Video: Melee follows McKinley vs Massillon high school football game
Watch video of part of the postgame melee that broke out during the handshake line following the Massillon football team defeating archrival McKinley.
Editor’s note: Follow Massillon vs. McKinley live updates, scores and highlights from OHSAA Week 10.
CANTON ‒ Two years after a melee occurred following the annual Massillon-Canton McKinley rivalry game, city leaders are expressing confidence in their safety plans for the 136th matchup.
The big game is set for Oct. 25 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Massillon comes in with a 6-3 record while McKinley is 8-1.
“We are confident in our security plan, always value safety for players and attendees, and hope for a great game,” Canton Police Department spokesman Lt. Dennis Garren wrote in an email.
Safety Director Andrea M. Perry expressed a similar view in an email, writing, “Safety of our students is always a concern and top priority. I am in confident in our Police Department and their security plan.”
They declined to say whether police would do anything differently this year, or whether there will be extra security on hand.
The last time the game was played in Canton, in 2023, fights occurred on the field and in the parking lot.
As teams were shaking hands on the field after Massillon routed McKinley 35-0, fights broke out among players. Several videos taken by local media and fans showed chaos as players faced off and coaches separated the players, pushing them away from each other, ordering them to go to the locker room.
Some fights also broke out among fans in the parking lot. Three minor misdemeanor citations were issued and one arrest was made for disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and other charges, Canton police said afterward.
Last year’s game was held at Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.
