MASSILLON, Ohio — When it comes to Northeast Ohio high school football, it doesn't get much bigger than this.
Friday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Massillon Washington will host St. Edward for Week 5 of the regular season. Both teams enter the matchup not only unbeaten at 4-0, but also nationally ranked.
The Eagles look to be the clear favorite, having won each of the last two Division I state championships and being rated anywhere between eighth and 25th in all seven of America's major high school polls. However, their only loss a season ago came by a score of 31-28 at the hands of these same Tigers, something head coach Tom Lombardo is keenly aware of but also tries to look past in favor of the bigger picture.
"When you play a tough schedule week in and week out, sooner or later — no matter how good you are or how much more talent [you might have] — something gives," Lombardo told 3News. "It's just difficult to win every single game."
Speaking of talent, St. Ed is loaded with it, especially up front with three Big Ten commits on the offensive line along with Loghan Thomas and Troy Regovich on defense. However, starting quarterback Casey Bullock was injured in last weekend's game against Elder and is currently questionable, meaning junior Thomas Csayni may have to be under center tonight.
"He came in and took us right down the field against Elder for the game-winning field goal," Lombardo said of Csayni's efforts in a 34-33 victory over the Panthers. "That's a good way to start your career."
Not to be outdone, Massillon enters the game ranked 20th in the country by High School Football America, with NC State commit Chase Bond anchoring the front seven and the two-quarterback system of starter Jalen Slaughter and Copley transfer DaOne Owens leading an offense that's averaging 47.5 points per game. Slaughter was instrumental in last year's win over the Eagles (295 yards, three touchdowns), but head coach Nate Moore knows his Tigers will have to be on top of their game to come out on top again.
"Anytime you play a team like this, you have to play really, really well," Moore told The Canton Repository. "Especially as you work your way up. The difference between really good teams and great teams is up front, and St. Ed's is no exception to that."
Prior to the season, Moore and the Massillon team came under fire for an alleged hazing incident during practice. While Stark County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle L. Stone called some players' actions "inexcusable," no criminal charges were filed, and Moore was eventually reinstated from administrative leave following an internal probe. Authorities are still looking into the apparent sharing of video footage from the encounter.