Eric Smith, Author at MassillonTigers.com

1915: Massillon 7, Salem 0

August 1, 1915August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

HIGH TROUNCES SALEM SATURDAY IN OPENER, 7 TO 0

A touchdown near the end of the first quarter, resulting from a forward pass which traveled from Quarterback Hollinger to Left End Harrold, who sprinted 20 yards to the goal brought victory to Massillon high Saturday afternoon in its initial contest of the season with Salem high at the latter place. McLaughlin kicked goal, making the score 7 to 0.

After the first quarter the orange and black clothed warriors were not able to score although they gained nearly three times as much ground as their opponents. Fumbles at critical moments spoiled Massillon’s chances to make a larger score.

Coach Snavely’s pupils swept the Columbiana boys off their feet at times by long end runs in which Captain Houriet, McLaughlin and Hollinger played the principal parts. Houriet skirted Salem’s ends several times for gains averaging from 40 to 55 yards, while McLaughlin and Hollinger seldom failed to gain when carrying the ball.

The orange and black team played a consistent game for its first attempt, but several faults were noticeable, the biggest of which was fumbling. These, no doubt, will be taken care of by Coach Snavely this week.

Salem did not threaten to score. Massillon’s line stopped all attempts at line plunging and repeatedly smashed through Salem’s defense and nailed the man with the ball behind his own line for a loss. The ends stopped end runs and attempted forward passes. As a whole the team showed up well and should be able to win a majority of its games this fall.

Williman, Salem’s left halfback, proved to be the east enders’ best ground gainer and defense man. Both teams were nearly equal in weight.

A GOOD START
M. H. S. – 7 Pos. S. H. S. – 0
Harrold le Kyle
Johnson lt Whinnery
E. Stultz lg Logan
Bischoff c Faylen
Graybill rg Connors
H. Stultz rt Lampher
Houriet (c) re W. Reed
Hollinger qb Crushank
McLaughlin lhb Williams
Roderick fb Bailey-Myers
Zorger rhb Reed-Barley

Score by quarters:
M. H. S………………………………………………………………………… 7…… 0…… 0…… 0
S. H. S…………………………………………………………………………. 0…… 0…… 0…… 0

Touchdowns – Harrold
Goals – McLaughlin

Referee – Connors
Umpire – Johns
Head linesman – Boerner

Time of periods – 10-12 minutes
Time of game – 44 minutes

History

1914: Massillon 3, Canton Central 0

November 21, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

ORANGE AND BLACKS DOWNS CANTON, 3 – 0
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM SNATCHES VICTORY AS BIG GAME ENDS

For a period of forty-three and one-half minutes, Saturday afternoon, warriors of Massillon and Canton high schools indulged in one of the most brilliant gridiron battles ever witnessed by fans in this vicinity on the field at League Park, Canton. For 43y minutes, 1,500 wildly shouting enthusiastic fans stood and shivered in the near zero weather and yelled themselves hoarse at the fierce attempts of each team to score. During the same period the two old rivals – the orange and black and the red and black – battled unable to make a point, although each had been within striking distance of the opponents’ goal line.
HOW GAME WAS WON
Time was going fast; only half a minute of play remained. Massillon had the ball on Canton’s 4-yard line. Time was taken out to get the crowd off the field. When play was resumed, quarterback Hollinger, of the orange and black, called fullback Henrich around left end. He was thrown for a loss of two yards by a vicious Canton tackler, but the ball had been placed directly in front of the Canton goal posts. Fifteen seconds to play. People were leaving the park in droves, nothing but a scoreless tie was expected to be the outcome of the big battle between the ancient rivals. Then it happened. Hollinger motioned for right tackle, Eckstein to attempt a goal from placement. Standing on Canton’s 16-yard line, the big tackle waited for the pass from center Spuhler. Time was nearly up; those who had stuck to see the finish were in a frenzy lest the timer’s whistle blow before the kick could be made. Hollinger motioned for the ball, there was a thud as Eckstein’s toe met the pigskin and in the early shades of evening the ball sailed across the bars and Massillon high had triumphed over its foe and evened up the count.
HOURIET’S PLAY BRILLIANT
Eckstein’s kick won the game, the greatest victory of the season and the championship of Stark county for the orange and black, but to Houriet, right end, should be given the credit for snatching victory from the very jaws of defeat. Soon after the fourth quarter had started, Canton, after making an attempt to gain by the forward pass, was forced to punt. The ball rolled out of bounds on Massillon’s 11-yard line. Henrich went through the line for four yards. On the next play Hollinger fumbled the pigskin and center Griffith, of Canton, fell on it on Massillon’s 16-yard line. At this point, Snyder, captain of the red and black squad, who had received a broken collar bone three weeks ago, was rushed into the fray in a last supreme effort to register a victory. A forward pass from Snyder to Shafer placed the oval on Massillon’s five-yard line. A touchdown seemed a certainty. A line play was broken by Theis. The next play resulted in an attempted forward pass. Snyder shot the ball straight at the Canton end. It was almost in his hands when Houriet rushed in, grabbed the ball and raced 62 yards down the field, towards Massillon’s goal before being downed. The quick action of the brilliant wing man had saved the game for the orange and black.

