Category: <span>History</span>

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 36, Warren Harding 0

Tigers Plow Through Warren 36-0
Bengals Roll Up 476 Net Yards On Ground In Winning 8th Game

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

It was like a wild horse stampede at Tiger stadium Friday night. The Massillon Tigers galloped up and down the turf like a herd of stallions on some western prairie before 16,443 fans, the second largest crowd of the season.

They ran roughshod over the Warren Black Panthers to the tune of 36-0, gaining revenge for last year’s 19-18 upset. When the final whistle sounded, the Tigers had eaten up 479 yards of real estate. They lost only three yards all night, giving them a net rushing total of 476, the highest yet this season.

In gaining their eighth straight victory without a loss, the Bengals got all of their yardage on the ground. Senior Quarterback Jim Alexander was knocked on the head near the end of the second period and missed two-thirds of the third quarter. But their ground game was so successful the Tigers didn’t need any air relief.

Program Cover

* * *
THE BENGALS threw only once during the first half. Bob Baker, another senior signal caller, who filled in well for Alex, tried on late in the second period. It missed connections. Sophomore Ron Swartz also threw a pass near the end of the first half and two near the end of the game. Ron Schenkenberger, senior wingback, tried one at the end of the game. All were incomplete except one of Swartz’s, which was intercepted.

The Bengals got most of their yardage in the second half. The Washington high eleven gobbled up 299 yards in that segment of the game. The Tigers might have gotten more in the first 24 minutes except Warren had the ball for 34 plays, including two long possession drives. Massillon ran 27 plays, scoring twice but did not hold on to the ball as long.

In the second half Warren had 27 plays and Masisllon 26, but the Panthers turned the ball over four times after the intermission to three in the first half and had no long drives as in the first two periods.

Even though the Tigers ground game was terrific, there was one position they couldn’t run from. That was the fullback spot. Coach Leo Strang said, “We could break their keys but couldn’t break our fullback loose. They were just keying too strongly on Philpott (Fred).”

Being unable to get possession in the first half hurt. “We knew we could move the ball from the first play,” Strang said, “We picked up their keys and defensive philosophy. But we couldn’t get the ball.”
Strang said that Warren Coach Ben Wilson used pretty much the same theory on defense in Friday night’s game as he did last year in the Trumbull county city.

* * *
ONE REASON the Tigers couldn’t get the ball the first half is that the Panthers were trapping substitute defensive tackles Charlie Whitfield and Ed Radel. Both were last minute replacements for Larry Strobel and Jim Ehmer. Strobel had a bad ankle, although he played some offense. Ehmer was out with the flu.

Whitfield and Radel both are normally linebackers. Whitfield played some tackle last week. However, Mansfield didn’t trap as much or as well as Warren did.

By making some adjustments at halftime, the Tigers got their defense going again. They switched from an 8-3 to a 5-4-2 shooting a linebacker through to stop the effectiveness of the Panthers’ trap plays. Likewise they discarded the partial blitz and either all charged or no one charged.

Overall Tiger defenders did extremely well again. They held Warren to 189 yards on the ground, threw them for a loss of 11 yards, and permitted only 15-yard via the air route for a total of 193. The Panthers, however, gained the most yardage of any Bengal opponent this season.

Junior Wil Paisley kicked four more conversion, making eight out of eight in two weeks.

* * *
THE BENGALS scored in every quarter. This was five of the eight times which they handled the ball.

The Tigers won the toss for the first time since the Alliance game, the final Friday in September. Alexander ran five of the first six plays, four down the center and one around the right end. This made Warren switch its normal 5-2-4 to an eagle 5-2-4 putting the linebackers between the tackles and ends, instead of on either side of the middle guard, thus loosening up the middle.

The Bengals carried from their 25, for the first score, in 10 plays with five first downs. Alex got two of them. With 7:10 seconds left, Brown carried through the center from the one for the touchdown. He had set up the score with a 12-yard run from the 15-yard line to the three.

Paisley kicked his first conversion.

Warren took the kickoff 45 yards, from its 30 to the Massillon 17, the Panthers’ longest march of the night. There the Tigers held on fourth down. Outstanding in this series as he was all night, was left halfback Wendell Smith. The speedy Panther picked up crucial yardage, aided by some fine blocking and good ball handling by Quarterback Bart Wilson.

Then the Tigers had what looked like another scoring drive coming up but ran afoul of a holding penalty and got no further than their 32.

In the next series, the first of the second stanza, Warren right halfback Frank Calvin went 36 yards for a touchdown between his right tackle and right guard. But a holding penalty nullified the score.

* * *
THAT WAS THE LAST time Warren got near Massillon territory until the final series of the game when the Bengals intercepted a pass on a first down play on their 27. With Wilson playing with a jammed thumb, re-hurt early in the game, the Panthers were able to go to the air only three other times.

Coach Wilson said, “That lost score took all the steam out of the boys. If we had made that touchdown, things might have been different.”

Massillon ran three plays after the Warren drive bogged down. Alexander ran through the center from his 38 to the Panther seven on the first play. Then Brown ran two plays, the second for a score at 4:01 from the one.

Paisley booted conversion No. 2.

The Tigers took over after a poor 30-yard punt in the third canto and went 70 yards for another score. In five plays and two first downs it was 20-0 at 6:42. Bob Baker burst through the center from 58 yards away, almost getting tripped up twice but following through nicely for the score.

Paisley came onto the field. But Strang changed his mind and Brown swept right end for two points.

* * *
THE TIGERS’ forced a punt again on the next series, moving the ball from their own 49, for the score in six plays and three first downs all in succession. Brown picked up two running from the Warren 44 to the 36 and 18 to the eight. Baker ran the other.

Dean swept left end at 1:25 diving on the goal line flag for the six-pointer. Paisley kicked conversion No. 3.

The final score came at 6:57 of the last quarter. Again the Bengals took over after a poor punt by Jim Levero, this one going only 12 yards. Massillon moved from its 43 to the touchdown in 10 plays and three first downs. There were runs of 21, 17 and 16 yards to help the cause, two by Brown and one by Schenkenberger on a reverse.

Brown got his third TD of the night, between the outside tackle and long side end, again from the one. Paisley converted for the fourth time.

The Tigers almost had a sixth touchdown, Schenkenbergers pass to short end Larry Ehmer during Massillon’s last scrimmage was just beyond Ehmer’s outstretched fingertips on the two.

After the game, Warren mentor Wilson described his boys as “shell-shocked”. He said, “We played good but not good enough to beat a really fine Massillon team.”

Strang praised the Warren squad. He said, “They were really fired up. They have a rough team. Their backs ran harder than at anytime we’ve seen them this year.” He also hastened to add, “Our boys were hungry for this one. They were higher for this game than any other this season.”

Toledo Libbey comes in for the Bengals’ final home game of the season next Friday. Now over the big hump in quest of a third straight state championship, the Tigers can breathe easier for awhile.

Victory No. 8

WARREN
Ends – Ferance, Hammond, Williamson, Lawrence, Snyder and Shannon.
Tackles – Chickerneo, Kearny and Franklin.
Guards – Jamison, Peterson, Windie and Cohen.
Centers – Sanfrey and Kosiraho.
Backs – Wilson, Mancinelli, Smith, Calvin, Levero, Shinn, Thomas and Zupancic.

MASSILLON
Ends – Ivan, Ehmer, Garland, Pierce and Dewald.
Tackles – Maglischo, Spees, Paisley, Mercer, C. Bradley, Clendening and Profant.
Guards – Clendenin, Whiftield, Matecheck, Radel, Relford, Poole, Mickley,
Migge and Caldwell.
Centers – B. Bradley, Strobel, Heine and Heckathorn.
Backs – Alexander, Schenkenberger, Brown, Philpott, Baker, Swartz, Jarvis,
Dean, Snively, Davis, Blunt and Kanney.

Score by Quarters
Massillon 7 7 15 7 36

Scoring
Massillon
Touchdowns – Brown (three one-yard runs); Baker (58-yard run);
Dean (eight-yard run).

Conversions – Paisley’s 4 (placekicks); Brown 1 (run).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Bud Shopbell.
Umpire – Bob Harman.
Head Linesman – Ron Dolson.
Field Judge – Any Chiebeck

STATISTICS
Mass. Warr.
First downs – rushing 16 10
First downs – passing 0 1
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 16 11
Yards gained rushing 479 189
Yards lost rushing 2 11
Net yards gained rushing 476 178
Yards gained passing 0 15
Total yards gained 476 193
Passes attempted 6 4
Passes completed 0 1
Passes intercepted by 0 1
Times kicked off 6 1
Kickoff average (yards) 46.5 52.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 17 93
Times punted 1 4
Punt average (yards) 34 22
Punt return (yards) 0 0
Had punts blocked 0 1
Fumbles 1 0
Lost fumbled ball 0 0
Penalties 4 2
Yards penalized 40 30

Massillon Statisticians
Junie Studer
Earl O’Leary

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 34, Mansfield 6

Bengals Claw Mansfield For 7th Win
Blitzing Defense Limits Tygers To 84 Yards

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

The late Al Jolson had a pet phrase, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” The Massillon faithful in the group of 13,539 fans who sat in on the Tigers’ seventh game of the season Friday night at Tiger stadium found out Jolson had something there.

The contest was complete with the Tigers’ greatest defensive show of the season, some weird fumbles, side-of-the-foot punts, the Bengals behind for the first time this season, the unveiling of a toe the likes of Lou Groza and one of the oddest touchdowns in a long time.

For the fourth week in a row the Bengals stopped a here-to-fore undefeated and ranked team. This time it was Mansfield which felt the claws of the Tiger, 34-6.

It could have been an even higher score but for some breaks which didn’t go Washington high’s way. As Coach Leo Strang said, “We were bound to have a night like this one of these times.”

Program Cover

* * *
ALSO HAD Massillon been able to crack its offense into high gear in the first half, the story would have been different. “Our offense was rusty and listless,” said Strang. “Our timing was off, and we bobbled the ball all over the place.”

“Part of our touble stemmed from their stunting,” the Tiger pilot continued. “They seemed to be jumping into the right spots. It took us time to adjust to this, but when we did, we broke through well.”

In commenting on his defense Strang said, “It certainly helped make our touchdowns.” The Massillon defenders set up four of the five TD’s. “Red Dogging,” or crashing linebackers the Bengals held Mansfield to 84 yards on the ground and nothing in air. The Tygers had a minus five yards rushing in the second half. Massillon intercepted two of Mansfield’s five aerials and 62 yards on the ground caused the Tygers to lose.

While this was going on Massillon rolled to 321 yards rushing and 19 passing for 340 yards on offense. Quarterback Jim Alexander wasn’t as sharp as usual, completing only two of seven passes.

