|
Yappi.com writer Second in a series of five MASSILLON—Say what you want but in writing this second installment of the Canton McKinley-Massillon five-part series, there was no way this writer felt like a stranger inside the Massillon Washington High School campus. After having spent an entire day last season with Massillon tight end standout Brett Huffman and then coming back to report on the National Signing Day event inside the Massillon Washington media center, my presence brought me back inside a school decked full of orange and black. The Massillon Tigers know the situation. They are 5-4 and in need of a victory to advance to the OHSAA playoffs for the second straight year. But there is one team standing in their way and it is a team that leads with intimidation. CANTON MCKINLEY. For the second straight year, the Bulldogs have recorded a 9-0 record this season and captured their second straight Federal League championship. But no one in Massillon is running scared of the visitors coming to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Saturday afternoon. Last season, Massillon was not given a chance to knock off the Bulldogs in the region 2 title game. At the time, Canton McKinley was the defending Division I state finalists and wore a cloak of invincibility around them, especially after harrowing Massillon into four interceptions and two muffed punts, which led to six turnovers and a 38-8 knockout loss at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium. But Massillon was not deterred nor intimidated at the thought of facing their rivals in the playoffs. The result was a shocking 21-3 victory for the forceful orange and black charges that are coached by a forceful man in his own right, Tom Stacy. Massillon leads with force. And they win with force. And they will need all of that force to hand Canton McKinley their first loss Saturday afternoon. A sign hanging inside the school on the first floor also has delivered a message in all of the signage around the school: “Bring home the Victory Bell.” That bell has been with Canton McKinley since the 2003 season, when the Bulldogs ransacked Massillon early and often in a 40-8 laugher at Fawcett Stadium. If it’s time for the bell to come back to Massillon, the time is now according to Massillon school monitor K.J. Herring Sr., whose son, K.J. Herring Jr. is a running back for the defending Division I state football finalists. Herring Sr. graduated from Massillon in 1975. He believes that the Tigers will be undeniably ready for this game because this is their 2006 season flashing before their eyes. “K.J. Herring Jr. is excited for the game and he wants to help the team. We all as a family have played in the Canton McKinley game and he will be ready,” Herring Sr. said. “Far as being nervous? I think he’s way past that. He’s ready for this game.” “The rest of the team is ready as well. They all have been patiently waiting for this game since they all were babies. If they execute well on offense, defense, and special teams, this game will take care of itself.” Having toured the two schools and all of the signage, more signs were visible inside the Canton McKinley campus, but by only a razor-thin margin. But the Massillon signage in the school was definitely the more awe-inspiring and colorful. This young buck of a writer couldn’t help but smile and laugh at some of the signs. One sign on a classroom door showed a Tiger roasting a Bulldog in which the sign read “Bulldog. It’s what’s for dinner.” Actually, it will not be for dinner because the game is on an afternoon. And Massillon hopes that the bell will return to their school after Saturday. This decade, Massillon is 2-1 against Canton McKinley at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. And will they be 3-1? Massillon school monitor and 1984 graduate Judy Hendricks is very confident that her alma mater can pull off the feat of defeating McKinley. “This rivalry is great competition between the two schools because it develops leadership,” she said before getting superstitious. “We need to win because this month is Halloween and I believe the Bulldogs will be in for a scare.” There have been stranger things that have happened close to Halloween. Superstitions are not part of my regime. But if it’s any consolation, Massillon does have a secret weapon and it’s a weapon that no one from Canton McKinley has seen yet. Personally speaking, the 2006 Mount Union graduate who interned in Massillon for two years knows what this weapon is. And he won’t be snitching anytime to anyone what that weapon is. Say what you want about the game but the signage battle ended even between the two schools. But one thing can be said close to Saturday: Massillon needs a healthy appetite. And a win over the Canton McKinley Bulldogs will provide the essential nutrients needed for a second straight playoff appearance. Wednesday: How former Canton McKinley quarterback Ben McDaniels never lost to Massillon and the importance of beating Canton McKinley under current Massillon junior varsity head coach Brian Pachis. |
|
Yappi Ohio High School Sports | Boys High School Sports | Girls High School Sports | General Sports and Info |