Leopards display fierce grit in comeback victory

 Leopards display fierce grit in comeback victory 

By Keno Sultan 

Stark County Prep Press writer 

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

DOVER--Quit has never been allowed in the vocabulary of a Louisville Leopard. It also isn't allowed in the vocabulary of a Dover Tornado.

In a game that was dictated by the defenses, it was the hosts erecting an early 14-0 game and were able to control the game for the most part but it was Leopards kicker Parker Daum who made sure the visitors had the last word as his 26-yard field goal with ten seconds remaining vaulted Louisville to an enthralling 15-14 victory over a Dover team that presented every bit the challenge as expected at Crater Stadium.

The Leopards showed the fight that defined Leopards football under head coach Jake Adkins, who once bared his teeth as a Leopard player 19 years ago.

"First of all I want to say how hard both teams played and I have a lot of respect for Dover and coach Matt Rees and they are going to win a lot of games this year," he said. Defensively we made some adjustments, stayed the course and our kids continued to play one play at a time. I was proud of our players and their ability to handle adversity."

The game was promising for the visitors early on.

The Leopards defense made an early stand when they stifled Tornadoes back Cohen Murray for a two-yard loss on fourth down to assume possession of the ball.

Louisville rode running back Caden Kortis deep in Tornadoes territory but a fumble stalled their drive when Dover's defense came up with the ball to quash the Leopards threat and the opening quarter ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

Dover conjured up some answers. A 41-yard catch and run from receiver and human joystick Dante Clark had them deep in Leopards territory but two consecutive holding penalties backed up the hosts. But a series of pass completions from quarterback Dieter Weber to Cooper Connare and Jacob Noretto got them back in scoring range and Weber took care of the rest with a 16-yard scramble for a touchdown and Noretto's extra-point kick handed the Tornadoes a tone-setting 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.

It got troublesome for the Leopards when they fumble the ball away that resulted in a second turnover with most of the quarter to be played. 

Six plays after the fumble, Dover cashed in when Weber threw a pass over the middle to Clark, who turned on the jets for a 26-yard catch and run and a two-touchdown cushion at 14-0.

The Leopards were reeling. Dover's fifth possession was their most dominant. Spanning 13 plays, the Tornadoes were threatening to put a stranglehold on the game but Noretto misfired on a 26-yard field goal and that was a relief for the Leopards, who avoided going to the locker room down by 21 or worse.

The Leopards took advantage of their reprieve as they drove the field in 80 plays and quarterback Cody Zahler scored standing up on a five-yard quarterback run. The extra-point kick was missed by the Leopards were revived with a pulse going to the locker down 14-6.

Zahler's touchdown run was a portent of things to arrive for the Leopards in the crucial second half.

"Cody is a competitor and there is a reason why he was voted as a captain by his players. The poise he showed on that last drive and the awareness to use his legs was huge for us."

The game was every bit as a defensive stalemate as expected after the frenetic second quarter with multiple personal fouls from both sides resulting in warnings midway through the third quarter.

Louisville embarked on their longest drive of the game and Zahler appeared to be the hero as he scored on a hard 29-yard quarterback keeper but  a fumble on the two-point conversion via a muffed snap ended up the difference.

The Leopard defense relegated Dover to punt. That is where the offense mounted their decisive drive and Zahler's second 29-yard run allowed them to put the game in the hands of the trustworthy Daum, whose field goal lifted Louisville to victory.

This was the first road trip of the season for Louisville and what better way to depart with a victory and one that may spur them to greater successes down the road. They will have to find a way to generate some offense and not rely on their defense as much but on this night, there were no complaints from the victors, who are 2-1 on the season while Dover enters Ohio Cardinal Conference play with a 1-2 record.

Adkins will happily enjoy the win and then move to the next road test that will await them.

"We told our kids it's just one game. We can't get too high or too low. We will ride the moment from this game and we got two tough road games coming up. We want to have a balanced attack offensively and be equal in running and throwing and keeping it simple," he said.

Quit is a word never allowed in the Louisville Leopards or the Dover Tornadoes regimes as the Tornadoes controlled 47:50 of tonight's contest.

But the last 10 seconds belonged to the Leopards in a game which lived up to it's billing.

VICTORIOUS LEOPARDS. Louisville players listen to head coach Jake Adkins as they huddle in a post-game talk after their 15-14 win against Dover Friday night. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Leopards in need of a bounce back against mirror image of themselves

 Leopards in need of a bounce back against mirror image of themselves

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

LOUISVILLE--The heavyweight division has always been the glamour division of boxing.

But you can't forget about the smaller weight classes and some of the intriguing title fights that have been a part of the sport for many years.

They may not be as known as the bigger schools in the state but that is perfectly fine with the Louisville Leopards and their hosting opponent Friday night, Dover.

Both the Leopards and Tornadoes are coming off of unfortunate running clock setbacks with the Leopards on the wrong end of a 43-10 home loss to Youngstown Ursuline while Dover is returning to the confines of Crater Stadium after a 44-14 setback to a Steubenville team that many feels will be a state title contender in Division III with two-time champion Columbus Bishop Watterson ascending to Division II.