Steady line plunging with R. Smith and Henrich carrying the ball, made two fast downs for Massillon and placed the ball in position for the placekick made by Eckstein.

It was a brilliant culmination of a brilliant football season. It will be a victory that will secure a prominent place in Massillon high school’s history and students Saturday evening celebrated the event by bonfires and parades.
TWO PLAYERS HURT
Two accidents marred the contest. Cholly, Canton’s brilliant pivot man, received a fractured shoulder in the second period and had to retire. Harrold, right end for Massillon high, sustained a broken collar bone in the same period when he tackled a Canton man.

Hope sank in the breasts of Canton rooters when Cholly was forced to quit the field. This player had been practically the whole Canton team during the early stages of the contest. He had been carrying the ball for big gains. Massillon stock rose a full 100 percent when Moyer was substituted for Cholly.
SMITH THE STAR
Reports from Canton before the game were to the effect that the red and black was going to stop Capt. Smith, the little demon of the orange and black squad.

For 44 minutes they tried and then – failed. The white headed leader of Massillon high closed his gridiron career Saturday afternoon in a blaze of glory. He tackled fiercely and more than one Canton player now has lots of respect for this stocky individual. When carrying the ball he was like a locomotive. On the first play of the game he tore through left tackle for 30 yards. He never failed to gain and ripped off several big gains.
STARS OF THE GAME
Every man was a star Saturday. They all played hard. Every player was in the game to win and the result was that the contest fairly glowed with brilliant line plunges, end runs and tackles.

The local team put up a bear of a game but the work of three players stands out prominently. Capt. Smith, Henrich and Houriet were the big cogs on the Massillon team. Henrich played his first game at fullback and showed oceans of football ability. He hit the line hard and punted well.

Massillon made seven first downs while Canton plowed through for eight. Play was pretty nearly even during the whole game. Several times each team started to rush the ball toward the goal line but lacked the power to keep up the pace.

Following is the line up and summary
Canton – 0 Pos. Massillon – 3
Shafer le Harrold
Sapsford lt Theis
Shellenberg lg D. Snyder
Griffith c Spuhler
Volzer rg Graybill
Pontius rt Eckstein
Jackson re Houriet
Cholly qb Hollinger
Fisher lh R. Smith
Moyer rh Bunker
Marz fb Henrich

Substitutions:
Canton – Moyer for Cholly; Francis for Moyer; Snyder for Moyer; Moyer for Francis.
Massillon – H. Smith for Harrold; Zorger for H. Smithy.

Goals from placement:
Massillon – Eckstein.

Referee – Blythe (Mt. Union).
Umpire – Merwin – (Massillon).
Head Linesman – Snyder (Ohio State).

Time of periods – 12 and 10 minutes.

History

1914: Massillon 23, Wooster 20

August 9, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

FIERCE PLAYING IN LAST QUARTER GIVES VICTORY TO M.H.S.

Battling fiercely in the last quarter, Massillon high, Saturday afternoon, defeated the fast Wooster high team on the Driving Park grounds by the score of 23 to 20. The game was fiercely fought but had it not been for the plucky work of Capt. Smith, the orange and black in all probability would have been humbled by the husky Wayne county aggregation.

The scrappy white-headed captain, who, the week before had been on the sidelines with an injured knee, was determined to start Saturday’s contest against Wooster, although his knee was far from being in good shape. He started the contest at right half and Massillon in the first quarter scored two touchdowns, via the forward pass method. The ball traveled both times from Hollinger to Houriet. The last touchdown in the first quarter was a pretty exhibition of the forward pass. Hollinger shot the ball to Houriet, who ran 15 yards for the score. Eckstein kicked both goals. The orange and black in this quarter was ripping the heavy Wooster line to pieces; Capt. Smith being the chief ground gainer. The speedy captain was playing a bear of a game both on offense and defense. When the quarter ended he was replaced by Zorger.

The second quarter witnessed a change. Instead of holding the heavy Wooster team as they had in the first quarter, the orange and black began to give ground and by steady line plunging Wooster succeeded in carrying the ball to the two-yard line from where Slutz bucked it over for Wooster’s first score. Statler kicked goal. Massillon worked the ball to within striking distance of the Wooster goal in this quarter but was unable to put it over. The score at the end of the first half was 14 to 7 in favor of Massillon.

In the second half Wooster kicked to Massillon and on the first play Massillon fumbled. The orange and black fumbled a lot Saturday and the misplays proved costly, aiding Wooster in scoring two of its touchdowns. It was Wooster’s ball on the 33-yard line.
A long forward pass from Statler to Bricker gave Wooster 25 yards. On the next play Stalter gained one yard. Slutz was given the ball on the next play and carried it over the line. The speedy halfback was by far the best ground gainer the Wayne county team possessed. Statler kicked goal, tying the score.

