Category: <span>History</span>

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1929: Massillon 0, Akron East 6

Green Washington High “11” Loses First Duel To Akron East
RUBBER CITY YOUTHS SCORE TOUCHDOWN IN NEAR CLOSE OF GAME

By LUTHER EMERY

Stirred by the general realization that it was their first football game, of the season, and urged on by a thousand anxious Massillon fans, a sturdy little group of orange and black grid warriors plugged away with all their might against Akron East Saturday afternoon; but were not equal to the task and went down fighting under a 6 to 0 score.

Under a warm September sun, the two teams battled each other fiercely in the opening game of the season for each. It might have been too hot for football had it not been for the crisp northwesterly wind that brushed over the field throughout the game, but the cool breeze only served to whet the pangs for grid conquests and envelope both players and fans in a football atmosphere.

Flash at Times
Green, with the exception of a couple of seeds in the core, the Massillon eleven would flash brilliantly one time and then look like a group of grade school boys on the next play. Yet, in spite of the defeat and the mediocre showing at times, the play of the Tigers gave evidence that Coach Elmer McGrew has the making of a winning eleven before the end of the year.

The lack of understanding which goes hand in hand with inexperience, coupled with the only penalty of the game, defeated the youthful Tigers.

Simple but deceptive, the Massillon youngsters were unable to diagnose a spin play staged by the Orientals in their victorious march to a touchdown in the fourth period.

Spin Play Deceptive
Time and again Ostravitch or Fontaine playing near the line of scrimmage, whirled around as if to hand the ball to one of their teammates but completed the circle and carried the ball directly through the center of the line, the interference wiping out the remaining members of the Massillon defense who were not fooled by the fake passes to other backs.

That spin play gained most of East’s yards, but even then the Orientals might not have scored were it not for a 15-yard penalty, the only one of the entire game called on the Tigers for piling up when it was third down with six yards for the Orientals to go for a first down and the ball on Massillon’s 38-yard line.

That penalty seemed to take all the fight out of McGrew’s boys and their resistance was meager when East reeled off the remaining 23 yards on six attempts. Fontaine carried the ball across for the touchdown, but his attempted drop kick for the extra point was wide.

Tigers Rally
But the Tigers rallied and hearts thumped wildly the next couple of minutes when the hopes of the Massillon fans rose and fell with a brilliant dash of Clendening into East territory, but the run ended for naught when he fumbled when tackled and East recovered. Two plays netted East a first down and right then and there the Tigers got their break of the game, a fumble, but it all came too late, for the final whistle blew before the play could be returned.

The last dash of the orange and black was something Massillon fans, who have been watching the Tigers in their pre-season training, expected to see earlier in the game. But although it came late, it gave promise of something that is liable to occur many times this season if the line will only break up the opponent’s defense and stake the backs to a broken field.

Line Lacks Drive
The offense worked fairly smooth Saturday but it couldn’t get underway for the superior charging of the Orientals’ forward wall. The Tiger linemen lacked the drive to push back the front backs of the Akron school with the result that the Massillon backs had difficulty carrying the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

One thing that can be said in favor of the Massillon boys is that they are in great condition. Time was not called out once for injuries, while East had time taken out several times in order to recuperate members of the team. Of all the Akron players, probably none was roughed more than Sherman Grimm, a second stringer at Washington high two years ago. Grimm, who moved to Akron a year ago, played the role of fullback and did a neat job of punting and tackling for his team. He took time out twice however as a result of bumps received. He had an edge over Kester and Clendening in the punting; Kester having his first kick blocked since he began playing with Washington high.

Long Pass Features
The feature play of the game, as far as Massillon was concerned, was a 30-yard forward pass, Clendening to Toles, in the second period that enabled the Tigers to carry the ball deep into Akron territory. On that occasion the local eleven worked the ball by their own ability to the opponent’s 18-yard line, where it was lost on downs when a pass that just reached Worthington’s fingertips was grounded. Had it been successful it would have resulted in a first down for the Tigers.

East excelled in first downs, making the required yardage 10 times to the local team’s four. Seven of the Akron boys’ 10-yard gains were made in the last half. The Tigers made three first downs in the second period and one in the fourth.

East failed to complete a forward pass while the local team completed one for 30 yards. Both teams had three passes incomplete and one intercepted.

Massillon fans are still looking for football as can be seen from the fact that 1,000 of them were scattered among the 2,500 spectators at Saturday’s game. Considering the fact that only a couple of members of this year’s team are seniors, the hopes of the fans for another winning high school team may be realized.

First Quarter
The game was the first in which the school’s new system of appointing a captain before each game was put into effect, and John Kester was honored as leader Saturday.

Willison was downed with the kickoff on his own 30-yard line. Clendening failed to gain and a bad pass lost five yards. Kester booted the ball to midfield. Fontaine gained five yards, and two tries by Ostravitch gained but three more. Grimm punted to the 10-yard line, Worthington fumbled the ball, but recovering it and returning 10 yards. Clendening and Worthington each cut off a yard and Kester kicked the ball back to midfield, Knowlton dropping Ostravitch in his tracks. Grimm made a yard, Ostravitch eight, and then Fontaine worked a spin play for a first down on the Tigers’ 39-yard line. Ostravitch wheeled through right tackle for seven yards, but Fontaine failed to gain and a pass was incomplete after which Grimm punted to Clendening who returned the ball to the 18-yard line. Kester returned the kick to the Akron 40-yard line where Ostravitch muffed the ball but recovered without return. Fontaine lost three yards on two cracks at the line and Kester went high into the air to pull down Fontaine’s pass on the Massillon 32-yard line. Clendening gained two yards and then the dusky youth caught the Akron boys asleep and punted to the East 18-yard line, where the period ended.

Second Quarter
Fontaine picked up two yards and Grimm punted to Massillon’s 30-yard line, Worthington returning 10 yards. Houriet picked up a yard and then Clendening hurled a pass to Toles that brought a first down on East’s 30-yard line. Worthington gained four yards, but Clendening slipped and fell on an off tackle dash without gain. He shortened the distance by four yards on the next play, however, which paved the way for Houriet to slip through for a first down on Akron’s 20-yard line. Clendening got but two yards on his next two attempts and his pass to Worthington on third down just touched the latter’s finger tips. The Tigers lost the ball when Clendening failed to gain on the next play.

Grimm made four yards and Fontaine’s spin play brought four more. Ostravitch broke away for a run of 14 yards giving Akron a first down on the Akron 40-yard line. Grimm and Fontaine picked up but two yards on the next two plays, and Grimm then punted to Clendening who returned 20 yards to his own 40-yard line. Clendening got two yards, Houriet four yards at left tackle, Worthington three yards, and then Houriet made it first down on East’s 48-yard line. Clendening and Worthington reeled off eight yards in two attempts, but Clendening’s pass was high, after which he punted short and out of bounds on East’s 31-yard line. Lindsay and Mitchell made nine yards and then Fontaine slipped away for a run of 22 yards, but he fumbled when tackled and Clendening recovered for Massillon. Houriet gained four yards as the half came to an end.

Third Quarter
Clendening kicked off to East’s 35-yard line. Grimm punted to Clendening who was downed on Massillon’s 30-yard line. Worthington and Williams each bucked the line for two yards, and Kester punted back to East’s 38-yard line. Mesko got a yard but Grimm failed to gain. Grimm punted to Clendening who returned to his own 40-yard line. Clendening lost a yard on a double pass, and Mitchell pulled down a Massillon pass on Akron’s 42-yard line. Fontaine gained 15 yards through right tackle. Grimm failed to gain but Mitchell reeled off eight yards on two charges at the line. Fontaine’s pass was incomplete and the Tigers took the ball on downs on their own 32-yard line. Kester immediately punted to East’s 39-yard line. Mitchell returning to the 44-yard line. Mitchell and Fontaine made seven yards and Mitchell slipped through for a first down on the local’s 48-yard line. Fontaine was tossed for a loss of three yards. Grimm punted to Clendening who returned to the 35-yard line. Clendening’s pass was high and Kester’s punt was blocked by Thomas; Fontaine recovering on the Tigers’ 38-yard line, where the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter
Fontaine and Ostravitch failed to gain and a pass was knocked down. Grimm punted out of bounds on Massillon’s nine-yard line. Kester returned the kick to Akron’s 48-yard line. Ostravitch gained two yards and lost a half yard in two plays. Fontaine however slipped through for seven yards on a spin play and then repeated for a first down on the Massillon 41-yard line. Fontaine gained three yards and the Tigers were penalized for piling up, giving East the ball on the 23-yard line. Fontaine gained four yards on a spin, and Ostravtich made it first down on the 12-yard line. Fontaine made three more yards and then Ostravitch cut in through right tackle for a first down on the two-yard line. Ostravitch failed to gain, but Fontaine went over for the touchdown. His try for point drop kick went wide of the uprights.

Pfister took the kickoff and was downed on his own 40-yard line. Kester circled left end for seven yards, Williams failed to gain at center, Kester executed a beautiful lateral pass to Clendening who dashed to Akron’s 35-yard line where he fumbled, East recovering. Ostravitch gained three yards, and Fontaine raced the ball back for a first down on his own 48-yard line. East fumbled on the next play, and Massillon recovered but the game ended before play could be resumed.

