For the first time since 2019, Warren G. Harding’s football team is four games above .500 as they enter week 9 with a record of 6-2. In fact, their sixth win, which came this past Friday against traditional rival Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, secured the first ever winning season for the current senior class. The feat was one of the initial goals of first-year head coach Matt Richardson. Given his coaching history, in particular his recent stint at Archbishop Hoban from 2020 thru 2023, simply finishing with more wins than losses is far from his ultimate goal. That said, it’s a big step towards his vision of getting the program’s culture where he wants it to be.
Warren G. Harding junior linebacker Raitwan Hill (#20) sniffs out a Cardinal Mooney screen pass to make a tackle for no gain during the week 8 matchup.
While Richardson and his staff have mainly laid their solid foundation with athletes who were on last year’s roster, the incoming transfer of senior Stephen Sims certainly hasn’t hurt. A 3rd Team All-Division IV selection at wide receiver for Girard in 2023, the Youngstown State University commit has really stepped up his production in recent weeks. In his last two games against Solon and Cardinal Mooney (did not play in week 6 against Boardman), he touched the ball 22 times for 158 yards & two touchdowns worth of total offense.
Warren G. Harding senior quarterback Chaz Coleman connects with classmate & Youngstown State commit Stephen Sims for a 43-yard touchdown pass during their week 8 matchup against Cardinal Mooney.
The Mooney game was also business as usual for Harding senior Chaz Coleman as he added to his passing (3-of-6 for 71 yards & 1 TD), rushing (16 carries for 83 yards & 1 TD), and defensive numbers (2 tackles for a loss & 1 sack) as for the season, he’s totaled 958 yards (500 rushing, 411 passing, & 47 receiving) & 10 touchdowns worth of total offense while defensively, he’s the team leader in tackles for a loss (6.0), sacks (4.0), and is tied with classmate and Brown University commit Airiz Coleman Bey in both interceptions (3) & defensive touchdowns (1).
To the delight of Warren G. Harding's marching band, senior defensive back Raylin Adams (#0) collects an interception during their week 8 showdown against Cardinal Mooney.
One of the biggest changes in Harding’s program is the presence of Defensive Coordinator Eric Ungaro. Under his guidance, the Raiders have collectively registered 20 tackles for a loss, 14 sacks, 11 forced fumbles (10 recoveries), and 8 interceptions. As a result, they’re allowing 13.5 points per game, which is less than half of the 27.4 points per contest that were surrendered through the first eight games of 2023.
Warren G. Harding senior defensive end Deshawn Wynn fires off the edge to record a tackle for a loss during their week 8 matchup against Cardinal Mooney.
Checking in with an all-time record of 953-301-36, Massillon is currently tied with Louisville (KY) Male for the second most wins in high school football history (Valdosta HS in Georgia has 958). While the Tigers have always had a high standard of excellence for their football program, January 26, 2015 marked the beginning of one of the most dominant eras in their history when they hired then-33-year old Nate Moore to be their head coach. Back then, his resume included five years as a head coach split between Minster (2010-2012) and Cincinnati La Salle (2013-14), where he led them to the 2014 OHSAA Division II state championship.
With 10 years and 129 games under his belt, Nate Moore is the longest tenured head football coach in Massillon's storied history.
After leading his Minster & La Salle teams to a combined record of 42-21, Moore went from going 4-6 in his initial season in Tigertown (2015) to now being 105-24, which makes him Massillon’s all-time winningest coach. In 2023, he concluded the season by leading the Tigers to a 7-2 victory over Hoban in the OHSAA Division II state championship game, their first title in the playoff era (post 1972). As a result, six of their ten regular season games this fall are against out-of-state opponents. That includes national powerhouses Bergen Catholic (NJ) and DeMatha Catholic (MD), who both won close games over the Tigers. However, those setbacks have only made Massillon stronger as in week 5, they showed the Buckeye State that they are still the team to beat as they went on the road and knocked off Lakewood St. Edward 31-21. It was the Tigers’ third consecutive season defeating the Eagles, who have won the last three OHSAA Division I state championships and seven overall since 2010 (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023).
With 1:34 remaining week 5's Massillon-Lakewood St. Edward matchup, Tiger senior Mylen Lenix seals the 31-21 road victory over with a 39-yard touchdown run.
Massillon’s ground attack, which is fueled by offensive tackle Nolan Davenport (Wisconsin commit), is headlined by Ja’Meir Gamble. After posting the third highest single-game rushing yardage total in Massillon history this past Friday Legacy School of Sports Sciences out of Texas (15 carries for 290 yards & 5 TDs), the senior now has 103 carries for 877 yards (8.5 YPC) and 13 touchdowns in 2024. Classmate Mylen Lenix, who currently holds an offer from Temple, is also a threat out of the offensive backfield as he has 26 carries for 269 yards (10.3 YPC) and 4 touchdowns.
Massillon senior Ja'Mier Gamble explodes for a 77-yard touchdown run during their week 8 matchup against Legacy School of Sports Science (TX). It was his 5th score of the contest.
Massillon is led under center by senior quarterback Jalen Slaughter, who has also made his mark on the school’s record book as he currently ranks 4th in all-time passing yards (5,485) and 3rd in scoring throws (60). This season, his plethora of weapons include Gamble (20 catches for 176 yards), Jacques Carter (19 catches for 337 yards & 5 touchdowns), Braylyn Toles (26 catches for 270 yards & 2 touchdowns), Richardo Wells (15 catches for 256 yards & 1 touchdown), and Deontay Malone (19 catches for 182 yards & 2 touchdowns). The Tigers have also cashed in on a 52-yard punt return from senior Tyler Hackenbracht.
Massillon senior Jalen Slaughter connects with classmate Jacques Carter for a 73-yard touchdown pass durng their week 7 matchup against Football North Clarkson (CA).
Speaking of Hackenbracht, the University of Toledo free safety commit enters week 9 with 60 tackles (30 solo), 2.0 tackles for a loss, 2 pass deflections, and 1 interception. Junior Ja’Dyn Williams currently leads the Tigers with 66 tackles (30 solo) & 10.0 tackles for a loss while fellow linebacker & Miami (OH) University commit Vito McConnell has totaled 29 tackles (15 solo), 3 pass deflections, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1 interception, and 1 blocked kick. All of the aforementioned young men are following up the pressure that’s provided by defensive tackle Michael Wright Jr., a Youngstown State commit who comes in with 24 tackles (8 solo), 6.5 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks.
Massillon senior & University of Toledo commit Tyler Hackenbracht returns a punt 52 yards for a touchdown during their week 4 matchup against Canisius (NY).
The Massillon highlights in this report were found on the social media (X) page of Seth Bailey, a current senior at Kent State University who is doing his internship for the Tigers' athletic department.