Category: <span>History</span>

1904: Massillon 0 Canton Central 18

MASSILLON BOYS ARE DEFEATED
Lost to Canton by Score of 18 to 0
CANTON PLAYED TWO ELEVENS
As Soon as a Player Became Tired or was Injured
a Fresh Man was Substituted
Massillon Team Praised for its Fine Work

Friday afternoon, at Mahaffey park, Massillon again met defeat at the hands of Canton High.  The contest was a fine one, the home boys putting up a superb game, making many beautiful tackles and substantial gains.  This being Canton’s opening game, practically the entire squad was tried out, thus constantly putting in fresh men while the same Massillon eleven finished that entered the game.  Canton seemed to regard it as a special favor to Massillon to give them new players.  The score stood 18 to 0 at the end of the game, every touchdown being made in the first half.  In the last half Massillon held Canton down in great shape.  The game was called at 3:30 and was witnessed by a large crowd.

Canton kicked off to Massillon, McFarren receiving the ball and advancing it about fifteen yards, being downed near the thirty-five yard line.  Massillon failed to make the required gains and lost the ball.  Canton, hitting the line hard and making some good end runs, steadily advanced near the goal.  Knox, the left half for Canton, made the first touchdown after about ten minutes of play, Myers kicking goal.  On the next kick off Burkhart received the ball and reached the forty yard line.  Here there were some fierce scrimmages, Massillon losing the ball to Canton on downs.  Vleit, the opposing fullback, plowed through  the line and several end runs brought Canton to the twenty yard line.  Here Holl, Canton’s right half, managed to get through the line and shook McFarren off.  Kirchhofer made a flying tackle but failed to stop the man with the ball who scored the second touchdown of the game, Myers again kicking goal, the score now standing 12 to 0.  Albright secured the ball on the next kick off and was downed by Myers after a twenty yard run.  The home boys now tried line bucks making fine gains for a short time, but again lost the ball on downs.  Canton was held now and was penalized for an offside play, losing the ball.  Massillon tried hard but lost the ball on a fumble, but held the Cantons for downs, thus regaining the ball.  It was soon lost again, near their own goal, and Canton again went through the line, Holl making the third and last touchdown of the game.  Myers kicked goal.  Benedict, the home fullback, caught the ball on the kick off and made a good run.  Massillon now hit the ends hard and made fine and steady gains when time for the first half was called.  A number of the Canton players were laid out in this half, fresh men being substituted.  At the end of the half the teams again lined up, Albright securing the ball. After a few scrimmages Wener, the Canton right guard, went out of the game with an injured knee, Oner taking his place.  Canton took the ball and made a long run, McFarren finally tackling.  Massillon secured the ball on a fumble and steadily forged their way up the field the “backs over” formation going through in great style, but the ball was lost on a fumble.  Canton was now penalized for a trick that was noticeable throughout the game, the quarterback running with the ball, but failing to go the required five yards from where the ball was put in play when the man who should properly have taken the ball failed to get into place in time.  On the next down “Sugar” Gibson, Canton’s center, who seemed to have a knack of getting into trouble, was laid out for some time with a kick in the “wind.”  Canton was now held for downs, Massillon going rapidly through Canton’s line and around ends, but in turn lost on downs.  Canton tried end runs but these were spoiled by Smith and the star fullback, Benedict.  Canton lost the ball on a fumble and it was secured by Tucker who made a small gain when time was called, not a single touchdown having been made in the last half.

The lineup was as follows:
Canton                                  Pos.                              Massillon
Gould, Griflin                         L.E.                                    Smith
Dannemiller, Schaffer             L.T.                                    Jones
Hershey, Barnhart                 L.G.                                  Kaylor
Gibson                                Center                                Tucker
Wenger, Clark, Oner            R.G.                             Ratchford
Clark, Meyers                       R.E.                            Kirchhofer
Hall, Robb                            R.T.                                 Merwin
Brown, Hall                         R.H.B.                             Burkhart
Know                                 L.H.B.                               Albright
Vleit                                      F.B.                               Benedict

Dr. March, the Canton coach, complimented the Massillon players on their game, which was a good clean one.

