Jim Letcavits – Wall of Champions

Jim Letcavits – Wall of Champions

Jim Letcavits, like most Wall of Champions inductees, distinguished himself as both an outstanding player and as a coach of young men.  But what sets him apart from other inductees is that he always maintained his roots in Massillon and returned to his hometown right after wrapping up his professional playing career.  There he became an assistant coach for the Tigers, a position he held for 27 years.  In 1998, he was inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.

Letcavits was born in Massillon on December 1, 1935, and joined the Massillon Tiger football team as a sophomore in 1951.  There he played offensive end, defensive end and punter under Head Coach Chuck Mather.  He also shared in the successes of those years, with his teams compiling a record of 29-1 and capturing three state and two national championships.

As a senior, Letcavits caught four touchdown passes from his split end position, including a 44-yarder against Canton McKinley in a 48-7 rout.  Although he didn’t carry a large frame for football, he excelled, nonetheless.  “He only weighed 160 pounds, but he was a very competitive player,” said Dave Putts, Letcavits’ position coach at Massillon.  “He used his speed and was a very good receiver.” (1)

As an award for his outstanding performance, he was named 1^st Team All-Ohio offensive end.  The 3-sport letter-winner was also the Most Valuable Player in the Ohio North-South All-Star Football Game, which was played the following summer.

After high school Letcavits accepted a football scholarship to play for the University of Kansas, under new Head Coach Chuck Mather, who had departed Massillon following the 1953 season.  There he played tight end, while completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education.  “Jim was such a great player for me all through high school and college,” Mather said.  “He seldom made mistakes.  He was a football coach’s dream.” (1) As such, he was named All-Big Eight in 1956 and 1957.

1957 University of Kansas Football Team

The next stop was professional football.  But he needed to choose between the NFL and the Canadian Football League, ultimately selecting the Edmonton Eskimos, where he played five seasons as a tight end and punter.  “I thought I had a better chance to play if I went to Canada.” Letcavits said.  “I really wasn’t that big.  It was something new, and I made some great friends up there.” (1)  Four times his team won second place.

With his playing career coming to an end, Letcavits returned to the local area in 1964 and was hired by Jackson as an assistant coach.  But in 1969 he was lured away by new Massillon Head Coach Bob Commings.  “When he came home during the offseason, he always was a substitute teacher,” Nancy (Jim’s wife) said.  “When Bob Commings came here, he interviewed, and Bob Commings hired him on the spot.” (1) And the following year he became part of Massillon’s last state championship team.

Commings left after five seasons, but Letcavits stayed on and ended up coaching in Tigertown for 27 years, until 1995, while serving under six different head coaches.  During that time, the Tigers compiled a record of 221-64-5, including nine playoff appearances during a time of limited team qualifications.  In 1980 and 1982 Massillon reached the state championship game.

Letcavits was also the head track and field coach during that span.  His best years came in 1983, when his team placed third in the state, and 1984, when they placed fifth.

• 1983: Jim Bushe 2^nd in the 300 low hurdles and 3^rdin the 110 high hurdles, Craig Johnson 5^th in the 100 dash and Charles Calhoun 1^st in the shot put.
• 1984: Craig Johnson 1^st in 100- and 200-yard dashes and Chris Spielman 4^th in the shot put.

He also served as Athletic Director in 1985 during the transition from Mike Currence to John Moronto.  Meanwhile, his primary high school assignment was Coordinator for the Occupational Work Experience Lab.

Outside of Massillon he was president of the Stark County Coaches Association for two years and was later inducted into the Stark County High School Football Hall of Fame.

Letcavits was married to Nancy, and they were the parents of four children.  Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2004 and died in Massillon on February 3, 2015, at the age of 77.  Today, his memory is honored by “Team Tiger,” a group of Massillon residents that participate in the annual Alzheimer’s Memory Walk.

• (Mike Popovich, Canton Repository)

Paul Brown – Wall of Champions

Paul Brown – Wall of Champions

Coach Paul E. Brown is unique in the football world in that he has won national championships at all levels: high school, college and professional.  And, while he is certainly responsible for the spearheading the success achieved by the Massillon Tigers throughout their long history, he is also perhaps considered as the father of the modern professional game as well, as evidenced by his influence within the ranks of owners throughout the NFL.

While a myriad of books have been authored that appropriately convey the Paul Brown story, from his early days at Massillon to Ohio State and throughout his lengthy professional career with the Browns and Bengals, it is not the intent of this biography to cover every aspect of his life.  It does, however, focus mostly on his time in Massillon as a player and then a coach, while amply making the case for induction into the Massillon Wall of Champions, the highest honor that can be achieved by a former Massillon Tiger.

Massillon has always relished the reputation of being a football town, from its earliest beginnings in 1891 to the current years as an annual state championship contender.  So what better place for Brown to springboard his career.  The community has always rallied around its football program through copious attendance at the games and participation in the many off-season events.  And it has continuously provided generous financial support when needed.  Plus, the facilities are considered second to none.  “The difference between the people of Massillon and people in other places is that Massillon people care more, said former Tiger coach Bob Commings. (1)

The Early Years

Brown was born on September 7, 1908, in Norwalk, Ohio, to parents Lester Brown(e), a railroad dispatcher, and Ida Sherwood Brown.  In 1915, while Paul was in the fourth grade, his father was transferred to Brewster.  So the family set up residence in nearby Massillon.

Immediately introduced to playground football, Brown later joined the Jones Junior High football team when he came of age.  However, because of his smallish stature, he received little playing time.  Nevertheless, Brown did excel in track as a pole vaulter, where he was able to compete at the varsity level as a freshman.

Massillon High School

Now at Massillon’s Washington High School as a sophomore, Brown received his first exposure to high school football under the tutelage of the very successful Coach Dave Stewart (38-9).  His position was quarterback.

In 1923, the team produced an 8-2 record, including a victory over 9-0 Canton McKinley.  The losses were to Youngstown South and Harrisburg Tech, PA, although Harrisburg was considered as an adult high school.

In 1924, the Tigers finished 9-1 with a 6-0 win over McKinley and a lone loss to Youngstown South via forfeit following Stewart’s disagreement with the referees.  But 1924 also marked the year that Brown became a starter at quarterback.

In Brown’s senior year the team finished 7-2, losing 6-3 to McKinley and 7-0 to Akron South.  But they did defeat Alliance 13-6 in a game that is considered by this website as one of Massillon’s greatest ever victories during the 1920s.  For the season Brown tossed five touchdown passes.

Massillon’s 1925 team.  Paul Brown is pictured in the second row, fifth from the left.

Although he was a 2-year starter for the football Tigers and shared in the successes the team achieved on the-field, his greatest takeaway was his relationship with Coach Stewart, whose influence led him to pursue a career in football coaching.

