Massillon Washington ended a 53-year championship drought last season when it held on to beat Archbishop Hoban in the Ohio Division 2 State Finals. The Tigers claimed their 25th state title and their first since 1970. They finished the year ranked #10 nationally and have an 87-13 overall record since 2017.
Head Coach Nate Moore was close as a state finalist in 2018, 2019, and 2020. His Tigers sealed the deal last year with an undefeated 16-0 record. He also passed legendary head coach Paul Brown as the all-time winningest coach at Washington.
The Tigers’ path to the championship game was no easy feat, marked by impressive wins against Valdosta (Georgia), St. John’s (Washington D.C.), St. Edward, Austintown Fitch, and rival Canton McKinley.
Things won’t get easier in 2024, but Washington has a stacked roster and is hungry to repeat.
Offense
The Tigers’ offense was tough to stop last season, averaging 38.6 points per game. They lost the Northeast Inland District Co-Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback DaOne Owens. Owens had a storybook season. He led the team in touchdowns (33 total), rushing yards (1,298), and passing yards (1,566). He signed with Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania.
Without question, Massillon Washington loves to run the football. The anchor and leader on the offensive line is 6’6”, 280-pound Nolan Davenport. Davenport was 1st Team All-District as a junior and is committed to the University of Wisconsin.
The Tigers have all three of their top running backs returning, with Ja’Meir Gamble (5’10”, 185), Mylen Lenix (5’10”, 205), and Peytton Mitchell (6’2”, 210). Gamble rushed for 948 yards, 5 touchdowns, and has two Division 1 offers. Mitchell ran for 444 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lenix rushed for 342 yards, 6 touchdowns, and has 1 Division 1 offer. Michael Wright Jr (5’11, 280) played fullback and was an outstanding lead blocker. He also rushed 113 yards on the season and scored 8 touchdowns. This is arguably the Tigers’ most talented position group.
Another key piece to the running game was tight end Deangelo Zimmerman. The 6’2” 220-pound senior is a relentless run blocker and a nice athlete who can catch downfield. Look for him to get more opportunities this year in the passing game.
The wide receiver room has playmakers, experience, and depth, and a few sleepers are ready to showcase their talents. Braylyn Toles (5’8”, 150) caught 45 passes for 614 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. Toles is a vertical threat with his explosive speed, and is a tough
1-on-1 matchup. Jacques Carter (5’11, 165) caught 14 passes for 796 yards and 7 touchdowns. Carter can beat you in a lot of different ways, and was a touchdown waiting to happen. He has offers from Bowling Green, Temple, Ohio University, and Miami (OH).
In addition to Toles and Carter, Deontay Malone (6’2”, 180) is a young 2027 receiver who has tons of potential. He has an early offer from Bowling Green. Keep an eye on Ricardo Wells (6’2”, 190). Wells had a great offseason and is an intriguing prospect in the 2025 class.
At quarterback, Jalen Slaughter (6’0”, 165) takes back over after being injured for part of last season and starting during his sophomore year. He still threw for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,048 yards and 27 touchdowns. Slaughter is a lefty with experience. He has a lot of weapons to throw to and will have a great rushing attack. The pieces are all in place for him to go out with a bang.
Defense
The Tigers’ defense played on another level in 2023, only giving up 7.2 points per game. Linebacker Dorian Pringle (Bowling Green) was All-Ohio and the Defensive Player of the Year in the Northeast District. Defensive End Chase Bond signed with North Carolina State, and linebacker Cody Fair is at the Naval Academy. All 3 players graduated after great high school careers.
The defensive backfield has a special group of players. Daylan Pringle (6’0”, 170), Lennox Lemon (6’1”, 173), and Tyler Hackenbracht (6’2”, 207) all return. Hackenbracht is committed to Toledo. Lemon has 2 Division 1 offers, and Pringle has an offer from Grand Valley State in Michigan. Demari Clemons is the newest addition to the secondary. He is a transfer from Bennett High School in Buffalo, New York. After an outstanding junior season, he has over 15 Division 1 offers. He will bring even more talent to an already-loaded defense. Lo’Quan Young (6’0”, 165) and Joseph Musleve (6’2”, 170) are both senior defensive backs that will get a lot of playing time.
At the second level, Vito McConnell will take the lead in 2024. The 6’4”, 215-pound outside linebacker had an exceptional junior season. He can blitz off the edge, stop the run, and drop back into coverage. He has a half dozen Division 1 offers and is committed to Miami (OH). Steven Reinhart (5’9”, 210) is another senior linebacker who will contribute this season.
On the defensive line, Michael Wright Jr (5’11”, 285) is a 3-year starter at nose guard. He led the team in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (20) last season. He is disruptive and the guy who sets the tone for the rest of the defense. He has an offer from Bowling Green and Youngstown State and will get several more before the season ends. Chris Fair (6’1”, 240) will be another problem for opposing offenses at defensive end. He has an offer from Colgate. Zimmerman will be a two-way player opposite of Fair on the edge. Elliot Ervin (6’2”, 315), Marcus Gardner (6’2”, 263), and Dayvionne Floyd (6’0”, 225) are all 2027 defensive linemen that will see a lot of action.
2024 Schedule
Massillon Washington will play its first game at Nike’s world headquarters in Oregon on August 22 against the NFL Academy team from London, England. The team has five more games against teams from out of state: Bergen Catholic (NJ), Canisius (NY), DeMatha (MD), Clarkson North (Canada), and Miami Edison (FL).
On September 20, the Tigers will get the reigning Division 1 champions, St. Edward. They will close out the regular season against their rival Canton McKinley. The Tigers will likely have another rematch with Archbishop Hoban sometime in the playoffs to repeat.
2024 Outlook
The Tigers will have their hands full during the regular season. There are no easy games on this schedule. They are loaded on both sides of the ball at the skilled positions. Outside of Nolan Davenport on the offensive line, they will be young, and the new guys will be thrown into the fire.
Jalen Slaughter is a veteran quarterback who can have a big season. The offense should have more of a balanced attack. They will lean on the trio of Gamble, Lenix, and Mitchell in the running game. Two of the three could surpass the 1,000-yard mark. Toles and Carter had big numbers last season, and they are expected to have a bigger impact this year.
On defense, Michael Wright is a polished pass rusher who will cause havoc in the backfield. The secondary has all the weapons to excel, and Vito McConnell will play at an elite level. If their key players can stay healthy, we expect the Tigers to play in Canton for another state championship in December.
