CANTON
KEPT
FROM
SCORING
Two High School Teams
Play
a 0 to 0 Game
WAS A
GREAT GRIDIRON BATTLE.
Supporters of the
Massillon Team
Were Delighted With
its Work –
Grounds Were in
Excellent Shape
and a Big Crowd
Witnessed the Game.
For the first time
in many years the Massillon High School football team kept the Canton High
School team from scoring Saturday afternoon.
While Massillon High has won an occasional victory from Canton High on
the baseball diamond, the fates have for the past three or four years been dead
against them on the grid. This year’s
team delighted its supporters Saturday afternoon by playing a 0 to 0 game with
its usually victorious opponents. It was one of thE neatest gridiron battles
seen in this football city for many a day.
The grounds were in
excellent shape. Wire had been strung
entirely around the field, obviating the annoyance caused by spectators getting
in the way, goal posts had been erected and when the two teams dashed onto the
field to hold a short limbering up practice before the game, they were cheered
by a throng of hundreds of people. The
field was dotted with pennants, the orange and black of Massillon and the red
and black of Canton High, and about every third rooter was attacked to a large
red megaphone. Rome’s reputation in the
howling line was entirely cast in the shade.
The game commenced
on the second at 3 o’clock. Cheered on
by cries of “Rifferty-rafferty, riff-raff, chifferty-chafferty, chiff-chaff,”
etc., which is the first chapter of Canton High’s sensible, intelligent yell,
the Canton players lined up at the west end of the field and received the
kickoff from Massillon. Brooks caught
the kick, but advanced it only a short distance. On a fumble Massillon soon gained the ball, but in its own
territory. After several ineffectual
attempts to circle the ends, Grinnell tried a forward pass to Wells, which
failed, and Canton got the ball.
Unheeding Massillon’s failure in the same line, the Canton High
immediately tried a forward which also failed, Grinnell capturing the
ball. Dow was then hurled and thrust
against the line for eight yards, Grinnell and Wagner also steadily pounded the
line and Massillon gained its yards for several downs. Canton got the ball far down in its own
territory and immediately attempted to punt, but Snavely crashed through the
line and blocked it on Canton’s ten-yard line.
Massillon High now
went wild with delight. Nothing seemed
surer than that Canton High should be scored upon. As a last resort Canton again tried the forward pass. This time it succeeded and about twenty
yards were gained. A delayed quarter
back run netted about fifteen yards more for Canton, and they were out of
danger for the time being. The forward
pass was by far the most popular play.
Canton tried it again and Snavely downed the runner in his tracks, and
when the same play was tried again Wagner got the ball but was knocked
out. In about five minutes he insisted
on re-entering the game. Punting was
now resorted to. Captain Grinnell out
punted his opponent by many yards on every punt. The ball going out of bounds,
both teams hurdled the wire, crashed through the crowd and in an instant a mass
of humanity was rolling over and over in the road. When the mass was resolved into its elements, Keeley Miller was
found snugly wrapped around the ball.
The first ended with the ball in Massillon’s possession near the middle
of the field. Neither side had scored.
Although Wagner was
badly injured, he insisted on entering the game when the teams lined up after a
ten minute respite. In the second half
he played the game of his life. Many a
time he was the first man down the field on a punt, would down his man, and
then lay stretched out on his back thoroughly done up. The injury which he received in the first half
only seemed to make him play the harder.
Canton High kicked off to Massillon when the second half began, Grinnell
getting the ball. Punting soon became
more the custom than ever. Grinnell’s
trusty leg always sending the ball forty yards or more. Canton now made a good end run which looked
good for a touchdown, but the runner was downed by the indomitable Wagner far
down in Massillon’s territory. Things
looked…
REST OF COPY NOT AVAILABLE
Oct.
10, 1907
PRACTICE
GAME
High
School Team Defeated
by Adversaries’
Superior Weight
Although the Massillon High School football beam
enjoyed a good practice game against the Business College eleven on the high
school grounds Wednesday afternoon, the enjoyment ended there, for the final
score was not at all to its liking.
Much to the High School team’s surprise and indignation, the Business
College team trimmed it by the score of 6 to 0. The victory was due to the terrific line hitting of the Business
College and Thompson’s end runs.
Although the business College had not played before this season,
excellent signal work was done and the runner was always given excellent
interference. The High school was
greatly out-weighed, and this was the reason for their defeat, as they could
not withstand the onslaught of the Business College’s much heavier back field.
Both captains seemed desirous of kicking field
goals. Whenever either team got within
striking distance, and sometimes when they were not, a try would be made by
Grinnell or Schnierle for goal from the field.
Every attempt failed. Massillon
High played a much better game on the ends than was the case of New
Philadelphia last Saturday. Thompson
was the only Business College back that made any gains on the end. Punting honors were about even between
Grinnell and Thompson, each kicking well.
The High School team has no reason to chide the
girls for non-support. A large crowd of
high school maidens were in evidence and in spite of the fact that theirs was
the losing side, sent cheer after cheer echoing across the field.