“Dave Stewart was wonderful,” said Brown.  “He gave me a love of football and winning.” (2)  “Dave Stewart made me enjoy coaching,” said Brown.  “I’d go over to Sharon (PA) before I went back to school (college) in the fall and help him out.  I was just obsessed with it.  I enjoyed it.  I was a goner.  He recognized this.” (1)

Brown was a 3-sport athlete, also lettering in both basketball and track.

Massillon’s 1925 basketball team.  Paul Brown is pictured in the the first row holding the basketball.  Coach Dave Stewart is pictured in the second row, fourth from the left.

College

After high school Brown enrolled at Ohio State, but it just didn’t feel right to him.  So he immediately transferred to Miami of Ohio, where he eventually graduated in 1930 with a combination degree of English and History.  Along the way, he played a little football as a starting quarterback.

High School Coaching

Now it was time to try the coaching profession.  His first stop was Severn Prep, which is located in Maryland.  Brown spent two years there and achieved immediate success, compiling a record of 16-1-1.  But home was calling.  Especially after Massillon in 1931 had slipped to a 2-6-2 record and Coach Elmer McGrew had been released.  Enter former Coach Dave Stewart, now coaching at Sharon, PA, who recommended his subordinate to the Massillon School Board.  So Paul Brown, at the age of 24, was hired as the next head coach of the Massillon Tigers with task of rebuilding the program and returning it to the glory days of earlier years.

The greatest attributes Brown brought to team were innovative football schemes and player discipline.  The coaching success he achieved while at Massillon is obvious from his record, where he utilized offenses he had learned from several college coaches.  At the same time he leaned toward quickness instead of strength.  He integrated the coaching schemes of the junior highs with that of the high school.  And he insisted that every player make the team; there would be no cuts.  In addition, he made sure his squad was properly fed.

But the players mostly remember the discipline part. There were rules to be followed and discipline for breaking them.  For example, players were required to stand during the games; no sitting on the bench.  And always be on time for practices and meetings. No smoking or drinking; the penalty was removal from the team.  No riding in a car.  No dances.  No dates.  In bed by 10:00 pm.

“Don’t miss practice,” said former player Odell Gillom.  “There was no excuse.  And don’t stay out of school–or you’d hear it from Paul Brown.  You’d hear it from all the coaches—the players, too.  Brown would make them work harder.  If you miss a day, you’re going to make up for it—because he was mad that you missed.  You didn’t miss practice with Paul Brown, because you’d catch hell from him and the players.” (1)

“His was a fantastic way to do it,” said former player Mike Byhelene.  “He came right to the point.  He didn’t flower any speeches.  He just came to exact words.  He knew certain words, whether it was cutting, complimentary, to make you work harder or that he means business.” (1)

But Brown had also refined his coaching methods very early on.  In fact, he was way ahead of other coaches in the Xs and Os and the ways to teach his methods to his players.  And he stayed with those traits throughout his coaching career. “I was so obsessed with it, I don’t think  I really knew my own limitations,” said Brown. (1)

“Brown’s methods were the same from high school to college to the pros, so it was easy for me to follow him,” said former player Tommy James.  “I knew more what to expect, how he held his practices, better than some rookie coming in from college into pro ball.  I went to college at Ohio State and he ran his practices just like he did here in Massillon” (1)

Brown was also an innovator.  He tested the athletic capabilities of his players, instituting the 40-yard dash.  He prepared playbooks.  He developed the facemask.  And he formed the Massillon Tiger Football Booster Club to support the players and coaches and address public opinion.

Although the team had initially worn tattered uniforms and played on a shoddy field, Brown turned his charges into a championship-caliber team within a year of taking over.  Admission charges to the games took care of the uniform problem and later a new stadium remedied the field issues.

The following is a synopsis of his nine years as the coach of Massillon, where he compiled a record of 80-8-2 and captured six state and three national championships.  He also recorded a 6-3 mark against Canton McKinley, winning his final six.

• 1932 – Won his first five games enroute to a 5-4-1 record. Lost to McKinley 19-0.  Was nearly removed from the coaching position.
• 1933 – Finished 8-2 with losses to Barberton 6-0 and McKinley (9-1) 19-0.
• 1934 – Shut out the first nine opponents, including a 27-0 victory over Sharon, PA, which was coached by Dave Stewart. But lost to McKinley 21-6 in front of 20,000 fans, the largest ever crowd for an Ohio high school game. For the first time ever, both teams entered the contest undefeated.  He also survived another removal attempt.
• 1935 – It all came together and the team finished with a 10-0 record with eight shutouts and was named both state and national champions. It was the highest scoring team in Massillon history up to that time (48 ppg).  Brown defeated McKinley for the first time, 6-0.
• 1936 – Repeated as state and national champions with another 10-0 record and eight shutouts. Beat undefeated McKinley 21-0.
• 1937 – Slipped to 8-1-1, losing to New Castle (coached by Stewart) and tied Mansfield. Defeated unbeaten McKinley 19-6.  Running back Bob Glass wrapped up his career during which he scored 47 touchdowns.
• 1938 – 10-0 record and state champs. Defeated unbeaten McKinley 12-0 in front of 18,000 fans.  Held future pro running back Marion Motley to just 28 yards.

  

• 1939 – Started the season by dedicating newly opened Tiger Stadium with a 40-13 victory over Cleveland Cathedral Latin. Continued the winning streak with another 10-0 record.  Named both state and national champions.  Beat McKinley 20-6 in front of 22,000 fans.
• 1940 – Final season at Massillon. Shut out the first nine opponents while compiling a 10-0 record, extending the winning streak to 33 games.  Again, named both state and national champions.  Averaged 48 points per game.  Achieved the largest margin of victory over McKinley throughout the first 45 games in the series with a 34-6 win.  The Bulldogs were the only team to dent the Tiger end zone.  Defeated West Virginia state champion Weirton 48-0.  Squashed Toledo Waite’s state title hopes with a 28-0 win.  The entire starting lineup was named 1^st Team All-Ohio.

Prior to the 1940 season Massillon traveled to Kent State University for a spring scrimmage and came out on top 47-0 (spring football was permitted in those days). “We went to scrimmage Kent State,” said former player Ray Getz.  “We all got on the bus with our practice uniforms on. ‘The referees have striped shirts on.   Paul Brown said, ‘They want a football game, you give it to them.’  We were only juniors then.  It was in spring.  We beat them so bad they walked off the field before the fourth quarter was over.  We clobbered ‘em.  They went on to win the conference (Ohio Conference) championship that year.” (1)

Brown also coached the Tiger basketball team, finishing state runner-up in 1937 and state semifinalist in 1940 and 1941.

