Call it “Tiger Pride,” “Obie Spirit” or whatever you want to call it, but the season’s largest crowd of 18,848 fans Friday night at Tiger stadium saw in the fourth quarter why the Washington high football team is No.1 in three Class AAA state polls.
Program Cover
At that point hanging up a sixth consecutive victory against no defeats against a Steubenville team also hitherto unbeaten in five games, became incidental to the Tiger faithful. The 12-0 final score meant nothing. It was a goal line stand like hasn’t been seen in a long time here that made the fans of both sides stand up and take notice. * * * UNDER COACH Bob Commings the Orange and Black has become noted for its defense and they wanted to make sure that shutout No. 17 was theirs. Center Todd Cocklin, who has been doing a fine job of snapping the ball to Kevin Westover for punts, had one get away from him. It sprouted wings from the Steubenville 40 and ended up on the Massillon 24 with 3:16 left.
Strong safety Don Muhlback and ends Dari Edwards and Brian Bash tossed quarterback Ira Jarvis back to the 32. On the next play he tossed a safety valve aerial to halfback Joe Davis who ran from the 35 to the nine.
Four plays later on fourth down on the one, Davis tried to go through the center but the Tigers rose up like one of those giant waves at Waikiki and completely engulfed the Big Red Senior, halting him on the one-inch line shortly before the game ended.
“That was a great effort – no doubt about it,” said Coach Bob Commings. “The defensive effort the whole game was just fabulous.”
Spearheading the stinginess were Bash and middle guard Tom Balizet in what could be called a “Double-B Blitzkreig.” Those two were as pesky as mosquitoes, but so was the entire defense with crunching tackles and lightning like secondary moves.
The Big Red completed only two of 14 skyway attempts and got only 60 net yards on the ground, losing 44. Tailback Courtney Snyder, second leading All-American conference ground gainer, was held to 32 yards in 11 attempts. * * * STEUBENVILLE GOT out of its own territory only once in each half. The other time came in the second quarter after the Tigers had been backed up on their eight on fourth down and Westover, punting from the end zone, reached the Tigers’ 41. Jarvis found Snyder on the 21 on the next play but four plays later free safety Tom Hannon threw Snyder for a fourth down two-yard loss to the 15.
The Steubers threw in some good defense too, holding the Tigers to their lowest total yardage this year – 191 – including 58 lost rushing for a net 139 and covered pass receivers well enough that only three of eight were successful. End Bruce Fletcher was a particularly thorny one as was linebacker Bob Snyder.
Hannon as his usual self. “Tomboy” amassed 138 net yards in 27 carries, making the fifth game in six that he has gone over the century mark, attesting to why he is the AAC’s leading ground gainer.
He scored both of the Tigers’ touchdowns, which came in the first quarter – a period in which the Obiemen have scored only twice before this year – and it appeared the jinx had been broken. But once again that invisible curtain was dropped and the Tigers failed to score that hard-to-find third touchdown for the fifth time.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards in seven plays with Hannon providing a 12-yard runback and five other carries including runs of 18, 13, 10 and 15 yards – the last for the score with 9:10 left – on his favorite power pitch scamper around right end. Westover barely missed running the conversion over.
The Tigers moved 55 yards after a punt in 13 plays – with Hannon scoring on fourth down from the three on the right end power pitch with 53 seconds left. Westover tried to hit Terry Edwards for the two extra points but Davis batted the ball away.
A 29-yard pass-run from Westover to Terry Edwards was the drive highlight.
The Orange and Black went on the prowl again after a punt from the Steubenville 44 after a second quarter punt with the help of a 19-yard Westover to Dari Edwards pass-run and a 15-yard run by Hannon after a 32-yard run up the middle by fullback Alex Wood had been nullified by a holding penalty. But two broken plays cropped up at the 19, killing the effort.
The Big Red allowed the Tigers no more than their 25 in the remainder of the second quarter.
The WHSers took over at their 49 following a third quarter punt and face mask penalty and moved to the Steubenville three in 14 plays with Hannon carrying seven times, again making the power pitch count. * * * WITH FOURTH and two on the three, the pitch went to Hannon again. This time he tried to hit Terry Edwards in the end zone but found him well covered and was not able to get the ball to him.
“We beat an undefeated team and beat them good,” Commings said, “We said Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, that it was going to be a barn burner and it was.”
A very dejected Abe Bryan, Steubenville head coach, who has failed to beat Massillon in nine tries and who has been shut out by them four consecutive years, handed the Tiger defense its just applause.
“They have an excellent on,” he said. ‘They rose to the occasion. We had no consistency on the big downs. We started behind again as we have in four of our first five games. We were not able to overcome this. We were out hit and out coached. Our kids didn’t quit. They haven’t quit all year.”
STEUBENVILLE – 0 Ends – Fletcher, Hill, Mavromatics, Price. Tackles – Kalifut, B. Jarvis, Strake, Sandonas. Guards – Dorsey, Fahey, Quattrone. Centers – Long, Sarap. Quarterbacks – I. Jarvis, Nicholson. Halfbacks – C. Snyder, Spencer, Davis, Medley. Fullbacks – B. Snyder, Alfred.
MASSILLON – 13 Ends – Bash, D. Edwards, McCauley, Sullivan, Bodiford. Tackles – Geiser, Green, Csonka. Guards – Mayles, Guiffre, Keller, Graber. Center – Cocklin. Quarterback – Westover. Halfbacks – Hannon, T. Edwards, Dennis Gutshall. Fullback – A. Wood. Middle Guards – Balizet, G. Wood. Linebackers – Charles Danzy, T. Gutshall. Defensive Backs – Jackson, Swann, Dan Gutshall, Muhlbach, Mayor.
MASSILLON 12 0 0 0 12 STUEBENVILLE 0 0 0 0 0
SCORING SUMMARY M – Hannon, 15 run (run failed); M – Hannon, 3 run (run failed).
OFFICIALS Referee – Milo Lukity. Umpire – Dr. Henley Freeman. Head Linesman – Charles Hinkle. Field Judge – Hugh Davis. Back Judge – Tim Murray.
THE GRIDSTICK M S First downs, rushing 9 5 First downs, passing 2 1 First downs, penalties 1 0 Total first downs 12 6 Yards gained rushing 197 104 Yards lost rushing 58 44 Net yards gained rushing 139 60 Net yards gained passing 52 43 Total yards gained 191 103 Passes completed 3-8 2-14 Kickoff average (yards) 3-40.3 1-47.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 22 28 Punt average (yds.) 3-38.0 6-35.8 Punt returns (yds.) 23 13 Fumbles (lost) 1(0) 0 Yards penalized 2-22 2-30 Touchdowns rushing 2 0 Total number of plays 61 52
Our Tigers would prefer it like zipping along in a schooner in front of a brisk breeze instead of like walking through a freshly plowed field in gum boots, but it seems like the Washington high team’s victories are meant to come the hard way.
Program Cover
THE OBIEMEN battled a very hard-hitting Cincinnati LaSalle team before a Homecoming crowd of 10,675 Friday night at rainy Tiger stadium for a 14-6 Homecoming victory. It was their fifth win of the season without defeat while Cincinnati LaSalle lost its first in five outings.
The problem is that the Tigers can’t get their passing attack going to give the ground game some relief. Senior halfback Tom Hannon missed 100 yards for the first time this season but netted 98 in 17 carries.
The offense netted 211 yards with fine backup support from senior fullback Alex Wood and senior right half Terry Edwards. The defense held LaSalle to minus two yards on the ground to continue its sensational pace, but Tiger receivers just couldn’t hang onto the ball.
Senior Quarterback Kevin Westover completed six of 13, but several more should have been held onto.
“We threw on first down, second down and third down,” said a dejected Coach Bob Commings, “but we just aren’t catching the ball. We’ll just go back to work Monday and try to put it all together.”
