xtiger
09-17-2006, 05:07 PM
From The East Valley Tribunhttp://varsity.evtrib.com/index.php?sty=74330&PHPSESSID=c4e970c7fed0bfcb6266474f4e2f914ce
High School Sports
Massillon rallies to topple Hamilton
For the Tribune
September 17, 2006
MASSILLON, Ohio - If Chandler Hamilton isn’t sold on Ohio football yet, it’s certainly sold on Massillon Washington’s Brian Gamble. The Tigers senior did just about everything in his team’s 35-26 win in a battle of 2005 state runners-up, part of the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
“There was not one time that he didn’t run hard,” Huskies coach Steve Belles said of Gamble, who did plenty more than run. “He’s a good player.”
Gamble ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, scored twice on pass receptions, threw a 66-yard pass to set up another score, intercepted a pass and was the long-snapper on the Tigers punt team.
And he left the field impressed.
“Let me tell you, they hit,” Gamble said of the Huskies, ranked 11th in the country by USA Today (Massillon is ranked ninth in the Ohio Division I state poll).
“They’re up there with anyone, the (Cleveland St.) Ignatiuses, the (Cincinnati) Elders, the (Cleveland) Glenvilles. They’re tough.”
What Gamble didn’t do to the Huskies, they did to themselves. Three turnovers led to 21 Massillon points. The first — late in the first half — was as much a turning point as anything.
Leading 17-7, the Huskies (2-1) were deep in their own territory when Gamble picked off a pass. Three plays later he scored on a 10-yard pass from Bobby Huth (15-for-24, 175 yards, 3 TDs).
“We threw a bad pass and bad things happened,” said Belles, who defended the decision not to run the clock out before halftime.
Starting the second half, things got worse when Brad Gruner (18-for-31, 250 yards, 2 TDs) lost a fumble. That led to a 29-yard TD pass from Huth to Bryan Sheegog and a 21-17 Massillon lead.
“That was the difference in the game for us,” Gruner said. “Turnovers kill.”
Massillon (3-1) made a mistake of its own, fumbling a punt inside the 10-yard line, but Hamilton settled for Brent Blalock’s second field goal and still trailed 21-20.
The turnover bug bit Hamilton once more when Andrew Dailey’s 18-yard interception return gave the Tigers a 28-20 lead.
“They took advantage of breaks when they happened,” Belles said. “We didn’t.”
Gamble added a touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Huth in the fourth quarter. The Huskies cut the gap on J.T. Dixon’s short TD reception, but a failed two-point try made the ensuing onside kick attempt moot.
The first half was full of big plays, none more spectacular than Nathan Jefferey’s 80-yard run.
Jefferey appeared stopped for a short gain — largely because of a facemask infraction that literally spun him around. About the same time he was nearly losing his head, Jefferey also lost a shoe, but still outsprinted the defense for the touchdown.
Overshadowed in defeat was a spectacular game turned in by Hamilton receiver Kerry Taylor. The senior caught 11 balls for 181 yards.
The game was played in front of an estimated 15,000 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Despite the loss, Belles said the experience was worthwhile, a sentiment shared by his players.
“I’ve never played in front of that many people before,” Gruner said.
“It was an awesome environment.”
High School Sports
Massillon rallies to topple Hamilton
For the Tribune
September 17, 2006
MASSILLON, Ohio - If Chandler Hamilton isn’t sold on Ohio football yet, it’s certainly sold on Massillon Washington’s Brian Gamble. The Tigers senior did just about everything in his team’s 35-26 win in a battle of 2005 state runners-up, part of the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
“There was not one time that he didn’t run hard,” Huskies coach Steve Belles said of Gamble, who did plenty more than run. “He’s a good player.”
Gamble ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, scored twice on pass receptions, threw a 66-yard pass to set up another score, intercepted a pass and was the long-snapper on the Tigers punt team.
And he left the field impressed.
“Let me tell you, they hit,” Gamble said of the Huskies, ranked 11th in the country by USA Today (Massillon is ranked ninth in the Ohio Division I state poll).
“They’re up there with anyone, the (Cleveland St.) Ignatiuses, the (Cincinnati) Elders, the (Cleveland) Glenvilles. They’re tough.”
What Gamble didn’t do to the Huskies, they did to themselves. Three turnovers led to 21 Massillon points. The first — late in the first half — was as much a turning point as anything.
Leading 17-7, the Huskies (2-1) were deep in their own territory when Gamble picked off a pass. Three plays later he scored on a 10-yard pass from Bobby Huth (15-for-24, 175 yards, 3 TDs).
“We threw a bad pass and bad things happened,” said Belles, who defended the decision not to run the clock out before halftime.
Starting the second half, things got worse when Brad Gruner (18-for-31, 250 yards, 2 TDs) lost a fumble. That led to a 29-yard TD pass from Huth to Bryan Sheegog and a 21-17 Massillon lead.
“That was the difference in the game for us,” Gruner said. “Turnovers kill.”
Massillon (3-1) made a mistake of its own, fumbling a punt inside the 10-yard line, but Hamilton settled for Brent Blalock’s second field goal and still trailed 21-20.
The turnover bug bit Hamilton once more when Andrew Dailey’s 18-yard interception return gave the Tigers a 28-20 lead.
“They took advantage of breaks when they happened,” Belles said. “We didn’t.”
Gamble added a touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Huth in the fourth quarter. The Huskies cut the gap on J.T. Dixon’s short TD reception, but a failed two-point try made the ensuing onside kick attempt moot.
The first half was full of big plays, none more spectacular than Nathan Jefferey’s 80-yard run.
Jefferey appeared stopped for a short gain — largely because of a facemask infraction that literally spun him around. About the same time he was nearly losing his head, Jefferey also lost a shoe, but still outsprinted the defense for the touchdown.
Overshadowed in defeat was a spectacular game turned in by Hamilton receiver Kerry Taylor. The senior caught 11 balls for 181 yards.
The game was played in front of an estimated 15,000 at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Despite the loss, Belles said the experience was worthwhile, a sentiment shared by his players.
“I’ve never played in front of that many people before,” Gruner said.
“It was an awesome environment.”