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Do IT this week: Layering
Thanksgiving will be spent figuring which plays will work to beat opponent laden with top talent
By Jim Isabella
Special to the Beacon Journal
Published on Thursday, Nov 26, 2009
Jason Hall is spending Thanksgiving strategizing. The Massillon football coach looks at football as a chess player would, which is especially true when it comes to his offense.
''We are a ball-control team,'' Hall said. ''It is just like a chess match; we take what they'll give us. Face it. 90 percent of the time, you win in football when you run the ball and your quarterback or running back gets 150 yards rushing and you are balanced.
''In a Division I playoff game, you can't be sloppy because everyone has players that are very talented.''
The Tigers have run for a collective 2,062 yards and thrown for 2,499.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, the Tigers (10-3) face Glenville (12-1) in a Division I state semifinal at the University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium.
If Massillon is to pull another checkmate on the Tarblooders in the same manner it has in the playoffs against North Canton Hoover, Twinsburg and archrival Canton McKinley, it will again take good defense and a mistake-free offense.
''This team is very poised and does not get rattled. We have a nice mix of 12 seniors and 10 juniors in our lineup,'' Hall said. ''We have character with this group.
''One thing I've always tried to do with my teams is be consistent. No matter who you play, you have to execute and not have turnovers.''
Facing Glenville can be a daunting task. It's a team making only its second appearance in a state semifinal.
Glenville is as talented as any group in the state. The team is ranked as one of the top teams in the nation. They include quarterback Cardale Jones, wide receiver-defensive back and kicker Christian Bryant and running back Robert Walton.
They also have wide receiver and defensive back Latwan Anderson, who had four interceptions in a regional semifinal win over St. Ignatius.
''The closest they are to any team we've played is Warren Harding, which had several Division I college players on it,'' Hall said.
''Glenville is very athletic with lots of speed, especially when you look at their defense. You look at their line and they are athletic and their linebackers and secondary are very fast.
''What is scary about them is they have big-plays ability in all three phases of the game — of
fense, defense and special teams with kick returns.
''Coach [Ted] Ginn and the coaching staff does a great job of getting their players in space by using a variety of formations.''
Although year in and year out Glenville has had numerous Division I college players, Hall said the Tigers have their own group of highly recruited stars, including talented defensive back Tyler Miller, who had two interceptions last week, and Jeff Meyers, a 6-foot-3 283-pound two-way lineman.
''Our strong safety Bo Grunder, is a very determined blue-collar type player. He has a 3.9 grade-point average and is being recruited by three or four MAC schools and the Air Force.
''Our quarterback Robert Partridge has nine offers and people are looking at our tall wide receivers Devin Smith and Justin Olack,'' Hall said.
Jake Rieman has done well in place of injured running back Alex Winters. Rieman, a junior, tied his career high of 127 yards Saturday in the 10-7 win over McKinley.
''We have not changed our offense, though they are different backs. Jake is a north-south runner, while Alex can run off tackle and go 70 yards for a touchdown like he did against St. Ignatius,'' Hall said.
Hall might have an extra pawn to put on the board, er, field. Winters, a sophomore, might play on Saturday night for the first time since he hurt his knee in the first quarter in the loss to Canton McKinley in Week 10.
''He went through a workout with flying colors, so we want to get him into the lineup,'' Hall said.
Checkmate?
Saturday night we will find out who has all the right moves.
Jason Hall is spending Thanksgiving strategizing. The Massillon football coach looks at football as a chess player would, which is especially true when it comes to his offense.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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N. Canton, Oh
Posted 06:25 AM, 11/26/2009
We have to hope for a wet field....maybe it will slow them down somewhat, and we have to hope that Rob is on the mark, which when he is confident he is a very on the mark type of quarterback. All in all I think it will be a very good game...but of course am praying for a Tiger victory...Go Massillon!! Lets go to State with a victory!
Posted 07:27 AM, 11/26/2009
massolin has a chance, glennville gets a lead they lay down,,,not a big tigers fan but do want them to win....
Canton, OH
Posted 08:36 AM, 11/26/2009
Massillon will be collected uniforms Saturday Night. . BeWare an aroused TarBlooder. . .
Posted 08:38 AM, 11/26/2009
Jason Hall brings the Mount Union winning tradition to Massillon with him.Let`s hope we get a WIN over Glenville. Go Tigers !
N. Canton, Oh
Posted 11:48 AM, 11/26/2009
Hope you're wrong Slovensko....I pray you are, and thank you Gary for wanting Massillon to win.
Donald, Jashon Hall is a very good coach and I so far he has brought that winning tradition to Massillon....much better than Stacy. Not sure if the kids just didn't want to play for Stacy or what was wrong there...
N. Canton, Oh
Posted 11:49 AM, 11/26/2009
Sorry, Jason Hall....
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:27 PM, 11/26/2009
beardy,
Jason Hall has done a nice job, and here is hoping for a big win on Sat. I would reserve comment on Tom Stacy. Not only is he a pretty class guy, he did make Massillon's deepest run to the state title game... and nearly beat a much better team in St. X. Massillon had a couple of lean talent years... and Massillon and Stacy lost patience with each other.... and I don't think Stacy is the kind of guy to beg for approval or to keep his job... so he dumped Massillon. Came, saw it, didn't love it, and left.
It's okay to celebrate Hall's success without tearing at Stacy.
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 07:07 PM, 11/26/2009
Tarblooder's championship was two weeks ago against St Iggy......sorry Tigers.
Posted 10:00 PM, 11/26/2009
Glenville hasn't played anyone except for Ignatius. Massillon would only have 1 loss if they played that soft of a schedule.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:11 PM, 11/26/2009
I'm glad that he spent Thanksgiving with game prep. I was concerned that he might have been out trying to poach more players from Akron.
The Classless One could take some lessons from Mr. Ginn. Life isn't all about winning football games. HOW you win is just as important as winning itself.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:26 PM, 11/26/2009
Justin,
Didn't Massillon lose to Steubenville, which is what, D3? Is that acceptable for Massillon these days? Maybe you should temper the arrogance when dismissing the #8 team in the nation.
N. Canton, Oh
Posted 08:28 AM, 11/27/2009
Miami...I didn't tear into Stacy...I just said I didn't know the problem between him and the kids, or what happened there...Stacy is a very, very nice guy and my grandson, who just started going to Massillon his freshman year, playing football and that next year Stacy left. My grandson really liked Stacy a lot and was looking forward to playing for him....He is a great guy, Stacy is.
N. Canton, Oh
Posted 08:33 AM, 11/27/2009
RH19...I didn't tear Stacy down...all I said was I think Hall is a better coach, and the kids like him a lot better. Stacy is a very, very nice guy...He isn't doing well for Green either...Last year or this year...This year Green only won 2 games. For some reason, he isn't connecting with the kids, but you're right, he is a great guy.
Posted 10:07 AM, 11/28/2009
The_Original_Jason,
I'm just glad that we didn't play the worst team in D-3 like Glenville did in Cleveland East. The quality of teams that Glenville plays is a joke. It's not hard to only lose 1 game with that schedule. It's funny how every year they are so good but never make it out of their region.
