WASHINGTON HIGH WINS SECOND TILT Beats New Philadelphia 13 to 7 Here Saturday; Local Team Scores touchdown With Second to Go
Washington high school chalked up its second victory of the season, Saturday afternoon when it defeated the red and black of New Philadelphia, 13 to 7 on Massillon Field.
The game was marked by few thrills and was not a typical Massillon-New Philadelphia game. The strong rivalry that usually displays itself when the two teams battle was lacking Saturday afternoon, and New Philadelphia fans strongly accused their team for not displaying the proper amount of fighting spirit.
The orange and black showed little football Saturday afternoon in an offensive way. The only time the Massillon gladiators showed any punch was when their captain, “Whitey” Laughlin got into the game. “Whitey” played about eight minutes Saturday and during that time the youthful Tigers chalked up their two touchdowns.
With a secondary backfield starting for Massillon and New Philadelphia lacking sufficient drive to gain much ground through the heavier orange and black line, neither team threatened to score until late in the second period.
The drive for a touchdown was started when Briggs took Kobelt’s punt on the New Philadelphia 48-yard line. On the next play he made three yards, while Grant went through right tackle for eight more and a first down on the visitor’s 37-yard line. With less than a minute remaining in the half, the local team began a forward passing attack. Grant tossed a four-yard pass to Laughlin and on the next play tossed another to Foster for a first down on the red and black’s 22-yard line. A pass from Grant to Briggs was good for 22 yards and brought a touchdown. Only one second remained in the half when the play was started. Laughlin carried the ball through left tackle for the extra point.
The second Massillon touchdown came early in the fourth quarter. With the ball on the Massillon 41-yard line, Fox circled right end on an end around play for a gain of 20 yards, but the ball was called back and the locals penalized 15 yards on a Massillon foul. Laughlin ripped off five on the next play and Evans then duplicated Fox’s stunt by circling left end behind good interference for 25 yards and a first down. Grant made five yards and Laughlin four more. Laughlin then found an opening and raced to the 28-yard line before he was tackled. Briggs made six yards on two plays and Laughlin made three more. Laughlin then plowed through for eight yards and a first down on “Philly’s” 12-yard line. Briggs made five yards and Laughlin four more, placing the ball three yards from the red and black’s goal. Laughlin made two yards on the next play and it was first down and goal with only a yard to go. “Whitey” plunged across. An attempted pass for the extra point was grounded.
A flock of substitutions followed the second Massillon touchdown and “Philly” found it comparatively easy to gain ground against the less experienced orange and black team. It was against these players that the visitors scored their touchdown in the last two and one-half minutes of the game. Getting the ball on their own 40-yard line, the red and black gridders began a passing attack. The first was completed for eight yards and the second brought a gain of 25-yards. From all appearances the second pass should not have been allowed for the receiver was not the first New Philadelphia man to touch the ball. The pass, however, was declared complete and a 15-yard penalty inflicted on the youthful Tigers gave “Philly” the ball on the 12-yard line. Four plays netted first down and Witmer went across for a touchdown from the one-foot line in two plays. Olmstead drop-kicked the extra point across.
The orange and black excelled in number of first downs, making the required yardage 12 times to “Philly’s” nine. The youthful Tigers completed four out of seven passes for a gain of 37 yards, while New Philadelphia gained 31 yard by the aerial game. Massillon was penalized 65 yards and the r4ed and black 70 yards.
Several hundred rooters attended the game from the Tuscarawas county seat. The team was accompanied by the school’s 55-piece uniform band which paraded the gridiron between halves. The Massillon school band also staged a drill, forming a large “M” in front of the student section.
New Philadelphia has failed to make much of a showing on the gridiron yet this year. The red and black has yet to win a game and has been defeated by two secondary teams.
However ,it is hopeful of taking Dover high into camp in the big game of the year, Thanksgiving Day. Lineup and Summary: Massillon – 13 Pos. New Philadelphia – 7 Fox LE Noble Geis LT Carey Henderson LG Fish Buttermore C Alexander Mauger RG Wheatley Anthony RT Knauss Shanabrook RE Shaffer Grant QB Olmstead Foster LHB Jenkins Schnierle RHB Ankney Andrews FB Kobelt
Score by periods: Massillon 0 7 0 6 13 New Philadelphia 0 0 0 7 7
Substitutions: Massillon – Fisher for Geis, Evans for Shanabrook, Garland for Anthony, Laughlin for Andrews, Briggs for Schnierle, Swaford for Laughlin, Andrews for Swaford, Laughlin for Andrews, Schnierle for Laughlin, Harris for Evans, Malone for Fox, Appleby for Fisher, Mann for Garland, Hourriet for Briggs, Straughn for Malone, Anthony for Appleby.
New Philadelphia – Airhart for Carey, Carey for Airhart, Witmer for Kobelt, Tinker for Carey.
Touchdowns – Briggs, Laughlin, Witmer.
Points after touchdown – Laughlin (carried), Olmstead (Drop kick).
Officials: Referee – Lobach (F. & M.). Umpire – Connors (Bates). Head Linesman – Kirk (O.W.U.).
ALLIANCE DOWNS WASHINGTON HIGH Uncorks Powerful Deceptive Offense in Second Half to Beat Orange and Black 13 – 0
Fighting with blood in their eyes, the orange and black of Washington high school made a gallant but vain attempt to show the Massillon public Saturday afternoon it could beat Alliance and went down to a 13 to 0 defeat in the second half of the game under a powerful and deceptive Alliance offense.
The team fought as it never fought before this season, and might have accomplished its purpose had not injures wrecked the backbone of the squad at crucial moments when it was apparent that the team was marching to victory. Had not Laughlin been injured in the first quarter when the local team lost the ball on downs on the Alliance 12-yard line, the game might have had a different ending.
Although “Whitey” continued in the game, the injury sapped his strength and his knee gave way when he failed by a yard to make a first down on Alliance’s 12-yard line. On the visitor’s return punt, “Whitey’s” knee again gave way and he had to be taken from the game. With Laughlin out of the game, the local team had little to show in an offensive way. Injuries also wrecked the line in the last two periods of play which helped the visitors no little in pushing across their two touchdowns.
The fighting spirit of the team Saturday won favor with the fans even though the youthful Tigers were defeated. The players were out to vindicate themselves after an idle week of practice and three weeks of steady criticism. They had signed a statement three days before to stand by their coach and their only end Saturday was to go in and fight for him, something they failed to at any other time this year. The boos and hisses which accompanied misplays on other days were not heard Saturday. Words of encouragement took their place for those in the stands could see that the team was not laying down but was making every effort to win and that is what the citizens of Massillon have been clamoring for since the second game of the year – a fighting team.
Yes, it was evident to all that the players were using the best of their football knowledge Saturday, but that was not of a high caliber. Their attack was not deceptive and the team itself was in poor condition, as the number of injuries plainly show. A week’s idleness may have been partly responsible for the battered condition of the Massillon squad and again may have had nothing to do with it. Nevertheless it looked pitiful to see five players on the bench from injuries. Captain Laughlin was taken to the city hospital where his injured hip was treated Saturday night. However, he was removed from the institution later in the evening and was able to get about Sunday.
In tackling Alliance Saturday, the youthful Tigers bumped into the strongest opposition of the year. The eastern county gridders are large and rangy, have a very deceptive attack, are hard as nails, and team nicely together. When Coach Wilcoxen ordered his men out to practice at the start of the season, he found he had but two lettermen in the pack and that nine vacancies had to be filled. This he completed in short order and the team opened the season by playing two tie games with Akron Central and Warren. At this time in the year, however, the green players have become seasoned veterans and from all indications the team as yet does not realize its strength, it may wind up the season without a defeat. At least it has that possibility before it.
The victory Alliance registered over Washington high Saturday was the first since 1921 when a badly battered wrecked Washington high team was given a trouncing on Mt. Union field.
Alliance made but one substitution during the entire game and with one or two exceptions the team appeared in as good a shape at the end of the 48 minutes of playing as at the start of the battle.
The local team had but one good scoring opportunity and that was in the first period. Alliance started off with a rush and worked the pigskin to the Massillon 21-yard line where an incomplete pass on the fourth down gave the locals the ball. Then the best offensive punch of the day was shown by the youthful Tigers. On a series of line plays and end runs, the team carried the ball to the Alliance 19-yard line, where a group of visiting players bent Laughlin into the shape of a crooked banana and “Whitey” slumped on the ground with a painful injury to his right knee. The spirit of the Massillon captain, however, kept him in the game and when he should have been carrying the ball, were it not for the injury, he was content with forming interference for Grant and Briggs. On the fourth down, however he was given the pigskin with four yards to go for a first down. He made three of the yards and would have made the required distance had not his knee buckled throwing him a yard short of a first down and a possible touchdown. It was the only real scoring opportunity for the orange and black and the youthful gridders appeared disheartened as their captain was taken from the field on the next play with his leg again injured. Injuries to players who make up the backbone strength of the team kept the playing eleven continually weakened and a little less confident than it otherwise would have been. Dommer, Potts and Straughn were all forced from the contest, which made it necessary for Coach Atkinson to shift tackles to ends and a guard to center in an effort to strengthen his line where most necessary.
Although this is not meant to detract from the fine showing of the visitors, Alliance’s two touchdowns were scored under such conditions.