Westover was given the chance to end with a good night.
“When we thought we had the game iced in the fourth quarter, we threw because we thought Kevin deserved this,” Commings said. “I thought he was sensational.” * * * JUNIOR split end Larry McCauley, senior tight end Dari Edwards, twin brother Terry and Wood caught tosses which took the Tigers to the LaSalle 15 but four yards short on fourth down.
It was then that passes of another nature got the Orange and Black into trouble as LaSalle senior quarterback Tim Rueve, senior end Don Hasselbeck (6-8, 220) and junior end Bob Jennings (6-3,188) combined their talents to help the Lancers score their only TD.
Five consecutive passes, including a 38-yard pass-run to Jennings, put the ball on the 15. Rueve hit Hasselback on a flag cut on the one on the next play for the TD with 1:06 left. But sophomore middle guard Greg Wood and junior tackle Erlo Lee hauled down Rueve to prevent a conversion.
LaSalle coach Steve Rasso had wanted to pass earlier in the game but could not because of being deep in his own territory throughout the first half.
“I didn’t want to open up too soon and get a bad pass,” he said. “We got confidence as we went along. We seemed a little shaky coming up on the flight and it was our first time up here. The Tigers stopped our running game. They were too quick.”
HANNON SCORED both touchdowns for the Tigers, almost had two more and his second TD jaunt was as fine a second effort has been seen in the “House of Champions” in a long time.
“Tombo’s” first TD came with 1:36 left in the second quarter – the Tiger have scored in the first only once this season. Hannon took off around right end from the eight with a pitch and then took one the other way – after a good cutback – to tally two more points.
The Orange and Black had taken over after a punt to the LaSalle 36 and Hannon’s 12-yard return and scored in three plays with the help of an 18-yard pass down the center to Wood.
The Tigers’ Dari Edwards had picked up a LaSalle fumble on the Lancer’s 47 in the first quarter, but the Obiemen were stopped at the 14 when Terry Edwards dropped a pass on the five.
The WHSers had driven up field from their 25 in the second quarter only to have Hannon fumble and Tom Scheid recover at the LaSalle 16. Hannon had run the punt back 37 yards to the Lancers’ 39 only to slip on the wet turf while apparently heading for a TD. A clipping penalty nullified his great effort.
Hannon’s second joyous journey came with 15 seconds gone in the fourth quarter.
“Tombo” started around the left end with a pitchout, got hemmed in, reversed his field and came back to the near side of the field and outraced the out-of position defenders for a 33 yarder. He fumbled the ball on the conversion try.
It was on this drive that Hannon had a third quarter 36-yarder off right tackle called back on a holding penalty after Wood had decoyed through the middle on several plays.
The Tigers got into scoring position one more time after junior safety Charlie Swann intercepted on the LaSalle 42 and ran back to the 33, but J.J. McGuire fumbled and Scheid recovered on the 21 to start the Lancers’ only TD drive.
“Massillon is the first team to really run on us from the 30 to the 30,” Rasso said. “We knew we had to stop Hannon. On his second touchdown run our trailman wasn’t on him.”
Commings felt, “the only thing which disappointed me was the touchdown they scored. Other than that I thought we played a good game. That end (Hasselbeck) of theirs is an outstanding player.
MASSILLON – 14 Ends – McCauley, Bodiford, Sullivan, Rolland, D. Edwards, Bash. Tackles – Geiser, Green, Csonka, Lee, Hauschulz. Guards – Mayles, Guiffre, Keller, Graber. Centers – Cocklin, Studer. Quarterbacks – Westover, Muhlbach. Halfbacks – Hannon, T. Edwards, Columbus Danzy, Dennis Gutshall, Jackson, Henderson. Fullbacks – A. Wood, McGuire. Middle guards – Balizet, G. Wood. Linebackers — Ahlstrom, Bozzacco, T. Gutshall. Defensive backs – Jackson, Muhlbach, Dan Gutshall, DiLoreto, Mayor, Christie, Swann, Charles Danzy.
LaSALLE 0 0 0 6 6 MASSILLON 0 8 0 6 14
SCORING SUMMARY M – Hannon, 8 run (Hannon run); M – Hannon, 33 run (run failed). L – Hasselbeck, 15 pass-run from Rueve (run failed).
OFFICIALS Referee – Fred Vicarel. Umpire – Mario D’Alessandro. Head Linesman – Henry Mastriann. Field Judge – Art Cirelli. Back Judge – Jack Werkowitz.
THE GRIDSTICK M L First downs, rushing 13 0 First downs, passing 4 6 Total first downs 17 6 Yards gained rushing 230 21 Yards lost rushing 19 23 Net yards gained, rushing 211 -2 Net yards gained, passing 82 131 Total yards gained 293 129 Passes completed 6-13 7-14 Passes intercepted by 1 0 Kickoff average (yards) 3-45.0 2-30.5 Kickoff returns (yards) 19 30 Punt average (yds.) 5-28.7 4-38.0 Punt returns (yuds.) 32 4 Fumbles (lost) 3(2) 2(1) Yards penalized 5-60 4-22 Touchdowns rushing 2 0 Touchdowns passing 0 1 Total number of plays 65 42
A group of footballers will be coming out of the Buckeye state’s southland Friday night bent on becoming “Bengal Lancers” – not the fabled type from India – at Tiger stadium.
Program Cover
They’ll be after the hides of the Massillon Tigers – seeking to do what the home standing Niles McKinley’s Red Dragons couldn’t do before 14,311 at Riverside stadium last Saturday night. Cincinnati LaSalle high’s brand of Lancers has one thought in mind – knock the Tigers off of “Playoff Coulevard.” * * * LIKE THE Tigers, undefeated in four games, the Lancers have some impressive credentials – such as a victory over Cincinnati St. Xavier which held Massillon’s recent foe, Upper Arlington, to a scoreless deadlock.
“I’ve been saying right along LaSalle’s tough,” Tiger Coach Bob Commings said, “but people won’t believe it. They’re huge! We’re going to run right into a hornets’ nest!”
As if this isn’t enough pressure looking the Tigers in their collective faces, Steubenville’s Big Red – tied with Massillon and Canton McKinley for the lead in the All-American conference which opened play last weekend – are slated to arrive Friday, Oct. 13.
Right now Commings wants that “Obie Spirit,” as it’s known in 1972 and which brought the Orange and Black a hard-fought victory last Saturday – this time 16-6 – to continue. By handing Niles its first defeat in four games and putting a fourth straight win in the Massillon column, the Tigers gave themselves a giant push ahead in the race for the four Class AAA playoff spots in the state’s first ever post season presentation.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Commings said. “They beat a good team for the second straight week. We came out in the second half and did what we were supposed to do. We didn’t lose our cool in the face of a team which had a great running attack in Lou and Clark West.”
The only thing which irked the Tiger skipper was that his charges failed to take advantage of two scoring opportunities. * * * “OUR BEST football is in front of us,” he said. “One of these days we’re going to get out there and do it right.”
What the Tigers continued to do right was kill the enemy with its mistakes – a Tiger trademark – picking off three of four Niles fumbles and intercepting two passes. One of the fumble recoveries led to the Orange and Black’s winning touchdown.
“Our kids did a good job until that last fumble,” Niles Coach Bob Shaw said. “We felt we had a good running team and if we could keep the ball and keep Massillon from scoring we’d be all right. If you don’t turn the ball over in your own territory, you’re okay. I really didn’t think Massillon could come back and do it again.”
Shaw said the Tigers have good size and speed and a runner with loads of ability in left half Tom Hannon who got a lot of blocking help and running relief from fullback Alex Wood, who picked up some mighty important yardage working up the middle.
