Tiger Defeat Stubborn Benedictine, 36-6
Massillon Gridders Roll Up 22-0 Advantage In First Half
By JIM QUILTY
Worry sometimes works wonders.
Washington high school football coach Leo Strang was one worried man entering the Cleveland Benedictine clash Friday evening. And apparently it paid dividends as his Tiger gridders responded with a thorough 36-6 triumph over the invaders before 12,486 fans at Tiger stadium.
After observing the scouting reports from the Bennies’ 14-0 preview over Cleveland East, Strang had reason to worry. But it was all in vain as the powerful Tigers, paced by Art Hastings’ three scoring runs, vaulted into a 22-0 half time lead and were never threatened.
“I’m glad that’s over with,” Strang said afterwards.
While Strang ended his worrying in the Tiger dressing room, Benedictine Coach Augie Bossu prepared to start his season over again next week against Mansfield in the solemn Benedictine quarters.
“That’s the difference between a good team and a great team,” Bossu said when reminded of the several breaks which the Tiger capitalized upon.
They’ll hit you early, then jump on every opportunity which presents itself. They have exceptionally good backs and that makes a great deal of difference.” Bossu added.
Looking ahead Strang sees only Columbus Central. But despite himself he can’t help but grab a quick glance here and there at the powerful Alliance Aviators, apparently the locals’ most serious threat in a bid to repeat as state champions, who provide the opposition
Sept. 30.
“We don’t know exactly what we’re up against next week.” Leo said. “They have some real fast backs but other than that, nothing is too clear.”
* * *
IT TOOK Washington high little more than four minutes to find out what they were up against Friday night, and for the first 24 minutes it was little.
The Tigers controlled the ball completely throughout the first half picking up 196 yards on 34 plays while limiting the Bennies to 31 on 13 carries.
Hastings displayed the form which won him third team All-Ohio honors a year ago, slipped into the west corner of the end zone from inches inside the 10-yard line at the 8:16 mark of the first period for the first touchdown. A first scoring effort by Hastings from five yards out was nullified by an illegal motion penalty the previous play.
Hastings set the scoring run up moments before when he skirted the Tigers’ short side end for 35 yards to Benedictine’s seven.
The PAT attempt failed when Bengal center Tomy Palmieri pulled Hastings down in the Tiger backfield.
* * *
IT TOOK the locals 17 plays and over six minutes to score their second touchdown midway through the second period. John Larson, who failed to complete a pass in the opening game, hit Robert Herring on a cut-in pattern from Benedictine’s 18. Herring scooped the ball in one the 10 and sprinted into the end zone. Joe Heflin went in for the two extra points.
The drive nearly fizzled on the 18 when Palmieri stopped Heflin with a three-yard loss on one play and without a gain on the second. The touchdown came on the first pass of the game on a third and 13 situation.
Larson added the third touchdown personally when he capped a 43-yard march from a year out with a quarterback drive. Ken Dean pranced in for the extra points and a 22-0 lead with little over two minutes remaining in the first half.
A 32-yard flare pass featuring the Larson-Herring combination set up the touchdown.
Larson found Herring open again for a 16-yard gainer seconds before the first half ended.
* * *
LIMITED to a single first down in the first two quarters, the Bennies came to life after the intermission picking up one first down. They moved to the Tigers’ 37 before Joe Miano fumbled and Bob Baker of the Tigers recovered.
Failing to move, the Tigers Jim Alexander punted only to have the ball partially blocked by Dick Kestner. The boot covered 14 yards to the Bennies’ 48.
With elusive Paul Rini and Miano dividing the ground gaining chores, the invaders paraded to Washington high’s 12 before an alert George Demis grabbed Quarterback Dennis Andrews’ fumble.
It took the Tigers just four plays to move the 89 yards with Hastings lugging the ball the final 69 on a skirt around the short side end.
Art shook loose from one defender behind the line, then picked up great blocking from Richard Crenshaw, Ken Ivan and a host of others to go the distance untouched. Ivan cut down the final pursuer.
Larson added the two-point play on a sweep of his long side end for a 30-0 Tiger lead.
