The Canisius Crusaders' football schedule is one of the toughest -- if not the toughest -- in Western New York, and tonight's game is a big reason why.

Canisius plays at Massillon, Ohio at 7 p.m. The Tigers (6-1) are ranked in the top 40 of two national polls as they are considered one of the best teams in their football-rich state. 

Massillon is ranked 33rd in the U.S. by MaxPreps and it is 37th in this week's High School Football America national rankings. 

The Tigers are considered the second-strongest team in Ohio, behind Archbishop Moeller of Cincinnati, according to MaxPreps. HSFA has them third in the state behind Moeller and Akron's Archbishop Hoban. 

In the Ohio state polls conducted by the Associated Press, Massillon is rated third in Division II, behind Hoban and Cincinnati's undefeated Winton Woods.

Massillon lost to Moeller in the teams' season opener on Aug. 19 (Ohio begins its football season two weeks before New York does). Moeller is the only Ohio school in the USA Today Super 25, at No. 17. 

Canisius (3-2) is coming off a loss at Section VI perennial Class AA power Lancaster; it's other loss was its season opener at Walsh Jesuit of Cleveland. The Crusaders won three straight at Section V (Rochester area) power Aquinas, against Section VI small school power Maritime/Health Sciences, and at St. Joe's. The Crusaders have nonleague games remaining against two Erie, Pa., large schools: Erie High and at Cathedral Prep.

Tonight's game is available for broadcast for a fee. Visit MassillonSchools.org for more information.  

The only other schedule in Western New York that might be tougher than Canisius' is that of Monsignor Martin Athletic Association Class A rival and defending champion St. Francis, who the Crusaders host in three weeks. 

St. Francis lost at Archbishop Hoban last week and beat Cathedral Prep in Week One; the Red Raiders also lost at Long Island large school Kellenberg and won at Section V large school power Rush-Henrietta. St. Francis plays at McDowell of Erie Pa. in the final week of the season, following its MMAA games against St. Joe's and Canisius.

The other member of MMAA Class A, St. Joe's, followed its home loss to Canisius by beating St. Mary's of Lancaster last weekend; the Marauders were scheduled to host another MMAA small school in Cardinal O'Hara on Saturday. St. Joe's won at Erie, Pa., in Week One. The Marauders' remaining schedule includes a season finale at MMAA small school Bishop Timon-St. Jude as well as three home games against smaller Canadian programs.