Both Dover and Louisville are known for breeding young boys to compete under the lights during Friday nights during the fall season and Friday night at Crater Stadium will not be any different as both teams look to notch their second victory of the season.

For first-year Louisville head coach and 2010 graduate Jake Adkins, he is familiar to the tradition of Louisville football having competed under the guidance of Paul Farrah and being a member of their 2007 Division II state title competing squad before embarking on a four-year career at Notre Dame College as a Falcons linebacker.

Adkins expects a competitive affair between his battalion of Leopards and Tornadoes.

"Louisville and Dover have great communities and great programs and the community support of both cities are great, rich with tradition and it's great for high school football. Both are small-town communities and they care very much about the kids and their education," he said. "We have to do our job on every play and play with passion and perseverance."

LEADER OF THE LEOPARDS. Louisville head coach Jake Adkins talks to an audience at the Stark County Coaches Dinner. Adkins and the Leopards will look to bounce back against Dover Friday night at Crater Stadium. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

The Leopards showed flashes of a team that they can be with a 20-10 victory over New Philadelphia as the defense showed a dominant form. They will need to rely on their defense to keep them in the game and get it into the fourth quarter with a chance to win it. This has the making of a game where defense may be the difference and offense may be scarce to come by.

Adkins sees a similarity to Dover from a defensive standpoint. Whoever can stay clear of turnovers will be the one departing Crater Stadium with a victory Friday night. Dover is a much better team than their 4-6 record last season and no one knows that better than Adkins.

"Dover is very similar to us and how they play. It is going to be tough going down there and we have to be ready to play four quarters of Louisville football," he said.

Like Adkins, second-year Dover field general Matt Rees is a graduate of his respective alma mater. A 2004 graduate, Rees was part of a team that finished off an undefeated regular season before traversing to Mount Union, where he won two national championships. Rees was the longtime defensive coordinator under retired general Dan Ifft before being selected as his successor last year. Even pleasing to those in Dover, Rees is a flawless 5-0 against the rival Quakers, winning four as a player and then last season's 35-28 thriller to conclude their season.

The Tornadoes are looking to get back on track after last week's game against the Big Red. Despite not getting off the way they wanted to, the competitiveness Dover showed was encouraging to Rees, who believes his team will learn from the setback and deliver a performance that Dover residents love to see in Crater Stadium.

"Last week was a game for us to learn from and those are the lessons that we will have to apply Friday night for four quarters," he said. "I have a lot of respect for Louisville as they are rich in tradition like we are and both of our communities are supportive."

Louisville split their first two games at home and now will assume the challenge of being road warriors. After Dover, they will challenge Youngstown Boardman and North Canton Hoover before returning home again to challenge Lake in four weeks.

Although it is still early, this stretch just may dictate how the season may unfold for Louisville. A loss wouldn't hurt the Leopards as much as the season is still in it's infancy but it may be a telling point of where the trajectory of their season may go. But at the same time, Adkins doesn't want his team to get too worked up about the stretch and to take the approach one game at a time.

"We don't want to put stress on one game. We do have an opportunity to make it right from last week and we have to do whatever it takes to win and make that happen," he said.

A segment of Friday's game just may come down to the special teams department, where the Tornadoes may have a distinct advantage. Last year, junior wide receiver and defensive back Dante Clark provided an electrifying 81-yard punt return score against New Philadelphia, which although it happened at the end of the first quarter, it proved advantageous for Dover. Without that score, their rivalry contest might have lasted into overtime and who knows what that may have parlayed into.

Clark has been a starter since his freshman year and he has only gotten better. The sky is the limit for him according to Rees and if he gets a return leading to a special teams score, it may be detrimental for the Leopards.

"Clark is one who really stands out and he has really developed into an excellent player. But he is not just the only one. We want to stand out in all three phases and it goes back to when I played at Mount Union, we were all 11 as one, whether it was offense, defense, or special teams and everyone was doing their jobs," Rees said.

"Dante is one who really stands out on film and we have to find a way to keep the ball out of his hands and know where he is at all times. He has a knack for the ball and he is fast," Adkins said.

TOUGH TORNADO. Matt Rees is in his second year at his alma mater. Rees, a 2004 Dover High School graduate will be on the sidelines as the Tornadoes battle the Leopards Friday night at Crater Stadium at 7:00 p.m. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

It doesn't seem like a long time ago that Adkins and Rees were both students growing up in their respective school systems and being raised in God-fearing and God-loving Christian communities and households. Each of them recalled the days where high school players would come to the elementary and middle schools at assemblies to speak to them about making the right decisions. Both head coaches ended up doing the same thing as seniors when they spoke to elementary and middle school students about making the right decisions at those same assemblies.

Now both gentlemen are head coaches and husbands raising excellent families. And their paths will cross at Crater Stadium where only one of the two teams will notch their fourth win in the series against the other.

