Author: <span>Eric Smith</span>

Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large) History

1921: Massillon 13, Canton McKinley 12

HIGH GRIDDERS TRIM CANTON IN ANNUAL DUEL

ORANGE AND BLACK IS 13-12 WINNER IN MUDDY ENGAGEMENT

A football game hung in the balance!

Only a few seconds of play remained. Eleven tired and mud be-spattered but grimly determined youths stood within the shadow of the goal line they had so nobly defended. Opposite them stood eleven other tired and mud be-spattered but as grimly determined lads who by sheer strength had forced their way to within four yards of the goal line.

Upon the next play rested the outcome of the encounter. But one point separated the rival gladiators, so thoroughly soaked with mud that it was almost impossible to discern friend from foe. But in the faces of eleven of those sturdy lads was written the grim resolve not to yield one more inch of ground. In the countenances of the others could be seen an equally firm determination to score the touchdown which meant victory.

On the sidelines several thousand highly excited persons stood in breathless silence as they waited for this final test of strength. The atmosphere vibrated with the tenseness of the moment. The opposing warriors took their positions.

Then—“Time!” That single word echoed across the field. A sharp blast of a whistle pierced the air. And for the fifth time in nine years the orange and black waved triumph over the red and black. Massillon had defeated Canton! By a single point had victory been achieved. Washington high school’s football team had won its annual encounter with its perennial foe, McKinley high, of Canton, by a score of 13 to 12.

On one side of the field at Lakeside stadium, Canton, pandemonium broke loose. Cheer after cheer rent the air as the victorious Massillon lads trotted off the field. On the other side quiet prevailed. With heads bowed, the defeated athletes trudged through the mud. They had fought gamely in this the biggest battle of the year. The defeat was a bitter pill but they bore their cross manfully. Needless to say, Massillon celebrated Saturday night.

Thus ended the annual gridiron fracas between the scholastic elevens of Massillon and Canton. In 1920 Canton came to Massillon and handed the orange and black a 14 to 0 lacing. This year Massillon turned the tables and the balance of power rests with the local school, for of the nine games played, five have been Massillon victories. Three have been won by Canton, while one ended in a tie.

Saturday was far from being an ideal football day. A steady downpour, which lasted until after the game had begun, turned the field into a quagmire of mud and water. With the mud several inches deep, fast playing was out of the question. Straight football had the call and with a team several pounds to the man heavier than Massillon’s aggregation, the advantage rested with Canton. But once more Massillon grit and fighting spirit conquered. After the first few plays the rival players were so covered with mud that it was hard to distinguish one from the other.
Under such conditions victory would go to the team which secured the breaks. Massillon secured the breaks but they resulted because of the hard and fierce playing of Coach Stewart’s lads who entered the fray to do or die. Canton’s points were made because of the ability of its heavy backs to plunge through the lighter Massillon eleven.

Although Ted Roth, Massillon’s splendid center, was injured and forced out of the game before the second quarter ended, it was his fierce tackling which paved the way for Massillon’s first touchdown in the initial period. For it was he who tackled Kennedy, Canton’s star halfback, so hard as he came through the line that the wet ball slipped from his grasp and was pounded upon by Boerner, Massillon’s halfback, on Canton’s 20-yard line. Then Captain Hess, whose ankle which was injured in the Dayton Steele game several weeks ago was still weak, sneaked through the Canton line for three yards and on the next play heaved a pass to Boerner, which brought a first down and placed the ball on Canton’s 10-yard stripe.

Next came a double pass. Rosenberg to Hess and the orange and black leader dashed around Canton’s right end, being forced to the extreme edge of the field before he crashed into an opposing player and slid over the goal line for Massillon’s first touchdown. He kicked goal and that point later was to be the deciding point of the battle.

Not until the third quarter did Massillon’s next opportunity to score present itself. A Massillon punt was downed on Canton’s two-yard line. The red and black was given five yards to punt. Bob Shaidnagle, a husky lineman, who had not played since early in the season because of a broken collar bone, had just entered the game for Massillon. Kennedy dropped back to punt. As he received the pass, Shaidnagle shot through the line and blocked the kick, the ball rolling over the Canton goal line where Potts fell on it for Massillon’s second touchdown. Hess failed at goal.

Canton’s first touchdown came after an unbroken march of 60 yards. The Cantonians launched their drive as the first quarter ended. With Kennedy, the star of the Canton offense, playing the part of a battering ram, the red and black smashed its way through the Massillon eleven for five first downs, the march not being halted until Kennedy dove through the orange and black line for a touchdown from the four yard line. Canton then had a chance to tie the score but Kennedy missed goal.

Canton’s second touchdown came early in the fourth quarter. As the third period ended Hess had fumbled a Canton punt. Beachy covering for Canton on Massillon’s 30-yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Kennedy shot around Massillon’s right end for a gain of 11 yards bringing the ball to Massillon’s 19-yard line. Three smashes into the line netted Canton another first down and carried the ball to the five-yard line. Kennedy was called into action and on his second attempt pierced the Massillon line for his second touchdown. Again Canton had an opportunity to tie the score but once more Kennedy’s attempt was low and was batted down by a Massillon warrior.

Massillon was leading by one point. The quarter was nearly half over and indications were that the orange and black would triumph. But Canton came back strong and presented a first class running attack which carried the ball deep into Massillon territory. The wet condition of the field and ball made good punting impossible and as a result Massillon was unable to punt the oval out of danger.

