High School Massillon Tigers

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Go Tigers!!!
The only "M" worth a damn!!!

 

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11/30/05

Tigers’ destiny at Fawcett?
Wednesday, November 30, 2005 [FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]
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They roar for the Tigers


MASSILLON - There have been several points this high school football season when it didn’t look good for the Massillon Tigers.
A 28-point fourth-quarter lead at Cincinnati Elder trickled to 21, then 13, then 6, as it appeared Massillon was self-destructing in the final quarter. The Tigers hung on for a 35-31 win.
That is when first-year head coach Tom Stacy started to believe this team could be special. They went into a hostile environment, had momentum shift against them, and still found a way to win.
There was a fourth-quarter comeback against St. Ignatius, marking the program’s first win against the Wildcats. There was a devastating 38-8 loss to McKinley only to be turned around two weeks later.
Massillon swung the scoreboard difference 48 points.
What about last week against St. Edward, another parochial school some believed the Tigers couldn’t beat? A 17-7 fourth-quarter deficit, in a state semifinal that Massillon hadn’t won since 1982, turned into a 21-17 win.
Team of destiny?
No way, said Stacy.
His players have earned their way into Saturday night’s Division I state title game against Cincinnati St. Xavier, the third parochial school Massillon will play this season.
“Destiny is something we haven’t talked about,” Stacy said. “When you play good teams every week like we are in the playoffs, I don’t think you can count on being a team of destiny. You’ve got to prove yourself every week.
“St. X is the best football team — offensively, defensively, special teams and coaching — we’ll have played. ... They’re not going to believe in that destiny thing. I don’t think our kids should either.”
One of the first things Stacy and his new staff worked on after being hired in June was to improved the players’ self-esteem. Stacy said they had to believe they could win again.
The Tigers have shown they believe.
“As good as we think we are, we have to keep playing to our expectations and expectations of our coaches,” senior co-captain Brett Huffman said. “There have been times when we were down, and we’re out there finding ourselves a way to fight through adversity.”
While destiny isn’t an invited guest in Massillon’s huddle this week, the Tigers do have an advantage.
Every Massillon player will sleep in his own bed Friday. The Tigers will go through a normal pregame routine of eating breakfast together at Washington High School, and later in the afternoon they will walk, two-by-two, through a fan-line tunnel from the school to the Paul Brown statue outside the stadium.
St. Xavier will travel 3 1/2 hours and stay in a hotel.
“I’ll be honest with you; if we can play in Stark County, that’s to our advantage,” Stacy said. “I’d be lying if I told you anything different. Hopefully we’ll use that to our advantage and our crowd will be a big part of that. It’s great we don’t have to travel, and we’re familiar with the surroundings.”
Fawcett Stadium hasn’t exactly been kind to the Tigers. Massillon brings a two-game losing streak into this game. The last time the Tigers won at Fawcett Stadium was a playoff game against Perry in 2002.
St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht isn’t using the traveling issue as an excuse.
“At this point in the season, we’d play in a parking lot behind any grocery store, just to be able to be a part of it,” said Specht, who’s 25-1 in two years at St. X and, like Stacy, is looking to win the school’s first state title. “Canton is a great facility to play in. Massillon was a great facility to play in when we played there.
“Would we rather not travel to be in the state finals? Absolutely. We’re going to make it like a regular away game ... and play hard.”
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected]


