Week 9- Massillon (7-1) @ Warren G. Harding (4-4)
After a two-week stretch that saw Warren G. Harding win back-to-back games for the first time this season, they were met with some adversity at Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium in the form of a tough Cardinal Mooney squad. While the final outcome wasn't exactly a memorable one for the Raiders, it wasn’t the first time this season that was the case. That said, the final two weeks of the regular season will serve as the ultimate test to see just how much they’ve learned from the rougher experiences in the first eight weeks.
Warren G. Harding senior Justice Dukes opens up the contest against Cardinal Mooney on 10/09/2026 with a tackle for a loss.
For the season, senior quarterback James Jones is 68-of-127 for 937 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. His favorite target, Central Michigan University commit Matt Richardson, recently became the eighth different player in Harding history to eclipse 600+ receiving yards in a season as he now has 607 yards and five touchdowns on just 38 catches (16.0 yards per catch). Seniors Asa Coleman (six catches for 68 yards & one touchdown) and Elijah Phillips (three catches for 31 yards & one touchdown), junior Kai Parker (six catches for 81 yards & one touchdown), and sophomore Lavez Powell (eight catches for 97 yards and one touchdown) have also made their presence felt in the passing game.
Harding senior Asa Coleman recovers a fumble against Cardinal Mooney on 10/09/2026.
Harding’s ground attack is led by junior tailback Makhai Brogdon (93 carries for 536 yards & five touchdowns) while Phillips’ role in the offense continues to grow as he now has 43 carries for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Richardson has six carries for 60 yards and another touchdown. Meanwhile, senior kicker Jaron Edmonds has accounted for 30 points, which ties Brogdon for the second most on the team. In addition to his scoring production, 25 of his 31 kickoff this season have gone for touchbacks.
Harding senior Jarion Edmonds kicks his 25th touchback of the 2026 season against Cardinal Mooney on 10/09/2026.
Defensively, senior Justice Dukes and junior Asa Burch are both tied for the team lead with 8.0 tackles for a loss and 5.0 sacks apiece. They headline a group of Raiders that have registered tackles for losses, which includes University of Cincinnati commit Zay’vion Smith (4.0), Phillips (3.0), Richardson (2.0), Jaylen Murray (2.0; more on him momentarily), Jeramiah Crenshaw (1.0), Kendrick Brown (2.0), Brendon Butler (1.0), and Brayden Tatum (1.0).
Junior EDGE Asa Burch records a tackle for a loss against Cardinal Mooney on 10/09/2026.
Richardson and junior Elias Johnson have both hauled in two interceptions while Phillips, Antonio Dukes, Austin Blackwell, and Joseph Daniel each have one apiece.
Harding senior Elijah Phillips hauls in a huge interception against Cardinal Mooney on 10/09/2026.
While his production may seem limited on paper due to his few appearances, Murray has looked better and stronger each week since his return from last year’s torn ACL as through five games, he’s also credited with 21 tackles (13 solo) and 2.0 tackles for a loss while Crenshaw currently ranks secondon the team with 53 tackles (26 solo).
Harding senior Jaylen Murray registers a sack on the seond play of the game against Cardinal Mooney on 10/09/2026.
After winning their first six games of 2026, Massillon is coming off of their first loss of the season to Cornerstone Christian (TX). Despite that bump in the road, this is still a loaded group of hungry Tigers with big aspirations for this fall. In fact, since his arrival in 2015, head coach Nate Moore is 132-30. That’s an average of 11.0 wins per season and we aren’t even finished with 2026 yet, which illustrates the high standard of excellence that he has set in Tiger Town.
Massillon sophomore tailback Gary Yeager recovers a botched snap and races 55 yards for a touchdown against Lakewood St. Edward on 09/18/2026.
If it’s one thing that Coach Moore knows how to do, it’s develop running backs. Every single one that he’s featured during his tenure at Massillon is among their all-time top 10 in rushing yards and touchdowns in either a season, career, or both. Last season, then-junior Savior Owens compiled 1,572 rushing yards (6th in Massillon history) and 21 touchdowns (tied for 7th in school history) on 222 carries. While their statistics against Cornerstone Christian weren’t immediately available at the time of this publication, in his first five appearances of 2026, the Michigan State commit had 99 carries for 572 yards and 12 touchdowns while he added eight catches for 190 yards and another score. Yardage wise, sophomore Gary Yeager isn’t far behind as on the same time span, he had 42 carries for 530 yards (12.6 yards per carry) and four touchdowns.
Massillon senior tailback & Michigan State commit Savior Owens with a 47-yard touchdown run against Cleveland Glenville on 08/21/2026.
The Tigers are led under center by junior quarterback Rasmus Haines. Through his first six games, he completed 52-of-91 passes for 806 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. His favorite targets are senior Miami (OH) University commit Giorgio Jackson Jr. (first seven weeks- 16 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns) & Ohio State commit Deontay Malone (first seven weeks- 12 catches for 219 yards & one TD).
Massillon junior quarterback Rasmus Haines rolls out and connects with senior Ohio State commit Deontay Malone for a 73-yard touchdown pass against Cornerstone Christian (TX) on 10/09/2026.
While the eligibility of Brayton (55 tackles, 10.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks) & Brydon Feister (39 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks) remains a huge question mark for Massillon moving forward, they still have plenty of firepower on the defensive side of the ball. If they remain absent this Friday, expect their defensive front seven to be powered by guys like Sebastian Harper, Isaac Maxheimer, Ke’Aun Fowler, and Christian Culler. Senior Braylon Gamble, a Boston College commit who is the son of Tiger legend Brian Gamble, joins Malone and fellow senior Division I recruit Chayce White in a dynamic defensive backfield.
Massillon senior linebacker Sebastian Harper registers a sack against Football North (ON) on 09/25/2026.
Massillon footage is courtesy of sports journalist Seth Bailey.
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