Ohio high school football playoffs | Massillon vs. Cincinnati Anderson score | Tigers win

COLUMBUS — The Massillon Tigers returned to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state semifinals Friday night. The Tigers played in their sixth Division II semifinal within the last seven years when they met Cincinnati Anderson. Massillon routed Anderson to improve to 15-0 and send the state's No. 1-ranked team in Division II, according to The Associated Press, into the state finals against Hoban.

Here's how the game unfolded Friday night throughout our live updates on the matchup:

Massillon Tigers football is headed to OHSAA state championship game

The Tigers continued their season of dominance with a 55-7 rout of Anderson to advance to the Division II state finals. The Tigers are 15-0. Massillon has allowed seven or fewer points in all five playoff games, six straight games dating back to end of regular season and 11 of 15 games overall this season. The 55 points tie the second highest point total for the Tigers this year and are the most in this playoff run.

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Massillon defense gets touchdown thanks to North Carolina State-recruit Chase Bond

Massillon standout defensive lineman Chase Bond tipped a pass and then grabbed it for an interception, which he then returned for a touchdown late in the game. His return covered 45 yards. The Tigers took a knee instead of kicking the PAT and lead 55-7. Bond also has three sacks tonight.

Peytton Mitchell becomes the latest Massillon Tiger to score a touchdown Friday

The Tigers' lead is up to 49-7 after Peytton Mitchell's 1-yard TD run with 4:37 left in the game. Mitchell is the fifth Tiger to score a TD Friday.

Massillon leads Anderson 42-7 heading into the fourth quarter

With a running clock speeding things up, the Tigers are a quarter away from advancing to the Division II state championship game on Thursday night in Canton. They will play either Hoban or Avon, who are locked up in a tight game in the other Division II state semifinal.

Michael Wright Jr. touchdown run expands Massillon lead, running clock starts

The Tigers are well on their way to the state championship game, increasing their lead to 42-7 in the third quarter and sending the game into a running clock. DaOne Owens hit Braylyn Toles for a chunk play on a screen pass, putting the offense inside the 5. Michael Wright Jr. then punched his second rushing touchdown of the night for the 35-point lead.

Massillon dominates Anderson in first half

Anderson had no answer against Massillon's swarming defense in the opening two quarters. The Raptors quarterback was sacked five times, as the Tigers lead 35-7. Chase Bond and Michael Wright Jr. each have two sacks apiece to lead the Massillon D. The Tigers allowed 174 yards of offense, including minus-4 rushing. Anderson's season-low in total offense is 289 yards.

On offense, Massillon is wearing down the Raptors' defense with its rushing attack. DaOne Owens leads the Tigers with 75 yards rushing and a touchdown, plus 99 yards passing and a TD pass. Ja'Meir Gamble added 52 rushing yards for the Tigers.

Emy Louis Jr. scored twice. He had a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead. His only catch was a 31-yard TD pass from Owens that gave them a 28-7 lead with 5:45 left to play.

The Tigers are now two quarters away from advancing to the state championship for the first time since 2019.

Mylen Lenix muscles his way for another Massillon touchdown

Following another turnover on downs, Massillon running back Mylen Lenix went full beast mode, breaking seven tackles after changing directions, leading a 10-yard touchdown run. Massillon leads 35-7 with less than two minutes left to play in the first half.

DaOne Owens finds Emy Louis Jr. for fourth Massillon touchdown of the half

The Tigers are starting to get some separation after Emy Louis Jr. scored his second TD of the half, this time on a pass from QB DaOne Owens. The Tigers lead 28-7 midway through the second quarter. Louis ran a kickoff back for a TD earlier in the half. Owens also has a TD run tonight. The Massillon defense forcing Anderson to turn the ball over on downs set up the TD pass.

Michael Wright Jr. walks his way for another Massillon touchdown

Massillon scores its second rushing touchdown, this time from Michael Wright Jr. The 280-pound defensive tackle went untouched on a 5-yard score and a 21-7 lead. Massillon continues to run the football well and wear down Anderson's defense and with less than eight minutes to play in the second quarter.

Turnover on downs for Massillon

Vito McConnell intercepted a pass to put Massillon into Anderson's territory. But the Tigers were left empty-handed. Penalties pushed the back 20 yards. The Tigers went for it on fourth-and-8 and fell short, giving the ball back to the Raptors. The Tigers still lead 14-7.

Anderson answers back to tie game ... briefly before Massillon's Emy Louis Jr. scores on kickoff return

Anderson responded to Massillon's opening score with touchdown drive of its own. Justice Burnam threw a screen pass to Trace Jallick to tie the game 7-7.

The tie didn't last long. Tigers answered with a 90-yard kickoff return by Emy Louis Jr. to regain the lead 14-7 with 9:11 left to the play. It is the first kickoff touchdown allowed by the Raptors.

Massillon's DaOne Owens scores on the first play

Anderson deferred on the coin toss. Big mistake.

On the first play of the game's opening series, Massillon quarterback DaOne Owens is off to the races with a 68-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 7-0.

Where is the Massillon vs. Cincinnati Anderson OHSAA football playoff game

Tonight's game is at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. The game will kick off at 7.

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Massillon football's OHSAA regional run the last seven years

The Tigers are in the midst of a remarkable extended run of postseason success in regional games. Since 2017, under head coach Nate Moore, they are 24-1. They are winning those games by an average of 26 points per game.

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Massillon Washington High School football 2023 game-by-game scores

• Valdosta (Ga.) W, 28-17

• GlenOak W, 56-7

• Mansfield W, 51-10

• Elkhart (Ind) W, 55-0

• St. Edward W, 15-13

• Middletown W, 41-7

• St. John's College (D.C.) W, 28-7

• at Austintown Fitch W, 42-7

• Warren Harding W, 48-14

• at Canton McKinley W, 35-0

Playoffs 

• Central Crossing W, 41-6

• Westerville South W, 50-7

• vs. Lake W, 35-6

• vs. Green, 31-6

Massillon Tigers football: 'We just keep running': Massillon QB DaOne Owens ignites run game in chasing title

Cincinnati Anderson High School football 2023 game-by-game scores

• at South Oldham (Ky.) W, 44-15

• Loveland W, 48-14

• Lebanon W, 44-14

• at Milford L, 35-56

• Walnut Hills W, 51-0

• Winton Woods W, 20-13

• Little Miami W, 46-20

• at West Clermont W, 50-5

• at Turpin W, 31-7

• at Kings W, 41-21

• Playoffs 

• Turpin W, 43-7

• Kings W, 41-3

• vs. Harrison W, 50-36

• vs. Withrow W, 49-28

Massillon football's OHSAA playoff history

The Tigers are in the playoffs for an eighth straight year and the 30th time overall. They own a 55-29 postseason record all-time. The Tigers are in the state semifinals for the sixth time in seven years, only missing getting that far in 2021 when Green knocked them off in a regional final. A six-time state runner-up, including three straight years from 2018-20, the Tigers have made it at least the state semifinals 16 times, meaning more than half of their all-time trips to the playoffs end in at least a spot in the final four of their division.

Anderson football's OHSAA playoff history

The Raptors are in the playoffs for a third straight year and the 16th time overall, with 13 of those trips coming since 2000. They own a 23-14 postseason record all-time. Anderson won the 2007 Division II state championship (beating Louisville 31-25) and finished as the state runner-up in 2008. This is the first time the Raptors have reached the state semifinals since.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Massillon football score vs Anderson live updates | OHSAA playoffs