Lineup and summary:
Akron East Position Massillon
Brubaker LE Toles
Miller LT Willison
Gillespie LG Pfister
Thomas C Lewis
Pudelka RG Herman
Chenoweth RT Blatz
Mowery RE Knowlton
Fontaine QB Worthington
Ostravitch LHB Clendening
Mesko RHB Houriet
Grimm FB Kester

Score by periods:
Akron East 0 0 0 6 6
Massillon 0 0 0 0 0

Substitutions:
Akron East – Tarbox for Miller; Ferguson for Mowery; Bennett for Gillespie; Mitchell for Ostravitch; Lindsay for Grimm; Mowery for Ferguson; Grimm for Lindsay; Ostravitch for Mitchell.
Massillon – Williams for Houriet; Houriet for Knowlton; Price for Herman; Herman for Price; Rice for Worthington.

Touchdown:
Akron East – Fontaine.

Time of periods – 12 minutes.

Referee – Michaels.
Umpire – Young.
Head Linesman – Kester.

Alfred Lewis
Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large)

1928: Massillon 0, Canton McKinley 7

CANTON DEFEATS MASSILLON IN ANNUAL TILT
FORWARD PASSES WIN GAME AND TITLE FOR McKINLEY ATHLETES

By LUTHER EMERY

Picked to lose by three or four touchdowns, a fighting Washington high school football team smeared Canton McKinley during three and one-half quarters on Massillon Field, Saturday afternoon, and weakened only momentarily in the second period, when the invading bulldogs succeeded in pushing across a touchdown and kicking the extra point to win 7 to 0.

The gallant Massillon gridders were victorious in defeat, that is if there is such a thing as a moral victory, and it appears as though there is for every Massillon fan, in spite of disappointment, was more or less satisfied with the result. But moral victories do not win football games and bring county championships and as a result Canton McKinley retains the grid title and also gets another leg on the University trophy to be awarded to the team first to win the county title three times.
Perfect Setting for Grid Classic
With the crowded stands a mass of color, a warm sun driving away the cold and a light wind brushing the field, a perfect setting was given for the classic, and one that will be remembered for many years. It demonstrated the power of 11 fighting hearts and served to prove the uncertainty of scores in a Canton-Massillon game.

“Lindy” won fame by flying and Canton used the ozone to win the Stark county title. The widely heralded passing attack of the McKinley gridders which swept aside half a dozen teams this fall carried the red and black to its one and only touchdown.
Canton Takes to Air.
The bulldogs took to the air to work the ball into the local team’s territory, and when line plunges failed to bring yards, tossed, passes on fourth downs putting the once tough skin of a pig on the six-inch line where it was carried across in a pileup of players, that completely hid Nick Green, the ball toter, from view. That was the only touchdown of the game and the only time either goal was seriously threatened, but it was a mighty sweet touchdown for Canton and brought a howl from the McKinley stands and a sigh from the Massillon rooters.
Defensive Game.
Massillon played a defensive game, and Canton knew it. The east-enders found it difficult to penetrate the forward wall and only did so on formations of deceptions. But where Canton had an offense, the orange and black had none. The local gridders found it difficult to penetrate the forward wall of the Canton team and were completely smothered when they attempted to beat the Cantonians at their own game and toss passes. Not a Massillon back was able to gain consistently and first downs for the local eleven were as scarce as hair on a frog’s back. Canton, however, succeeded in making the required yardage on nine occasions and thus rightfully deserved the victory.

Standing out on the line, head and shoulders above the rest, both teams included, were Goodman and Buttermore, McGrew’s pair of tackles, who could be found hanging on to some part of the ball carrier’s body on practically every play. Captain Miller, of Canton, ballyhooed as one of the greatest linemen ever produced at McKinley high, was even over-shadowed Saturday by these two orange and black gridders.
Play Even First Period.
Play during the first period was practically even, with Massillon having the first chance to score when a Canton fumble was recovered on the 28-yard line. However, two plays failed to gain, and Watkin’s attempted place kick on the third down was low.

Canton’s first offensive drive started shortly before the end of the first period. Getting the ball on their own 38-yard line on a punt, the visitors started a series of line plays. Spretnak made a yard, and Green slipped through for eight more. Ferral then crashed through for a first down on the Canton 48-yard line.
Canton Scores Touchdown.
Here the quarter came to an end. Canton defended the north goal in the second period. Zagray made three yards at left end and Green drove around right end for a first down on the Massillon 38-yard line. Ferral made a yard at center, but Zagray lost one. Spretnak then stepped back and passed to Green for a first down on the Massillon 19-yard line. Spretnak made a yard, Ferral -two yards, and Green a yard, and on the fourth down, the little Canton quarterback hurled a pass to Nick Green that sailed through the arms of a Massillon player, and the Canton gridder was dropped on the six-inch line. Green took the ball over on the next play, and Spretnak drop kicked the extra point. Not long before the end of the second period, the orange and black got the ball on the Canton 20-yard line, but after two attempts to crack the line failed, the Canton gridders knocked down two Massillon passes and took the ball on downs. Just as the second period came to an end, Hug, Canton right end, pulled the most sensational play of the day by grabbing up a fumbled Massillon punt and, racing ahead of a string of gridders ran 40 yards and across the Massillon goal line. But the run was without result, for the ball was dead at the point of recovery, and the deafening cheer from the Canton bleachers was echoed in greater volume by the fans in the Massillon stands.
Content With Lead.
Canton apparently was content with the seven-point lead, for the visitors were careful with their passes in the second half, and relied on line plunges for gains. Play during the latter part of the third period was largely in Massillon territory as a result of John Kester’s only poor punt of the day, the red and black working the ball to the 19-yard line on one occasion, only to lose it on downs, when two passes were batted to the earth. The fourth quarter was largely a punting duel between Kester and Spretnak, the former having the better of the argument even though he was kicking against the wind. Neither team threatened and the game ended with the ball in mid-field.
Plays With Broken Finger
It takes good internal organs to stay in a game with a broken finger, and that’s what Fisher, Massillon guard, did. Brought to the sidelines by Captain Potts, and suffering considerable pain, Fisher protested against leaving the field. Coach Elmer McGrew surveyed his bench, failed to find a substitute of any value, taped up the injured player’s finger, and he went back into the game and made the tackle on the next play. Fisher’s courage, however, was just a visible sample of the play of the entire Massillon line, for these stalwarts of the front ranks, whose praises are seldom lauded, were really the ones who held Canton to the small margin of seven points. Kester, however, should come in for his share of praise, for his long punts in spite of the poor passes he received early in the game, kept Canton in her own territory most of the contest. Kester has finished a season of remarkable kicking for a sophomore, and in spite of the fact that he stands but nine yards back of the passer, he has not had a punt blocked on him this year. Captain Miller tried to do it and tried hard, for he has blocked punt after punt this year, but he tossed out his hands Saturday only to find that the ball had already left Kester’s toe and was sailing on its way down the field.
Bands Stage Drill
There was plenty of music on Massillon field Saturday, with both Canton and Massillon bands blaring away frequently. The two musical organizations paraded together between halves, the Massillon band forming a large “M” in front of the student bleachers, while the students sang their school song. The bands also played for the flag raising.

Both schools had their mascots “Obie”, the Washington high tiger, was carried up and down the sidelines by the cheer leaders while over on the Canton sidelines a bulldog snarled his viciousness.

Canton was penalized 80 yards to Massillon’s 40, the penalties being for holding and offside principally. The McKinley gridders completed four passes for a gain of 40 yards. Four were incomplete, and one intercepted. Massillon failed to complete a pass in four attempts.
A Perfect Day
The weather probably was the best ever for a Massillon-Canton game. Although the top of the field was slightly loose, slowing up the runners somewhat, yet it was much better than it has been for years. As for temperature, it too was right. Just cold enough to make the blood tingle in the spectators, and not too warm to interfere with the play of the teams.

A crowd of approximately 6,500 attended the game. All bleachers were filled and the sidelines jammed, and the crowd was probably the most orderly of any of the many large Canton-Massillon crowds.

Had Massillon possessed a fair offense, the local team probably would have pulled through on top. The youthful tigers had the ball in Canton territory on several occasions, once as close as the 20-yard line, but every attempt to advance the ball was met by a host of Canton tacklers and the ball was lost on downs.
Newspapers Busy
Three telephones on the field flashed the news of the game back to newspapers, and there were nearly as many cameramen as players on the field.

As a result of the Canton victory, the county seat team and the orange and black each have two legs on the University cup, the winner of which probably will be decided in 1929. With good material coming from the junior high schools, the Washington high students are already talking about how they are going to even matters up next fall and win the cup.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Pos. Canton
Houriet LE Rich
Slinger LT Miller
Garland LG Miday
Buttermore C Tracey
Blatz RG Culp
Goodman RT Zeren
Schnierle RE Hug
Hess QB Spretnak
Kester LH Hutchinson
Hollwager RH Green
Watkins FB Ferral

Score by periods:
Canton 0 7 0 0 7

Substitutions:
Massillon – Fisher for Garland, Potts for Buttermore, Buttermore for Slinger, Lewis for Watkins, Slinger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Hollwager.
Canton – Zagray for Hutchinson, Cordrey for Culp, Rudy for Green, Green for Rudy, Lieber for Ferral, Ferral for Rich, Hutchinson for Zagray, Walker for Cordrey, Kirk for Hutchinson.