Two bad passes by Potts, who had replaced Roth at center, which prevented, Hess from punting gave Canton possession of the ball on Massillon’s 10-yard line with but a minute to play. A line plunge netted two yards. Then Hess batted down an attempted Canton forward. Another dive into the line took the ball to the five-yard line. Canton had goal to gain on the next play or lose the ball, but before the play could be put into motion time expired and the duel was over.

Played on a dry field the game might have ended differently. With solid footing Massillon’s speedy backfield stars more than likely would have given Canton plenty of trouble but speed was no asset on a field such as the rival elevens played on Saturday. On only a few occasions were Hess, Ulrich and Rosenberg able to show flashes of their fleetness of foot. The heavy mud made it impossible for them to get started. Forward passes and trick plays also were difficult to execute.

As it was statistics show that Canton, so far as the actual amount of ground gained, outplayed Massillon. The red and black made 12 first downs to five for Captain Hess’ aggregation. Each team punted 11 times. Massillon completed two forwards out of eight attempts. Canton completed none in four attempts. Neither team intercepted a forward.

Although all of its regulars performed, Massillon was far from being in first class shape. Hess’ ankle bothered him. Ulrich entered the game with his injured knee bandaged. Roth’s shoulder, hurt several weeks ago, gave way and he was forced to leave the contest. Boerner sustained a badly wrenched hip in the second quarter attempting to catch a forward pass and he had to be helped to the sidelines. But even though injuries did weaken them, Coach Stewart’s lads deserve a world of praise for their game and determined fight. To them there is no such work as quit and to them goes all the honor for winning cleanly and fairly in this, their greatest battle the year.

A Sweet Morsel

Massillon – 13 Pos. McKinley – 12
Lyons LE Ashcon
Snyder LT Viethmeyer
Rutherford LG Gibson
Roth C Hoffman
Kallaker RG Bob Wade
Nelson RT Kartman
Jamison RE Frease
Rosenberg QB McGlashan
Hess LH Kennedy
Boerner RH Hamilton
Potts FB Johnson

Score by periods:
McKinley 0 6 0 6 – 12
Massillon 7 0 6 0 – 13

Substitutions – McKinley: Beachy for Viethmeyer, Ralph Wade
for Bob Wade, Mayforth for Hamilton, Hamilton for McGlashan,
Kirk for Mayforth, Deal for Hamilton, Harmon for Kennedy, Bob
Wade for Ralph Wade, Rebillot for Ashcon.
Massillon: Bischoff for Boerner, Ulrich for Potts, Potts for Roth,
Pflug for Rutherford, Shaidnagle for Pflug, Hax for Bischoff.

Touchdowns – Kennedy 2, Hess, Potts.

Goal from touchdown – Hess 1.

Missed goals from touchdown – Hess 1, Kennedy 2.

Referee – Paige of Ohio Wesleyan.
Umpire – Bletzer of Mount Union.
Head linesman – Zimmerman of Mt. Union.
Time of periods – 15 minutes

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 0, Warren Harding 13

Warren Triumphs Over Weakened High Eleven

Two Touchdowns Scored In Muddy Gridiron Battle

Leaving its backfield stars, Captain Hess, Rosenberg and Ulrich, at home so they may be in good shape for the annual duel with McKinley High of Canton, at Lakeside Stadium, Canton, next Saturday, the orange and black football team of Washington High school last Saturday afternoon took a 13 to 0 drubbing from Warren High school at the latter place. The game was played on a gridiron deep in mud and the major portion of the contest was staged in a blinding snow storm.

Although the orange and black did present a patched up lineup the youthful Tigers gave the Warrenites a stiff engagement but with only two men in the backfield, Boerner and Hax, who have played in any number of games the local team was not able to pierce the Warren defense for a score.

Coach David B. Stewart, realizing that victory over Canton would be greater triumph than to defeat Warren did not take any chances of exposing his regular stars to further injuries and so did not send them with the balance of the team. Hess, Rosenberg and Ulrich are just getting back into shape after sustaining injuries in other games.

Warren scored its first touchdown near the close of the first half. A bad Massillon punt paved the way for the score. Fifty seconds remained to be played in the second quarter when Norman, Warren quarterback, scooped up the ball and ran 45 yards for a touchdown. Goal was missed.

Warren’s second touchdown came early in the third quarter. Warren received and ran the ball back 20 yards. Then Larch heaved a pass to Right End Dixon who ran 25 yards for the score. Goal was kicked.

Jamison, Potts, and Hax were Massillon’s stars while Smith, Warren right guard, was the shining light for Warren, playing a great game of defense.

Now For Canton

Warren – 13 Pos. Massillon – 0
Nellis LE Lyons
Frost LT Nelson
Persult LG Kallaker
Buckwalter C (c) Potts
Smith RG Rutherford
Shelton RT Snyder
Aurnend RE Jamison
Dixon QB Hax
Norman LH Boerner
Lerch (c) RH Pflug
Thomas FB Borga

Warren 0 6 7 0 – 13

Touchdowns – Norman, Dixon.

Goal from touchdown – Lerch.

Substitutions: Warren – Andres for Shelton; Frost for Andres;
Andres for Norman.
Massillon – Wendling for Borga; Borga for Wendling; Fisher
for Borga; Rohr for Wendling.

Referee – Beck, Mount Union.
Umpire – Herwig, Grove City.
Headlinesman – Grimm, Colorado.