There was nothing else to accomplish at Massillon and Ohio State was calling.  So, Brown departed and headed to Columbus.  Several assistant coaches also went into collegiate and professional coaching, some at Ohio State.

College Coaching

Brown was the head coach at OSU for three years, from 1941 to 1943, until the military called him up for service on account of World War II.  He finished 6-1-1 during his first year, including a 3-1-1 Big 10 mark, and then captured the A.P. National Championship the following year with a 9-1 record, the lone loss coming to No. 3 Wisconsin on account of illnesses due to drinking bad water on the train.  But, with his roster depleted during his third year on account of the war, the record slipped to 3-6.

Of course, as a high profile football coach, he was assigned in the military to lead the Great Lakes Naval Academy, a tour that lasted two years.  His 1944 team finished 9-2-1 and was ranked No. 17 in the college poll.  The following year the record was 6-4-1.

Professional Coaching and Management

With the war over, Brown returned to Ohio State, but failed to win back his job.  The door to Southern Cal, his second choice, was also closed.  So in 1946 he formed his own team in Cleveland as part of the professional All-American Football Conference (AAFC) and became both head coach and general manager.  The team nickname?  Browns, of course.

With limited rules in securing players, Brown was able boost salaries in order to bolster his lineup and his team ended up winning the conference championship in each of its four years in the AAFC, while compiling an overall mark of 47-3-2.

The professional game also provided an opportunity for Brown to explore new innovations, including the following:

• Tested the mental aptitude of his players to assess learning potential. His tests were the predecessor of the Wonderlic Test used by every NFL team today.
• Devised a method to send in plays from the coach. He would rotate two messenger guards who would relay the play to the quarterback in huddle.
• Placed a radio receiver in the quarterback’s helmet to save time in communicating plays. Although it was outlawed by the NFL shortly thereafter, it is currently in use today.
• Created the draw play, specifically for fullback Marion Motley.
• Invented the “taxi squad,” a group of promising players who did not make the roster, but were kept on reserve. To finance the taxi squad, Browns team owner, Mickey McBride, placed them on the payroll of his taxi company, although they did not actually drive cabs.
• During the game, located several assistant coaches in an elevated press box, who maintained constant communication with the sidelines. This provided a significant advantage over opponents.

With the Browns now lacking competition in the AAFC, it was time to test the waters of the NFL.  And Brown again achieved immediate success.  In fact, the Browns won the championship the first year out of the gate and then captured two more along with three runners-up during the next five years.  Brown continued to coach through 1962, building his NFL record to 104-38-4, but a disagreement with new owner Art Modell following the 1962 season left him on the outs.

So once again, in 1968, it was time to form a new team.  This time it was the Cincinnati Bengals.  The colors?: orange and black, after Massillon.  The nickname?: Bengals, like the tiger; but, not the Massillon Tigers.  It was gleaned from tiger-face logo displayed on the front of the leather helmet of an early 1900s Cincinnati professional team.

Brown was owner, general manager and head of coach of the Bengals, and held those positions for eight years.  After that, he was simply the owner, until 1991, the year he passed away.  Brown’s team never made it to the Super Bowl while he was coach, but several teams did achieve divisional success, while his overall record was 55-56-1.  But as General Manager, both his 1982 and 1989 teams did advance to the Super Bowl, losing both times to San Francisco in close games.

Brown’s son Mike now leads the Cincinnati Bengals.  He was always impressed with his father’s approach to the game. “The intensity, that was always there,” he said.  “The ability to organize.  The ability to express himself forcefully, succinctly—that impressed players over a 50 year span.” (1)

During his professional career, Paul Brown was honored several times for his success:

• AP NFL Coach of the year 1970
• UPI NFL Coach of the Year 1957, 1969, 1970
• Sporting News Coach of the Year 1949, 1951, 1953
• Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
• Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor

Postscript

Brown coached at all levels of football in several different cities but always called Massillon home.  “Paul loved Masssillon, said his sister Marian Evans.  “Massillon was everything to him.  He’d say, ‘When I die I want to go back to Massillon.’” (1)

“When he was really famous and very successful, he never forgot his friends in Massillon,” said former teacher and friend Tom McConnaughy.  “You just can’t imagine how tickled he was to see you and how anxious he was to do something for you.” (1)

Annually, he would visit Massillon’s Tiger Stadium just to have a look around.  And in 1976 Massillon renamed the stadium in his honor: “Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.”

Brown married Kathryn Kester on June 10, 1929, and they had two sons, Mike and Robin.  Paul died in Cincinnati at the age of 82 on August 5, 1991.  And his body was brought back to Massillon according to his wishes.

• Massillon Memories, by Scott H. Shook, 1998
• Paul Brown, by Andrew O’Toole

Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 6 – Special…

Winning the big game in the final minute of play is every kicker’s dream. But it doesn’t happen often, maybe once in a player’s career.  And at Massillon, it’s even rarer given that the Tigers usually have the game salted away well before the end.  In fact, throughout the 1,258 games played, a Massillon kicker has turned defeat into victory with a last minute field goal only twice.  In addition, a tie score was broken with a late game or overtime field goal just four times.  Also, in just two games did a kicker boot an extra point for the win.  Never has a Tiger returned a punt or a blocked kick for a touchdown in the last minute.  All rare history, indeed.

Please enjoy this final story in the series.

Field Goals to Steal Victory

No. 1 – Max Shafer (2002)

• Opponent – Massillon Perry (10-2); playoffs Round 2
• Kicker numbers – 35-yard field goal as time expired
• Final score – 23-21
• The story – Massillon opened up a 20-7 lead by the end of the third quarter in this playoff game, but Perry stormed back to go up 21-20 with just minutes left. Tiger Quarterback Matt Martin then promptly completed six straight passes, the final one a back-shoulder catch by Devin Jordan, to move the ball to the Perry 18 with just seconds remaining.  Max Shafer then finished it off by calmly kicking the game-winner and was instantly swarmed by his teammates.  Shafer would kick eight field goals during his career as a Tiger.

 No. 2 – David Abdul (2000)

• Opponent – Lakewood St. Edward (6-4)
• Kicker numbers – 36-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the game
• Final score – 28-27
• The story – It was just a regular season affair in Lakewood against St. Edward, but it was surely a much-anticipated matchup throughout the state. And the play didn’t disappoint.  The Eagles held the early lead, but Massillon eventually took an 18-12 advantage into the locker room, aided by a 52-yard Abdul field goal.  Eds came right back in the second half and went up 27-18, only to see the Tigers close the gap to two points on a 20-yard halfback pass from Terrence King to Montale Watkins.  But the Tigers would get one more shot when quarterback Justin Zwick connected with Watkins on a 52-yard pass to the Eagle 37.  A few plays later Massillon was on the 19, setting up the winning Abdul kick, which came following three timeouts. “I didn’t mind the wait,” smiled Abdul. “Those two (St. Edward time outs) kind of relaxed me.” (The Independent).  Abdul would kick 20 field goals during his career as a Tiger.

