High school football championship week
McCall’s return to linebacker helps lift Tigers
Thursday, December 1, 2005 By Todd Porter REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER
Repository Scott Heckel Back in black - Senior linebacker Paris McCall didn’t finish the 2004 season with Massillon but returned to the program this year and leads the Tigers with 144 tackles, including 12 for loss.
AKRON - At the end of the 2004 season, Paris McCall was buying tickets to watch the Massillon Tigers finish out a string of four games. This year, he is one of the reasons the team is still selling them.
The 6-foot, 190-pound senior linebacker leads a stingy Massillon defense with 144 tackles, including 12 for loss and 8 1/2 sacks. Hard to believe all that talent could only watch his teammates take it on the chin, 20-7, against McKinley in the finale to last year’s 4-6 season.
McCall is thrilled with the field pass he’ll have Saturday as the Tigers take on Cincinnati St. Xavier in the Division I state title game. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Fawcett Stadium.
On Wednesday night, before his teammates practiced at the University of Akron’s indoor facility, McCall’s face lit up with a wide smile as he talked about being back.
UNFAMILIAR SETTING
Last year, McCall switched from his familiar linebacker position to running back, where he ran 28 times for 69 yards.
“The previous head coach said they didn’t need me at linebacker,” McCall said. “I said, ‘Whatever is best for the team.’ ”
McCall knew early on he wasn’t a running back. After six games, he quit.
“I didn’t get along with the previous coach,” McCall said. “But I knew as soon as I quit, it wasn’t the right thing to do.”
He asked to return, but last year’s captains voted it down.
“I said, ‘That’s OK. I’ll be back next year,’” McCall said.
McCall returned. Of course, last year’s head coach, Rick Shepas, didn’t. Massillon hired Tom Stacy in June as the Tigers’ new head coach.
Still, McCall hurt from not finishing the season.
“It was very tough to watch from the stands,” McCall said. “Those were my teammates out there, and I could help them. It hurt a whole to have to watch.”
DEFENSIVE MIND SET
McCall never took to running back because of his mentality. He doesn’t need the glory of scoring touchdowns.
“I don’t like to be the one being hit, either,” he said with a smile. “I like to give ’em out.”
Shortly after his hiring, Stacy heard that McCall and wide receiver Zack Vanryzin may not play. That football wasn’t fun any more.
Vanryzin, by the way, is Massillon’s leading receiver with 46 catches for 784 yards and six touchdowns.
One of the first things Stacy did was make it known that everyone would begin with a clean slate.
“I didn’t call Paris or seek him out and tell him to come out or make any special effort. He just showed up for summer conditioning,” Stacy said. “I did mention to him in passing that I thought he could help us.
“I would think a guy like that, who watched the end of last season, would cherish every time he puts that uniform on.”
McCall does.
He knows Saturday, regardless of the outcome, will be the final time he plays high school football. In his heart of hearts, McCall planned all along to play this season, especially after Stacy was hired.
And from the first workout, McCall had a feeling.
“I knew I would play, but I didn’t know if everything would work out,” McCall said. “You could just sense it from the first workout. It was different. Now look at us. This season has been real special.”
LOTS TO LEARN
Returning to linebacker was the least of McCall’s worries. Stacy hired Steve Kovacs as his defensive coordinator. The veteran coach changed from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4, which at times looks like a 50 front.
McCall had to learn a new scheme. But he was hungry.
“Everyone has been talking about this senior class since we were seventh-graders,” McCall said. “But we were coming off two 4-6 seasons, so what we’ve done this year is real special to me. There have been some rough times the last two seasons. Nobody thought we could do it, and we’re out to prove ourselves.”
Massillon is playing for a state title for the first time since 1982. The Tigers have never won a state championship since the playoff started in 1972. That’s 33 years without a state championship.
McCall spent four games away from the field last year. He watched his teammates lose three of those.
“Are we surprised? No,” McCall said. “There wasn’t one game this season where I thought, ‘Wow, we have something here.’ I thought that back in the summer.”
Being on the outside looking in is now fun. Just being in the huddle is where McCall belongs.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com.
TIGER TALES
GOING INSIDE Massillon practiced at the University of Akron’s indoor football facility Wednesday night. It was the second time this year the Tigers moved practice there and the third time they practiced inside on turf this season. Head coach Tom Stacy was pleased with the kind of practices his team had the first two times. The early part of Wednesday’s practice was spirited. The cost? Akron charges $150 an hour. Massillon practiced two hours.
POSTGAME RALLY Regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s Division I title game, Massillon officials are working with the Tiger Football Booster Club to plan a community rally Sunday. Booster Club President Bill Dorman said the time and specifics still are being worked out.
MIRROR QBs Massillon quarterback Bobby Huth and St. Xavier’s Brad Scherer have more in common than similar statistics. Huth is 5-foot-9, 160 pounds; Scherer goes 5-10, 160. “As you know, Bobby’s not a very big guy,” Stacy said. “Bobby’s best quality is he’s a competitor. The first thing I look for in a quarterback is how much does he want to compete. Then, how good are his decisions. He’s done a great job managing the huddle and the games. Size is important to an extent, but (at) the quarterback position you can get away with playing a guy who’s not real big.” Huth has completed 126 of 202 passes for 1,845 yards, 17 TDs and five interceptions. His pass efficiency rating is 161.92. Scherer hasn’t thrown as much (75-of-155, 1,017 yards, nine TDs and three picks) but he runs well. He’s gained 463 yards running the option. Scherer is replacing Ohio State true freshman QB Robby Schoenhoft. “Brad has exceeded my expectations,” St. Xavier head coach Steve Specht said. “He manages the game well. He’s smart as a whip. He’s won games with his feet, he’s won games with his arm. We’re not asking him to be Robby Schoenhoft. We’re asking him to be Brad Scherer. ... He’s a winner.”
— TODD PORTER
DIVISION I
Cin. St. Xavier vs. Massillon
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Fawcett Stadium SOLD OUT Massillon’s allotment of 9,200 tickets for Saturday’s game has all been sold. If St. Xavier does not sell out its share, tickets will be available for $9 at the gate.
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