TIGER TALES
DEFENSE, DEFENSE St. Xavier will bring one of the best defenses in the state to Fawcett Stadium on Saturday night in the Division I state high school football title game. The Bombers are allowing less than 6 points a game. St. X has shut out six of its 14 opponents and given up just a TD to four others. Those shutouts came against St. Ignatius, Fairfield, Colerain, St. Francis DeSales, Covington Catholic and LaSalle, which combined for a 47-20 record. In four playoff games, the Bombers have allowed 26 points, and 78 for the season. One reason for the Bombers’ success is a plus-24 turnover ratio. Massillon is plus-11.
TICKETS GO FAST By the time Massillon Athletics Director Jeff Thornberry arrived to man a ticket office booth before 6 a.m. at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, the line stretched from the gate near the entrance of the stadium all the way down Russel Boulevard. “It was crazy,” Thornberry said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” A sizable group of fans spent the night camped out in front of the ticket window. As of noon Tuesday, Massillon had sold all but 1 1/2 sections of the reserve seats on the visitors’ side of Fawcett Stadium. St. Xavier said it sold about 4,500 of its 7,200 allotted tickets. Thornberry was trying to get more tickets from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Massillon has about 9,200 tickets. Thornberry was unsure how many were left, but plenty of tickets will go on sale today to the general public. Adult and student tickets are $7 presale, $9 at the gate.
SCOUTING Massillon head coach Tom Stacy sent a group of freshman coaches to scout St. Xavier’s state semifinal win. Tiger defensive coordinator Steve Kovacs was impressed with the information. “We got everything down to ‘What kind of hotdogs do they have?’ ” Kovacs said.
ST. X RUNNING GAME Running back Darius Ashley is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound sophomore who doesn’t play like one. Ashley has 1,480 yards on 226 carries (6.5 average) and 25 TDs. “I’m impressed with him and think about some of the tailbacks we’ve faced this year,” Kovacs said. Senior Chris Cionni played tailback last year, and Ashley was good enough to force Cionni to move to receiver. Cionni rushed for 1,500 yards last year and was offensive player of the year in the GCL last season. Ashley has 484 yards on 80 carries in four playoff games.
NUMBERS The enrollment at St. Xavier is 1,111 at the all-boys school. Of those, about 10 percent are on the football team. The Bombers list 110 players, with 60 seniors.
MASSILLON RECORDS The Tigers are on pace to set a handful of single-season records. QB Bobby Huth has thrown five interceptions and would go down as having thrown the fewest picks among Massillon QBs with at least 100 attempts. RB Brian Gamble needs 21 carries to set the record of carries in a season. His 1,499 yards will go down as the second-best rushing performance. Travis McGuire had 1,976 in 1991. Huth’s 62.4 completion percent is No. 2 and his 9.1 average yards per pass is tied with Dave Eberhart (1980). Punter Shawn Weisend is half a yard shy in average of setting the school record for punting average.
THIS AND THAT Booster Club President Bill Dorman pointed out a few key numbers for the Tigers this season. The 13 wins are more than any Massillon team in history, as will the 15 games being played by the team. “We lost to Lakewood St. Edward by 30 points last year and beat them this year,” he said. Also, Massillon has played 14 games this year, half on the road. The Tigers have played before more than 159,000 fans and are averaging more than 11,400 a game. ... DL Antonio James has added 10 pounds of “muscle” since the first game of the season, according to assistant strength coach Jason Jarvis. ... St. Xavier will play a 3-3 odd stacked defense. Massillon saw it against Mentor and Cincinnati Elder. “It emerged in college football to stop the spread offense,” Stacy said. “West Virginia runs one of the best odd-stacked defenses in the country.” The defense is designed to get a nickel or dime coverage package on the field, but also bring pressure from six or seven players using angles offensive linemen are unfamiliar with. — TODD PORTER

 

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12/1/05

High school football championship week
[FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]McCall’s return to linebacker helps lift Tigers[/FONT]
Thursday, December 1, 2005 [FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER [/FONT]

Repository Scott Heckel Back in black - Senior linebacker Paris McCall didn’t finish the 2004 season with Massillon but returned to the program this year and leads the Tigers with 144 tackles, including 12 for loss.
​