 Field Goals to Win the Game

 No. 1 – Jeremy Geier (2009)

• Opponent – Twinsburg (10-2); playoffs Round 2
• Kicker numbers – 40-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the game
• Final score – 10-7
• The story – Both teams moved the ball well enough but could score just seven points apiece on account of turnovers and penalties. So it was up to Geier and his foot to win the game with just seconds left.  The 40-yard field goal was Geier’s longest of his 2-year career as a Tiger kicker, which included 18 successes.

 No. 2 – Lee Hurst (1988)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (6-4)
• Kicker numbers – 23-yard field goal in overtime for the win
• Final score – 10-7
• The story – Massillon hadn’t beaten McKinley since 1983 and new head coach Lee Owens didn’t want to start his career in Tigertown on the wrong end of the rivalry. While both teams were in the midst of rebuilding years, the game became a brutal affair, eventually tied at the end of regulation, after Hurst just missed on a 47-yard attempt.  In the overtime Massillon had the ball first and was held short of the end zone.  That’s when Hurst kicked the presumed game-winner.  But the celebration need to wait just a little longer, until the Bulldogs were also held and then missed their 38-yard try for the tie.

 No. 3 – Andrew David (2013)

• Opponent – Canton GlenOak (5-5)
• Kicker numbers – 20-yard field goal in the third overtime period for the win
• Final score – 23-20
• The story – This early season game included three field goals and three overtimes. With 17 seconds left in regulation, GlenOak kicked a 31-yarder to send the game into extra frames.  The first O.T. was scoreless and the second resulted in seven points apiece, so it was time to finally decide the matter.  The Tigers were held in the third and Andrew David responded with a 20-yarder to give Massillon the lead.  But the Golden Eagles drove to the one and went for it on fourth down.  That’s when Mike Smith stopped the GlenOak runner at the goal line to secure victory.  David takes credit for 32 career field goals and leads all Tigers in this category.

 No. 4 – Joe Eckstein (1914)

• Opponent – Alliance
• Kicker numbers – 42-yard field goal with one minute left in the game
• Final score – 3-0
• The story – It was an unbelievable effort in this time period for a field goal of this length. And the fans accordingly took note.  Here’s the report from the local newspaper: “With only one minute of play remaining and a large round-faced moon sending its first silvery rays shimmering across the field and Massillon high in possession of the ball on Alliance’s 35-yard line, fullback Joe Eckstein dropped back for a place kick. Quarterback Hollinger motioned for the ball, caught it and touched the ground. There was a thud as leather met leather and then the pigskin rose above 22 struggling gridiron warriors and sailed gracefully over the bar, bringing to the orange and black the greatest victory of the season by the score of 3 to 0 over a foe whose determination was unbendable as steel and whose grit won praises of 500 football fans Saturday afternoon at the Driving Park.  For several seconds after the kick the spectators seemed rooted to the ground. They were amazed by the brilliancy of the mighty boot. Then bedlam broke loose. Orange and black clothed warriors grabbed and hugged each other and performing antics that they would not think of at any other time. Men threw their hats in the air and the fairer sex, laughed, clapped their hands and wept for sheer delight. In an instant the field was black with people. A horde of jubilant high school students grabbed Eckstein and placed him on their shoulders and carried him around the field. It was the happiest moment in the big fullbacks’ life.”

 Extra Points to Win the Game

 No. 1 – Nick Pribich (1994)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (10-3); 100^th Game
• Kicker numbers – Extra point kick for the win in overtime
• Final score – 42-21
• The story – Back and forth this classic went until the two juggernauts were tied at 35 by the end of regulation. In the overtime, McKinley would get the ball first and scored on a 1-yard run.  But kicker Josh McDaniels missed his attempt to the right, to the astonishment of the Massillon crowd, which now sensed an opening for the win.  On Massillon’s second down, quarterback Willie Spencer Jr. headed around the right side of the line, faked a pitch, and then did pitch it to Victor Redrick, who had been trailing the play.  Redrick snagged the ball in stride and sped untouched into the end zone.  Now was up to Tiger kicker Nick Pribich.  With proverbial orange ice water in his veins he drilled the ball through the uprights to give his team the victory in this 100^th game of the rivalry.

 No. 2 – Bill Edwards (1922)

• Opponent – East Cleveland Shaw (6-4)
• Kicker numbers – Extra point kick for the win with 27 seconds left in the game
• Final score – 7-6
• The story – Shaw scored six points in the second quarter and held that advantage through nearly the rest of the game. That’s when “Dutch” Hill went to work, driving his team to the end zone to tie the score.  In comes Bill Edwards, a future Tiger assistant coach, who had perfected the art of the drop kick. “I’ll kick that goal or die in the attempt,” said Edwards.  The try was true and Massillon would take home another victory.  Interestingly, the coaches had met prior to the game to negotiate the length of each quarter.  With Massillon wanting 15 and Shaw 12, the two agreed on 14.  Good thing it wasn’t 12.

 Tiger Fans Still Remember:

• In 1919, Taylor blocked a punt through the end zone to give Massillon a 2-0 victory over Youngstown South. It was the team’s third block of the day.
• In 1976, Anthony Grizzard returned a punt 36 yards for a touchdown against Warren Harding to break a 15-all tie with 9:50 left in the game. The lead held up for a 22-15 victory.
• In 1980, Dave Eberhart kicked a 25-yard field goal with 3:39 left to give Massillon a 22-21 victory over Akron Garfield.
• In 1994, Nick Pribich kicked a 40-yard field goal with 2:58 left to give Massillon a 10-7 victory over Austintown Fitch.

Massillon Will Remain in Division II For the 2022…

Massillon Will Remain in Division II For the 2022 Season

The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has released its playoff regional assignments for the upcoming season and the Tigers will remain in Division II, Region 7.  The region is dominated by Columbus-area teams, but also features several local ones.

Last year Region 7 had 25 teams.  But this year, the number has been increased to 28.  Whereas Regions 5 and 6 remain at 28, Region 8 has been reduced from 25 to 22.

Upgraded to Division I from last season’s Region 7 are Olentangy Berlin and Olentangy.  Downgraded to Division III are Columbus Whitehall and Logan.  Meanwhile, Columbus Briggs, Columbus Franklin Heights, Teays Valley and Columbus West have transferred in from Region 8.  Newcomers include to Division II are Dover and Columbus DeSales.