Young kids from both communities will fill up Crater Stadium with the hopes of someday being under the same lights that the respective head coaches of their alma maters were under a long time ago.

Adkins and Rees both recalled the day they spoke to kids at assemblies as high school seniors.

"We talked to kids about what you can control on and off the field. We told them that you have to make the right decisions to be successful in life and you also have to represent your communities well," Adkins recalled.

"We talked to our players about overcoming adversity as we practiced on the grass field. We shared stories of our experiences and in those were lessons on what it took to play as a team. We all came from a caring community and we bore the responsibility of that," Rees said.

The heavyweight division has always been the glamour division of boxing. But you can't forget about the smaller weight classes as well. And in this case, you can't overlook what the Louisville Leopards and Dover Tornadoes will bring to Crater Stadium Friday night.

---PREP PRESS PIECES---

*Bulldogs as Leopards: Former Canton McKinley linebackers coach John Twinem, who was a part of the 1997 and 1998 Division I state title winning team served as Louisville's athletic director before transitioning into an assistant principal. Matt Kelly, a 2001 graduate of McKinley is also on the Leopards staff as well.

*Equality regardless of hire: Adkins was hired late after Matt Furino stepped down due to a personal matter. When asked if he would have an advantage in part to being chosen early as Ifft's successor, Rees downplayed the thought of that. "Adkins is very knowledgeable of the game and has been around the program through the lower levels. I have looked at Louisville on film and they are well coached so I don't look at that as him being hired late as an advantage," he said.

*Seismic quake: New Philadelphia is currently 0-2 on the season and have lost three straight dating back to a 35-28 loss to Dover that ended their season at 5-5. Mike Johnson, a 2001 graduate of New Philadelphia, who played for current GlenOak head coach and former Quakers boss Matt Dennison is in his sixth season as Quakers head coach. Dennison also coached Canton South for five seasons. The Quakers will try to avoid an 0-3 start as they will host 2025 Division IV state champion Indian Valley at Woody Hayes Quaker Staduim Friday night, a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Blue Streaks zap Spartans

Blue Streaks zap Spartans 

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer 

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

LAKE TWP.--By DeGeorge, Lake got it right!

It was a sterling night for Lake senior standout Ty DeGeorge. 

He may be the baby of the family but in Lake Blue Streak Stadium, he was the big brother and more. Paced by his three touchdown runs and a defensive effort that included three interceptions by the Blue Streaks defense, Lake rocked and rolled their way to a 27-0 zapping of Youngstown Boardman to cap a two-game home stand.

Lake set the tone on their opening possession and made it clear the game would be played on their terms as a seven play drive concluded with a 23-yard end around touchdown scamper by senior DeGeorge and despite the extra point kick that was blocked, the hosts assumed an early 6-0 advantage that went unchallenged.

Lake veteran boss Dan DeGeorge admired where his team stood on that decisive drive and marveled over the prowess of his quarterback and the defense, which intercepted three Spartans passes.

"We started off the game very strong offensively and give credit to our defense that played great all night in pitching a shutout and tackling very well and our defensive coordinator Ron Viscounte had a great game plan and we did just enough offensively to win but we have a lot of things we have to clean up," he said. "Ty had a great night and he will tell you the same that his offensive line had a lot to do with that and he wants to win. He doesn't care about touchdowns or yards or anything else like that. He's a very good player and we ask a lot of him and our players."

The Spartans just were unable to sustain any kind of offense against Lake's incarcerating defense, which perturbed veteran head coach D.J. Dota. It only added to the quagmire that his offense has scored just 10 points in two games and find themselves in the same position they were in last year, 0-2 and at a clear crossroads.

If the Spartans have any hope of turning around the season, it will have to commence next Friday against a Liberty team who would love nothing more to further decimate the Spartans season. The message according to Dota is clear. The defense cannot continue to be on the field for extended periods of time and the offense has to generate scores to end their offensive malady.

"I thought we played pretty well on defense, we were just on the field too long. We were down 13-0 at half and we have to come out and get some points on the board. We can't be on the field too long on defense, we're just going to continue to give up points," the former Warren G. Harding and West Branch general said. "We have to move the ball more on offense but again, we are playing two sophomores and a freshman up front. It's going to take some time, we played a really good football program tonight. It's going to be up to us how we respond this week."

Lake quarterback Wyatt Jones added a touchdown pass to Logan Miller to cap off the scoring for the night. The Blue Streaks will head on the road next week to challenge Rocky River with their sights firmly set on now looking to obtain a three-game winning streak.

Last year, the Blue Streaks downed the Pirates in a 34-28 tally. DeGeorge knows going on the road that he will have a strong feel of where his team will be at before Federal League competition commences.

"Rocky River is very good and one of the better teams we will play all year, they are very well coached and have a handful of Division I players and this will be a huge test for us and we'll find out what we're made of," he said.