Niles’ Joe Cicero, a junior quarterback forced into action by the injuries of Rick Tomlin and Jeff Monos, handled the direction of the triple option well under Tiger pressure. Shaw also lauded fullback-linebacker Bob Mannella and defensive end Tom Williams for their play. * * * FOR THE fourth straight week Hannon the AAC’s leading ground gainer, picked up over 100 yards – this time a net 112, losing only five in 23 carries for a 4.9 average. He scored a touchdown, a conversion and passed to right half Terry Edwards for another.
The Tigers tallied in the first quarter for the first time this year and in the first half for only the third time – after a Niles punt was grounded on the Tigers’ 38. Three plays later Hannon gave on snap of his groovy hips and shot through a gigantic hole on the left side for WHS’ longest TD run of the season with 3:54 left.
Commings termed it a “power off tackle blocked well” by tackle Mike Green and guard Larry Mayles, one of Hannon’s tri-captain mates. Hannon skirted left end easily for the conversion thanks to Kevin Westover’s great block.
On the second play after the kickoff, Cicero pitched to Lou West going left and he threw a 39-yarder which the Tigers had covered perfectly by cornerback Jimmy Jackson and free safety Charles Swann, but split end Chris Mackey leaped up a little higher between them and hauled in the aerial with an amazing catch for a first down on the Massillon 31.
With the Wests thundering off both tackles on seven of the next nine plays and the Tigers penalized for illegal procedure, the Dragons scored with 11:55 left in the second stanza as Cicero slanted off tackle. Strong safety Don Muhlbach and end Dari Edwards brought down Macey on an end run to halt the conversion try. * * * MOVIES SHOWED Jackson’s cobra-like swiftness got the Tigers a Clark West fumble ball on the Dragons’ 16 in the third quarter after it was knocked loose by Swann. Two plays later Commings decided to join Shaw in the halfback pass route which both designed especially for this game and had Westover pitch to Hannon going right on third and nine. Terry Edwards made a diving, somersaulting catch of “Tombo’s” pass into the end zone with 11:54 left in the last quarter.
Westover rolled right and hit Edwards again for two more points. Interceptions by Tim Gutshall and Muhlbach halted the last two Niles’ drives.
Middle guard Tom Balizet recovered a Clark West fumble at the Niles 46 in the second period and amazing end Brian Bash grabbed another at the Niles 49 in the third stanza.
A second period jaunt was halted by fourth and three at the Tigers’ 33 and Niles’ Yugoslavian soccer style kicker Greg Cerneka tried a 51-yard field goal which wasn’t short by much.
The Tigers lost the ball on downs at the Dragons’ 35 and safety Dell Gray intercepted at his 15 in the second quarter. Manella rose up to stop Hannon on fourth and two on the 10 in the third quarter and a fumble, a delay penalty and a procedure penalty killed a drive at the Dragons’ six in the fourth period.
The pop was warm and the chicken cold on the team buses after the game.
But who cared?!!! * * * STUDENT MANAGER Randy Russell was a little premature with his “State Champs” tie and so were the Tiger Swing bandsmen with their impromptu dance and shouts of “We’re No. 1!” on the gridiron after the game.
But who cared?!!!
Tiger Booster club officials took Obie III with them. They still couldn’t get the 100-pound live Tiger mascot into Arlington stadium.
But who cared?!!!
The team bus on which this reporter returned home was filled with songs and laughter so that you couldn’t sleep.
Program Cover
But who cared?!!! * * * THE MIGHTY Massillon Tigers (3-0) reached back and got that something extra that Tiger tradition has given to Washington high gridders and roared to a 14-0 win over host Upper Arlington (1-1-1) Friday night before over 11,000 standing-room-only fans.
Their first-ever invasion of central Ohio netted the Tigers a victory their fans had waited five long years for. Arlington had left Tiger stadium in 1967 with successive-year victories the third straight week.
He did not score a touchdown for the first time, but senior right halfback Terry Edwards took care of that chore, getting both TDs.
But Hannon – for the third consecutive week carried over 20 times. Friday night he lugged the pigskin 24 times for 212 yards without a loss.
In three games he has carried for 466 yards in 73 attempts or a 6.4 average. He has scored three touchdowns and two conversions with his great second effort running in getting by tacklers. Edwards has scored three six-pointers. * * * HANNON DARNED near had a fourth TD Friday night at the end of the third quarter after a 17-yard pass-run from senior quarterback Kevin Westover to Terry Edwards’ twin wingback brother Dari, which gave the Orange and Black first down on their 42.
Hannon took off around left end on one of his many sweeps off handoffs and pitches and – behind a great block by fellow tri-captain Larry Mayles – raced to the Arlington 29, started to cut in and had his leg buckle under him.
“I had a cramp again,” Tombo said. “Give those linemen credit for blocking very well for me. It felt real great to win!”
His coach Bob Commings exaulted, “Tom had a great night!”
“He didn’t get anywhere in the second half, but he ran wild in the second,” Arlington Coach Pete Corey said. “I don’t know what the breakdown was in the second half. The men upstairs saw no difference. When a fellow can run like he can and get by the line like he can, that’s the difference.” * * * TIGER DEFENDERS such as senior Brian Bash – playing superlative ball for the third consecutive week – senior co-captain and tackle Bob Geiser, junior tackle Bill Csonka, senior end Dari Endwards and sophomore linebacker Tim Gutshall led the defense on another successful charge – holding Arlington to 130 net yards (60 on the ground) – while the Tigers rolled up 328 (306 on the ground).
Arlington’s deepest penetrations were to the Massillon 22 in the first quarter – where Danzy applied the stopper – and to the 15 on the last play of the game. The only other soiree was to the 47 in the second half where Dari Edwards stood firm.
Arlington found out what many a Tiger foe has. If old Obie sniffs a victory, look out!
Sophomore Greg Cook pounced on the ball, which dropped out of Arlington senior halfback Craig King’s hands on the second half kick runback at the Golden Bears’ 32. Eight plays later, Hannon shot through the middle on second down from the draw, running 17 yards to the two.
Edwards cut over left tackle on the next play for six points with 8:36 left. Hannon took a pitch and skirted right end for two more. * * * BRIAN BASH gave the Tigers’ the ball on the Arlington 25 in the fourth stanza when he batted a Phil Fulton pass and grabbed it out of the air.
One play later Hannon took off again – this time around right end – and raced 13 yards to the Arlington 12. Edwards then slanted off right tackle with 9:28 left, but Don Muhlbach’s kick was partially blocked.
Through all the rejoicing Commings pointed out that for the third straight week the Tigers had left an opponent off the hook. “We made improvements though and that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I feel we beat a good team and that makes the victory all the sweeter.”
The Tigers started off as if they were going to blow Arlington out of the stadium. Hannon ran the kickoff back 12 yards and junior fullback Charles Danzy took a pitch, raced around left end for 32 yards to the Bruins’ 37.
Hannon raced 17 yards to the 26, but Terry Edwards – wide open – dropped a fourth down pass from the 17. Hannon figured on runs of 11, 9 and 18 yards, which carried his team to the Arlington 36 on third down early in the second stanza and had a 26-yarder to the Bears’ 30 nullified by an offside call. * * * HE RACED 12 yards to the 24 for a first down, but the Tigers clipped and ended on their 49 – forced to punt – and for the second time in three weeks found themselves faced with a scoreless first half. They have yet to score in the welcome canto.
The ball was in Arlington territory most of the third quarter, but a Hannon 11-yard run was for naught as a fourth-down pass was incomplete from the 24. “Tombo” gave the Obieman one more chance in the goodbye quarter as he rolled 50 yards to the Arlington 33, but Terry Edwards was inches short on fourth down from the 25.
MASSILLON – 14 Ends – Bash, D. Edwards, Bodiford, McCauley. Tackles – Geiser, Green, Csonka, Lee. Guards – Mayles, Guiffre, Ahlstrom. Center – Cocklin. Quarterback – Westover. Halfbacks – Hannon, T. Edwards. Fullbacks – Charles Danzy, A. Wood. Middle guards – Balizet, G. Wood. Linebacks – T. Gutshall. Defensive halfbacks – Jackson, Dan Gutshall, Muhlback, Mayor, Christie, Swann, Pfeiffer, DiLoreto.