AKRON - At the end of the 2004 season, Paris McCall was buying tickets to watch the Massillon Tigers finish out a string of four games. This year, he is one of the reasons the team is still selling them.
The 6-foot, 190-pound senior linebacker leads a stingy Massillon defense with 144 tackles, including 12 for loss and 8 1/2 sacks. Hard to believe all that talent could only watch his teammates take it on the chin, 20-7, against McKinley in the finale to last year’s 4-6 season.
McCall is thrilled with the field pass he’ll have Saturday as the Tigers take on Cincinnati St. Xavier in the Division I state title game. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Fawcett Stadium.
On Wednesday night, before his teammates practiced at the University of Akron’s indoor facility, McCall’s face lit up with a wide smile as he talked about being back.
UNFAMILIAR SETTING
Last year, McCall switched from his familiar linebacker position to running back, where he ran 28 times for 69 yards.
“The previous head coach said they didn’t need me at linebacker,” McCall said. “I said, ‘Whatever is best for the team.’ ”
McCall knew early on he wasn’t a running back. After six games, he quit.
“I didn’t get along with the previous coach,” McCall said. “But I knew as soon as I quit, it wasn’t the right thing to do.”
He asked to return, but last year’s captains voted it down.
“I said, ‘That’s OK. I’ll be back next year,’” McCall said.
McCall returned. Of course, last year’s head coach, Rick Shepas, didn’t. Massillon hired Tom Stacy in June as the Tigers’ new head coach.
Still, McCall hurt from not finishing the season.
“It was very tough to watch from the stands,” McCall said. “Those were my teammates out there, and I could help them. It hurt a whole to have to watch.”
DEFENSIVE MIND SET
McCall never took to running back because of his mentality. He doesn’t need the glory of scoring touchdowns.
“I don’t like to be the one being hit, either,” he said with a smile. “I like to give ’em out.”
Shortly after his hiring, Stacy heard that McCall and wide receiver Zack Vanryzin may not play. That football wasn’t fun any more.
Vanryzin, by the way, is Massillon’s leading receiver with 46 catches for 784 yards and six touchdowns.
One of the first things Stacy did was make it known that everyone would begin with a clean slate.
“I didn’t call Paris or seek him out and tell him to come out or make any special effort. He just showed up for summer conditioning,” Stacy said. “I did mention to him in passing that I thought he could help us.
“I would think a guy like that, who watched the end of last season, would cherish every time he puts that uniform on.”
McCall does.
He knows Saturday, regardless of the outcome, will be the final time he plays high school football. In his heart of hearts, McCall planned all along to play this season, especially after Stacy was hired.
And from the first workout, McCall had a feeling.
“I knew I would play, but I didn’t know if everything would work out,” McCall said. “You could just sense it from the first workout. It was different. Now look at us. This season has been real special.”
LOTS TO LEARN
Returning to linebacker was the least of McCall’s worries. Stacy hired Steve Kovacs as his defensive coordinator. The veteran coach changed from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, which at times looks like a 50 front.
McCall had to learn a new scheme. But he was hungry.
“Everyone has been talking about this senior class since we were seventh-graders,” McCall said. “But we were coming off two 4-6 seasons, so what we’ve done this year is real special to me. There have been some rough times the last two seasons. Nobody thought we could do it, and we’re out to prove ourselves.”
Massillon is playing for a state title for the first time since 1982. The Tigers have never won a state championship since the playoff started in 1972. That’s 33 years without a state championship.
McCall spent four games away from the field last year. He watched his teammates lose three of those.
“Are we surprised? No,” McCall said. “There wasn’t one game this season where I thought, ‘Wow, we have something here.’ I thought that back in the summer.”
Being on the outside looking in is now fun. Just being in the huddle is where McCall belongs.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected].

