KNIGHTS FINAL PUSH FALLS SHORT IN STATE TITLE
By Ty Bartell
CANTON OH- In what was the most anticipated high school football matchup in the state of Ohio, The Archbishop Hoban Knights went to battle against The Massillon-Washington Tigers in a game with the highest stakes, The Division II State Championship trophy with the game being played in the historic Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. With just under 15,000 people in attendance, the city of Canton was packed with diehards from both fan bases that were ready to see the game of the year,
Defense took center-stage as expected with both teams allowing just a hair over 7 points a game against them this season. The first quarter was scoreless for both sides, as Hoban was able to drive into Tiger territory with their opening drive being a fumble lost to Massillon occurred. The Tigers would then take the ball into Knights territory and subsequently be denied, turning the ball over on downs. With the score 0-0 it looked like a scoreless half was in the making, until a blocked punt by The Tigers gave Massillon the ball with excellent field position, on Hoban’s side of the field to start. The Knights would shoot themselves in the foot on the drive as well, with a 4th and 10 facemask by The Knights defense to give Massilon a fresh set of downs and the eventual score by Mylen Lenix with 6 minutes left in the first half.
Hoban looked like they would be turned away on the scoreboard entirely until Ryan Burns and The Knights special teams unit pinned Massillon back deep at their own half-yard line. Hoban’s defense would force another safety on the season, this time by Tanner Mintz and Deon Rodgers getting on the scoreboard but still trailing The Tigers 7-2 at halftime.
Remember how we said defense took center-stage? The second half was a defense-exclusive battle with both teams going scoreless in the third. The fourth quarter was trending that way until The Knight had the ball in Tiger territory in the waning moments of the ballgame. However, a 4th and 10 pass to the endzone that was not to be, sealed the drive and the game 7-2, giving Massillon their first State Championship in 53 years, their first of the playoff era and their 25th overall!
Game Photos can be found HERE https://ysn.smugmug.com/11-30-fb-hoban-massilion/11-30-fb-hoban-massilion/102EOS1D/