SCORING SUMMARY M – T. Edwards, 2 run (Hannon run); M – T. Edwards, 12 run (kick blocked).
OFFICIALS Referee – Dale Helmick. Umpire – Donn Bunbar. Head Linesman – John Shelton. Field Judge – Paul Wyman.
THE GRID STICK M A First downs, rushing 14 4 First downs, passing 1 2 First downs, penalties 0 0 Total first downs 15 6 Yards gained, rushing 325 85 Yards lost, rushing 19 25 Net yards gained, rushing 306 60 Net yards gained, passing 22 70 Total yards gained 328 130 Passes completed 2-11 5-12 Passes intercepted by 1 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 0 0 Times kicked off 3 1 Kickoff avg. (yds.) 3-47 1-42 Kickoff returns (yds.) 13 39 Punt average (yds.) 4-30.2 3-37.1 Punt returns (yds.) 28 20 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles (lost) 0(0) 1(1) Yards penalized 9-75 2-13
Massillon Mauls Arlington
Massillon’s mighty Tigers with Tom Hannon picking up 212 yards in 23 carries handed defensive minded Upper Arlington its first defeat in the four year old Golden Bear Stadium, 14-0 Friday night before a standing room only throng of 11,500 fans.
Massillon displaying explosive offensive power used two big Golden Bear mistakes to crack the heralded Arlington defense.
AFTER A scoreless first half in which both teams threatened, the Tigers started to move when Greg Wood recovered Arlington’s fumbled third quarter kickoff on the Golden Bear 33.
Four plays later, faced with a key fourth-and-two, Massillon quarterback Kevin Westover snaked over the middle for two and a big first down on the Arlington 23.
HANNON KEPT it alive as he sped 19 yards up the middle on the draw play to the Arlington one before Terry Edwards slanted left tackle for the first six points given up by the Golden Bears this year. Hannon cut inside tackle for the two points and Massillon led 7-0.
Early in the final period Brian Bash picked off Phil Fulton’s tipped pass for an interception on the Arlington 25.
After Westover’s pass misfired, Hannon sliced right end for 12 and Terry Edwards cut back over right tackle for 13 and a big 14-0 Tiger lead with 9:25 left in the game.
Massillon marched 72 yards in 10 plays in the closing minutes, but the Golden Bears defense held and Arlington gave it one last shot.
With less than a minute left, Fulton hit Craig King for 21 on the swing pass, found him open again for four and then connected for 34 yards to the Tigers 23.
DROPPED FOR a two yard loss trying to pass, Fulton connected for 11 on the last play of the game to the Massillon 14 for Arlington’s deepest penetration of the game. Massillon coach Robert Commings was very pleased with his Tigers’ first-ever victory over Arlington, ‘I’m very happy…it’s always a nice feeling when you beat a good, strong football team and Upper Arlington is a strong, well-coached team that never quits. No question, our defense won if for us.”
ARLINGTON’S COACH Pete Corey had nothing but praise for the Tigers, “Massillon is a great team, they execute as well as any football team I have ever seen. That Tom Hannon is one of the best runners we have ever faced, he can seem to be running at top speed and then shift into high gear…he’s a fine one.”
Massillon totaled 15 first downs with 307 yards rushing and hit on two of 12 passes for 23 yards. Arlington picked up eight first downs, 46 yards rushing and added 84 yards on seven pass completions in 12 attempts.
Massillon 0 0 8 6 14 Upper Arlington 0 0 0 0 0
MASSILLON SCORING: TDs – T. Edwards, 2 (3, 13 runs), PATs – Hannon (run).
Bob Commings is concerned about the inability of his team to be consistent offensively and concerned about the Tigers and their fans having a letdown.
“We must keep the faith above all,” the Washington high head football coach said after his team had shut out a tough Youngstown Ursuline team 21-0 before 11,708 fans Friday night at Tiger stadium. “We’re going into a big game next week at Upper Arlington.”
COMMINGS WAS concerned because it was the second straight week in which his charges failed to move the ball in crucial situations. They also have yet to show the big scoring play.
Program Cover
“Three quarters of the way our offense looks so good,” he said. “The thing that is killing us is that we’re not getting the short yardage plays. When you only punt once, you’re doing something right. If we get our short yardage, we’ll be a fine team. Our defense was intact and our specialty teams came through, giving us the ball in good field position.”
Urusline rookie Coach Jim Maughan agreed, saying, “Massillon is well coached. Quarterback Kevin Westover and tailback Tom Hannon are two of the better players we’ve seen. When the Tigers get their timing better, they have the material and will go all the way. I wish Bob all the best. He’s a fine gentleman.”
Commings knew that the Ursuline defense had given his Massillonians fits.
“We’ve had to extend ourselves twice now (meeting tough teams on successive Fridays),” he said of his charges second victory in as many starts.
URSULINE’S SECOND defeat with no wins was equally as tough for Maughan to take. The Fighting Irish were dealt two severe blows in losing senior quarterback Mike Banks with a concussion at the beginning of the second stanza and senior 208-pound guard Dan Miklos a few minutes earlier.
“When you lose a quarterback it’s tough to put a man like Greg Cerimele, a junior who has never played before, into a game at Massillon. He did a tremendous job. It hurt to lose Miklos too. We were out-physicaled in the end.”
Ursuline’s furthest penetration was to the 25 in the final frame.
The Tigers rolled up 299 yards while holding the Irish to 123. The Orange and Black rolled from 20-yard line to 20-yard line but failed at the 26, 13 and 10-yard lines in the first half and 16 and 18 in the second half.
“You have to give our kids all the credit in the world,” Maughan said. “When you hold a team to two touchdowns in four quarters, that’s pretty good. One touchdown was a gift.” * * * HE MEANT the second of Hannon’s jaunts – a five-yarder off right tackle with 7:19 left in the game. The Irish gambled on fourth and five from their 29, but strong safety Don Muhlback plowed into junior tailback Wes Hodge who had run well all night and brought him down at the line of scrimmage.
Hannon scored six plays later on first down and Muhlback booted the conversion.
The bespectacled senior was there when it counted all night with a nine-yard punt run back to set up a TD, another for 20 yards, a 31-yard interception return and a conversion pass to fullback Alex Wood, Muhlback had intended to kick but the snap was bad, holder Darrell Bickford flipped the ball to Muhlbach, he ran to his left and then passed.
Another bad snap spoiled his field goal attempt from the 17.
The groovy-hipped Hannon, for the second consecutive week, picked up over 100 yards – this time 109 net in 22 carries. He also threw in punt runbacks of 6, 37, 13, 9 and 23 yards to go with his twin TDs. The last return almost resulted in a touchdown except Ursuline’s Tim Tinker got a hand in the way at the right time at the Irish 33. * * * AFTER MUHLBACH’S punt runback in the second quarter, the Tiger’s marched from the Ursuline 35 in seven plays. Hannon raced over right tackle from 14 yards out with 4:55 left. Muhlbach’s conversion saver followed.
Senior wingback Terry Edwards scored the final TD after Hannon had almost gone the route on his fourth quarter punt runback. Four plays later from the Urusline 21 on second down, Edwards caught a Kevin Westover aerial on the two and fought two defenders to get into the end zone with 1:29 left.
Westover’s conversion run was inches short.
Two Tiger fourth period efforts were brought in an abrupt halt when Cerimele intercepted a pass on his five and John Herman one on his 20. Cermeile’s pilfer nullified a 53-yard Westover pass to senior tight end Dave Bodiford in which Bodiford ran 20 yards to put the ball on the Ursuline 20.
