MASSILLON, OH - In a highly anticipated clash, the Massillon Tigers once again reigned supreme over St. Ed’s, dealing a decisive 15-13 defeat using a dominant ground game. This marks the second consecutive year the Tigers have edged out their fierce rivals after defeating the Eagles 30-28 last year at Paul Brown Stadium.
Quarterback DaOne Owens turned out to be the star of the night, displaying impeccable skill and agility. He carried the ball 26 times, racking up an impressive 180 yards and contributing two touchdowns to the scoreboard. Time and again, Owens found gaps and capitalized on them, proving to be an unstoppable force against the St. Ed’s defense. The Tigers outgained the Eagles 249-59 on the ground.
However, the game was not just about offense. On the defensive side, senior linebacker Dorian Pringle showcased a performance that will be remembered for a long time in Massillon. With two crucial sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked punt, Pringle was the linchpin that held the defensive line against what most have called a collegiate offense line. The Eagles were without starting QB after injuring his leg late in the Eagles 34-33 win last week over Elder High School.
The victory is particularly sweet for Massillon as it snapped St. Ed’s remarkable 15-game winning streak, a testament to their prowess on the football field. This win reinforces the Tigers’ reputation as one of the elite high school football teams in the state.
"They (St. Ed's) came in here thinking they would win. It doesn't matter who they are or where they're ranked nationally, today we fought fire with fire and got the win," Massillon Senior QB DaOne Owens said postgame.
Head Coach Nate Moore of Massillon praised the team’s performance, especially highlighting the efforts of Owens and Pringle. "Tonight, our guy showed what they're made of. They held the line, they hit, pushed forward, and delivered a performance that every Massillon fan can be proud of," he remarked after the game.
"Our defense was the reason we were able to stay in this game. Points were hard to come by" Moore also said.
The Eagles who trailed for almost the entirety of the game, brought things close lately. Junior QB Thomas Csayni found WR Brian Sullivan for a beautiful pass to cut the deficit to two points.
The Eagles' onside kick wouldn't be successful as Owens was seen out on the hands team, something many QBs don't do.
"I saw Vito McConnell bobble the ball and it came straight to me so I caught it. Coach tells us all the time to bring him the ball and I did just that," Owens said postgame.
As for St. Ed’s, this defeat will serve as a moment of reflection and a taste of playoff football. Their winning streak was something to be admired, and while it has come to an end, the team still has a lot of football left in the season with the Davidson commit Casey Bullock set to return by playoff time. The resilience and determination shown by both teams promise more nail-biting fixtures in the future in what feels like a Northeast Ohio version of "The Game".
Official Stats
Massillon Tigers
QB DaOne Owens 8/11 50 Yards, 1 INT 26 carries 180 yards 2 TD
Dorian Pringle 10 tackles (including 3.5 tackles for loss), 2 sacks
Kyler Wiggins 5 carries 40 yards
Cody Fair 6 tackles, 1 sack
St. Edward Eagles
Thomas Csanyi 14/29 153 yards 2 TD 1 INT
Kyan Mason 6 catches 54 yards
Brian Sullivan 5 catches 58 yards 1 TD
Nate Gregory 12 tackles (game-high)