Part of Alex’s trouble was in the Tyger’s rushing him consistently and covering the deep receivers well. Outstanding defenders were the “floater” or “monster,” Jim Wareham, Middle Guard, Ron Keplinger, End Wendell Bell and Safety Bill Mitchell.

* * *
THE TIGERS rushing of passers was a sight to behold. They covered receivers well. No single man was responsible for the fine defensive showing. They all helped out. The Bengal blitz also stopped many runs before they got started.

In all fairness to Quarterback Don Cole it must be mentioned that his favorite target, End Elroy Allen, was hobbled with an injured leg. Allen, had caught nine TD passes before Friday’s game. But with the rush the Tigers had on and their coverage of receivers, it is doubtful that even had Allen been in top condition, that this would have made much difference.

Mansfield got into Massillon territory early four times during the game, twice in the first quarter and twice in the second. They were stopped at the 47 once, the 33 and the 24-yard line.

The other invasion was when speedster Henry Weaver ran the opening kickoff back for the game’s first score. Showing why he was the state 100-yard and 180-yard low hurdles champ last spring. Weaver grabbed Co-Captain Ken Ivan’s second boot (the first went out of bounds) on the Tyger 12 and cut to his left down the sideline, outdistancing Massillon defenders, who underestimated his speed, for the score with only 15 seconds gone in the game. Wareham’s kick for the conversion was no good.

Tom Henson kicked off for Mansfield, making the third such boot in such a short time, something rarely seen. But for a fumble on the return, an even odder situation would have cropped up.

Bob Baker gathered in the ball on his 15 and started up the right side. He had clear sailing for a score. However, he was bumped hard at the Massillon 48 and the ball squirted out of his hands and across the sideline.

The Tigers got their first touchdown six plays later when Alexander passed to Ivan on the down-and-out pattern from the Mansfield six at 10:06 to put the cap on a 52-yard drive.

Fullback Fred Philpott paved the way for the score with a 35-yard jaunt around left end from the 45 to the 10. A last minute shove by Don Cole, who alternated with Mitchell at safety, knocked Philpott out of bounds.

* * *
IT LOOKED as if trouble was brewing when Co-Captain Charlie Brown picked up only five yards on the next three plays. But Alexander and Ivan teamed up for the fourth down TD pass and the score.

Junior Will Paisley booted the first of four extra points for the Tigers to put Massillon in the lead 7-6. The kick was from the 15 due to a delay penalty.

Mansfield appeared to be off to the races again. Bill Mitchell, another speedster grabbed Ivan’s kickoff on the 14 and lugged the ball to his 22.

Weaver took off around right end with a pitchout and raced 26 yards on the next play for a first down. This was his next to last big run of the night. By the second half the Massillon defense had worn him to a frazzle.

Allen punted when Mansfield was halted three plays later, and Massillon took over on its 18. A 49-yard drive in nine plays and two first downs took the Bengals to the Tyger 33. A fourth down play failed to click and Mansfield took over.

The Tygers controlled the ball for two series during which Weaver had a fine 12-yard run off tackle, and Mansfield employed the “shotgun” or spread offense to no avail. The Tygers tried this maneuver several other times but could generate nothing off of it.

* * *
RON SCHENKENBERGER, usually very sticky fingered, suffered the first of three fumbles, two of which proved costly, when Allen punted on fourth down. Schenk bobbled on his 21 just after the second period had started, but recovered and ran to the 27.

When this series fizzled on the 42, Alex dropped back to punt, but hit the ball with the side of his foot. The pigskin went out of bounds on the Mansfield 36.

The Tygers had the ball for three more series before they failed to make a first down. Massillon ultimately took over on its 32.

Six plays and two first downs later it was TD No. 2 for the Bengals, even though they were set back 15 yards for an illegal shift along the way. They also picked up 15 via the personal foul route.

The score came at 4:20 when Schenkenberger scored on a reverse from a backs-over formation, going from short to long side. The run was 52 yards. Paisley’s boot was good, the ball sailing clear over the north end zone bleachers.

Mansfield had the ball for practically the rest of the quarter with two exceptions. The Tigers got the ball on the visitors’ 49 after a punt, but Brown fumbled on the next play. Schenk fumbled a punt on his 26. John Brooks recovered on the 29.

* * *
COLE TRIED to pass on the next play. But the aerial was picked off and turned to the Massillon 41. An illegal shift penalty, caused by poor timing kayoed another drive as the first half ended.

The Tigers were unable to score on a 44-yard drive from their 31 to the Mansfield 25 following the second half kickoff. The drive was stopped after 10 plays and two first downs.

Massillon had two opportunities in the series that got sidetracked. Schenkenberger was all alone on a reverse on second down from the 28 when the ball popped out of his hands, the Bengals losing 10 yards in the process.

Two plays earlier Philpott went through the center on third down from the 47. He was just about in the clear when a Tyger on the ground reached a hand back over his head and just managed to trip the Bengals’ leading scorer up.

Mansfield had two series and Allen went back to punt with the ball snapped from his 26. Charlie Whitfield and Willie Poole broke through to bring him down on the 17, not giving Allen time to punt.

* * *
MASSILLON HAD its third score six plays and a first down later when Brown shot between the outside tackle and long side end from the three with 1:38 seconds remaining in the third canto. Charlie failed to score the conversion with a run between the tackles.

Mansfield had three more plays before the period ended, the opportunities coming after the kickoff. But Weaver was on the wrong end of a bad handoff, the ball was bobbled, and Joe Snively recovered on the Tyger 43.

Massillon started another drive. But an illegal shit penalty cost them again. After driving to the 13 in 11 plays and two first downs, the Bengals failed to pause one second and suffered the consequences. Set back to the 28 on third down and needing 28 yards to score, Alex tried to hit Ivan in the end zone. But the short side end’s diving try for the catch of the overthrown pass was in vain. A fourth down run was short.

The march, which started near the end of the third stanza, carried to midway in the fourth. The Tigers’ next tally was set up by a pass interception.

Snively hauled in a second down aerial on the Tyger 45. Before he was tackled he got down to the 25. He almost got loose for a score.

On the first play sophomore Wingback Bill Blunt, playing his first game, scored on a reverse. The time was 3:21. Paisley’s boot made the score 27-6.

* * *
BUT THE WIERDEST touchdown possibly ever scored at the stadium was still to come. Allen dropped back to punt from his two near the end of the contest. The snap was bad. Poole came charging in at Allen. The senior end’s punt went straight up into the air. As it came down, Jim Ehmer tipped it toward his cousin Larry and Ivan. After a struggle for possession between the two, Ivan finally ran the ball over from the three at 1:36.

Paisley’s kick raised the tally to 34 and sent the Dad’s night crowd home happy as the Tigers got their seventh straight win of the season.

Mansfield Coach Bill Doolittle commented on the Tigers thusly after the game. “They’ve got a tremendous team. It’s very well balanced. They’ve got good running and passing. This makes it difficult to defense them. They’ve got too many ways to hurt you. We just couldn’t contain them enough.”

Lucky 7th Win

Mansfield
Ends – Pratts, Allen, Beckwith, Bell and Baker.
Tackles – Russell and Shasky.
Guards – Atwater, bucher, Dunson, Henson, Potter and Winbigler.
Center – Keplinger.
Backs – Brooks, Cole, Mitchell, Phillips, Schroeder and Weaver.

Massillon
Ends – Ivan, L. Ehmer, Garland and Pierce.
Tackles – Maglischo, Spees, J. Ehmer and Mercer.
Guards – Clendenin, Whitfield, Poole, Radel, Paisley and Migg.e
Centers – Strobel and Bradley.
Backs – Alexander, Schenkenberger, Brown, Philpott, Blunt, Toles, Swartz, Dean, Snively, Baker and Getz.

Score by Quarters
Mansfield 6 0 0 0 6
Massillon 7 7 6 14 34

Mansfield
Touchdowns – Weaver (88-yard run).

Massillon
Touchdowns – Ivan (six-yard pass from Alexander);
Schenkenberger (52-yard run);
Brown (three-yard run);
Blunt (25-yard run);
Ivan (three-yard punt return).

Conversions – Paisley 4 (place kicks)

OFFICIALS
Referee – Bill Holzwarth.
Umpire – Clarence Rich.
Head Linesman – Jim Langhurst.
Field Judge – Russ Kemper.

STATISTICS
Mass. Mansf.
First downs – rushing 12 6
First downs – passing 1 0
First downs – penalties 1 1
Total first downs 14 7
Yards gained rushing 330 146
Yards lost rushing 9 62
Net yards gained rushing 321 84
Yards gained passing 19 0
Total yards gained 340 84
Passes attempted 7 5
Passes completed 2 0
Passes intercepted by 2 0
Times kicked off 7 2
Kickoff average (yards) 45.0 44.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 47 129
Times punted 2 6
Punt average (yards) 26.0 27.3
Punt return (yards) 8 0
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 4 2
Lost fumbled ball 2 2
Penalties 5 5
Yards penalized 65 36

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 12, Cincinnati Roger Bacon 0

Tigers Beat Tough Roger Bacon 12-0
Cincinnati Defeated First Time On Home Field In Three Years

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

CINCINNATI – The Massillon Tigers got what they came for. They beat Roger Bacon high school here Friday night and proved to the fans of southern Ohio that the focal point of high school football in the state is Stark County without a doubt.

For the second year in a row the Bengals shut out an outstanding Bacon eleven, this time 12-0, before an overflow crowd of 10,000 fans at Bacon stadium. It was the first loss for the Spartans on their home field in three years.

The bleachers on the north side of the field and both end zones were jammed. Fans were standing two deep around the perimeter of the field. A steep hill on the north side was packed with spectators.

Although his charges notched their sixth straight victory of the season and took a giant step toward a third straight championship, Coach Leo Strang was not all smiles.

Program Cover

* * *
“WE SHOULD HAVE scored more points for the yardage we gained,” the skipper said. “We played hard but we also made some mistakes. Bacon had a fine team.” The Tigers had a fumble at an inopportune time and were hurt by penalties.

The Tigers gained 374 total yards while holding Bacon to 159. Again it was a tremendous defensive effort by the entire team which was so important in the victory.

Bron Bacevich, Spartan mentor called the Tigers, “What we feel is the best high school team in the midwest and certainly one of the best in the country.” He continued, “We played as well as we could except we made too many errors. I was happy that this one was a clean hard-hitting game.”

The Tigers played possession football, grinding out the yardage on the ground with Charlie Brown doing most of the carrying. As last week, Brown garnered a lot of real estate between the long side end and outside tackle on the fake ridge play. He picked his opening well.