Timer – Mikesell, Warren.
Smith, Massillon.

Time of quarters – 12 minutes.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 14, Youngstown Rayen 7

GAME UPHILL RIGHT BRINGS TRIUMPH TO PLUCKY HIGH ELEVEN

Arvine “Tink” Ulrich midget half back of Washington High school’s football team, last Saturday afternoon for the first time in three weeks donned war paint and, ably assisted by 10 other fighting warriors, carried the orange and black banner of the local school to a 14 to 7 triumph over Rayen High of Youngstown, in one of the most brilliant scholastic encounters ever staged on the Pearl street gridiron. Greatly outweighed and with its captain “Chuck” Hess and its star defensive center Ted Roth on the sidelines because of injuries the youthful Tigers by one of the gamest uphill fights ever fought on any battlefield cam through with one of the most spectacular and entirely unexpected victories ever registered by a local high school team.

For three weeks Ulrich had been laid up with an inured knee sustained in the Youngstown South game. Coach Stewart did not intend to use “Tink” Saturday unless forced to. Early in the second quarter an injury to a local player made Ulrich’s entrance into the fray necessary, and the little plunging halfback nobly responded to the call. From then on the tide of the battle turned but it was not until the fourth quarter that Ulrich really demonstrated his greatness by scoring Massillon’s first touchdown by some mighty fine line plunging and paving the way for the second by a brilliant dash of 40 yards through the visiting eleven.

Rayen was confident of victory. The Mahoning county school knew that injuries had riddled the orange and black and greatly weakened its defensive strength. It expected to teat Massillon even worse that it did McKinley High of Canton which it defeated two weeks ago by a 10 to 7 count. The Youngstown school felt so confident of winning that it planned to achieve the victory over the orange and black with the same team that had defeated Canton.

That the invading aggregation forgot to reckon with the indomitable fighting spirit of Coach Stewart’s gritty lads. They forgot that overcoming a tiger with its back to the wall is a Herculean task. Massillon had its back to the wall Saturday and the orange and black fought with all the fury and desperation of a tiger at bay.

Striking out with the unleashed fury of a hurricane the local team in the final quarter swept Rayen off its feet by a wonderful rally, tied the score hanging up a touchdown early in the fourth period and then swept on to victory by a brilliant drive that carried the ball three quarters of the length of the field. The final orange and black charge was a suitable finish to a battle that had raged fiercely up and down the field during three periods of hectic strife.

That final fighting comeback covered the orange and black lads with a halo of glory. They had fought a game battle against a much heavier foe and they deserved to win for against a stouter foe they never once had showed any indication of displaying the white flag. They were in the game to fight to the finish and to know how well they fought one has but to recall the score. It was a sad blow for Rayen, that 14 to 7 setback. It was the first reverse of the season for the husky Youngstown eleven but they drank manfully from the bitter cup.

It was only by a break that Rayen scored its touchdown against Massillon in the second quarter. And until the orange and black commenced its victory march in the final period those seven points looked like a mountain to all but the struggling Massillon warriors.

Ulrich’s sensational work by far was the outstanding feature of the battle. “Tink” was everywhere on defense and a veritable battering ram on offense. The game also served to uncover a new backfield star in Boerner, who since injuries riddled the regular backfield, has been doing duty behind the line. His line smashing drives were features of the contest.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 0, Alliance 25

Crippled High Team No Match For County Foe

When Steele high, of Dayton, defeated Massillon high 68 to 0 a week ago last Saturday, it probably didn’t realize that its triumph would have a telling effect upon the orange and black during the remainder of the 1921 campaign. But nevertheless it’s true for the bruising treatment which Coach Stewart’s lads received at the hands of Steele high in their game attempt to hold the heavy down-state eleven in check was responsible for Massillon’s 25 to 0 defeat last Saturday by Alliance high.

It was Alliance’s first victory over Massillon since 1912 and had not the Steele high engagement put the bulk of Massillon’s regulars on the sidelines with injuries the orange and black undoubtedly would have kept the Alliance gridders from winning.

But with the backbone of his team forced out of the game with injuries Coach Stewart had no other alternative than to send green men into Saturday’s engagement. The result was that Alliance, with only a fair team, had an easy time disposing of the inexperienced Massillon eleven which fought gamely to avert defeat but did not possess the power to stem the Alliance attack.

That defeat has thrown the Stark county scholastic championship into a muddle. Canton does not play Alliance and should Massillon defeat Canton on November 19 when the two old rivals meet in Canton, Alliance might attempt to lay claim to the honor on the ground that it registered a victory over Massillon.

With Captain Hess, Rosenberg, Ulrich, Roth and Boerner on the sidelines, unable to get into the battle because of injuries received while attempting to stop the Steele high steam roller, the other members of the orange and black squad fought desperately to turn back Alliance. But to no avail.

The east end eleven scored in every quarter. Four touchdowns were amassed by the Alliance team. And the orange and black did not come out of that game without sustaining further injuries as Fullback Potts is now laid up with a badly wrenched shoulder, an old injury which was not quite healed.

Alliance scored its touchdown by using end runs and forward passes. With only a few regulars in the line-up the orange and black’s defense was weak and could not stop the open attack of the east enders.

Massillon has two games to play before it meets Canton in the annual tussle between the two schools. Rayen high of Youngstown, plays here next Saturday while on November 13 the local team plays at Warren. While Coach Stewart will make an attempt to win both games he will not expose any of his regulars to further injuries until they are absolutely in shape to play.

