TIGERS CRUSH NEW CASTLE IN LAST HALF 46-0
FORWARD PASSES WIN GAME FOR MASSILLON
Aerial Plays Figure In Six Of Seven Touchdowns; Great Tiger Goal Line Stand Broke New Castle Spirit
By LUTHER EMERY
Stars fell out of heaven for the Washington high Tigers in Tiger Stadium Friday evening as they forward passed their way to a 46-0 victory over New Castle’s Red Hurricane before a crowd of between 15,000 and 16,000 fans.
Halted by a fast charging New Castle line flanked by two fine ends, the Tigers had to take to the air to bomb their way into the lead.
Yielded Ground Stubbornly
It was not an easy matter, gaining ground through the New Castle players. They were the Hurricane and more and were their hopes not jolted by a firm Tiger stand on the one-yard line when the score was only 6-0, you might have seen a closer game.
Driven away from the Massillon goal and chased back in a second Tiger march that produced a touchdown with only 10 seconds of the first half left to play, the New Castle morale was broken and the local eleven had things pretty much its own way as it rolled to five more touchdowns the last two periods.
‘Twas a game not unlike that at Warren late last month, when the Tigers wore down their opponents with superior conditioning. The New Castle boys were dragging at the end and although still eager to make a game of it as evidenced by injured players going back into the melee, lacked strength to even compete with the Tiger second and third stringers the last period.
Line Makes Tigers Dig
Too much cannot be said of the play of the visiting line. It made the Tiger trenchmen dig in and hit with all they had. Tiger ball carriers were thrown for 30 yards in losses and the local eleven can thank its lucky stars it had a passing attack.
Just when line plays were stopped, the Tigers seemed able to pass their way for first downs. Two long pegs, one for 34 and the other for 25 put the ball on the six-yard line in position for the first touchdown.
A 21-yard pass put the ball on the seven-yard line for the second and another good for 56 yards took the leather to the six-yard line for the third score. A blocked punt got the fourth, but a 34-yard pass picked off the fifth. An intercepted pass gave the Tigers the ball prior to the sixth and an intercepted pass followed by a 40-yard run, produced the seventh and last.
So you see forward passes figured in all but one of the Massillon eleven’s seven touchdowns.
In fact the Tiger eleven used the forward pass to gain 199 yards, an unusually large amount.
The visitors by the nature of their defense invited passing and because they jammed their secondary at times near the Tiger forward wall, were able to stop the Massillon running attack. Then too the Red Hurricane defenders committed the unpardonable sin of permitting a Massillon receiver to get behind them. No coach will excuse it, but the Massillon ends are fast and are hard to watch when you are pressing the line of scrimmage.
When the Tiger passes began finding receivers, the Hurricane secondary moved back and the Massillon running attack functioned more consistently thereafter.
Fans felt none secure the first half when they saw the vaunted running attack of their team vaunted running attack of their team bottled up by the Hurricane’s fast charging line.
Particularly did they feel concerned when their end sweeps frequently resulted in losses. You can give credit to Cenname and Zarilla, the New Castle wingmen, for that. They were hard to take out of plays and though they did not always make the tackle, they so jammed the interference in front of the ball carrier that someone could charge in from the secondary to nail the runner.
The first half was not as one-sided as the 14-0 score indicates. Remember it was 7-0 with only 10 seconds of the half remaining to be played and with a few ifs and ands, could just as well have been a 7-7 deadlock.
A Great First Half
Those first two periods were honeys, the kind Massillon fans have been looking forward to. They were treated to a good first half at Warren, a good first half here with Alliance and another last night. Though all three games ended in routs, all were far better than the
one-sided scores would indicate.
That would tend to prove that superior conditioning is winning football games for the Tigers this year.
While the Massillon eleven twice took time out for injuries, the visitors on many occasions had to call for time and make replacements.
Both teams apparently escaped unscathed as far as serious injuries were concerned and although one of the visitors was carried to the clubhouse, he was not hurt severely, but was only shaken up.
The game was the fourth between Massillon and New Castle. The Tigers have won three to the Hurricane’s one and remain the only school over which New Castle does not hold a majority of victories.