The red and white scored its first touchdown near the middle of the third period. Taking the ball on their own 40-yard line, the visitors used a deceptive open formation that carried the ball to the Massillon 34-yard line. Here a sneak play was worked successfully with the ball snapped back when the backfield appeared in an argument and Grimes was not downed until he had reached the Massillon 15-yard line. On the next play Massillon was penalized half the distance to the goal line, giving Alliance the ball on the 7y yard line, with four chances to put it over.
Grimes, however, carried the ball across in two crashes at the center of the line and the Alliance rooters seeing the first victory in seven years over Massillon in sight, went wild with joy. Raber kicked the extra point from placement.
The visitors brought their score to 13 points in the fourth period, after a steady march of 46 yards down the field. Passes figured largely in advancing the ball, one being completed for a gain of 20 yards and another for a gain of nine yards. Dickens carried the ball across from the one-yard line. Raber’s attempted placekick went wild. Shortly afterwards Trump, Alliance halfback, took a Massillon punt in midfield and crossed the goal line after a pretty run along the side of the field. However, the touchdown was not allowed, the umpire ruling he stepped out of bounds on the 24-yard line. From this point the visitors began another hammering attack on the Massillon line and had the ball on the two-yard line with two chances to put it over when the whistle blew ending the game.
A large crowd turned out to see the first game of the county series, approximately 3,000 fans finding places in the stands, a thousand or more coming from Alliance.
The visitors were far superior to the orange and black in the number of first downs scored. Massillon made the yardage seven times, five times in the first quarter and twice in the third period, but Alliance made first downs on 15 occasions, nine coming in the last two periods. Massillon completed three passes for a gain of 23 yards; had nine incomplete and two intercepted. Alliance completed five passes in nine attempts for a gain of 85 yards. Three were batted down by Massillon backs while one was intercepted. The local team was penalized 40 yards and Alliance 45 yards.
The high school students showed a much better spirit Saturday than in any of the other games this year. The cheering was far better than at any other time. The band too showed a little more ginger by getting out on the field and drilling between halves. It looked as though the spirit of the students had come back to what it used to be. Lineup and summary: Alliance – 13 Pos. Massillon – 0 Daly LE Straughn Kunkle LT Fox Miller LG Henderson Dixon C Potts Speidel RG Mauger Hammontree RT Dommer Raber RE Shanabrook Keefe QB Grant Dicken LHB Schnierle Trump RHB Briggs Grimes FB Laughlin
Score by periods: Alliance 0 0 7 6 – 13
Substitutions: Alliance – Nagy for Millre.
Massillon – Foster for Laughlin, Gise for Straughn, Laughlin for Schnierle, Straughn for Gise, Gise for Fox, Anthony for Shanabrook, Fox for Straughn, Buttermore for Potts, Baltzly for Buttermore, Schnierle for Dommer, Garland for Fox, Fisher for Gise, Swaford for Laughlin.
SOUTH DRUBS HIGH GRIDDERS 20 TO 0 Orange and Black, Showing Lack of Proper Training, Proves Easy for Old Rival in Slow Contest Here
Washington high school’s football team, after putting up a fairly good game of football the greater part of the first half, Saturday, went to pieces in the last two quarters and was decisively beaten 20 to 0, by the fighting Corsairs of Akron South high school.
The Massillon team began to slip about the middle of the second period and from then on the South backs ripped the line to pieces while the Massillon offense failed to retaliate.
Contrary to other games played this year, it was the poor defensive game put up by the Massillon eleven that brought about South’s victory.
The defense was poor from the very start and only braced in the last period of the game when it turned back the thrusts of the Akron backs on the one-foot line, thus thwarting the enlarging of the score to 26 points or a possible 27. The orange and black offense got off to a good start and ripped the Akron line to pieces, carrying the ball from its own 20-yard line to Akron’s 30-yard line before losing the pigskin on downs. Then again in the second period the local team smashed its way from its 20-yard line to Akron’s 15-yard line where the visitors braced and held for downs. Turned back twice in its efforts to score, the local gridders appeared to lose heart, while the Akronites gained in confidence, strengthened their defense and kept the local team out of scoring distance the remainder of the game.
The South gridders tallied 10 first downs to Massillon’s eight during the first half and then made the required yardage nine more times in the last two periods, while the local gridders failed to make a first down.
Akron’s first touchdown came shortly after the start of the second quarter, Hedderly going across after a 20-yard run and a march of 40 yards down the field. Grahame caught the local team napping by carrying the ball across for the extra point instead of kicking.
The second set of points made by Akron was the result of a break. With the locals in possession of the ball on their own 35-yard line, a fumble occurred in the Massillon backfield when the ball was snapped back and Geisinger, Akron end, scooped up the oval and raced for a touchdown. A pass, Grahame to Winkleman was completed after being bounced around between three players and brought Akron’s score to 14 points. The last touchdown was made in the final period, penalties being greatly responsible. Akron was continually playing in Massillon territory the second half and shortly after the start of the fourth quarter worked the ball to the five-yard line where the local team held for downs. Briggs punted the ball back to the 25-yard line, Grahame returning five yards. Captain Laughlin declared Grahame stepped out of bounds but Umpire Barrett could not see it so where upon Whitey’s language became strong and the local team was penalized. This enraged the Massillon captain so that he used his fists on the umpire and the referee again began stepping off the yards, stopping at the one-yard line. Here South had difficulty in shoving the ball across. Massillon was offside on the very first play and the referee moved the ball up to within a foot of the goal line. Hedderly then plunged across with the ball after three attempts. In the final minutes of the game South again carried the ball to the one-yard line where it lost it on downs.
South’s opportunities to score were many, while Massillon had but one good chance. The local team had the ball on very few occasions in the last half, and failed to make any progress when it did try to carry the pigskin.
Akron surprised fans with a powerful offense. Heretofore this department of the team failed to respond for Coach Weltner, but Hedderly and Sauer had their day Saturday and the orange and black tacklers had difficulty in stopping them.
Unless the local team braces and plays better football than it has to date, Canton is going to have easy sailing on November 19, for the McKinley gridders took over South 33 to 0 a week ago and Saturday beat Youngstown Rayen 19 to 0.
Massillon was hurt by penalties, being set back 40 yards, but South suffered even worse, being penalized a total of 50 yards. Lineup and summary: Akron South – 20 Pos. Massillon – 0 Klipstein LE Straughn Robinson LT Fox Piry LG Mauger Bowers C Potts Harty RG Henderson Smith RT Anthony Winkleman RE Evans Grahame QB Grant Shepparde LHB Garland Sauer RHB Briggs Hedderly FB Laughlin
Score by periods: Akron 0 7 7 6 20
Substitutions: Massillon – Dommer for Fox, Andrews for Garland, Buttermore for Potts, Potts for Buttermore, Fox for Anthony, Price for Dommer, Anthony for Price, Baltzly for Mauger, Mauger for Baltzly, Shanabrook for Evans, Evans for Henderson.
Akron – Geisinger for Klipstein, Klipstein for Geisinger, Roeger for Smith, Schill for Sauer.
Touchdown – Hedderly 2, Geisinger.
Point after touchdown – Grahamme (carried), Winkleman (forward pass).
HIGH GRIDDERS TRIM WOOSTER 12 TO 6 FOR SEASON’S FIRST WIN
A well directed offense in the second period, Saturday afternoon, brought the season’s first gridiron victory for the orange and black of Washington high school, when the South Mill street institution, with difficulty, succeeded in bowling over the fighting purple warriors from Wooster high, 12 to 6 on Massillon Field.
Though the youthful Tigers won, there is little glory in the victory, for the same Wooster team was trampled upon earlier in the season by Canton McKinley, 46 to 0. In fact many Wooster fans expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the game and even though their team was on the short side of the score, considered the result a moral victory for Wooster.
And such it probably was, for the fighting purple squad not only held the Massillon team to a pair of touchdowns, but crossed the orange and black goal line once, registered 11 first downs to Massillon’s eight and decisively outplayed and outfought the youthful Tigers in the last half of the game.
True the local team was hampered somewhat with injuries, Briggs, Dommer and Schnierle being out of the game. Yet, these injuries should not have kept Massillon high from being at least four touchdowns better than their Wooster rivals. However, it must be said in fairness to the orange and black’s defense that several of Wooster’s first downs were made as a result of penalties inflicted on the Massillon team.
The Massillon crew showed its most powerful drive near the middle of the second quarter which resulted in the scoring of two touchdowns. Getting a punt on the Wooster 41-yard line the youthful Tigers started a drive that did not end until Grant carried the ball across from the two-yard line. It all happened this way. Wooster punted to Foster who was downed in his tracks on the visiting team’s 41-yard line. Grant lost a few yards, but on the next play, Foster tossed a pass that was knocked down by a Wooster player into the arms of Shanabrook. Massillon end, who scampered several yards before being tackled. The play was good for 16 yards and brought a first down on Wooster’s 27-yard line. Laughlin rammed through for five yards and Grant dashed off left tackle on the next play for a gain of 20 yards, placing the ball on Wooster’s two-yard line. Andres failed to gain and Laughlin failed to move the ball any closer to the goal. On the next play, however, Grant bucked his way through left tackle for the first points of the game. The kick was missed.