Region 7 is not considered a challenging division top-to-bottom, but it still has several teams capable of taking the crown, including Massillon, which won the region four straight times from 2017 to 2020, and Green, which upset the Tigers in last year’s regional finals.  Others in contention include Perry, Lake, North Canton, Big Walnut, Dublin Scioto, Westerville South and Worthington Kilbourne, plus newcomers Dover and Columbus DeSales.

Changes in the other divisions:

• Region 5: Solon, Shaker Heights and Cleveland John Adams have entered from Division I, Akron St. Vincent has entered from Division III, Barberton and Cleveland Rhodes have transferred in, Cleveland Benedictine, Bedford, Kent Roosevelt, Madison and University School have dropped to Division III, and Cleveland John Marshall has moved up to Division I.  Akron Hoban and Walsh remain.
• Region 6: Toledo Start has entered from Division I, Ashland and Sylvania Southview have entered from Division III, Barberton and Cleveland Rhodes have transferred out, and Wadsworth has moved up to Division I.  Avon and Toledo Central Catholic remain.
• Region 8: Cincinnati Aiken, Cincinnati Northwest and Hamilton Ross have moved in from Division III, Columbus Briggs, Columbus West, Columbus Franklin Heights and Teays Valley have transferred out, and Tecumseh and West Carrollton have dropped to Division III.  Cincinnati LaSalle and Cincinnati Winton Woods remain.

Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 5 – Wide…

This is the fifth part in a series on the greatest performances by Massillon players, as selected by the Booster Club Football Museum staff.   Part 4 focuses on the wide receivers throughout the timeline of Massillon football (1891-present).

Unlike in the previous Series Parts for quarterbacks and running backs, this presentation uses a completely different approach in selecting the best of the best.  A receiver does not have as much control over his performance, aside from running a good route, since he must rely on the quarterback to make a decision to actually throw him the ball and throw it accurately.  So, receptions, yards and touchdowns data can be misleading.  Therefore, the criteria used in this presentation focuses on a receiver’s impact in securing the victory via one of the following two scenarios:

• A winning touchdown reception in the fourth quarter
• A key reception that sets up a winning touchdown reception in the fourth quarter

To start off, here are the current record-holders for wide receivers:

Yards – Andrew Wilson-Lamp (2019)

• Opponent – Akron St. Vincent (0-0); finished the season 8-3
• Final Score – 44-14
• WR numbers – 11 receptions for 232 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Aidan Longwell
• The story – Wilson-Lamp caught more than half of the team’s passes in routing the Irish.  Seven of his 11 receptions went for more than ten yards, including long ones of 51, 45, 40 and 24 yards.  “I just came out ready to play,” Wilson-Lamp said after his record-setting performance.  “I wasn’t expecting to break anything.” – Chris Easterling, Independent

Receptions – Austin Kutscher (2017)

• Opponent – Canisius, NY (4-1); finished the season 8-4
• Final Score – 35-49 L
• WR numbers – 17 receptions for 208 yards and 0 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Aidan Longwell
• The story – Attempting to come from behind in this loss, Longwell threw 30 passes and completed 22 of them.  His primary target was Kutscher, who caught 17 passes out of 19 attempts, with long completions of 42, 26, 23 and 20 yards.

Touchdowns – Wendell Lohr (1934)

• Opponent – Barberton
• Final Score – 54-0
• WR numbers – 5 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Bob Shertzer and Mike Byelene
• The story – Lohr scored the first three Massillon touchdowns on pass receptions of 16, 44 and 10 yards.  His third quarter TD of 29 yards upped the score to 40-0 and he then finished it off in the fourth with a 20-yard TD reception, the Tigers’ final TD of the night.  In between, he returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown to give him six TDs for the night.

 Longest Touchdown – Jayden Ballard (2019)

• Opponent – Monroeville Gateway, PA (6-1); finished the season 12-3
• Final Score – 48-12
• WR numbers – 5 receptions for 145 yards and 1 touchdown; long of 95 yards
• Quarterback – Aidan Longwell
• The story – Massillon held a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter and had just stopped a potential Gateway score by recovering a fumble at the 4 yard line.  On 2^nd and 9 from the five, in an attempt to get out of the hole, Longwell unloaded to Ballard.  The speedster separated himself from the defender along the right sideline, secured the ball in stride at 40 and then outraced the would-be tackler 60 yards to the end zone.  The score swung the momentum and gave the Tigers a commanding 17-0 lead.

Twelve times in history the Tigers came from behind to win in the fourth quarter, with the deciding points coming via the pass.  Here are those featured receivers, shown in chronological order:

Al Brown (1947)

• Opponent – Canton Lincoln
• Final Score – 13-7
• WR numbers – 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Jack Hill
• The story – Massillon was down 7-6 to the Lions with just over four minutes left in the game, when quarterback Jack Hill spotted Brown breaking open in the end zone.  Hill let it fly and Brown leaped high between two defenders, coming down with the ball in his arms for the winning points.

Clyde Childers (1957)

• Opponent – Warren Harding (6-0); finished the season 9-1 and 4^th in the state
• Final Score – 20-14
• WR numbers – 2 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Gene Stewart; Joe Sparma
• The story – This one was the infamous “clock game.”  With the scored tied at 14 and just seconds left in the fourth quarter, sophomore quarterback and future major league baseball pitcher Joe Sparma was inserted into the game due to his big arm.  Sparma unloaded a “Hail Mary” pass from midfield to Childers.  The 6’-4” Childers, who had scored earlier on a 29-yard touchdown pass, outjumped two defenders, tipped the ball in the air and secured it at the two yard line.  Then he lunged across the goal line for the win.

Eddie Bell (1974)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (9-0); rivalry game; finished the season 9-1
• Final Score – 20-15
• WR numbers – 4 receptions for 67 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Greg Wood
• The story – It was 5-4 underdog Massillon against undefeated and playoff-bound McKinley.  The Bulldogs had erased the Tigers’ 14-0 halftime advantage and, while owning a 15-14 lead, was desperately holding on.  Massillon began its final drive from its own 35 yard line Wood went immediately to the air.  Three down-and-outs were caught by Bell and, following a quarterback sack, the Tigers had the ball at the Bulldog 33 with just 13 seconds left.  Somehow on the next play Wood avoided the blitz, stepped to his side and unloaded a pass to Bell, who had beaten his defender down the right sideline.  Bell caught the ball in the end zone and pandemonium ensued, with the Tigers savoring the win while knocking McKinley out of the playoffs.