Tiger senior middle guard Tom Balizet broke through to nail Banks at the beginning of the second stanza when the Irish were rolling at the Massillon 45. Balizet grabbed the rolling pigskin at the Irish 35 and raced to the 20, but the Obiemen ran out of gas there.
It was on this play, unfortunately, that Banks was put out of commission.
It’s a whole new ball game for Augie Bossu this season, but it’s the same old story for the Massillon Tigers. They’re still a prime target for the skipper of the Cleveland Benedictine Bengals.
Program Cover
Cleveland’s defending city champions will help the Tigers open the season at Tiger stadium Friday at 8 p.m. The former East Senate league high school team has gone 9-1 in the past four seasons with the only defeat each time being here at the hands of the Orange and Black. * * * “WE’RE APPROACHING this season differently,” Bossu said today. “It’s something new for us. In the past we have played two or three top teams and let the rest of the schedule take care of itself. Now we believe we have a representative schedule and a tremendous challenge. There are teams aiming for us who have never played us before.”
Among these aggregations are Dover, Willoughby South, Erie, Pa., East, Collinwood and Parma Padua to name some in the 1971 Senate champs taste of independent competition.
“It puts a lot of pressure on us to play Massillon first,” Bossu said. ‘Our coaching staff is small and there’s an awful lot to be done. We make early mistakes which we must correct later. We can’t afford those mistakes against a good one like Massillon and stay in the game.”
Bossu did not comment on whether he figured meeting the Tigers would be a different kind of experience this time because of a varied Massillon attack.
“The Tigers will be strong in whatever phase of the game they should be,” the 18-year veteran coach said. “They always have the best in material.” * * * THE BENGALS have won three scrimmages and Bossu was interested to hear that the Tigers won one and had another rained out, but did not comment on whether or not he thought this would be of benefit to his team.
It will be the same type of hard-charging, hard-hitting Benedictine team as in other years facing WHS Friday. Bossu will use variations of the “I” offensively and six-man front defense.
When asked if he agreed with Massillon Coach Bob Commings that the Bennies would be bringing the best team here since Commings came to town in 1969, Bossu replied, “We don’t have the speed we had then, but we’re a little heavier.”
In that year, the Bengals lost 22-20, but threw a scare into the Tigers when will-o-the-wisp halfback Jim Kacivinsky scored twice in the second half. “We have about half a dozen boys back who played regularly last year,” Bossu said. * * * SENIORS ARE quarterback Duane Petrovich (5-10, 175) and right halfback Jim Teresczuk (5-11, 191), two-way halfback Pat Moriarty (6-1, 160), offensive tackle Rick Switalski (6-5, 235), offensive halfback-middle linebacker Mike Woods (6-2, 217) and punter Paul Friery, also an offensive end and cornerback (6-2, 162).
Juniors are center-defensive guard John Glowik (6-1, 188), junior cornerback Al Keller (5-11, 160) and fullback-defensive end Gerald Modzelewski (6-0, 200), a distant relative of former Cleveland Browns star Dick Modzelewski.
Woods could be a key to the Bengals’ chances Friday night. He’s a powerful runner and roams well from his linebacking spot.
“He hasn’t done it yet,” Bossu said, “He’s a possible threat if we can get him to the line and find room for him to get through.”
Tiger Coaches say Woods reminds them of Willie Spencer, the Orange and Blacks’ all-everything tailback last year. But Woods was not listed as an offensive started for Friday.
Besides Switalski on the hefty side on the offensive line, there’s junior Frank Malec (6-2, 245). Defensively, junior John Nemeth (6-1, 250) and Jeff Mazer (6-1, 200) will man the tackle slots. * * * COMMINGS IS toying with the idea of experimenting with the tie-breaker rule. The decision will be made week by week, after conferring with opposing coaches. The All-American has not approved the modified new rule.
Tigers Sputter but win opener 15-6
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
New Massillon Washington High Trainer, Bill Meier may unknowingly have made the best assessment of Friday night’s opening Tiger football game when he passed on to this reporter a small orange-and-black badge in the dressing room following the game.
“Together there’s so much we can do” was written on the badge. It was by sticking together to play great defense during a spotty offensive performance that the Tigers edged a tough Cleveland Benedictine team 15-6 before 12,181 fans and it should be by sticking together to work hard in practice next week that the Orange and Black will show their faithful that the Tigers the fans saw Friday night were not the true Obiemen of 1972.
THE LONE offensive bright spot was the running of tailback Tom Hannon. The groovy-hipped senior carried 27 times for a net 145 yards after having only lugged the pigskin four times in one pre-season scrimmage and five in another. He was fighting a couple of painfully cramped legs Friday night.
The real Tigers just don’t lose four of six fumbles, get penalized 87 yards and get to the four, the two, the one and the half-yard line and not score. All four times the huge Benedictine defense held admirably.
But the Tigers put it to the Bennies just too often and as veteran Benedictine boss, Augie Bossu said, “You can only be on defense so often and then something’s going to happen.”
Benedictine did not feel his team wore down but Tiger Coach Bob Commings said, “We appeared to have more steam left than they did,” when asked why his charges seemed to catch fire in the fourth quarter when they switched to the fullhouse T. “I thought we played a real gutty game.”
“We didn’t play any differently in the last quarter,” Bossu declared.
COMMINGS reminded he had been telling the Tigers all week that they would be playing a fine team Friday.
“If we had been sharper, we could have blown them into oblivion,” Commings said. “For the first game of the year, I thought our passing game was excellent, but we’ve got to concentrate on making the sure catch.”
The fourth quarter was when the Tigers put the clincher on the contest which saw both teams capitalize and fail to capitalize on the others miscues. Linebacker Charlie Swann picked off a Duane Petrovich pass on the Benedictine 35-yard line and returned to the 20.
Quarterback Kevin Westover found tight end Dari Edwards on the two on the next play. Don Muhlbach kicked the conversion with 5:11 left.
The Tigers had one more chance in the goodbye canto when tackle Tim Graber scooped up Pat Moriarty’s bobble on the Benedictine 28, but five plays later Westover bobbled the snap on the four and guard Manuel Martinez covered on the four. * * * NEITHER TEAM scored in the first half when Massillon had 38 plays to Benedictine’s 25. The Tigers took the opening kickoff and moved from their 35 to the two only to have Westover’s pitchout go awry on fourth down.
Ten and 14-yard passes to Edwards and split end Greg Sullivan respectively helped open up the Benedictine defense and may be the answer to ensuing games because the short power game wasn’t there Friday night. With the help of two 15-yard and one five-yard award the Tigers moved to the one after a punt. There halfback Gerald Modzelewski and guard John Glowick brought down Hannon.
Benedictine’s Paul Friery quick kicked from the end zone on first down. The Tigers used one series, punted and Hannon recovered when the ball hit the safetyman and bounded to the 14. That series came to an abrupt halt on the 24.
Sophomore Tim Gutshall intercepted a Petrovich pass on the 25 and ran to the 20, but the Tigers got stalled again – on the 33.
From there, Benedictine mounted a drive to the Massillon 28 but lost the ball on downs, thanks to tackle Bill Csonka. The Bennies also moved from their 46, after another Tiger effort had failed to the Massillon 21 – largely on 11-yard and 22-yard passes from Petrovich to Friery and end Dick Schutte, respectively.
Tom Seres’ field goal attempt was wide left. * * * HALFBACK JIM TERESCZUK fumbled the second half kickoff, Jim Jackson covered on the Cleveland 40, Hannon took a Westover pitch and raced 30 yards around the left side to the 10, two plays later from there through the center to the one and almost swept left end for the score on the next play but middle backer Mike Woods stuck a hand out at the last minute and tripped him on fourth down.
Friery punted badly out of bounds on the Benedictine 30 on third down and Hannon – with a good second effort – squeezed through left tackle on the first play for the touchdown with 8:32 left.