The second touchdown for Massillon came shortly afterwards and was the direct result of a forward pass and a pretty run for 40 yards for a touchdown by Captain Laughlin. Foster tossed the pass to Laughlin.
Fans expected to be treated to another offensive drive by the orange and black in the second half, but it did not come. Instead, however, Wooster began hammering the Massillon line and tossing passes, to score a touchdown early in the last period, W. Franks carrying the ball across. The visitors; chance came as a result of the recovery of a blocked Massillon punt on the local team’s 19-yard line, by Ralph Rutter, a former Massillon boy. Three plays netted nine yards for Wooster and on the fourth play, Franks bucked his way through the Massillon line for three yards and a first down on the seven-yard line. In two cracks at the Massillon line the same diminutive Wooster player carried the pigskin across for his team’s only points.
In winning Saturday the local team showed a greatly improved aerial attack, completing six passes out of 12 attempts for a total gain of 99 yards. Five of the passes were incomplete and one intercepted. Wooster completed three passes for a gain of 18 yards. Two of the visitors’ overhead attempts to gain were not complete and one was intercepted.
Massillon was set back 35 yards in penalties and Wooster five yards.
The game Saturday brought out several facts, chief of which was the lack of spirit displayed by the Massillon team, on the bench as well as on the field. The team does not have the pepper, snap and spirit of confidence and alertness that will give it the jump on its opponents and cause its members to fight to the last notch and give every ounce of its efforts to keep pushing ahead. Either the members of the team are not of a fighting nature or else the spirit of battle has not been instilled into them. The same lack of sprit was shown on the bench Saturday afternoon. In the second half of the game, two orange and black players were pulled from the conflict when they weakened under the strain of the battle. Tired and perspiring freely so that their jerseys and moleskins were wet with perspiration, they made their way to the bench and took their places beside fellow players. A gentle breeze was blowing across the field, making an excellent condition for the two benched players to catch a bold and yet in spite of the fact that plenty of blankets were about and in the hands of other players on the bench, neither of the lads were offered any cover for several minutes and during that time no one made it his duty to see that the tired youths were provided with wraps to protect them from the weather.
Another factor was again demonstrated Saturday and that is that the local team lacks the last and greatest team lacks the last and greatest punch to push cross a touchdown. Had the orange and black had this final punch, the score Saturday might have been larger, for the youthful Tigers on several occasions had the ball within the 20 and 30-yard zones but lacked the drive to push it across. This same factor was demonstrated in the Akron East and Lorain games and appears to be the result of poor interference accorded the ball carrier. Either the backfield forgets the art of giving interference when facing opposition, cannot learn, or has not been properly instructed in this department of the game. The fact remains, there was certainly little interference accorded a runner Saturday afternoon or in any of the other games this year.
In Donald Grant, Coach John Atkinson has uncovered a quarterback who runs the team in good style, using a varied attack continually to bewilder his opponents, Grant also made several nice gains Saturday.
The management of Washington high sprung a surprise on the fans Saturday afternoon by placing markers designating the difference yard zones. It makes it much easier for the fans in the bleachers to tell where the ball is in play with the yard lines marked. The lineup and summary: Massillon – 12 Pos. Wooster –6 Straughn LE Gerig Fox LT Bridenstine Henderson LG R. Franks Potts C Conrad Mauger RG Cappola Price RT Gelewicks Shanabrook RE Ports Grant QB W. Franks Foster LHB Dalby Bickle RHB Rutter Laughlin FB Shelly
Substitutions: Massillon – Anthony for Price, Andrews for Bickle, Wofle for Laughlin, Price for Anthony, Laughlin for Wolfe, Evans for Shanabrook, Anthony for Price, Shanabrook for Straughn.
Wooster – Stehlhorn for Rutter, Rutter for Stehlhorn, Strock for Franks.
LORAIN HANDS WASHINGTON HIGH 12 – 0 TRIMMING POOR OFFENSE ROBS MASSILLON OF ANY CHANCE OF WINNING
Lacking a smooth working or well directed offense, without which no football team can go very far, Washington high’s gridiron aggregation took a 12 to 0 pasting from Lorain high’s stocky eleven in last Saturday afternoon’s torrid tussle on Massillon Field, the first scholastic grid combat to be staged here this fall. Shoving over touchdowns in the first and fourth quarters Lorain piled up enough points to win its first scholastic battle with a Massillon team and displayed a clean cut superiority over the orange and black throughout most of the contest.
Massillon lost because it lacked a consistent attack. Its offense lacked punch and only once was the Massillon outfit able to work the ball inside Lorain’s 20-yard line. However, the orange and black several times was within scoring distance but twice lost chances for touchdowns because its aerial attack failed to function and its other chances went glimmering when the Lorain defense was too tough to crack.
The defense work of the line was the only bright spot in Massillon’s performance. Playing under a boiling sun, that brought mid summer temperatures, the orange and black forward wall for three quarters stood off the crushing line plunges of the heavy Lorain backs. But the pace was too much for the local boys and they cracked early in the fourth quarter when the visitors began a steady line hammering attack that carried the ball 40 yards down the field and across the Massillon goal line for their second set of counters.
Lorain, however, put the game on ice early in the first quarter. The fans had hardly become settled in their seats before the visitors had scored a touchdown. It took three minutes to do it and a brilliant 45-yard dash by Kissel, Lorain halfback, paved the way for the points. Massillon received and punted. Mauger stopped Ujhelyi, the Lorain quarterback, on Lorain’s 48-yard line.
On the first play Kissel tucked the ball under his arm and with splendid interference circled Massillon’s left end and dashed down the field as his teammates boxed in or spilled the Massillon secondary defense. Seven yards from the Massillon goal he was pulled to earth by Captain Laughlin and tackle Fox. But Lorain was not to be stopped within sight of Massillon’s goal. Wolfe, Lorain’s giant fullback, smashed through the Massillon line on the second play and planted the ball back of the goal line. Ujhelyi missed a place kick for the extra point.
With their backs to the wall the orange and black tried desperately to even up the score but Lorain’s defense was too tough. The local team confined itself almost entirely to line bucking plays in the first quarter. It gained some ground but could not dent the Lorain forward wall when in scoring precincts.
Near the close of the period Wolfe pulled his team out of a hole when he grabbed a Massillon forward on his 20-yard line and raced the ball back 19 yards before being forced out of bounds.
Massillon’s best chance of scoring came in the second quarter but the chance was lost when its aerial attack failed to materialize. Foster returned one of Wolfe’s punts to Lorain’s 20-yard line. Briggs flipped a pass to Shanabrook for 18 yards and the ball was on the visitor’s 21-yard mark. Then Briggs tried to pass to Straughn but it went over the Massillon end’s head when he turned and stopped to see where the ball was. Had Straughn pulled the pass out of the air he might have gone over for a touchdown.
A few minutes later Briggs covered a fumble on Lorain’s 34-yard line. Once again he attempted a pass to Straughn and again the ball went over Straughn’s head with a clear field ahead.
The third quarter was played largely in midfield. Massillon might have gained ground on end runs with proper interference, but only a few were tried. Most of them, however, produced some yardage.
It was at the start of the fourth quarter that Lorain showed its best punch of the day. The Massillon line, however, by this time was beginning to feel the effects of its battering and the heat. Ujhelyi intercepted a Massillon pass on Massillon’s 40-yard line as the quarter opened. He went through for 20 yards before being downed by Dommer. Three plunges gave Lorain a first down, putting the ball on the 25-yard line. With another first down in sight Lorain was penalized 15 for holding but it made up the penalty and gained enough ground for a first down when Ujhelyi tossed a pass to Kissel for 17 yards, taking the ball to the 14-yard line. Uhhelyi and Wolfe toted the leather to the one-yard line in three plunges. Ujhelyi plunged into the line again. He was stopped a half yard from his goal but on the next play he went over. He again missed a place kick for the additional point.
With the forward pass left as its only hope for overcoming the Lorain lead in the closing minutes of play, Massillon began to toss passes in a desperate fashion but only one out of 10 attempts in the final period worked and the game ended with Lorain in possession of the long end of the count.
Up until the fourth quarter the ground gaining ability of the two teams was about equal. But in the final period Lorain ripped off five first downs and had Massillon shaded 10 to six when the game ended. Massillon tried the air game a lot in an effort to gain but got nowhere with it.
The orange and black attempted 19 passes, but only two were completed, one in the second quarter for 18 yards and the other in the fourth for 10. Two were intercepted by Lorain. The visitors did not depend a great deal on passes for their gains. They attempted but four, working only one for 17 yards. Massillon intercepted one. Lineup and summary: Massillon – 0 Pos. Lorain – 12 Straughn LE Stevenson Fox LT Crehore Henderson LG Armstrong Potts C Glorioso Mauger RG Traub Anthony RT Towner Shanabrook RE Delcey Briggs QB Ujhelyi Foster LHB Kissel Grant RHB Burge Laughlin FB Wolfe
Score by quarters: Lorain 6 0 0 6 12
Substitutions: Massillon – Dommer for Fox, Schnerlie for Straughn, Nichols for Briggs, Fox for Dommer, Dommer for Anthony, Straughn for Schnerlie, Briggs for Nichols, Evans for Fox, Garland for Henderson, Schnerlie for Dommer.
