Massillon braces for rematch with last season's playoff tormentor
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
MASSILLON--The Nutcracker doesn't have any showings till December.
Massillon is not in a Christmas mood at all.
Last season, the Tigers reign as Division II state champions came to a gut-wrenching conclusion in their Region 7 title match as Sunbury Big Walnut's high-powered offensive motor, running back Nolan Buirley returned a third quarter kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown and it was the Golden Eagles second and final lead of the game which stood up as they departed Mansfield's Arlin Field with a 14-7 victory that anointed them as the newcomer to the Division II Final Four party that featured returning teams Akron Hoban, Avon, and Cincinnati Anderson.
Four years before that moment, The Golden Eagles were an undefeated football team relishing their accolades but a lack of experience in a big game setting led to their tearful unraveling in a brutal 38-0 regional semifinal defeat to Massillon. A year later they played better but were languished in the second half and absorbed a 42-21 defeat in a regional final.
Fast forward to the present. This will be the fourth confrontation in five years between the two schools and the third in a regional championship with Massillon having a 2-1 edge overall. Only this time, the Golden Eagles want to prove that last year's victory wasn't just a flash in the pan while Massillon wants to regain what was taken away from them and push toward what they eventually hope will be a second state championship in three years as they will kick off Friday night inside Zanesville's Sulsberger Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m.
Massillon head coach Nate Moore recalled last season's setback to the Golden Eagles. It didn't help that his horde of Tigers were victimized by an uncharacteristic 19 penalties in the contest and a lot of those had to do with Golden Eagles players stunting at the last second which led to multiple false start penalties on the Tigers, something that Big Walnut coach Curtis Crager by his admission last season attested his team installed into their game plan that week.
According to Moore, there is one way his team will have to combat that and not have a repeat of last season's disastrous contest.
"We have to be locked in and we have to be laser focused and disciplined," he said.
One thing Massillon has going for them is that they enter their their regional final rematch with the defending regional champions sporting a fantastic 5-0 in playoff rematches against teams that have ended their season, having defeated Cincinnati Winton Woods (2018), Cincinnati LaSalle (2020), Green (2023) and Akron Hoban (2019, 2023).
That will be tested by a Golden Eagles team that is on an 11-game winning streak after losing their season opener to Columbus Bishop Watterson, not to mention they have only allowed just three teams to score in double-digits and have shut out their last three opponents, especially last week's 35-0 thumping of Canal Winchester in a regional semifinal as Buirley, a Power Five recruit and a prospective candidate for Mr. Football accounted for all five touchdowns. As a defense, Big Walnut has only yielded 53 points during their run and have scored no fewer than 35 points.
Massillon is coming off of a 48-14 corralling of Columbus St. Francis DeSales on the road as running backs Savior Owens and Anthony McMullen gashed the Stallions porous run defense and the Tigers defense harassed R.J. Day into a subpar contest in the form of 125 yards passing.
The Stallions were an emaciated football team by the second quarter and once again the ever-so-vaunted durable strength of Massillon's heavy and skilled offensive line was the catalyst of it all as they dominated not just the game but filed away the clock as well. Junior quarterback Manny Patterson was effective in distributing the ball and making adept decisions that have successfully defined his prowess.
"Our offensive line played well and our guys came off the ball well and were able to sustain their blocks and blocked well," Moore said. "Manny has steadily improved every week and he has done a good job for us."
One key for Massillon will be finding a way to contain Buirley, who has rushed for 2,000 yards for the second straight season. Quarterback Eli Stumpf has matured as well and is a successful game facilitator. Big Walnut's offensive and defensive lines are also legitimately adept.
Tigers defensive coordinator Jeff Kent is in his first year in the position he obtained when Spencer Leno left to become Perry's head coach. After a 34-2 loss to Clarkson North (Canada) in a game that was just a mere aberration, the Tigers have responded during their six-game winning streak by just surrendering an average of 13.1 points per game. And if the Tigers are going to win their seventh regional crown in the Moore tenure, the defense will have to harass Big Walnut into turnovers.
Moore was highly effusive of Kent's repertoire as a defensive genius.
"Jeff has done a good job with the defense and the kids are continuing to look to get better," he said.
Massillon and Big Walnut are two of 56 teams remaining in the hunt for a state title. The winner of Friday's game will advance to the state semifinals where they will oppose the Region 8 winner between top-ranked and undefeated Cincinnati Anderson and Trotwood-Madison at a site to be determined.
For the Tigers, another opportunity is within them. Their goal is to be having Thanksgiving practice the next week. That means not only regaining the regional title but adding another 48 minutes to their 9-3 season.
Big Walnut isn't the team that was reduced to tears four years ago via the lack of big game experience that cost them their undefeated season. And Moore was quick to speak of his respect for what Crager has done in just three seasons atop the Golden Eagles position.
"I have a lot of respect for Crager and his team as they play the right and and we are looking forward to taking the field with them Friday night," he said.
The Nutcracker doesn't have any showings till December. Massillon is not in a Christmas mood and will have a chance to repossess what they lost the previous season.
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