The Hurricane, however, still holds the honor of being the last team to beat Massillon. They did it 7-0 in October, 1937.
Save for a series of passes that carried them from the 37-yard line where they covered a Massillon fumble, to the one-yard line, the Hurricane had little in an offensive way last night.
They were badly outclassed for first downs, 20-5 and they only gained 59 yards, 22 of them by passing.
Playing a leading role in the Tiger defense was Capt. Earl Martin, Tackle John Swezey, Guard Jim Russell and Line Backer Upper De Luxe Howard Gillom. They were breaking through and playing in the Hurricane backfield all evening. The manner in which they hurried Lindy Lauro when he tried to pass, helped stop the effectiveness of his aerial heaves. He only completed four of 14 attempts.
Statistics Favor Tigers
The Tiger line from end to end, hit hard enough to give Massillon a big advantage in statistics. The locals gained 484 yards from scrimmage, 285 of them by rushing and with losses deducted, finished the evening with a net gain of 454 yards to New Castle’s net 41 yards.
The game to which the Tigers resorted when stopped on land, produced many a thrill for the fan, but none was more sudden than that which accompanied the fourth touchdown when Gillom and Martin blocked Gilboy’s punt and Gillom picked it up to race 18 yards for the score.
The greatest thrill of all, however, came in the second period when the Tigers with their backs to the goal went into an eight-man line and held the visitors to five yards in four ball carrying attempts.
The Tigers continued to find the ball hard to hold last night. Their play had been practically void of fumbling up until last week when they began juggling the ball at Steubenville.
They lost if once on a fumble last night and it was that muff by Red James making a desperate effort to catch a New Castle punt that put the Hurricane in scoring position the only time during the night.
The Tigers were leading 7-0 at the time, thanks to a touchdown fro the three-yard line by George Slusser and his two fine passes, one of 34 yards to Ray Getz and another of 25 yards to Gillom that made the touchdown possible.
Zarilla covered the fumble for New Castle and the Hurricane began to blow. Three line plays left the visitors four yards short of a first down, but Laruo shot a pass to Joe Gender for a first down on the Massillon 23-yard line.
Lauro threw another to Cenname for two yards and when Lauro attempted to toss to Cenname behind the goal, he was tackled as the ball left his hands. The officials called roughing the passer and slapped a 15-yard penalty on the Tigers that moved the ball down to the six-yard line.
An Eight-Man Line
The Tigers went into an eight-man line and the crowd got to its feet with every play. Lauro made a yard. He flicked a pass to Gender for three more. Lauro advanced the ball one more yard placing it one the one-yard line. Again he hit the line, but couldn’t make it. Lauro claimed he did but the officials said no and anyway they penalized the Hurricane 15 yards for shoving the ball carrier. Martin took the penalty which left the visitors with one more chance. Lauro again tried to pass, but the ball w as knocked down and the Tigers took it on their own 16-yard line.
That was New Castle’s only threat and the players were more than a little upset over their failure to cross the Tiger goal. In fact before they could recover, the Massillon gridders were down to their goal, a 29-yard pass, Gillom to Getz and another of 21 yards, Slusser to Foster, placing the ball on the seven-yard line where Red James was turned loose for a run around left end that produced a touchdown with only 10 seconds of the first half remaining to be played. Getz kicked both goals from placement.
The Tigers got a touchdown the second time they put their hands on the ball in the third period. Stopped in their first bid by a 15-yard penalty, another 15 yards for clipping put them in starting position for the march form their own 10-yard line. Slusser and Roscoe Clendening hammered their way to their 38 where Slusser fired a 15-yard pass that Foster took and carried to the six-yard line before being downed, a gain of 56 yards.
It was Slusser for two yards; Clendening for two and finally Slusser for the last two and the touchdown. Getz’s attempt kick for the extra point was blocked. The ball bounded into Slusser’s arms and he nearly ran it across, being dropped half a yard short of goal.
