|
Yappi.com writer MASSILLON—Turnovers reigned on the confines of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in all sorts of directions. But when there is moonlight shining over the stadium, the Massillon Tigers attack at night. And attack at night did the Division I state finalists. The Tigers survived five turnovers and an early 6-0 deficit to snap a two-game losing streak and improve their record to 4-3 Friday night with a 27-12 win over visiting Akron Buchtel. The Griffins were gunning for their second win over the Tigers in the program’s existence while Massillon was looking to regain their confidence after last week’s disastrous 30-16 loss to undefeated Cleveland St. Ignatius. “It was ugly, it was ugly. But it was a win,” a very relieved Tom Stacy said. “We’ll take it given the toughness of our schedule any way we can. I thought both teams played hard but we just made bigger plays in the end.” Massillon quarterback Bobby Huth responded emphatically in a major way. The victim of a 79-yard interception touchdown return that led to the Tigers’ loss, the tough-nosed senior quarterback responded with three touchdown passes and 261 yards on 16 of 25 passing. Stacy admired how his fearless leader was able to shake the cobwebs of last week’s game and return to the Bobby Huth everyone has been known to see. “Being a quarterbacks coach, I am hard on all of my quarterbacks. Bobby played well tonight as he was the key to the offense,” he said. “We had to throw a lot more tonight because the Buchtel defense was stacking eight and nine men in the box.” “He played very well tonight.” Not to be forgotten also was the Massillon defense, which was led by senior linebacker Antonio Scassa. He played like an animal possessed by the moonlight as he recorded two sacks and numerous tackles. Like his entire defensive crew, the senior was not happy with last week as the defense allowed 23 of St. Ignatius’ 30 points in last Friday’s loss. The game was one that Scassa felt was a make-or-break game for the Tigers. “Defensively, we had to be all over the field tonight. It was a do or die game and we had the mindset that we were going to give it our all for four quarters till the final whistle,” he said. Akron Buchtel surprised the Massillon crowd early when senior running back Brian Gamble fumbled on the first play of the home team’s second possession. That is when Griffins defender Johnny Adams scooped up the ball and returned it for a 15-yard touchdown. The Griffins success was short lived though. Massillon retaliated with a nine-play, 67-yard drive that concluded with Steve Schott’s 23-yard field goal, the first of two in the game for the kicker that cut the Massillon deficit in half at 6-3. After a Griffins three-and-out possession, Massillon took the Griffins by storm on their fourth possession from the 38-yard line and on the first play, Huth threw downfield to receiver Giorgio Jackson, who made a leaping catch over two Buchtel defenders and ran the final 20 yards for the touchdown. That gave Massillon a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish the rest of the evening while improving their record to 4-3 and setting up next Saturday’s date with Warren Harding High School, a team for three years that gave the Tigers fits before finally losing 13-0 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium last season. Massillon was fortunate to have the same number of turnovers that Buchtel had with five each, but they know that many turnovers will result in a sour ending at Mollenkopf Stadium if those persist. And no one knows that better than the forcefully charged up leader of the orange and black, Tom Stacy. “We have to play perfect to beat a very good Warren Harding team. Warren Harding High School plays very well and Thom McDaniels is a solid coach,” Stacy said. “It will be a challenge that we will be waiting for.” And with a full moon out, the Tigers will be waiting next week to attack at night. |
|
Yappi Ohio High School Sports | Boys High School Sports | Girls High School Sports | General Sports and Info |