Touchdown – Green
Point after touchdown – Spretnak (drop kick).

Referee—Lobach (F. & M.)
Umpire—Morgan (Youngstown).
Headlinesman—Shafer (O. S. U.)
Time of periods—15 minutes.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 7, Barberton 6

WASHINGTON HI GRIDDERS NOSE OUT BARBERTON BY SINGLE POINT, 7-6
ONE-MAN TEAM FIFTH VICTIM OF YOUTHFUL TIGERS THIS SEASON

By LUTHER EMERY

Their hopes crushed under a 7 to 6 defeat, a disappointed Barberton football team slipped quietly and humbly out of Massillon Saturday afternoon. Tears were streaming down the faces of the gridders who had seen their hopes rise and fall under a strong orange and black attack. Many of them had dug their cleats into turf on Massillon field for the last time for their alma mater.

Most disappointed and broken in spirit of the defeated but gallant gridders was “Mike” Raplenovic, who played his last high school game in a most brilliant manner. Tears coursed down his dust covered face as he wended his way to the clubhouse, assisted by his coach, and exhausted by his untiring efforts to turn defeat into victory for his school. Pat after pat on the back was given him by Massillon fans, who admired him for his athletic ability and his clean play. It was his last game for Barberton and he received the words of praise with a choking “thank you.”

Raplenovic Star of Game

Raplenovic was the Barberton football team. He was the only back who could gain on the orange and black, and his runs frequently were for long distances. He scored Barberton’s touchdown. He did the passing, the punting, and a lot of the tackling. He was the victim of hard and frequent tackling, but his excellent physical condition and his ability to handle himself saved him from injury. Had he been in the Massillon backfield, there’s no telling what the score might have been.

Raplenovic scored Barberton’s touchdown in the first minute and a half of play, on a 24-yard run from scrimmage. The points came so quickly that fans hardly realized the game was under way.

The touchdown gave the signal for the start of the Massillon attack, and after gradually pushing the Barberton gridders back into their own territory, John Kester slipped away for a 4-yard run for a touchdown in the second period which tied the score, and “Dick” Watkins gave the orange and black its fifth victory by booting the extra point from placement.

With a lead of one point the youthful tigers realized that if they could stop Raplenovic, they would win the football game. This they did, and again did not. They kept this 160 pounds of human lightning from getting away for any more long runs for touchdowns, but they did not stop him from getting yards nearly every time he carried the ball, and had it not been for the failure of a bit of strategy upon the part of the Barberton coach in keeping his star player out the greater part of the third quarter, the brown and white might have finished on top.

Barberton Outplayed.

But in spite of the fact that the visitors had the individual star of the day who stood head and shoulders in ability above any other member of the two elevens, the Massillon gridders completely outplayed their rivals the greater part of the game.

The orange and black had at least two other good opportunities to score, losing the ball once on the four-yard line, when Buttermore fumbled on the fourth down, and time and again carried the ball deep into the invader’s half of the field. The local team rolled up 16 first downs, while Barberton made one short of a dozen.

On forward passes, however, the visitors excelled Massillon showing its customary inability to gain with an aerial attack. McGrew’s men tried three passes. Two were intercepted while the third one was not completed. Barberton tried seven passes, completing two for a gain of 22 yards, had four incomplete and one intercepted.

The visitors were set back 65 yards in penalties while the orange and black lost 25 yards through foul play.

Breaks Help Barberton

Barberton’s touchdown came as a result of a bit of ill working strategy on the part of the Massillon team. The local eleven received, Hess being downed on the 25-yard line after taking the kickoff. In an attempt to catch the visitors off their guard, a forward pass was called on the first play, but Wolf’s heave fell into the arms of Sutter, Barberton halfback, who was downed on the 33-yard line. Two drives at the line gained nine yards and on the next play Raplenovic slipped through Massillon’s right guard for a run of 24 yards and a touchdown. Sutter’s kick hit the goal post and bounded to the side.

Kester Scores Touchdown

Massillon’s touchdown came in the early part of the second quarter, after a march of 75 yards. Getting the ball on its own 25-yard line where it was punted out of bounds by Raplenovic, the local eleven began a determined drive toward the Barberton goal. Hess struck left tackle for seven yards. Watkins slipped through for six yards and a first down on the 38-yard line. Hess made a yard at left end and Watkins four yards as the first period came to an end. With the ball on the 44-yard line, Kester slipped through for four yards. On the next play he punted across the Barberton goal line, but the visitors were called back and penalized five yards for offside giving the local team a first down in mid-field. Hess picked up three yards at right tackle, while Watkins dashed off left tackle for five yards and hit the same spot again for a first down on the 34-yard line. On the next play Kester broke through right tackle and stepped along the east side line for a touchdown. Watkins kicked the extra point from placement.

Stand Out for Massillon

Kester, Watkins and Goodman played brilliantly for the local team Saturday. Kester’s long punts offset the brilliant runs of Raplenovic, while Watkins’ off tackle dashes were largely responsible for the manner in which the orange and black carried the ball up and down the field. Goodman was a shining light on defense. He dropped Barberton runners for losses and showed ability at following the ball.

Barberton made a desperate effort in both the third and fourth periods to score, but lost the ball on downs both times. However, only the failure of Sutter to hold Raplenovic’s accurate pass kept the invaders from crossing the goal line in the third quarter. Sutter had the ball in his arms, but lost it with no one between himself and the goal line.

Combined Bands Play

The combined junior high and high school bands played for the game and drew the applause of the fans. The bands likely will be combined for the Canton game, Saturday.

The Massillon team played nothing but straight football. McGrew was unwilling to uncork any of his pet plays for the benefit of Canton scouts, saving all his mystery stuff for next week..

The orange and black came out of the game in good shape. No members of the team received serious injuries, and the youthful tigers should be in first class condition for the annual grid classic Saturday.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Pos. Barberton
Minger LE W. Weigand
Buttermore LT J. Weigand
Fisher LG Hackney
Potts C Seryak
Garland RG Constantine
Slinger RT Ricks
Houriet RE Romig
Hess QB Romain
Kester HB Sutter
Lewis HB Raplenovic
Wolf FB Bryant

Score by periods:
Massillon 0 7 0 0 7
Barberton 6 0 0 0 6

Substitutions:
Massillon – Watkins for Wolf, Goodman for Slinger, Blatz for Garland, Schnierle for Lewis, Hollwager for Minger, Slinger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Schnierle, Schnierle for Buttermore, Buttermore for Fisher.
Barberton – Molvartz for Romaine, R. Weigand for Sutter, Moss for Raplenovic, Raplenovic for Moss.

Touchdowns – Raplenovic, Kester.
Point after touchdown – Watkins (place kick).

Referee—Shafer.
Umpire—Howells.
Headlinesman—Kirk.
Time of periods—12 minutes.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 12, Warren Harding 0

MASSILLON GRIDDERS SPRING SURPRISE SATURDAY AND TROUNCE WARREN 12 TO 0
OUTCLASS VISITORS IN EVERY QUARTER; HESS SCORES TWICE

Digging their cleats into the soggy turf of Massillon Field the Washington high gridders played their best game in two years Saturday afternoon and put to route the highly touted Warren high crew by a score of 12 to 0.

And in spite of the fact that the victory surprised even the most optimistic Massillon fans, the score does not even indicate the margin by which the youthful tigers outplayed the invaders from the Trumbull county city. It might have been an off day for Warren but nevertheless the visitors played hard and used practically every trick formation they knew in an effort to overcome the Massillon team. But the Washington high gridders were awake for a change, and they did not play as though they wore steel shoes. They were out to best Warren and this they did in a most decisive manner.

They had four other chances to score and had crossed their opponents goal line a third time, but the ball was brought back when both teams were declared offside. Warren worked the ball into Massillon territory but once during the entire game, the visitors advancing the ball to the two-yard line, where a forward pass failed to make first down by a few inches and Massillon gained possession of the oval.

Scoring honors for the day went to George Hess, who after three weeks of ineligibility returned to the lineup to score both touchdowns, one on an 85-yard run after taking the kickoff at the start of the second half and the other in a dive over the goal from the two-yard line.

Warren came to Massillon Saturday in high spirits and expected to score its second victory over Massillon in seven years. Backed by an excellent record for the season, with Akron East and Sharon, Pa., two of its victims, the visiting eleven was a heavy favorite to defeat the orange and black. And the Warren team at times flashed an attack that seemed deadly but the rallies quickly flickered out while the Massillon offense was ablaze the greater part of the time. Warren’s offense clicked smoothly and faultlessly, but it was turned back by the Massillon line quite often for losses.

In spite of the fact that the victory was pleasing to Massillon fans the Washington high team should not become so satisfied with the result that it will be caught asleep in its game with Barberton next Saturday. Some of the Warren followers blamed over-confidence for the defeat of their team and even though an excuse does not seem probable, yet the youthful tigers should guard against just that sort of thing by drilling all the harder this week for Barberton and Canton McKinley which will put in its appearance here next week.

Carrying the ball deep into their opponents’ territory several times during the first two periods, the local eleven was turned back as it neared the Warren goal and the first half ended without a score being made. Play, however, was decisively in favor of the orange and black, Warren not working the ball into Massillon territory on a single occasion.

