CANTON, Ohio — The first OHSAA state football championship game this weekend might be the most anticipated.
It also is the only matchup of two undefeated teams, only 24 miles apart.
Archbishop Hoban (14-0) rides a 28-game win streak stemming back to Week 1 of last year into Thursday night's Division II state title defense against Massillon (14-0). Hoban seeks a fourth straight state championship, having won its first two in Division III, which can put it in a class with four other programs in Ohio's history.
"The thing that really sticks out watching the film is they really don't have any weaknesses," Massillon coach Nate Moore said Monday during the OHSAA's annual state teleconference.
Moore disclosed that his Tigers will be without two-way standout and four-year Jamir Thomas, who suffered an ankle injury last week in a 41-20 state semifinal victory vs. Cincinnati Winton Woods. Thomas had 83 yards on 12 carries to that point — and finished this year with 1,918 yards and 24 touchdowns.
No other player in Massillon's storied history ran more times, rushed for more yards or scored more touchdowns than Thomas, who holds Power Five college offers from Ole Miss and Washington State to play inside linebacker.
"To miss a game in this fashion, that's a tough pill to swallow for any kid," Moore said. "That's life, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Moore added that junior Zion Phifer, Marcellus Blake and Preston Hodges are slated to receive carries in Thomas' place. Phifer is Massillon's No. 2 running back and came on Friday to rush for 88 yards and two TDs vs. Winton Woods.
"I don't see much of a dropoff with the backup," Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said of Phifer. "He was able to finish the game and ran the ball well."
Tyrrell knows what it's like to have a strong stable of running backs. Senior Tyris Dickerson is an Eastern Kentucky commit, and junior DeaMonte Trayanum will have his pick of colleges. Trayanum, a running back and safety, holds offers including Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame. His teammates praise his versatility and what he brings to the defense.
"It's been pretty amazing," senior safety Matt Salopek said Friday after a 42-7 win vs. Avon. "He's such an amazing athlete. He can play really anything on the field. If you put him at D-line, he can play it to perfection. To have him on my backside has been tremendous."
Trayanum transitioned from linebacker last year to safety, but plays up in the box on many of Hoban's schemes. Offensively, he has rushed for 1,231 yards on just 89 carries. Dickerson has a team-high 1,896 yards on 206 carries.
They have combined to run for 52 touchdowns.
"They're also best friends," Tyrrell said. "When you're standing on the field and one of them breaks off a run, you can hear the other one."
"He's gone."
Tyrrell recalls hearing that from both of them when watching the other.
Four-year starting tackle Nolan Rumler has as close a view as anyone. Him and his teammates on the line apply room for that initial burst. Twice late in the game Friday vs. Avon, they watched Dickerson and Trayanum both run away on long touchdown runs.
"They're burning everyone," Rumler said. "There's no one even near them because of the five guys working together to make that possible. It just fires us all up."
They get one more chance to do it together.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton
About Hoban: Only St. Ignatius, Coldwater, Maria Stein Marion Local and Newark Catholic have won four straight state football championships. Hoban tries to become the fifth. What makes this team different? Its previous three title teams did not finish undefeated. This Hoban team took a big step toward that goal in Week 1 with a 21-14 win at St. Ignatius. The Knights did it with sophomore backup quarterback Jordan Mick, who has since given way to returning sophomore Shane Hamm. A year ago, Hamm started as a freshman during their state title run. The Knights have five players with Division I college commitments, including Rumler (Michigan), Salopek (Miami of Ohio), Dickerson (Eastern Kentucky), fullback and linebacker Quan Easterling (Akron) and junior tight end Caden Clark (Alabama).
About Massillon: Like Hoban, the 14-0 record is Massillon's best start in school history. While the Tigers will go into this game without Thomas, they are still loaded. Junior quarterback Aidan Longwell is a Kent State baseball commit with more than 2,000 yards passing for a second straight year. Sophomore receiver Jayden Ballard already has Power Five offers, including Ohio State. Then there's receptions leader Aydrik Ford and a defense that thrives off touchdowns. The Massillon defense has scored six times, led by senior cornerback Max Turner's three interception returns. Any more could be vital to the Tigers' championship hopes.
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
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