Brown gained 165 yards in 23 carries. This figures to an outstanding 7.2 yards per carry against a rugged defensive line which out weighed the Tiger blockers by at least a 10-pound average.

* * *
ALTHOUGH it’s tough to single out any one boy for opening up the holes, Long Side Guard Charlie Whitfield and inside Tackle Larry Strobel came in for a lot of praise from their area coaches.

The Tigers lost the toss again for the fifth time in six weeks so Bacon had the first opportunity.

The Spartans opened up a drive that carried from their own 28-yard line to the Massillon 42 where Safetyman Bob Baker hauled in an aerial tossed by Sophomore Quarterback Pat Case, intended for Jim Teed. The Tigers took over on their seven.

Bacon didn’t reach Massillon territory again until late in the final period. The Spartans opened up an aerial attack, which was stopped on the Bengal six.

The Tigers moved to their first score after Baker’s interception. It took the Bengals 20 plays to cash in with their first tally. They got six first downs in the 94-yard jaunt.

Brown carried on 12 of the plays. The big run was 21 yards from the Bacon 34 to the 13 on a second and three situation.

* * *
BUT AN EVEN bigger play was a fourth down gamble on the Tiger 44. Massillon had one yard to get, Brown made three.

The final score came on a fake into the line and pitch to Fullback Fred Philpott who swept the short side from three yards out with 9:01 left in the second period. The Tigers caught Case playing too tight at cornerback and that was all they needed.

Philpott tried the same run for the extra two points, but this time Case played him right.

Bacon carried from its 25 to the 47 on the next series. Here their attack stalled and Case punted.

After another Massillon series failed to get the Tigers anything (unreadable) fumbled on first down, and the Bengals took over on the Spartan 33. The Tigers drove for another TD only to have it called back due to holding.

* * *
ON THE FIRST play after the fumble, Alexander hit Ron (Glue Fingers) Schenkenberger, senior Wingback, on the hook on the 25. Schenk carried to the five.

This was the first of several fine catches by the little toehead who is fast becoming a great receiver.

Brown went through on his pet play inside the long side end for the score. But the penalty nullified a fine run.

Set back to the 20 and stymied for two plays Alexander again tried to hit Schenk, this time down the middle on the “banana,” but Dan Westerbeck intercepted in the end zone. The half ended a few minutes later.

Massillon scored its other TD in the third period and controlled the ball so well that the Spartans had only two series in that canto.

The Tigers got their other score so quickly in the third period that the Spartans didn’t know what hit them. Baker ran the kickoff back from his 10 to his 40. Then came the score.

BROWN SHOT off the short side and with the help of a fine block by Center Ben Bradley scampered 60 yards for the six-pointer at 11:26. Philpott was caught on a pitch to the short side, and the conversion attempt backfired.

Then came Bacon’s only series of the quarter. The Tigers took over on their 27 after a punt with Brown doing almost all of the carrying. They got four first downs. A penalty in the middle of the drive nullified a long gain.

The Bengals took another gamble on fourth down in their own territory. But this time, with a two-TD lead, they could afford to tempt lady luck. Needing two yard from their 35 they called on Ken Dean. He got the deuce.

Schenkenberger made a tremendous catch while falling backward to help the drive move from the Bacon 43 to the 16.

Bacon put on a tremendous stand with its back to the wall and stopped Massillon with fourth and one from the seven.

The two teams exchanged fumbles in the last period. The Spartans bobbled on their 48. Massillon on the Bacon 37.

Bacon moved from its 33 after the Tiger fumble, to the Bengals’ 12 on a combination of passes and sweeps only to be stopped by the Tigers on a great stand in the shadow of their goal posts.

The Tigers took over and ran the clock out.

Nice Going

MASSILLON
ENDS – Ivan, L. Ehmer, Garland and Pierce.
TACKLES – Strobel, Spees and Mercer.
GUARDS – Clendenin, Whitfield, Migge, Poole and Radel.
CENTER – Bradley.
BACKS – Alexander, Schenkenberger, Brown, Philpott, Dean, Baker, Snively and Davis.

ROGER BACON
ENDS – Henninger, Tood and Plum.
TACKLES – Schmidt, Fein, Puiskamp and Workman.
GUARDS – Butts and Norton.
BACKS – Sexton, Anthony, Hobbin, Galiagher, Meyer, Westerbeck, Case and Fitzpatrick.

Score by Quarters
Massillon 0 6 6 0 12

Scoring
Touchdowns – Philpott (three-yard run);
Brown (60-yard run).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Harry Meyer.
Umpire – Jim Heieradurfer.
Head Linesman – Vic Kauffman.
Field Judge – Russ Kemper.

STATISTICS
Mass. Bacon
First downs – rushing 12 8
First downs – passing 5 3
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 17 11
Yards gained rushing 257 112
Yards lost rushing 3 6
Net yards gained rushing 254 106
Yards gained passing 120 53
Total yards gained 374 159
Passes attempted 8 6
Passes completed 3 4
Passes intercepted by 1 1
Times kicked off 3 1
Kickoff average (yards) 50 48
Kickoff returns (yards) 28 8
Times punted 1 2
Punt average (yards) 48 39
Punt return (yards) 0 38
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 2 3
Lost fumbled ball 1 2
Penalties 3 1
Yards penalized 35 5

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 38, Steubenville 14

Steubenville Fifth Victim of Tigers
Bengals Hand Big Red First Loss 38-14

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

Webster’s dictionary defines a pile driver as a machine for driving down piles.

Washington high’s Tigers came up with a new definition Friday night. There could be no more apt description of the Bengals offensive machine.

The Tigers literally drove a here-to-fore undefeated Steubenville Big Red team down to submission, 38-14, before an overflow crowd of some 10,000 fans at Harding stadium in the River City.

For the unbeaten Bengals it was win No. 5 on the road to a third straight Ohio schoolboy championship. It was the first loss in five contests for the Big Red.

After the game an utterly flabbergasted Steubenville coach, Ray Hoyman, said, “You’ve got quite a team there.” He also added, “We’re not thick enough for you,” meaning Hoyman didn’t have the depth to cope with the Tiger juggernaut.

* * *
MASSILLON COACH Leo Strang said, “This was the best game away from home since I’ve been here. Our power offense was also the best this season.”

He mentioned the aerial game. We had tough luck with our passing. Steubenville made some beautiful saves he said. The Big Red intercepted two passes. Four were incomplete.

Although the Bengals played every bit as well as against Alliance last week, Friday marked the first time any team had scored more than one touchdown against Massillon. Two bad breaks late in the game caused that situation.

With the Massillon second liners in and less than two minutes left to play in the game, Halfback Chuck Weiher intercepted one of Bob Baker’s aerials on the Big Red 20-yard line and got back to the 24. With the exception of this and two other times, Massillon scored every time it got its hands on the ball.

Quarterback Bill Hoyman, the coach’s son and Co-captain, picked up seven yards around left end. Then he passed to Co-Captain and End Ken Potts for 17 more and a first down.

On the next play Halfback Ray Terry shot through the middle, cut to the right sideline and was gone 52 yards for the score at 1:43. He fumbled a pitchout on the conversion try to prevent any further damage there.

* * *
MASSILLON RAN seven plays after the kickoff, was penalized on three of them and Jim Alexander dropped back to punt on his own 28. The snap was bad. He fell on it but being fourth down, it became Steubenville’s ball when the Bengals failed to make the necessary yardage.

The Big Red took over on the Massillon nine with 10 seconds remaining. Wilson took a flat pass off a pitch and raced around the right side to the one. Terry carried over through the center on the final play of the game. Wilson took a pitch and passed to Paul Cunningham for the conversion.

Steubenville was in Massillon territory only two other times during the game. Earlier in the last stanza, Harry Wilson, the Big Red’s leading scorer, grabbed Wilbur Paisley’s kickoff after the final Tiger score on the Steubenville 20 and raced down the sideline to the Massillon 23.

Confusion reigned among the Washington high ranks with the reserves in on the kickoff. Paisley almost kicked the ball before Referee Bill Holzwarth sounded his whistle. Then the Tigers didn’t seem to know who was supposed to do what on Wilson’s long run.

* * *
THE BIG RED lost the ball on an incompleted pass on fourth down four plays later on the Massillon 27. On one of those plays Bob Baker knocked down a Hoyman pass in the end zone to prevent a score.

Steubenville didn’t get onto Bengal ground until the third period had seen about 10 minutes of play go by. After the Tigers fourth score, the Big Red took over on its 35 and moved to the Massillon 33 where a pass was incomplete on fourth down, again thanks to an alert Bengal secondary.

Although Massillon didn’t blitz as much Friday as against Alliance, because Steubenville didn’t have the explosive attack of the Aviators, its Oklahoma 5-4 and Eagle six defenses were more than adequate, holding Steubenville to 136 net yards rushing and 53 passing. The Tigers had 361 rushing and 25 passing. Steubenville completed only one of 13 passes, Massillon two of eight.

The Tigers gained a lot of yardage on the trap between the outside tackle and long side end. With Steubenville playing a wide 6-2 most of the night, the Big Red was a sucker for this type of play.

Massillon started off the night as if it owned Steubenville. Although the Tigers failed to score the fist time, they got their hands on the ball, they dominated play for the rest of the night after that.

The Bengals lost the toss again for the fourth time in five tries, but Steubenville elected to defend the East goal. The Big Red kicked to Co-Captain Charlie Brown on the 30. His runback was only three yards.

* * *
WITH BROWN, Fred Philpott and Ken Dean alternating on the running, the Tigers carried to the Steubenville five in 12 plays and four first downs, using short gainers for their yardage. Then with the ball on the five, third and three, the Tigers were caught holding. The ball was moved back to the 18. Two plays later a pass incompletion stopped the drive on the 14.

Bob Baker intercepted a pass on the Steubenville 25 to set up the Tigers’ first score. Alexander threw to Wingback Ron Schenkenberger on the hook pattern for a first down on the 16. Brown gained a yard and Philpott 10 through the middle.

Then Brown went between the center and the long side guard for the score at 2:37. The same play netted two more points on the conversion.

This was to be the first of four two-pointers for the Bengals. They seemed to have found the answer to all of their conversion attempts, which went awry in the previous four games.

The Tigers scored again after getting the ball via a punt mid way in the second frame. They marched from their own 25 to pay dirt in nine plays with three first downs.

* * *
BROWNS 42-YARD run down the center on the first play from scrimmage helped set up the score. Dean took the ball over on the wedge from the one on third down at 6:13. Philpott swept left end for the conversion.

The Bengals had one other chance in the second quarter, but were forced to punt the first of two times during the night when they failed to get beyond their 37.