Lorain – Fitzgerald forTowner, Shade for Burge, Towner for Fitzgerald, Burge for Shade.
Touchdowns – Wolfe, Uhhelyi
Offiicals: Referee – Maurer (Wooster). Umpire – Lobach (F. & M.). Head Linesman – Jenkins (Akron).
WASHINGTON HIGH GRIDDERS TIE AKRON EAST 6 T0 6 STIRRING RALLY IN SECOND HALF SHOWS TEAM HAS STRENGTH
A gallant-little band of grid warriors of Washington high school withstood the thrusts of a powerful Akron East team, and earned a well deserved 6 to 6 tie in a rather slow game on Sieberling Field, Akron, Saturday afternoon.
Outplayed in the first half and trailing 6 to 0, the youthful Tigers lashed back with a determined attack in the third quarter, and swept the surprised Akron gridders off their feet until they reached the 10-yard zone where the rubber city crew rallied sufficiently to turn back the onslaught of the Massillon backs led by Captain Laughlin.
But the local gridders undaunted by their failure to cross the goal line, made two more attempts to tie the score, pushing the ball across on the final opportunity just as the gun ended the period.
It was a rejuvenated Massillon team that entered that second half. Battered badly during the latter part of the first and most of the second quarter, and outscored four to one on first downs, Captain Laughlin led his warriors into a terrific attack that not only tied the score but piled up a total of eight first downs to Akron’s two for the third and fourth periods of play. Reading the running story of the game as it was taken down, play by play, it is easily seen that Massillon outplayed Akron more decisively in the last half than the rubber city crew did the locals in the first and second periods.
Akron was making a final attempt to win the game when the gun cracked, ending the contest on the 16-yard line, the ball being placed in that position through a 20-yard pass, the only one completed during the day, and several line plunges. It was third down and nine to go when the referee’s signal sounded. Those two first downs were the only ones East could make in the last half of the battle. The orange and black had the ball practically all the time during the third period, and the greater part of the fourth and it was not until the last few minutes in the final quarter that East could again get its offense working.
Keeney, Akron’s four-year quarterback, and Earl Foster, Washington high halfback, made the only sensational runs of the day. Kenney’s was good for a touchdown and the stocky signal barker stepped 28 yards behind perfect interference for his team’s only points. Foster’s run came at the end of the second period and was the only flash of offense the local team showed during the entire first half. The small halfback, on a quarterback sneak, stepped 20 yards through the secondary defense, placing the ball in the middle of the field just as the half ended. That run undoubtedly put confidence in the Massillon crew for the determined drive in the following quarters. At least it proved that the Akron defense was not impregnable, and could be battered down with a little more exertion.
Although the game was slow, with few exciting moments, it was well played considering it was the opener of the season for both teams. There were few injuries and few penalties and this hustled it through in “jig” time.
Massillon’s touchdown was helped considerably by a penalty, Captain “Squirt” Kenney of East being guilty of dirty playing in a critical moment of the battle when he came in with a hit on Paul Briggs after the latter had already been downed and the referee’s whistle sounded. When Kenney resorted to these tactics to stop the threatening Massillon score, the orange and black had the ball on the 10-yard line. The result was that the locals were given the ball within the one-yard of the East goal, Briggs taking it across on the second play. However the orange and black might have pushed the ball across without the assistance of the penalty for the offensive machine was working smoothly when Kenney used his feet too freely.
Both teams were evenly matched. If there was an edge, Massillon had it in view of the fact that it made nine first downs to East’s six, which alone shows a better offense and defense.
The number of first downs were held low because of the strong defensive playing of both teams and because both teams, with few exceptions, resorted to nothing but straight football. Only three passes were tried, one by Massillon and two by East. The local school’s only attempt was a wild heave that was grounded while East completed both of its throws. One was good for 20 yards and the other for three, but the latter was not counted in the game since Massillon was offside on the play and was penalized five yards.
As expected, Reese Price, veteran tackle, left the game in the second quarter with his “pet” leg injured again. It looks as though he will be of little value to Coach Atkinson this year. Anthony took his place and played a good game until put out towards the close of the battle for roughing it.
In weight, the teams were nearly matched. From tackle to tackle, Akron was heavier but its ends did not possess as much weight as the Massillon wingmen. The backfields probably weighed about the same.
Coach Atkinson’s team looks good and should develop into a smooth running machine by the end of the season. However, the attack Saturday did not appear varied enough and Briggs called but once for a forward pass, while few end runs were attempted.
Foster held his own with Keeney in punting, his kicks, averaging about 35 yards. However, unless Earl can put more yardage on his boots, the local team will be handicapped no little when it bumps up against a punter who can boot the ball 50 yards.
Foster does not claim to be a champion kicker, but he is the best man Atkinson has in the backfield for booting the ball and he at least gets this kicks away in time not to be blocked.
The local team made a fine appearance as it trotted down the field in new uniforms of orange with a large black “M” on the front. The jerseys have leather elbow guards and are very attractive.
Probably one of the biggest surprises of the afternoon was the large crowd that turned out from Massillon. With schools not yet in session and the general high school “pepper” not revived, few expected to see so many Washington high students and older fans in the bleachers. They made themselves plainly heard, the 1,500 who were there, when the second half offensive got underway. Akron also had a large delegation at the game.
It was Akron’s greatest wish to win the game Saturday and do what no other school has been able to do in recent years, beat Massillon high in two consecutive seasons. The rubber city crew won the opening game 6 to 0 here in 1926 and was out to make it two in a row Saturday but the close of the game found the local school still holding its record.
True, Youngstown South claims two consecutive victories over Massillon but the second was a tainted one and was secured only through a forfeit when former Coach David B. Stewart took his team off the field after he saw it was impossible to win the game with the partial officiating.
Here’s the way the opening game was played: FIRST QUARTER Dommer kicked off to Keeney who was downed on the 30-yard line. Averitt made two yards and Keeney three more. Pokorosky lost the ball on a wild pass from center but recovered for a 15-yard loss. Keeney punted to Briggs who was downed on his own 35-yard line. Dommer waded through for four and made two more on his next attempt. Briggs added another yard and Foster then punted to the Akron 30-yard line. Averitt made eight yards on two plunges while Pokorosky made it first down on the 38-yard line.
Averitt carried the ball twice again making five yards. Keeney then punted to the Massillon 35-yard line. Laughlin made two and Briggs one, but Foster attempting to punt, fumbled the ball and recovered on his own 30-yard line. He then punted on the next play to Pokorosky who returned from the 40-yard line to midfield.
Three plays netted a first down as the quarter ended. SECOND QUARTER East was given possession of the ball on the Massillon 28-yard line. Pokorosky failed to gain, but on the next play, Kenney stepped through right tackle behind perfect interference for his team’s touchdown which later proved to be its only points. He missed his attempted dropkick, the ball going wide of the bar.
Kenney kicked off to Briggs on the Massillon 25-yard line, Briggs returning to the 32-yard line. Laughlin failed to gain after which Foster punted to Akron’s 40-yard line. Price was hurt on the play and Anthony took his place. Averitt made three yards, but time was taken out when it was found he was injured on the play. He continued, however, and went through for eight yards and a first down on the next play. Morgan made three and Keeney and Averitt each two yards. With fourth down and three to go Keeney punted to Foster on the five-yard line. Foster immediately punted back to his own 45-yard line. Keeney returning 10 yards, but East was penalized 15 yards on the play placing the ball on its own 45-yard line. Keeney ripped around left end for 15 yards. Averitt made a yard while Pokorosky was held without gain. Pokorosky then passed three yards to Averitt but the play was called back when it was found that a Massillon player was offside. Keeney then punted to Laughlin on the 10-yard line. Briggs punted 20 yards, the ball rolling out on his own 30-yard line. Keeney made three yards and Pokorosky five, but Keeney was tossed for a three yard loss on the next play by Anthony. He then punted over the goal line. The orange and black was given the ball on its own 20-yard line. Laughlin got a bad pass from center and lost 10 yards. Foster punted to the 45-yard line; Polorosky fumbling, but recovering. Keeney made a yard and then punted to Briggs on his own 27-yard line. Foster then showed the only flash of offense for Massillon in this half by carrying the ball to midfield on a sneak play. Dommer failed to gain as the half ended. THIRD QUARTER Keeney kicked off to Briggs on the 30-yard line, Briggs returned to the 40-yard line. Laughlin drove through for 11 yards placing the ball in midfield. He carried the ball a second time for nine yards and then smashed through for 11 yards and another first down on the 30-yard line. Briggs made three yards and Laughlin made it first down on the 20-yard line. Briggs made four and Laughlin two more, but with the ball on the 14-yard line. East held Foster for no gain and Briggs’ pass was grounded. East took the ball on downs, Keeney immediately punting back to his own 38-yard line. Foster returning to the 30-yard mark. Laughlin made four yards and Briggs two. In two more attempts Laughlin made nine yards and a first down on East’s 16-yard line. Briggs made a yard and Laughlin five more, but the Massillon gridder fumbled on the play, Shanabrook recovering on the 11-yard line Briggs and Laughlin failed to gain in two cracks at the line, East getting the ball on its own 11-yard line. Anthony tossed Keeney for a four-yard loss. Averitt was held without a gain. Keeney then punted to Briggs on the 27-yard line, Briggs returning the ball to the 21-yard line. Briggs made three yards and six more on the next play. Laughlin bucked the ball over for a first down on the 11-yard line. Briggs made a yard and Keeney jumped feet first on the pile of players, drawing a penalty for his action. The referee gave Massillon the ball on the Akron one-yard line. Laughlin failed to gain, but on the next play made a hole for Briggs who scored the touchdown just as the quarter ended. Foster failed in attempted dropkick. FOURTH QUARTER East kicked off to Briggs who received the ball on his 20-yard line carrying it back three yards. Laughlin made a yard but Briggs slipped through for seven more. He then made a first down on the next play on the 33-yard line. Laughlin bucked…..SOME COPY MISSING ….yard line the orange and black elected to punt and Foster booted the ball to Keeney on the latter’s 40-yard line. Averitt made seven yards on two plays and Pokorosky lost two. Keeney then booted the ball to Massillon’s 20-yard line. Dommer made four while Briggs added two more. Briggs lost three on the next play. Foster punted to Pokorosky on the 43-yard line. Pokorosky failed to gain. Keeney then dropped back and passed 20 yards to Pokorosky who was dropped on the orange and black’s 23-yard line. Anthony was put out for roughing it, Garland taking his place. Keeney slipped through for six yards and Averitt made five more for a first down on the 12-yard line. Potts went in for Garland. Keeney made three yards but the play was called back and East penalized five yards for offside. Keeney then made two yards on an end run as the game ended. A Good Start Massillon – 6 Pos. Akron East – 6 Straughn LE Fela Fox LT Bell Henderson LG Gilbert Evans C Sheppard Mauger RG Walker Price RT Growdon Schnierle RE Kinney Briggs QB Keeney Foster LHB Pokorosky Laughlin RHB Averitt Dommer FB Morgan
Score by periods: Massillon 0 0 6 0 6 Akron East 0 6 0 0 6
Substitutions: Massillon – Anthony for Price, Shanabrook for Schnierle, Garland for Anthony, Potts for Evans, Evans for Garland.
