Currence
not
taking Pups lightly
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports
Editor
“McKinley has five starters back from its defensive team of
last year,” Mike Currence said. “The Bulldogs beat the Tigers 21-15.”
So Currence isn’t taking the Bulldogs
lightly despite their 4-5 record compared to the
CURRENCE discussed the
upcoming game Monday at
“McKinley shut out Warren, a good offensive club 6-0 last
Friday,” Currence said. “They scored 15 points against us.”
The five McKinley defensive returnees are middle guard
Gerald Jackson, monster back Cliff Frazier, halfbacks Melvin Weatherspoon and Ray Ellis and linebacker Mike Beadle.
An injury will probably prevent Beadle from playing,
however.
Currence will have to deal with
two McKinley quarterbacks who will give the Bulldogs different looks, depending
on who is playing.
“MIKE BROWN is a real
scrambler,” Currence said. “Kent McClellend
started at Lehman last year. Brown seems
to have taken over.”
Currence said Hall could cause
trouble and that McKinley head Coach John Brideweser
likes to get the ball to Weatherspoon or Ellis
offensively, even designing an end around play where Weatherspoon
passes to Ellis.
“These guys are the type who could play four quarter and
come back and play in another game,” Currence said.
Currence thinks the outcome of the
game will be decided on breaks and if the Tigers get the right one, they’ll
win.
“We have to get a hold mentally,” Currence
said. “That’s something we didn’t do
last week.”
CLUB PRESIDENT Gene
Boerner presented Currence with a “Beat McKinley” tie
from his sophomore players. Marilyn
Wright painted the design.
“The people of
Boerner introduced the 1977 club president, John Muhlbach, Jr., saying, “He did a fantastic job. He’s been one of the best we’ve had.”
John introduced Dennis Gibson, the booster’s vice-president
and next year’s boss.
The club will present its Hardnose
Award for the season at its luncheon next Monday
CURRENCE CONCLUDED by
saying he had picked up a $5 bill from the ground outside the stadium after the
defeat to Gahanna Lincoln. “I told my
coaches then we’re going all the way.”
Booster club rally
gets spirit rolling
“Beat the Bulldogs” mania got under way Monday night in the
Not only was the booster session ahead of time this week but
the combined rally and meeting got under way 10 minutes early. One reporter had to jump onto a table and sit
there to keep from being trampled by the Tiger Swing Pep Band charging down the
school’s front corridor and into the auditorium.
THE BAND, led by head
majorette Paula Bender and four fellow majorettes,
mounted the stage to “Tiger Rag” and “Carry on” and serenaded the estimated 250
people present with several numbers. The
majorettes twirled and danced.
Then came the Tiger cheerleaders,
led by Captain Christy Frederick and Co-Captain Kathy Walterhouse, some drills
to the band music and some cheers. But
the real fun didn’t start until Captain Currence
appeared on the scene and led the fans in some split cheers such as “
(Currence was “Pokey” Converse,
dressed in orange hat, black mask, Captain Currence
Fan Club T-Shirt and orange cape.
Booster officials are afraid he may meet his match in Friday’s “Beat
McKinley” rally slated for
Tiger Booster Club President John Muhlbach, Jr., introduced
Tiger skipper Mike Currence and the fans came from their seats as if shot from
catapult to cheer him.
“The pep band and cheerleaders did a nice job,” Currence said. “I
hope we can carry this on through the week.
We’ve been waiting all season for this.”
THEN THE TIGER crew of
Wilbur Arnold, Dave James and Don McFarren brought in
Obie VII, the live mascot and Currence
asked Obie what he plans to do with the Bulldog come
Saturday afternoon. There was a slight
growl and then the band struck up the fight songs again and marched out of the
auditorium.
Currence showed films of last
week’s 14-0 win over
He reported fullback Jerry Shafrath
practiced today (Monday) for the first time after being stricken last week with
a kidney infection. Randy Laase is also expected to be ready for fulltime duty,
coming back from a pancreas bruise.
Currence reported All-American
Conference Commissioned Gaylord ‘Hap” Lillick, former
Tiger grid aide, has ruled the Obiemen must wear
white uniforms this week. They have worn
black togs since starting their seven-game win streak.