TIGER TALES
GOING INSIDE Massillon practiced at the University of Akron’s indoor football facility Wednesday night. It was the second time this year the Tigers moved practice there and the third time they practiced inside on turf this season. Head coach Tom Stacy was pleased with the kind of practices his team had the first two times. The early part of Wednesday’s practice was spirited. The cost? Akron charges $150 an hour. Massillon practiced two hours.
POSTGAME RALLY Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s Division I title game, Massillon officials are working with the Tiger Football Booster Club to plan a community rally Sunday. Booster Club President Bill Dorman said the time and specifics still are being worked out.
MIRROR QBs Massillon quarterback Bobby Huth and St. Xavier’s Brad Scherer have more in common than similar statistics. Huth is 5-foot-9, 160 pounds; Scherer goes 5-10, 160. “As you know, Bobby’s not a very big guy,” Stacy said. “Bobby’s best quality is he’s a competitor. The first thing I look for in a quarterback is how much does he want to compete. Then, how good are his decisions. He’s done a great job managing the huddle and the games. Size is important to an extent, but (at) the quarterback position you can get away with playing a guy who’s not real big.” Huth has completed 126 of 202 passes for 1,845 yards, 17 TDs and five interceptions. His pass efficiency rating is 161.92. Scherer hasn’t thrown as much (75-of-155, 1,017 yards, nine TDs and three picks) but he runs well. He’s gained 463 yards running the option. Scherer is replacing Ohio State true freshman QB Robby Schoenhoft. “Brad has exceeded my expectations,” St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht said. “He manages the game well. He’s smart as a whip. He’s won games with his feet, he’s won games with his arm. We’re not asking him to be Robby Schoenhoft. We’re asking him to be Brad Scherer. ... He’s a winner.”
— TODD PORTER

DIVISION I
Cin. St. Xavier vs. Massillon
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Fawcett Stadium SOLD OUT Massillon’s allotment of 9,200 tickets for Saturday’s game has all been sold. If St. Xavier does not sell out its share, tickets will be available for $9 at the gate.

 

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12/2/05

High school football

Huth standing tall for Tigers

Massillon QB quiets those who doubted him

[SIZE=-1]By Michael Beaven[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Beacon Journal sportswriter[/SIZE]

Massillon junior quarterback Bobby Huth has heard about his height, or lack of height, all his life.
Huth stands 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds, hardly the ideal measurements for a modern quarterback.
Despite his size and the doubters who existed in the Massillon community before the season started, Huth will be behind center when the Tigers (13-1) line up to play for the Division I state championship against Cincinnati St. Xavier (14-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
``People have always told me that I was too small and that I couldn't see over the line of scrimmage,'' Huth said Saturday after the Tigers' dramatic, come-from-behind 21-17 win over Lakewood St. Edward.
Massillon coach Tom Stacy said Huth's greatest attribute is his competitiveness.
``People around town told me he was too short and that he couldn't do this and couldn't do that,'' Stacy said Saturday. ``But I knew he was a battler, a competitor, and that's why he is our quarterback. I love his competitiveness.''
``He is not a very big guy, but I think Bobby's best quality is he is a competitor and that is the first thing I look for in a quarterback,'' Stacy said Monday.
Huth has been a solid leader for the Tigers most of the season due to good decision making. He has completed 126-of-202 passes for 1,845 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games. Huth took over the reins this season from last year's starter, Quentin Paulik, a senior that stands 6-foot-4, weighs 230 pounds and is now a starting linebacker.
After a good start to the season, which included a 35-31 win at Cincinnati Elder in the second week, Huth suffered a concussion in the sixth week at Cleveland St. Ignatius. The Tigers rallied to win 29-26 behind senior reserve quarterback Shawn Weisend.
``I really don't remember a lot from that game; I was pretty messed up,'' Huth said with a smile Saturday.
Weisend, a first-team All-Ohio punter, started the next week and led Massillon to a 54-0 route over Youngstown Woodrow Wilson. Huth returned in the eighth week, then faced adversity in the 10th week when he threw three interceptions and the Tigers were dominated by rival Canton McKinley 38-8 at Fawcett Stadium.
Huth and Massillon have rebounded nicely in the playoffs, with wins over North Canton, Findlay, Canton McKinley and St. Edward. Huth has completed 43-of-59 passes with five touchdowns and just one interception in the playoffs.
Saturday, he threw two touchdowns, one to senior Zack Vanryzin and one to junior Brian Gamble. His biggest completion of the game came on a third-and-30 play, when he connected with Gamble for 35 yards with about two minutes remaining and the Tigers trailing by three points.
Stacy hopes for more completions out of his feisty leader, as the Tigers seek their first state championship on the field after 22 poll titles. Stacy is familiar with competitive leaders, as he coached Browns rookie quarterback Charlie Frye when he was an assistant at the University of Akron and Frye was a Zips underclassman.
``Size is important to an extent, but at the quarterback position I think sometimes you can get away with playing someone who is not real big,'' Stacy said. ``(Brad) Scherer for (St. Xavier) is the same way, he's not a big guy (5-foot-10, 160 pounds) but boy he gets it done. Both of them are very good high school quarterbacks.''