By DeGeorge and a feral Lake defense, the Lake Blue Streaks indeed got it right.

DEGEORGE DELIGHT. Ty DeGeorge hands the ball to the referee after his third touchdown of the evening as the Blue Streaks dominated Youngstown Boardman 27-0 to move to 2-0 on the season. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Tigers lean on durability to wear down Division IV state champions

 Tigers lean on durability to wear down Division IV state champions

By Keno Sultan 

Stark County Prep Press writer 

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

MASSILLON--Durability is a trait well served like a gourmet meal in the Massillon Tiger kingdom.

It truly had a flawless taste in the second half.

Massillon needed every bit of senior running back Savior Owens 180 yards rushing along with two touchdowns to subdue a very gritty Cleveland Glenville team in front of a sold-out crowd of 16,000 by a score of 31-18 to christen the 2025 high school football season at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

This year's contest lived up to it's billing as a top game between two teams with championship aspirations and both teams fought with all of their heart and soul from the opening kickoff.

Massillon needed just 10 plays to send an early message. Quarterback Rasmus Haines delivered a flawless 36-yard spiral to Deontay Malone that put the Tigers in the red zone early on and two plays later, Haines located Gio Jackson Jr. for a four-yard scoring pass and the Tigers assumed an early 7-0 advantage.

Spurred by two Massillon personal fouls, all it took was seven plays for the Tarblooders and an extremely truncated field to generate a touchdown as Valonte McCord plowed in from a yard away. But the extra point was well off and Massillon maintained a single point advantage at 7-6.

Massillon's retaliation was swift. Haines needed just three plays to find Malone, who got behind Khyire Robinson and outraced him for a spectacular 83-yard catch and score to extend Massillon's lead to 14-6 to conclude the scoring in the opening quarter.

Massillon head coach Nate Moore lauded Haines's prowess and his turnover-free evening.

"I was very proud of Rasmus. I thought he stood tall in the pocket several times, took some hits and made some great throws and he did a good job managing the game. It was a very physical game on both sides of the ball and he didn't flinch. He stood out there and first time starting varsity football in that environment against a solid team," Massillon veteran head coach Nate Moore said.

Massillon relied on their durable offensive line and the running of Savior Owens to Mount a potential drive but was squelched by a fumble and recovered by the Tarblooders after 12 plays, giving their exhausted defense a much needed reprieve.

Massillon drove deep to the Glenville nine yard line and two straight Tarblooder off side penalties put the ball at the two-yard line where Mateo Herrera connected on a 19-yard field goal to send Massillon into the locker room with a 17-6 halftime lead.

Glenville struck like a hot bolt of lightning coming out of the locker room. De'Anthony Crittenden returned the second half kickoff for a 77 yard touchdown but a miscue on the two-point attempt left them down by five.

Immediately, Massillon stole back the momentum when Owens fought off three Tarblooders and found himself in the end zone on a 52-yard jaunt and it was the turning point to propel the Tigers.

Glenville refused to abdicate. After a muffed punt that was recovered by them, they had the ball deep in Tiger territory but a fumbled snap on their end knocked them well out of field goal range but the offense continued to show their grit when backup quarterback Elvis Koutsakis on a fourth and 10 ran for a 19-yard touchdown but another missed two point conversion, three in the contest led to the undoing of the visiting Tarblooders.

Any hope the Tarblooders had of a second straight win were squelched when Owens recorded his second touchdown of the evening to send the partisan Tigers fans home and excited for next week's road contest against GlenOak, who lost to Dover 36-21.

Once again, the catalyst of the Tigers success hinged once again on their offensive line, especially in the second half, where Massillon is very dangerous.

"I think you saw that in the second half. Savior's last two touchdowns showed that and you have to credit our offensive line," Moore said. "Those kids went out there and played hard and we faced adversity out there and we didn't fall apart, we came closer and there is a lot to build off of."

Haines passed for a solid 186 yards and completed 11 passes out of 23 attempted. Massillon rushed for 183 as a team, Owens responsible for 180 of those. 

LaMarques Greenwood led Glenville with 65 yards rushing.

Massillon will turn their sights now to GlenOak and look to build off the win against the Tarblooders, who are still the favorites to hoist another state title. Moore knows the challenge that will await his legion of Tigers.

"We are going to look at film this week and try to put together a good game plan to face those guys," he said of the Eagles.

Durability is a trait well served like a gourmet meal in the Massillon Tiger kingdom. And that taste was as scrumptious as their victory in front of a sold-out Paul Brown Tiger Stadium crowd.

RUNNING SAVIOR. Massillon running back Savior Owens runs for yardage during competition against Cleveland Glenville. The Michigan State recruit scored two touchdowns and rushed for 180 yards in the Tigers 31-18 victory. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

State championship atmosphere awaits Tigers and Tarblooders

State championship atmosphere awaits Tigers and Tarblooders

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com 

FEARLESS LEADER. Massillon head coach Nate Moore enters his 12th season as the patriarch of the Massillon Tigers. The two-time state title winning head coach is eyeing a third state title, his second wtih the Tigers. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

FAITHFUL PATRIARCH. Cleveland Glenville head coach Ted Ginn Sr. leads his charges onto the field before their Division IV state championship against Shelby. The Tarblooders are focused on winning a fourth state title in the last five years. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MASSILLON--It has been 13 years since the OHSAA last held the state football championships inside Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Home of the Massillon Tigers.