Benedictine’s lone TD came when Woods recovered Jackson’s third period fumble on the Massillon 13 and the Bennies rammed the ball in in three plays with Moriarty carrying 10 yards through right tackle to the four and Petrovich sneaking over from the one-half yard line two plays thereafter with 1:09 remaining.
Muhlback missed the kick but a procedure penalty against Benedictine netted a second chance and a Hannon run between right guard and right tackle.
Linebacker Brian Bash broke through to snare Petrovich as he was about to pass for the conversion.
With the Tigers moving back up field after the kickoff, Jay McGuire fumbled with Martinez covering on the Massillon 47. However, Csonka picked up a fourth quarter bobble at the Tigers’ 37 to halt that attempt.
“I think failing to get in that scrimmage at Warren Western Reserve last week hurt us in two ways,” Coming said after the game. “We didn’t get a chance to get into our pre-arranged goal line defense or into punt returns.”
TIGERS BLAST BULLDOGS 29-6 Nifty Line Play Is Victory Key In 76th Game
By BOB STEWART Repository Sports Editor
The Massillon Tigers came to town Saturday and in two hours at Fawcett Stadium showed the more than 21,000 fans a football aggregation that belies its 8-2 season record.
In a scholastic grid contest unquestionably decided in that 11-inch space known as the line-of-scrimmage the Tigers turned in a 29-6 triumph over the upset-minded but undermanned McKinley Bulldogs.
Program Cover
Massillon finished the season in third place in the All-American Conference with a 3-2 mark. However, the Tigers were but two slender points away from an undefeated season and possibly state recognition.
The pair of one-point losses, to Warren and Niles, made the difference between the Tigers being in contention for the state title, or also-rans in the state and conference.
McKinley concluded its season with a 7-2-1 mark, losing to Warren and tying Niles. The Bulldogs finished fourth in the six-team conference with a 2-2-1 effort. Tigers Dominate Series 41 to 30 The victory by Massillon ups its lead in the 76-game rivalry to 41-30, with five games ending in ties. The Tigers have won 12 of the last 15 contests.
Massillon’s Willie Spencer ran for two Tiger TDs and defensive end Derry Edwards had a day he’ll not soon forget as he intercepted two McKinley passes and ran both back for touchdowns, one 76 yards and the other 58.
Willie Spencer Sr. leaps for a score vs. Canton McKinley
But in spite of the fact Spencer’s 12 points gave him the Stark County scoring title for 1971 and he gained 142 yards in 33 carries Saturday to reign as the star runner, the glory for the Tigers belonged to the offensive and defensive linemen.
It was center Steve Studer, guards Scott Graber, Randy Heck and Bruce Christoff, tackles Glenn Weirich and Andre Heath and ends Bob Stephan and Mike McGuire who made the Massillon offense go with their devastating blocking.
In the defensive line, some of the names were the same. Stephan, a great one at 6-3 and 207 pounds, Weirich, the alert Edwards, Studer, end Todd Cocklin and middle guard Larry McLenndon, who doubles as the “other” runner in the Tiger backfield and added 64 yards in 12 rushes to the Massillon cause.
The defensive line put tremendous pressure on McKinley quarterback Jimmy Vance, causing a total of four interceptions. On Edwards’ first TD theft, the pass was deflected by the on-rushing Tiger defensive line.
And the Tigers blocked McKinley’s extra-point kick attempt.
The offensive line, anchored by center Studer in the middle and Stephan on the right side, ripped the Bulldogs defense to allow the backs to pile up 288 yards rushing.
So overwhelming was the Tiger line in the first quarter that Massillon controlled the ball for 23 plays to McKinley’s three. The Pups gained a yard on each of three running plays in that stanza.
Pups’ Big Pain Is Tigers’ Offensive Line Commings Calls It ‘Sweet’
By ART SCHROCK
The sunshine on the leaves of the trees around Fawcett Stadium made the normal yellow color appear a Massillon orange.
Yes, it was a Saturday afternoon for the Massillon Tigers – a game which Massillon Coach Bob Commings termed “a sweet one.”
“Anytime you beat McKinley, it is a great win,” said Commings, dripping wet after being tossed in the shower. *** THE TIGERS gave McKinley’s Bulldogs a steady diet of backs Willie Spencer and Larry “Pookie” McLenndon, with emphasis on the former and the result was a 29-6 triumph.
Spencer, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior tailback, ran with reckless abandon as he led the Tigers. In the big fourth quarter, he couldn’t be stopped on short-yardage situations.
After the Bulldogs closed the deficit to 13-6 with 33 seconds left in the third stanza, Commings called on Spencer to get the first downs when two and three yards were needed. Spencer never failed once on the drive which led to a big touchdown with 5:34 left. *** “WE TOOK IT, to them,” said Commings. “We ran basic football. There was nothing nifty about it, McLenndon and Spencer ran hard. It was just great they way they ran.”
Commings said the shift of Spencer from end on offense to running back this season, “was the move of the year.”
“McKinley hung in there,” said the Massillon mentor.
“The realization of those two one-point losses (to Niles 7-6 and Warren 8-7) sets in. But people now know this is one of the best teams they’ve seen around here.”
“We received an excellent job from the defensive secondary. Hannon (Tom), Thompson (Art); Nussbaumer (Hank) and Jackson (James) all were great. Bill Wonsick came in and did a helluva job.”
Wonsick was a replacement for Jackson, who limped off the field at the start of the fourth quarter. *** COMMINGS also lauded the right guard, Scott Graber, who was the only Tiger on the injured list before the game.
“Scott played the whole game on offense and he hadn’t played one minute in practice all week.” *** “IT’S EVEN bigger than last year because this is my last year. I messed up my knee a little,” said McLenndon, who gained the game’s initial first down with second effort.
Asked if he saved anything for the game with McKinley, Spencer smiled and said: “Everything I had, I saved. I hit my head on a piece of steel out of bounds, but I’m okay now.”
After being injured slightly in the third quarter, Willie jumped up and immediately went back into the game.
Dave Gable, the Tigers’ offensive tackle coach, called the team’s line play the best of the year.
“We deserved a good game. Two penalties cost us. One cost us a touchdown,” said Gable.
QUARTERBACK Scott Dingler, a senior who will go to college but one who hadn’t had a college offer when he was interviewed, added: “We buried them once we started moving.”
“I didn’t call the plays. Most of them come from the bench. Some come from up in the press box. Our defense did the great job they have done all year. It is the biggest thrill of my life,” said the signal caller.
“We knew it,” remarked Commings when asked if he was aware of the pass-catching ability of McKinley’s Artis Zachary, “but we couldn’t do anything about it.”
NICK VROTSOS, the Massillon assistant coach, was on the field end of the phone to the Tiger aides in the press box. He thought for a moment prior to the start of the game that there was a bad connection and of course, he was concerned about some “bugging”.
One fan yelled at Commings, “Why did you take the penalty?” after the Bulldogs scored their lone touchdown on a third-and-seven situation.
The Bulldogs would have had possession with fourth-and-one on the Tigers’ two if the Tigers had not taken the penalty for illegal procedure.
STATISTICS MASS. McK. Total First Downs 22 12 First Downs Rushing 20 4 First Downs Passing 2 8 First Downs Penalty 0 0 Total Offensive Plays 71 45 Net Yards Rushing 288 93 Net Yards Passing 21 162 Mis. Yardage (net) (1-23) 15 Total Offensive Yardage 286 270 Ave. Yds. Per Play (net) 4.0 6.0 Passes Comp.-Att. 4-7 10-20 Passes Had Intercepted 1 4 Net Gain Per Pass 3.0 8.1 Punts 1-29 2-71 Punts Return –Yds. 1-11 0-0 Kickoff Returns-Yds. 2-52 5-79 Interception Returns-Yds. 4-149 1-0 Fumbles-Fumbles Lost 3-1 1-0 Penalties-Yards 5-50 2-10
Passing aids 36-6 victory 105 second-quarter air yards best season effort
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
Quarterback Scotty Dingler rang the bell and his receivers caught fire to make the effort unanimous.