Touchdowns – Keeney, Briggs.
Officials: Referee – Michaels (Goodyear). Umpire – Kester (Mt. Union). Head Linesman – Thomas (Penn U.)
WASHINGTON HIGH DOWNED 19 TO 15 Plucky Massillon Team Drops Game to Cleveland John Adams in Last Two Minutes
John Adams high school’s highly vaunted grid machine, was almost upset in Cleveland Saturday afternoon by what was rated as only a small obstacle in its path, Washington high school of Massillon. Adams finally won 19 to 15, but in so doing was given many severe jolts by this Massillon team, which like a mushroom, sprang in to a formidable looking football eleven overnight.
John Adams won, but had to play football and had it not been for a little bad judgment by the orange and black in the last two and a half minutes of play, there is little doubt but that the youthful Tigers would have returned to this city Saturday evening with a tie score rather than another defeat.
Yet there is little to cry over in the local gridders defeat. The few hundred Massillon fans who attended the game saw an eleven take the field that was only the remnants of the squad that started the first game on September 24, against Akron East. On the line: Dommer, Reese Price, Potts and Evans were missing, while Captain Whitey Laughlin, the teams’ most dependable ground gainer was not in uniform. Injuries and ineligibility had wrecked the team and the eleven did not have the weight that the other first stringers packed. But the subs, sent in by Coach John Atkinson, fitted into the vacant holes like swollen bungs in the old cider barrel, and the Massillon team played the Adams gridders on even terms during the first three periods and were leading, 13 to 7 at the end of the half. The local team, however, began to weaken under the strain in the fourth quarter when the Clevelanders found it easier to gain ground around the Massillon ends and pushed the winning touchdown across, with the help of a break in the game, in the closing minutes of play.
In tackling John Adams, the local gridders bumped up against a fast and well drilled team, a team that has made its defense its big boast of the year. Previous to Saturday, John Adams had played five games. In all those five contests, only five first downs were scored against the Cleveland team. Massillon, however, made the required yardage nine times Saturday, much to the surprise of the Clevelanders. The entertaining team used a deceptive end around play continually throughout the game, making many yards with sweeping runs on the Massillon flanks, coupled with short forward passes. It failed to roll back the Massillon line. The local team resorted to an open attack, using sneak plays and throwing many forward passes.
The John Adam’s coach’s bit of strategy proved disastrous to him at the start of the game when he sent his yannigans into the conflict. The “yans” didn’t last very long, however, for the youthful Tigers received, made a vicious onslaught towards the Clevelander’s goal line and Paul Briggs was across for a touchdown from the 25-yard line before the Cleveland mentor could assemble his regulars and rush them to the rescue. The score came in the first minute and a half of play.
With the regulars in, however, the Cleveland team of many nationalities began an attack from midfield that did not end until Benis had scored from the four-yard line. Cleveland attempted to pass for the extra point and it was incomplete, but the point was awarded to the John Adams gridders on a Massillon player’s interference. The first period ended with Massillon making a drive toward the John Adams’ goal line and the Cleveland team in the lead, 7 to 6. Forward passes placed the ball in a position for the local team to register its second touchdown of the game, three passes, a penalty and a nice run by Grant placing the ball on the five-yard line from where it was pushed across by Grant on three plays. Grant the dropped back and passed to Foster for the additional point. John Adams made frantic efforts to tie the score during the eight remaining minutes of the first half, but never came within striking distance of the Massillon goal and the local gridders trotted off the field, leading 13 to 7 at the close of the first half.
The Cleveland team, however, lashed out with a terrific attack in the second half of the game and scored a touchdown shortly after the opening of the third period on Dayton’s pass to the speedy Soukup who raced 20 yards over the Massillon goal line. The ball had been placed on the 20-yard line as a result of a series of end runs and passes and the touchdown climaxed a march of 60 yards. Mandula’s attempt to carry the ball across for the extra point was smothered by a flock of orange and black tacklers. The touchdown tied the score and from the following kickoff until the last 2y minutes of the game it appeared as though the fracas would end in a tie. Most of the play during this last period, however, was in Massillon territory. With only three minutes to go and the score standing at 13 to 13, the locals received the ball on a punt on their own 30-yard line. Not satisfied with a tie score, the orange and black gridders were trying frantically for another touchdown and began to toss passes in an effort to take home a victory. The first was successful and brought a gain of a few yards, but the second went into the hands of Mandula on the Massillon 40-yard line and the fleet halfback raced to the 11-yard line before he was downed. Four cracks at the Massillon line and ends netted a first down by inches, only half a yard from the orange and black goal line. Two more plays were required before Benis squirmed through for the winning points on a sneak play. Dayton’s attempted placekick was low and the extra point was lost.
The orange and black again tried to score with the forward pass but failed. The locals, however, did add two points to their total in the last minute of play through a safety which appeared intentional on the part of Koran, Adams gridder. Fox tagged Foster’s punt within a couple of yards of the Adams goal line. Adams was leading 19 to 13 and when Koran standing behind his own goal line saw his punt might be blocked by the rushing Massillon linemen, he decided to drop to the ground, rather than kick the ball, making a safety and two points for the orange and black. The Adams team was then given the ball on its 20-yard line and Koran punted out of danger as the game ended.
In first downs, Adams was superior, making the required yardage 13 times to nine times for Massillon. The local team completed five passes in 11 attempts for a total of 39 yards. Five passes were incomplete and one was intercepted. John Adams tried the aerial game 12 times, completing six passes for a gain of 30 yards. Two of Adams’ passes were intercepted by Massillon backs, while four were incomplete. The Cleveland gridders were penalized eight times for being offside. Massillon was set back but 10 yards in penalties.
Two hundred or more local fans attended the game Saturday. The Score John Adams – 19 Pos. Massillon – 15 Dick LE Fox Atkins LT Geis Baidisari LG Henderson Danchik C Buttermore Smudz RG Mauger Sugarman RT Anthony Battiator RE Straughn Davis QB Grant Howells LHB Foster Finnigan RHB Andrews Koran FB Briggs
Score by periods: John Adams 7 0 6 6 19 Massillon 6 7 0 2 15
Substitutions: Adams – Hindulak for Atkins, Gideon for Baldisari, Reed for Danchik, Gaskill for Smudz, Belian for Sugarman, Serpowitz or Battiato, Benis for Davis, Mandula for Howells, Soukup for Finnigan, Dayton for Koran, Finnigan for Soukup, Miller for Gaskill, White for Reed, Koran for Dayton.
Massillon – Garland for Geis, Schnierle for Andrews, Shanabrook for Straughn, Fischer for Garland.
Touchdowns – Benis 2, Soukup, Briggs, Grant.
Points after touchdown – Mandula (Massillon foul), Foster (pass).
Safety – Koran.
Officials: Referee – Myer (Ohio Wesleyan). Umpire – Sutter (W. & J.) Head Linesman – Richards (Ohio Wesleyan).
WASHINGTON HIGH BATTLES CANTON M’KINLEY TO SCORELESS TIE OLD RIVALS GET EVEN BREAK IN THRILLING DUEL
COMING through with the greatest exhibition of fighting spirit it has shown all season Coach John H. Atkinson’s orange and black eleven of Washington high school last Saturday afternoon held the powerful red and black aggregation of McKinley high, Canton, to a scoreless draw in their annual battle on the snow-covered gridiron at Massillon Field. About 8,000 spectators, the largest crowd to ever witness a scholastic football duel in Massillon, were on hand to see the fall classic and were treated to a spectacular contest in which both teams distinguished themselves by their hard but clean playing.
