The Massillon Tigers hold on to win the Division II State Championship over the Archbishop Hoban Knights

Photo by Billy Kosco

Preview

Top-seeded Massillon Washington faces third-seeded Akron Archbishop Hoban at 7pm Thursday night to kick off a full slate of Ohio High School football championships at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

The Massillon Tigers are back in the state finals for the first time since 2020. The Tigers have finished as a state runner-up six times in the OHSAA era, but a state championship has eluded them to this point. Head coach Nate Moore is looking to change the narrative tonight with a victory over Akron Hoban.

Massillon Tigers

Massillon is 15-0 on the season and ranked #1 in Division II. Their path to the state finals included a 35-7 victory over Uniontown Lake in the regional semifinals, a 31-6 victory over Uniontown Green in the regional finals, and a 55-7 defeat of Cincinnati Anderson in the state semifinals.

The Tigers have dominated opponents all year by pounding the ball on the ground but yielding little themselves. Massillon has scored 52 rushing touchdowns this year but has given up only two rushing touchdowns to their opponents. Massillon is averaging 249.4 yards per game rushing, but their suffocating defense has allowed averages of only 1.5 yards per carry, 33.3 rushing yards per game, and 7.6 points per game. The Tigers are also averaging 7.5 tackles-for-loss.

Dual-threat quarterback DaOne Owens leads Massillon’s offensive attack. The senior QB has rushed for 1,220 yards and 15 touchdowns and has thrown for 1,549 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Hoban Knights

Akron Hoban is 14-1 in 2023 and ranked #3, their only loss to Division I state finalist Lakewood St. Edward 14-7 in the regular season finale. The Knights defeated Painesville Riverside 21-0 in the regional semifinals, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 30-6 in the regional finals, and Avon 17-14 in the state semifinals. Hoban is coached by Tim Tyrell who is in his 11^th year leading the Knights, who are looking to notch their 6^th state title.

Hoban is led by junior quarterback Tylan Boykin under center, and the Knights have a four-headed rushing attack that has accounted for over 2,700 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, led by Caleb Jones (1,069 yards and 17touchdowns).

Previous Meetings

Hoban and Massillon are familiar foes. This is the fifth time in six years the teams have met in the playoffs. Hoban has gotten the better of this rivalry, defeating Massillon to win the state title in 2018 and 2020. The teams met last year in the 2022 state semifinals, and Hoban won that one as well 41-20. Massillon beat Hoban in the 2019 Regional Final, the only time in the last nine years that Hoban didn’t reach the final.

First Half

The first half was a defensive struggle. Hoban was able to generate only one first down after their first drive of the game, and Hoban was plagued by mistakes with a fumble and an interception. Massillon also blocked a punt in the first half.

Massillon had a little more success moving the football, but their only score was a short 28-yard touchdown drive following the blocked punt.

Hoban scored a safety after pinning Massillon on their own 1-yard line following a punt. A false start moved the Tigers to the ½ yard line and the next play the Knights sacked quarterback DaOne Owens in the end zone.

The Tigers punted three times in the first half; the Knights punted four times, but one was blocked.

Second Half

Both defenses held strong in the second half, and there was no further scoring. Hoban took over in Massillon territory after a failed fake punt, but a 4^th down pass was dropped in the end zone with 1:33 left in the game. The Massillon Tigers hold on to win the Division II state championship over the Archbishop Hoban Knights.