Curt Strawder (1978)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (7-1); rivalry game; finished the season 7-2
• Final Score – 13-10
• WR numbers – 8 receptions for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Brent Offenbecher
• The story – McKinley held a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter when unbeaten Massillon finally got the offense into gear.  Strawder first caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Offenbecher to make the score 10-6.  After Tim Reese intercepted a McKinley pass at the visitor’s 33, the Tigers were on the march again.  A pass completion to Strawder moved the ball to the 19.  Then, after a second completion advanced it to the 7, Strawder secured a look-in pass in the end zone for the winning points.

Jerry May (1992)

• Opponent – Walsh Jesuit (1-0); finished the season 7-2
• Final Score – 27-24
• WR numbers – 2 receptions for 74 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Mike Danzy
• The story – Walsh led 14-0 going into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers tallied three times to take a 21-14 lead.  That third TD was a 59-yarder from Danzy to May.  Only, Walsh responded on their final possession of regulation and sent the game into overtime.  In period one, the Warriors suffered a penalty and eventually settled for a 24-yard field goal.  Now it was the Tigers’ turn.  On 3^rd and 5 Danzy rolled right and found May in the right corner of the end zone for the win.  “They were biting pretty hard (on fakes to Simpson),” noted Danzy. “Jerry was to go out and up (to the right corner of the end zone.” “We hadn’t run that play since last year,” May said. “I was playing quarterback then and it was my favorite play.” – Steve Doerschuk, Independent

Vaughn Mohler (1994)

• Opponent – Fremont Ross (8-2); playoffs first round
• Final Score – 35-28
• WR numbers – 1 reception for 7 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Willie Spencer, Jr.
• The story – Massillon battled Ross and their stellar running back Charles Woodson to a 28-28 tie late in the fourth quarter of this playoff game.  Starting at their own 21, the Tigers moved the ball via run and pass to the Ross seven yard line.  Then, on 3^rd and goal, Spencer rolled right and bought time with his scrambling until a receiver broke open.  Finally, he spotted Mohler in the end zone and threw a strike for the winning score.  “That play was supposed to go to Leon, but he was co­vered,” Spencer explained. “So I looked for my secondary re­ceiver and he was covered. I thought I was going to have to run out of bounds, but then I saw Vaughn and I threw it and he caught it.” – Joe Shaheen, Independent

Jeremiah Drobney (1999)

• Opponent – Fremont Ross (3-4); finished the season 4-6
• Final Score – 20-14
• WR numbers – 1 reception for 5 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Dave Irwin
• The story – Massillon was bidding for their first undefeated season since 1978, but trailed Ross 14-12 entering the fourth quarter.  The Tigers then mounted an 85-yard drive and scored when Irwin connected with Drobney in the middle of the end zone on a 5-yard touchdown pass.  Massillon then held on for the win.

Devin Smith (2010)

• Opponent – Canton GlenOak (1-0); finished the season 4-6
• Final Score – 28-27
• WR numbers – 5 receptions for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Brody Tonn
• The story – With the fourth quarter yet to be played, GlenOak held a 27-21 lead over the visiting Tigers.  But it only took two plays to turn the game in Massillon’s favor. Tonn first completed a pass to Smith for eight yards and then on the next play he sent the speedster deep.  Although the pass was underthrown, Smith retreated, secured the ball and ran the remaining distance to complete the 45-yard play and tie the score.  Anthony McCarthy’s PAT put the Tigers over the top for the win.  It was Smith’s second TD of the game, the first coming in the opening quarter on a 43-yard pass from Tonn that bit into a 14-0 GlenOak lead.

Tre’von Morgan (2017)

• Opponent – Canton McKinley (8-1); rivalry game; finished the season 8-3
• Final Score – 16-15
• WR numbers – 4 receptions for 77 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Aidan Longwell
• The story – With 9:15 left in the game, McKinley scored to take a 15-9 lead.  But Massillon came right back and marched 92 yards in nine plays for the winning points.  On 4^th and 3 from the Bulldog eight, Morgan lined up in the left slot and ran a scissors route with wide receiver Austin Kutscher.  The play confused Morgan’s defender and he was late to the coverage, leaving the 6’-6” receiver wide open for Longwell’s floater.  It came at the 6:02 mark.  Klay Moll then kicked the PAT for the lead.  The game ended on a McKinley field goal attempt that was wide left.

Dean Clark (2017)

• Opponent – Boardman (6-4); playoffs first round
• Final Score – 28-23
• WR numbers – 2 receptions for 44 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Aidan Longwell
• The story – This first-round playoff game was in Massillon’s favor early.  But with 9:19 left in the game Boardman scored to take a 2-possession lead at 23-14.  Austin Kutcher’s 36-yard touchdown pass was able to cut the margin to 23-21, completing a 74-yard drive.  The Tigers needed one more score to win, but first they needed to stop the Spartans, which they did in three plays, forcing a punt.  Starting at their own 41, Longwell and the Tigers went to work.  The team advanced to the 19 yard line in four plays and then on the next play Longwell found Clark open on a post pattern.  He secured the ball at the five and was quickly in the end zone for the win with 5:46 left.

Jayden Ballard (2018)

• Opponent – East St. Louis, IL (5-1); finished the season 9-3
• Final Score – 46-40
• WR numbers – 3 receptions for 58 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Aidan Longwell
• The story – The Tigers were facing national power East St. Louis and this one turned into an offensive affair, with the lead changing hands five times.  With 3:33 left in the game, Massillon had the ball 3^rd and 6 at the ESL 39 yard line.  From there, Longwell dropped back and unloaded the bomb to sophomore Jayden Ballard.  The speedster had just beaten the defender and caught the ball for the win, one step before going out the back of the end zone.

Martavien Johnson (2020)

• Opponent – Cincinnati LaSalle (8-2); playoffs state semifinals
• Final Score – 14-10
• WR numbers – 3 receptions for 70 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Zach Catrone
• The story – Seeking revenge for a loss in the previous year’s state finals, Massillon proceeded to wage a spirited, defensive battle with LaSalle.  But with 2:13 left in the game, the Tigers were down 10-7 and, following a Lancer punt, had the ball at the LaSalle 4.  On the first play, Catrone went play-action with Johnson running a skinny post with Jayden running a deep post to clear the secondary.  Catrone delivered a strike to Johnson, who caught the ball in stride near the 20 and sped into the end zone for the winning points.