The orange and block desires to defeat Canton more than it does the remaining teams on the schedule and none of the men now recovering from injuries will be used before the Canton game unless they are in shape to stand it. The Steele high game wrecked Massillon’s chances of finishing its campaign without a defeat.

Steele the cause

Alliance – 25 Pos. Massillon – 0
Hendershot LE Jamison
G. Nixon LT Snyder
Reese LG Rutherford
Scott C Lyons
Williams RG Kallaker
T. Nixon RT Nelson
Roth RE Pflug
McGranahan QB Potts
Van Horn LH Wendling
Hawkins RH Boran
Donalson FB Hess

Substitutions: Massillon – Jamison for Wendling, Schrader for Jamison,
Vernon for Snyder, Spuhler for Lyons.
Alliance – Kline for Williams.

Touchdown – Donalson, McGranahan 3.

Goals from touchdowns – Donalson one out of three attempts

Score by periods:
Alliance 6 7 6 6 – 25

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 0, Dayton Steele 68

STEELE HIGH BATTERS LOCAL ELEVEN AND WINS BY BIG SCORE OF 68 TO 0

It may be an honor to be recognized by a school like Steele high of Dayton and given a place on its football schedule, but whether the honor is worth the price exacted by the Daytonites is a question. Football teams turned out by Washington high school have made a reputation for themselves in Ohio scholastic circles but the orange and black gained nothing when it went to Dayton last Saturday for its first gridiron tussle with Steele high.

Outweighed and outclassed the gritty orange and black aggregation put up a game battle against the Gem city gridders but were ruthlessly trampled under foot being defeated by a top-heavy score of 68 to 0. Steele high was no respecter of persons and rode rough shod over Coach Stewart’s lads.

The youthful Tigers were losers in more ways than one. The 68 to 0 defeat was bad enough but the local team came back to Massillon Sunday with a hospital list which indicated that they had been sent into a decidedly lively sector. The shattered orange and black squad was the result of Massillon’s attempt to stop the steam roller tactics of the Steele high team which is recruited from the ranks of 1500 students.

The Dayton team is composed of veterans. All but one of the regulars will be lost by graduation next June. The southern Ohio eleven has just reached the height of its form. It is a big team, fast and expert in football matters. Sufficient reason why a host of the local gridders were crippled and forced to the sidelines early in the game in their valiant effort to make a good showing against Steele high.

Coach Stewart today checked-up his hospital list. He found Captain Hess unable to walk because of a twisted ankle. Canter Roth so badly injured that he probably will not be able to play against Alliance next Saturday. Quarterback Rosenberg with a damaged shoulder. Ends Lyons and Jamison, Fullback Potts and Guard Boerner nursing injuries which will keep them out of practice for several days. The other member of the hospital list is Halfback Ulrich who was hurt in the Youngstown South game.

Steele’s powerful attack soon wore down the orange and black defense and the heavy Dayton backs pierced the Massillon line time after time for substantial gains, battering down the attempts made by Coach Stewart’s lads to stop the southern Ohio juggernaut.

Massillon’s offensive attack, while not completely checked by Dayton, never threatened the Dayton goal line. After most of his regulars had been forced out of the game by injuries Coach Stewart commenced sending in substitutes, saving the balance of his uninjured regulars for the coming games on the schedule.
Curtains, Please

Steele – 68 Pos. Massillon – 0
Shalkey LE Lyons
Seibert LT Nelson
Becker LG Pflug
Eichmeyer C Roth
Faust RG Rutherford
Zimmerman RT Snyder
Hoerner RE Jamison
Buchannan QB Rosenberg
Freg LH Hess
Smiley RH Hax
Boblig FB Potts

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 17, Youngstown South 6

Orange And Black Turns Back South In Classy Battle

Gridiron warriors of Washington high school last Saturday afternoon gained revenge for a defeat administered to the local team last year by Youngstown South when they trimmed the Mahoning County eleven on the Pearl street gridiron by a score of 17 to 6. But even though the orange and black colors floated victoriously the triumph was only achieved after one of the hardest fought battles ever staged on the local lot.

To defeat the Warriors from Youngstown Coach Stewart’s protégés were forced to play “heads up” football throughout. The youthful Tigers soon discovered that South meant business and their afternoon was a decidedly busy one. The invading troupe played fast and hard and displayed one of the best developed aerial attacks ever uncovered by a visiting high school team.

It was South’s forward passing that for a time swept the Massillon aggregation off its feet and made it appear as if the Orange and Black were due to have its colors lowered. But when South had worked the ball within the shadow of Massillon’s goal posts by a rapid fire aerial attack early in the first quarter the local gridders stiffened their defense and kept their goal line uncrossed, the visitors’ six points being gathered on two drop kicks.

Massillon’s points resulted from two touchdowns and a goal from placement. The Orange and Black depended upon off tackle bucks and end runs for its gains, attempting but one forward pass during the entire struggle. With Hess and Jamison running the ends and Rosenberg smashing through the South line the local team was able to gain more ground than its opponents.

South showed a fast and aggressive eleven. The steel town troupe used rapid fire tactics in its attack. The visitors used a quick working shift from which it either attempted forward passes, ran the ends or sent its back through the line. It was this shift formation which made its forward passing attacks so successful.

Massillon’s aggressiveness in the first quarter swept South off its feet and before the visitors realized the battle was on the Orange and Black had hung up its first touchdown.

