by Massillon, OH: With all eyes on Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, the Glenville Tarblooders stunned the Massillon Tigers 33-27 in overtime. After the Tigers had two potential game-winning field goals blocked, Arvell Nelson hit Joseph Saffold on a slant to give Glenville the victory. Nelson finished 8-13 for 125 yards and three touchdowns. Leading the way for Massillon was Savior Owens 131 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
First Half
After forcing a punt on the Tigers’ opening possession, the Glenville offense got right to work. On first and goal from the four, Chris Newell Jr. plowed into the endzone to cap a 16-play drive and give the Tarblooders an early 7-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, Manny Patterson threw a jump ball to Gio Jackson who hauled it in for a 12-yard Massillon touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. On the ensuing drive, Nelson dropped back and threw a bomb to Pauly Sadler who took it in for a 55-yard Glenville score. Following a missed extra point, the Tarblooders led 13-7.
Glenville would force a fumble on the second play of the next Tigers’ drive, giving them great field position at the Massillon 43. Five plays later, Nelson found London Hearn over the middle for another Tarblooder touchdown, giving them a 19-7 lead at the break.
Second Half
The Tarblooders opened up the second half with a long drive that ate up six minutes of action, but were unable to put points on the board. Starting their next drive at their own 20, Massillon marched down the field and got in the endzone on a 15-yard pass from Patterson to Deontay Malone to make it 19-14 late in the third.
On the first play of the fourth, Savior Owens took the ball ten yards right up the middle to put Massillon on top. A failed two-point conversion made the score 20-19 Tigers. Glenville wasted no time in responding, scoring on their second play of the next drive on an 81-yard touchdown pass from Chase Youngblood to Rommel Phillips, putting the Tarblooders back on top 27-20.
Massillon punched right back on their next drive, covering 63 yards and tying the game at 27-27 on a 20-yard pass from Patterson to Malone. After the defense forced a Glenville punt, the Tigers would get one last shot to win it in regulation. Massillon drove deep into Tarblooder territory and set up for a game-winning field goal attempt. The snap and hold were good, but the Glenville defense burst through the line to block the kick.
Cincere Johnson scooped the ball up and nearly ran it back, finally getting tackled at the 25 with six seconds remaining. Glenville would attempt a field goal but it sailed wide left, sending the game to overtime tied at 27.
Overtime
Glenville won the toss and elected to play defense, giving Massillon the opening possession of overtime. The Tigers would line up for a field goal attempt, but once again the Tarblooders burst through the line and blocked the kick.
Needing any type of points to seal an upset, Arvell Nelson hit Joseph Saffold on a slant to give Glenville a huge opening week victory on the road, taking down Massillon 33-27.
Next Week
The schedule does not get any easier for Glenville as they hit the road next week to take on the reigning Division I Champion Olentangy Liberty (0-1). Liberty dropped their season opener to Olentangy 26-6.
Massillon will look to get into the win column for the first time next Friday night when they play host to the Glenoak Eagles (0-1). The Eagles opened up the 2025 campaign with a 18-7 loss to Dover.
Top Performers
Glenville Tarblooders
Arvell Nelson: 8-13 125 yards 3 TD
Da’Von McDougle: 10 carries 63 yards
Massillon Tigers
Savior Owens: 25 carries 131 yards TD
Manny Patterson: 8-11 140 3 TD INT
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Glenville 1:14- Chris Newell Jr., 3-yard run (kick good)
2nd Quarter
Massillon 10:54- Manny Patterson to Gio Jackson, 12 yards (kick good)
Glenville 7:54- Arvell Nelson to Pauly Sadler, 55 yards (kick no good)
Glenville 4:24- Arvell Nelson to London Hearn, 14 yards (kick no good)
3rd Quarter
Massillon 2:19- Manny Patterson to Deontay Malone, 25 yards (kick good)
4th Quarter
Massillon 11:56- Savior Owens, 10-yard run (2pt. no good)
Glenville 10:26- Chase Youngblood to Rommel Phillips, 81 yards (2pt. good)
Massillon 8:37- Manny Patterson to Deontay Malone, 20 yards (kick good)
Overtime
Glenville- Arvell Nelson to Joseph Saffold, 11 yards
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | FINAL | |
| Glenville | 7 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 33 |
| Massillon | 0 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 27 |