Getting their passing game going after several disappointed attempts this season, was important to the Massillon Tigers for it made rushing a lot easier and could arm their arsenal a lot more effectively for next Saturday’s season finale against arch-rival Canton McKinley. * * * WASHINGTON HIGH’S charges downed their second oldest protagonist, the Alliance Aviators, 36-6 before 11,076 in the curtain closer Friday night at Tiger stadium.
Program Cover
The Tigers upped their slate to 7-2 while dropping Alliance to 4-5. The WHSers evened their All-American conference record for four tilts to stay in fourth and saddled the Aviators with their fourth loss against no wins.
Dingler completed five passes in six tries in the second quarter, connecting with wingback Art Thompson for a touchdown, fullback Tom Hannon and split end Mike McGuire for 105 yards – the best effort of the season. The Tiger aerial show didn’t connect on a couple of second half efforts, but its prior-to-the intermission performance must have been enough to give McKinley Coach John Brideweser’s scouts cause for consideration.
Dingler hit McGuire on a 14-yard combination to offset a five-yard delay penalty. Scotty found Thompson for 15 to sidetrack a five-yard procedure call, hit Hannon in the flat and Tom ran 25 yards for a first down at the Alliance 30, but the Tigers ran out of gas at the four, four plays later; after a 14-yarder through the middle by Larry McLenndon.
However, the Orange and Black came back after the next punt and moved 45 yards in two plays to score with four seconds left. Dingler hit the Thompson target both times, one for 24 yards to the Alliance 31 and another into Art’s nifty embrace in the center of the end zone.
Dingler’s kick was off to the right. * * * “SCOTTY COULDN’T have laid the ball in there much better,” Coach Bob Commings said. “I’m pleased with the poise with which we threw the ball. The protection was good. I thought the offensive line settled the issue, blocking well, particularly in the first half.” Former Tiger assistant Gene Nara, now the head man at Alliance, had another version: “We gave Dingler too much time to throw.”
His TD pass may have been the key to the Aviators’ loss.
“If we had been down only 14-6 at the end of the first half, it would have been easier to come back,” Nara said.
Alliance continued to have the passing troubles it has experienced all year, failing to complete 11, with a lot of credit going to the Massillon secondary for alert coverage. * * * THE AVIAITORS had their chances in the second half, getting 44 plays to the Tigers’ 19, but couldn’t move the ball past the WHS 21.
“Bob went to a stack defense with a stunt and I think he used a safety blitz one time,” Nara said. “We weren’t picking it up.”
The Tigers were in what Commings calls a goal-line go, putting Hank Nussbaumer, the strong safety, in the go position.
The Orange and Black opened the scoring with a 49-yard run off left tackle by tailback Willie Spencer on the game’s fourth play from first down.
Dingler kicked the conversion with 10:05 on the clock.
Alliance’s score came late in the first quarter after Rick got off only a 15-yard punt and the Aviators drove 42 yards in five plays with a 14-yard pass-run from quarterback Bill Anderson to halfback Joe Tucker setting up a first down on the Massillon 27. * * * TWO PLAYS later junior halfback Dan Contrucci charged through the middle from the 25, giving nice second and third efforts. However, with 1:20 showing, Anderson fumbled the pigskin as the Aviators tried for two and was stopped short.
The Tigers marched 80 yards in seven plays after the kickoff with Spencer scoring off right tackle and cutting back on second down from the Alliance 35 with 5:46 left in the second stanza. Dingler’s 16-yard right end keeper and Spencer’s 17-yarder over left guard helped.
Dingler kicked the conversion.
Alliance punted after its first third quarter series and Hannon flashed his groovy hips for 51 yards to put the ball on the Alliance four. Two plays later Dingler smashed through the center from the one on a third down with 9:06 on the lights.
He passed to McLenndon playing fullback in the absence of injured Don Perry, to put two more points on the total.
The final tally came when a fourth-down snap went over Contrucci’s head and twins Dari and Terry Edwards and Todd Cocklin hauled Contrucci down on the Alliance six. McLenndon raced around left end on the ensuing play with 6:08 left in the goodbye frame. * * * JUNIOR TAILBACK Jim Jackson slashed off right tackle for the final two points.
The Tigers might have had another TD, but junior wingback Terry Edwards fumbled on the Alliance 23 after brother Dari had recovered an Aviator fumble on the 21. Ron Kuceyeski recovered for the Carnation City team.
SCORING SUMMARY M – Spencer, 49 run (Dingler kick); A – Contrucci, 25 run (run failed); M – Spencer, 35 run (Dingler kick); M – Thompson, 31 pass from Dingler (kick failed); M – Dingler, 1 run (McLenndon, pass from Dingler); M – McLenndon, 9 run (Jackson run).
GRID STICK M A First downs, rushing 11 4 First downs, passing 4 5 First downs, penalties 1 3 Total first downs 16 12 Yards gained rushing 234 105 Yards lost rushing 5 72 Net yards gained rushing 229 33 Net yards gained passing 105 52 Total yards gained 334 85 Passes completed 5-8 11-24 Passes intercepted by 0 0 Kickoff average (yards) 6-44.9 2-45.0 Rest is missing
OFFICIALS Referee – Ted Humphrey. Umpire – Ted Deutsch. Head Linesman – Stan Evans. Field Judge – Hugh Davis. Back Judge – Beauford Hatfield.
Tiger Coach Bob Commings had the right idea when he said, “This isn’t the quitting point. You’ve got to gut it out and come back.” * * * HE MADE the rounds of all his players to make sure they knew there were a couple of tough All-American conference games left against Alliance and Canton McKinley and that Tigertowners will be solidly rooting for a rebound in the knowledge they still have an outstanding football team representing them.
Program Cover
The word rebound could likewise be applied to the Warren Harding Black Panthers’ effort before 20,648 – the season’s largest crowd at Tiger stadium – Friday night. After dropping behind 7-0 in the first period, they came back for an 8-7 victory, probably the AAC title and state Class AAA championship and their first win here since 1944.
The Washington high team, defending champions in both, dropped 6-2 overall; 1-2 in the league and fourth place Harding is 8-0 and 4-0.
“They had the courage to come back and you must respect them for that,” Commings said.
Harding Coach Tom Batta was thrilled with the “great job” done by his defense. “When 175 and 180-pounders give you that type of performance, it’s some effort!”
He was also happy with the way his team moved the ball. * * * HE ADMITTED that the Tigers, who won the battle of statistics as they had in a 7-6 AAC loss to Niles, were tough to control, even forcing the Panthers out of their normal 5-4 defense at times and into a 6-1 because, “We couldn’t stay with them man to man.”
It was after the intermission when the Tigers took the upper hand, gaining 186 yards to Warren’s 68.
“When you go out and dominate the second half, you usually win,” Commings said sadly. “I thought we played good enough to win.”
The Tigers were in Panther territory four times with the AAC’s leading rusher and scorer tailback Willie Spencer – whom Batta said he did not have his charges key on – stopped on fourth down at the 27 and 32. Fullback Tom Hannon fumbled with 2:28 left and halfback Joe Kirksey recovered at the 38 as the old bugaboo cropped up again. He had run well in the second half and Batta admitted “Tombo” had scared him.
On the last sustained drive, with three seconds left, quarterback Scott Dingler was short on a 50-yard field goal try – an impossibility for even the strongest high school booster – after the Tigers had gotten to the 34. * * * ON TWO of the fourth-quarter marches, Dingler, who threw well, came within a gnat’s eyelash of hitting split end Mike McGuire. Halfback Doug Stubbs batted one pass away in the end zone and Stubbs and Kirksey knocked another deep one awry.
