- Massillon improved to 2-0 with a 45-0 win over GlenOak on Friday.
- Quarterback Jalen Slaughter threw two touchdown passes and Ja'Meir Gamble ran for two TDs for the Tigers.
- The Massillon defense held GlenOak to just over 100 total yards.
PLAIN TWP. — The Massillon Tigers were never going to let their productive business and pleasure trip out west linger into their first 2024 game on Ohio soil.
The reigning OHSAA Division II state champions made that abundantly clear in Friday's game at GlenOak.
The Tigers scored the first time they touched the football, built a 31-point halftime lead and took out the Golden Eagles 45-0. A running clock throughout the second half swiftly completed Massillon's 18th straight win.
Head coach Nate Moore, his staff and players will never forget last week's visit to Nike World Headquarters in Oregon for the Nike Kickoff Classic. The Tigers beat London-based NFL Academy 35-28.
This week it was back home and back to business. An upset-minded Stark County opponent awaited Massillon. This was not the time to relish the past.
"Coach said 'What's behind us is behind us,'" senior linebacker Vito McConnell said. "Even though we had a blast last week, we had to focus on this week and the weeks ahead."
Jalen Slaughter has been a great fit at quarterback for Massillon following the graduation of DaOne Owens, who is now at Slippery Rock. Slaughter threw two more touchdown passes Friday to give himself for five for the season. He finished 12-of-20 for 174 yards.
"Jalen has done a great job," Moore said. "He can run an offense, and I think he has developed as a quarterback and as a distributor."
It helps Slaughter to have talented and reliable players around him. He completed passes to five different receivers on Massillon's first possession. The drive ended with the first of Ja'Meir Gamble's two TD runs.
"I'm blessed with the amount of weapons we have," Slaughter said. "It's a really cool experience."
Jacques Carter and Ricardo Wells are a couple of Slaughter's weapons. Both caught touchdown passes in the first half.
Slaughter's 30-yard TD pass to Wells was the dagger. It came on the final play of the first half and gave the Tigers a 31-0 lead. That forced a running clock which lasted the entire second half.
"That was really huge," Slaughter said of the touchdown to Wells. "Ricardo had a great route, great cuts. The ball was there, too. It was a great ball and a great catch."
Massillon's defense held GlenOak to just 103 total yards. It also produced points in the second half when linebacker Bishop Cupp intercepted a tipped pass and returned it for a touchdown.
GlenOak's running game was held to just 56 yards on 24 carries. It didn't help the Golden Eagles when Jerome Cox had to leave the game in the first half with an apparent ankle injury.
"We had to keep the run inside the box and play hard and physical," McConnell said. "That's what we did."
Here's how things unfolded through our live score updates.
Massillon finishes off GlenOak 45-0
It's all over at Bob Commings Field. Massillon beats GlenOak 45-0.
The Tigers are 2-0. The Golden Eagles are 0-2.
Bishop Cupp produces a touchdown for Massillon's defense
Bishop Cupp gives Massillon's defense a touchdown. He returns a tipped interception for a score.
The Tigers lead 45-0.
Massillon adds another touchdown on first drive of second half
Peytton Mitchell etches his name into the box score for Massillon. His one-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the second half gives Massillon a 38-0 lead.
High school football running clock
Massillon's commanding 31-0 halftime lead will trigger a running clock to start the second half. Under OHSAA rules, whenever the score differential reaches 30 points to start or during the second half, the running clock begins.
Massillon scores on final play of first half, leads 31-0
That should put a bow on this one.
After a pass interference call on GlenOak, Ricardo Wells catches a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Slaughter on the final play of the first half. Massillon leads 31-0 at halftime.
Jalen Slaughter-to-Jacques Carter connection increases Massillon lead
When Massillon's Jacques Carter gets behind the defense, that's bad news for the defense. His 38-yard touchdown reception from Jalen Slaughter gives the Tigers a 24-0 lead.
Vito McConnell interception, reception set up Massillon touchdown
Vito McConnell did a lot to help the Tigers increase their lead to 17-0. His interception on defense stopped a GlenOak drive inside Massillon territory. Moments later, he caught a 23-yard pass from Jalen Slaughter.
Ja'Meir Gamble scored his second touchdown of the game on an 18-yard run.
Kicker Mateo Herrera extends Massillon's lead over GlenOak
After Jalen Slaughter's first incompletion was almost intercepted, Mateo Herrera kicked a 20-yard field goal to give Massillon a 10-0 lead.
Jerome Cox suffers injury on GlenOak's second drive
The last thing GlenOak needs in this game is an injury to an impact player.
Jerome Cox had to be helped off the field after a carry on the Golden Eagles' second drive. He couldn't put any weight on his ankle.
Massillon quarterback Jalen Slaughter picks up where he left off
After throwing for almost 400 yards in Massillon's season-opening win, quarterback Jalen Slaughter picked up where he left off on the Tigers' first drive. He completed five passes to five different receivers as Massillon drove 44 yards for a 7-0 lead.
Ja'Meir Gamble scored the Tigers' touchdown on a 3-yard run. He also converted a fourth-down run during the drive.
GlenOak will get the ball first
GlenOak has won the toss and will receive.
What Massillon and GlenOak did in Week 1
Massillon's trip to the Nike Kickoff Classic in Oregon was a big success. The Tigers beat London-based NFL Academy 35-20 for their 17th straight victory. Quarterback Jalen Slaughter threw for 387 yards, the third-highest single-game total in program history.
Villa Angela-St. Joseph beat GlenOak 42-7 in the Golden Eagles' season opener. Jerome Cox rushed for 94 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season
Massillon-GlenOak Week 2 high school football series dates back to 2009
Massillon and GlenOak have clashed in Week 2 in every full high school football season since 2009. The Golden Eagles enjoyed some success early in the series, but it has been all Tigers over the past few years. Here is a rundown of the last 14 games played between the two teams.
- 2023: Massillon 56-7
- 2022: Massillon 35-7
- 2021: Massillon 34-0
- 2019: Massillon 55-13
- 2018: Massillon 49-0
- 2017: Massillon 24-10
- 2016: Massillon 24-21
- 2015: GlenOak 37-21
- 2014: Massillon 17-14
- 2013: Massillon 23-20, 3 OT
- 2012: GlenOak 26-24
- 2011: GlenOak 22-21
- 2010: Massillon 28-27
- 2009: Massillon 35-10
Massillon Tigers football ranked No. 1 in Ohio, ranked nationally, too
Following the Tigers win last week in Oregon, they moved up from No. 2 to No. 1 in the USA Today Network Ohio Super 25 Poll. Nationally, the USA Today Sports Super 25 has Massillon ranked No. 17.
Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com
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