The second half, however, opened dramatically. Even though their team had shown a good punch in the first two periods, Massillon fans were still doubtful when Puegner, Warren end, and former Massillon boy, kicked off to George Hess to start the third period. And with that kick came the fireworks of the game. Hess took the ball on his own 15-yard line, and ran in about as straight a line as any surveyor could lay, for the Warren goal. His teammates got busy and the Warren tacklers hit the turf when they attempted to get close to Hess. “Ike” Lewis took out two men who stood between Hess and the goal line, and with two or three players chasing him, Hess galloped across the Warren line. Largely due to the superior interference accorded him by his teammates, scarcely a hand touched him during the entire run.

It was the kind of spectacular play that always bobs up in a Warren game, and as usual took the heart out of the Warren boys. It was two similar long runs by Vince Define five years ago that upset Warren and three years ago two intercepted passes followed by long runs by Laughlin and Kammer defeated the Trumbull county boys. Thus they had a right to become discouraged after they saw Hess waltzing away for a touchdown.

The second score came in the same period, and although Hess made the points, the entire Massillon team, and especially a punt by John Kester, made the score possible.

The local eleven had the ball on the 39 yard line when Kester stepped back and kicked the ball outside on Warren’s nine-yard line. Latimer returned the punt but it went outside on the 25-yard line. Hess struck for a yard. Buttermore crashed through for six and made two more on his next attempt. Schnierle carried the ball to the 10-yard line for a first down. Buttermore went over on the next play but both sides were declared offside and the ball was put in play on the two-yard line. Hess then drove through for a touchdown. Kester’s kick was wide just as Schnierle’s was after the first touchdown.

Kester missed a hard luck touchdown just before the third period ended when he struck off right tackle and by clever running carried the ball across the Warren goal after a run of 28 yards. Both teams, however, were declared offside on the play and the ball was brought back. The local eleven soon was headed for another touchdown but the threat was spoiled by a 15-yard penalty. In transferring the ball at the end of the third period, the officials made a mistake. The period ended with the ball on the 19-yard line, but the officials put the pigskin in play on the 21-yard line when the fourth quarter opened.

The orange and black made a dozen first downs to Warren’s five and was penalized 70 yards to 65 yards for Warren.

The local team completed its first two forward passes of the year for gains Saturday, one bringing seven yards and another 10. Three passes were incomplete and two intercepted. Warren completed three passes out of 10 attempts for a gain of 43 yards. Seven were incomplete.

The American Legion drum corps helped to entertain the small crowd by participating in the raising of the colors, and drilling on the field between halves. It was unfortunate that the day was not a brighter one and that more fans were not in the bleachers to see the drum corps go though its maneuvers. The drum corps was the third musical organization at the game, both Warren and Washington high schools being represented by bands.

One of the features of the game was the punting of John Kester. His boots traveled long when punting from his own territory, but when in the land of the enemy he placed his punts out of bounds anywhere from the one-yard to the 15-yard line.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. Warren
Potts LE Puegner
Buttermore LT Afills
Garland LG Canzonetta
Lewis C Dahringer
Fisher RG Mock
Goodman RT Schatzel
Houriet RE Titus
Worthington QB Boyd
Kester HB De Santis
Watkins HB Rogers
Hollwager FB Latimer

Score by periods:
Massillon 0 0 12 0 12

Substitutions:
Massillon – Hess for Worthington, Schnierle for Hollwager, Blatz for Fisher, Geis for Goodman, Mann for Garland, Slinger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Watkins, Fisher for Geis.
Warren – Dick for Mock, Ott for Boyd, Chance for Latimer, Latimer for Chance, Howell for Titus.

Touchdowns – Hess 2.

Referee—Barrett.
Umpire—Maurer.
Headlinesman—Kirk.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 0, New Philadelphia 0

MASSILLON AND NEW PHILADELPHIA BATTLE TO SCORELESS TIE IN ANNUAL TILT
PENALTIES HINDER ATTACK OF ORANGE AND BLACK RUNNERS

With rivalry at white heat, New Philadelphia fans cheering and Massillon fans booing, the orange and black of Washington high and the red and black of New Philadelphia high battled to a scoreless tie at the latter city, Saturday afternoon.

Tired and weary were the two elevens as they plodded from the field at the close of the game, and tired were the fans who were in the bleachers 45 minutes longer than necessary due to the late arrival of the Massillon team, but the person who minded it most was Referee Hamm who stepped off 100 yards in penalties inflicted on the Massillon team, thereby proving himself the best ball carrier of the day.

The many penalties inflicted on the local eleven, principally for holding and offside, brought a storm of protest from the Massillon delegation of 1,200 rooters who were huddled in one section of the bleachers. They saw their team score a touchdown that would have meant a victory and saw the ball brought back and put into play again. They saw the official step off a quartette of 15-yard penalties and a quintette of five yard penalties, that interfered with nearly every attempt to advance the ball. And with the final crack of the gun, a section of this embittered crowd, swept upon the field, fists clenched, ready for action, but was finally dispersed by a squad of police ready for just such a demonstration. Fists flew at intervals, but fortunately no one was injured and the prompt action of the law saved further trouble.

But in spite of the penalties, whether fair or unfair, the game ended with a score that compared favorably with the play of the two teams. Whether or not the orange and black could have scored a touchdown had not penalties interfered no one knows, for the New Philadelphia line was scrapping and scrapping hard. Neither team showed any great offense, both scoring but two first downs each, although the local eleven gained by far the most ground from scrimmage.

The “touchdown” was scored in the last few minutes of play when Jack Schnierle intercepted a New Philadelphia pass on the 35-yard line and scampered across the goal. But the ball was called back, the headlinesman declaring that Hollwager interfered with the supposed receiver, and New Philadelphia was given the ball at the point where the alleged interference occurred. A wild howl went up from the Massillon stands when Schnierle scored the “touchdown,” but an even greater noise rent the air when the ball was brought back, the Massillon fans adding their boos to the bedlam that took place.

With the six points ruled out, the local gridders got angry for the first time in the game and showed their best offense of the day. They carried the ball two minutes later to the red and black’s 34-yard line where Hollwager fumbled and Hensel recovered for New Philadelphia. A minute later they started another offensive march which was stopped abruptly by a 15-yard penalty for holding, and the game came to a finish a few seconds later.

The last minute attack was the only offense the Washington high eleven uncorked. In the first place, it was playing nothing but straight football and in the second place could do little against the fighting forward wall of the red and black and the penalty hazard.

The strength of the red and black’s line was somewhat surprising although it lived up to the advance dope that the game would be a similar battle to the Conneaut affair of a week ago. The Tuscarawas county gridders, however, were even less helpless on the offense than the local team, ball carriers frequently being tossed for losses, but while Massillon was penalized 100 yards during times in which it was in possession of the ball, the red and black was set back but 15 yards when it had the pigskin. One other penalty was charged up to New Philadelphia when the local eleven had the ball but it did not help the orange and black any for it followed a 15-yard penalty inflicted on Washington high on the previous play.

An argument ensued between halves between Coach Elmer McGrew and the referee, over clipping which occurred a few seconds before the end of the half, Houriet was clipped from behind while going down under a punt. The officials saw the clipping but declared that it occurred after the ball had been caught and carried out of bounds by the New Philadelphia safety man. The result was that New Philadelphia was given the ball at the point where the runner went out of bounds, Captain Potts declining a penalty which would have made a difference of about two yards in the position of the ball. However had the clipping occurred before the runner went out of bounds then New Philadelphia would have been penalized nearly to its goal line. The referee argued that his eyesight was good but from the sidelines it appeared that the runner was fully eight yards inside the boundary line when Houriet was clipped.

The red and black counted the game as somewhat of a moral victory. Rooters were enthusiastic over the scoreless tie and in spite of the fact that all the breaks were against the local eleven the wearers of red and black ribbons had a right to be proud of the scrappy game their team put up.

The Massillon eleven should make certain after this that it gets to the field on time. Fans waited in the bleachers 45 minutes after game time before the local team appeared on the field. At least one-half hour of the delay was due to a broken axle on the bus when the team was dressed and ready to leave the school for the field, but barring the accident the Massillon team would have been 20 minutes late.

The officials were prepared to step off a 25-yard penalty for being tardy but did not do so at the request of officials of New Philadelphia high school, which Massillon fans consider very sportsmanlike.

Watkins showed well at halfback in his first game in the backfield, while the playing of Potts and Houriet on the ends was the feature of the Massillon play. Honors were even between Kester and Knauss in punting.

Whether or not the referee was partial to New Philadelphia, Massillon fans can settle in their own minds, but it is not good sportsmanship to threaten to “beat up” the officials. It leaves a bad reputation for the school and makes it all the more difficult to obtain good officiating.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. New Phila.
Potts LE Keiser
Slinger LT Sherer
Fisher LG Hensel
Lewis C Alexander
Blatz RG Wheatley
Goodman RT Bebout
Houriet RE Douds
Worthington QB Rohrbach
Kester HB Byrd
Watkins HB Foutz
Hollwager FB Knauss

Substitutions:
Massillon – Schnierle for Watkins, Minger for Potts, Potts for Fisher, Francis for Hollwager, Garland for Potts;
New Philadelphia – Marsh for Bebout, Hurst for Keiser, Bebout for Marsh, Hammond for Bebout.