The orange and black was woefully weak in this quarter. It did not seem like the same team that had lined up against Wooster at the start of the game. The brilliant playing of Capt. Smith was sadly missed. Wooster was now determined to gain a victory over its opponents. It held Massillon for downs and gaining possession of the ball in midfield, started a steady march toward the orange and black goal. The local gridders fought hard to stop the plunging of the heavy Wooster backs, but each time a little ground was gained until finally Wooster carried the ball within striking distance of the goal. A long forward from Statler to Bricker placed the oval one yard from the Massillon goal line. The local team was fighting hard. On the next play Statler carried the ball nearer the line. The youthful Tigers staring defeat in the face were fighting fiercely to throw the Wooster team back. The next play Statler was thrown for a loss of one yard, the next found him thrown for a loss of two yards. Failing to gain through the line, the Wooster quarter called for a forward pass and shot the ball to Slutz, who had crossed the line. Statler missed goal. Score end third quarter, 20 to 14, Wooster’s favor.

In the fourth quarter Capt. Smith returned to the game. The local team took a decided brace when the scrappy leader was again at its helm and Wooster faced a harder proposition. With the ball in midfield, the local team resorted to line plunging in which the work of Smith featured. The tow head plunged into the Wooster line time after time for gains from 5 to 10 yards. Steadily the Wooster goal posts loomed nearer. Capt. Smith by his great work had carried the ball to the three yard line. He was unable to carry it over. Hollinger grabbed the oval and plunged across the line. Eckstein kicked goal putting the orange and black one point ahead of Wooster.

The remaining two points came near the close of the game when Wooster was held for downs and forced to punt on its eight yard line. Massillon blocked the kick, sending the ball behind the line where a Wooster man recovered it. He was downed before he reached the goal line, giving the locals a safety.

The orange and black put up a great fight Saturday. It slumped a little in the second and third quarters but made up for it by its fierce playing in the last quarter. The local line, heavily outweighed, outplayed the Wooster line. Massillon was good on defense.

The work of Capt. Smith was the bright spot of the game. He played a great game, smashing Wooster’s interference time after time and carried the ball for substantial gains. He was the best ground gainer for the orange and black. Hollinger played a strong defensive game. Massillon’s wingmen Harrold and Houriet, also played well.

For Wooster, Statler and Slutz were the stars. Statler proved an able quarterback and ran the team in great shape. Slutz was Wooster’s main ground gainer.

Following is the line up and summary
M.H.S. – 23 Pos. W.H.S. – 20
Harrold le Bricker (c)
Theis lt Mills
Snyder lg Mills
Spuhler c Misseldine
Stultz rg Camp
Eckstein rt Carleton
Houriet re Howenstein
Hollinger qb Statler
R. Smith (c) lhb Davenport
Zorger fb Matz
H. Smith rhb Stutz

Score by quarters:
M.H.S. 14 0 0 9 23
W.H.S. 0 7 13 0 20

Touchdowns:
Wooster – Stultz 3.
Massillon – Houriet 2; Hollinger 1.

Goals:
Wooster – Statler 2.
Massillon – Eckstein 3.

Safety:
Massillon – 1.

Substitutions:
Massillon – Henrich for Snyder; Graybill for Stultz; Stultz for Eckstein; Eckstein for Zorger; Zorger for R. Smith; R. Smith for H. Smith.
Wooster – Frick for Mills.

Referee – Blythe (Mt. Union).
Umpire – McSweeney (Wooster).
Head Linesman – Boerner.

Timers: Snavely; Wyant.

Time of periods: 12y minutes.

History

1914: Massillon 12, New Philadelphia 21

August 6, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

ORANGE AND BLACK LOST TO SCRAPPY NEW PHILA. TEAM IN A LISTLESS GAME
Score Was 21 to 12
Massillon Lacked Its Usual Spirited Attack and Put Up Its Worst Exhibition of Football McIntosh, New Philadelphia Fullback, Was the Star

Playing a listless, ragged game and displaying the poorest football it has shown this fall, Massillon high went down to defeat Saturday afternoon at New Philadelphia, before the onslaught of the scrappy Tuscarawas county lads by the score of 21 to 12.

The local eleven Saturday afternoon learned two things: First, that over confidence in its ability and past records will never win a football game but hard fighting; second, a new way to spell the word defeat. The new version of the word was not found in Webster’s dictionary but on the gridiron at Tuscora Park, New Philadelphia.

It was spelled M-c-I-n-t-o-s-h. Although the new version does not look or sound anything like the old, it meant the same thing to the orange and black.

This black-haired individual, bearing the name of McIntosh, did more to defeat Massillon high than the combined efforts of the rest of the New Philadelphia team. He made two of New Philadelphia’s touchdowns, was largely responsible for the third, carried the ball on nearly every play with ease, captured their forward passes and in fact was the whole New Philadelphia team.

That the orange and black put up such a weird exhibition of football is largely due to the fact that Captain Smith was not in the game. The scrappy leader was on the sidelines, unable to get into the contest on account of an injured knee. His fighting spirit and ability to break the opposing team’s interference was sadly missed and without him in the game the local squad was like a ship without a rudder. It floundered about and finally dashed head-long up the rocks.

New Philadelphia, on the other hand, was bound to win the game if at all possible. It fought like a Tiger, it never gave up and in the end, conquered. Massillon high was superior to its opponents. The orange and black could display more football ability in a minute than New Philadelphia could in an hour but it failed to do it. It was completely at sea, every place it moved it was confronted by the same individual – McIntosh. The other 10 players did not matter, they were easily enough disposed of, but McIntosh was a hoo-doo. Had Massillon stopped this player, it would have won, even if it had not played such a good game.

