Tigers, McKinley remain unbeaten
Second-period spree propels Massillon’s 68-7 rout of St. V.
By LARRY NEELEY
Exploding for five touchdowns in the second quarter, the Massillon Tigers clobbered Akron St. Vincent 68-7 Friday night before 9,207 fans at Tiger stadium.
“Now we’ll go underground a little bit,” said pleased Tiger boss Bob Commings, indicating that the Tigers will hold some closed practices in preparation of Saturday’s clash with Canton McKinley.
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“I’M GLAD it (the St. Vincent game) is over,” Commings said, “and I’m glad we didn’t get anyone hurt.”
“Our kids have taken every game seriously. This is why we did it (9-0 mark),” he said. “We were tired of hearing about a letdown before McKinley.”
Commings played every boy who dressed Friday, he said and the Tigers gained 437 total yards to 83 for the Irish, who stand 2-7.
Tailback Mike Mauger galloped for 115 yards in 13 carries, which included four touchdown jaunts. Wingback Larry Harper scored three times.
The Tigers were jolted to find themselves down 7-6 at the end of the first quarter and burst loose for scores each time they got the ball in the second period.
The Obiemen used only 23 plays in the first half to register a 42-7 margin – an average of 11.7 yards per play. St. Vincent had the ball for 32 plays.
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JOHN CISTONE, Irish coach complained about the officials’ action on the third play of the second quarter.
Tigers Tom Cardinal had carried on a fourth and three situation and the officials ruled a first down on the Irish 41, after bringing in the chain.
“We stopped them…he (an official) slid the ball up and they made it by inches,” Cistone said.
“We had momentum at the time and were up 7-6,” he added. “I think that was the turning point.”
“I think the officials ruined a good ball game…I won’t say we would have beat them (Massillon). They’re a real fine football team – one of the best – but not 60 points better.
Asked later to comment on the ruling, Commings retorted: “We called it a first down as soon as it hit the ground.”
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THE VICTORY extended the Tigers’ win string to nine games and set the stage for another classic battle of unbeaten and state-ranked Massillon (No. 1) and arch-rival McKinley (No. 3) here next Saturday. The clash will have added spice in that Bulldog Coach John Brideweser was an assistant last year here under Commings. Furthermore, former Tiger star Jim Reichenback is Brideweser’s defensive coordinator.
Friday night’s Tiger stadium turnout brought the total attendance at all Tiger contests this year to 104,842. Season attendance in 1969 (10 games) was 124,807.
Game action began with the Tigers kicking off to the Irish, who were able to move only 17 yards – to their 46 – before punting.
The Tigers started from their own 23 and moved 77 yards in seven plays for their first score. The push was keyed by a 35-yard scamper by Mauger and a rollout for 24 yards by Franklin. Mauger scored from the two with 5:45 left in the first quarter.
Franklin was stopped short of the goal on conversion run.
Kickoff returns were some of the best plays St. Vincent had against the Tigers and the ensuing return went 28 yards from the Irish 18 to the 46.
ON THE second play from scrimmage, tight end Tom Enright got a step on a Tiger defender and gathered in a Tom Flege pass good for 36 yards.
Aided by a Tiger penalty that gave them a first down, the Irish scored in nine plays. Flege passed eight yards over the middle to Enright for the payoff.
Junior halfback Tim Bialy’s kick put Massillon down by one point with 0:50 left in the first quarter. The shock may have been all the Obiemen needed.
Commings’ crew had the ball on its 49 as the busy second quarter started. After Cardinal’s run for a first down – disputed later by Cistone – the Tigers scored in four plays. Wingback Larry Harper carried the final 31 yards untouched, on a reverse. Cardinal ran for the two points.
The Irish were unable to move after the kickoff and punted to Harper. Massillon was spotted clipping and the Tigers had to start from their 20.
Franklin then flipped an aerial which an Irish defender tipped into the hands of Harper. Out running four men, the swift senior made the play cover 80 yards. Franklin kept for the two-pointer and the Tigers were up 22-7.
The Irish began the ensuing series on their 10. On the second play, senior Tiger tackle Roger Groff pounced on a St. V. fumble on the 12.