And once again the old dope bucket was given a wallop in the solar plexus. Entering the fracas as the under dog with Canton McKinley ruling the favorite because of a long string of impressive victories behind it, Coach Atkinson’s boys flung back at their critics the charges that they lacked fighting spirit and uncovering as much grit and courage as any Massillon eleven in the past, came within one yard of scoring a touchdown that would have brought victory over their ancient rival.
Only a desperate fighting Canton eleven, that was battling with all its strength to stave off defeat, kept Massillon from shoving across a touchdown in the third quarter when two blocked Canton punts, the first to be flocked on the east enders this year, gave Massillon the ball deep in Canton’s territory. The last blocked punt gave Massillon the ball on Canton’s four-yard line but four smashes into the line failed to take the oval over, although the orange and black had lugged the ball to Canton’s one-yard line before fourth down.
It was the best chance either team had to score. Canton launched its strongest attack in the first half and in the second quarter twice advancing the ball inside Massillon’s 20-yard line but was never equal to the task of pushing back a determined orange and black eleven that bristled with courage and gameness when its goal line was in danger. Massillon held the upper hand throughout most of the second half, throwing more than one scare into the hearts of Canton rooters. FEW CHANGES Nine of the eleven Massillon players who started the game were still in the lineup when the final whistle blew. Massillon made but two substitutions, Dave Smith replacing Mauger in the line in the first quarter and Easterday going in for Spencer in the last few minutes when the big guard was injured after playing a whale of a game throughout. Injuries couldn’t keep the Massillon regulars out of the contest. Several of them were hurt and had to take time out but not a one of them would give up. All of which indicates that the orange and black Saturday had plenty of fighting spirit and physical fitness, the two things which worried local fans considerably before the game.
Canton sent quite a number of players in to the game. At the start of the third quarter Coach Peabody had three fresh halfbacks and two new ends in the lineup, saving his regulars for a late spurt. But the regulars did not get much of a rest. They were rushed into the battle again in a hurry after Massillon had blocked two of Holmes’ punts and was driving through the Canton eleven toward the east enders’ goal line. Only Peabody’s quick action in jerking his replacements kept Massillon from scoring.
Snow fell during most of the game. Both teams were hampered by the wet condition of the field. A slippery ball made it difficult for both teams to do much with the aerial game, although Canton uncovered quite a puzzling forward pass attack that succeeded in registering numerous gains.
So far as ground gaining was concerned Canton held a big edge on the Massillon lads making 11 first downs to one for Massillon but while Canton could gain on passes and end runs in midfield it never was able to do much against the fighting orange and black eleven once it had worked the ball into Massillon territory.
Despite the slippery condition of the ball fumbles were very scarce. Both teams played cleanly throughout and few penalties were inflicted by the officials. FOX, BENSON, PRICE STAR Massillon’s line came through in great shape, Saturday, every lad on the forward wall giving a good account of themselves but the heroes of the conflict were Sam Benson, center, and Fox, left tackle. Both played brilliant defensive games and it was their hard charging that enabled them to burst through the Canton line at the start of the third quarter and block two of Holmes’ punts.
Fox, a lad who has played a steady game all Fall, rose to heights of greatness Saturday by his wonderful performance. He was in practically every play, tackled hard and blocked the punt that gave Massillon the ball on Canton’s four-yard line. Benson also distinguished himself by his playing. The Massillon center was pitted against Ballard, captain of the Canton team and one of the best lineman the east end school has ever had but he met more than his match Saturday in Benson and was badly outplayed by the Massillonian. It was Sam who crashed through the Canton line to block a punt in the third quarter, gaining the distinction of being the first player of the year to block a kick on Holmes, the Canton punter.
Assisting Benson and Fox in their star defensive game was Captain Bill Price, the Brewster Welshman. Price’s work in the secondary defense was brilliant throughout. He was all over the field and tackled like a demon. Dave Smith, Ott and Spencer also played good games. Gump and Fulton on the ends had a busy day as Canton depended a great deal on end runs for its gains. They had difficulty stopping the Canton charges in the first half but both played strong games in the last two quarters.
Massillon’s offense, however, was not equal to its defense. This was largely due to the strong defensive games played by Canton. The best offensive game was played by “Whitey” Laughlin who never failed to gain a yard or two on his smashes into the Canton line. Courtney Smith also played well but McConnell and Price had difficulty gaining. Canton knew the ability of both of these lads and watched them closely. McConnell, however, got away for the longest gain of the game at the start of the third quarter when he went through Canton’s left tackle for 28 yards, having cleared the entire visiting eleven except Holmes, the safety man, who brought him down on Canton’s 22-yard line. McCONNELL OUT PUNTS HOLMES It was in punting that McConnell did his best work, Saturday. His exhibition of kicking was one of the best of the season and he clearly out-punted Holmes, Canton’s backfield star, gaining considerable yardage for the orange and black by his long and well placed punts.
Canton as usual depended largely upon Holmes for its offensive strength but outside of several brilliant returns of punts the Canton quarterback was held in check. He tossed several neat forward passes but most of the Canton gains were made by Hodnick, Clark and Taubensee on plunges through the line or dashes around the ends. FIRST QUARTER Massillon received to open the game and punted on third down. Holmes immediately launched an aerial attack and after his first pass had failed, tossed to Ritterspaugh and Kaufman for gains of seven and 15 yards. Canton then shifted to line plays and end runs and worked the ball to Massillon’s 34-yard line where the orange and black held for downs and took possession of the leather.
Then followed an exchange of punts, before Hodnick went through the line for eight yards before being tackled by McConnell. SECOND QUARTER A 25-yard return by Holmes of McConnell’s punt gave Canton the ball on Massillon’s 45-yard line early in the second quarter. After three plays had failed Holmes skirted right end for 11 yards and a first down before being chased out of bounds by Fulton. This put the ball on Massillon’s 32-yard line. Holmes was hurt but continued in the game. Hodnick hit the line for three and Holmes then passed to Hodnick for eight.
This gave Canton a first down with the ball on the 19-yard line. Kaufman was stopped without gain but Taubensee and Hodnick made seven in two plunges. On fourth down Holmes passed to Hodnick but the Canton receiver caught the ball out of bounds and it went to Massillon on its 13-yard line. McConnell punted out of danger but Massillon was penalized 15 yards for holding and the ball was back on Massillon’s 22-yard line.
The orange and black, however was equal to the occasion and held the red and black getting the ball on its 15-yard line. McConnell again punted and Holmes brought the ball back to Massillon’s 35-yard line. Four plunges gave Canton a first down. Only a few seconds of play remained in the second quarter and Kaufman dropped back to the 32-yard line for a field goal but his kick was short. THIRD QUARTER Canton received at the start of the third quarter but after Goss had been tossed for a four-yard loss Holmes punted to midfield. Then McConnell ripped through Canton’s left tackle for 28 yards taking the ball to the Canton 22-yard line. Three attempts to gain netted only four yards and McConnell attempted a drop kick from the 30-yard line. The pass was low and his kick was blocked by Ritterspaugh who was downed on his 35-yard line.
Canton failed to gain and Holmes dropped back to punt. But his kick never got across the line of scrimmage. Big Sam Benson breezed through the line and threw himself in front of Holmes, blocking the punt. The ball rolled back toward the Canton goal line and McConnell fell on it on Canton’s 22-yard line. After two attempts at the line had failed McConnell passed to Price for five yards. He then attempted a pass to Smith but the ball was grounded and Canton took it on its 15-yard line.
Holmes dropped back for another punt but this time Fox crashed through and blocked the kick and Gump dropped on the ball on Canton’s four-yard line. Canton’s regulars were coming back into the game as fast as Coach Peabody could send them in.
That blocked kick gave Massillon its best chance to score. McConnell failed to gain at right tackle. Laughlin made two yards at the line.
Smith made yard, taking the ball to the one-yard line but on the next play McConnell failed to get through the line and Canton got the ball on its three-yard line. Holmes then punted from behind his goal line to Smith who was downed on Canton’s 37-yard line.
Holmes then intercepted McConnell’s pass and ran it back to Massillon’s 43-yard line. Holmes passed to Hodnick for 20 yards, putting the ball on Massillon’s 29-yard line but on the next play Hodnick fumbled and Fulton covered on his 23-yard line. FOURTH QUARTER A 25 yard penalty in Canton territory at the start of the fourth quarter put the ball on Canton’s 11-yard line. After several exchanges of punts Massillon got a break when Holmes punted out of bounds on his 19-yard line. Laughlin and Price made five in two plunges and McConnell dropped back to the 25-yard line for another shot at the Canton goal posts. The pass, however, was low and McConnell ran around Canton’s right end to the 12-yard line before being pushed out of bounds.
On the next play he tried another drop kick from the 22-yard line but the ball went wide and Canton put it in play on its 20-yard line.