Just six plays were run off before Hess sneaked through the visiting team for Massillon’s first set of counters. The Orange and Black received and the ball was downed on Massillon’s 31-yard line. On a trick formation Captain Hess skirted South’s right end and a 50-yard gain being forced out of bound of South’s 31 yard line. This play came so quickly that it almost demoralized the visiting eleven. On three plays Hess and Rosenberg had negotiated another first down and on the next play Hess went over for a touchdown. He kicked goal.

It looked as if the local eleven were due to hang up a score. But this fear was soon dispelled when South gained possession of the oval. Massillon kicked off to the invaders after scoring its touchdown and then South opened up its aerial attack and carried the ball from its 20-yard line to Massillon’s 20-yard mark before its attack was halted. With Jacobs, a southpaw heaver, on the passing end, the South gridders worked three out of four forward passes in rapid fire order and almost in the twinkling of an eye had worked the oval deep into Massillon territory.

But with the ball on Massillon’s 20-yard mark, the Orange and Black rallied and held the visitors. Then Shull dropped back to the 25-yard line and by a neat drop-kick from the side of the field sent the ball between the uprights for South’s first set of counters.

Massillon received and before the quarter ended Hess, Ulrich and Jamison had worked the ball to South’s 31-yard line. Here the visitors fought stubbornly and Massillon was held, but Captain Hess dropped back to the 30-yard line and gave the Orange and Black three more points by a kick from placement. During the remainder of the quarter neither team was able to come within scoring distance.

South received to open the third period and was forced to punt, Hess being downed near midfield. On a double pass formation Jamison, skirted South’s right end for a 40-yard gain, placing the ball on South-s 18-yard line. Then Rosenberg and Hess began a steady pounding of the South line with the result that Rosenberg soon carried the ball over for Massillon’s second touchdown.

South received and once more started a march towards Massillon’s goal line by uncorking its aerial attack. The first pass brought a first down and then Jacobs heaved to Shull who eluded a group of Massillon tacklers and started towards Massillon’s goal line but he failed to pass Hess, the last Massillonian in his way, and was brought to earth after a 25-yard gain. With the ball on Massillon’s 30-yard line South’s efforts to register a touchdown by the forward pass route failed and after two overhead attempts had been batted down Shull dropped back to the 28-yard line and called his toe into action, his second drop-kick also being successful. The quarter ended with South in possession of the ball.

It was not until the fourth quarter that Massillon was called upon to give its greatest display of offensive strength. After Hess’ third attempt to score by a field goal had been blocked the rival elevens exchanged punts and then Jacobs once more called its southpaw whip into action and heaved a long pass to Kennedy who was brought to earth by Boerner after a 40-yard gain. This gain took the ball to Massillon’s 20-yard mark. Instead of depending upon its overhead attack South reverted to line plays but Masillon’s line held stubbornly with the result that after four attempts South had failed to make the necessary yards and Massillon gained the ball on its five-yard line from were Hess immediately punted out of danger. From then on until the end of the game the battle was waged in mid-field.

Massillon made 16 first downs to 10 for South while each team punted six times. South attempted a total of 26 forward passes, 15 of which were completed. Ten failed and one was intercepted. The visitors worked four forwards in the first quarter, three each in the second and third quarters and five in the fourth. Massillon’s only attempt to score by the air route in the third quarter failed.

Massillon’s defense in stopping line plays was first class but the Orange and Black was hard pressed in its efforts to stop South’s forwards. Hess, Rosenberg and Jamison were the offensive stars. Ulrich, halfback, played brilliantly, but was forced out of the game early with a badly wrenched left knee. Potts also was injured.

Sweet Music
Youngstown South – 6 Pos. Massillon – 17
Gallaher LE Lyons
Spong LT Synder
Gints LG Pflug
Barrett C Roth
Williams RG Rutherford
Walsh RT Nelson
Fiasco RE Jamison
Jacobs QB Resenberg
Shull LH Hess
Kennedy RH Ulrich
Marrie FB Potts

Scores by quarters:
Youngstown South 3 0 3 0 – 6
Massillon 7 3 7 0 – 17

Sweet Music

Substitutions: Massillon – Hax for Ulrich, Bishop for Potts,
Boerner for Pflug, Potts for Bishop, Kallaker for Rutherford,
Wendling for Potts, Haverly for Roth.
Youngstown South – George for Gints, Gints for George,
Daley for Gallagher.

Massillon scoring: Touchdowns – Hess and Rosenberg.

Goals after touchdown, Hess 2.

Goal from field, Hess.

Youngstown scoring: Goals from field, Shull 2.

Referee – Connor.
Umpire – Bietser
Headlinesman – Blackburn

Time of quarters – 15 minutes

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 27, Akron North 0

Akron North Is Subdued 27-0 By Local Gridders

When Ted Rosenberg and “Tink” Ulrich, a pair of sturdy young gentlemen now busily engaged in carving an niche for themselves in the athletic hall of fame at Washington High school reach the age where active participation in the realms of sport is no longer appealing, they might go on the stage and make good in a playlet entitled “How We Beat North High of Akron on a chilly Saturday afternoon in October, 1921.”

For it was these youths who carried the orange and black standard of the local school to a 27 to 0 victory over Akron North last Saturday afternoon in the third engagement of the 1921 campaign. The game was played on the Pearl street lot.