Referee—Hamm (Kenyon).
Umpire—Burghalter (Heidelberg).
Headlinesman—Kiefer (Ohio State).

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 12, Conneaut 6

WASHINGTON HIGH GRIDDERS RALLY IN LAST FIVE MINUTES TO BEAT CONNEAUT
KESTER’S RETURN OF PUNT GIVES ORANGE AND BLACK VICTORY

With five minutes to go and Conneaut backed to its goal line, the orange and black tigers of Washington high finally pulled themselves out of the mud on Massillon Field, Saturday, made one desperate effort and pushed across a touchdown that brought a 12 to 6 victory over the invading gridders from the northeastern Ohio city.

Conneaut, woefully weak on offense, made up for its failure to carry the ball by standing firmly on its own soil and battling viciously when the Massillon tiger threatened to cross its goal line. Within the shadow of its goal posts, Conneaut was shoved back a half a dozen times, but the game little band of blue clad warriors refused to yield and turned back the thrusts of the Massillon backs time after time to take possession of the coveted pigskin and boot it safely out of danger.

Scoring on a break in the first few minutes of play when Coach Elmer McGrew’s sophomores and juniors were on the field of duty, the Conneaut gridders made a determined stand until the middle of the second period when the Massillon eleven scored its first points. But even so, the blue clad gridders did not falter for a tie score would be more than satisfactory for them and much better than they had even dreamed of earning. So they dug their cleats into the soggy turf, matched their fight against the weight of the Washington high line and almost accomplished their purpose. In fact the stand of the Conneaut team threw such a scare into the Massillon bench that Buttermore, giant tackle, with one hand in splints and swathed in bandages, rushed into the fray to wipe out part of the defense of the visitors and drill holes for the Massillon backs.

Conneaut nearly accomplished its purpose, a tie score, and might have done so, had it not been for John Kester snatching a punt out of the air on his own 37-yard line and dashing to within five yards of the Conneaut goal before being forced out of bounds. Five minutes were left to play when Kester made his run and he followed it up with two plunges into the Conneaut line which carried him across the goal for the winning points of the game.

Sharing honors with Kester in scoring for the orange and black was “Chippy” Hollwager, tall and slender, who tore the center of the Conneaut line to pieces to register the local eleven’s first touchdown of the game.

The touchdown followed a determined drive of the youthful tigers from mid-field. Carrying the ball to the 15-yard line on line bucks and end runs with all the Massillon backs participating, but stopped momentarily by the sturdy defense of the Conneaut gridders, a substitute was shot into the ranks of the youthful tigers. A whispered order, “Give the ball to Chippy,” must have been issued for five times in succession. Hollwager took the pigskin and at the end of his fifth plunge he was across the Conneaut goal line. The fact that the youthful tigers failed to score more than 12 points, indicates that both attempts to score touchdown by line bucks were frustrated.

Conneaut’s touchdown came as a result of a break in the game. A long punt by Hamilton, the ruthless clipping of a Massillon player which brought the ball back to the local team’s one-yard line, and a bad bounce following one of Kester’s punts were largely responsible for the points.

To start with, Hamilton punted from his own 20-yard line past John Kester to the Massillon 20-yard line. When a Massillon man was caught clipping illegally on the punt, the ball was taken back to the one-yard line.

Kester immediately attempted to punt it out of danger. His kick went away all right. The ball sailed through the air to the 35-yard line before hitting the ground, but it rebounded with one of those boomerang bounces, and before the local team could down it it had rolled back to the 15-yard line. Then came Conneaut’s only offensive and only first down of the day. Two cracks at the line gained eight yards but the visitors were offside and were penalized five yards. Not discouraged, Samppi, quarterback, called for a lateral pass, took the ball, flipped it to Hamilton, who skirted the Massillon right end for a touchdown. The try for the extra point was low.

That was the only splurge of offensive strength that Conneaut could muster and it came at the right time. McGrew’s shock troops were on the field at the time and they were quickly replaced by the seniors who for a time failed to make any better impression with the handful of fans who stood in the stands because Jupiter Pluvius arrived first at the field and drenched the bleachers.

Thirteen first downs were rolled up by McGrew’s warriors to Conneaut’s single 10-yard gain, and the ball was continually in Conneaut territory, not because of Hamilton’s punting, for outside of his team’s defense, his kicking was the next best feature of his team, but largely because the local team picked up 10 to 15 yards every time it was in possession of the ball, and with Kester punting every bit as good as Hamilton, the visitors thus were unable, except on the one occasion, to come out of their own territory.

Forward passes were a joke Saturday. The water soaked ball on every occasion refused to fall into the hands of its intended receiver with the result that three Massillon passes were incomplete and one was intercepted, while a Conneaut pass was intercepted. Conneaut suffered many penalties for being offside, largely as a result of Maney’s over eagerness to tackle the Massillon ball toter. Seven times the visitors were set back for this offense, and coupled with a 19-yard penalty for tripping, it cost them 54 yards during the afternoon. Massillon was penalized 37 yards.

The failure of the local eleven to score more than 13 points against Conneaut, however should not be too severely criticized.

Although the visitors were expected to be easy, due to the fact that they hadn’t won a game this season and tied but one team, yet they never have been trampled over by their opponents. Conneaut has not bowed to any team this year by as large a number of points as the youthful tigers have been defeated by, and the game played by the northeastern Ohio team Saturday was its typical 1928 brand, weak offensively, but strong on the defense.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Pos. Conneaut
Willison LE Hirsimaki
Maier LT Maney
Herman LG Lyons
Potts C Zumpft
Pfeister RG Maukonen
Goodman RT D. Mosher
Houriet RE J. Mosher
Lewis QB Samppi
D. Hess LH Mumalainen
Worthington RH Hamilton
Kester FB Cantlin

Score by periods:
Massillon 0 6 0 6 12
Conneaut 6 0 0 0 6

Substitutions:
Massillon: Schnierle, lh; Hollwager, rh; Blatz, rg; Slinger, lt; Fisher, lg; Francis, lh; Buttermore, rt; Mann, lt; Watkins, le; Malone, re; Worthington, lh; Minger, rg,
Conneaut – Brewster, lt; Ritari, lh.

Touchdowns – Hamilton, Hollwager, Kester

Referee—Walsh.
Umpire—Barrett.
Time of periods—12 minutes.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 0, Akron South 19

SAUER RACES THROUGH MASSILLON TO GIVE SOUTH HI 19-0 VICTORY
SCORES 18 POINTS ON BRILLIANT RUNS; TIGERS LACK PUNCH

‘Twas a Sauer day for Akron, Saturday, but a bit more sour for Massillon than Akron for the maroon and gold of South high school swept over the orange and black of Washington high to score a 19 to 0 victory.

It was sour for Massillon because the defeat was a bitter pill for the local team to swallow, and it was Sauer for Akron, because a young gentleman by that name scored 18 points and also helped in scoring the 19th point.

Sauer was sweet. It sounds funny but true nevertheless. And his speed and manner of running quite upset the youthful tigers of Washington high, for twice he slipped away for runs of 70 yards for touchdowns and ran so fast that as a spectator said, “even his shadow had a hard time keeping up with him.”

With the cool air brushed over the field by a moderate wind, and the autumn sun concealed behind a blanket of clouds, the day was a fitting one for a football game.

Orange and black streamed from many a coat lapel as did the gaudy maroon and gold colors of the rabid Akron rooters who went wild with joy when they saw the tow-headed Bill Sauer rush into the game in the second period when everything appeared headed for a Massillon victory.

Why all the flash of color and noise from the Akron stands just because a substitute was entering the game? queried Massillon fans. Just something to yell about. The Massillonians had done all the yelling so far for their team was the only one to score a first down or even come close to scoring.

But the folks of the would-be Zeppelin city had an idea of what was about to happen for they knew that Bill Sauer is the fastest runner in Akron and isn’t slowed down a bit when in football togs.

That was in the first few minutes of the second period. Previous to that Massillon fans had seen their hopes rise and fade when the youthful tigers carried the ball deep into South territory, once to the 13-yard line, only to lose it on downs. South hadn’t even worked the ball into Massillon territory and when Sauer entered the game the locals were in possession of the ball in midfield. Twice the orange and black slashed the Akron line, for gains of seven yards but a yard was lost on the third attempt. With fourth down coming, the tow-headed substitute, dropped back from a halfback position to safety man. Coach Weltner chuckled. John Kester punted, and Sauer ran. Catching the ball on his own 28-yard line he eluded two tacklers and headed for the sideline. Like a horse with the string-halt he ran, only there wasn’t any “halt”. Legs kicking high, knees nearly touching his chin, Sauer was a difficult gridder to tackle, and before the Massillon players or fans knew what had happened, he was behind the goal line, waiting for the referee to catch his breath in order to blow his whistle.

That turned the tide of battle. After Sauer had passed to Larson, an end, for the extra point, the Massillon eleven went back in the game, somewhat downhearted, but far from beaten at any rate. A few minutes later Sauer fumbled and Slinger scooped up the ball and raced back to the Akron 10-yard line before being tackled, but the referee ruled the play out and gave Akron the ball. That was a tough break for the local eleven. The bark of the timekeeper’s gun kept the youthful tigers from another chance to score when the half ended with them in possession of the ball on the Akron 23-yard line.

