MASSILLON HIGH NABBED FIRST ONE
Fowl of Victory Captured at Ravenna.
MASSILLON, 20; RAVENNA, 0
Locals Outplayed Opponents and Won with Ease Ravenna Played a Plucky but Futile Defense and a Clean Game
Massillon’s Forward Pass
With the orange and black flying high the Massillon high school football team returned Saturday evening from Ravenna with the first victory of the season. The score of 20 to 0 tells the tale. Although Ravenna was not a formidable opponent either in weight or in playing the game, the smoothness with which the Massillon team worked and the style of play exhibited was a credit to the team from any standpoint, especially considering the fact that the team has been together little more than a week. Massillon’s open work was especially effective against its opponents. The forward pass, which was tried several times, was good for one touchdown and at least thirty clear yards.
Although the open work piled up the score, the game was won by the more substantial line plunging principally on the part of Sonnhalter, the Massillon fullback. “When in doubt buck,” was the principal of the game. The basketball stunt was a foxy limelight scene after the game was won, but in the first half when Ravenna was playing close and fighting desperately, it was Sonny’s steamroller that did the business.
Massillon outweighed Ravenna, but not by much. The game was won on the whole by more experience and better team work. Ravenna has had the benefit of a Reserve coach thus far this season, but the material has not been of the best. Although part of the line is experienced, the backfield is entirely new and in this lay a greater part of the difficulty.
Ravenna’s backfield was light also and found in Massillon’s heavy line an insurmountable obstacle, interference on the end runs was also for the most part lacking, giving Massillon’s ends and halves plenty of chance to lay those plays out for loss. Tricks or forward passes of any kind failed to make themselves evident in Ravenna’s line of plays.
Ravenna’s defensive work was without doubt plucky to the last, but not very substantial. Massillon made its down often but was forced to contest every inch of the way. But for Sonnhalter, who the entire Ravenna eleven seemed unable to stop; Massillon would have had to punt much oftener. Massillon worked Sonnhalter hard, the usual play being through left tackle. The line was a small proposition here, but the backfield was usually on hand to dispute further passage. Beside line bucking, Massillon had some other good ground gainers. A double pass from Myers to Miller netted twenty yards once when Ravenna was asleep at the switch. Erb’s left tackle back play plowed up the opponents for a good gain in one instance.
Massillon worked the forward pass to perfection. On Ravenna’s eight yard line, with the goal to gain, Dalasky secured a forward and carried it over for a touchdown. Miller on the other end, secured two good passes and ran for substantial gains through a broken field. Atwater, at quarter, got all the forward passes off in good shape, with the exception of one uncompleted pass over the line. Blackburn kicked three perfect goals from touchdown, while Heyman with a good twisting spiral, outpunted the Ravenna kicker almost double. Two of Massillon’s points were made on a safety by Stevens, of Ravenna, who secured the ball after trying to punt out from behind the goal through one of his own players. He was downed by Zintsmaster. Stevens, Ravenna’s captain, played a good game from left end. In the second half, after Massillon had secured fourteen points Ellis replaced Zintsmaster at right tackle and Leahy replaced Smith at center. The team, including McConnell and Moody, subs, was accompanied by Mr. Snavely as faculty manager, Manager Gorrell being unable to accompany the team.
Massillon was not without weak points, which will be rendered by hard practice before the game at Bishop next Saturday.
Following is the way it went:
M.H.S. Pos. R.H.S.
Miller le Stevens
Erb lt Brockett
Heyman lg Hubbell
Smith, Leahy c Parker
Blackburn rg Heisler
Zintsmaster, Ellis rt Baldwin
Dalsky re Parhan
Atwater qb Nicola
Wells lh Smith, Carter
Myers rh Dietrich
Sonnhalter fb Boettner
Time of halves: 15 and 20 minutes.
Touchdowns:
Massillon – Sonnhalter 2; Dalsky.
Goals from touchdowns:
Massillon – Blackburn 3.
Safety:
Massillon – Zintsmaster downed Carter for a safety.
Referee – Hart.
Umpire – Byers.
Head Linesman – Loomis.
Linesman – Carpenter, Leahy and Smith.
Timekeepers – Alcorn and Snavely.
Substitutes: Massillon – Moody and McConnell.