Receiving again at the start of the second half, Washington high lost no time in scoring. It took the Tigers five plays and two first downs, starting from their own 33.

Brown had an 11-yard romp through from his 48 to the Steubenville 41 on second down in the first series. Two plays later on second and three on the 34 Philpott went through between the outside tackle and long side end for the tall at 9:15.

When Steubenville was penalized to the 1 ½ for delay of game, Dean tried to use his favorite play, the wedge, for the conversion, but missed. It was the only time during the night the Tigers did.

A little later the Bengals forced the Big Red to punt again, taking over on their own 36. Massillon covered 64 yards in eight plays and three first downs for the fourth TD.

* * *
THE BIG RUNS were by Alexander and Brown, both between the tackles. Alexander moved the ball from his 42 to Steubenville’s 33 on second and four, Brown raced from the
22 to the nine.

Brown then cracked over, again between the tackles, at 3:43 on second and four from the four. Philpott’s sweep off a pitch left made it 30-0.

Massillon’s final tally came after a Big Red incomplete pass in the final quarter. The Bengals took over on their own 33 and reeled off 67 yards in eight plays with three first downs.

Philpott’s long run from his 33 to the Steubenville 39 on a second and 10 situation helped set up the last score. Davis finally carried in, between the outside tackle and long side end for the score on third and one from the one at 7:51. Alexander tallied the conversion off the short side.

The long trip to Cincinnati for the Roger Bacon game comes next Friday as the Tigers take step No. 6 in the climb toward the state title.

Chalk Up No. 5

MASSILLON
Ends – Ivan, L. Ehmer, Garland, McDew, Pierce and Dewald.
Tackles – Spees, Strobel, Dekan, Profant, Magliacho, Mercer, C. Bradley and Clendening.
Guards – Clendenin, Migge, Geckler, J. Ehmer, Poole, Whitfield, Mickley, Caldwell, Relford, Radel and Matecheck.
Centers – B. Bradley and Heckathorn.
Backs – Alexander, Schenkenberger, Brown, Philpott, Dean, Baker, Snively, Franklin, Jarvis, Lash, Getz, Williams, Sullivan, Davis and Kanney.

STEUBENVILLE
Ends – Potts, Ray and Herring.
Tackles – S. Schaeffer, Mazzaferre and Peters.
Guards – Newman, Ohle, Lawson and Sheffert.
Centers – Archer and Duncan.
Backs – Hoyman, Weiher, Wilson, Terry, Cunningham and Barnes.

Score by Quarters
Massillon 8 8 14 8 38
Steubenville 0 0 0 14 14

SCORING
Massillon
Touchdowns – Brown 2 (five and four-yard runs); Philpott (34-yard run); Dean (one-yard plunge); Davis (one-yard plunge).
Conversions – Philpott (2) Brown, Alexander.

Steubenville
Touchdowns – Terry (52 and one-yard runs).
Conversions – Cunningham (pass from Wilson).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Bill Holzwarth.
Umpire – Wilson Murray.
Head Linesman – Ted Humphrey.
Field Judge – Andy Chiebeck.

STATISTICS
Massillon Big Red
First downs – rushing 18 3
First downs – passing 2 2
First downs – penalties 0 1
Total first downs 20 8
Yards gained rushing 382 130
Yards lost rushing 21 3
Net yards gained rushing 361 136
Yards gained passing 25 53
Total yards gained 386 180
Passes attempted 8 13
Passes completed 2 5
Passes intercepted by 2 1
Times kicked off 5 3
Kickoff average (yards) 45.0 26.3
Kickoff returns (yards) 8 97
Times punted 1 3
Punt average (yards) 27.0 30.6
Punt return (yards) 2 0
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 1 0
Lost fumbled ball 0 0
Penalties 5 5
Yards penalized 40 75

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 26, Alliance 0

Tigers Roll Over Alliance High 26-0
Tight Bengal Defense Limits Aviators To 44 Net Yards Rushing

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

Massillon’s terrific Tigers had the “Keys to the Kingdom” Friday night at Tiger stadium. And they unlocked another door in the path to a third straight state high school football championship for Leo Strang’s charges.

The Benglas shut out previously undefeated Alliance 26-0 before the largest crowd of the season. Some 91,319 fans sat in on the slaughter of the hapless Aviators, who have never won a game at Tiger stadium.

“We must have read a 100 keys out there,” said a jubilant Strang. He was referring to the method by which defenders can diagnose the direction and type of play coming at them. They watch certain key players for the tipoff.

Program Cover

* * *
BY DOING THIS expertly and wheeling and pealing, blitzing from and eight-man defensive line and pursuing plays doggedly the Tigers held the Aviators to a mere 44 net yards rushing. The Bengals completely smothered Alliance’s heretofore explosive attack. They were thus the first to stop the deadly Alliance sweep play. The vaunted “Pony Backs” – Marion Young, Glenn Hill and Larry Grimes, never had a chance. Quarterback Jim LaFountain got few passes away. The ones he connected on netted Alliance only 10 yards. When he did pass, the Tiger secondary covered receivers like a glove, allowing Mel Knowlton’s boys to complete only one of nine aerials.

“This was the best defensive effort I’ve ever gotten from a team playing an opponent the caliber of Alliance,” Strang said. He meant not only at Massillon but in his entire coaching career.

An effort like the one the Bengals made Friday night has to be a tribute to a great coaching staff. A fine job of scouting plus utilization of the reports to the utmost resulted in the Tigers’ fourth straight and most impressive win of the season.

“We, the coaches, put in long sessions this week, staying up to midnight and 1 a.m. studying the Alliance offense and how to defense it correctly,” Strang said. “I’m dead. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a week,” he added

* * *
A DEJECTED KNOWLTON said, “I have no alibis. We were lousy in all departments. But don’t get me wrong,” he added, “I’m not taking anything away from Massillon. That’s a great team.”

The contest was marred by a free-for-all at the contest’s conclusion. Massillon’s Bob Baker and Alliance’s Marion Young had a difference of opinion in the middle of the field during the last play. Then both benches emptied. Fists were swinging and helmets flying. But most of the uproar was a lot of pushing.

Both Strang and Knowlton, right in the middle of the melee, said, “We tried to break the thing up. But as quickly as one fight was stopped, more got started. This is an awful thing to have happen.” Actually, there weren’t as many boys fighting as it seemed, but it was enough to ruin an otherwise fine night of football. The altercation was stopped after about five minutes.

It would be unfair to single out any Bengal for fine play offensively or defensively because all did such a tremendous job. But it must be mentioned that Fullback Ken Dean scored three of the Tigers’ four touchdowns.

It appears that Dean, who reported about 40 pounds overweight last month and is now down to a trim, for him, 218, is back on the beam. His old speed and power, which brought him All-American honors in 1960, appear to have been recovered.

* * *
“IT SURE FELT great out there,” the big guy said, “but please give the whole gang credit. They gave me the opportunities.”

One of the guys who was instrumental in Dean’s TD romps was Ron Schenkenberger. He caught two key passes that set up two six-pointers. The little wingback also set up another score by Fullback Fred Philpott.

Passing was all important to the Strangmen. They opened up the middle by throwing to unstack the Aviators’ five-four and four-five defenses which jammed up the Tigers’ ground game down the middle.

It looks like Philpott and Dean will be the big yardage boys from now on. Philpott did the open field running and Dean got the short yardage in tight.

“That’s the way I’ll use them the rest of the season,” Strang said.

The Tigers won the toss for the first time this season. But it didn’t do them any good. On their first play from scrimmage, the Bengals fumbled on their own 42. Jim Fraraccio recovered for Alliance.

The Aviators drove to the Massillon 24, their deepest penetration of the night. On a first down play, Alliance fumbled, and Steve Garland hopped on the errant pigskin.

* * *
IT COULD BE that this fumble broke the spirit of the Aviators for they never got going again. Had they gotten an early score, the game might have been tighter.

This could also have been what the doctor ordered for Massillon. The Bengals were certainly keyed up for the entire 48 minutes.

The Tigers got only four yards during their first series. But that was the only time they didn’t get more than one first down when they had the ball in their hands.

The Airmen, on the other hand, got only one other drive going the entire night, and they lost the ball on downs on the Massillon 26 on that one, which occurred in the last period.

Quarterback Jim LaFountain punted on fourth and two on the Massillon 42 in the second Alliance series. Schenkenberger, attempting the runback, gave the hometown fans a fright when he fumbled on his 12. He recovered, however.

* * *
THE TIGERS then took off on an 88-yard touchdown romp, covering 15 plays and picking up five first downs along the route. Strang’s charges alternated between sweeps and plays up through the center on the drive.

Schenkenberger had two fine pass catches to help set up Massillon’s first score. The first was a 17-yarder on the down-and-out pattern from mid field to the Alliance 33. Quarterback Jim Alexander completed another from the 17 to the two with Schenk running the diagonal pattern.

Dean then came into the game and ran two straight wedge plays up the center, scoring from the one on the second run as the first period ended. Brown tried to go between the long side guard and inside tackle for the conversion but missed.

Another Alliance series followed. And LaFountain was forced to punt again. Schenkenberger fumbled and recovered again, this time at the Airmen’s 47. Had he not lost time on the bobble he might have scored for his path was wide open.

Cornerbacker, Floyd Pierce made a brilliant over-the-shoulder interception on the Aviators’ 29, to set the stage again.

Schenkenberger grabbed a button-hook pass on the next play and raced to the two from where Dean went over on the wedge a second time at 5:54. Alexander’s pass to Larry Ehmer misfired on the conversion attempt.

* * *
LINEBACKER Charlie Whitfield put the Tigers back into business near the end of the period by recovering an Alliance fumble on the Aviators’ 41, but the Bengals failed to capitalize on the situation this time.

Massillon’s last effort of the half ended when a pass to Schenkenberger down the middle was knocked down by safety Tony King around the Aviator 10. He batted down two other potential TD aerials.

Both Strang and Knowlton heaped praise on King saying, “He did a tremendous job on defense.”

In the third period Massillon got its only TD coupled with a conversion. Again it was Dean, this time on what started with the big fullback cutting in between the tackles and then out to the sideline on the right side. He carried two players with him and finally fell on the goal flag for the score at 1:37. The run came from the five. Brown’s sweep of right end netted the conversion.

Massillon had taken over after an Aviator punt on the Tiger 49. Covering 51 yards ,the scoring march was completed in eight plays.

One of the really funny incidents of the night occurred in the third period. On another Aviator punt Schenkenberger and Baker each thought the other was going to catch the ball and it hit the former on the top of his head. Luckily the Tigers recovered.