Although Rosenberg and Ulrich ripped the visiting aggregation to pieces by their fierce plunging they were given able support and assistance by their teammates who saw to it that large, gaping holes were rammed into the Akron line and that the attack of the invaders was effectually checked before it could carry the ball across Massillon’s goal line.

Coach Stewart, local athletic tutor, had to conform to the rules of football which calls for four men in the backfield, but with Ulrich and Rosenberg unfailingly successful in their efforts to gain through the visiting eleven, Coach Stewart might just as well have pulled his other two halfbacks out of the contest and saved them for another game.

But at that Hax, Borza and Bishop, who performed along side of Ulrich and Rosenberg, did yeomen service in furnishing interference for their two ground gaining comrades. The Orange and Black line also gave a first class account of itself both on offense and defense, the brilliant defensive of Ted Roth, center, and “Jimmers” Jamison standing out prominently.

This Roth lad bids fair to become the defensive star of the local team. He tackles hard. He was in practically every play. He was forced out of the contest in the second quarter due to a slight injury to his shoulder in tackling an Akronite, but he was right back in the fray during the last two quarters, his capable tackling stopping the Akron backs many times before they reached the line of scrimmage.

But getting back to the performance of Ulrich and Rosenberg. With Captain Hess, star halfback on the sidelines nursing a damaged hand, somebody had to take the Orange and Black leader’s place in the calsomine circle. So “Tink” and Ted decided that they would divide honors. Akron North’s athletes soon reached the conclusion that if they wanted to win they had to stop the Massillon battering rams. They failed and Ulrich and Rosenberg smashed their way through the line or skirted the ends without difficulty. These two gridders carried the ball practically every time and 23 first downs were registered by Massillon to five for the visitors.

But for several poor passes the score might have been higher. Roth was guilty of these miscues but his defensive work more than made up for his poor passes. Three times the Orange and Black had worked the ball within Akron’s 10-yard line but each time Roth hurried his pass and it went over the heads of the halfbacks.

The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie. North received and punted. Ulrich fumbled the ball and Nipple covered for North on Massillon’s 10-yard line. Akron was held and kicked over the goal line. With the ball on its 20-yard line the Orange and Black, with Ulrich and Rosenberg doing the offensive work, carried the oval to North’s 15-yard line. Rosenberg clipping off 30 yards on an end run from a double pass formation. Then Roth inserted one of his three poor passes and Ulrich covered the ball on his 45-yard line. Once more the local team started a march to Akron’s goal line but with the ball on the five-yard line Roth cut loose another bad pass and Nipple covered for North on his 18-yard line. Akron immediately punted and Massillon made two first downs before the quarter ended.

With the ball on the 13-yard line Ulrich and Rosenberg hit the line for a first down and on the next play, Ulrich dashed through the Akron team for Massillon’s first touchdown. He kicked goal. North received and punted and the Orange and Black launched another march toward the visitor’s goal. With the ball on Massillon’s 24-yard line Ulrich and Rosenberg set their machine in motion and did not stop ramming the Akron line until Ulrich crossed the goal with the second set of counters. He failed at goal.

North was in possession of the ball when the third quarter ended, having made three first downs, one coming on a penalty inflicted on Massillon.

North received but Massillon gained possession of the ball on Akron’s 40-yard line when Ulrich covered the ball after a short kickoff. Shortly afterward Firestone intercepted a Massillon pass and North ripped off two first downs before being forced to punt. Firestone again intercepted a Massillon forward but North could not gain and punted. Again the Massillon juggernaut was set in motion and this time Rosenberg worried his way through the visitors for Massillon’s third touchdown. He kicked goal. The quarter ended with Massillon in possession of the ball.

The fourth touchdown came shortly after the final quarter had commenced, Ulrich going across the line after a plunge from the one-yard line. He kicked goal. During the remainder of the quarter both teams resorted to the overhead game, North trying desperately to score during the last few minutes.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 12, Martins Ferry 34

High Gridders Take 34-12 Lacing from Downstaters

Deprived of the service of Captain “Chuck” Hess, who was confined to his bed by illness the Orange and Black football team of Washington High school did not fare very well on its Saturday invasion of Martins Ferry, the scholastic champions of the Ohio river valley taking the Massillonians into camp by a 34 to 12 score.

With Hess out of the game the local team was deprived of its leader as well as punter and capable ground gainer. The husky Martins Ferry High team probably would have registered a victory over the youthful Tigers but Coach Stewart’s lads missed Hess’ punting and were not able to kick the ball out of dangerous territory and this handicap paved the way for several of Martins Ferry’s touchdowns.

The down staters registered all their points in the first half, the score at the expiration of the first two quarters standing 34 to 6 in favor of Martins Ferry. During the last two quarters the Orange and Black outplayed the Martins Ferry eleven, scoring a touchdown while holding their opponents scoreless.

The local team was heavily outweighed but put up a scrappy fight. The defeat proved disastrous in more ways than one as Shaidnagle, husky lineman, sustained a fractured collar bone, the same one which was broken during summer training. Halfback Potts also received injuries which may keep him out of the game for some time.

End runs were largely responsible for Martins Ferry’s touchdowns. The local team lined up with Lyons and Pflug on ends. Nelson and Snyder on tackles. Shaidnagle and Rutherford on the guards and Roth at center. The backfield was composed of Rosenberg, Ulrich, Potts and Hax.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1921: Massillon 21, Akron West 7

M.H.S. WINS 21-7

Orange And Black Opens Season With Victory Over West

It isn’t always the big fellow who wins.