Gillom Scores On Blocked Punt
New Castle took the kickoff and when it failed to gain, Gilboy dropped back to punt. Martin and Gillom, however, pounded through the Hurricane line and blocked the ball, Gillom scooping it up to run some 18 yards for a touchdown. This time Getz kicked the goal and boosted the score to 27-0.
The Tigers lost no time when they next came into possession of the leather. James returned Gilboy’s punt 12 yards to his 48 and on a Statue of Liberty play moved the ball to within inches of a first down. Slusser’s plunge brought a first on the 34-yard line and he stepped back on the very next play to fire a perfect pass to Gillom who stepped over the goal line for a touchdown. This time Getz’s kick for the extra point was again blocked.
Fred Blunt went into the game at this stage for Massillon. After losing the ball on the
34-yard line Fred Moody intercepted Lauro’s pass as the Hurricane tried desperately to score. Jim Moody got back to the New Castle 46 before being tackled. John Pizzino and Dick Adams advanced the ball to the 14-yard line where Blunt score easily on an end sweep and went through tackle for the extra point to hike the total to 40-0.
The visitors tossed two passes after the following kickoff, the second floating into the waiting arms of George Kester who intercepted and ran back 40 yards for the Tigers seventh and final touchdown of the game. Again Blunt carried the extra point across the goal.
20 For Tigers
Massillon Pos. New Castle
Getz LE Cenname
Pedrotty LT Kulnis
Russell LG Gilboy
Martin C Morgan
Henderson RG Pierillo
Swezey RT Castrucci
Gillom RE Zarilla
Foster QB Gender
Slusser LH Roberts
James RH Glazza
Clendening FB Lauro
Score by periods:
Massillon 7 7 19 13 46
Substitutions:
Massillon – Croop, lt; Broglio, lg; Blunt, rh; Kingham, qb; Moody, re; Kester, le; Wallace, t; Cardinal, g; Appleby, c; Hill, g; Pattay, g; White, hb; Adams, hb; Pizzino, fb.
New Castle – McKee,qb; Gennock, hb; Jerry, rg; Thomas, lh; Burris,, lh; Izzo, fb; Adamo, c; Gociano, re; Temenski, t.
Touchdowns:
Massillon – Slusser 2; Gillom 2; James; Blunt; Kester.
Points after touchdown:
Massillon – Getz 2 (plackicks); Blunt 2 (carried).
Officials.
Gross.
Wallace.
Lobach
Game Statistics
Mass. N.C.
First downs 20 5
Passes 14 14
Passes completed 6 7
Passes incomplete 7 8
Passes intercepted 1 2
Yards gained passing 199 22
Yards gained rushing 285 37
Total yards gained 484 59
Yards lost 30 18
Net yards gained 454 41
Kickoffs 7 2
Average kickoffs (yards) 37 39
Kickoffs returned (yards) 19 123
Punts 2 6
Punts blocked 0 1
Average punt(yards) 45.5 35.3
Punts returned (yards) 19 7
Fumbles 4 0
Lost ball on fumbles 1 0
Times penalized 10 4
Yards penalized 90 30
Massillon Tries To Please
So Fans Pour Through Gates
Purchase Of Tarpaulin On Field
Makes Possible Good Game and Show
and Likewise Saves Turf From Heavy Damage
The Massillon–New Castle game Friday evening was a good example why fans flock to Massillon to see Tiger football shows. In the first place every attempt is made by the athletic board to give the fan the kind of show he wants.
No spectator likes, to see two teams waddling in the mud. That’s one reason why school officials last year purchased a big tarpaulin at a cost of $2,600.
You saw the result last night. The canvas protected the field against the heavy rains of Thursday evening and Friday morning and provided a fairly dry surface for the game and a great band show.
The sum paid for the tarpaulin has the appearance of a lot of money, but the investment will pay dividends. Think how the field would have been torn up had it not been protected from the heavy rains.
After two periods of play on soggy turf, it is doubtful if it would have been at all possible to have staged the brilliant band spectacle that thrilled spectators between halves.