The game was started with Massillon kicking to New Philadelphia. In three minutes the Tuscarawas county team scored a touchdown. McIntosh received the ball from the kickoff. He advanced it 15 yards before being downed. On the next play he made 25 yards around right end. A line buck netted three yards. McIntosh carrying the ball around left end made 20 yards. A line play failed. On the next play McIntosh carried the ball over from the six-yard line. Stiffler kicked goal.

Massillon’s first score came in about the same length of time. On the kickoff Harrold received the ball and returned it 15 yards. Hollinger made eight yards but fumbled. Zorger recovered. Hollinger advanced the ball nine yards. Bunker made first down. Hollinger failed to gain. Eckstein went through for 10 yards. New Philadelphia’s line was weak, the local backs gaining easily through the line. On the next play Bunker skirted around left end and ran 35 yards for a touchdown. It was a brilliant run and the speedy halfback eluded several tacklers. Hollinger missed goal.

New Philadelphia’s second touchdown came in the first quarter. Massillon kicked to New Philadelphia. The local boys got down to business and held for downs. New Philadelphia punted to Hollinger who returned the oval five yards. Rapid end runs, line bucks and forward passes placed the ball on the 25-yard line from where Eckstein tried a placekick. The kick was blocked and Zorger recovered the ball. On the next play Hollinger tried a forward pass. McIntosh, always on the job, spied the oval sailing through the air, jumped, caught it and sprinted 60 yards to the goal. Stiffler kicked. The quarter was over. Score 14 to 6 in favor of New Philadelphia.

Massillon made its last touchdown in the second quarter. New Philadelphia kicked to the local team. Big end runs by Hollinger, Bunker and H. Smith, who had replaced Zorger, soon brought the ball within the shadow of the New Philadelphia goal posts. H. Smith took the ball over from the five-yard line. Hollinger missed goal. There was no more scoring in this quarter. Score 14 to 12 in favor of New Philadelphia.

During the first half the orange and black line had out played New Philadelphia. The red and black could not stop the Massillon backs, neither could their wing men stop the end runs and forward passes. Massillon was weak on breaking interference. New Philadelphia having good interference for its end runs. The work of Hollinger, Bunker and H. Smith on carrying the ball and the defensive work of Theis and Clay were the bright spots in the first half.

The second half witnessed a change. The local team instead of showing an improvement in its work in the first half as it usually does seemed to go to pieces. New Philadelphia kicked to Massillon, which was held for downs and forced to punt. Two forward passes was enough to score another touchdown for the red and black. Both averaged 20 yards and the ball traveled from the hand of McIntosh to left end, Stiffler. Stiffler kicked goal. The orange and black did not threaten at all in the second half.

There were more Massillon rooters at the game than New Philadelphia supporters. The high school band filled the air with harmony, while the others shouted themselves hoarse but to no avail for the orange and black lacked the pep needed to defeat the scrappy New Philadelphia aggregation. It was the second defeat for the orange and black this season.

Following are the line up and summary.
M.H.S. – 12 Pos. N.P.H.S. – 21
Harrold le Stiffler
Theis lt Watkins
Snyder lg Hill
Spuhler c Rangeler
Clay rg Smith
H. Stultz rt Evans
Houriet re Hartman
Hollinger qb Kelly
Zorger lhb Wills
Eckstein fb McIntosh
Bunker rhb Helmick

Score by quarters:
N.P.H.S. 14 0 7 0 14
M.H.S. 6 6 0 0 12

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Bunker; H. Smith.
New Philadelphia – McIntosh 2; Stiffler.

Goals:
New Philadelphia – Stiffler 3.

Substitutions:
Massillon – Graybill for Snyder; Snyder for E. Stultz; E. Stultz for Clay; H. Smith for Zorger; Zorger for H. Smith; Henry for Eckstein.

Referee – Ferrell.
Umpire – Roderick.
Head Linesman – Ritter.

Timers: Steese; Brown.

Time of periods: 12 minutes.

History

1914: Massillon 3, Alliance 0

August 5, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

M.H.S. THE VICTOR
IN STERLING CONTEST
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Eckstein’s Kick From Placement
From 35-Yard Line
With Only a Minute to Play,
Wins Thrilling Game of Football
for Orange and Black Over Alliance
Theis Stars

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.
GAME TO BE REMEMBERED
It was a game that will go down in the annuals of the old or rather new school, as one of the greatest gridiron victories a Massillon high team had ever won.
CROWD GOES WILD
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.
TAKE DEFEAT HARD
But with Alliance it was different. The crimson warriors who had fought so nobly to attain victory, had tasted the bitter cup of defeat. They fell to the ground, buried their faces in the dirt and cried. Here and there an Alliance player could be heard sobbing as if he had lost everything in the world.
HOW TEAM PLAYED
It was a mighty struggle, so terrific and brilliant that it was proclaimed by many as the greatest game that has been played in old Tiger town for many years.

Alliance fought hard to stave off defeat. It played recklessly. What did it matter if players were hurt so long as they kept the orange and black from winning. They dashed into every play but the strain began to tell and in the second half they were slowly but surely beaten back by the local team and the ball was in Alliance’s territory throughout the greater portion of the last 28 minutes of the struggle. Several times Eckstein tried to drop the ball over the bars but failed. One time the ball hit the goal post and bounced back into the field. Neither team had a chance to score a touchdown, although the local team had several opportunities, but each time the Alliance players would buckle down and stop the orange and black.

