The Massillon Washington football team has been an unstoppable force throughout the 2018 season, but Saturday was certainly a different type of test.
The Tigers welcomed the Canton McKinley Bulldogs for the 129th meeting of the greatest high school rivalry in the county, and on what was a rain-soaked afternoon, the Tigers prevailed in a back-and-forth contest 24-17. It's the first time since 1999 the proud program has finished the regular season 10-0.
A one-yard touchdown run by Zion Phifer with just under six minutes to play proved to be the deciding factor. The Bulldogs were unable to move the ball on their next possession, and the Tigers ended up running out the final four minutes and 52 seconds.
After McKinley took an early 7-3 lead on a Lamier Garrett 16-yard screen pass, three-star-recruit running back Jamir Thomas took over, giving Massillon a 17-10 halftime advantage on touchdown runs of 78 and 16 yards. While Canton tied things up early in the fourth quarter thanks to an Alijah Curtis scamper, a Massillon fourth down conversion on the next drive helped set up the Phifer score.
The unbeaten Tigers will welcome Walnut Ridge in the first round of the Division II playoffs, while the Bulldogs will head to Solon in Division I.
