Tigers and Vikings face off for sixth time in playoff affair
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
MASSILLON--Paul Brown Tiger Stadium has been a federal lockup for Federal League teams who have opposed the Tigers.
Since 2015 with the exception of GlenOak, no other Federal team has been able to walk out of that stadium with the scales of justice tipped in their favor.
North Canton Hoover would love nothing more to be the ones to walk out of that stadium against a program that has served as prosecutor, jury, judge and warden based on the authority of their 25-1 overall record against league teams (including playoffs) that spans 10 years.
Ok, Massillon doesn't have successful prosecutor Marcia Clark on their side. But one thing is for sure: Massillon is at their most authoritative against Federal League teams as evidenced by their record and it is one that long-tenured Tigers commander Nate Moore relishes heavily. The last three weeks have been very challenging for the Tigers dating back to the eighth week of the season with a nationally contentious contest against Cardinal Ritter (MO) and then following up with longtime stalwart opponents in Warren G. Harding and Canton McKinley, Massillon was way past overdue for a long week of rest and one earned at that.
No one couldn't have been more relieved about it than Moore himself.
"It was great to have that break and we used the week to focus on us and get back to fundamentals to get ready and prepare for a great game against North Canton Hoover," he said.
This will be the sixth meeting between the Tigers and Vikings that spans back to the 2001 season, a 27-7 victory in a Division I regional final. Massillon is 5-1 overall against North Canton during that time with Rick Shepas obtaining two of the five wins with Tom Stacy and Jason Hall having the others.
Moore captured the most recent one in the form of a 48-23 decision in a regional quarterfinal that paved the Tigers path to a third straight state championship appearance. Five years has passed since that game in what was a coming out party for Willtrell Hartson (who now competes at Ashland University) but Moore still knows that the Vikings are a tradition-laden team who are just as competitive under Brian Baum, the same as they were under Don Hertler Jr.
The last time Hoover won a game in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium was in 2008, a 14-0 victory over GlenOak in a Division I regional final. That year, the Vikings returned to the same venue where their season concluded in a 34-7 setback to eventual state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius. Seven years later, both Moore and Baum became head coaches at their respective schools. And Moore hasn't lost sight of what Baum has accomplished in 11 years.
"This will be our second time competing against those guys back in 2020. They are well coached, disciplined and do things very well and that's why they're in the playoffs," he said.
North Canton started out the season winners of their first six games before competitive losses to eventual outright league champion Canton McKinley and Lake eliminated any chance of them obtaining a first-round bye. But they were able to rest their starters in the second half of last week's 50-6 plundering of Columbus Northland to earn the opportunity against the Tigers, whose hearts are burning to take back the regional championship.
A 29-point second quarter was vital for North Canton last week. Massillon is a different identity. But that is fine with Baum, who certainly has no qualms of facing the Tigers a second time.
"You have two great teams with great tradition and we are looking forward to the challenge. Massillon will have home field advantage but we embrace that and are ready to compete," he said.
Vikings quarterback John Collins has been the quintessential field commander. He knows how to distribute the ball where it is needed and also has several running backs behind him who can spring a big run the moment a hole is opened up.
Special teams may very well be an X-factor in deciding who advances after 9:30 p.m. Whereas Massillon has lethally dangerous punt returner Deontay Malone, a three-year varsity specialist whose 50-yard punt return touchdown sealed a 10th straight win over McKinley, Hoover will counter with Jack Andes.
Andes's prowess is reminiscent of former Hoover return specialists and receivers David Forrest and Mason Ashby. A scary stat: they all have recorded kickoff return touchdowns that spanned 98 yards against Massillon's ancient rival. When asked if Andes is a hybrid between Forrest and Ashby, Baum couldn't help but to concur with the assessment.
"You know, that's a pretty good question. Andes is not as tall as Forrest but also doesn't play both ways much. He also is like Ashby, like Forrest with good hands and will make plays when needed," he said.
During this time of year, teams who are surviving and playing another week are doing so in part to having a durable offensive line. It is one thing to have an adept defense and fundamentally sound special teams. But as the season wears on, the play of the offensive line is very imperative to the success of a team. That is where Massillon has established itself over the last eight years.
Massillon will look to rely on junior tailback Savior Owens, who is a smaller version of former record setting tailback Jamir Thomas. Like Thomas, Owens can also run behind an offensive line that just gets stronger as a game wears on without showing any signs of let up and if Massillon is pounding out drives lasting 10 plays or longer including taking up more than five minutes or longer off the clock, it may put Hoover at a disadvantage, especially if the contest comes down to the fourth quarter.
Owens with the aid of his line subtracted the clock and wore McKinley down in the second half just enough to set up Malone's decisive touchdown in a game that was reminiscent of Massillon's 16-15 win at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in 2017 as they were the first visiting team to capture a win in that stadium.
"Savior Owens is a great running back just like Jamir Thomas. Both are backs that could deliver a blow as much as over the course of a game and don't wear down," Moore said.
The winner of this game will move into a regional semifinal against the Columbus St. Francis-Ashland winner. For Massillon, it may be a chance to obtain one more home contest dependent on the game between the Stallions and Arrows while for North Canton, they could potentially get one more game in North Canton Memorial Stadium also dependent on the result.
One thing is for sure: both teams will be ready to compete and edge one step closer to being one of two Division II schools playing December 4th for a state title.
"There are 12 good teams in our region but now we are down to eight and for us, our focus is on North Canton. That is who we drew and we have to be ready to play." Moore said.
"Massillon is going to come out hot and heavy because it is their first playoff game and it's going to be exciting," Baum said. "We have instituted some things to help us prepare for the crowd noise that will be in the stadium Friday night."
Paul Brown Tiger Stadium has been a federal lockup for Federal League teams who have opposed the Tigers. North Canton Hoover will try to tip the scales of justice on their side while the Tigers will love nothing more to make another convincing testimony against another Federal school.
PREP PRESS PIECES
*Jackson Fashion: One Tiger who may have a say in Friday's game is 6'5" 190 lb. receiver Giorgio Jackson Jr. The son of former Massillon receiver Giorgio Sr., the physical specimen may be a key to Massillon's playoff run with his frame and vertical leap, reminiscent of former towers Rameir Martin and Devin Jordan respectively. When asked of how much he may be utilized, Moore put it in perspective. "He can provide a true matchup problem and defenses have bracketed him which exposes other guys," he said of Jackson and the other receivers who will get opportunities.
*Battering Lamm: Michael Lammlein has become a key factor for the Hoover running game as of late and is one who can hit a hole for a long run if he gets into the secondary. Massillon will have to be wary of him and keep him contained. "Lammlein runs real great and also blocks well in the passing game," Baum said.
*Federal tracks: Canton McKinley, Lake, Jackson and Green are the other league schools remaining. McKinley takes on Medina in a second round contest and Jackson is on the road to battle Mentor, both contests in Division I, Region 1. If both the Bulldogs and Polar Bears win, McKinley will host a regional semifinal the following week in what would be a rematch of a McKinley 41-9 romp that secured the outright league title for the Bulldogs. Lake hosts Hudson in a Division II, Region 5 contest while Green is on the road to oppose Austintown-Fitch. Former McKinley head football coach John "Spider" Miller has East Canton on the road in a Division VII, Region 25 second round game against Fairport Harding (10-0).