Sauer was placed on the bench when the second half started. Weltner awaiting an opportunity to duplicate his stunt of the second period. It came, not in the third quarter but at the beginning of the fourth period. Massillon had just shown a burst of offense that carried the ball to the 11-yard line, threatening to tie the score, but fumbled on the first down, Akron recovering. The Akron gridders then began their only real offensive march of the day. They paraded from the 11-yard line to the Massillon eight-yard line before the third quarter ended. But with the orange and black bracing, and the South backs weakening under the battering they took in carry the ball down the field, Weltner beckoned to Sauer, and the human bit of lightning sped toward the two teams already lined up to play. There’s no need telling the rest but just to complete the story, Sauer tucked the ball under his arm and plunged across the goal line for his second touchdown. This time his pass was knocked down by Lewis, and the extra point was foiled.

But the lineup credits Sauer with six more points.

A few minutes later he took the ball from scrimmage on a shift play, which many Massillon fans thought to be illegal, galloped for 70 yards and a touchdown. This time his pass to Porter was complete, but the referee stepped in, declared the point did not count. That concluded the scoring for the day and did it with a spectacular finish.

Followers of sport have heard of a lot about one-man teams, and Saturday’s game furnished a good example. When Sauer wasn’t in the fray the orange and black outplayed the Akronites, but with the big-tow-head in the lineup, the maroon and gold gridders not only showed their offensive punch but braced on defense and stopped the attacks of the local backs.

The Massillon gridders solved the baffling formation of the South gladiators too late to do any good, other than giving the Massillon fans the unexcelled pleasure of seeing the ghost of the Akron team tossed for losses instead of gains.

But in spite of the score, the orange and black made eight first downs, only two less than the number totaled by the Akron gridders. The youthful tigers, however, were helped out somewhat in their efforts to carry the ball by penalties, while South frequently lost ground through the power of the referee. The Akron gridders were penalized 100 yards, while the youthful tigers were set back 55 yards.

South’s tight pass defense made the local eleven look foolish when attempting to use the aerial game. Thirteen times signals were called for forward passes. Twelve times the ball was batted down and once it was intercepted but on one of the occasions, the referee ruled that an Akron gridder interfered with a Massillon man’s attempt to try to catch the ball and declared the pass completed.

Akron only tried four passes, two of which were completed for a gain of 20 yards. The others were wasted.

The Washington high gridders missed George Hess in the backfield. Hess, who was ineligible, would have provided the extra offensive punch that might have enabled the local team to have bucked across a touchdown. As it was, “Chip” Hollwager probably played the best offensive game for the local eleven, although Schnierle, who is an in and outer, made two good runs. Kester’s punts, as usual, kept the ball in Akron territory the greater part of the game.

Massillon fans were given the run around as soon as they entered Akron. In the first place, the road, over which they were directed to the stadium by an official of South high, was closed, and the machines had to detour. Then when they reached the field, the local sport enthusiasts, at least a great many of them, had to march clear around the fence before they found the entrance gate. After that, well that has already been told. Sauer did the rest of running around. The playing field, however, was covered with about as good a sod as any field the local eleven has trod upon this season, making it easier falling than on the pebbles of Massillon Field.

After Coach McGrew realized he was hopelessly beaten he freshened his ranks with many substitutes in order to give them experience in varsity competition for next year.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. Akron South

Schnierle LE Winkleman

Slinger LT Robinson

Fisher LG Kraus

Potts C Huth

Blatz RG Hartz

Goodman RT Burke

Houriet RE Larson

Lewis QB Porter

Hollwager LH Gablac

Kester RH Brundage

Buttermore FB Hedderly
Score by periods:
South 0 7 0 12 19

Substitutions:
Massillon – Watkins re, Mann lg, Worthington, fb, Hess lh, Garland rt, Francis rh, Malone re, Geis rt, Willison c, Herman lt, Minger rf, Pfister lg, Toles lh.
South – Sauer lh, Perry c, Kazan lg.

Touchdowns – Sauer 3.
Point after touchdown – Larson (pass)

Referee—Kirk.
Umpire—Daum.
Headlinesman—Anderson.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 13, Alliance 0

HIGH GRIDDERS BEAT ALLIANCE 13 TO 0 TO WIN FIRST GAME OF COUNTY SERIES

WHIRLWIND OFFENSE IN OPENING MINUTES DEFEATS OLD RIVAL

Believing that the early bird catches the worm, Coach Elmer McGrew, of Washington High, unleashed his tigers in the Mount Union stadium Saturday afternoon with strict orders to cross the goal line of the Red and Blue of Alliance at the earliest opportunity.

And they did just that thing and thereby won their first game of the Stark county series by beating Alliance 13 to 0. Just how obedient those boys wearing the orange and black were can be seen from the fact that they took the kickoff and marched 70 yards down the field for a touchdown.

That was the first score, and the six points looked bigger and bigger to Alliance fans as the game progressed, and smaller and smaller to Massillon fans when the red and blue began an offensive in the last period that threatened the local team’s goal.

In fact Alliance threw such a scare into the hearts of the youthful tigers in the last 10 minutes of play that they went out and produced another touchdown in order to make their score secure. However the same touchdown would not have been necessary to insure victory, because the final gun cracked while Schnierle was racing toward the red and blue’s goal line, and the last seven points were of no good other than making the local team’s score look more impressive.

The game was a splendid one from start to finish. It proved quite emphatically that McGrew’s gridders found themselves in the fracas with Wooster a week ago, and provided enough thrills to satisfy the 3,000 lovers of football, who filled the stands.

One thrill came when George Hess stepped away for a 30-yard run on the third play of the game. Another came when John Kester got off a beautiful punt that went 60 yards against the wind, and still another resulted when Keefe, flashy Alliance quarter, dashed away for a long gain after taking a lateral pass. But the best apples grow on the end of the limb, and so the most spectacular and unusual play of the game came in the last few seconds when Schnierle raced 35 yards from the line of scrimmage for a touchdown, the gun cracking when he had traveled but half the distance.

Had it not been for the whirlwind attack of the youthful tigers in the opening minutes of the game, the result might have been a scoreless tie, for after the first six points were produced the red and blue braced and turned back every other scoring threat. Had it not been that the local team was leading by six points with only a few seconds of the game remaining to be played, it is doubtful if the orange and black would have scored its second touchdown, for Quarterback Keefe took one desperate chance to score, and tossed a forward pass from his own 35-yard line which was grounded, giving the local team the ball. Schnierle’s long run for a touchdown and the end of the game came on the next play.

The way the orange and black tore the Alliance line to pieces on its opening march for a touchdown gave evidence that the game would be a one-sided contest, but the Alliance line braced suddenly and stopped the plunging Massillon backs. The Massillon attack showed itself at other stages of the game, but lacked the consistency necessary to score touchdowns. A penalty also ended one scoring threat of the youthful tigers.

Alliance showed a plucky team. Its forward wall stood up well under the battering of the Massillon backs and the ends appearing exceptionally strong in turning in runs around the flanks. The red and blue’s six first downs were made largely as a result of end runs and several forward passes.

The Alliance gridders wanted to win the game badly. Coach George Wilcoxen, before the game, declared that if his eleven could take the measure of the local gridders he believed that the victory would provide the necessary confidence to make the team a winning one for the remainder of the season. Such was the case a year ago, when Alliance, after beating the orange and black, went out and defeated everything in sight with the exception of Canton McKinley. In fact it was over-anxiety that partly contributed to Wilcoxen’s defeat Saturday, for his team was penalized six times for being offside, and several of these penalties stopped threatening Alliance offensive drives. A few aided the orange and black in its goalward march. The two penalties, however in the latter instance only helped out by a few yards for a play by play account of the game shows that in one case the Massillon back had plunged for four yards, which were given up for the five-yard penalty, while the other penalty helped but little, for it came just before George Hess got away for his long run of 30 yards. Alliance also received two penalties for not completing two consecutive forward passes, and twice suffered reverses of 15 yards for holding. All told the red and blue was set back a total of 70 yards, while the youthful tigers lost 35 yards in penalties.

In first downs the local team excelled its rivals, making the necessary yardage on 12 occasions, while the red and blue could make the distance but six times.

McGrew’s team improved greatly in one department Saturday and that was in the manner in which it intercepted and knocked down Alliance forward passes. Alliance tried to gain by the aerial route on 14 occasions. Three times it was successful, gaining 42 yards, but eight of the passes were knocked down, while three others were intercepted. The three aerial attempts of the orange and black were unsuccessful.

The long punting of Kester was one of the features of the local team’s play. Kester averaged nearly 50 yards on his boots, which not only were long but also high enough to permit the Massillon ends to camp under the ball when it came down. The ends, however, did not take advantage of the opportunity and although they slipped by the Alliance interference and got down on most of the punts, they usually failed to make the tackle and allowed Keefe to return the ball several times for substantial gains before being thrown. Kester’s first kick was the prettiest of the lot and when the ball twisted through the air it brought a sigh from the fans similar to that heard when a pretty sky rocket explodes in a fireworks celebration.

