On Saturday, October 26, the Massillon Tigers and Canton McKinley Bulldogs will renew their fierce rivalry at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in the 134th meeting of “The Game.” Since their first clash in 1894, this showdown has become one of America’s oldest and greatest high school football rivalries, drawing thousands of passionate Ohio football fans each year. 

The Tigers, with a commanding lead in the all-time series at 76-53-5, are riding high after a dominant 35-0 victory in last year’s heated encounter. This game is part of the 21st season of the Great American Rivalry Series, a testament to its enduring significance. 

The rivalry has produced 50 NFL draftees, 13 Super Bowl champions, and five NFL head coaches. Legendary figures like Massillon/Cleveland Browns/Cincinnati Bengals coach Paul Brown and Canton McKinley/Cleveland Browns player Marion Motley, both enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, have roots in this epic clash. 

As the Tigers and Bulldogs prepare to write the next chapter, the stage is set for another unforgettable battle.  

We Know Friday Nights 

  

MVP

Jalen Slaughter
Massillon

SCHOLAR ATHLETES

Ransom Els

Massillon

Ransom is a four-year member of the football team and a member of the wrestling team. He has served masses at St. Joseph and St. Barbara's Roman Catholic churches. After a vigorous academic schedule both on and off campus, earning a 4.4 GPA, Ransom intends to major in engineering at the University of Akron or the University of Cincinnati.
Josh Young

McKinley

Josh is a three-year Football letter winner and is a member of the National Honor Society and Rising Scholars. He has maintained a 4.17 GPA and been on the Dean's List at Stark State and honor roll. Josh also represented Canton at the Buckeye Boys State and plans to attend the United States Naval Academy.

GAME SUMMARY

The 135th edition of “The Game” lived up to its billing as Massillon and McKinley left it all on the field on a beautiful fall Saturday of High School Football. The Tigers pounced on an early opportunity when the Bulldogs fumbled the ball on their first play from scrimmage and the Tigers scored 4 plays later to take a 7-0 lead. The rest of the 1st quarter was several series of solid defense by both teams, but Massillon would score on the first play of the 2nd quarter on a perfect throw from Quarterback and eventual game MVP, Jalen Slaughter to a tightly covered receiver to take a 13-0 lead. The Bulldogs would battle back behind a stout rushing and short passing game when they plunged one into the endzone to cut the score to 13-7. With time winding down in the first half, the Tigers would seize the momentum back kicking the ball through the uprights to take a 16-7 lead into the locker room. Both teams made solid defensive adjustments at half and the remainder of the game was dominated on that side of the ball. 24 hard fought minutes resulted in no other points added to the scoreboard and the Tigers made it 9 in a row for the 2nd time in this storied series taking home bragging rights, the Bell, and a 16-7 victory!