A great start to the football season

 A great start to the football season 

By Keno Sultan

C-Town Radio announcer and statistician

CANTON--It was a wonderful first week of high school football and a fantastic way to commence the season for various county teams.

This past week, Canton McKinley obtained their first opening week win under third-year Canton McKinley head coach Antonio Hall as the Bulldogs overcame a 7-6 deficit and a tied halftime score to conquer Warren Harding 33-14 at Mollenkopf Stadium. It marked McKinley's fourth straight triumph over the Raiders, equal to the run that Harding possessed from 2000-03 when former McKinley general Thom McDaniels piloted the team for seven seasons and was 4-0 against the Bulldogs in that span.

McKinley will receive another test Friday night as the Avon Eagles make what they hope will be the first of two trips to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, with the second coming hopefully for them in 14 weeks provided they don't have to cross either Akron Hoban or Massillon, two schools that have brought an antagonizing end to the Eagles season a round short of the state final. 

Avon was in dominant form as they plundered Brunswick 49-7 in their season opener. A victory for McKinley will advance them to a 2-0 record for the first time since the 2019 season when Marcus Wattley served as head coach. A win will be important going on the road next week against Dublin Coffman, who at press time is 1-0 off a 24-0 win over St. John's Jesuit.

McKinley maintained their momentum from the St. Ignatius scrimmage offensively as for the second straight week quarterback Keaton Rode and the offense did not turn the ball over and the McKinley defense buckled down in the second half, styming the Raiders. Aside from allowing a kickoff return touchdown, the Bulldogs defense limted the Raiders to a single offensive touchdown. They will have to maintain that success against an Eagles team capable of scoring points in a hurry.

Special thanks to Warren Harding graduates Joe McConnell and David Baugh for their updates this past week.

TIGERS MAKE EMPHATIC STATEMENT

In a matchup of two stories programs that are ranked first and fourth nationally in prep wins, Valdosta (GA) landed two vicious left hooks ala Felix Trinidad on Massillon's chin in the form of two Todd Robinson touchdown passes and held a 14-0 advantage in the first quarter at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. 

However, the Tigers showed they weren't a team with the fragility of Fernando Vargas (who was downed five times and stopped after going down three more times in the 12th round of their 2000 WBA/IBF jr. middleweight classic). Instead, Massillon turned to their ever durable offensive line and ran their way back into the contest as paced by two long touchdown runs by junior quarterback Daone Owens and senior running back/lineback Dorian Pringle as they wore down the Wildcats, outscoring them 28-3 the rest of the contest en route to a 28-17 win.

Valdosta's last six possessions featured five punts and an interception and only a field goal to show for their futility in the third quarter.

I know I will catch grief for it, a lot of it and I'm OK with that. Everyone knows I am a graduate of McKinley High School and always proud to be a Bulldog. Last Friday night though, I was never prouder to wear orange and black in a show of support, not just for the state of Ohio but more importantly the Massillon Tigers in what became a monumental victory for the Tigers. Do not be alarmed if they arrive to Canton with another solid record in eight weeks. Like them or not, you have to love the way they compete, especially the play on the offensive line. Their mindset is 'we are the Massillon Tigers and we are going to lean on you, wear you down, impose our durable strength, keep your offense benched, wear out your defense and take the game out of your hands.'

Valdosta will rebound from this. Don't be quick to discredit them after one setback. But Friday night definitely belonged to the Tigers.

OHIO PRIDE REIGNS

Massillon's win over Valdosta was part of the Northeast Ohio vs. America showcase. Three other contests were played at Benson Stadium last Saturday and it was a clean sweep for the Buckeye state as Lakewood St. Edward dominated Center Grove (IN) 27-10, Akron Hoban lassoed Frederick Douglass (45-7) and in the nightcap, Cleveland Glenville stopped Dinwiddie (VA) 36-13.

It was a blessing to interview Ted Ginn Sr. 90 minutes before the contest. It was several years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and told by doctors to send his final goodbyes to family members and friends. End of life was not on Ginn Sr's. mind as he vowed to defeat cancer. A word given and a word kept. Ginn Sr. is alive and well along with doing what he has done since the 1997 season when he was hired as Glenville's head football coach.

Ginn Sr. is a devout believer in God and attested that God had him overcome cancer and beat it for a reason. The Tarblooders enter the year as defending Division IV state champions as they ravaged Cincinnati Wyoming 26-6 last season to become the first inner city high school in Cleveland to win a state title after multiple failed attempts and having that moniker of 'can't win the big one' for years. Never again will Ginn Sr. ever have to hear that moniker.

OTHER FEDERAL LEAGUE WINNERS

GlenOak, Green, and North Canton Hoover all joined McKinley as winners from the first week of competition. Lake and Jackson were on the short end of losses at home to Alliance and Mentor.

Keno Sultan can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.