Conference rules stipulate the home team must wear white
unless the visiting team agrees otherwise.
Captain Currence wasn’t the only
one Monday night wearing one of his fan club’s T-shirts. Muhlbach had one on
and his two daughters wore special Tiger skin outfits made by their mother Bobbie.
The Booster Club has made arrangements with ex-president Junir Studer to put Beat McKinley
letters on white or orange T-shirts for fans.
The shirts should be taken to his sign shop at
CHUCK
‘n’
SPORTS
McKinley game
can be different this time
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports
Editor
A dejected figure slumped against the brick wall leading to
the visitor’s dressing room at Canton Fawcett Stadium.
“Scoop,” Mike Ramsey said quietly to this reporter who was
hurrying to a post-game interview with Chuck Shuff,
“It’s going to be different next year.”
THE TIGERS had just lost
to Canton McKinley 21-15 in 1975 and Ramsey, now a
The season had ended
This year Mike and his fellow co-captains – Anthony Grizzard, John Hauser and Mike Lauber
– have guided their team to seven straight wins after two opening losses. Thus far is has been difference under Mike Currence than it was in 1975.
Saturday is the time the Tigers can cap everything with a
victory over Canton McKinley. But they
must not take the Bulldogs lightly. They
have had problems putting things together in this year of consolidation, but
their offense has been tough, allowing 87 points (fifth best in the
All-American Conference). The Tigers
have given up 48 points (second to
WHAT THE Obiemen have to fear is that the McKinley offense will come
together Saturday. The Bulldogs have
rolled for 136 points, (third best in the league), while the Tigers have collected
114 (fifth best). The WHS team must get
on the board
early – something it has not done
often this year.
Would you believe that if the Tigers win they’ll make the
Canton Repository’s preseason prediction almost perfect? Bob Stewart’s staff called the Tigers an 8-2
team. They were figuring one of those
losses to Canton McKinley, whose record was 10-0.
If the Tigers win the 81st renewal Saturday at
Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, it will be No. 44 in the series. McKinley has won 32 times. Five games have ended in ties. The Tigers have scored 1,016 points and the
Bulldogs 849.
There have been other times when the Tigers have come into
the McKinley game, riding a win streak – but not an unblemished record – and
have won. The list is as fellows: 7-6 win in 1917 to complete four-game streak
for 7-2 record; 21-0 win in 1919 to complete four-game streak for 8-1 record;
9-0 win 1923 to complete six-game streak for 8-2 record; 6-0 win in 1924 to
complete six-game streak for 8-1 record; 19-6 win in 1937 to complete
three-game streak for 8-1-1 record; 32-0 win in 1941 to complete four-game streak
for 9-0-1 record; 21-12 win in 1948 to complete five-game streak for 9-1
record; 40-0 win in 1951 to complete three-game streak for 9-1 record; 26-6 win
1954 to complete seven-game streak for 9-1 record; 25-7 win in 1957 to complete
four-game streak for 8-1 record; 38-16 win in 1958 to complete three-game
streak for 8-1-1 record; 22-6 win in 1963 to complete eight-game streak for 9-1
record; 20-13 win in 1967 to complete three-game streak for 9-1 record.
Weather,
Defense
Desire
are
keys
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports
Editor
Weather, defense and desire will be deciding factors in
Saturday’s 81st renewal of the Massillon-Canton football series,
according to
The Tigers and Canton McKinley Bulldogs will lock horns
Saturday at
“Weather and defense always concerns us,” Currence said. “The
weather can affect the offensive play.
We hope it’s nice and dry so we can utilize our quickness. They’re quick too but when you get on a bad
field, both teams will probably equalize their speed.”
“I don’t’ think it will be that wet,” Currence
said. “We might get a little snow and
that shouldn’t hinder our offense too much.
If we have to tighten down a little bit, we can do it and probably run
as good as they have out of the “T”.
The Tigers have run the “robust T” successfully and won last
week’s game at
“WE DROVE down the field
twice and scored and McKinley was unable to do that,” Currence
said.
