Orange and Black Takes Measure of Akron Team In Hard Fought Battle
Massillon high’s chances of surpassing the football record of 1915 were blasted Saturday afternoon in the Akron stadium when Akron Central’s beefy eleven scored a touchdown. The best it can do is to tie it.
But that is of minor importance. The big thing is that Massillon won and handed the Summit county gridders a decisive beating even though it did enter sacred territory and cross the orange and black’s goal line. The final score was 20 to 7.
Although outweighed several pounds to the man, Massillon played rings around the up staters and had it not been for two long end runs in the second quarter, Akron Central would have never been in position to score.
The Akronites succeeded in eluding Massillon’s defense long enough in the second period to bring the ball within striking distance and then by hammering the line succeeded in bucking it over, Evans, Central’s star pivot man, making the touchdown.
Massillon scored first blood though, annexing a touchdown in the first quarter when a pass from McLaughlin to Thomas allowed Thomas to leak through Akron’s defense for a set of counters. McLaughlin kicked goal. In the third quarter the youthful Tigers carried the ball down the field on line plunges, Thomas again carrying the oval across. McLaughlin boosted Massillon’s total to 14 by kicking goal.
The last touchdown, the star play of the game, came within the last 10 seconds of play. With the ball on Akron’s 40 yard line, McLaughlin heaved a long pass to Captain Harrold who sped down the field and across the line.
The entire Massillon team put up a great game, fighting every inch of the way, but the work of McLaughlin, Thomas and Harrold on the offensive and Bischoff on the defensive stood out prominently. Bischoff at right end was a bear on defense, the stocky wingman broke up Akron’s defense and nailed the man time after time. McLaughlin directed the team in fine shape while Thomas and Harrold showed up well at carrying the ball.
Akron’s team was in splendid condition even though stories had been circulated that several stars would be out of the contest because of injuries. The rubber city gridders tried hard to win and atone for that 40 to 0 hammering here last fall but they were unable to pierce Massillon’s defense. Only once did they make any big show against the orange and black and that was in the second quarter when they scored their lone touchdown. After that they were kept busy watching Massillon.
Following is the lineup and summary:
Massillon – 20. Pos. Akron – 7.
Harrold le Daum
Johnson lt Koerber
Stoner lg Armstrong
Zepp c Woodring
Oberlin rg Peterson
Archbold rt Harter
Bischoff re Daum
McLaughlin qb Evans
Thomas lhb Rich
Stults fb Zimmerman
Converse rhb Lancaster
Score by quarters:
Massillon 7 0 7 6
Akron Centrals 0 7 0 0
Touchdowns – Thomas 2, Harrold, Evans.
Goals – McLaughlin 2.
Substitutions:
Massillon – Chaney for Johnston, Underwood for Stoner, Ertle for Oberlin;
Akron – Wise for Daum, Atwood for Lancaster.