Bands Stage Great Show
There you have another reason why fans are blocking to Massillon for their football treat. The New Castle band of 110 pieces, led by six majorettes and directed in its routine by a white suited young lady, spread out in a huge V before the Tiger stands and played the “Donkey Serenade” while the majorettes gave an exhibition of twirling and the flag fearer a demonstration of flag throwing.
The New Castle musicians played unusually well and were given a great ovation as they marched from the field. The uniforms they wore last night were worn for the first time two years ago when New Castle paid its first visit to Massillon.
George Bird’s Tiger swing band was hot again and your head did a spin trying to watch the band and the accompanying fireworks display at the same time.
In its half time show the Tiger musicians saluted New Castle to a thunder of rockets and bombs that ended with a Tiger lighting up on the hilltop at the north end of the field. The band marched to the goal line where “Obie” on his second attempt, succeeded in putting the baton over the goal post and catching it. Back up the field the Massillon musicians came in their “Parade of the Jitterbugs”, which featured “Obie” holding his own “jam session.”
The band concluded the half-time show by forming a block M for the Alma Mater.
At the end of the game, the band again appeared for “Retreat” while the colors were lowered with another blast of fireworks. This accomplished, the performance was concluded with “The Old Grey Mare” and “Tiger Rag”.
Bands Raised Colors
The two combined bands appeared together prior to the opening kickoff marching to the end of the field where the colors were raised while the National Anthem was played. Joe F. Raplogle, director of the New Castle band, directed the combined bands. As the colors reached the top of the flag pole, rockets were fired into the air and two set pieces, one reading “NC” and the other “M”, were touched off.
Folks unable to get to the game got a good idea of how the Tigers were coming off from the firing of bombs that greeted every Massillon touchdown. It was a new idea and made a hit with fans at the game as well as those who remained at home.
Put the crowd at somewhere between 15,000 and 16,000 and then imagine what it would have been were it not for threatening weather. The stadium with its new portable seats on the north end now can accommodate 16,400. There were some vacancies in the special section at the south end of the field and the portable bleachers were not solidly packed.
The weatherman certainly gave everyone a “break” however. After an all-day rain, the clouds broke slightly before evening the rain ceased and held off until after the game.
A light sprinkle began to fall within a few minutes after the final whistle. The weatherman certainly has been kind to Massillon.
1,000 New Castle Fans Here
New Castle brought about 1,000 fans to Massillon, 400 of them riding the special train that reached here shortly after 7 p.m. and unloaded at the 16th Street S.E. crossing. The band also rode the train.
The Tiger cheerleaders and New Castle cheerleaders vied for honors. The visitors had eight of them, four boys and four girls and they were not at all downcast by the defeat. They contributed to the pep of the evening to the very end.
Unless Coach Phil Bridenbaught of New Castle has a change of heart, the game may be the last between the two teams. The Tigers have won three out of the four-year series. ‘Twould be a pity to end a rivalry that has never failed to draw fewer than 10,000 fans. Massillon fans hope that Bridenbaugh will reconsider and sign for a game in New Castle in 1940.
Not often do you see a team penalized for deliberately grounding a pass or for helping the ball carrier by pushing or other methods. New Castle was penalized for both offenses last night, 15 yards each time.
Most people are in too big a hurry to leave the park to get a glimpse of one of the best sights—autos leaving the stadium after the game. Every direction you look you see nothing but headlights.
Press Box Filled
The press box was jammed to capacity last night. It contained newspapermen from New Castle, New Philadelphia, Canton, Cleveland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Wooster, Akron, New Castle radio men and of course Tiger assistant coaches who take a bird’s eye view of the game, noting any Tiger errors and reporting them immediately to Coach Paul Brown on the Massillon bench.
The visiting newsmen enjoy watching Massillon play. The publicity the Tigers are getting attests to that. And then it is evidenced in another way. Two members of the Beacon Journal staff laid cash on the line for 72 reserved seats for last night’s game, for friends who had heard them talking and writing about the Massillon football show.
The blocking of the Massillon team continues to startle visitors. The New Castle gridders did a fairly good job of jamming things up the first two periods, but in the last half it was not an unfamiliar sight to see a Tiger ball carrier pounding around end with three to four men screening him from tacklers.