One of the concerns for the Tiger skipper this week has been
the condition of fullback Jerry Shafrath. He missed last Friday’s game with a kidney
infection but has practiced
this week and will be used when
needed in the straight-T.
“He has looked good and has really been enthused,” Currence said.
Currence said all the Tigers
should be in good shape physically and mentally.
“We have had the best practices we have had this season,” Currence, who, together with the Tiger Booster Club, has
reminded the Obiemen about their 21-15 loss to the
Pups at Fawcett Stadium in Canton in 1975.
“THE KIDS told me we
didn’t have real good practices after losing to
(
Currence said that the Tiger and
Bulldog defenses are about equal on personnel.
“McKinley probably has one of the best secondary’s in the league,” Currence
stated. “We’ll outweigh them on the
line. Both teams are quick in the
secondary, but with Ray Ellis and Mel Weatherspoon
back there they are bigger in that department.”
The Tiger boss thinks the Bulldog secondary has been the key
to their success.
“If you look at the team, it’s the guys in the secondary who
come up and stick you,” Currence said. “They don’t blitz but they react so well that
the secondary is on a ball
carrier if he breaks through the
line.”
CURRENCE also thinks the
McKinley “force unit” (down linemen and linebackers) are
very agile.
Talking about the Bulldog offense, Currence
said, “They like to use the power pitch inside and outside end. They will probably try to get us to split out
so they can open up the middle.”
Because the Bulldogs have had some injuries this season, Currence is not sure who will be the starting
fullback. Ken Hall was sidelined for the
season, Mike Beadle came on and was hurt and then head Coach John Brideweser used Mark Stevenson and the Bulldogs shifted
more to a passing game.
Gerald Jackson is sure to hit the middle because he is a
strong runner. Ellis and Stevenson will
have the outside assignments.
“Their end-around play is a good one but they also like the
screens, draws, delays and boot passes,” Currence
explained. “They like to lead with their
guards.”
CURRENCE figures Mike
Brown will be the starting quarterback rather than Kent McClelland. Both are juniors and Brown has come on strong
of late.
“McClelland made an excellent run against
How big a part will spirit and desire play in the game? “That will be the whole game,” Currence said. “It’s
our turn to win. Bridey’s
not supposed to win in even years.
20,000 expected
at game today
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports
Editor
Spirit was at a height not seen
here for several years as the Tigers met the Bulldogs this afternoon in the 81st
renewal of the high school grid classic.
Some 20,000 were expected at Paul Brown
Tiger Stadium.
AN AFTERNOON rally at
Onlookers said the spirit among
fans and team members reminded them of that before the 1970 game, also played
here, which the Tigers won 28-0 at the stadium.
With Jackson Memorial’s 20-16 win
Friday night over previously unbeaten North Canton Hoover, ranked No. 1 in the
Ohio High School Class AAA computer ratings, to undergrid
their optimism, the Tiger faithful were expected to cheer ever louder at
today’s 2 p.m. kickoff.
If the Tigers get their eighth
straight victory it is still possible for them to win a place in the playoffs
which will start next Friday in
Friday’s festivities started with
the rally in the
THE TIGER Swing Band was there and the cheerleaders and the Tiger
Booster Club put on a skit in which Captain Currence
(“Pokey Converse”) met “The Fonze” (Mike Mauger).
Confetti and bathroom tissue
rained down on the gymnasium floor.
There was so much confetti flying that Tiger football players standing
along the gym’s brick wall looked as if they were prematurely gray.
Pep signs urging the Tigers to
victory were everywhere.
Those at the rally received the
words to a Tiger Booster Club parody of “Happy Days Are Here Again” and sang
the song, making the rally sound like the 1932 Democratic National Convention.
Aerial bombs, ordinarily set off
on the morning of the Massillon-McKinley game, began to shatter the silence
Friday afternoon.
THE TIGER Sideliners
hosted the team Friday for dinner at the Massillon Holiday Inn. That meal is ordinarily the final one of the
season but, should the team make the playoffs, there will be two more.