Only those who saw the contest realized how brilliant a battle it was. Alliance had a good team and should be given credit for the plucky fight it put up.

Massillon played the better game. It gained considerably more ground than its opponents and the local line was like a stone wall. Not one yard did the Alliance backs make by line plunging. Their gains were made on end runs and forward passes.
STARS OF THE CONTEST
It cannot be said that any player did not do his best. All were in the game every minute but the name of one player stands out prominently and that player is Theis, left tackle, for the orange and black. His brilliant defensive work was by far the brightest spot in that sterling game of football. Time after time he broke through the line and nailed the runner. He often tackled the man on the opposite side of the line. He tackled like a furious bull and Alliance was unable to stop his whirlwind attack.

The playing of Eckstein was as brilliant as that of Theis. It was his trusty toe that brought victory, when the fans believed that a scoreless tie would be the outcome of the struggle. The big fullback played the best game of his football career. He hit the line like a shell from a German howitzer and was a bear on defense. Hollinger was Massillon’s best ground gainer. Zorger made a pretty 50 yard run in the last quarter.

For Alliance the playing of Beck, the midget center and Woolf, right half, stood out prominently. Beck, weighing only 109 pounds, was the star for his team. He was in every play. He was injured in the last quarter and had to be taken out.

Some of the credit for the victory goes to Coach Snavely of the local squad. He has developed the players into a real football team, one that fights every minute of the game. A big increase in the tackling ability of the team was noticed in Saturday’s contest.

Following is the line up and summary
M.H.S. – 3 Pos. A.H.S. – 0
Harrold le Baier
Theis lt Albright
Snyder lg Elkis
Spuhler c Beck
Clay rg McGranahan
Stultz rt Davis
Houriet re Ashbrook
Hollinger qb Kirk
R. Smith (c) lhb Thompson
Eckstein fb Roach (c)
H. Smith rhb Woolf

Score by quarters:
Massillon 0 0 0 3 3
Alliance 0 0 0 0 0

Goals from placement:
Massillon – Eckstein.

Substitutions:
Massillon – Zorger for Harrold; Clay for Snyder; Snyder for Clay; Graybill for Clay; Bunker for H. Smith; Zorger for Bunker; H. Smith for Bunker; Bunker for Eckstein.
Alliance – Bowman for Beck; Reese for McGranahan.

Referee – Roderick.
Umpire – Rudy.
Head Linesman – Rudy.

Timers: Parsons; Cappock.

Time of periods: 15 and 12½ minutes.

History

1914: Massillon 10, Salem 0

August 4, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

M.H.S. VICTORIOUS OVER
SALEM HIGH TEAM
SATURDAY
SCORE 10 – 0
Orange and Black Wins
Hard Fought Game From Fast Salem Team
Hollinger Star of Contest
Speedy Quarter Shows Up Well
in Carrying Ball for Local Aggregation

Another victory was tucked away in the folds of the orange and black Saturday afternoon when the high school defeated the crack Salem high team on Longfellow school grounds by the score of 10 to 0. The local team put up a great game of football Saturday but lost several chances to score by fumbling. Fumbles alone marred the playing of the orange and black warriors.
HOLLINGER THE STAR
To Hollinger goes the honor of being the star of the contest. The speedy quarterback was a demon in a broken field. Seldom did he fail to gain when carrying the ball. Dodging here and there, he eluded tackler after tackler, making gains anywhere from 5 to 55 yards. His 55-yard run, early in the second quarter, was the feature of the game. On returning punts, he showed up well, bringing the ball back close to where it was kicked from.
TEAM PLAYS WELL
Coach Snavely’s boys were in the game every minute. They outplayed the Salem warriors and had they not fumbled the ball at critical stages of the contest, the score would have been larger. They missed three chances to score by the air route in the first half. Hollinger threw the ball once to Smith and twice to Houriet and all three passes would have been good for touchdowns had not the players stepped out of bounds in receiving the ball.

Massillon scored its only touchdown in the first quarter. Salem was held for downs on the 35-yard line and forced to punt. Theis, left tackle, always on the job, broke through the line, blocked the kick and sent the ball spinning into the hands of Captain Smith, who raced 35 yards to the goal for a touchdown. Hollinger kicked goal.

Shortly after the third quarter started, Eckstein dropped the ball over from placement from the 30-yard line. It was a pretty kick.

On the ends Zorger, Moody and Houriet put up a great game. Houriet played his usually brilliant game. He grabbed a Salem forward pass in the last quarter and ran 50 yards before being downed.

Theis and H. Stultz at the tackles, stopped all attempts at line plunging. Stultz did some fine punting. Snyder, E. Stultz, Graybill and Clay outplayed their opponents and were continually breaking through and nailing the man. Spuhler at center was a big cog in the local team’s defense. Hollinger at quarter, ran the team in fine shape. In the backfield R. Smith, Eckstein, Hille and H. Smith presented an array of players hard to beat. Good at line plunging and running the ends, they bewildered the Salem team.
SALEM PLAYS WELL
The red and black team of Salem played a good game. It did fine team work and its attack kept the orange and black guessing. Windell, captain and quarterback on the Salem team, was the star. He played a good game. His punting was one of the features of the contest. His kicks were high and averaged nearly 50 yards.

