Raiders fall to Massillon in final home game
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WARREN -- Massillon scored early and often on Friday, downing Warren G. Harding, 49-16, in the Raiders’ last home game of the season.
Harding wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, with the Raiders moving swiftly down the field on its opening drive.
After a defensive pass interference from Massillon set Harding up inside the red zone, quarterback James Jones connected with senior receiver Matt Richardson on a pass to the right corner of the end zone.
The Raiders missed the PAT, giving them a 6-0 advantage.
"We came out and did a great, great job. We played complimentary football to start," Harding coach Matt Richardson said. "We had a great kickoff return, we moved the ball and put it in for a score. But then we just had a hard time stopping the run."
The edge didn’t last long, as the Tigers and their ground game moved down the field even faster. Senior tailback Savior Owens found the end zone on an 8-yard carry. Massillon converted the PAT and took a lead they’d hold for the remainder of the game.
Owens struck again on the Tigers' next possession, earning his second score of the night.
A special teams miscue on the Raiders' ensuing possession resulted in more points for Massillon. A high snap on fourth down fell in the end zone, and was scooped by the Tigers.
On their following possession, the Raiders got inside the red zone, but couldn’t convert, settling for a 35-yard field goal by junior Jaron Edmonds.
Every time the Raiders scored, Massillon had a hasty response. Senior Brayton Feister bolted down the field to the tune of a 67-yard score. The Tigers proceeded to recover the ensuing kickoff, setting their drive up a hair outside the red zone.
Massillon gave Owens the ball once again, and he once again found himself in the end zone. His third of the night was from 13 yards out. The Tigers tacked on another score before halftime, with Feister scoring on a 7-yard run.
On its first possession of the second half, Massillon went to Owens again, scoring his fourth of the contest.
The Michigan State commit was tough to stop.
"You have to team tackle him, and we didn’t do a very good job of that," Richardson said.
Harding added to its tally in the fourth, with Elijah Phillips rushing in.
Harding (4-5) closes its year out with a road contest with rival Fitch. Win and the Raiders play in Week 11, lose, and the season’s over.
Richardson and company are considering Week 10 as a first-round playoff game.
"We just have to come out like we did to start the game, and then come out how we did in the second half," Richardson said. "Bottom line, we knew we had to win one in the next two. Our playoff starts next week, so we’ll be ready to roll."