The usual amount of “hot air” from the Canton bunch was in evidence, though no disputes took place.  Every Massillon player may be proud of the part he took in the game and the work of the backs, Benedict, Albright, McFarren and Burkhart, was most noteworthy.  The way they plowed up the line and formed interference called forth even the plaudits of Canton.  Smith and Kirchhofer broke up Canton’s interference in fine shape while Merwin and Jones were always ready to block Canton’s line bucks.  Kaylor and Ratchford at guard usually opened up holes when called upon and Tucker and “Sugar” Gibson at center battled royally for honors.  For Canton, Vleit, Knox, Myers and Clark played an especially good game.

The field was in poor condition, being laid off only in ten yard lines and two fishing poles and a rope doing service for goal.

The rooting propensities of Canton seem poorly developed, the Massillon crowd, though smaller in size, being able to give them pointers in this in even a losing game.  Professor Collier looked after the Massillon boy’s interests in a thorough manner, this fact being highly appreciated by the Massillon players and students.

The boys, meanwhile, will go through hard practice and on October 22 will try to hold the east end aggregation down in both halves as they did in yesterday’s last half.

1904: Massillon 0 Wooster 5

STORY OF 1st actual game follows this story
Wooster vs. Massillon
(This Game Considered a Scrimmage or Exhibition)

THE FOOTBALL SEASON OPENED
High School is Defeated 15-5 by Rowdies
MANY STARS ARE DEVELOPED

Rowdies Too Heavy for High School Players,
but the Latter Fought a Brave Fight Against Big Odds
H.S. Gives Promise for the Coming Season
Sheehan Shows Good Points

The High School and Rowdy football teams made a march on the Tigers and Reserves Friday and ushered in the 1904 football season with the first practice game in this vicinity.  The High School lads have been practicing for the past week and their formations went off well.  The Rowdies, a team on which were two of last year’s Reserve team, played aggressively, but without team work, the score standing 15-5 in their favor at the end of twenty and fifteen minute halves.

The practice served to show up the strong and weak points of both teams and incidentally unearthed a player, heretofore unthought of, in the person of Sheehan, who played fullback for the picked team during the second half.  Sheehan is a novice at the game.  He weighs about one hundred and sixty pounds, and the way he tore the High School line to pieces on line bucks and broke up interference shows that he will be a valuable addition to the second team squad.  On three occasions he broke up end runs and tackled Albright for losses of from ten to twenty-five yards.

Tim Nolan, another Reserve player, was a star of the game, his end runs, line bucks and tackles assisting his team to win.  Pat Nolan, a younger brother to Tim, played like a little Tiger at end and tackled on numerous occasions for losses.  With more weight young Nolan would be a valuable man to the Reserves.

For the High School Albright made the largest gains on the offense and his defensive work was up to the standard.  B. McFarren ran the team in good shape from the quarterback position.  Smith at left end for the High School made many star tackles on the defensive.  Kirchhofer’s line bucks from the fullback position were surprisingly effective for one so light, and with practice the High School team promises to show well against the average high school teams of the state.  Merwin looks well after the right end, tackling fiercely and stopping end runs effectively.

Nick Myers, captain of the Rowdies, began the game at the fullback position and played a hard game, sustaining a slight injury in one scrimmage which necessitated a change in the lineup, Lipps going to half and Myers to center, where he and Tucker battled royally for honors.  Trotter, at right guard for the Rowdies, gives promise of developing into a valuable man for the Reserves.  Burkle who played the quarterback position for the Rowdies, did some star tackling, on one occasion saving a touchdown after a long run by Albright.  Another player who gives promise for the second team is Buchman, who played left halfback for the Rowdies.