* * *
MASSILLON SCORED its last TD in the dying minutes of the game, showing once again that the Tigers know how to utilize the clock. The Tigers recovered a fumble on the Alliance 29 to set this one up.

In three plays it was 26-0 at 0:38. Schenkenberger caught a pass on the first play using the “banana” pattern, out and then looping in and down the center. The play carried to the 11. Brown swept right end to the one, and Philpott scored on the wedge. With Alexander holding, Co-Captain Ken Ivan attempted to kick a conversion for the first time this season. However, the ball hit one of the uprights and caromed back into the field, just missing going through by inches.

The Bengals’ now leave Tiger stadium until Oct. 20, playing at Steubenville next week and Cincinnati Roger Bacon, Oct. 12.

Strang set the tone for coming games with the statement, “I don’t know whether we can stay keyed up for the next five or six weeks or not.”

A Big Victory

ALLIANCE
Ends – King, Leaf, Crowder, Green.
Tackles – Admonius, Dunn, Woods.
Guards – Frearaccio, Long and Mallory.
Center – Stoops.
Backs – LaFountain, Grimes, and Young.

MASSILLON
Ends – Ivan, L. Ehmer, Garland, Pierce.
Tackles – Strobel, Spees, Paisley, Mercer.
Guards – Clendenin, Whitfield, Poole, Migge, and Radel.
Center – Bradley.
Backs – Alexander, Schenkenberger, Brown, Philpott, Baker,
Dean, Snively, Davis and Williams.

Massillon – 6 6 8 6 – 26

Scoring
Touchdowns – Dean 3 (one, two, five-yard runs);
Philpott (one-yard run).
Conversions – Brown (sweep).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Bud Shopbell.
Umpire – Jim Lymper.
Head Linesman – (unreadable)
Field Judge – (unreadable)

STATISTICS
Mass. All.
First downs – rushing 11 2
First downs – passing 4 1
First downs – penalties 0 2
Total first downs 15 5
Yards gained rushing 206 84
Yards lost rushing 9 40
Net yards gained rushing 197 44
Yards gained passing 103 10
Total yards gained 300 54
Passes attempted 14 9
Passes completed 6 2
Passes intercepted by 1 1
Times kicked off 5 1
Kickoff average (yards) 45.8 45
Kickoff returns (yards) 20 61
Times punted 4 4
Punt average (yards) 38.2 33.5
Punt return (yards) 17 14
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 2 4
Lost fumbled ball 1 3
Penalties 3 2
Yards penalized 35 10

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 20, Cleveland Benedictine 6

Tigers Defeat Stubborn Benedictine 20-6
Bengals’ Unexpected Strength Surprises Massillon Gridders

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

Someone once said, “The football bounces in strange ways.” Whoever it was had something there.

How do you explain Cleveland Benedictine losing, 40-0, last week and playing vastly better Friday night?

Massillon Coach Leo Strang had one answer after his charges had defeated the fired-up Benedictine eleven 20-6 Friday night at Tiger Stadium. “Benedictine was probably looking toward us last week. We were looking ahead to next week and Alliance. You can take 20 points off a team’s total when this happens.”

Benedictine veteran mentor, Auggie Bossu, had his explanation, “We were fighting for our life in there. We had to be up for the game and were. This is the first time in a long time that we’ve been in a contest right up to the end. I’m proud of our boys showing.”

* * *
THERE’S ALSO a third possibility. There’s a jinx that seems to dog the Tigers. Whenever Massillon has been written up in national magazines or filmed for national presentations, they’ve had a tough time in the next game.

A television film crew from the National Broadcasting Company’s “Today” show was on hand Friday night. The films will be shown on the program Monday morning from 8 to 8:30. The crew plans to return for the traditional game with McKinley in November.

Whatever the reason was, the Tigers got their third straight win of the season and Strang and his lieutenants breathed a lot easier after the final whistle had sounded.

There were several factors in Benedictine’s fine showing. One was the play of its defensive line. Another was Quarterback Ron Boruszkowski’s running of the option play. A third was the fine pass defense thrown up by the Bengals.

Bengal defensive linemen were charging hard and low with good results so its secondary was able to play deep and had Tiger receivers well covered. Boruszkowski, playing with a stoved thumb and after having missed several days of practice in the last two weeks, ran his team well. He gained a lot of yardage around end.

The Tigers also defended well, both up front and in the deep positions, although they gave up the most yardage of their three games this season last night.

* * *
MASSILLON gobbled up a lot of ground yardage around the middle of the line once again, but it was their lowest total to date. The Tigers led the Bengals 265-104. Washington high also was on top in the air 42-31.

Massillon Quarterback Jim Alexander completed two of four passes. Boruszkowski connected on two of seven.

It was a battle of unbalanced wing-T’s, Massillon stuck to offense to the right. Benedictine varied its attack with its offense swung both ways.

Fullback Fred Philpott was a multiple scorer again. He tallied two times. Left Half Ken Dean got his first score of the season. Quarterback Jim Alexander scored a conversion.

Benedictine’s lone score tally was by halfback Jim Kucera.

It took the Tigers nearly the whole first period to engineer their initial score. The Tigers lost the toss for the third straight week and kicked from the north goal for the third time.

Benedictine drove to the Massillon 34 on its first chance with the pigskin. Taking over on their own 39-yard line, the Bengals covered 27 yards in the next six plays and two first downs before Bob Baker intercepted a pass on the Tiger 28 to stop the drive.

* * *
MASSILLON came back with a 72-yard trek for the first score of the game. The drive took 12 plays. The Tigers garnered four first downs in the process.

The Tigers ground out the yardage via short gains, the longest being a 16-yard effort by Ron Schenkenberger from his own 42 to the Bengal 42.

The play that brought the Tigers to pay dirt was a sweep of left end on first down from the 16 by Philpott. Alexander went down the middle for two more on the keeper. The score came with 2:37 left in the period.

The two teams battled on even terms until midway in the second stanza. The Bengals took over after a Massillon punt on the hosts 47 and went all the way for the score.

It took Benedictine seven plays. Kucera and Boruszkowski took turns running the ball around the ends or off the left side of the line. Tom Kucera took it over at 7:31, sweeping the left side. Boruszkowski failed in his effort to get two more points, and the score stood
8-6.

* * *
BOTH TEAMS had one more chance in the second period. Benedictine got stalled on the Massillon 42. The Tigers were on the verge of scoring when time ran out.

They had been put back in a big hole by a long punt by Boruszkowsi to the three. In nine plays and three first downs the Tigers had moved to the Benedictine 45. With third and 10, Alexander passed to Schenkenberger down the middle. The play carried to the Benedictine 15 but the first half had ended en route.

Massillon scored the first time it got its hands on the ball in the third period. Taking over on its own 33 after the kickoff, the Tigers moved 67 yards in nine plays with three first downs.

A big play was Brown’s sweep of right end for 19 yards from his 43 to Benedictine’s 38.

The scoring play was a 22-yard blast down the middle on second and seven with 7:05 remaining. Schenkenberger tried to sweep right end for the score but missed.

* * *
BENEDICTINE had one more scoring opportunity at the end of the third period and beginning of the fourth. After a Massillon punt, the Bengals got rolling from their own 46. They got as far as the Massillon 34 in the next seven plays but were forced to punt after a holding penalty had set them back.

Massillon scored its final TD late in the fourth period. The Tigers forced Benedictine to punt and got the ball at mid field.

Strang’s charges reeled off nine plays in three first downs and tallied at 1:21. Dean shot through the middle from the two on second down. Philpott’s sweep was short for the conversion.

Brown had two big gainers of 10 and 13 yards during the drive, the last setting up the score.

Next week the real meat of the schedule starts. The Alliance Aviators come in for a battle of the undefeated. It’ll be a lot of hard work from now on, as the Tigers try for their third straight state championship.

Victory No. 3

Cleveland Benedictine
Ends – Marcoguiseppe and Klaff.
Tackles – Porowski and Piazza.
Guards – Zummo, Gad and White.
Center – Bilek.
Backs – Boruszkowski, Chorba, Kucera and Zelina.

Massillon
Ends – L. Ehmer, Ivan and Pierce.
Tackles – Strobel, Spees, Maglischo, Pierce and Mercer.
Guards – Clendenin, Whitfield, Poole, Migge, Radel, Relford, and J. Ehmer.
Center – Bradley.
Backs – Snively, Alexander, Philpott, Brown, Dean, Davis and Baker.

Score by quarters
Benedictine 0 6 0 0 6
Massillon 8 0 6 6 20

Scoring
Benedictine
Touchdowns – Kucera (17-yard run).
Conversions – none.

Massillon
Touchdowns – Philpott (16 and 22-yard runs).
Dean (two-yard plunge).
Conversions – Alexander.

OFFICIALS
Referee – Steve Bernardic.
Umpire – Harold Rolph.
Head Linesman – Octavio Sirgo.
Field Judge – Pete Lanagan.

STATISTICS
Tigers Bengals
First downs – rushing 15 7
First downs – passing 2 1
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 17 8
Yards gained rushing 278 131
Yards lost rushing 13 27
Net yards gained rushing 265 104
Yards gained passing 42 31
Total yards gained 307 135
Passes attempted 4 7
Passes completed 2 2
Passes intercepted by 1 0
Times kicked off 4 2
Kickoff average (yards) 26.2 35.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 49 26.0
Times punted 3 5
Punt average (yards) 27.3 39.2
Punt return (yards) 11 3
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 0 1
Lost fumbled ball 0 0
Penalties 4 6
Yards penalized 40 70

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 32, Akron Garfield 6

Tigers Defeat Garfield 32-6
Stout Defense Plays Prominent Role In Bengals’ Second Win

By CHUCK HESS, JR.

There’s an old adage, “The best offense is a good defense.” That statement was never proved more convincingly than at Tiger stadium Friday night before a crowd of 12,904 fans.

The Washington high Tigers sprung a blitzing defense on Akron Garfield that had the
two-time defending Akron city champions completely befuddled and demoralized. The hard-charging defense, outweighed by Garfield, wore the fleece of the Golden Ram down to fuzz. Its horns were dulled to a nubbin.

The result was a 32-6 victory for Massillon, the second win of the season, and the ninth straight triumph over Garfield.

It was an outstanding Garfield team that invaded the stadium, hoping to upset the Tigers and go on to a state championship. But the Bengals out after a third title in a row were not to be denied.

“Garfield has a fine team,” said Tiger Coach Leo Strang amid the happy post-game scene in the Bengals’ dressing room. “We just caught them by surprise with out changing defenses and never let up.”