 

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12/3/05

Massillon football report

Tigers look to add to legend

Winning state title in playoffs is missing piece

[SIZE=-1]By Michael Beaven[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Beacon Journal sportswriter[/SIZE]

The football program at Massillon is one of the most storied in the country. A big part of the history is legendary coach Paul Brown, who coached the Tigers from 1932-1940.
The Tigers won 22 state poll championships before the inception of the state playoffs in 1972.
But the Tigers have never captured a state championship on the field.
Massillon coach Tom Stacy hopes to change that tonight at Fawcett Stadium in Canton when Massillon (13-1) plays Cincinnati St. Xavier (14-0) for the Division I state championship at 7 p.m..
``It's kind of a monkey on your back that hopefully we can do something about,'' Stacy said Monday. ``We just look at it as another challenge and a great opportunity.
``There have been so many big football games throughout the great tradition and history of Massillon football.
``To really downplay those 22 state championships, I'll never do that because there are too many guys I have to answer to in town that played on those teams,'' Stacy added with a laugh.
``I have gotten several phone calls from players on those quote-un-quote mythical state championships that would love to see us win it.''
In addition to alumns that still are involved with the program, the Tigers always have their strong fan base on their side.
``Obviously the backing of our community (is important), as I have said before I believe we have the best high school football fans in the nation,'' Stacy said. ``When you get that throng of Tiger Nation behind you, it makes a big difference when you go to visiting places and play in playoff games.''
St. Xavier coach Steve Specht recognizes the mystique of the Massillon program and looks forward to an anticipated huge crowd in Stark County.
``The Massillon tradition is as big as anything in the country, that is something special,'' Specht said.
Asked about playing in Canton, he said ``at this point of the season you play (a championship game) in a parking lot or behind any kind of grocery store.''
Standing in the way for Massillon is a tenacious St. Xavier defense, which has posted six shutouts.
``This is by far the best defensive team I have seen on videotape this season,'' Stacy said. ``They fly to the football and have great speed and quickness.''
Stacy is impressed by the Bombers in every phase of the game as well.
``They are the complete package,'' Stacy said. ``I just don't see weaknesses.
``They have speed, quickness, good coaching and good size where you need size.''

 

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12/4/05

Massillon comes up short

Cincinnati St. Xavier captures Division I state championship

[SIZE=-1]By Michael Beaven[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Beacon Journal sports writer[/SIZE]