The lineup with scored and summary was:
Rowdies – 15            Pos.        High School – 5
Lipps, Myers           Center                    Tucker
Hammer                    R.G.                 Ratchford
Trotter                      R.T.                     Pierson
Nolan                        R.E.                     Merwin
Slicker                      L.G.                 G. Kaylor
Fricker                      L.E.                        Smith
Meinhart                   L.T.                        Jones
Burkle                      Q.B.                 McFarren
N. Myers
Sheehan                    F.B.                Kirchhofer
Buchman, Nolan       L.H.                     Albright
List                           R.H.                   Burkhart

Referee – Stewart.

Time of halves – 20 and 15 minutes.

Score,
first half – 5 to 5;
final score – 15 to 5 in favor of Rowdies.

WOOSTER vs.
MASSILLON HIGH

This afternoon the Massillon High School and Wooster High School football teams open the season in Massillon.  The new park grounds have been laid off in good shape by Manager Charles Breiter and the crowd of spectators will probably see a good game, unless the visitors come loaded with foreign talent.

The Massillon High vs. Wooster High School game Wednesday showed that the locals have some strong material for the season in spite of the handicap which they have to work against when pitted against such husky opponents as was their lot Wednesday.  Wooster’s beef and brawn proved too much for the locals at times during the game.  The score should have been 0-0, however, as the touchdown made by Wooster was a fluke pure and simple, a Wooster man making a thirty-five yard run for a touchdown on a fumble.

1903: Massillon 0 Canton Central 8

CANTON H.S. – 8,
MASSILLON – 0.
High School Football Team Beaten

OUTWEIGHED BY MANY POUNDS

Showing of the Massillon Team Was Fine Considering Handicap Which They Were Forced to Give in Weight
A Touchdown, Goal and Safety Responsible for the Score

Although defeated by the Canton high school by the score of 8-0 in the game at Meyer’s Lake Friday afternoon the Massillon high school football team has every reason to feel proud of the showing made, in view of the great disparagement in the average weight of the two teams.  After having held the heavy Cantonians to a 5-0 score on the Massillon high school grounds last Friday, the local students were inclined to feel that with more coaching and practice they would defeat their heavier opponents in the second game.  It was impossible, however, for the lighter linemen of this city to push aside the heavy guards, center, tackles and ends of the Canton team for any substantial gains.  On the other hand Canton was forced to abandon the end running game and resort to line bucking where their weight soon told on the light Massillon forwards and a touchdown was made, not, however, until after a stubborn resistance of every inch of territory on the part of Massillon’s plucky team.  The touchdown was followed by a goal.  Previously, the Canton team had carried the ball almost to the goal line of the Massillon players, where they were held and the ball went to Massillon.  On a few attempted line plunges the locals were unable to score and were forced back for a safety, probably the first instance of the kind in this vicinity for several years.  A safety counts two points for the opposing team, and this with the touchdown and goal made the score 8-0, all in the first half, no scoring being done in the second half.

For Massillon Wert, Albright, Myers and Smith played the star game and were ably supported by the entire team.  For Canton, there was no particular stars, the entire team playing steady, consistent football.  No great variety of plays were tried, the Canton team contenting itself with line plunges, principally the “tackles over” formation, which was a good ground gainer.  For Massillon, the quarterback tricks, end runs and line plunges were but partially successful.  Wert and Kirchhofer ran the team in good shape at quarterback and easily out-generaled the captain of the other team, whose judgment was somewhat poor at critical times in the selection of plays.  For the Massillon high school Smith, who has been playing left tackle, showed promise of developing into one of the most valuable men on the team.  He was in every play, and showed that quality of “nerve” which is required in a successful football player.

Captain Albright, of the local team was also a star in many of the plays.  It was his tackle in the first half which prevented another touchdown, after Canton’s right half had circled the end for a forty yard run, and was almost over the line.  In line plunging Albright was at his best; although he is still inclined to hit the line a little high, his form was otherwise good.

For Canton, Captain Buckwalter, at quarter, ran his team in good shape, but was guilty of considerable fumbling at critical times.  It is this feature which in all probability saved the locals from a higher score.  The visitors had weight enough on the line to run up a much higher score under favorable circumstances, but lacked the spirit which characterized the play of the Massillon boys.