Following is the line up and summary
Massillon – 10 Pos. Salem – 0
Zorger le Cavanaugh
Theis lt Whinnery
Snyder lg Logan
Spuhler c McClery
Graybill rg Cosgrove
H. Stultz rt Lamphard
Houriet re Turner
Hollinger qb Windell (c)
Hille lhb Williman
Eckstein fb Baillie
R. Smith (c) rhb Hagen

Score by quarters:
Salem 0 0 0 0 0
Massillon 7 0 3 0 10

Touchdowns:
Massillon – R. Smith.

Goals:
Massillon – Hollinger 1.

Goal from placement:
Massillon – Eckstein.

Substitutions:
Massillon – Moody for Zorger; E. Stultz for Snyder; Graybill for E. Stultz; Clay for Graybill; H. Smith for R. Smith; Zorger for Hille.
Salem – Baillie for Cavanaugh; Vollman for Lamphard; Baillie for Grinner.

Referee – Roderick
Umpire – Rudy.
Head Linesman – Boerner.

Timers: Kester; Leyda.

Time of periods: 12½ minutes.

History

1914: Massillon 0, Akron Central 6

August 3, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

MUDDY FIELD
AIDS AKRON IN SCORING VICTORY SATURDAY
Heavy Akron Central Team
Defeats Massillon High 6 to 0
on Field of Mud and Water
Local Team Greatly Outweighed,
Outplays Its Opponents Throughout
Most of the Contest

Akron Central, Saturday afternoon, in the Wooster Avenue stadium, Akron, handed Massillon high its first defeat of the season by the score of 6 to 0.

The entire game was played in a steady downpour. The field soon became a quagmire and the mud several inches deep. It was the rain rather than Akron Central that spelled defeat for the orange and black. Had Old Sol continued to shine as he did earlier in the day, it is more than likely the locals would have handed Akron Central a decisive beating for even in the mud and mire it outplayed its opponent throughout the greater part of the game.

Massillon kicked off to Akron, who brought the ball to the 15-yard line by steady line plunging. The orange and black took a brace and held Akron for downs. Stultz immediately kicked out of danger. Akron’s backs now started to ram the line and by steady plunging brought the ball up to within a foot of Massillon’s goal line from where Carderilli bucked it over. Goal was missed. Akron’s score had been made five minutes after play started.

The orange and black fought desperately to keep Akron from scoring but all that the Summit county boys had to do was to stamp their feet in the mud, lunge at the Massillon line and the impact would push the light team back several yards. It was unable to get a foothold in the mud.

After this Massillon fought the rubber city team to a standstill. Akron several times carried the ball to the shadow of the orange and black goal posts but each time the local boys held and Akron was forced to give up the oval.

Massillon’s only chance to score came in the third quarter, when Akron fumbled the ball. Harold scooped it up and had a clear field but he slipped and was downed. Had the field been dry and solid the local boys would have scampered away to a touchdown.

The orange and black showed up well in the mud. The defensive playing of Houriet, Theis and Hollinger stood out prominently.

Following the line up and summary
M.H.S. – 0 Pos. A.C.H.S. – 6
Harold le Spaulding
Theis lt Flowers (c)
Snyder, E. Stultz lg Wright
Spuhler c Youtz
Graybil, Graze rg Benedict
Stultz rt Shaw
Houriet re Harter
Hollinger qb Jenkins
H. Smith, Zorger lhb Carderhill
Eckstein fb Rook
R. Smith (c) rhb Hillibush

Score by quarters:
Akron 6 0 0 0 6
Massillon 0 0 0 0 0

Touchdowns:
Akron Central – Carderilli 1.

Referee – Owens (Akron).
Umpires – Kester (Massillon).
Rudy (Massillon).
Head Linesman – Smith.

Time of periods – 12 and 15 minutes.

History

1914: Massillon 9, Akron South 0

August 2, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

M.H.S. TRAMPLES
AKRON SOUTH
IN MUD
WINNING
SATURDAY’S GAME
9 – 0
Contest Was Played on Field of Slime Several Inches Deep Orange and Black Squad Outplayed Opponents at All Stages of the Game
Eckstein Makes Points

Battling for nearly an hour Saturday afternoon on a field that resembled a sea of mud, Massillon high’s gridiron warriors finally triumphed over the pride of Akron South by the score of 9 to 0 in a slow but intensely exciting contest. The soggy condition of the field made fast play impossible. After the first down the players became nearly unrecognizable and more than once was time called out in order to allow some poor unfortunate to dig the mud out of his mouth and eyes.

The game did not begin until 4:05 o’clock and the greater portion of the contest was played in the slowly gathering dusk. Although outweighed by the Akron team, the local players were in the game every minute and their spirited attack swept the rubber city lads off their feet while the suddenness of the onslaught left them dazed. The orange and black team carried the ball within striking distance of the Akron goal line several times only to lose it on fumbles.

