MASSILLON – On the sixth day of the preseason, Massillon’s football team will get its first chance to measure up against someone wearing a different uniform.
The Tigers play the first of their two scrimmages over the next week when they travel to Avon to face their fellow Division II state power Eagles on Saturday morning. The varsity portion of the scrimmage is slated to start at 11:30 a.m.
Avon, like Massillon, has been to the state semifinals in each of the last four seasons. It’s one of two scrimmages for the Tigers over the next six days, as they travel to Cincinnati to meet reigning Division I state champion St. Xavier at 2 p.m., Thursday.
For Massillon, it marks the first opportunity to gauge itself against another opponent. To prepare Saturday, here are five things to watch for from the Tigers.
Offensive line
Massillon is looking at a somewhat-retooled offensive front from the one it had in 2020. Gone are multi-year starters such as Terrance Rankl, John Kouth and Dylan Garretson.
The Tigers do return two full-time starters up front in tackle Toddrick Lee and center Jaiden Woods. Tackle Ta’Jamere Nash did see some significant action a year ago, including in the state title game against Hoban, but was not a starter.
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Ideally, Massillon’s offensive coaches strive to find a solid six to eight linemen to serve as its core from which to build. While there remain many options to step into that group, such as a Marcus Moore, Reece Turpin or Michael Mercurio, Avon will provide the first chance to see who may truly emerge.
Adding to the challenge is the first of a couple of unique three-man defensive fronts that both Avon and St. Xavier will show the Tigers during the preseason. That will no doubt be a benefit to those linemen who are better able to handle the assignment.
Quarterback
It’s been a while since Massillon truly had a “inexperienced” player stepping into the quarterback job. The last time was in 2017, when sophomore Aidan Longwell took over after having thrown just two passes in his varsity career previously.
This year, that job falls onto the broad shoulders of senior Darrius McElroy. McElroy comes into the season without a varsity pass attempt, after last year’s backups – Jay Crable and Tanner Pierce – transferred away to Hoban and Canton South, respectively, in the offseason.
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McElroy, despite the lack of varsity attempts in his past, has garnered significant praise from the coaching staff during both the offseason and the first week of preseason practice. He possesses a strong arm, as well as a running ability which could add a dimension to the Tiger offense that hasn’t been there in recent years.
Receiver
With one of the top running backs in Ohio returning in Willtrell Hartson, running the football shouldn’t be a major concern for Massillon coming into the season. However, the Tigers have prided themselves on being the kind of balanced offense that won’t allow for teams to just load up the box to try and stop the run.
Of course, when you boast multiple Division I receivers such as Austin Kutscher, Tre’Von Morgan, Jayden Ballard and Andrew Wilson-Lamp over the last four years along with great quarterback play, that’s something that can take care of itself. This year, Austin Brawley returns as the top receiver in terms of career production, with 11 catches and just over 200 yards.
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Brawley figures into a group of pass catchers Massillon is counting on to develop into weapons on the perimeter for McElroy to target. Others in that mix include the likes of Ardell Banks, Freddie Lenix Jr., Kurtis Miller, Kalix Collins and Nate Watkins, all of whom will get their chance to showcase themselves against high-level competition in the preseason scrimmages.
Defense
For all of the losses which Massillon endured on offense, it may be the defense which has been hit the hardest by graduation losses. A year ago, the Tigers boasted one of their best defensive units in recent years, but only Brawley at safety is back as a full-time starter.
The unit does have some experienced varsity players, including defensive lineman Marcus Moore – an All-Ohioan at Beachwood a year ago – as well as linebackers Riley Campbell (Central Catholic) and Ressieo Kirskey (Hoban). Players such as Turpin at defensive line, safety Ryan Zentkovich, linebackers Cam Beasley and Nathan Depuy, and Lenix and Watkins at defensive back add some experience from a year ago, although not necessarily starting experience.
With the way Massillon formats its practices, essentially splitting the team up evenly into two groups, Saturday will mark the first real opportunity for the full 11-man defense to work together as one. It will also give that group, as well as those knocking on the door to be a part of the starting group, a chance to see how they mesh together.
Up-and-comers
The beauty of preseason is, in part, finding the hidden gems. Every year, there are players who emerge from seemingly nowhere to become key varsity starters.
Each position coach has no doubt compiled a mental list of candidates to be those guys. Saturday provides the first of multiple stages for those players to start to move themselves out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
Reach Chris at chris.easterling@indeonline.com.
On Twitter: @ceasterlingINDE
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