Massillon Hosts Columbus DeSales in Round 2 Playoff Showdown

Massillon Hosts Columbus St. Francis DeSales in Round 2 Postseason Clash

There’s only one Massillon, Tiger Head Coach Nate Moore said, capturing the energy surrounding the program after a dominant opening to the postseason. It started with the parade. It was awesome. Man, did everyone show up. The crowd on Saturday afternoon was unbelievable. Maybe the grand old days are right now.

Following a first-round bye, the Massillon Tigers (9-1) return to the field this week to host Columbus St. Francis DeSales in a Round 2 playoff game. The matchup follows Massillon’s 31-0 victory over Canton McKinley (8-4), a rivalry game that once again showcased the team’s defensive tenacity and explosive ground game.

Reflecting on the McKinley victory, Moore noted that after reviewing the game films, he grew to appreciate just how dominate the performance was. However, he also pointed out that McKinley’s regular schedule in the Federal League often leaves opponents underprepared for a game against a team like Massillon. That reality drives his scheduling philosophy, which prioritizes high-level opponents throughout the regular season and scrimmages to expose weaknesses early and give the coaching staff time to correct them.

Massillon players shared the sentiment of the rivalry’s unique weight. Safety Braylon Gamble, joined by defensive back / wide receiver Deontay Malone and outside linebacker Christian Culler as guest players for the weekly booster report, emphasized the stakes. Our class has never lost in that game, Gamble said. We didn’t want to lose. We played a little different. DeSales is pretty good. They could beat us. Culler added that an early goal-line stand set the tone, noting that DeSales is the same team they played last year.

Stalwart History Meets a Younger DeSales Roster

Columbus DeSales enters the second round carrying a storied football tradition. As a member of the Central Catholic League—alongside Watterson, St. Charles, and Hartley—the Stallions boast three state championships (’85, ’97 and ’98), six runners-up, 12 regional titles, and a 63-29 playoff record across 32 playoff appearances. Over the last five years, the program has compiled a 33-17 overall record, including 4-5 in the playoffs. Pushed into Division II over the past four years due to competitive advantage, DeSales has yet to advance beyond Round 2 in post-season play during that stretch.

Last year, Massillon handled the Stallions in Round 2, claiming a 48-14 victory in a contest where the Tigers built a 27-7 halftime lead and a running clock was in effect before the third quarter expired. Running back Savior Owens led the offensive attack with 18 carries for 215 yards and three touchdowns.

This season, DeSales presents a much younger lineup than a year ago. The Stallions average 27 points per game while yielding 15 defensively. They opened their postseason journey with a 56-14 victory of Watkins Memorial in Round 1. Their offensive unit starts six seniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen, operating primarily out of a spread formation. Defensively, they line up in a 4-2-5 scheme featuring a stand-up edge player and a secondary that normally plays a 2-high scheme with some cover-3, not a big blitz team.

Evaluating the Stallions’ Offensive Weaponry

At the center of the DeSales attack is four-year starting quarterback RJ Day. Standing 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, the senior has passed for 2,244 yards and 25 touchdowns. Already committed to Northwestern University, Day holds the top two spots (’25 and ’26) for DeSales’ all-time passing yards and is the career passing leader, having passed for 1,000+ yards each year. Against Youngstown Ursuline, Day completed 24 of 29 passes for 259 yards, while his Round 1 performance against Watkins Memorial featured an 11-of-13 outing for 239 yards and 4 TDs.

Surrounding Day are several standout performers, though health questions linger for key contributors. Senior running back Kaleb Johnson stands 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, but is questionable for the game due to an injury, with sophomore backup Jonah Jenkins (5-10, 190) available. Senior tight end and wide receiver Jordan Karhoff—committed to Virginia Tech—is the best athlete on the team and starts defensive end, but has not played since Week 8 due to an injury, leaving him questionable for this one. Senior Dax Middletown (6-1, 185 lbs.) is a returning starter at wide receiver.

Up front, the DeSales offensive line averages 6-foot-1 and 258 pounds, making them one of the smaller lines the Tigers have faced this year. The unit includes two freshmen and a sophomore alongside senior Noah Grimmet (6-0, 295). Defensively, the Stallions feature sophomore OLB Carter Clark (5-11, 175) and junior cornerback Christian Wells (5-9, 185) alongside a decent kicking game.

Massillon enters the contest looking to build upon the momentum of a town-wide celebration and the energy of the recent postseason opening.

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