Friday night might as well be a state championship game.

With Massillon and Cleveland Glenville set for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday night in what is expected to be a nearly sold-out crowd, the second straight meeting between these two heavyweights figures to be a classic with both teams wielding the axes of championship expectations bestowed upon them. Massillon is aiming for a second state title in four years while Glenville on the other hand hopes to have their season end for a fourth time in five years with another state championship.

For 12th year Massillon general Nate Moore, he has relished the excitement of opening day. It was one thing for Valdosta (Georgia) to arrive to Massillon as the nation's all-time leader in victories. It was another for the Tigers to enter the 2024 season ranked #2 in the nation and opposing New Jersey state power Bergen Catholic. However, this meeting against Glenville is of atomic proportions.

Last season, Glenville regurgitated a 19-7 lead but in a second half that saw four blocked field goals, two by each team, it was the Tarblooders scoring on a touchdown pass to walk off the field with a thrilling 33-27 overtime victory that left 29th year patriarch Ted Ginn Sr. hoarse, nearly unable to talk and in tears while thanking God for the success of his team's first return to Massillon since the 2004 state semifinals when they were in Division I.

Moore has not put any stock on last year's setback but acknowledged the imperativeness of the competition. 

"For us, this is a big game for us for a lot of reasons because it is the start of the season and we have to be prepared to play a good Glenville team that won the state championship last year," he said.

Both teams come in boasting a slew of firepower across the board. Tigers running back Savior Owens is a commit to Michigan State, wide receiver and cornerback Deontay Malone, a four-year varsity player is committed to Ohio State. Fullback and linebacker Brayton Feister has committed to Oregon. And the Tigers have another durable offensive line at their arsenal.

On the other hand, Glenville has linebacker Kaylon Bailey, who has committed to Colorado to further his academic and athletic career. He is the only major college commit but don't get the perception he is their best player because the Tarblooders are skilled at all positions, the same as the hosts welcoming them to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

The Tarblooders are at the height of their dominance and really have nothing else left to prove to anyone being the first public high school from Cleveland to not just compete in multiple state championships but to win multiple titles as well.

Moore has a high respect for what Ginn Sr., a cancer survivor has attained at his alma mater.

"Ginn has been there a long time and his mission has been to help student-athletes in life and he has done a great job with that," he said.

Glenville comes into this game with a 3-3 record against Stark County schools, two of those coming against Massillon and one more against Canton South while their losses, all three have come to Canton McKinley in 1996, 1997 (Ginn's first year, a 70-0 loss) and 2004 in a Division I state semfinal.

A key asset for Friday's game just might not only come down to the offensive and defensive lines but most importantly, the special teams. Massillon and Glenville both blocked two field goals against each other. This is a game where a kickoff return or a punt return for a touchdown just may be the decisive factor come Friday night. Moore is hotly aware of this when Malone returned a McKinley punt for a 50-yard touchdown that stripped away the Bulldogs momentum after they had clawed their way back from a 14-0 deficit to tie their rivalry game before and ended up being the winning tally in a 21-14 victory.

Both teams have the ability to break a long touchdown. According to Moore, his legion of Tigers in order to win will have to contribute on all three phases of the competition.

"Special teams is going to be big as we failed in that category last year. But to win, we have to be on point with all three phases of the game, offense, defense, and special teams and we must do our jobs and live up to the standard," he said. "We also have to execute at the highest level with great effort."

Local media, state media, and social media have had their dates circled for this game for weeks. One thing that sets Moore aside from other head coaches is that he doesn't make anything of what the media says, whether it is previews, or chatter from other social media outlets, no matter if it is positive or negative.

Players and coaches from both schools are not naive to social media. One thing they have going for them is that they are coached by God-fearing and God-loving gentlemen who are raising young boys to become successful adult men and in the cases of some, are second fathers to those who may not have a biological father in their life due to a life circumstance.

Moore expects his team to focus on the assignment on hand and tune out all the noise once gameday approaches.

"We have to control what we can control. We are preparing our young boys to become men and a lot of that is intrinsic to the game. Football is a sport around 11 men and everyone has to do their job because if one doesn't, it can cost you," he said. "We are facing a great opponent."

It has been 13 years since an OHSAA state football championship game was last played at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Massillon's opener against Glenville for the second straight year will be the closest thing to a state championship game.

---PREP PRESS PIECES---

*New to the region: Columbus Bishop Watterson, who won the last two Division III state titles has moved up to Division II and are in Massillon's region, along with Sunbury Big Walnut, who has a 2-2 record against Massillon with both wins coming in regional finals. When asked about this, Moore was gracious of the Eagles ascension to the region but also pointed out that it is only the first week. "We will worry about that come week 11 but for now our focus is on week 1 and we have a great respect for our opponent," he said.

