URGENT UPDATE: RJ Day, son of Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, faced a heartbreaking playoff defeat as Columbus St. Francis DeSales fell to Massillon, 48-14, in a critical OHSAA matchup on Friday night.
The top-seeded DeSales team, fresh off RJ’s remarkable performance where he threw for a school record of 482 yards just a week prior, could not replicate that success against the third-seeded Massillon. RJ Day struggled significantly, throwing two interceptions and only managing one touchdown late in the game.
In the first half, Day completed mostly short passes, with his longest completion only reaching 15 yards. By halftime, Massillon capitalized on Day’s mistakes, leading 27-14. The Stallions dominated the second half, forcing DeSales to play catch-up while Day faced relentless pressure from the defense.
“It was a tough night for our team, and we couldn’t find our rhythm,” RJ Day reflected after the game.
His lone touchdown pass came in the fourth quarter, connecting with junior wide receiver Dax Middleton to cut the deficit to 41-14. Despite showing flashes of speed and determination, including drawing a personal foul penalty for a late hit, Day was sacked just once throughout the contest.
RJ, the oldest of Ryan Day’s three children, has been under the recruiting spotlight as a prospect in the 2027 recruiting class. Last week, he made headlines during a recruiting visit with Purdue while Ohio State faced off against them.
This playoff loss marks a disappointing end to a promising season for DeSales, who had high hopes after RJ’s record-breaking performance. As the offseason begins, many will be watching closely to see how RJ Day’s recruitment unfolds in the coming months.
Stay tuned for further updates on RJ Day and Columbus DeSales as developments continue to emerge.