Line-up:

CANTON                      Pos.                MASSILLON
Lowman                          L.E.                              Smith
Marsh                             L.T.                          Limbach
Winger                            L.G.                             Stoner
Gibson                              C                              Tucker
Brambaugh                     R.G.                         Hollinger
Holl                                 R.T.                         Burkhart
Williams and                    R.E.                               Wert
Lowenstein
Buckwalter (capt.)          Q.B.                      Kirchhofer
Gould                             R.H.                            Kaylor
Kennedy                         L.H.                         Schnierle
Robb                              F.B.                Albright (capt.)

Officials:
Canton – Unfair.
Massillon – Markel; Willenborg; and Harrison.

NOTES OF THE GAME

In the last half it took the combined efforts of Chief Ertle and Officers Wittmann and Wissmar to keep the crowd back.

When Wert broke through the crowd in the last half it looked good for a touchdown, but he stumbled over the feet of Buckwalter, whom he had “stiff armed,” and fell.

Benny Gans, who was on the grounds ready to line up with the high school team, was barred by the vigorous kicking of Captain Buckwalter on the grounds that he was not a bona fide student of the school.

With Gans at the other end of the line to Wert, the Canton team would never have had a ghost of a show to score on ends runs.

About four hundred people witnessed the contest and evinced the utmost excitement at times.  The principal “rooters” were the girls from Massillon and Canton high schools, who formed into “rooters” bands with horns and made considerable noise.

1903: Massillon 0 Canton Central 5

September 24, 1903

The Massillon high school football players are beginning to organize and expect to turn out a strong team this season.  According to the Canton schedule, published in the Canton papers some days ago, the first game of the season will be played against the Massillon team at Canton.  If this is correct it would behoove the local high school stars to begin their work at once.

September 29, 1903

The Massillon high school football team held practice Monday evening on the high school grounds in anticipation of the game Friday afternoon against the Canton high school team, in Massillon.  Placards advertising the coming game have been placed in conspicuous places about town and the management expects a large attendance.  The local team is putting in some hard work at practice and expects to make a good showing.

CANTON WON
BY SMALL SCORE
Massillon High School Team Defeated 5-0

LOCAL TEAM WAS OUTWEIGHED

The Cantons Averaged
Twenty Pounds More Per Man Than the Local line
Wert and Albright the Stars for the Locals
Benny Gans Ruled Out as Ineligible

Although outweighed almost twenty pounds to the man, the Massillon high school football team succeeded in holding the strong Canton high school team down to a single touchdown in thirty-five minutes of play on the high school grounds Friday.  This, too, was made after Massillon had been given the opportunity to boot the ball out of danger and only a short time before the first half was over.

In the second half, the Massillon team not only did the greater part of the work, but almost scored a touchdown within the last few seconds of play, on a beautiful fifty yard run by Wert, who was playing left end for the high school boys.  Wert was easily the star of the game.  His tackling and running with the ball were the best.  At times when a few yards were needed on the last down, Wert could be depended upon to make the required distance.

1903: Massillon 0 Akron 26

AKRON HIGH WON Massillon High School Defeated by Score of 26 – 0

The Massillon high school, strengthened by the presence of Gans, of Navarre, Harrison and Myers, were snowed under by the heavy Akron high school football team, Saturday afternoon, on the high school grounds by the score of 26 to 0.

The locals lacked the weight and practice which aided the visitors to pile up such a large score. At times the locals would take a brace and march towards their opponents’ goal line, only to be held at critical periods and prevented from scoring. Myers, Albright and Gans played the game for the locals.

Line-up:

Massillon Positions Akron Tucker C. Fuchs Hollinger R.G. Wynn Stoner L.G. Clause Burkhart R.T. Zeisloft Kaylor L.T. Fuedner Smith R.E. Mars Gans L.E. Kirk Schnierle R.H. Albrecht Myers L.H. Williams Albright F.B. H. Fuedner Harrison Q.B. Gregory (Cap.)