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| Savior Owens runs past a DeSales defender, Isaac Otu-Danqah (4), en route to the end zone. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
MASSILLON, Ohio — Massillon rolled over Columbus St. Francis DeSales 48-0 in a lopsided win in their regional playoff game.
Massillon limited DeSales to just 5 yards of total offense. “I thought our kids were really dialed in tonight,” said Moore.
The defensive line was too much for DeSales as they could not move the ball, gaining just two first downs for the entire game. “The level of physicality was really, really high,” Moore said.
DeSales quarterback RJ Day struggled all night, throwing just six passes with two catches for a mere 18 yards because of the stingy defense. Brayton Feister was a huge piece as he had nine total tackles and 4.5 for a loss.
However, the night’s defining story was the offensive line and Savior Owens, as the line created openings that allowed the powerful running back to score three touchdowns in the first half.
Freshman offensive lineman James Gatsios spoke confidently, “Our practice this week, we were really locked in,” he said.
Owens scored on touchdowns of 41, 10, and 1 yards, all in the first half of the game. “Just staying patient, trusting my O-line to get the blocks right and just hitting the hole hard,” said Owens.
He finished the night with 113 yards on 18 carries and 3 touchdowns.
Not much was going for the Northwestern commit RJ Day in what would be his last high school football game; he threw just six passes with two completions for 18 yards. "We weren't able to protect our quarterback; we weren't able to run the ball, well, because they were overwhelming us up front," said Wiggins.
Game Breakdown
First quarter
Massillon opens up the game with the coin toss and receives the ball first. After a short return, the Tigers take over on the 38-yard line. They start slowly on their first drive with a couple of penalties and turn the ball over on downs at the Stallions' defense.
RJ Day begins their drive running the ball against the Tigers' physical defense, but settles for a punt that is muffed, giving the Tigers the ball on the Stallions' 41-yard line.
The play after, Savior Owens runs for a 41-yard touchdown for his 19th TD of the season to put the Tigers on the board first. RJ Day can not get the offense going as they fail to convert on 3rd and 24 with 7:37 remaining in the quarter.
DeSales' defense is having a hard time bringing down Owens, as he gets the bulk of the carries and gets back in the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown with just over four minutes to go, to put the Tigers up 14-0 after a successful PAT.
DeSales has been on their side of the field the entire quarter and settled for another punt. Mass 14, DeSales 0.
Second quarter
The Tigers open up with a big catch by Gio Jackson Jr. for a big 34-yard gain that put them at the 15-yard line. After a run by Gary Yeager, they punch it in on a 1-yard touchdown by Savior Owens for his third touchdown of the half.
A big 33-yard catch by Deontae Malone puts the Tigers in position again in Stallion territory with 5:30 remaining on the clock. Da’Shun Williams catches a 6-yard touchdown over the middle to give the Tigers a 28-0 lead.
Tigers score with 50 seconds left on the clock: a Rasmus Haines to Deontay Malone 12-yard receiving touchdown to go up 35-0. HALFTIME: Mass 35, DeSales 0
Third quarter
The Tigers initiate a running clock to start the second half of the game. Again, the DeSales defense can not cross the 50-yard line, and there are no first downs.
Massillon’s Gary Yeager runs for a 47-yard touchdown with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter.
With just over three minutes in the game, DeSales finally crosses midfield, but it was nothing they could do with the Massillon defensive line. Mass 42,
Fourth quarter
The backups were in for Massillon at this point; with a running clock, they added one more score as the freshman Adonnes McMullen threw a strike to Van Hawkins for 24 yards. FINAL: Mass 48, DeSales 0.
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| Deontay Malone secures a tackle on wide receiver Dax Middleton. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
DeSales ends their season 8-4 and will have a new quarterback to lead them next year.
Massillon (10-1) will face Big Walnut (11-0) after they defeated Louisville 37-7 on the road in a regional semifinal game.
Game Breakdown
First quarter
Massillon opens up the game with the coin toss and receives the ball first. After a short return, the Tigers take over on the 38-yard line. They start slowly on their first drive with a couple of penalties and turn the ball over on downs at the Stallions' defense.
RJ Day begins their drive running the ball against the Tigers' physical defense, but settles for a punt that is muffed, giving the Tigers the ball on the Stallions' 41-yard line.
The play after, Savior Owens runs for a 41-yard touchdown for his 19th TD of the season to put the Tigers on the board first. RJ Day can not get the offense going as they fail to convert on 3rd and 24 with 7:37 remaining in the quarter.
DeSales' defense is having a hard time bringing down Owens, as he gets the bulk of the carries and gets back in the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown with just over four minutes to go, to put the Tigers up 14-0 after a successful PAT.
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| Freshman offensive lineman James Gatsios warms up before game time. (Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com) |
No first downs by the Stallions in the quarter.
DeSales has been on their side of the field the entire quarter and settled for another punt. Mass 14, DeSales 0.
Second quarter
The Tigers open up with a big catch by Gio Jackson Jr. for a big 34-yard gain that put them at the 15-yard line. After a run by Gary Yeager, they punch it in on a 1-yard touchdown by Savior Owens for his third touchdown of the half.
A big 33-yard catch by Deontae Malone puts the Tigers in position again in Stallion territory with 5:30 remaining on the clock. Da’Shun Williams catches a 6-yard touchdown over the middle to give the Tigers a 28-0 lead.
Tigers score with 50 seconds left on the clock: a Rasmus Haines to Deontay Malone 12-yard receiving touchdown to go up 35-0. HALFTIME: Mass 35, DeSales 0
Third quarter
The Tigers initiate a running clock to start the second half of the game. Again, the DeSales defense can not cross the 50-yard line, and there are no first downs.
Massillon’s Gary Yeager runs for a 47-yard touchdown with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter.
With just over three minutes in the game, DeSales finally crosses midfield, but it was nothing they could do with the Massillon defensive line. Mass 42,
Fourth quarter
The backups were in for Massillon at this point; with a running clock, they added one more score as the freshman Adonnes McMullen threw a strike to Van Hawkins for 24 yards. FINAL: Mass 48, DeSales 0.
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