Program Cover

* * *
IT WASN’T only the line and line backers’, that did an outstanding job, the secondary’s coverage of pass-receivers kept the Rams on the ground. Quarterback Denny Boothe was unable to throw with the result he was tossed for losses several times by Tiger defenders. Unable to loosen up the defense by occasional passes, the Rams’ ground game suffered.

Leading the hard-charging Tigers were Willie Poole and Charlie Whitfield. Joe Snively, Bob Baker and Charlie Brown did the covering of the pass-receivers.

Strang gave his coaches who did the spotting from the press box and scoreboard a big pat on the back for their fine work. They had Garfield pegged to a T both offensively and defensively. Nick Vrotsos, Nick Coso and Jack Robb were in the press box. Frank Domokos was in the scoreboard.

The Tiger offense had Garfield guessing all night. The Presidents played a wide 6-2-2-1 most of the time. This left the middle open and it was here that the Bengals made the most of their yardage.

However, when the Rams closed up the center, Strang had his backs sweeping the ends. Garfield just couldn’t adjust to the changes.

“You just can’t make mistakes against a team the caliber of Massillon.” Garfield Coach Dan Flossie said. “We did and it cost us.” Flossie added. “The Tigers are a great team and they play good, clean, hard football.”

* * *
WHEREAS the Tigers threw a lot last week, this time they stuck to the ground, gobbling up 313 yards to Garfield’s 48. Garfield out passed the Bengals 73-39. Total offense was 382 to 121.

The Tigers gained 15 first downs to Garfield’s two on the ground each had three in the air. Totals were 18 and five.

Freddie Philpott for the second straight week, showed real stuff from his fullback spot. He scored two touchdowns and gained 154 yards in 13 tries for an 11.8 average.

Charlie Brown scored one TD. Ron Schenkenberger one and short side Guard Bob Clendenin one on a fumble-recovery.

The Tigers had trouble scoring conversions again. Ron Davis scored the lone two-pointer, after the second TD.

* * *
FOR THE SECOND straight week the Tigers lost the toss and were forced to kick. Garfield ran two plays, after Dave Mosely had run the kick back 11 yards from his 30. Then Boothe fired down the middle to End Mike Yovanovich, who grabbed the ball on the Massillon 25 and raced 14 before being tackled.

Here the Rams lost a fine opportunity to score. A fumble on the first play of the second series was recovered by the Tigers.

The Bengals then moved to their 49 in 11 plays, picking up two first downs in the process. They took a daring gamble with fourth and one on their 23. Ken Dean, playing his first game, went through the middle for six yards and the first down.

Two plays later Brown picked up six yards on a third-and-three situation from the 36 with a sweep to the right to keep the Tigers in possession. But the Bengals weren’t destined to score during their first series. They ran out of gas on the 49 and Jim Alexander punted to the Garfield 13.

The Rams went into a T spread on the first play. Boothe fumbled, Ed Radel, also in his first game, came charging through from his linebacker’s spot and recovered on the 11.

It looked like a sure score for the Bengals coming up. However, they lost the ball on downs on the five.

* * *
GARFIELD had one series, punted and Massillon took over on the President’s 40. Philpott burst through the middle on the first play and with the aid of a fine block by Clendenin, scored with 26 seconds remaining. Dean tried the middle for two more points but missed.

Then came Garfield’s lone TD. Tony Besesi grabbed Charlie Williams’ kickoff on the Rams’ 22 and ran it back to the Massillon 47. On the next play Ray Matthews, the Presidents all-everything back, swept left end for 32 yards to the Tiger 15 as the first quarter ended.

On the first play of the second period, Jim Sims blasted off right guard for the score with only five seconds gone in the quarter. A pass to End Dick Byerly on the try for the conversion failed.

Massillon came back after the kickoff, following Brown’s 21-yard return to the Tiger 43, for its second marker. In nine plays covering 57 yards and three first downs, the Bengals led 12-6,

The Tigers almost missed this score. Philpott blasted through the middle from the seven on second and three, was hit on the two and fumbled. The ball squirted into the end zone. Clendenin jumped on it for the score at 7:34. Davis swept right end for the 13th and 14th points.

* * *
MASSILLON’S next TD came near the end of the half. The Tigers stopped Garfield on the Bengal 28 after Byerly had recovered a Massillon fumble three plays earlier on the 36.

In a 72-yard drive covering six plays and three first downs, the Bengals had scored again. The TD was set up on a 38-yard pass play, Alexander to Wingback Ron Schenkenberger on a ride action with a hook pattern to Schenkenberger.

On the next play Brown swept around right end for the score with 31 seconds remaining. A repeat effort failed to score the conversion.

The Tigers’ fourth score came on the first series following the half time intermission. Schenkenberger took Matthews’ kick on the 17 and returned to the 40. Six plays, 60 yards and two first downs later the Bengals hit play dirt again.

Once more it was Philpott lugging the pigskin. He went through the middle from the 28 on third and nine with 9:17 showing on the clock. Brown missed the conversion, trying to go over right tackle.

* * *
THE TIGERS missed another opportunity in the third canto. They took over on the Garfield 33 when the Rams gambled on fourth and one and lost. However, the Bengals were unable to go further than the 30 in four plays.

The Rams got a long drive going at the end of the third period and beginning of the fourth to dent Massillon territory for the only time during the second half. The feat was accomplished only four times during the night. Garfield was in control for 12 plays covering 57 yards to the Tiger 15. The drive included four first downs. An incomplete pass on fourth down put an end to the Rams’ efforts for the night.

Massillon’s last score came right after the turnover. The Bengals rolled 85 yards, utilizing 14 plays and getting four first downs in the process.

Alexander passed to Schenkenberger down the middle on an out-and-in pattern from the 17 on fourth and 10. Alex tried to hit Larry Ehmer for the conversion but couldn’t connect.

The Tigers got over their first big hurdle Friday night, but there are nine more facing them before another state championship is theirs.

Good Defense

AKRON GARFIELD
Ends – Price, Yovanovich and D. Byerly.
Tackles – Postiach, Dyser, Kovacevich, Zeh and Bodash.
Guards – Breitenbach, Buchanan and Gaines.
Centers – Kiggans and Romacae.
Backs – Matthews, Sims, Boothe, Butash and Mosely.

MASSILLON
Ends – Ivan, Ehmer, Garland, McDew and Pierce.
Tackles – Spees, Strobel, Brenneman, Mercer, C. Bradley, Dekan and Profant.
Guards – Clendenin, Whitfield, Relford, Radel, Poole and Migge.
Centers – B. Bradley, Heine and Heckathorn.
Backs – Alexander, Philpott, Schenkenberger, Davis, Brown, Snively, Baker
Getz, Jarvis, Lash, Dean, Kanney and Franklin.

Garfield Scoring
Touchdowns – Sims, 13-yard run.

Massillon Scoring
Touchdowns – Philpott, 40 and 28-yard runs;
Clendenin, fumble recovery;
Brown, five-yard run;
Schenkenberger, 17-yard pass from Alexander.

Conversions – Davis

OFFICIALS
Referee – Andy Moran.
Umpire – Frank Westfall.
Head Linesman – Tom Bender.
Field Judge – George Donges.

STATISTICS
Mass. Opp.
First downs – rushing 15 2
First downs – passing 3 3
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 18 5
Yards gained rushing 324 66
Yards lost rushing 11 18
Net yards gained rushing 313 48
Yards gained passing 69 73
Total yards gained 382 121
Passes attempted 7 6
Passes completed 3 2
Passes intercepted by 0 1
Times kicked off 4 2
Kickoff average (yards) 38.5 36.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 35 126
Times punted 2 2
Punt average (yards) 36.0 37.0
Punt return (yards) 4 0
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 4 5
Lost fumbled ball 1 2
Penalties 9 2
Yards penalized 55 10

Charlie Brown
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1961: Massillon 50, Newark 6

Tigers Beat Newark 50-6 Before 10,387
Three Passes, Long Runs Feature Bengals’ Opening Night Victory

By CHUCK HESS JR.

They said it would be a breather. And the experts called it right.

The Tiger roared to the tune of 50-6 at Tiger stadium Friday night in its first outing in quest of a third straight state championship.

Washington high school’s first victims of the 1961 season were the Newark Wildcats.

There were a few hitches here and there during the evening but nothing that can’t be ironed out with more hard work on the practice field.

Coach Leo Strang commented, “Our rushing game was a little sluggish and when we had our reserves in during the second half, our defense ran into a little difficulty.”

Program Cover

* * *
STRANG explained that the first team backs were missing assignments early in the game.

The Tiger machine ran smoothly after a few adjustments until the reserve backs had trouble in the second half.

“Our backs are still green,” Strang said, “but they’ll come around. “Dean (Ken) was out due to the death of his father, and Brown (Co-Captain Charlie) had sore feet and we couldn’t use him too much. When we’re able to use them fully, it’ll make a difference.”

While on the subject of his backfield, Strang commented on the work of left Half Ron Davis, a junior, and senior Fullback Fred Philpott. “I was really pleased with the performance of both of these boys,” Strang said.

Philpott scored one touchdown and one conversion. Davis two six-pointers and a two-pointer.

Strang singled out Tackle Ben Bradley, a junior, and seniors Willie Poole and Charlie Whitfield for their work on defense. Poole was in the line. Whitfield was linebacker. All three did yeoman service.

The quarterbacking of senior Jim Alexander and sophomore Terry Getz looked good. Both handled the ball well. Alexander passed for three touchdowns. Getz was a little off. But being a southpaw the Tiger offense is naturally a bit awkward for him. Strang was pleased with their work.

* * *
THE BENGALS scored in each quarter before a good opening night crowd of 10,387. Massillon’s best effort came in the first period when the Tigers tallied 16 points.

The Tigers made good use of scoring opportunities, tallying seven of 11 times that they had the ball. They came up with four TD’s the first half and three the last.

The Bengals rolled up 445 total yards to 104 for Newark. Massillon did not lose any yards rushing. The Tigers gained 279. Neward garnered 117 and lost 24. Passing yardage was 166 to 11 in favor of the Bengals. First downs were 18 to 6 on the Massillon side of the ledger.

Newark Coach Jim Allen in his first year, had high praise for the Wildcats. “We hustled all the way,” he said. “I think we can improve on last year’s record (1-8-1).”

The Tigers had the scoring all to themselves until the final period. When Newark scored with 1:41 left to play.

Massillon started thing off midway through the first period. The Tigers took over after a Newark punt on their own 30-yard line. On the second play of the series Alexander and long side End Larry Ehmer got together on a 61-yard TD pass, the aerial coming on a second-and-one situation after Brown had blasted nine yards through the middle to the 39. The score came with 4:13 remaining. Brown then cracked off the right side for the conversion and an 8-0 tally.