Football warriors of Washington High school proved this Saturday afternoon while defeating West High of Akron, 21 to 7 on the Pearl street gridiron in the opening scholastic combat of the season. Outweighed from 8 to 10 pounds to a man by the beefy Summit county aggregation the Orange and Black lads outplayed the Invaders and practically wore them out by a relentless attack which showed that the coaching ability of David B. Stewart, new athletic tutor, would bring some highly satisfactory results before the curtain is lowered next November.

West, with a veteran lineup that captured the scholastic championship of the Rubber city a year ago, looked decidedly superior to the local team as the two elevens pranced up and down the field before the opening of the battle. But once the fighting spirit of the youthful Tigers was aroused the attack of the visitors was checked and time after time rolled back for a loss.

Although Massillon’s attack was ragged at times and its tackling just a bit off form the youthful Tigers displayed sufficient ability in their initial encounter to encourage the flock of fans who witnessed the duel. It was due to poor tackling that West scored its lone touchdown in the second quarter. This touchdown came from a cleverly executed forward pass and was the only time that the Akronites really threatened the Massillon goal.

It was due to the phenomenal offensive play of Captain “Chuck” Hess that hoisted the Orange and Black colors upon victory’s standard. The Massillon leader scored all of the local team’s points, three times dashing across the Akron goal line and three times annexing points from goal after touchdown.

The Massillon leader brought the crowd to its feet when early in the second quarter he grabbed an Akron punt on his 15-yard line and dashed 85 yards through the visiting eleven for Massillon’s first touchdown. It was a brilliant run, but Hess’ dash would never have been possible had he not been afforded almost perfect interference by this teammates. For just as soon as he received the punt the local lads began to blaze a pathway for him through the West eleven by dumping prospective tacklers until the Orange and Black leader found himself out in a clear field where his speed enabled him to elude the few remaining Akronites who were still on their feet.

But that did not finish his afternoon’s work. Again in the third quarter he plunged through the Akron team from the 10-yard line for Massillon’s second touchdown and early in the fourth quarter skirted Akron’s right end for another 10-yard drive and Massillon’s third set of counters.

But while Hess’ work stood out prominently he did not bask in calsomine rays alone. Sharing honors with him was Rosenberg, his running mate, whose line plunging and sturdy defensive work stood out prominently throughout the entire struggle. Rosenberg plowed through the heavy Akron line time after time for substantial gains and his work on secondary defense broke up many an Akron attempt to gain.

The thing which probably was most impressive was the game fight which the Massillon line put up against the invaders. Although made up practically of green men the Orange and Black line outfought the Akronites and gave them such a drubbing that during the fourth quarter the visiting line was a leaky as a sieve.

Coach Stewart’s lads depended practically upon straight football for their gains. They attempted only one forward pass and this was successful, Hess tossing to Hax for a gain of 30-yards in the fourth quarter. Few end runs were attempted. Off-tackle bucks were largely used and the steady pounding of the Orange and Black had its effect upon the visitors who were forced to send practically all of their reserve players into the fray, but their efforts to half the Orange and Black proved futile.

During the first two quarters it appeared as if the invaders might worry the local team with an aerial attack for the Akronites seemed to have exceptional ability in the aerial game. They worked five successful passes, one of which gave them their touchdown, before Coach Stewart’s lads succeeded in breaking them up and West’s next eight attempts to gain by the air route were frustrated.

Gram, quarterback, was the star for Akron West.

Starting Right

Akron West – 7 Pos. Massillon – 21
Niehaus LE Jamison
Thomas LT Nelson
Henry LG Shaidnagle
B. Smith C Roth
Tripplett RG Rutherford
Brewster RT Snyder
Wallace RE Pflug
Gram QB Rosenberg
H. Smith LH Hess
Marino RB Hax
Gentach FB Potts

Score by quarters:
Massillon 0 7 7 7 – 21
Akron West 0 7 0 0 – 7

Substitutions: Massillon – Lyons for Pflug, Rohr for Lyons,
Lyons for Jamison, Jamison for Lyons, Bishop for Rosenberg,
Ulrich for Potts, Borza for Ulrich, Potts for Borza, Wendling
for Potts.
Akron West – Carney for Henry, Wagner for B. Smith.

Massillon scoring – Touchdowns – Hess 3.

Goals after touchdown – Hess

Akron scoring – Touchdowns – Smith.

Goal after touchdown – Gram.

Referee – Blythe, Mount Union.
Umpire – Blackburn.
Headlinesman – Wilson.

Time of quarters – 14 minutes.

Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large) History

1920: Massillon 0, Canton McKinley 14

MASSILLON LOSES TO OLD FOE IN GREAT TILT

2 TOUCHDOWNS IN 3RD QUARTER GIVE CLEAN RECORD TO CANTON

Greatness is always measured by success.

Even though the orange and black eleven of Washington high school last Saturday afternoon went down to a 14 to 0 defeat before the onslaught of the great red and black machine of McKinley high of Canton, in the annual tussle between the two schools on the Pearl street gridiron the gritty battle waged by the youthful Tigers stood forth even more brilliantly than the victory achieved by Massillon’s perennial enemy.

Greater even in defeat than it has been in victory the orange and black aggregation need not be downcast because of the defeat. Fighting a foe superior in weight, strength and ability, both individually and as a team, the local eleven fought with such fierceness and tenacity that Canton’s powerful troupe was indeed fortunate to emerge from the conflict a victor by two touchdowns.