To fullback Eckstein goes the credit for making all the points. The first score came in the second quarter. With the ball on their 15-yard line, Akron was held for downs and forced to punt. Theis, Massillon’s star tackle, broke through the line and blocked the kick, sending it spinning toward the Akron goal line. Harold, left end, chased after the ball, caught it and was downed on the one-yard line. Eckstein bucked the ball over for the touchdown. Goal was missed.

The remaining three points were made in the last quarter, near the close of the game, when Eckstein booted the ball over the bars from placement on the 20-yard line

At no time during the game did Akron South threaten Massillon’s goal and they never advanced the ball over Massillon’s 35-yard line. Massillon’s line played a great game Saturday and to use the expression of one of the local rooters who saw the contest, they opened holes in the Akron line big enough for an N.O.T. interurban car to go through sideways.

The team showed up mighty well Saturday. The players stopped the Akron team time after time and they only made first down once while Massillon was only forced to punt once.

Massillon’s little group of rooters numbering 25 out-rooted Akron South’s supporters who numbered nearly 200. The game was played in the newly finished stadium on Wooster Avenue.

Line up and summary
M.H.S. – 9 Pos. A.S.H. – 0
Harold LE Whalen
Theis LT Taylor
Snyder LG Wile
Spuhler C Possehl
Graybill RG Miller
Stultz RT Sisler
Houriet RE Stevens
Hollinger QB Welkar
Zorger LHB Pfahl
Eckstein FB Newfield (c)
R. Smith (c) RHB Munro

Score by quarters:
Massillon – first 0; second 6; third 0; fourth 3.

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Eckstein.

Goals from placement:
Massillon – Eckstein.

Referee – Smith (Akron).
Umpire – Jones.
Head Linesman – Boerner (Massillon).

History

1914: Massillon 33, Uhrichsville 0

August 1, 1914August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

M.H.S. OPENS WITH VICTORY SATURDAY
Local High School Gridders
Trounce Uhrichsville 33 to 0,
in Opening Contest of Season
Orange and Black Plays
Good Ball at Times
Players Show Up Well

Massillon high’s gridiron warriors celebrated the opening of the 1914 gridiron season Saturday afternoon by trouncing the pigskin chasers from Uhrichsville by the score of 33 to 0 on the old high school grounds.

The youthful wearers of the orange and black played brilliant ball at times and at others their attack was not so good. The local team did not show up well in tackling and was not able to break up Uhrichsville’s forward passes. The southerners worked nine successful forwards, making three straight twice.

To Captain Smith goes the honor for making the first touchdown of the season. Massillon kicked to Uhrichsville. The local gridders held and forced Uhrichsville to punt but the ball was recovered by Uhrichsville on the ten-yard line. Uhrichsville fumbled the ball and Eckstein fell on it. Massillon was held for downs and forced to punt. Spuhler recovered the kick on the 12-yard line. Eckstein shot through center and placed the ball the one foot from the line where it was carried over by Smith. Hollinger missed goal.

The second touchdown came near the close of the second quarter; Eckstein bucking the ball over. Goal was missed.

In the second half the local team started out with a rush and played the best football of the contest. Soon after the quarter had started Capt. Smith went through for the third touchdown. Hollinger kicked goal.

Hollinger made the last two touchdowns. Near the end of the third quarter he went through the Uhrichsville line for 12 yards and a touchdown. He kicked goal. The last touchdown came when Hollinger grabbed a Uhrichsville forward pass in the last quarter and sprinted 35 yards to the goal. Goal was kicked.

Uhrichsville threatened to score in the last quarter. Four forward passes, in quick succession placed the ball on the three-yard line. The Massillon line tightened and Uhrichsville was forced to give up the ball.

The local team showed up well at times and with another week’s practice should be able to give a good account of itself. Straight line plays was all that was used by the orange and black. Eckstein at full and Zorger at half back played a good game. Massillon’s line, composed of nearly all new players, showed up well and very seldom did the Uhrichsville backs go through for large gains. Many changes in the line up were made by Coach Snavely.

Quimby, white-headed fullback for Uhrichsville, was the star for his team. The two-headed player was mixed up in every play. Blythe, former star quarterback at Mt. Union referred the game.

Following is the summary
M.H.S. – 33 Pos. Uhrichsville –0
Harold le McDonald
Theis lt McKee
Snyder lg Heck
Spuhler c Witting
Graze rg Miller
Stultz rt Edwards (c)
Houriet re Burns
Hollinger qb Eckfeld
H. Smith lhb Gow
Eckstein fb Quimby
R. Smith (c) rhb Marshall

Score by quarter
1 2 3 4
M.H.S. 6 6 14 7 33
Uhrichsville 0 0 0 0 0

Substitutions:
Uhrichsville – Heck for McKee; Russell for Heck.
Massillon – Moody for Harold; Archbold for Snyder; Graybill for Graze; Burk for Hollinger; Zorger for H. Smith.

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Hollinger 2; Smith 2; Eckstein 1.

Goals:
Massillon – Hollinger 3.

Referee – Blythe (Mt. Union)
Umpire – Parsons.
Head Linesman – Gorrell.

Timers: Kester; Hamilton

Time of periods: 10 minutes.

