Second chance to win league outright awaits Bulldogs
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
CANTON--Last season, Canton McKinley watched with shock as the GlenOak Eagles celebrated an unlikely 7-3 victory that put the brakes on an outright Federal League title.
McKinley clinched the league title outright a week later thanks to Green upending Lake in the final game of the regular season only to wake up on the wrong end of a humiliating 35-0 thrashing at the hands of their archrival Massillon, who needless to say returned to the Bulldogs home stadium, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium six weeks later and made the venue their celebratory headquarters in the form of an undefeated season and the Division II state playoff title.
Fast forward a year later, McKinley is back in a familiar position once again with an opportunity to claim the luscious pizza all to themselves. But Jackson would love nothing more to relegate the Bulldogs to potentially sharing the wealth with not just them but most likely Green as well.
It has been said that sharing is caring. But that doesn't mean anything to fourth-year McKinley field general Antonio Hall, who has his team on the cusp of a third straight league title and potentially second outright crown. Since joining the league 20 years ago, McKinley has cpatured outright or shared the crown 10 times in that span. Jackson, on the other hand has not possessed a league title since the 2017 season when Tim Budd was the patriarch of the program and before him, Phil Mauro.
Sharing is caring? Don't be quick to mention that to Hall, not before he knows what his team will encounter against a Polar Bears squad that has seized three wins in a row after a competitive 21-17 loss to Green three weeks ago.
"Jackson is a great opponent and they are much improved from the offense down to the defense and their special teams. They are well coached and play with a lot of toughness and tenacity. They are a great ninth week challenge for us with an opportunity to win the league outright," Hall said.
Jackson stumbled out of the gate 0-2 and found their season at an early crossroads. A 31-6 victory over Stow at home transfused life into their season and they have won five of their last six since. Both the Bulldogs and Polar Bears have clinched playoff spots with McKinley having a home playoff game in two weeks and Jackson fighting to obtain a home playoff game. As it stands in Region 1, McKinley is second and Jackson is seventh.
Jackson however has not defeated McKinley since the 2007 season, a 14-7 triumph at Robert Fife Stadium. Thom McDaniels, who coached Hall at McKinley and then resuscitated life back into the Warren Harding regime was the last coach at Jackson to win. Since then, Beau Balderson, Tim Budd, and current head coach and graduate Jay Rohr have not been successful as all three were a combined 0-16 against the Bulldogs.
For that to change, Jackson obviously will have to play turnover free football and have some breaks go their way. Last season, they held a 7-6 lead before McKinley erupted for 21 straight points and departed Robert Fife Stadium in the form of a 27-7 triumph as they eventually wore down the hosts.
Hall was complimentary of Rohr and what he has accomplished since taking over for Budd.
"Jay is doing a great job as a coach and the kids are buying into him. He installed a good offseason program and there is a different attitude over there and you can see the difference on the film," he said. "Jackson attacks and they get after it."
McKinley's offense has started to finally show it's true form. In their five-game winning streak, McKinley has scored 162 points, an average of 32.4 points and have broken the 30-point plateau three times in that run. A lot of that has to do with senior quarterback Kam Montgomery, who has taken control of the offense not to mention the offense staying on the field longer, which means they are not turning over the football.
Early on in the season, there were questions raised about whether Montgomery could lead a team after throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown against Warren Harding eight weeks ago. He has terminated those questions with sound answers based production of the offense over the last five weeks in league play.
"Kam has settled in and has improved on his footwork, mechanics along with his progressions and reads. It also helps that the offensive line has improved up front and are fast. His receivers are up to speed and getting to where they need to be and he has gotten better," Hall said.
Their offense will be largely tested against a Jackson team that defensively has been every bit as parsimonious as they can be. After allowing 63 points in their first two contests, the Polar Bears have buckled down and scoring has become arduous for opposing teams. Aside from Green scoring 21 points, Jackson has surrendered 60 points, 34 of those during their three-game winning streak.
It is clear McKinley wants to avoid a repeat of last season when a field goal was not enough to stifle GlenOak. If the game is close in the second half, the Polar Bears defense will provide a huge test for the Bulldogs.
"Their defense is fast up front. They are experienced especially at the linebacker position and they are getting to the ball more. They have a different attitude from last year and their defense brings a lot of intensity," Hall said.
McKinley is just as dominant in the defensive department as Jackson is. The same as Green only scoring 21 against Jackson, McKinley has only surrendered 21 points twice in league competition in wins over North Canton Hoover and Lake. In league play, the Bulldogs are yielding only an average of 14.4 points per game while Jackson is surrendering 13.7 at press time. This is one of those contests where points may be minimal and either a defensive or special teams touchdown may be the difference between which team goes into their rivalry week high off a win or flat with a loss.
The Bulldogs have proven that their resiliency in the face of adversity has benefitted them. Aside from a razor sharp 21-14 loss to Avon, who is ranked #1 in the Ohio Division II AP poll, McKinley has displayed the mettle that has allowed them to claim close triumphs against Green and recently two weeks ago against North Canton Hoover, a 28-21 overtime thriller.
Hall is a devout believer that teams who face adversity and prevail are those strong not just physically but mentally too. He attests that his fourth installment of this McKinley team is bred for those moments. One thing they have going for them also is that it will be the last regular season contest for the seniors who four years ago were tasked with the assignment of returning McKinley back to relevance after a pizza-eating scandal nearly tainted beyond repair the pride of the program.
Since that incident, McKinley has won a respectable 25 of 40 games. A victory will net them a league title. But an even greater confirmation of their return to prominence awaits them next week against Massillon (who currently has an eight-game winning streak against McKinley), who at press time travels to Warren for a showdown with a resurgent Raiders team who lost to McKinley 26-19 in the season opener for both schools.
"We have displayed a lot of resiliency and you need that in the Federal League. We showed that in close games against Green and then in overtime against North Canton. We hve guys who are prepared to go out and execute when needed and they go full go. Our defense has been the cornerstone of our team this year," Hall said. "I want my seniors to go out and enjoy their moment Friday night. I want them to play that way."
Last seaon, McKinley watched in shock as GlenOak celebrated the brief stoppage of an outright league title. Winning the title Friday night and not waiting on it is the Bulldogs only prerogative.
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