*A long time ago: It was nine years ago that Warren G. Harding arrived to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium as the first visiting team to oppose Canton McKinley. McKinley used four goal line stops from the one-yard line to stifle a Harding scoring threat in a 29-7 win in 2017. The Bulldogs have won five in a row over the Raiders, who have not defeated McKinley since 2003, a 45-21 victory in Warren. Both Renzy Parnell (McKinley head coach) and Matt Richardson (Warren Harding head coach) were both defensive and offensive coordinators at Hoban, where both men were part of five state championship wins, two of the five coming against Massillon in 2018 and 2020. Richardson won a state title at Warren JFK and coached at Harding under Thom McDaniels, who coached the Raiders for seven seasons and was a combined 9-1 against McKinley and Massillon (5-1 against Massillon, 4-0 against McKinley).

*Return to Tuscarawas County: GlenOak head coach Matt Dennison returns again to Crater Stadium for the second time in three seasons, this time as head coach of the GlenOak Eagles, who will travel to Dover to battle the Tornadoes and their second-year head coach and 2004 Dover graduate, Matt Rees. Dennison coached rival New Philadelphia for 18 seasons before becoming the Canton South head coach. Last year, Dover defeated GlenOak 18-7 for Rees's first win as Tornadoes head coach. Rees is 5-0 against New Philadelphia (4-0 as a player). Rees was the defensive coordinator for 10 years under Dan Ifft before being promoted to head coach upon Ifft's retirement after 30 years as Tornadoes head coach.

*Welcome to Stark County: Of the 19 head coaches, three of them are first-year head coaches. Jake Adkins, who was a part of the 2007 Louisville Leopards Division II state runner-up team is the head coach of the Leopards, McKinley graduate Isaiah Robinson, who was part of the Bulldogs back-to-back Division I title winning teams in 1997 and 1998 is the head coach of St. Thomas Aquinas. Torrance Carle, a Minerva native who coached out-of-state is back in Ohio as head coach of Sandy Valley.

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

Massillon standout defensive end relishes upcoming season

 Massillon standout defensive end relishes upcoming season

By Keno Sultan

Stark County Prep Press writer

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

MASSILLON--As he walked off the Paul Brown Tiger Stadium field after a 42-20 loss to #1 Canton McKinley amid a variety of missed scoring opportunities, a dejected but inspirational Ellery Moore, walking unassisted on one leg took a teammate aside before venturing into the locker room and administered seven words that became etched in stone a season later.

"We're not losing to those guys again."

A man who lives his life on giving his word and keeping his word, those seven words proved to be prophetic as the Tigers terminated a five-game losing streak to the top-ranked Bulldogs with a rousing 35-7 victory to complete a 10-0 regular season, the pinnacle of the 1999 season for Massillon.

27 years has passed since Moore led the Tigers to that triumphant victory on a sun-kissed 89 degree afternoon at Fawcett Stadium. Moore is now in his 11th year as a color commentator with ESPN 990 for the same Tigers team he competed for under the tutelage of the unitary Rick Shepas. Moore was one of many people who addressed the team at the 2026 Kickoff Rally as the Tigers prepare for Friday's challenge against defending Division IV state champion Cleveland Glenville, who has won the last three of four state titles and are bringing a team that has it's vistas set on a fourth crown.

Moore can relate to the excitement having served as a captain. He knows the expectations are nearly astronomical for a team many believe that they will be hoisting a second state playoff title in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in 16 weeks. And he believes that they have a team ready to join the revered 2023 squad as state champions.

"It brings back a lot of those old feelings. You get those butterflies in your stomach and the excitement of the crowd. The Tiger ice cream, a day like today, there is no other town that does this. It's insane but we love it and we keep doing it over and over because that's who we are," Moore said. "Massillon is a different place because of the people and the fabric that is intertwined throughout the history of the town."

The last two seasons, Massillon has had their season conclude in the regional championship against Sunbury Big Walnut. The road is a bit more arduous as Columbus Bishop Watterson has traversed into the Tigers region. The Eagles are coming off two consecutive Division III state championships and closed out their account with Toledo Central Catholic in the third straight state title contest by seizing a 30-0 win and holding a 2-1 advantage.

Massillon might look to Moore for inspiration. Look no further than the ninth week of the 1998 season when Moore suffered a season-concluding injury that left him in tears as doctors and coaches informed him that his year was finished before the 105th game against McKinley. Defying doctors and coaches recommendations to hang up his cleats, Moore delivered 15 first hit tackles in a performance still chatted about to this day by residents of the city.

How did Moore muster up the gumption to play despite the severity of his injury?

