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| Sophomore running back Gary Yeager outruns a St. Edward defender for a touchdown. Yeager had two runs of 50-plus yards on the night. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
BEREA, Ohio — In one of the state's most significant matchups, the St. Edward Eagles welcome the Massillon Tigers, with both teams maintaining undefeated records of 4-0 coming into the midpoint of the season.
The Tigers were riding a 4-game win streak over the Eagles.
Massillon continues its win streak over St. Edward, now beating them five consecutive times in their annual matchup, 23-21. Every victory came down to the wire, except the 2025 win, which was the most dominant, with a seven-point win.
"We were able to close it out there at the end," said Moore.
For Massillon, the game came down to running the ball; even with their number one running back, Savior Owens, on the mend, they looked to sophomore Gary Yeager for help. "You needed somebody to step up, and Gary answered the bell," Moore elaborated.
The offensive line helped Yeager find his way in the St. Edward secondary, adding that he knew what to look for. "I was seeing a lot of blitzes, and I had to be confident about it and talk to my O-line; they helped me out," said Yeager.
Yeager had 50-yard gains on two different occasions on the night for the Tigers.
But the Massillon defense did have some difficulties with the St. Edward Eagles tight end Joe Moore, who would have a connection with his quarterback, Langston Lucas, all night. His 12-yard running touchdown helped close Massillon's lead to two points, 21-23, with 1:24 remaining in the game.
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| Joe Moore (87) runs into a swarm of Massillon defenders, Geovonni "Geo" Vinson (24) and Chayce White (0). (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
Moore had some big catches that helped the St. Edward offense in crucial times.
But the onside kick from St. Edward that was recovered by Massillon at the 50-yard line was a key moment in the game. "George Rivera, who plays a lot of receiver for us, was right there, Johnny, on the spot he came out with the ball in the scrum; that was as key a moment in the game as anything," said Moore.
But it would not be enough as Massillon leaves the field victorious.
Game Breakdown
First quarter
Massillon wins the toss and defers to the Eagles as this much-anticipated mid-season matchup begins.
St. Edward’s first possession starts with a swing pass to Dacian Williams. They managed to get a long gain on a pass from Langston Hughes to tight end Joe Moore and a long up-the-middle pass that fell short on a 3rd-and-5.
Massillon gets a big gain on a pass from Haines to Savior Owens for a 25-yard gain with just under six minutes on their first drive. It eventually led to a Haines interception by Landon Lehmer to end the Tigers' drive at 3:53.
St. Edward fails to convert and hands the ball over with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter. Massillon goes for it on 4th and 1 with eight seconds left, and the quarter ends. Massillon 0, St. Edward 0.
Second quarter
Still 4th and 1, and they convert with Haines on the sneak to keep the drive alive, enough for Savior Owens to run right off right tackle for a 16-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone to take the first lead of the game and score 7-0 after a successful PAT with 10:43 remaining.
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| Ohio State commit Deontay Malone (6) defends a pass to Joe Moore that may have been a touchdown for the Eagles. (Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
St. Edward's offense is struggling against Massillon's front five on defense. Massillon chews up most of the second-quarter clock as they run Owens and Gary Yeager, rotating the carries.
The Tigers decide to punt the ball away with 2:33 still on the clock in the half. On the Eagles' final possession before halftime, they pull off an impressive play when Lehmer connects with his go-to receiver Joe Moore once more, and there's only 36 seconds left on the game clock. A Giovanni Vinson interception gets wiped off the board because of an offensive pass interference penalty. St. Edward's quarterback Landon Lehmer throws another pass to his favorite target, Joe Moore, who catches it for a 10-yard touchdown with just 15 seconds remaining before halftime ends. The score is now tied at Massillon 7, St. Edward 7
Third quarter
Massillon keeps up their ground game from the first half, beginning with Savior Owens followed by Gary Yeager, who breaks through for a 50-yard touchdown run. However, the Tigers can't convert the extra point because it gets blocked, giving them a 13-7 advantage.
St. Edward's quarterback Landon Lehmer looks for an open receiver but gets picked off by Deontae Malone, who takes it back 16 yards. After the interception, a holding penalty extended the play, but Massillon got the ball and began a drive that ended in a punt.
Two penalties for St. Edward give them 1st and 23 with 3:40 remaining. A big pass from Lehmer down the field to his favorite receiver, Joe Moore, is defended well by the Massillon defense. St. Ed chooses to punt on 4th and 13 on the Massillon 37-yard line.
Gary Yeager runs it down the field for 55 yards, his second 50-yard carry for the game, to set them up at the Eagles' 41-yard line. Massillon 13, St. Edward 7.
Fourth quarter
Yeager continues to find daylight in the second half as Savior Owens has been sidelined since the third quarter. But comes in at the end of the drive with about nine minutes left. But the Tigers settle for a 30-yard field goal.
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| Joe Moore looks for running room against an outstretched Massillon defender. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
St. Edward storms back and scores after a big catch from Joe Moore that set up a touchdown catch by Colin Tedesco. Joe Moore put the Eagles just two points behind, but after a failed onside kick that was recovered by Massillon, it sealed the deal. FINAL: Massillon 23, St. Edward 21.
Massillon 5-0 will face a team that defeated them last year, Football North Inc. (via Clarkson SS), (ON) 34-2 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Week 6.
The Eagles (4-1) will host St. John's College (DC) after a tough loss to Massillon.
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