CANTON - The Massillon football team's magical season came to an end Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium with a 24-17 loss to Cincinnati St. Xavier in the Division I state championship game in front of 20,227 fans.
Massillon (13-2) gave a valiant effort, but the quest for its first state championship on the field after 22 state poll titles -- the last in 1970 -- came up short. St. Xavier finish the season 15-0 and claimed its first football state title.
``We scratched and clawed but just didn't make enough plays on offense,'' Tigers coach Tom Stacy said. ``We came up a little bit short, but I am proud of our kids and our community. We will be back. I guarantee that.''
Massillon fought hard all night, especially after falling behind 24-3 with 5:48 left in the third quarter. Massillon's defense had trouble containing St. Xavier sophomore tailback Darius Ashley (27 carries, 153 yards) and senior quarterback Brad Scherer (15 carries, 97 yards). The tandem provided speed and elusiveness.
``Ashley, the tailback, really hurt us,'' Stacy said. ``He was really quick, and we didn't tackle as well as we normally do.''
Massillon's running game was limited by a strong Bombers defense sparked by seniors Lou Miller, Brad Brookbank and Alex Albright. Tigers senior tailback Lanale Robinson rushed for 50 yards on nine carries. Junior tailback Brian Gamble was held to 13 yards on nine attempts.
St. Xavier opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal by sophomore Danny Milligan about four minutes into the game. Massillon answered with a 44-yard field goal by sophomore Steve Schott five seconds into the second quarter.
St. Xavier regained the lead midway through the quarter on a 15-yard pass play by Scherer to senior receiver Matt McFarland.
As the half was about to close, Massillon punted to Brookbank, who ran the ball back 71 yards to extend the lead to 17-3 at halftime.
``We've done a great job of covering kicks all season, so that was disappointing to see,'' Stacy said.
Brookbank said he didn't really follow the direction of his coach, Steve Specht, regarding the punt.
``We wanted to go for the block. Coach told me if the kick got off to not catch the ball and let it hit the ground and roll,'' Brookbank said. ``After (Tigers senior Shawn Weisend) punted the ball, I figured I might as well try and catch it. (When I got to the sideline) Coach had this look in his eye, then he gave me a hug and told me great players make great plays,'' Brookbank said.
St. Xavier added a 50-yard touchdown run by Ashley to take a 24-3 lead in the third quarter.
Tigers junior quarterback Bobby Huth (15-of-21 passing for 172 yards) connected with senior Trey Miller for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 3:49 left in the third to make it 24-10.
Massillon junior defensive back Andrew Dailey gave the Tigers even more hope after he stripped the ball from Ashley and sprinted 80 yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 24-17 with 9:50 remaining.
Huth and the offense were unable to capitalize on some three-and-out stands by a Massillon defense that received strong efforts from seniors Lorenzo Grizzard, Dirk Dickerhoof and Robert Morris. Scherer went just 2-of-13 passing for 24 yards.

 

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12/5/05

Stacy: There will be a next time
Monday, December 5, 2005 [FONT=Verdana, Times New Roman, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER[/FONT]

Repository Scott Heckel Massillon football coach Tom Stacy (center) and the Tigers could only watch Saturday as St. Xavier was presented its trophy as Ohio Division I champions. Stacy and the Tigers have vowed to bring a playoff title to Tigertown.
​

MASSILLON - Despite a driving snow storm and a loss that was easy to swallow only with Pepto-Bismol, the Massillon Tigers remained wide-eyed late Saturday night.
An estimated 3,500 fans turned out in downtown Massillon to welcome home the Division I high school football state runners-up.
And head coach Tom Stacy vowed to put a gold trophy next to the silver one he held on a flatbed truck in front of Massillon fans.
“I promise you,” Stacy said, “there will be a state championship trophy to put next to this runner-up trophy one day very soon.”
With that, the Massillon Tiger Swing Band played the alma mater, and Stacy and his players returned to their buses. It was the end of a night that saw the Tigers lose the Division I state championship game to Cincinnati St. Xavier, 24-17. It was the third time the Tigers lost in a state championship game.
Massillon represented itself well against the Bombers, who were ranked No. 1 in Ohio in the final Associated Press poll as well as No. 6 nationally by CNNSI.com. A 17-3 halftime deficit following a St. Xavier punt return a touchdown as the first-half ended looked like the state title game may turn into another lopsided Cincinnati win.
In less than six months, Stacy returned Massillon’s program to one that will be factored into the statewide debates.
Can Massillon get back?
Time will tell.
“I can’t describe how important the seniors have been to the program,” Stacy said. “They’re a group that doesn’t talk a lot. They just go out and get it done. ... They set a great example for our younger guys.
“When you’re trying to turn a football program around, and you have to fight a lot of distractions, it’s difficult to get it turned around. I didn’t have to fight a lot of those other things because of the great senior class. It made my job as head coach a lot easier.”
The Tigers will be hit pretty hard by graduation. The defense loses 10 seniors, but the offense returns five starters, including 2,000-yard passer Bobby Huth and 1,500-yard rusher Brian Gamble. Stacy will have an entire offseason to develop his offense.
Safety Andrew Dailey may play more offense next season. Dailey and Gamble are considered major Division I recruits.
“I’m proud of our guys and our community and the way they supported us all year,” Stacy said. “We wanted to win our 23rd state championship. We weren’t able to do that. I’m proud of the things we were able to accomplish this year.”
One play from Saturday night’s game that will haunt Massillon all offseason is the 71-yard punt return by Xavier’s Brad Brookbank as the first half ended. Brookbank wasn’t supposed to field the punt. His teammates were set up for a block, not a return. Nevertheless, he eluded tacklers and got into the end zone.
“Guys weren’t real happy. They were pretty upset,” in the locker room at halftime, Stacy said. “That’s the best football team we played all year. I don’t think it’s the most talented, but overall, it’s the best team. They’ve got great coaching, and they just play together.”
What can Stacy do for an encore. “It’s not about Tom Stacy,” he said. “I’ve coached too long and for too many great people to ever think it has anything to do with me. It’s about the kids. We did great things because we have great kids, and they responded to coaching. These kids embraced this coaching staff. That’s why we were able to have success. It doesn’t have anything to do with me.” Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: [email protected].