The Tigers also lost the ball on downs at the Warren 44 in the second quarter when Stubbs got a hand in front of fullback Don Perry, forced to leave in the second half with a painful arm bruise. Spencer got stopped at the 39 on fourth down in the first period.
It was then that the Orange and Black got its only score as Rick Weise punted to the 14. Warren was socked half the distance to the six for holding and junior quarterback Dan Ross retreated to the two, fumbled and senior end Todd Cocklin recovered and went in with 22 seconds left.
Dingler kicked the conversion.
Harding mounted its comeback on eight plays, going 61 yards after a 26-yard kickoff runback by the elusive Stubbs. Fullback Len Sernulka, who also played a whale of a game as a linebacker, carried three times for 14 yards while junior halfback Wilbur Boggs scored the touchdown on fourth down, one from the 30 on a pitch and run around right end, cutting back to the center nicely at the five. * * * WITH 9:25 left in the second stanza, Stubbs whirled by the left side on a fooler end-around. “This time it worked,” Batta said. “When Bob was at Struthers and I was at Akron Hoban, I gambled and ran a conversion, didn’t get it and we lost the game.”
Batta called Boggs’ run a “great effort” and said the play was run to the outside because the Tigers were jamming up the middle.
“I guess I made the right call at the right time,” he added.
Commings said the Tigers were in a goal-line defense which had been good to the Orange and Black all year.
“They were a good team, well prepared,” Commings said, “the best we’ve played.”
The only other Harding tries into Tiger territory saw the Panthers lose the ball on downs at the 45 in the third period and punt from the 44 and 47 in the fourth.
Individual statistics showered Spencer carried 21 times – losing nine yards – for a net 94, while Sernulka attempted 15 runs for 57 yards – not losing ground – and Boggs handled the ball 17 times for 87 yards – losing only one yard.
Fumbles, pass problems marr 46-0 rout over Magics in homecoming
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
It was a lot easier than a lot of folks thought it would be Friday night, but there were sounded also a pair of sour notes.
The Massillon Tigers rolled over Barberton 46-0 before 12,524 at the rain-sprinkled Tiger stadium non-league homecoming, hanging up a 6-1 slate while handing Barberton its first loss in seven games. The Magics had tied once.
THEY HAD been touted as a dangerous ball club, but the Tiger defense dug in again when it needed to for its fifth shutout in seven tilts. The offense continued to gobble up yardage by the bags full.
Program Cover
The discords were sounded when Tiger backs lost the pigskin on four of five fumbles. It cost them because two of the bobbles occurred deep in Magics territory – probably preventing touchdowns – and the other brace came about the only times Washington high had the ball in the goodbye canto.
The Orange and Black passing game saw only one completion in seven tries as Tiger Coach Bob Commings got a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and got a chance for an extra sky route workout. Receivers couldn’t find the handle for quarterback Scotty Dingler.
Both the ball handling and passing headaches have caused consternation before and could be disastrous when the state’s top ranked Warren Harding Black Panther invade next Friday for an All-American conference affair.
“We’ll just have to concentrate on holding the ball,” Commings declared. “First things must come first. You have to get the ball and then go through the hole. I think our guys were trying to get down field without the ball.”
About the passing, he explained, “It was off, but it was not the quarterback. When he puts the ball in there and they can’t catch it, it’s not his fault.” * * * COMMINGS SAID the Tigers’ offensive line did a fine job and liked the way in which the Orange and Black got a lot out of the “I” formation with senior Willie Spencer in the tailback slot. The WHSers had shown a couple of plays from that set last week at Steubenville and used it almost the whole first quarter Friday night.
Commings didn’t use the “I” in the second half with Spencer sitting on the bench, suffering from the effects of the muggy weather. He had gained 124 yards – losing none in 12 first half carries and scored two touchdowns.
Tailback Larry McLenndon, also played at right half, which Don Perry in the lead running slot and tallied once. Defensive halfback Tom Hannon put six points on the scoreboard as did wingbacks Art Thompson and Terry Edwards.
The other two points came in the third stanza when defensive end Todd Cocklin tackled junior quarterback Doug Huffman in the end zone for a safety as Huffman faded from the nine.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff, after a 19-yard runback by Hannon and scored in 10 plays, covering 67 yards, with Spencer and Perry carrying the pigskin. Spencer tallied on third down from the one over right tackle with 7:23 on the clock.
Dingler kicked conversion. * * * THE GROOVY HIPPED Hannon ran a punt back 44 yards for a TD with the help of end Mike McGuire’s two man block as the time lights stopped at 2:20.
Dingled added a point.
Tom Jackson, like Hannon, Cocklin and Edwards a promising junior, knocked down Doug Huffman’s second quarter fourth down pass to end Jim Bauschlinger in the end zone, to give Massillon the ball on its five. Spencer flew through left tackle on the next play and picked up 15 more yards on a face mask call to give the Tigers first down on their 26.
An eight-play 95-yard drive had started and Spencer also ended it with a four-yarder through the center after Thompson had charged 51 yards over left guard on third down from the WHS 49 after a motion penalty.
With the clock reading 5:25, Dingler put the ball through the uprights.
Thompson got off another scintillating run on fourth down, after a holding penalty and raced 56 yards for the last counter of the first half, reversing field nicely and breaking a couple of tackles. Halfback Larry Young tried to stop “Gritz” with a desperation tackle, but only succeeded in giving him an extra push into pay dirt at 2:54. * * * DINGLER’S PAT boot was good.
Hannon ran back a punt 22 yards and added 14 more yards through the center to get the Tigers off and winging for a 38-yard, five-play scoring offensive. McLenndon went in off right tackle on first down from the four with 5:24 remaining in the third period.
Hannon ran the conversion off a pitch over right tackle.
The final excursion to the Promised Land started after junior middle guard Alex Wood had recovered a fumble on the Magics’ 22. The tally came after four plays with Edwards clearing left tackle on first down from the six at the 2:33 mark.
Junior quarterback Kevin Westover found Edwards in the right corner of the end zone for a two-pointer.
The Tigers had the ball for only two minutes and 50 seconds in the fourth quarter as junior tailback Jim McKinnie picked up quite a bit of yardage and the Magics got to the Massillon 25 before losing the ball on downs as tackle Glenn Weirich and safety Hank Nussbaumer threw Huffman back 14 yards – with the aid of a fumble. * * * BARBERTON WAS also stymied on fourth down at the five as McLenndon and McGuire hauled down McKinnie.
“They did a good job on what they were trying to do against us,” Commings said. “Some might have thought it was easy, but it wasn’t. They’re young like Akron East.”
“They beat us real good,” Barberton Coach Ron Fenik said. “They ran through us, over us and around us. There’s not much you can say.”
While McKinnie was a bright light the Magics’ first half running, senior tailback Bob Glenchert looked good before the intermission and seemed most effective when running from counter plays as the Tiger defense was angling the opposite way.
Commings called it running to daylight.
Junior wingback Rick Lay, both an outstanding runner and pass receiver, left with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter and was to have an ankle X-rayed. His absence hindered the Magics’ offense.
THE GRIDSTICK M B First downs, rushing 21 9 First downs, passing 0 1 First downs, penalties 1 1 Total first downs 22 11 Yards gained rushing 351 176 Yards lost rushing 8 53 Net yards gained rushing 343 123 Net yards gained passing 8 26 Total yards gained 351 149 Passes completed 1-7 4-12 Kickoff average (yards) 7-43.0 1-46.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 42 69 Punt average (yds.) 1-41.0 6-32.5 Punt returns (yds.) 65 2 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles (lost) 5(4) 5(3) Yards penalized 4-50 3-25 Touchdowns rushing 0 0 Miscellaneous 1 0 Total number of plays 56 59
