Massillon's final roadblock to clear title path arrives from Summit County heavyweight
By Keno Sultan
C-Town Radio statistician and announcer
CANTON--Massillon and Akron Hoban first traversed paths 12 years ago in a regular season game at InfoCision Stadium.
In the 12 years since Massillon concluded their regular season with a 7-3 record and Hoban finished 1-9 that included a 38-16 loss to the Tigers, both programs have become familiar with each other.
For the fifth time since their regular season contest, the Tigers and Knights will cross paths for a third time in six seasons with yet another Division II state championship on the line in what is expected to once again sell out Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Thursday evening with a kickoff time of 7 p.m.
The Tigers and Knights have also competed against each other in a regional final and state semifinal. However, destiny seems to be on the side of top-ranked Massillon as they have been the best team in Division II through 15 weeks by obliterating nearly everyone on their schedule aside from a 15-13 victory over two-time Division I state champion Lakewood St. Edward (who will aim for a third straight title Friday night against Springfield) with 11 of their wins coming via a running clock and last week transformed Cincinnati Anderson into an extinct species with a rousing 55-7 temblor in their state semifinal at Historic Crew Stadim in Columbus
On the other hand, third-ranked Hoban needed to survive a missed 44-yard field goal in the closing seconds of regulation to capture a punishing 17-14 win over second-ranked Avon, their fifth straight semifinal win over the Eagles.
Massillon head coach Nate Moore is no stranger to these battles and for one, he relishes yet a fourth opportunity to have the Tigers in position to have their trophy handed to them second, which means the Tigers will have completed their task of winning their first state playoff title since the inception of the OHSAA playoff format dating back to 1972. And what better challenge for it to come against the 13-1 challengers from Summit County.
"It is two great teams playing on the biggest stage and bringing out the best in each other in competition," Moore said.
In the fifth installment of the Massillon-Hoban rivalry, it was the Knights short-circuiting Massillon's season with a 41-20 victory in the state semifinals with the final score being a misnomer largely in part to Hoban assuming a shocking 14-0 first quarter lead by virtue of two consecutive trick plays that caught Massillon's defense off guard for scores. Subtract 14 of those points and the Knights only walk away with a 27-20 finality in part to how well the Tigers defense played aside from those two stunning scores that left them playing catchup.
When asked if last year's loss will benefit his charges in the sense they will be ready if the Knights attempt to run some trickery against his ferocious defense, Moore mentioned the importance of disciplined football.
"We have to stay at home and be disciplined. We must stay home and play good football," Moore cautioned.
The urgency of Thursday's contest cannot be any greater. Whereas Massillon is 0-6 in state title games (three of those losses were in Division I), Hoban is stewing after losing two straight state final appearances to Cincinnati Winton Woods and last year's champion Toledo Central Catholic (who will aim for a Division III title Friday afternoon against Columbus Bishop Watterson). Winning five state titles in six years seems like a fossilized past for a Knights team who nearly cannot afford a third straight loss on the biggest stage no more than Massillon cannot afford another missed opportunity, losing three straight Division II title games, their last appearance three years ago, a dismal 35-6 defeat to Hoban at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium that was just as devastating as it was demoralizing.
Fast forward to this season. Massillon has weaponry on offense and defense evidenced by averaging 40.7 points while only allowing 8.1 defensively.
One game set the trajectory for the season. In a nationally anticipated contest to commence the season, Massillon trailed Valdosta (GA) 14-0 when quarterback Da'One Owens came into the contest. His first carry was a long touchdown run and from that point, the Tigers outscored the Wildcats 28-3 as the visitors punted five times and suffered an interception leading to a 28-17 Massillon victory. What impressed Moore the most was how his team did not panic at their early deficit.
"We learned a lot about ourself down 14-0. We continued to play football and I was proud of the way they reacted," he said.
Hoban, like Valdosta and St. Edward will bring physicality to this battle for supremacy. Youngstown native Tim Tyrrell is in his 11th season at Hoban. Tyrrell also is familiar with Stark County having served as head coach of St. Thomas Aquinas before relocating to Florida where he coached Chaminade-Madonna College Prep for five seasons before returning to Ohio and transforming the Knights into an instant contender.
Hoban has seven running clock victories and like Massillon, if they are not winning by a rout, they are wearing down opponents with their deep offensive line as well. Offensively the Knights are averaging 33.1 points while yielding 7.1 on defense.
Could this game come down to not so much the offense but defense not to mention special teams as well?
"Hoban is a very good team, they are physical and well coached. Tyrrell is a great coach I have a ton of respect for and what their program stands for and the similarities between us," Moore said. "We just want to have one more touchdown than them at :00"
For the Massillon class of 2024, they have an overall record of 49-7. That includes a postseason record of 17-3 not to mention an undefeated regular season this season, an undefeated home season, and most of all, a flawless 4-0 record against archrival Canton McKinley.
The only asset missing from that ledger is a state championship. A state championship with an undefeated record will make Massillon the first Stark County school since the star-studded 1997 Canton McKinley team to start a season ranked #1 in the state and complete the task wire-to-wire. Achieving that accomplishment will take a laser focus and Moore is OK with that.
"We just have to focus on the things we can control and let all that other stuff go. That has been our approach all year," he said.
Massillon and Akron Hoban crossed paths 12 years ago in a regular season game. 11 years later, both schools are battling for Division II supremacy for the third time in six seasons.
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