"It's the town. It's the brothers I lined up with, I puked with in the locker room, when coach Stu (Steve Studer) was running us and the stadium stairs, it was for them. It wasn't for me," he said. "I didn't worry about how many tackles I was going to make, I didn't worry about the final score, I just wanted them to know that when times get hard, my integrity for them was going to be strong as a building."

One thing that the 2026 Tigers have going for them is that they possess a 10-game winning streak over McKinley. Six of the 10 wins have come by double-digits. Massillon also has not lost to McKinley at home since the 2010 season and they have a team determined to not only push their streak to 11 overall but just as importantly seven in a row at home.

Moore knows that none of the Tigers on this year's team do not want that 'lost to McKinley' label attached to them, especially the seniors. He recalled the 1999 contest in which he drew criticism from outsiders when he said his undefeated charges were not scared of the Bulldogs and that they would "meet them anywhere, anytime, anyplace." 

The Tigers were in trouble at halftime after a Preston Chavers 25-yard interception return for a score tied the 106th meeting at halftime. Massillon stripped McKinley of their momentum with a long drive that corroded six minutes off the clock, ending with a touchdown that handed them the momentum they did not relinquish. Massillon played with a feral passion in the second half and their attack was so dominant that partisan Bulldogs fans headed for the exits with over 11 minutes to play. Moore gave his word that the Tigers would prevail and those words are now etched in stone forever.

"When you put Massillon on your chest, it is a superhuman strength that comes into our bodies and it's not how physically talented you are. It's the town that gives us that certain energy that we just go out and run with it," he said of upholding his obligation.

As the Tigers get ready for another year of football, there were many young men who as early as elementary school have aspirations of someday being under the lights inside Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Moore was one of those as he could relate to those who competed before him and those well after his days ended.

The schedule is another formidable one for the Tigers, one that features five out of state teams. Glenville will provide the first test and last year ended the game on a walk-off touchdown pass in overtime to vault past the host Tigers 33-27. It is a game that has been highly publicized in the last few weeks.

Amid the excitement and pageantry of the rally, Moore doesn't want the Tigers to forget the sight of the big picture. But at the same time, he wants young kids in Massillon to be aware of the expectations of putting on a Massillon jersey.

"Once you make this your home, there is no place like it. Appreciate it, respect it, love it, embrace it. If you want to raise your children here, this is the place to be," he said. "Health and depth are going to be key, you have to have that, especially in Division II or I, where you will play great programs."

Ellery Moore has always been a man who has given his word and kept his word. His words are forever etched in stone, an ending the 2026 Tigers hope to attain in 16 weeks.

TIGER INSPIRATION. Former Massillon defensive end Ellery Moore addresses the team during the 2026 Tiger Kickoff Rally Wednesday night in downtown Massillon. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.

40th annual Stark County Coaches Dinner elicits large crowd

 40th annual Stark County Coaches Dinner elicits large crowd 

By Keno Sultan 

Stark County Prep Press writer 

www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com

CANTON--40 years ago, the video game Super Mario Bros. became a Nintendo icon.

The 40th annual Stark County Coaches Dinner at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church reached an iconic height as the event celebrated it's 40th anniversary at the Alex D. Krassas Events Center.

19 of Stark County's sharpest coaching minds broke bread through camaraderie and good will a week before the regular season commences August 21st.

Here are the team previews for the upcoming season:

ALLIANCE AVIATORS

Head coach: Tim Goodman.

Years at school: 5.

Last season's record: 8-3, Division III first round.

Returning lettermen: 15.

Outlook: "We have 85 in the program and our kids keep growing and growing. We have a strong senior class this year with 20 seniors. We return four on offense. We have six back on defense. We have a strong schedule this year."

Alliance head coach Tim Goodman (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

CANTON SOUTH WILDCATS 

Head coach: Badre Bardawil.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 5-6, Division IV first round.

Returning lettermen:

Outlook: "We had a really good summer and got our coaching staff hired early. Our senior class is an experienced group. They are talented kids. I am real excited."

Canton South head coach Badre Bardawil (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

CENTRAL CATHOLIC CRUSADERS

Head coach: Jeff Lindesmith.

Years at school: 14.

Last season's record: 1-9.

Returning lettermen: 25.

Outlook: "Last year, we were really young. There is no sure losses and no sure wins. We will come out and represent."

Central Catholic head coach Jeff Lindesmith (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

EAST CANTON HORNETS

Head coach: John "Spider" Miller.

Years at school: 11.

Last season's record: 10-3 (Division VII regional semifinals).

Returning lettermen: 28.

Outlook: "We have an experienced team. We are going to try and run the ball a bit. We have a nice offensive line. Hopefully we can try to run the ball a bit. We have to take it one game at a time."

East Canton head coach John "Spider" Miller (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

FAIRLESS FALCONS

Head coach: A.J. Sarbaugh.

Years at school: 9.

Last season's record: 4-6.

Returning lettermen: 17.

Outlook: "We are led by a three-year starter and for the first time in school history, we have six home games. We have 35 kids who are working hard. The PAC-7 is very good and well coaches. We have to stay healthy."