* * *
ON THE THIRD play of the final period, the invaders’ Rini scooted through, under and around the Tigers from 24 yards for the lone Benedictine touchdown. A 25-yard aerial from Andrews to Sam Collura set the jaunt up on the previous play.
Not to be outdone, Hastings sprinted for 49 yards and his third six-pointer of the evening after Dave Null returned a short kickoff to the Tigers’ 46 and a five-yard delay of game penalty by Benedictine moved the ball to the visitors’ 49.
Hastings pulled Vince Naso the final four yards into the end zone. The PAT attempt failed as the Tigers took a 36-6 lead with less than two minutes elapsed in the fourth quarter.
Three intercepted passes by Naso, who missed a fourth earlier in the game by inches, curtailed any further Tiger advance. Null, Baker and Alexander were each a victim once.
Baker atoned for his with an interception of his own, his third in two games. Another interception by Joe Snively was ruled out of bounds.
Lineman Lawson White did a yeoman’s job on defense. Rated the most efficient lineman last week, the middle guard twice dropped Benedictine backs for losses early in the first period and was the fifth man in their backfield most of the night.
All 42 of the Tigers who dressed for the game saw at least limited action.
* * *
HASTINGS, who averaged better than 10 yards per carry last year, picked up 177 yards on eight carries last night. Herring added 39 in five, Larson 34 in 10, Dean 32 in 11, Jack Lash 10 in two, Fred Philpott seven in two Null four in two and Heflin seven in five.
The Tigers’ aerial arm picked up 7 yards with four for 11. Three completions were by Larson, the other by Null. Herring was on the receiving end of all four.
Preparations for Columbus Central begin Sunday when the coaching staff goes over scouting reports. Central edged Newark, 8-6 last night for its second win in succession.
The Aviators, 2-0 on the year, walloped Akron Central, 40-6, last night. They play at Cuyahoga Falls next Friday night.
The Columbus game is slated for Tiger stadium while Alliance will meet Washington high at home on Mount Union College field.
Victory No. 2
CLEVELAND BENEDICTINE
ENDS – Farro, Watson, Hummel, Marcoguiseppe.
TACKLES – Phile, Jason, Piazza.
GUARDS – Kestner, Wojas, Zummo.
CENTER – Palmieri.
BACKS – Andrews, Rini, Miano, Schepis, Collura, Naso, Hardon,
Anderson, Borusskowski.
WASHINGTON HIGH
ENDS – Bodiford, Royer, Ivan, Ehmer, Fuchs, Anzalone, Clendenin,
Willey.
TACKLES – White, Crenshaw, Brugh, Spees, Garman, Herndon,
Brennerhan, Herbst.
GUARDS – Radle, Houston, Wells, Migge, Poole, Whitfield.
CENTERS – Demis, Strobel, Bradley, Garland.
BACKS – Larson, Dean, Hastings, Herring, Philpott, D. Smith,
J. Smith, Baker, Null, Alexander, Snively, Schenkenberger,
Kursen, Heflin, Brown, Lash.
Benedictine 0 0 0 6 6
Washington High 6 16 8 6 36
SCORING
Benedictine – Rini (22-yard run).
Washington high – Hastings (9-yard run, 69-yard run, 49-yard run);
Larson (1-yard plunge); Herring (18-yard pass from Larson).
STATISTICS
Massillon Ben.
First downs – rushing 12 7
First downs – passing 4 1
First downs – penalties 0 1
Total first downs 16 9
Yards gained rushing 333 185
Yards lost rushing 23 18
Net yards gained rushing 310 167
Net yards gained passing 77 23
Total yards gained 387 190
Passes attempted 11 5
Passes completed 4 1
Passes intercepted by 1 3
Times kicked off 6 2
Kickoff average (yards) 39.0 28.5
Kickoff returns (yards) 50 90
Times punted 1 1
Punt average (yards) 14.0 29.0
Punt return (yards) 0 0
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 3 3
Lost fumbled ball 0 3
Penalties 5 1
Yards penalized 55 5
