowns, and averages 6.2 yards per carry. Owens is 3-4 in passing attempts with 33 yards on the season. His 11 touchdowns are tied for the team lead and his 892 total yards lead the team. For his ever-consistent and reliable play and growing importance to the Tiger offense, Savior Owens lands in the offensive spotlight once again.
Defensive Spotlight: Isaac Maxheimer (Linebacker), Ja’Dyn Williams (Linebacker), Samuel Dossous (Defensive End)
This week’s defensive spotlight player was a tough decision– many Tiger defenders contributed to the 28-14 victory on Friday. This time I chose a trio to appear in the spotlight– Isaac Maxheimer, Ja’Dyn Williams, and Samuel Dossous.
Isaac Maxheimer gave the Tigers a great effort last season on the line. This year has seen him float around from line to linebacker (both inside and outside). His versatility at these positions hearkens back to a Tiger great– Caiden Woullard– who played a similar role in his All-Ohio 2019 and 2020 seasons. Maxheimer has played increasingly well each week, jumping up to 2nd on the team in overall tackles and 3rd in tackles-for-loss (behind Ja’Dyn Williams, Christian Culler, and Samuel Dossous ). Maxheimer led the team in tackles for the second consecutive week. 9 tackles, a TFL, and a recovered fumble were Maxheimer’s stats, but a look at film will tell an even better story. Maxheimer’s tackles have impressed as his form is stellar– opponents are wrapped and quickly pulled down. For his increasing role as a leader on the Tiger defense, Isaac Maxheimer is in the defensive spotlight this week.
Ja’Dyn Williams plays consistently with the effort of a D1 linebacker. His ability to clean up, take down in the backfield, and come out of any alignment to affect a play has earned him rightful attention and offers from numerous Power 4 programs including Ohio State and Indiana. On Friday Williams added to his team-leading tackle numbers with 7 tackles. He also broke up a pass near the goal line and recorded .5 TFL. As always he was ever near to impact plays in any way possible, even if he was not directly making a tackle. For his continued stellar play, Ja’Dyn Williams is in the defensive spotlight this week.
Samuel Dossous has emerged as a force on the defensive line. The group as a whole, featuring Marcus Garner, Joe Karder, and Dossous, has become increasingly influencial for the Black Swarm defense. Dossous has shot up to 5th on the team in tackles, is now tied for 2nd in tackles-for-loss, and is the team leader in sacks. On Friday Dossous had 5 tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and a forced fumble. For his increasingly important role on the Massillon defensive front and his stellar performance on Friday, Samuel Dossous is in the defensive spotlight.
All-Around Spotlight: Christian Culler, Linebacker/Running Back
Occasionally there is a performance from a Tiger that is excellent on both offense and defense, and sometimes even special teams. Christian Culler plays all three. He is a speed man on kick coverage, holding down the edge and tracking down dangerous returners. He is a stellar linebacker, tied for 5th on the team in tackles and tied for 2nd in tackles-for-loss. Culler proved Friday night that he could be an impact player on offense as well. He ran a 4.52 back in the spring college showcase, and his lightning-fast speed on Friday was evident. On his first touch of the season, Culler ran 44 yards for a score, shaking off defenders and streaking down the sideline for a score. On defense he had 4 tackles and a tackle-for-loss. For his ability to succeed on multiple fronts, Christian Culler is in the all-around spotlight this week.