At least six times in a game a Massillon receiver caught a big pass to set up the winning points.  Here are a few of them, in chronological order:

Curt Strawder (1977)

• Opponent – Gahanna Lincoln (1-0); finished the season 8-1
• Final Score – 28-20
• WR numbers – 6 receptions for 169 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Brent Offenbecher
• The story – Massillon had lost to Gahanna 10-0 the previous year and was against the wall this second time around.  It was a seemingly impossible situation with 1:11 left on the clock and the Tigers facing a 4^th and 19 at their own 39.  So Offenbecher went deep and found Strawder, who dove ahead for the ball, catching it over his shoulder at the Gahanna 29, completing a 42-yard play for new life.  Three plays later Greg Carpenter scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run.  Strawder, the soft-spoken 5-10, 147-pount wide receiver, said of his catch: “We had to win, you know. I just kept my eye on the ball and it came to me. I felt real good after I caught it.” – Roland Dreussi, Independent

Montale Watkins (2000)

• Opponent – Lakewood St. Edward (6-2); finished the season 7-4
• Final Score – 28-27
• WR numbers – 7 receptions for 147 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Justin Zwick

• The story – In 1999 Massillon handled St. Edward easily on their own turf, but this time it was a more difficult task, on the road. Midway through the fourth quarter the Tigers were down 27-18 when Zwick connected with Watkins on a 20-yard touchdown pass.  That closed the gap to 27-25.  One more score was needed.  On Massillon’s final try of the night, from the 11 yard line, Zwick escaped from the pocket and found Watkins open down the right sideline.  Watkins grabbed the pass at the Massillon 45 and wasn’t tackled until he had reached 37.  The play covered 52 yards.  David Abdul then capped off the ditch drive by delivering on a 36-yard game-winning field goal.  “The cornerback pushed me to the inside, then released,” Watkins said. “The safety never came over, so I just sat there.  It seemed like the ball took forever to get there, but I just made sure I caught it before I did anything else.” – Mike Keeting, Independent

Devin Jordan (2002)

• Opponent – Massillon Perry (10-1); playoffs second round
• Final Score – 23-21
• WR numbers – 7 receptions for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Matt Martin
• The story – The Tigers jumped on top 13-0 in the second quarter of this playoff game, but Perry responded with two fourth quarter touchdown runs to take a 21-20 lead with 1:17 left in the game.  In a final effort, Martin completed six straight pass and then threw long to Jordan.  The pass was underthrown, but the future Buckeye reversed direction and made a back shoulder catch at the Perry 18 with just seconds remaining.  Max Shafer finished it off by kicking the game-winner from 35 yards out.

 Zack Vanryzin (2005)

• Opponent – Cleveland St. Ignatius (4-1); finished the season 5-5
• Final Score – 29-26
• WR numbers – 4 receptions for 73 yards and 0 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Bobby Huth, Shawn Weisend
• The story – Massillon trailed 26-21 with 5:27 left on the clock and needed one more to score to secure their first-ever win over Ignatius.  Starting at their own 28, Massillon advanced to the Wildcat 42, but now faced a 4^th and 15 situation.  That’s when Weisand, in the game for the injured Huth, found Vanryzin open on a crossing route.  Vanryzin gathered the ball and made it 24 yards to the Iggy 18 before he was tackled, giving the Tigers an opportunity to at least tie the game with a field goal.  Only, with ten seconds left in the game, Weisend managed to run it in from five yards out for the win.

Brian Gamble (2005)

• Opponent – Lakewood St. Edward (12-0); playoffs state semifinals
• Final Score – 21-17
• WR numbers – 5 receptions for 98 yards and 1 touchdown
• Quarterback – Bobby Huth
• The story –   St. Edward was leading 17-14 late in the game with Massillon on the march. But the drive stalled near midfield due to an errant center snap and it was suddenly 3^rd down and a long way from the first down marker.  But Huth found Gamble sprinting across the field.  The junior running back/receiver caught the ball in stride and then sprinted the required distance down the left sideline to pick up the first down.  It was simply an inconceivable conversion of a 3^rd and 30 situation.  Gamble eventually finished it off with a run up the middle, with 1:56 left on the clock.  The Tigers then held St. Eds on its final possession and secured the victory.  “We were on the same page,” Gamble said. “I was supposed to run a post and I saw that they had it double covered, so I just broke it off to the inside, and I was hoping Bobby saw me. He did and I caught it, and I knew I had to get a first down and get out of bounds and stop the clock.  I think they started playing some ‘Cover 2,’ where they’d press up on me and try to double cover me. That’s what happened on the third‑and‑30 play, so I broke it off into a dig, and me and Bobby were on the same page.” – Chris Easterling — Independent

Justin Olack (2009)

• Opponent – Twinsburg (10-1); playoffs second round
• Final Score – 10-7
• WR numbers – 4 receptions for 104 yards and 0 touchdowns
• Quarterback – Robert Partridge
• The story – The score was tied 7-7 with 2:38 left when the Tigers started their final drive of the night, starting from the Massillon 20.  After completing a 10-yard pass to Devin Smith, Partridge found Olack on a 41-yard completion to advance the ball to the Twinsburg 29 and set up a potential game-winning field goal.  After the Tigers picked up six yards on the ensuing plays, Jeremy Geier didn’t disappoint and drilled a game-winning 40-yard field goal.

Six New Members Slated for the Massillon Halls of…

The Massillon Wall of Champions will welcome Andy Alleman as a new addition to its honored roll of former athletics.  He will be officially inducted during the Massillon football game against Cincinnati Moeller.   In addition, five new members will be added to the Massillon Football Hall of Fame, including Duane “Dewey” Knight, Jim Russell, Fred “Pokey” Blunt, Bobby Huth and Willie Spencer, Jr.  All will have commemorative plaques mounted in the sports hall at the high school.

Andy Alleman – Alleman played just one year for Massillon, but he must have made quite an early impression, for he was named a team captain before the season even began.  And he didn’t disappoint on the field, especially from his middle linebacker position, where he was a dominating force, wreaking havoc against opposing quarterbacks.  He also played a little offense, lining up at blocking fullback.

In 2001 the Tigers finished 12-2, with both losses coming to eventual Division 1 state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius: one in the regular season and the other in the state semifinals.  Led by the 6’-4”, 234 lb. Alleman and his ferocious linebacker play, the Tiger defense held opponents to an average of just 3.2 yards per carry, which is Massillon’s 3^rd best all-time against spread offenses.  That translated into a mere 114 yards rushing allowed per game, which is 4^th best.  For his play, Alleman was named 2001 WHBC Stark County Player of the Year

After high school, Andy received a scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh and played on the defensive line from 2002-2004.  But in 2005 he transferred to the University of Akron, where he completed his final two years of eligibility, as a full-time starter, only this time on the offensive line.  He must have found this position to his liking, for in his second year he was named both Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and Weight Lifter of the Year.  In addition, he was part of the 2005 Zips team that captured the Mid-American Conference East championship and played for the MAC title.  Post-Akron, Andy was invited to participate in both the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game, and he was also invited to the NFL Combine.  Recently, he was inducted into the University of Akron Hall of Fame.