History

1913: Massillon 13, Canton Central 13

November 22, 1913August 7, 2017
by Eric Smith

ORANGE AND BLACK
HOLDS CANTON HIGH TO
A TIE
IN ANNUAL GAME
SATURDAY

In a game full of brilliant tackling and spectacular playing M.H.S., in the last game of the season, held its old rival Canton high to a tie score, 13 to 13, Saturday afternoon on the local grounds. All touchdowns were made by the use of the forward pass, both teams depended largely upon this method to gain. Canton excelled in the art of forward passing, working four straight forwards in the third quarter.
THE CROWD
Not since the old Tiger days has such a crowd of football fans been assembled as on Saturday afternoon. They were massed around the field five and six deep and were continually rooting and cheering the players.

Canton sent over a large delegation of rooters and with the high school band stationed on the south side of the field kept up a continual din through the game.

On the north side were the high school students and led by cheerleader, Kirk Baxter let out yell after yell through the entire contest. When Rifer shot the ball to Hollinger for the first touchdown after a few minutes of play bedlam broke loose and cheer after cheer rent the atmosphere.

Between halves the student body held a parade around the field and a Canton rooter wishing to enlarge his collection of pennants grabbed a banner from one student, a riot threatened, it was quickly broken up and the offender ordered out of town by Mayor Kaley.
THE DAY
The day was ideal for a football game, probably a little to warm for the players, but spectators were well satisfied. The grounds were in fine condition also.
THE GAME
Captain Cholly of the red and black won the toss and choose to defend the west goal. Kester kicked off, Cholly returning the ball 15 yards. Cholly went through the line for 6 yards. Cholly goes through left tackle for 6 more making first down. Massillon held and Canton punted,

Massillon’s ball on the 46 yard line, Kester goes through for 5, Rider makes 1 yard, Smith goes through left tackle for 30 yards. On the next play Rider shot the ball to Hollinger for the first touchdown. Kester kicked goal.

Massillon’s second touchdown came in the second quarter on a forward from Kester to Rogers who ran 20 yards for the score. Kester failed goal. On the next kickoff Canton started a steady march down the field, line plays and forward passes placed the ball on the one-yard line with four downs to make the required one yard; the orange and black line held and Canton was unable to cross the goal line.

Canton’s first touchdown came in the second quarter on a double pass from Cholly to Douds to Brown registered the first score for the red and black. Cholly missed goal.

On the kickoff, Rudy received the ball and sustained injuries which forced him to leave the game, Spidle taking his place. Rider captured a Canton forward and ran 50 yards as the half ended before being downed.

Massillon receives. A forward from Rider to Hollinger makes a gain of 50 yards, Canton blocked Rider’s attempt at a drop kick. The red and black working forward after forward made their second touchdown. A pass from Snyder to Jackson for 40 yards made the score. Cholly kicked goal. Score tie.

Both teams were now fighting desperately to score, the ball kept zig-zagging back and forth through the middle of the field. The red and black would work forward passes for big gains only to be held for downs by the fighting wearers of the orange and black. With a few minutes left to play, Kester recovers a blocked punt and with a five yard penalty for a Canton player being offside, the ball was placed on the one-yard line. With victory within their grasp, the orange and black were unable to cross Canton’s goal line. On an end run, Rider was thrown for a loss of 4 yards. Kester went through the line for 3 on the next play, he fumbled and a Canton player recovered. They immediately kicked out of danger. The quarter ended with the ball in the middle of the field.
THE PLAYERS
For the orange and black, Smith and Hollinger played the star games with Theis, Rogers and Kester close seconds. Smith at halfback tore through the Canton line for many big gains and played the best game of his career. Hollinger at right end stopped everything that came his way and gave a brilliant exhibition of hard and accurate tackling. Theis at tackle was too big an obstacle for the Canton backs to surmount and not a yard was made through him. Rogers at left end played a strong defensive game and scored one of the touchdowns. Kester, although not kicked the ball with his usual skill, easily out punted his rival; the Canton team being weak in the kicking department. Kester also hit the line well and made several long gains. The orange and black line played low and the red and black found it impossible to gain any ground through them. Houriet pitted against a man weighing 175 pounds, playing him off his feet.

The red and black excelled in the use of the forward pass, working it time and again for large gains.

Captain Cholly the brilliant captain of the Canton team was easily the star of the game. Had it not been for his great playing Canton would have been beaten by a large score. He entered the game with three damaged ribs and often had to be assisted to his feet after being downed. In returning punts he is in a class by himself, by his twisting and dodging, often bringing the ball back to where it was kicked from. He was forced to quit the game in the last quarter.

Following is the line up and summary
Massillon – 13 Pos. Canton –13
Rogers le Douds, Cook
Theis lt Hague
Houriet lg Pontius
Spuhler c Volzer
Paroz rg Wise
Rudy Capt –Spidle rt Van Vorhis
Hollinger re Jackson
Rider qb Snyder
McLaughlin, Vogt lh Zengler, Cook
Smith rh Cholly Capt.
Kester fb Brown

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Hollinger; Rogers.
Canton – Brown; Jackson.

Officials:
Referee – Snyder (Cleveland).
Umpire – Gibson (Mt. Union).
Head Lineman – Bast (Massillon).

Time of quarters: 15 and 12 minutes.

Author: <span>Eric Smith</span>