Canton then began a determined march up the field and made two first downs before Massillon held and took possession of the oval in midfield as the game ended. A Good Finish Massillon – 0 Pos. Canton – 0 Gump LE Ritterspaugh Fox LT L. Miller Spencer LG Spence Benson C Ballard Mauger RG Carnahan Ott RT Esmont Fulton RE Sheets McConnell QB Holmes C. Smith LHB Clark W. Price RHB Hodnick Laughlin FB Kaufman
Substitutions: Massillon – D. Smith for Mauger, Easterday for Spencer.
Canton – Taubensee for Clark, Samuels for Spence, D. Miller for Carnahan, Goss for Taubensee, Brinson for Kaufman, Wilgus for Hodnick, Taubensee for Goss, Kaufman for Brinson, Hodnick for Wilgus, Carnahan for D. Miller, Clark for Taubensee, Jurevoki for Ritterspaugh.
WARREN IS DEFEATED 6 TO 0 IN LOOSELY PLAYED GAME FUMBLES PROVE COSTLY; SCORE IN 4th QUARTER
A GALLANT little band of red and white grid warriors from Warren was unable to stand up under the terrific onslaught of the orange and black of Washington high school and bowed their heads in defeat at the close of 50 minutes of play on Massillon Field Saturday afternoon in a loosely played contest.
The score was 6 to 0 in favor of the orange and black. Had it not been for unfortunate fumbles and penalties when points were in sight, the local team would have piled up a much larger score.
There was no comparison between the two teams in strength, but the orange and black proved to be the better fumblers and thus the score was small. Fans on the bleachers became rather impatient when time after time the Massillon machine would make a long march of 40 or 60 yards towards the Warren goal and then pull a freakish stunt by fumbling when victory was in sight. If such is the case next Saturday when McKinley high of Canton plays here – well, make your own guess.
When it came to offense Saturday afternoon, the local team had two taps on the Warren gridders. Twenty first downs were piled up by the Massillonians, a greater amount than has been registered in any game this season, and yet the score was only 6 to 0. True the locals had a half dozen other chances to score, but each opportunity was passed up with a miss-play, and the orange and black came near to holding themselves to a scoreless tie. As it was, Warren only had the pigskin once in Massillon territory, and it came out of there so fast the Trumbull county gridders are still trying to catch it.
Warren was jubilant when it looked as if it were going to have an opportunity to score with a first down on Massillon’s 16-yard line, the ball getting there through a severe penalty inflicted upon the youthful Tigers when Matthews couldn’t hold his fists when treated roughly in a scrimmage.
Thornton’s fumble, however, sent the Warren gridders’ only hopes of victory flying away for Foster was right on the job and pounced on the pigskin and after a drive of more than 35 yards, Smith punted the ball over the Warren goal line and the easteners were playing on their own 20-yard line instead of the Massillon 16.
Had Warren a few more Pohto’s the score might have been different. Pohto was the man who continually harassed the local team’s ends, often getting away for long gains. He was the bulwark of the visiting gridders’ offense and his runs counted for most of his team’s first downs. The Warren backfield as a whole worked well together, but with a poor line in front had little opportunity to flash its form and power.
And one reason the Warren backs did not shine so brightly was due to the brilliant and fierce talking of Fox, Massillon left tackle, who was on the bottom of most every play, fighting to win. And Fox’s good playing was a result of the fighting spirit he showed during the entire afternoon. He was out to make Massillon win and gave every ounce of his strength to do so. Another player appeared endowed with that same pepper, especially during the last period when the time was speeding towards the close of the game. He was “Danger” Smith, guilty of fumbling in the earlier quarters, but out to give all to make up for his misplay. “Danger” played his best game of the year Saturday and showed some real offensive strength when he tore up the Warren line with his light body, and carried the pigskin across the goal when but four and three-quarters minutes remained.
What the orange and black needs next Saturday if it is going to defeat Canton McKinley, is 50 minutes of the same kind of fight it displayed in the last 10 minutes Saturday. If every player on the team gives his all during the entire game next Saturday as he did during the last 10 minutes when Warren was being rushed off its feet, the orange and black may win but if such is not the case, the local gridders are likely to be on the short end of the score with their Canton rivals for the second consecutive year.
The game Saturday, was rather costly to Massillon. Captain “Bill” Price had to be taken out because of injuries and “Fritz” Gump’s leg was once more put out of commission, probably meaning that he will be unavailable for the Canton game, for Gump’s support is in a pretty bad shape.
The officials were strict Saturday and heavy penalties were inflicted on both teams, Massillon suffering the worst. The local team was set back a total of 86 yards and these penalties came usually at times when big orange and black advances were in progress. Warren was penalized 75 yards.
Two of Massillon’s 20 first downs came as a result of penalties, but to even up matters, the same can be said of Warren, for it was enabled to make the required yardage twice because of assisting penalties. Another way to show some strength of the Massillon drive can be seen from the number of punts each team made. The orange and black punted once in the third period and twice during the last quarter, only three times during the game while Yaunt, Warren fullback, had to boot the ball on 10 different occasions.
Hess showed good form in the backfield when injected into the game late in the first period. He made many substantial gains during the afternoon, being accorded good interference on most of his runs.
“Whitey” Laughlin returned to the game amidst a burst of cheers from the Massillon stands. “Whitey” has been absent from the orange and black lineup since the Akron South game, but is now ready to play again. His interference aided in many of the local’s gains and he should be in tip top form by next Saturday.
The local team had an opportunity to score in the first five minutes of play, but with the ball on the Warren 18-yard line, Price fumbled on the third down but recovered, losing four yards and a pass, Smith to Foster, gained eight yards, and Warren took the ball from the locals on its own 14-yard line. The same kind of a story goes for the remainder of the game up to the close of the third period when Warren made a spasmodic flash and aided by a penalty threatened the Massillon goal.
As usual, a Massillon march was halted with a fumble Warren recovering on its 40-yard line. Pohto cut loose around end for 10 yards and a first down. A buck by Thornton gained three yards and Pohto then passed to De Santis for 12 yards and a first down on the orange and black’s 32-yard line. On the next play, Matthews was ejected from the game for slugging and the orange and black were penalized half the distance to the goal line, giving Warren the ball on the locals’ 16-yard line. Pohto put the Massillonians in a little easier spirits when he was tossed for a loss of 16 yards on a trick double, pass. A pass, Kempke to Thornton, gained eight yards, but Thornton fumbled on the next play and Foster jumped on the ball.
A blocked punt late in the fourth quarter put the local team in a position to score, getting the pigskin on the 25-yard line. Smith rammed through the Warren line for three yards, and Laughlin cut loose around right end for seven more and a first down on the 15-yard line. Smith hit the center of the line for a gain of four yards and Foster made three more. Smith then carried the ball to the five-yard line and the orange and black had four chances to push the pigskin over. Smith hit the center of the line for four yards, and on the next play carried it over, for the only points of the game. Foster missed his attempted dropkick.
The orange and black tried seven passes and completed three for a total of 27 yards. One was intercepted and three incomplete. Warren tried 11 passes, completing three for a total of 26 yards. Six were incomplete and two intercepted. CANTON NEXT Warren – 0 Pos. Massillon – 6 Estabrook LE Fulton Gardner LT Fox Santis LG Mauger Lisby C Potts Mountain RG Spencer Allen RT Ott Kempke RE Gump De Santis QB Hax Geissman LH Smith Pohto RH Foster Yount FB Price
Substitutions: Warren – Bevan for Geissman, Corsetea for Gardner, Daheringer for Bevan, Harris for Corsetea, Thornton for Daheringer.
Massillon – Hess for Hax, Briggs for Foster, D. Smith for Mauger, Davenport for Fulton, Benson for Potts, Easterday for Spencer, Laughlin for Briggs, Fulton for Davenport, Foster for Price, Matthews for Gump, Ressler for Matthews, Bast for Foster, Henderson for Fox.
WASHINGTON HIGH HELD TO 6 TO 6 SCORE BY NEW PHILADELPHIA FAST TUSCARAWAS COUNTY GRIDDERS SPRING SURPRISE
STACKING up against the gamest little fighting machine developed at New Philadelphia high school in years Washington high of Massillon last Saturday afternoon was held to a 6 to 6 score by the Tuscarawas county warriors in the annual rumpus between the schools, staged at Tuscora Park, New Philadelphia, before a crowd that jammed the field and about half of which was made up of orange and black rooters. And Massillon was rather fortunate in being able to limp off the gridiron with a tie score rather than a defeat chalked against it.
For New Philadelphia that tie score last Saturday was a moral victory. Of course moral victories don’t mean a thing when the won and lost column is totaled up at the end of a campaign but just the same the fact that the little red and black aggregation of scrappy warriors down in New Philadelphia was able to hold the Massillon outfit to a 6 to 6 score puts quite a feather in the collective caps of the Tuscarawas county lads.
For Massillon the game resulted in nothing but a tie score in which defeat was staved off by a touchdown in the fourth quarter that resulted from a beautifully executed forward pass. But there is a little credit, if any, due Massillon because it succeeded in holding New Philadelphia to a tie score. For most of the combat Massillon played just ordinary football. At times it played absolutely poor football. At others it played the kind of a game it is capable of putting up and when it played that kind of football New Philadelphia was not so formidable.