The parade Friday night featured about 100 motorized units,
including floats, decorated cars, trucks and dune buggies. A color guard from VFW Post 3124 and American
Legion Post 221 headed the entourage.
Then came the Tiger Swing Band followed by cars containing
Mayor Mark Ross,
Safety-Service Director Blasé Sparma,
Washington High School Homecoming Queen Chris Zurcher
and her court, Tiger cheerleaders, reserve cheerleaders, coaches, players,
trainers and managers.
A special entrant was the Tiger Kazoo Band led by Drum Major
Phil Bucci and “majorettes” Dick and Terry Snyder,
Richard Reichel, Steve Studer,
Joe Matie, Mauger and LeRoy Schumacher.
The parade proceeded to Agathon
Field with plenty of fans trailing along behind. There the band and cheerleaders held forth
and the team and coaches were placed on a flatbed trailer for all to see.
HEAD COACH Mike Currence said, “I can see now the agony you have been in
since losing to McKinley last year. I
think Saturday will be our time to win.”
Co-Captains Mike Ramsey, Anthony Grizzard,
Mark Lauber and John Hauser assured fans of the same
thing.
Second half difference
in
Tigers’ 7-3 win
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor
Second half . . .
. . . A pair of words which will
remain forever entrenched in the memories of the Tiger faithful who followed
the 1976
FIVE TIMES during the season, which was completed last Saturday
afternoon, the
The Obiemen’s
latest turn-around palpitator came last Saturday
before 19,528 fans at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and brought the Tigers a 7-3
All-American Conference victory over arch-rival Canton McKinley.
In a twist of irony, the Bulldogs’
defeat was aided by a misfire on a play which had garnered them a lot of
yardage during the afternoon. Tiger
tackle Tony Matie recovered a fumble off a pitchout
intended to start a sweep. The
On second down from the three,
Mike Grove took a pitchout from quarterback Bret Traylor and raced into the end
zone unmolested as fullback Jerry Shafrath faked
through the middle. The play had been
sent to head Coach Mike Currence by the men in the
rooftop scout box.
While the Tigers had the ball they
survived a delay penalty and picked up a pass interference call on McKinley
safety Melvin Weatherspoon on the two when he banged
into end Bob Grizzard. The call so infuriated Bulldog head Coach
John Brideweser and an assistant that both were
flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and the ball ended on the four from where Jerry
Shafrath took it to the three to set up the score.
THE BULLDOGS came right back on the kickoff and drove to the Massillon
30 where the Tiger defense held McKinley three yards short on a fourth down
run. The Obiemen
were penalized for a personal four after the ball had been blown dead. Then Traylor fell on the ball on the next two
plays.
Traylor brought to an end a
contest which saw a quicker, stronger Bulldog team control all the statistics
but kickoff averages, kickoff returns and punt averages. The Pups kept the Tigers bottled up in their
own territory all afternoon.
Only in the third period did the
Tigers move the ball onto McKinley grounds.
On that occasion halfback Jay Harper fumbled at the McKinley 37 and
linebacker Ken Bailey recovered.
Also in that period Weatherspoon intercepted a Tiger aerial at the Bulldog 20
and halfback Ray Ellis picked off another at the 25. A 15-yard holding penalty also helped to
stall
But defense had been the Tigers’
suit all season. They had shutouts in
three of their previous four games. They
had allowed two touchdowns only against
FOUR TIMES in the first half the Bulldogs knocked on the door. Three times they were repulsed. The only other drive came after the Tigers’
fourth period touchdown.
McKinley’s second drive began
after a bad fourth down snap. Tiger
guard John Hauser picked up the ball and ran to the 25 where he was tackled and
the Bulldogs got the ball.
What might have been a late second
period drive into
On two of the first half drives
the Obiemen got some temporary help from holding
penalties but tackle Jesse Toles and linebacker Kurt
Walterhouse stopped one invasion at the Massillon four, Walterhouse and tackle
Bob Dennison put the brakes to another at the 38 and halfback Bill Henderson
intercepted a pass at the 20 to stop the final drive.