 

[Jeffcat]

stacy has done a great job to turn the program around. it looked like they were going to finally win their first title there for a bit but X put an end to it. they have youth coming up and they are in good shape.

 

[X Buckeyes07 X]

stacy has done a great job to turn the program around. it looked like they were going to finally win their first title there for a bit but X put an end to it. they have youth coming up and they are in good shape.

I'm not so sure "youth" is the right word, considering Massillon's tradition of holding back 8th graders so that they'll be more physically mature to play high school football

 

[mcclellanatosu]

I went to a neighboring H.S. to Massillon...Jackson (I don't know if anyone has heard of them) but anyways, I was really pulling for Massillon in this game. Its a shame that they came up short. I really thought they were gonna pull it out! Oh well maybe next year!

 

[Jeffcat]

I went to a neighboring H.S. to Massillon...Jackson (I don't know if anyone has heard of them) but anyways, I was really pulling for Massillon in this game. Its a shame that they came up short. I really thought they were gonna pull it out! Oh well maybe next year!

yea jackson actually got beat by patrick henry a couple years back i believe i do feel bad for the other massillon teams because they never get any recognition like perry and jackson. i dont really see the big deal with washington being the most looked at school in ohio for everything. they make their movies and everything but everytime i have been to massillon either half the fans were bandwagoners or nobody in the city even knew the state games were taking place that weekend. this weekend the guy at the hotel on lincoln way didnt even know washington was in the state game.:! maybe the football capital should be moved to delphos washington had a good chance at coming back in the game but came up short and the qb got cracked in the head and time wasnt on their side.

 

[X Buckeyes07 X]

Yeah, on that last Massillon drive Alex Albright simply refused to let them take the trophy away.

 

[Jeffcat]

Yeah, on that last Massillon drive Alex Albright simply refused to let them take the trophy away.

is that who drilled the qb? i was in section 9 right by the student section and got to see that great hit out of bounds

 

[X Buckeyes07 X]

is that who drilled the qb? i was in section 9 right by the student section and got to see that great hit out of bounds

Yeah, he's the X lineman who sacked the QB on 1st and 2nd down of Massillon's last drive, and rushed the QB into throwing the INT that ended the game. He's headed to Boston College on a scholly next year..I was looking at his recruiting page and supposedly OSU offered, but I never heard anything about that.

 

[Jeffcat]

Yeah, he's the X lineman who sacked the QB on 1st and 2nd down of Massillon's last drive, and rushed the QB into throwing the INT that ended the game. He's headed to Boston College on a scholly next year..I was looking at his recruiting page and supposedly OSU offered, but I never heard anything about that.

yea he had a solid game the whole night. i was amazed at how small X was. was it just the jerseys or is the smallest D1 team to ever win state. the linemen Qb and rb were approaching D5 D4 and up size. they did amazingly well though.