But those flashes of good football were almost entirely missing until the fourth quarter when with defeat staring them in the face the local lads got down to business and began to make things interesting. The brand of football the orange and black showed Saturday will never defeat Canton McKinley and that game in now less than two weeks away. In fact it will be hardly good enough to defeat Warren high which is due to pay Massillon a visit next Saturday. NOT ENOUGH FIGHT What Massillon lacked most Saturday was that old fighting spirit. Captain Bill Price had it but he always has it. Art McConnell also had it and so did Courtney “Danger” Smith but they couldn’t supply enough to put over a victory.
Massillon’s judgment on plays often was quite bad. It had practically no interference for the man attempting to lug the ball through the New Philadelphia team for gains and it couldn’t keep out the Tuscarawas county forwards who smashed through the line and swarmed over the ball carriers like bees.
Defensively Massillon was strong enough to stop most anything New Philadelphia tried except some of its forward passes. Offensively it showed nothing to enthuse over except one 36 yard dash by Bill Price on a smash through tackle and a 19 yard forward pass which resulted in the touchdown.
New Philadelphia had fighting spirit galore. Out weighed considerably by the local team the little Tuscarawas county lads made up that disadvantage by fighting so savagely that they smeared Massillon hard and repeatedly. True the New Philadelphia boys sometimes let their spirit get the best of them and on a few occasions they played a bit rough, but they were in there fighting to win a football game and their great exhibition of pluck staved off what most everybody thought would be a defeat. DEAN IS SOME BOY In a battle such as the one last Saturday there is generally a lad who rises to the heights of stardom by his brilliant playing. New Philadelphia had that boy in Dean Smith, slender black haired end who was an entire football team in himself. But for Dean Smith New Philadelphia probably would have been socked and socked hard but Dean was the boy in a pinch and how he delivered.
Weighing less than 150 pounds this slender wingman time after time dashed by the Massillon interference as if it was not there – and generally it wasn’t – and rushed in to tackle the Massillon back before he could get out of his tracks. Smith might have been muzzled if he had been played right but a man is never out of play unless some force is sent against him and Massillon didn’t have it.
But it was not alone on defense that Smith stared. It was his nerve and educated toe that gave New Philadelphia its tie score – its moral victory over Massillon. Twice this slender stripling drop kicked goals, one in the third quarter to score the first points of the game and again in the fourth quarter to knot the count at six all, after Massillon had registered its touchdown. His first kick was from the 36-yard line. His second was from the 23-yard stripe.
His first effort sailed over the bar with room to spare. His second was a close shave. It was one of those lazy, floating kind that kept the crowd in anxious suspense as the ball sailed slowly and serenely toward the Massillon goal posts to fall over the bar with a scant few inches to spare. But it was enough to bring three points to New Philadelphia.
But still that was not all Dean Smith did for New Philadelphia Saturday. He did all his team’s punting and did a good job of it. Then he hurled passes when called upon and caught others when his signal to scamper down the field for a pass was barked out by the New Philadelphia quarterback. They think quite a lot of that boy in the Tuscarawas county capital and they have a right to. He’s one mighty sweet football player. And Massillon gives him all the credit due him. A SECOND GUESS It looked as if Massillon played the wrong kind of a game against New Philadelphia. Instead of hammering the line and wearing down the Tuscarawas county forward wall, which was none too strong to stand a stiff battering and had a few capable reserves to rush into a breach, Massillon went in for the forward passing and end running game and was neatly turned back because Smith and Shafer, the other end, and the downstate team’s secondary defense were mighty hard to handle.
The type of game Massillon tried to play was far more exacting on the Massillon backfield than it was on the New Philadelphia team. Had the Tuscarawas county line been subjected to a stiff hammering, it might have crumbled.
As it was Massillon was robbed of a touchdown in the last quarter through an illegal pass and that lost touchdown meant the difference between a victory and a tie score.
Outside of the fourth quarter when the New Philadelphia boys were on the run Massillon’s best chance to score came within five minutes after the game had started. LOSE A GOOD CHANCE The local team received, failed to make its yardage and Price booted a long punt to Neff who was flopped on his three-yard line. Massillon drew a five-yard penalty for offside but Bill Price cut around right end for 14 yards. Briggs made it first down. New Philadelphia then took a five-yard penalty for offside and Briggs made it another first down on two smashes.
The ball was on New Philadelphia’s 12-yard line. But then Dean Smith began to play. Three times he tackled Bill Price and Bill could gain but one yard. Then Hax tried a field goal from the 28-yard line and it was short. The downstaters then punted out of danger.
Massillon started with McConnell, Fulton and Gump out of the game because of injuries but before very long, McConnell was hustling into the fray. Fulton came in a short time later and Gump went on the battlefront in the fourth quarter.
After losing that chance to score Massillon did not have another good chance during the remainder of the half. Neither did New Philadelphia and the half ended with the battle standing a scoreless draw.
But New Philadelphia was fighting gamely and its great defensive play smashed most of Massillon’s attempts to gain before they got a good start. THE FIRST POINTS Early in the third quarter after an exchange of punts New Philadelphia secured the ball on Massillon’s 41-yard line. K. Mathias hit the line for five and Winspear made it a first down. Neff sneaked through for five and Massillon held.
Then Dean Smith dropped back to his 36-yard line and drop kicked the first of his two field goals, giving New Philadelphia the first points of the game.
A few moments later after Price had been flopped for a 15-yard loss when a triple pass fizzled, Massillon began its best offensive march of the day. Getting the ball on the 40-yard line through a punt Massillon began playing. McConnell sped off six yards through left tackle. Foster hit the same hole for five and a first down. Then Bill Price went through right tackle like a bullet and dashed down the field 36 yards before being downed. The ball was on New Philadelphia’s 17-yard line. McConnell lugged it to the 12-yard line as the quarter ended.
On the first play in the second quarter Price tore through for four but Massillon was penalized for being offside. Then Price fumbled. Fox planted his frame on the 20-yard line. McConnell made one at the line and then came the big play of the day from a Massillon standpoint. Taking the ball from Benson, McConnell ran nearly across the field looking for a teammate in the open. A REAL PLAY Finally he saw Courtney Smith “Danger” they call him, way down the field. Art shot the ball, through the air. Smith leaped up grabbed it in his hands and shot across the goal line for Massillon’s only touchdown as a swarm of New Philadelphia tacklers crashed into him. McConnell, however, was not able to produce the extra point, a point by the way which would have meant victory. His drop kick smashed into one of the uprights and the score stood 6 to 3.
But New Philadelphia was not defeated. It still had a few tricks up its sleeve. It opened up a deadly aerial game a few moments later after W. Mathias had intercepted a Massillon pass but then the downstaters had to punt. Massillon returned the kick and again Winspear opened up. He flipped on pass to Smith for 36 yards. Then he tossed to Shafer for 15 and the ball was on Massillon’s 12-yard line. DEAN AGAIN But here Massillon stopped the advance and Dean Smith dropped back to his 23-yard line to hoof over the field goal that tied the score.
Shortly after McConnell passed to Price and Matthews for sufficient yardage to take the ball deep into New Philadelphia territory. Then he heaved a pass to Fulton . The Massillon end took the ball over his right shoulder but with a clear field ahead slipped. The ball went out of his hands and into the waiting arms of Courtney Smith who dashed across the goal line. It looked like a touchdown but here the officials stepped in and ruled that Fulton had made an illegal pass to Smith and the score did not count. It was a tough one to lose. The Massillon players and Coach Atkinson argued forcibly that the play was O.K. but the officials couldn’t be convinced and their decision stood. The game ended shortly after with Massillon in possession of the ball in midfield. The Smith Boys Massillon – 6 Pos. New Philadelphia – 6 Matthews LE Dean Smith Fox LT W. Smith Spencer LG Hensel Benson C Thomas Dave Smith RG H. Mathias R. Price RT Westhafer Ressler RE Shafer Hax QB Mizer C. Smith LHB K. Mathias Briggs RHB Neff W. Price FB Winspear
Score by quarters: Massillon 0 0 0 6 6 New Philadelphia 0 0 3 3 6
Substitutions: Massillon – McConnell for Hax, Straughn for R. Price, Fulton for Ressler, Mauger for D. Smith, Foster for Briggs, Ott for Straughn, Gump for Matthews.
New Philadelphia – Given for Hensel, Hensel for Given, Maloney for Neff, Jones for Maloney.
Game Statistics First downs: Massillon 10 New Philadelphia 5
Massillon completed nine passes out of 17 attempts; seven were incomplete; and one intercepted. Total gain 55 yards. New Philadelphia completed five passes out of 12 attempts for a total of 90 yards. Seven were incomplete.
Massillon was penalized 30 yards. New Philadelphia 15 yards.
Massillon punted 12 times, averaging 41y yards on each kick. New Philadelphia punted 14 times, averaging 39y yards to the kick.
Massillon gained 136 yards from scrimmage and lost 51 yards. Captain Price alone made 78 of his team’s 136 yards. New Philadelphia gained but 32 yards from scrimmage and lost 13 yards from scrimmage.
Massillon carried the ball 41 times gaining three and one-third yards each time. New Philadelphia toted it 17 times, gaining 1 4/5 yards on each attempt.
All told the orange and black, by passes and running, carried the ball from scrimmage a total of 191 yards. While New Philadelphia, in the same manner, gained 122 yards.
