Tigers lasso Stallions in emphatic showing
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
MASSILLON--There has never been a rodeo event in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Until now.
After Massillon and Columbus St. Francis DeSales traded punts, Massillon took over early and often as they scored on their next five possessions and held the Stallions without a first down as the Tigers lassoed the visitors 48-0 to advance to next week's regional semifinal against Sunbury Big Walnut at Big Walnut High School in what will be the fifth meeting between the last two regional champions.
Not even ultra successful country singer Alan Jackson could save the Stallions on this night. If it was "Gone Country", it was "Gone Massillon."
Savior Owens struck like lightning on Massillon's second possession as he traversed through a gaping hole and outpaced a horde of Stallions for a quick 7-0 lead for the hosts.
The Stallions were quickly rattled as they obtained four straight penalties, three of those false starts and one personal foul leading to a second consecutive but much quicker three-and-out.
Massillon took advantage of a short field after a DeSales short punt. All they needed was six plays and another jackpot in the form of Owens' second touchdown run, this one going for 10 yards and the Tigers now had a commanding 14-0 lead.
Massillon head coach Nate Moore was impressed with the tone-setting start from the future Michigan State athlete.
"He is a tremendous young man and a great player. He ran very well and the offensive line had a nice game tonight," he said.
The assault continued as after a 38-yard pass reception from Gio Jackson Jr. and two tough runs from tailback Gary Yeager, Owens tallied his third touchdown on a one-yard run and the Tigers extended their lead to 21-0 against an emaciated DeSales defense, whose players trudged off the field breathing heavily, showing understandable fatigue.
Stallions coach Ryan Wiggins, a 1997 graduate of DeSales rued his team dismal series.
"It was tough. We were going to have to be really flawless tonight. That defense is so good we could not really protect our quarterback, we couldn't run the ball and we couldn't get any rhythm tonight," Wiggins said solemnly. "I give Massillon credit, their defense is outstanding and the way they run the football, one of our keys was to keep their offense off the field and we weren't able to do that and we had bad field position. Massillon is just better than we are."
Massillon went for the carotid artery after a 42-yard pass from Rasmus Haines to Deontay Malone that had them deep in Stallions territory once again. And then Haines connected over the middle to junior tight end DaShun Williams for a 12-yard touchdown pass and the rout was on as Massillon scored on their fourth straight possession and a commanding 28-0 advantage.
The lead swelled to 35-0 when Haines completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Malone and by virtue of a 21-point quarter, Massillon flew to a 35-0 lead, actuating the state mandated running clock.
Yeager added on a 53-yard touchdown run for the Tigers, who also tacked on a late touchdown pass to conclude the carnage.
Massillon pushed their record to 10-1 while DeSales concludes their season at 8-4. For the Tigers, it is their second straight shutout dating back to the tenth week of the season and in two games against the Stallions, they have outscored them 96-14 for a whopping 82 point differential.
The Tigers will love nothing more to rid themselves of a negative history against the Golden Eagles with consecutive losses coming in regional finals by a combined seven points. They have a chance to squash the Golden Eagles undefeated season as was the case back in 2021, the first meeting between the two schools.
Both schools were expected to get back to the regional final. But now only one will take that next step as they will meet again for the fifth time in six years.
"We have played them the last two years and they got us the last two years and we are excited to have another shot at them," Moore said. "We are excited to keep this thing going on to week 13 and take on a good program in Big Walnut."
There has never been a rodeo event in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium until tonight. It wasn't "Gone Country", it was "Gone Massillon." And the Tigers used their lassoes early and often against the St. Francis DeSales Stallions.
Keno Sultan is a writer for Stark County Prep Press. He can be reached at 330-445-4575 or email at KenoSultan@hotmail.com.
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