The Tigers thought they had
stopped earlier the drive on which
THE BULLDOGS’ lone score came on a 27-yard field goal by Kelly Darnley with
Tiger linebacker Anthony Grizzard knocked Ellis out of bounds at the
“There’s no doubt they outplayed
us but they were sitting on three points and hoping it would last,” Tiger head
Coach Mike Currence said, “but I knew it wouldn’t.”
Currence paid tribute to the McKinley secondary of Ellis, Weatherspoon and Cliff Frazier as the best he’s seen.
“We didn’t win it impressively,
but I don’t really care,” said Currence. “The only thing I do care about is that these
seniors proved they were a bunch of winners when everybody said they were a
bunch of losers.”
CURRENCE PAID tribute to punter Mark Westover who got off a key 59-yard
kick which was downed at the McKinley 10 in the fourth period. The skipper also lauded the work of his
coaching staff.
He thought the Tigers’ emotions
were too high.
“They were making mistakes where
McKinley wasn’t,” Currence said. “McKinley came to play. Our kids came to win.”
Bulldog Coach John Brideweser was bitterly disappointed.
“With no disrespect to the
Niles McKinley and
McKINLEY – 3
Ends – Weatherspoon,
K. Jackson, Latimer, Albright.
Tackles – Adams, Williams, Cole, Hogsett, Hill, Beadle.
Guards – Randazzo, Huntsman.
Center – Mullane, Schoeneman.
Quarterback –
Brown.
Halfbacks –
Johnson, Ellis, Asberry, Stevenson, Andrews, Brown
Truitt.
Fullback – Bowers.
Middle Guard –
G. Jackson.
Linebackers –
Ramos, Bailey, Latimer, Gaines.
Defensive
Halfbacks – Webb, Frazier, Basham.
Kicker – Darnley.
Punter – Zern.
Ends – Pringle, Chovan, Sweterlitsch, Engler, Clendening, Furnas, B. Grizzard, A. Longshore.
Tackles – Tournay,
Daniels, Dennison, Toles, Matie,
Stuck, Kovacsiss, Laase.
Guards – Hauser,
Lauber, Berquist, Baus.
Centers –
Ramsey, Lutz.
Quarterback –
Traylor.
Halfbacks –
Harper, Grove.
Fullbacks –
Cleveland, Shafrath.
Middle Guard –
Dorsey.
Linebackers –
Walterhouse, Dottavio, Border, Sowards.
Defensive Halfbacks – A. Grizzards, M. Longshore, Jones,
Lash,
Kicker –
Hardwick.
Punter –
Westover.
McKinley 3 0 0 0 3
SCORING SUMMARY
McK – Kelly Darnley, 27 field goal;
M
– Mike Grove, 3 run (Hardwick kick).
OFFICIALS
Referee – Chuck
Lorenz.
Umpire – Brenton Kirk.
Linesman – Jack Prettyman.
Field Judge –
Nick Costello.
Back Judge – Wilson Murray.
ATTENDANCE –
19,528.
GRIDSTICK
First downs rushing 4 8
First downs passing 0 2
First downs penalties 1 0
Total first downs 5 10
Yards gained rushing 102 212
Yards lost rushing 21 16
Net yards gained
rushing 81 196
Net yards gained
passing 23 34
Total yards gained 104 230
Passes completed 3-9 5-12
Passes intercepted by 1 2
Yardage on passes
intercepted 0 3
Kickoff average (yards)
2-52 2-51
Kickoff returns (yards) 61 39
Punt average (yards) 5-37 5-30
Punt returns (yards) 2 67
Had punts blocked 0 0
Lost fumbled ball 1-1 2-3
Yards penalized 5-55 7-66
Touchdowns rushing 1 0
Total number of plays 45 62
Total time of
possession
INDIVIDUAL SUMMARYS
McKinley
Ellis 4 58 0 58
Tonight
is last
Booster
session
The
final session of the Tiger Booster Club for this season will be held tonight at
8 in the
Tonight
will be the final chance for fans to take pictures of Obie
VII, the live Tiger cub, for the mascot will depart for other quarters Tuesday,
according to Booster President John Muhlbach, Jr. Pictures may be taken on the auditorium stage
either before or after the meeting.