Fairless head coach A.J. Sarbaugh (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

GLENOAK EAGLES

Head coach: Matt Dennison.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 2-8.

Returning lettermen: 13.

Outlook: "Our kids have brought in and had a really good camp. We are ready for the season. We have 20 seniors who will lead the way for us and we have a tough season ahead of us. We are working hard and as Eagles, we elevate."

GlenOak head coach Matt Dennison (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

NORTH CANTON HOOVER VIKINGS

Head coach: Brian Baum Sr.

Years at school: 12.

Last season's record: 9-3 (Division II second round)

Returning lettermen: 13

Outlook: "We graduated a lot of good players last year. We have 22 seniors this year. The kids are doing what we ask of them. The Federal League will always be tough. Our schedule is challenging but we will answer the bell."

North Canton Hoover head coach Brian Baum Sr. (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

JACKSON POLAR BEARS

Head coach: Jay Rohr.

Years at school: 5.

Last season's record: 6-6 (Division I second round).

Returning lettermen: 29.

Outlook: "We have 30 seniors this year. We have nine starters on offense, six starters on defense. We have high expectations this year and our kids are committed. We have a tough schedule and we are going to embrace that."

Jackson head coach Jay Rohr (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

LAKE BLUE STREAKS

Head coach: Dan DeGeorge.

Years at school: 14.

Last season's record: 7-4 (Division II second round).

Returning lettermen: 18.

Outlook: "We have excited kids fighting to play. Out schedule is very tough. Staying healthy is going to be the key. We will have to be on our A game this year."

Lake head coach Dan DeGeorge (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS 

Head coach: Jake Adkins.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 6-5 (Division II second round).

Returning lettermen: 12.

Outlook: "We have 45 kids on the roster from sophomores to seniors. Our kids are committed. They want to be here. They want to be coached hard. We are looking forward to the season."

Louisville head coach Jake Adkins (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MARLINGTON DUKES

Head coach: Joe Cardinal.

Years at school: 4.

Last season's record: 3-7.

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Outlook: "Our guys are matured and older. Offensively we will be a spread team. Defensively, we will be a stack team out of a 3-3-5 and will look to swarm to the ball and create turnovers. We feel pretty good where our classes are headed."

Marlington head coach Joe Cardinal (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MASSILLON TIGERS

Head coach: Nate Moore.

Years at school: 12.

Last season's record: 9-4 (Division II regional finalist).

Returning lettermen: 30.

Outlook: "We have a great schedule this year. We have a good team coming back. We return six starters on offense and eight on defense. It has been a good off-season and an experienced group and a lot of leadership."

Massillon head coach Nate Moore (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MCKINLEY BULLDOGS 

Head coach: Renzy Parnell.

Years at school: 2.

Last season's record: 9-3 (Federal League champions).

Returning lettermen: 19.

Outlook: "We have 80 kids on the roster. I am super proud of our unity. Our kids are very close. They do what they are asked to do and we have a strong group. We really made strides in the weight room."

McKinley head coach Renzy Parnell (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

MINERVA LIONS

Head coach: Zach Slates.

Years at school: 2.

Last season's record: 5-5.

Returning lettermen: 12.

Outlook: "Minerva is a community that wants excitement and we brought some of that last year."

Minerva head coach Zach Slates (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

NORTHWEST INDIANS

Head coach: John DeMarco.

Years at school: 7.

Last season's record: 6-5 (Division IV first round).

Returning lettermen: 10.

Outlook: "We are excited for the start of the season. We are going to be pretty young and lost a strong senior class. We lost our entire offensive and defensive line. We do have an experienced quarterback returning. We are very excited and look to get better every day and hope to be competitive."

Northwest head coach John DeMarco (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

PERRY PANTHERS

Head coach: Spencer Leno.

Years at school: 2.

Last season's record: 5-5.

Returning lettermen: 18.

Outlook: "We still want to establish Perry toughness, grit, and discipline. We have 22 seniors. We have 90 players from freshman to seniors. We have 11 starters returning. Every game matters and winning the battles will be important for us."

Perry head coach Spencer Leno (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Head coach: Isaiah Robinson.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 0-10.

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Outlook: "We are building a foundation built on faith. We're going to get after it. We are developing commitment and we have 11 seniors on this team."

St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Isaiah Robinson (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

SANDY VALLEY CARDINALS

Head coach: Torrance Carle.

Years at school: 1.

Last season's record: 0-10.

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Outlook: "I am looking to set the tone with accountability. Everything we do matters. We have 32 kids out that have bought in and trying to get better each day.

Sandy Valley head coach Torrance Carle (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

TUSLAW MUSTANGS

Head coach: Broc Dial.

Years at school: 3.

Last season's record: 4-6.

Returning lettermen: N/A.

Outlook: "We have 17 seniors and they are really hungry this year. Our kids are ready to go and play."

Tuslaw head coach Broc Dial (Keno Sultan/Stark County Prep Press)

Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.