Saturday was migration day for Massillon fans, and approximately 1,500 from this city followed the local gridders to Alliance. The automobiles formed a long procession as the fans returned home, horns blowing and colors waving.

The high school band was taken to the game, and played frequently. Alliance’s band also made itself heard many times during the afternoon.

The Massillon fans were seated in the concrete bleachers until shortly before the start of the second period when they deserted their section because of a light rain, and made a rush across the field to the covered section on the opposite side.

The game was the first high school tilt played in the new stadium, and Alliance fans have yet to see their school or college teams score a victory on the new field. Mount Union met defeat at the hands of the University of Michigan’s second team when the stadium was dedicated a week ago.

Captain Potts was taken from the game in the fourth period when he was knocked out from a kick on the head. With the exception of a discolored face, however, the captain is O.K. and is ready for another melee.

It has already been told how the second Massillon touchdown was scored and here are the plays that led up to the first.

Watkins kicked off to Kester, who took the ball on the Massillon 10-yard line and returned to the 25-yard line. Schnierle failed to gain on a dash around left end, but Alliance was declared offside on the play and was penalized five yards. Kester plunged for a yard, and Hess then broke through right tackle for a run of 30 yards, carrying the ball to the Alliance 40-yard line. Had he not stumbled over his own feet, he might have slipped away for a touchdown. Schnierle picked up five yards and Hollwager plunged through for a first down on the Alliance 30-yard line. Hess made four yards and Hollwager two more after which Kester rammed through for a first down on the 20-yard line. Alliance took time out and talked things over. With the resumption of play, Hess was tossed for a one-yard loss. Hester picked up two yards and Hess made three more. Hollwager then pushed his way through for a first down on the 10-yard line. Buttermore was given the ball and rammed through for four yards, but Alliance was offside, and Captain Potts took the five-yard penalty in a preference to the gain. Hess made a yard and on the next play Buttermore rammed through for the touchdown. Schnierle missed his try for the extra point.

Alliance came nearest to scoring in the last period when two passes and end runs put the ball on Massillon’s 23-yard line. The chance to score was lost, however, when Keefe fumbled on an attempted pass, Blatz covering the ball which rolled backward to the 37-yard line.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. Alliance

Schnierle LE Curtis

Fisher LT Miller

Blatz LG Speidell

Potts C King

Goodman RG Clark

Slinger RT Hammontree

Houriet RE Battin

G. Hess QB Keefe

Hollwager LHB Watkins

Kester RHB Dann

Buttermore FB Windland
Score by periods:
Massillon 6 0 0 7—13

Substitutions: Massillon – Lewis, c; Minger, re. Alliance – Daly, le; Curtis, re.

Touchdowns – Buttermore, Schnierle.
Point after touchdown – Schnierle (dropkick).

Referee—Howells (Sebring).
Umpire—Barrett (Sebring).
Headlinesman—Clark (Kenyon).
Timekeepers—Whittacre (Alliance), Rider, (Massillon).

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 32, Wooster 0

ORANGE AND BLACK SHOWS STRONG ATTACK IN BEATING WOOSTER 32-0
WAYNE COUNTY TEAM OUTPLAYED IN EVERY QUARTER BY TIGERS

Like the Prodigal Son who went out to conquer the world, and returned as meek and humble as an overgrown schoolboy after being spanked by his smaller teacher, so the Washington high school football team returned to its home field Saturday afternoon, somewhat dubious as to the mood of the fans because of the poor showing in the first road game of the season, at Lorain Sept. 29.

But with nothing to lose, and everything in the world to gain, the youthful tigers this time accomplished what they set out to do, and smothered the troop of grid warriors from Wooster high under a 32 to 0 defeat.

No fatted calf gave its life to celebrate the triumph, the wearers of leather and moleskin contenting themselves by feasting on the glories of the victory, while Massillon fans, themselves surprised at the overwhelming score, stand ready to sing aloud the praises of the orange and black.

The team resembled the steam roller of old. A powerful offense that gained yardage at will, crashed through the Wooster line for a quintette of touchdowns that produced the team’s first victory of the year, and incidentally the largest score rolled up by a Massillon machine since the middle of the 1926 season.

Gaining on practically every means of offensive play with the single exception of the forward pass, McGrew’s gridders had the Wayne county team completely baffled and the only thing that saved it from an even more crushing defeat was the fouling of the orange and black eleven, which resulted in many penalties.

This furnished the only dark spot in the team’s play during the afternoon, and Coach Elmer McGrew took immediate steps to remedy the condition while the game was in progress by removing every player on his team caught by the officials violating the laws of the gridiron. These penalties, five of them, of 15 yards each, set back the youthful tigers several times when they were on the march to the Wooster goal line and had it not been for the loss of 100 yards through penalties the local team probably would have run up a much larger score.

Wooster showed nothing, scoring but two first downs. The orange and black forward wall outcharged the Wayne county gridders and either had them on the ground or running backward the greater part of the game. To the line goes a lot of credit for the victory. These seven youths who form the fortification for the backfield and whose praises are seldom sang, opened large holes for the ball carriers Saturday, and outplayed the Wooster gridders with such consistency that but one yard was lost from scrimmage by the orange and black, with the exception of a fumble.

The local team’s offensive strength also was helped considerably by the interference which protected the ball carrier. The interference Saturday was the best that has been given an orange and black ball carrier for several years, and is believed due directly to changes made by Coach McGrew in his backfield during the past week. Both Buttermore and Hollwager are good blockers, and carry the ball well. Hollwager looked good on off tackle dashes, while Buttermore, built like an old fashioned battering ram, showed an ability to lower his head, close his eyes, and drive through the center of the line mowing down the opposing team for several yards as he plunged along. George Hess and John Kester, the other members of the backfield who started the game, also gained their share of yards during the day, Hess gaining more yards than any of the other backs. Hess also ran the team well, mixing up his plays and showed a good example of unselfishness to the others when he permitted Buttermore to buck across a touchdown on two consecutive smashes at the line after the latter had placed it in position for scoring.

In defeating Wooster, however, the local gridders should not feel that they have accomplished a difficult task. It was Wooster’s third defeat in as many games this year, Barberton and New Philadelphia having previously knocked off the blue by scores of 45 to 7 and 6 to 0 respectively. The orange and black players should not get overconfident as a result of the victory, but should let the score give them confidence, sufficient to inspire them to fight all the harder for greater victories.

A game such as the one with Wooster Saturday should have been scheduled for the local team for the first of the season. Such a victory would have given the gridders the confidence necessary to carry on a successful season on the football field. But games cannot always be arranged as you would like to have them and to make the best of a difficult early season schedule, the team now expects to start in this week with Alliance where it left off Saturday with Wooster, and get the jump on Canton by taking the lead in the Stark county series.

Saturday’s game had its thrills and its sighs. The thrills came when Schnierle circled the Massillon right end for 28 yards and a touchdown and when Lewis, shortly after the kickoff in the second half stepped through Wooster’s right tackle for a pretty run of 45 yards and a touchdown. The sighs came when the orange and black’s goalward marches were stopped and set back by penalties. Penalties and an intercepted pass were the only things that kept McGrew’s team from scoring in the first period, when they made five first downs.

In the second period, however, the yards were clicked off with more regularity and by the time first half intermission was reached the Massillon team had not only scored its first touchdown of the season but had pushed across three additional sets of counters for a total of 20 points. During the first two quarters the local team produced 10 first downs, while as far as Wooster was concerned, first downs were as scarce as toes on a peg leg.

The youthful tigers started their first march to a touchdown shortly after the start of the second period, when Schnierle took Zapponi’s punt on his 40-yard line and carried it back to the Wooster 45-yard line. His run was largely made possible by Captain Potts who took two Wooster men out of the play in one dive. Hess made a yard on the next play and Hollwager tore through the line for three more, Wooster, however, was declared offside and Captain Potts took the penalty rather than the gain. Schnierle fumbled after a nice run on the next play and Wooster was again offside, but Captain Potts this time took the gain which gave the orange and black the ball on the 28-yard line. Kester hit left tackle for six yards, but Conrad broke through and tossed Hollwager for a two-yard loss. G. Hess made three yards and Kester five yards, but the ball was called back, both teams being offside. Hollwager then plunged through the line for a first down on Wooster’s 14-yard line. On the next play Buttermore rammed through the center of the line for 13 yards, carrying the ball to the one-yard line. He tried it again and placed the pigskin on the one-foot line and on the next play put it over. Schnierle drop-kicked the extra point.

Additional grief to the Wooster rooters came a few minutes later. Getting the ball on their own 35-yard line, the followers of Obie, marched 65 yards across the visitor’s goal line. Gaining possession of the ball as a result of a punt, Hess on the first play made nine yards. Hollwager followed with two yards, making a first down on Massillon’s 46-yard line. Kester dashed around left end for 14 yards, taking the ball to the Wooster 40-yard line. Buttermore plunged through for four yards but the orange and black was penalized 15 yards for holding. Schnierle picked up 14 yards on the next play on a run around end. Hess made two more and Kester then slipped through for a run of 16 yards, taking the ball to the Wooster 28-yard line. Hollwager made six yards on the first down and Hess then wormed his way through for a gain of 13 yards, being downed on the Wooster nine-yard line. Hess made four yards on his next attempt after which Hollwager carried the oval across. Schnierle’s kick struck the line of scrimmage.