In 2007, the New Orleans Saints drafted Alleman in the 3rd round as the No. 88 pick overall as an offensive guard.  As such, he became the 4^th highest U. Akron grad to be drafted in their long history.  But, as with many NFL players, he was a journeyman and, throughout his 3-year pro career also played for the Miami Dolphins, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts.  In all, he saw action in 24 games (15 for Miami and 9 for Kansas City) and started in seven.

After football Alleman returned to U. Akron to complete his bachelor’s degree in Business and Organizational Communication and currently works in sales.

In 2016 Alleman was inducted into the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame.

Duane “Dewey” Knight – Knight made his mark in Massillon as a Booster Club President and beyond, playing instrumental roles in bringing several major projects to fruition.  In 1966 and 1967 he held the position of Booster Club Vice President and then served as President in 1968.  But he remained active throughout his time with the club and spearheaded the following projects:

• 1966-1999 – Tiger Game Program Chairman
• 1974 – Purchase of the first Tiger calliope and truck
• 1989 – Co-Chairman of the Omni sand turf project, the Tigers’ first artificial playing surface
• 2002 – Solicitation of funding for the Eagles Athletic Complex
• 2003 – Purchase and construction of the north parking lot
• Long-time Sideliner

Jim Russell – Russell played football in an age when everyone went both ways.  One needed to be tough as nails, have incredible endurance and just be a good football player.  And Russell, as both an offensive and defensive lineman, checked all of the boxes during his 3-year career for the Tigers.  But, he also was able to share in the celebratory success Massillon achieved at that time.

Under Head Coach Paul Brown, Russell started during all three of his years.  In 1938 the Tigers finished 10-0 and were named state champions.  They held onto that crown the following year with another 10-0 mark, but this time also garnered national championship honors.  Success continued throughout 1940 with another perfect mark, which included nine shutouts.  Only McKinley was able to score a single touchdown.  Of course, the Tigers were again both state and national champs.

For his play, Russell was named 2^nd Team All Stark County guard in 1938, 1^st Team All Stark County guard in 1939 and both 1^st Team All Stark County guard and 1^st Team A.P. All-Ohio guard in 1940.

Fred “Pokey” Blunt – Blunt was one of the most prolific running backs in Massillon history.  As a 3-year starter he scored 34 rushing touchdowns, which ranks 5^th all-time in the Massillon records book.  He was also part of three state championships and one national crown.

In 1939, his sophomore year under Coach Paul Brown, Blunt scored twelve touchdowns and accounted for 74 of his team’s 460 offensive points.  Included in that was a 3-touchdown effort against Canton Lehman.

The following year he tallied nine rushing TDs, including a 3-score night against Cathedral Latin, which finished the season as the best team in Cleveland with a 9-1 record.  For his effort he was named Repository All-Stark County running back and 1^st Team A.P. All-Ohio running back.

Blunt wrapped up his Massillon career in 1941 as a team captain under new head coach Bud Houghton.  For the year, he scored twelve rushing touchdowns and added a receiving TD against Canton McKinley, compiling a team-leading 84 points in total.  Three TDs were recorded against Alliance.  He also repeated as both Repository All-Stark County running back and 1^st Team A.P. All-Ohio running back.

Bobby Huth – Huth was small in stature at 5’-9”, 160 lbs., but big in heart as a Massillon Tiger, leading his team for two years at the quarterback position.  And at the end of his career, Bobby had his name all over the Massillon record book.

After a modest beginning as a sophomore, Huth became the starter in 2005, completing 141 of 223 passes for 2,017 yards (9^th all-time) and 18 touchdowns.  His 63.2% completion mark ranks 3^rd.  Huth was a part of many significant victories that year, including the following:

• A 34-31 win over Elder at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium
• A first-ever win over Cleveland St. Ignatius, by the score of 29-26.
• A 21-3 playoff victory over Canton McKinley in which he completed 9 of 11 passes and tossed a touchdown pass.
• A 21-17 win over Cleveland St. Edward in the Division 1 state semifinals.  In that one he passed for 230 yards and two TDs and led his team to victory after falling behind by ten points.  He also completed an inconceivable 3^rd and 30 for a first down during the winning drive.
• An appearance in the Division 1 state finals, where the Tigers were edged by Cincinnati St. Xavier, 24-17.

The following season, as a team captain, Huth completed 151 (8^th all-time) of 260 passes for 1,955 yards and 21 touchdowns, with a completion mark of 58.1%.  In a playoff game against Perry he passed for 260 yards and three scores.  For his effort that year he was named 2^nd Team A.P. Division 1 All-Ohio quarterback.

For his career Huth completed 297 passes for 4,077 yards, both 4^th all-time bests.  His completion mark of 60.0% is 2^nd all-time.

Willie Spencer, Jr. – Spencer was one of the most athletic quarterbacks in Massillon history.  Then again, he was playing on the heels of his father, Willie Sr., who was a sensational high school All-American running back for the Tigers in 1971.

In 1993 during his junior year Spencer became a varsity starter at defensive back and was part of a team that compiled a 10-2 record, while losing in the playoff regionals.  With an uncanny ability quickly break for the ball, he had six pass interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns, including 87 yards against Grove City, PA, 54 yards against Austintown Fitch and 36 yards against Akron St. Vincent.  He also recovered two fumbles, returning one for a score.  In addition, he was the backup quarterback, where he scored one rushing touchdown.

Spencer became the full-time signal caller during his senior year, where he completed 58 of 124 passes for 941 yards and five touchdowns.  He also rushed 129 times for 775 yards and 18 touchdowns, scoring 108 points.  His rushing yardage total leads all Massillon quarterbacks in that category.  Memorable games include:

• 148 rushing yards against Mansfield
• 122 rushing yards against Fitch.  His 89-yard jaunt in the fourth quarter tied the game at 7-7, after which Nick Pribich kicked the game-winning field goal.
• Led Massillon to a 42-41 overtime win over Canton McKinley in the 100^th rivalry game.
• Completed 7 of 11 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns, in a 35-28 playoff victory over Fremont Ross, a team that led by future Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson.

For his performance he was named Repository 1^st Team All-County quarterback, WHBC Stark County MVP, Northeast Inland District Player of the Year and 1^st Team A.P. Division 1 All-Ohio quarterback.

Spencer was recruited by the University Akron as a quarterback and played sparingly in 1996-1997.  In 1999 he enrolled in Tiffin University and moved to wide receiver, where he excelled.  During that season, he caught 66 pass (3^rd all-time) for 1,818 yards (3^rd all-time) and 15 touchdowns (2^nd all-time).  Against Urbana, he caught four touchdown passes (1^st all-time) and rushed for a fifth score, tallying 30 points for the game (1^st all-time).