It was Canton’s first victory over Massillon since 1916 when it trimmed the Youthful Tigers 7 to 6 and besmirched an otherwise perfect record. With the triumph goes the scholastic championship of Stark county for Canton has met and defeated both Alliance and Massillon. And the east enders, by registering victory Saturday, finishes the 1920 campaign with a perfect mark of eight victories and a record of not having one point scored against them during the entire season.

Considered as having only the barest of chances of winning last Saturday’s gridiron classic, the youthful Tigers sprung one of the biggest surprises of the season when they outfought and outplayed the Cantonians in three of the four quarters. In only one quarter, the third, did the red and black machine display any of its highly advertised steamroller tactics and in that quarter the foe from the east end city smashed through the Massillon team for both its touchdowns.

The rest of the battle was decided in Massillon’s favor. Although the local eleven did not succeed in getting within Canton’s 20-yard line until the fourth quarter, the orange and black, displaying all the grit and determination characteristic of local scholastic aggregations, which in the past have fought with their backs to the wall and acquitted themselves in a creditable manner, beat back the attack of the invaders with such decisive results that it earned even greater praise than did the victors.

Massillon was outweighed. Its offense was not as well drilled as that of the Canton eleven. But it was not outfought and it was that fighting spirit, that determination to hold Canton at all costs, that allowed the orange and black to arise from the smoke of battle even greater in defeat than Canton was in victory.
It was a typical Massillon-Canton duel. Struggling warriors threw themselves into the conflict with utter abandon. There was only one object in view and that was victory and throughout the strife the struggling elevens fought back and forth over a muddy gridiron in one of the greatest scholastic battles ever seen here. Canton won because it had the better team. That much was almost a certainty before the game began. But the red and black machine only won after it had battered down and trampled under foot the plucky orange and black clad lads who never for a moment gave up trying and who were only beaten after a much heavier eleven had crushed them down.

There was no big individual star in Massillon’s play. Every one of the lads who participated in that engagement covered himself with glory. They all fought and played their hardest and there is no one to criticize them for what they failed to do because they did much better than they were expected to.

“Chuck” Hess, midget quarterback, probably was Massillon’s biggest offensive star. The local luminary was closely watched by the Canton team but at that he succeeded on several occasions in breaking away from the red and black warriors for nice gains. On defense the entire team played remarkably well with J. Tilton, Graber and Snyder doing Yeomen service.

Canton rolled mainly upon straight football for its gains but it was not until the third quarter that its husky backs were able to smash their way through the Massillon line for any substantial gains. Canton’s highly touted attack showed itself only in the third quarter. During the rest of the fracas it didn’t have a chance simply because the youthful Tigers crumbled up the Canton line and stopped the backs before they could get under way.

“Hunk” Harmony was the lad largely responsible for Canton’s victory. This sterling warrior made both the east enders touchdowns, crashing through Massillon’s line twice for counters. Mitchell, who in previous battles, had been the star of the Canton offense did not shine very brightly Saturday.

During the first two quarters Massillon outplayed its red and black foes. The orange and black made two first downs in the initial quarter. In the second quarter Canton made three first downs and came very near scoring a touchdown, but Massillon’s defense was of such stonewall proportions that the Canton machine was turned back within two yards of the local team’s goal line.

Canton’s big advantage came in the third quarter when with Harmony as the battering ram, it plunged through the local team for six first downs and hung up its two touchdowns.

The fourth quarter saw the orange and black rally and make a desperate effort to score. It commenced an aerial attack that, had the field been dry, might have worried the red and black aggregation considerably. In this period Massillon completed five forwards but because of the slippery conditions of the field the receivers of the passes were not able to elude the Canton warriors.

It was also in this quarter that “Romey” Greenfelder, the team’s star goal kicker, tried his best to at least register points against the red and black but he failed in four attempts although his third try from the 42-yard line was a perfect kick but fell short by a scant two feet of going over the cross bar.
Canton made 10 first downs to four for Massillon. The red and black punted 10 times to eight for Massillon. The orange and black had a big advantage in the aerial game, completing seven passes for a total yardage of 34, while Canton heaved only three successful passes for a net gain of 19 yards. Each team intercepted two forwards.

Canton tactics were considerably rougher than those of the local team although the game was very clean. The east enders drew several penalties for holding. Massillon was penalized but once.

Defeated, But Not Disgraced

Massillon – 0 Position Canton – 14
Graybill LE Jackson
Harrison LT Bridge
Nelson LG Tobay
Roth C Smith
Graber RG Wolf
Snyder RT M. Miller
Lyons RE Clark
Hess Q Mitchell
Greenfelder LH Harmony
Howells RH Kennedy
J. Tilton F Van Nostram

Score by quarters:
Canton 0 0 14 0 – 14

Substitutions: Massillon – Ulrich for Greenfelder; Greenfelder for
Ulrich; Rosenberg for Hess; Mollet for Lyons; R. Tilton for
Graber; Lyons for Mollet; Mollet for Roth.
Canton – M. Miller for Clark; Relfsnyder for M. Miller; Ketman for Wolf.

Touchdowns – Harmony 2.

Goals after touchdown – Kennedy 2.

Referee – Blythe, Mount Union.
Umpire — Pickerel, Ohio State.
Headlinesman – Wilson.

Time of quarters 15 and 12½ minutes.