* * *
MINUTES LATER the Tigers again forced Newark to kick. Howard Ridella punted from his 38. Safety Bob Baker grabbed the ball on his 30 and raced down the sideline for the
70-yard tally. Fred Philpott carried off the right side for the conversion. The score was
16-0 with 1:48 remaining.

One play before the first period ended Ridella punted to Baker, who was nailed on his own 34. Five plays and two first down later came the third score. Philpott ran two successive plays, gaining 10 yards and a first down. Brown picked up 22 yards on the next two plays, taking the ball to the Newark 34 for a first and 10 situation. Alexander then passed to Wingback Ron Schenkenberger down the right side. Schenk grabbed it on the 10 and went into the end zone with 9:16 remaining. Davis went between the tackles for the extra points.

Alexander got into the scoring act again late in the quarter. The Tigers forced Ridella to kick, this time from his own 36 to Massillon’s 26, where the ball rolled dead. In eight plays and four first downs the Bengals had their fourth tally.

With Davis, Alexander and Schenkenberger taking turns running the ball, Massillon brought the ball to the Newark 26, first and 10. The big gains in the drive were eight and 10 yards by Schenkenberger and 15 by Alexander. Schenkenberger picked up two first downs, so did Alexander.

The touchdown play was Alexander’s pass to End and Co-captain Ken Ivan with 3:59 remaining. Ivan hauled the ball in one the 10. Alexander was short on the conversion try.

* * *
SENIOR Fullback Jack Lash set up the fifth tally with a fumble recovery on the “Cats” 25. With Getz engineering the attack, the Bengals scored in two plays.

Davis swept right end from the 18 after Brown had picked up nine yards through the center. The tally came on a second-and-one play with 7:42 left in the third stanza.

A delay penalty cost the Tigers a chance to make the conversion. Ivan tried to kick from the eight and missed.

Massillon took over the ball just before the third period ended on its own 43 and on the first play of the fourth canto, with 10 seconds gone, Philpott shot between the long side guard and inside tackle for 57 yards and the score. Lash missed on the conversion.

The Tigers had one more scoring opportunity. It came on a 67-yard drive from Massillon’s 33 after Newark’s lone TD. During the drive the Bengals garnered four first downs, all of them coming on consecutive plays. One was on a 13-yard run by John Kanney, junior halfback; one on a 13-yard pass Alexander to Ivan, and the last on a 16-yard run by Davis.

* * *
DAVIS WENT OVER on first-and-seven on a sweep around the right side with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Kanney tallied the conversion.

Newark Halfback Jim Tims stopped two other Massillon scoring opportunities himself on pass interceptions. He grabbed an Alexander to Schenkenberger aerial in the end zone for a touchback on the Tigers’ first series of the game.

Just before the end of the first half. He picked off a pass of senior Quarterback Bob Baker’s on the Newark five.

The ‘Cats’ lone tally came on a 64-yard drive, starting on their own 36 when many of the Tiger reserves were in. The big gainers were by senior Quarterback Gordon Johnson, another southpaw, and junior Halfback Jim Cocanour. During the drive Newark picked up five first downs.

Johnson threw to junior Halfback Jeff Wortman at the one, and Wortman went over, the score coming with 1:41 remaining. Junior Guard Don Kennin tried to kick the conversion, but missed

A Good Start

NEWARK
Ends – Pyle, Klein, Hunt and Bartlett.
Tackles – Myers, Walters, Hazelett, Cashdollar, and Miller.
Guards – Gordon, Kennon and Holten.
Centers – Lowery and Bibart.
Backs – Johnson, Wortman, Tims, Ridella, Arnold, Cartner, Cluggish, and Cocanour.

MASSILLON
Ends – Ivan, L. Ehmer, McDew, Pierce, Dewald and Garland.
Tackles – Strobel, Spees, Brenneman, Mercer, C. Bradley, Dekan, Profant, Magiiacho and Clendening.
Guards – Clendenin, Miggee, J. Ehmer, Matecheck, Relford, Whitfield, Poole, Mickley and Caldwell.
Centers—B. Bradley, Heckathorn and Heine.
Backs – Alexander, Schenkenberger, Brown, Philpott, Baker, getz, Jarvis, Lash, Williams, Snively, Franklin, Sullivan, Davis and Kanney.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Newark 0 0 0 6 6
Massillon 16 14 6 14 50

STATISTICS
Massillon Newark
First downs – rushing 13 6
First downs – passing 5 0
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 18 6
Yards gained rushing 279 117
Yards lost rushing 0 24
Net yards gained rushing 279 93
Yards gained passing 166 11
Total yards gained 445 104
Passes attempted 10 3
Passes completed 5 4
Passes intercepted by 1 2
Times kicked off 8 2
Kickoff average (yards) 38.2 35.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 16 121
Times punted 2 6
Punt average (yards) 41.5 30.0
Punt return (yards) 73 0
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 0 3
Lost fumbled ball 0 1
Penalties 4 0
Yards penalized 40 9

Charlie Brown
Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large)

1960: Massillon 42, Canton McKinley 0

Tigers Wait For Poll After Crushing Win
65th Game Is History As Locals Maul Pups, 42-0, Before 19,036

By JIM QUILTY

The ‘City of Champions’ has been assured of another championship.

Combining an awesome display of offensive power, a virtually immovable defense and an unquenchable fighting spirit which led them back from the 19-18 loss to Warren to three irreputable victories, the No. 1 ranked Washington high school Tigers ‘trapped’ Canton McKinley into its worst defeat of the 65-game football series, 42-0, before 19,096 impressed fans Saturday afternoon.

It was a sunshine filled football finale for 24 Washington high seniors who were given individual thunderous applause when Coach Leo Strang removed them from the lineup one by one, for the last time in their high school grid careers.

Program Cover

With the realization an impressive victory was necessary to cement the top ranking they have maintained during the entire 1960 season, the Massillon gridders performed their task with precision workmanship.

* * *
STARTING with the first time the Tigers took possession minutes after the start of the game, their unmistakable superiority was grossly evident. In the first six plays it had the ball, Washington high moved 76 yards, Ken Dean rolling the final 32 for the touchdown.

* * *
HEROES WERE MANY. But Art Hastings, the sure-fire all-Ohio fullback who scored four times with a scintillating display of broken field running, and Lawson White, who generaled the defensive wall, were exceptionally out-standing.

For Hastings, the afternoon was reminiscent of many evenings throughout the past two years. He concluded his final two years of varsity competition with 220 points, over 2,400 yards rushing and innumerable other marks which may withstand the assaults of future years.

* * *
THE TURNING point of the game was when Massillon kicked off.

McKinley’s top scorer Jim Patterson covered Dean’s kickoff on the 12. Three plays, then a five-yard penalty netted the Bulldogs a first down, their only one in the first half.

Marty Gugov (75)

Sirgo punted with Bob Baker fumbling it back to the 18. He then picked it up and returned to his own 24. Quarterback Dave Null picked up 25 yards, Dean seven and Hastings 12 to the Pup 32. Dean then went in behind Center George Demis and short side guard Gary Wells, broke to the west stand sideline and sprinted 32 yards into the north end zone for a 6-0 lead. Ken added the conversion but an illegal motion penalty ruled it out. Null’s pass was then incomplete for a 6-0 lead at the 5:48 mark.

Receiving the kick, McKinley failed to move. Sirgo booted out of bounds on Massillon’s 43.

The Tigers moved to the Canton 38 before a fumble with McKinley’s George Smith recovering. Again the losers failed to move. Sirgo booted again, this time to the Massillon 24.

Martin Gugov, still hobbled by the bad knee, started the TD drive with a 23-yard burst. Dean, Null and Hastings quickly complemented that run by moving to the McKinley 15 early in the second period.

* * *
HASTINGS then eluded tacklers three different times while streaking into the end zone for his first of our scores on another trap, this time through Demis and Jay B. Willey, long side guard. Hastings’ PAT attempt failed keeping the lead at 12-0.

With the Cantonians again stalling, Sirgo booted with Baker returning the ball to the 34. A clip on the 43 gave the locals first and 16 on their 28.

In six plays the Tigers had racked up TD No. 3 with Hastings barreling in from 29 yards out. Dean has chipped in 35 yards and Hastings 22 in the drive, which was slowed by a
15-yard holding call against the hosts.

A final first half scoring bid was thwarted by a holding call which set the locals back to the 24 after Null had combined with Hastings, then Charlie Brown, to the Pup nine. Hastings was tossed down on the 31 as the half came to a close. Massillon led, 18-0.

The Tigers met a similar fate at the start of the second half as they moved from their own 32 to the McKinley 18 where a fourth and eight pass from Null went astray.

A defensive holding penalty and a 14-yarder by Roland DiMickele brought the ball to the mid-field stripe, for Canton. Sirgo then had to punt with Baker ripping up the sideline while bringing the ball back to his own 49.

On the next play Hastings went through the same hole Dean used in his first period score for 51 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Brown added the two-point conversion for a 26-0 lead seven minutes into the final half.

* * *
DEAN’S next kickoff went to Patterson who fumbled with Dave Smith pouncing upon the ball on the McKinley 33. In three plays, including a 15-yard toss from Null to Larry Ehmer, the Tigers had moved to the enemy five. Hastings then bolted off his inside tackle for the score. Quarterback John Larson added the conversion on a keeper for a 34-0 advantage after three periods.

McKinley took Dean’s next kickoff and moved to the hosts’ 41 before losing the ball on downs.

Hastings picked up 24, nearly breaking away for his fifth tally. But then the Tigers faltered. Deans’ punt on a fourth down situation was blocked with Tom Wucinich recovering on the Tiger 37.

Three plays, including a completed pass, lost nine yards, Sirgo booted and Baker returned it to his 36.

Joe Heflin, playing his final game, streaked for 11 and a first down on the Bengal 47. On the next play, he ripped through the line and out-raced the defending Bulldogs for a
53-yard touchdown. Dave Smith went behind his outside tackle for the final two points of the productive 348 point season.

With Strang letting each of the seniors take his bow, the final drive by Massillon carried to the Pup six. There an incomplete pass gave Canton possession.

They picked up 21 yards in our carries as the season came to an abrupt halt.

* * *
THE TREMENDOUS pressure placed on McKinley Quarterback Tom Sirgo by White, Gary Wells, Wally Brugh, Duane Garman, Ken Herndon, Jim Houston and Ken Ivan, permitted the usually sure-fire passer only two completions, both in the flat, for a net gain of no yards. His first one picked up four but the second connection lost them all back.

* * *
IT WAS also an extremely pleasing performance for Coach Leo Strang, who with the victory, tied Chuck Mather for the most victories gained by a Washington high team in the first three years as Tiger coach. The win was No. 28 against only two defeats and a tie.