Cardinal blasted for two yards and then Mauger carried it in. On the conversion try Willie Spencer went high for a pass from Franklin which was ruled complete (sufficient possession) and the Tigers led, 30-7.
TIGER DON PERRY nearly stopped the Irish single-handedly after they received the next kickoff. On the next play from scrimmage he threw quarterback Flege for a 13-yard loss and on the next play he cracked into Bialy for a loss of four more.
With a third down and 27 situation for the Akronites on their own three-yard line, sophomore left half Greg Thurmond got eight yards to the 11. Then Flege’s punt was partially blocked.
Tiger defensive back Art Thompson gathered in the short boot on the Irish 14 and scored. A conversion run failed.
After the Tiger kickoff, St. Vincent failed to move again and punted from about its 13. Harper returned three yards to his own 47.
Because the half was ending, Franklin stayed in the air and scored after five pass plays.
He was aided by a rare double penalty on the Irish for roughing the passer and unsportsmanlike conduct – on the same play.
IN THE series, Franklin’s aerials were caught by Spencer, Harper, Mike McGuire and then Harper again from six yards out for the touchdown. A fling to Spencer for the
two-point try fell incomplete and the Tigers went to their dressing room with a
presto-produced 42-7 lead.
St. Vincent kicked off to start the second half and the Tigers returned to their 27. After three carries netted 12 yards, a personal foul call against St. V moved the ball to the Irish 44. After an incomplete pass, Mauger burst into the open and broke sophomore safetyman Dan Gleespan’s last-ditch tackle to score. A conversion attempt pass failed and Massillon led, 48-7.
The Irish lost two yards in three plays the next time they got the ball and punted to Harper on the Massillon 40. He returned 28 yards, St. Vincent was called for a personal foul and the Tigers had the ball on the Irish 17.
Harper gained 11 on a double reverse, Cardinal lugged twice for three and then Mauger scored from three yards out. Tailback Hank Nussbaumer ran for the points after and the score read 56-7.
After the kickoff, the Akron visitors were able to control the ball for 16 plays and move 60 yards to the Massillon seven. The Tigers helped, committing personal foul, interference and holding infractions.
In the next four plays, however, the Irish lost 19 yards and the Tigers took over on their 26. Scott Dingler was the new quarterback as the third quarter ended.
Aided by 10-yard runs by Perry and Thompson and three Irish penalties, Massillon moved in to score in 10 plays.
Dingler, hiding the ball well on a bootleg, went the final eight yards to make it 62-7. A conversion pass failed.
The Tigers got their final TD, after Bernard Sullivan intercepted a St. Vincent pass on his 40.
In nine plays with an all-substitute unit, the Orange and Black ground it out via the land route. Tim Willoughby went the final two yards. A run for the PAT’s failed, making it
68-7.
SCORING
M – Mauger, 2 run (run failed);
SV – Enright, 8 pass from Flege (Bialy kick);
M – Harper, 31 run (Cardinal run); Harper, 80 pass from Franklin (Franklin run);
M – Mauger, 10 run (Spencer, pass from Franklin);
M – Thompson, 14 punt return (run failed);
M – Harper, 6 pass from Franklin )pass failed);
M – Mauger, 44 run (pass failed);
M – Mauger, 3 run (H. Nussbaumer run);
M – Dingler, 8 run (pass failed);
M – Willoughby, 2 run (run failed).
OFFICIALS
Referee – Jack McLain.
Umpire – Harrold Rolph.
Head Linesman – Tony Pianowski.
Field Judge – Henry Mastrianni.
Back Judge – Octavio Sirgo.
THE GRIDSTICK
M SV
First downs – rushing 20 2
First downs – passing 4 4
First downs – penalties 4 3
Total first downs 28 9
Yards gained rushing 304 60
Yards lost rushing 6 40
Net yards gained rushing 298 20
Net yards gained passing 139 63
Total yards gained 437 83
Passes completed 5-7 5-16
Passes intercepted by 1 0
Yardage on passes intercepted 14 0
Kickoff average yards 11-48.7 2-46.5
Kickoff returns yards 44 182
Punt returns, yards 50 0
Lost fumbled ball 0-1 1-2
Penalties 7 7
Yards penalized 72 66
Touchdowns – rushing 7 0
Touchdowns – passing 2 1
Total number of plays 50 58