The third set of points in the quarter were scored as a result of Houriet intercepting Strock’s pass on the 40-yard line and carrying the ball back to the 28-yard line, from which Schnierle took the ball across on the next play on a sweeping run around Wooster’s left end. He gave himself another point by kicking goal.

The big parade of the day, however, came in the second minute of the third period. Wooster had just made its first offensive threat which came to a sudden ending when Captain Potts intercepted Strock’s pass in midfield. Three plays and two penalties finally found the ball on the Wooster 43-yard line, from where Ike Lewis, sophomore quarterback, made a dash for a touchdown. It was the most spectacular run of the day. Getting started slowly, Lewis sidestepped a flock of tacklers until only the safety man was in his path to the goal. A quick change of pace got rid of him, and the Ike scampered across the goal. Again the try for point was low.

From then on Coach McGrew began refreshing his ranks with substitutes in order to give his younger players a taste of gridiron roughness. The result was that the youthful tigers after many threats, finally started on their last scoring march of the day that was realized only 38 seconds before the final gun was fired. It all started when Myers covered a Wooster fumble on the latter’s 26-yard line. Kester made three yards and Hollwager picked up six more. Buttermore then made it first down on the Wooster 14-yard line. On the next play G. Hess slipped through for eight yards, taking the ball to the six-yard line. Kester made a bid for a touchdown, carrying the pigskin to the one-yard line, from where G. Hess plunged it over. Malone’s attempted drop kick went wide of the bar by a few inches.

The orange and black made 17 first downs to Wooster’s two. Wooster completed two forward passes, one for a gain of 11 yards and the other for a loss of a yard. Massillon had two passes incomplete and Wooster six, while one of the local team’s passes was intercepted against three of Wooster’s. Wooster was penalized 35 yards and Massillon 100 yards.

The Washington high gridders gained 417 yards from scrimmage Saturday, divided as follows: G. Hess, carried ball 22 times, 123 yards; Schnierle carried ball six times, 67 yards; Kester carried ball 12 times, 67 yards; Hollwager carried ball 14 times, 61 yards; Buttermore, carried ball seven times, 28 yards; Lewis carried ball four times, 48 yards, and Worthington carried ball five times, 23 yards.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. Wooster

Schnierle LE Zapponi

Slinger LT Heye

Goodman LG Franks

Potts C Conrad

Blatz RG Cappola

Fisher RT Beach

Houriet RE Dahl

Hess QB Strock

Hollwager RHB Dalby

Kester LHB Kalkas

Buttermore FB Gohen
Score by periods:
Massillon 0 26 6 6 32

Substitutions:
Massillon – Mann for Slinger, Minger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Mann, Lewis for Potts, Potts for Fisher, Worthington for Houriet, Willison for Potts, Potts for Lewis, Lewis for Kester, Fisher for Potts, Potts for Willison, Pfister for Goodman, Mann for Pfister, Slinger for Minger, Houriet for Mann, Barrett for Lewis, D. Hess for Barrett, Kester for Worthington, McGinnis for D. Hess, Malone for Schnierle, Myers for McGinnis, Francis for Houriet, Toles for Buttermore, Wolfe for Hollwager.
Wooster – Drabanstatt for Franks, Richardson for Kalkas, Noscar for Beach, Franks for Drabenstatt, Drabenstatt for Dall, Haldeman for Zapponi, Paulmier for Richardson, Beach for Noscar, Noscar for Conrad, Zaugg for Dalby, Edwards for Drabenstatt, Holleran for Gohen.

Touchdowns – Buttermore, Hollwager, Schnierle, Lewis, G. Hess.
Point after touchdown – Schnierle 2 (drop kick).

Officials—Referee—Howells; umpire—Schnake; headlinesman—Walsh.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1928: Massillon 0, Lorain 20

LORAIN PASSES WAY TO 20-0 VICTORY OVER WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GRIDDERS
ORANGE AND BLACK FAILS TO FLASH ANY OFFENSIVE ATTACK

Lorain, the tornado swept Lake Erie city, battered by the winds four years ago, knows the power of air, and harnessed the ozone last Saturday afternoon to pass its way to a 20 to 0 victory over the orange and black of Washington high school.

Lorain was entertaining fears of a second tornado Saturday when the Washington high eleven blew into the city, but as the game proceeded the host team showed that it knew a little more about tornadoes than the Massillon eleven and preceded to sweep the local gridders off their feet. It was a false wind that blew from Massillon. The orange and black showed nothing Saturday but a good punter and a strong line from tackle to tackle and was completely outclassed by its opponents.

Lorain, in beating the local team, shook off the jinx that follows dedications of football stadiums, and in a colorful and brilliant manner opened its new field to athletics.

Massillon was honored by having the opportunity to play the first scholastic game in the new stadium. No athlete was permitted to trod on the heavy turf until last Wednesday when the Lorain gridders began prepping on the new field for the “hard” tussle with the orange and black. Only five minutes before the referee’s whistle sounded for the start of the duel, the Stars and Stripes were raised to be fanned by the breeze for the first time from the top of the new flagpole. It was the formal opening of the stadium and approximately 3,500 fans, one-fourth of whom were from Massillon, gathered for the event.

The dedicatory exercises were simple. Led by the flag and the school’s pennant, a parade formed in front of the Lorain bleachers and proceeded to the flagpole, marching to music of the Lorain high school band. The two football squads, Lorain’s 95 strong, followed the band as well as officials and coaches. As customary, Old Glory was raised to the tune of “the Star Spangled Banner,” at the conclusion of which the whistle sounded and the teams took the field.

Lorain found in Massillon, Saturday, a team with a stout line, weak on the ends, with a good punter, and weak offense. The Lorain gridders failed to gain through the orange and black’s line, but skirted the ends for substantial gains and hurled passes for touchdowns.

The game had hardly started until Giasomo, as speedy a back as ever tucked a ball under his arm, took a pass from Chaszar and scampered 35 yards around Massillon’s right end for a touchdown. Jones missed his attempted kick, but Massillon was ruled offside on the play by the referee and the point counted. Chaszar scored Lorain’s second touchdown on a run around Massillon’s left end. The ball was placed in a scoring position as a result of Hageman recovering a Massillon fumble on the 35-yard line. A Massillon man offside again contributed the extra point to Lorain. The home team’s third set of points came in the middle of the fourth quarter, the result of another pass from Chaszar to Giasomo, who ran 29 yards before crossing the goal line. Again Lorain failed on the try for point, and Massillon did not get offside on the play.

The orange and black seldom had the ball in Lorain territory, due to the fact that the local team failed to show any offensive strength. The nearest the youthful tigers came to the windy city’s goal was the 23-yard line, but with fourth down and three yards to go a pass fell short of its receiver and the ball went into Lorain’s hands. The local team never came close after that, being kept behind the 40-yard line by the scrappy Lake Erie gridders.

The orange and black made but two first downs, and one of these as a result of a 15-yard penalty. Lorain made the required yardage eight times.

The local team’s forward passing attack was woefully wear. Two passes out of 14 attempts were completed for a gain of seven yards, while Lorain completed five passes out of 13 attempts for a gain of 81 yards. Four of Massillon’s passes were intercepted while Captain Potts and Houriet grabbed three of Lorain’s heaves.

The local team finished the game in good shape. Garland was the only player hurt and forced to take time out. He suffered an injured leg.

Had it not been for the punting of Kester, the Lorain gridders might have scored more points. Kester had the advantage on Chaszar in kicking, but the Lorain team gained on exchanges of punts due to the superior runs of Giasomo in returning the ball.

Captain Potts played a fine defensive game for the youthful tigers. In addition to pulling down two Lorain passes and batting down several others, he made it his business to get into practically every play that came through the line or around the ends. The Lorain runners were accorded good interference on their sweeping end runs and the orange and black ends were boxed out of most every play.

The Lorain team had only two lettermen on it, but was picked from a squad of 105 youths who reported to Coach McCaskey at the opening of the season. Ninety-five members of the squad were in uniform Saturday, the lightweights playing a preliminary to the varsity tilt in which they took a 21 to 0 beating from Wellington high school.

A large number of Massillon fans attended the game. Orange and black colors were in evidence everywhere and it is probable that one-fourth if not one-third of the crowd was from this city.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. Lorain

Geis LE Fabian

Buttermore LT Romoser

Blatz LG Hageman

Potts C Glorioso

Fisher RG Arbanic

Garland RT W. Andonka

Minger RE Andrews

Lewis QB Giasomo

Schnierle LHB Jones

Kester RHB Pincura

Hollwager FB Chaszar
Score by periods:
Lorain 7 7 0 6 20

Substitutions: Massillon – Slinger for Geis, Mann for Garland, Houriet for Hollwager, Hollwager for Minger, Geis for Slinger, G. Hess for Lewis. Lorain – Ursic for Andrews, Newman for Romoser, McGue for Urbanic, B. Andorka for Newman, Lepkowski for Jones, J. Pincura for McGew.

Touchdowns – Giasomo 2, Chaszar.

Officials—Referee: Houghton (Oberlin); Umpire: Close (Oberlin); Headlinesman: Johnson (Navy).

Henry Potts