In three years against the Bulldogs and losing McKinley Coach Jim Robinson, the Tigers have turned in three straight victories. The Saturday invaders haven’t scored in their last 10 quarters after the 16-16 first half tie in Strang’s initial year at the helm, 1958.

But after 11 regular season games and two weeks with the victorious North All-Stars beginning in August, Strang was indeed ready to call it a coaching year.

“I’m glad it’s all over,” Leo disclosed with a beaming victory smile outside the Tiger dressing room. “It’s been a long one.”

Not once during the entire afternoon did the Bulldogs, owners of 320 points in 10 previous games, put together what even resembled an offensive threat. Early in the fourth period a 15-yard gain by Matt Brown, a 15-yard holding penalty against the Tigers, and several short gainers moved the Bulldogs to the Massillon 41.

That’s the most the visitors could do.

* * *
THE CLIMAXING game of the 1960 season gave the Orange and Black an impressive 10-1 slate marred only by the one-point loss to Warren. The win also kept Strang’s perfect home string in tact. In three years under Strang, the Tigers have yet to bow at Tiger stadium.

With the squad in as close to perfect health during the last three games as anytime during the season, the Tigers chewed up over a mile rushing and passing.

The 1,657 yards came on 517 yards in the Toledo Waite game, 544 against Springfield South and the 596 against ancient rival Canton McKinley.

Houston, Brugh, Wells, Garman, Gugov, Bob Herring, Joe Smith, Null, Larson , Demis, Willey, Richard Crenshaw, Ron Herbst, Virgil Bukuts, Herndon, Pete Anzalone, Don Kurzen, Theopolis Bodiford, Jim Fuchs and Chuck Royer along with Dave Smith, Hastings, White and Heflin closed out their high school football careers.

It was a pleasant finale that the boys won’t soon forget.

A Fine Finale

WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
Ends – Bodiford, Royer, Ivan, Anzalone, Ehmer, Fuchs, Houston.
Tackles – Crenshaw, Bukuts, Brugh, Garmon, Herndon, Herbst.
Guards – White, Willey, Wells, Radel, Whitfield.
Centers – Demis, Bradley.
Backs – Null, Larson, Baker, Alexander, Hastings, J. Smith, Dean,
Snively, Schenkenberger, Kurzen, Herring, Gugov,
Heflin, D. Smith, Brown, Lash.

CANTON McKINLEY
Ends – Beane, Singleterry, Luchitz.
Tackles – Dragomer, Agnes, Day.
Guards – turpin, Seymour, Wucinich, Thomas, Ghezzi.
Centers – Hudak, Carr.
Backs – Sirgo, Pettersoh, DiMickele, Smith, Wood, Cobb.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Massillon 6 12 16 8 42

SCORING
Massillon – Dean (32, run); Hastings 4 (15, run; 29, run;
51, run; 5, run); Heflin (53, run).

CONVERSIONS
Massillon – Larson (run); Brown (run); D. Smith (run).

STATISTICS
Tigers Bulldogs
First downs – rushing 22 3
First downs – passing 2 0
First downs – penalties 0 3
Total first downs 24 6
Yards gained rushing 573 90
Yards lost rushing 22 17
Net yards gained rushing 551 73
Yards gained passing 45 0
Total yards gained 596 73
Passes attempted 6 12
Passes completed 3 2
Passes intercepted by 0 0
Times kicked off 7 1
Kickoff average (yards) 41.0 48.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 20 73
Times punted 1 8
Punt average (yards) 0 37.6
Punt return (yards) 73 0
Had punts blocked 1 0
Fumbles 2 1
Lost fumbled ball 1 1
Penalties 4 2
Yards penalized 60 30

Art Hastings
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1960: Massillon 62, Springfield South 32

Springfield No Match For Tigers
Hastings Scores Four As Defending Champs Crush Rival, 62-32

By JIM QUILTY

Hail the state champs! But hold back the superlatives for seven more days until Washington high school’s Tigers clash with arch rival Canton McKinley in the season’s finale.

After Friday night’s massive 62-32 win over Ohio’s fifth ranked Springfield South Wildcats before 13,704 fans at Tiger stadium, the Tigers aren’t about to see their second successive state championship whisked from beneath them next Saturday afternoon.

As for Springfield, the Bengals, after the defensive unit thwarted a Wildcat drive on the two with Wally Brugh recovering a fumble, completely dominated play. Following the recovery Art Hastings ripped through a gapping hole in the short right side of his line moments later and raced 93 yards for a touchdown. That made it 18-0.

Only the aerial bombs tossed by Wildcat Quarterback Phil Westfall prevented a more complete rout. Westfall connected five times for touchdowns picking up 213 yards via the airways.

Dave Null and John Larson, the locals’ throwers, nearly equaled that yardage. Six completions in 12 tries netted 189 yards.

* * *

HOWEVER, it was the crushing ground attack led by Art Hastings, whose four touchdowns and four conversion points raised his season point total past the century mark, and Ken Dean, who added a pair of six-pointers, that subdued Springfield.

Together, this duo hung up most of the 355 yards net rushing.

The point output was the greatest of the year for the Tigers and the combined point total tied a 38-yard-old record of 94 points. That was set in 1922 when Massillon beat Akron North, 94-0.

On the debit side of the shining picture is the 32 points scored by the Wildcats. Their total is the largest ever scored against a victorious Tiger team. In 1951 Alliance, and in 1948, Steubenville, managed the previous high of 21. The Tigers had 34 in both those games. Again in 1952, Alliance had 21. This time the locals had 27.

More important than records to the Tigers, other than the win itself, were key losses by the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the state.

Eight ranked Niles turned the trick at Alliance, 16-14. Marion Harding blanked third rated Sandusky, 6-0.

* * *
THE GAME STARTED slowly enough. Springfield kicked off and stopped the Tigers without a first down. Dean booted his only time in the game to the “Cats’ 37.”

In quick succession, Westfall fumbled and Ken Ivan recovered for the locals, then Ron Schenkenberger fumbled and Roger Bartley recovered for the southern 11 on his own 37.

After Springfield picked up a first down moving into Tiger territory, the defense held and Westfall punted. Baker grabbed the ball on the four. He was finally tripped up on his 25.

Dean bulled to the 28. Then the action picked up-tempo as Dave Null faked twice to Gugov and Hastings pulling the entire Springfield defense in. He then lofted a bulls eye to Chuck Royer, who raced the final 45 yards of the 72 yard touchdown play. The conversion was stopped, giving the locals a 6-0 lead seven minutes into the game.

The second score by the locals came early in the second period when Hastings rammed in from a few feet out after he and Dean led an assault, which carried 79 yards. A 20-yard pass from Null to Hastings and a 15-yard penalty aided the cause. Again the extra point run was stopped.

Springfield took Dean’s kick-off and with two quick end sweeps by Halfbacks Tom Fugate and Dave Daniel had moved to Massillon’s seven. Joe Snively pulled Fugate down while Charlie Brown caught Daniel from behind to prevent his scoring.

* * *
THREE WILDCAT PLAYS netted only five yards to the two. On fourth down Westfall handed off to Cobb but the locals’ forward wall led by Lawson White, Ivan and Wally Brugh met him squarely. He fumbled and Brugh pounced on it.

A holding penalty moved Massillon back to its own one-foot line. Null swept to the seven. Then after again pulling the defense in with a fake to his right, Null handed to Hastings who went untouched 93 yards for six points. Again the PAT attempt failed making it 18-0.

With three minutes left in the first half, Null connected with Larry Ehmer for a 33-yard touchdown heave. This time Hastings converted for a 26-0 lead.

Westfall brought the Wildcats back for their first touchdown with only 30 seconds showing on the clock when he followed a 15-yarder to Daniel and a 24-yarder to Tucker with a payoff pitch to Dave Rush from seven yards out. The conversion was stopped making the half time score, 26-6.

* * *
HALFTIME failed to douse the Tiger fire. Dean kicked off but Cobb fumbled and Pete Anzalone sped down field to recover the loose ball on the Springfield 18.
A five-yard penalty moved the ball to the 13. Dean then took it the rest of the way on four attempts finally going over from inches short of the goal. Null rolled out and out raced the Wildcat secondary for the two-point conversion and a 34-6 lead.

Fugate returned Dean’s next punt to Springfield’s 41. Five yards for delay of game set the visitors back to the 36. Then Westfall faded back to pass, slipped and fell. While falling he lost the ball and White, who spent most of the night red-dogging Westfall, picked the ball up and ran for what he thought was a touchdown.

But the ball was ruled dead on the 17 as it had hit the ground. However, the Tigers had possession.

A carry by Hastings, two by Dean and a second by Hastings from six yards gave the locals their sixth touchdown and a 40-6 lead as the extra point proved unsuccessful.

Westfall then went to the airways leading his team from their own 33 to the Massillon 29. He let loose to Fugate in the end zone for the second Wildcat score with two minutes left in the period. His extra point pass was incomplete making the score 40-12.

THEN came the sensational 42-point final period when both clubs struck for three touchdowns.

Hastings reeled off a 33-yard run as Massillon moved 68 yards in 10 plays to Springfield’s seven. Dean busted through for a score at the 10:26 marker. Hastings added the conversion.

Westfall brought his mates their third touchdown when he let loose with an aerial which carried 55 yards in the air with Fugate at the other end. He took one step and was in for the score. Again Westfall’s extra point pass was incomplete.

* * *

THE TIGERS took the kickoff with Hastings returning it to the 38, and marched 62 yards for an eighth touchdown. Hastings scored this one from eight yards out and Null flipped to Royer for the conversion. That made the count, 56-18.

Again Westfall came back hitting Fugate first for 21 yards to Massillon’s 36, then Tucker, after a five-yard penalty, for a 41-yard touchdown. The try for point was unsuccessful.

Springfield kicked off and the Tigers fumbled several plays later with the Wildcats’ Joe Brown gaining possession on the Tiger 14.

In three plays, Westfall again found Fugate for a nine-yard touchdown. Dale Pritchet’s conversion run cut the lead to 56-32.

The game wasn’t over yet. The Tigers’ Charlie Brown returned the kickoff to his 30. Hastings picked up 25 to Springfield territory. Then John Larson, replacing Null, fired to Ivan who raced the final 25 yards of the 45-yard scoring play making the margin 62-32.

A Big Victory

MASSILLON
Ends – Ivan, Bodiford, Royer, Ehmer, Anzalone, Fuchs.
Tackles – Brugh, Garman, Crenshaw, Herndon, Bukuts, Spees.
Guards – Herbst, Whitfield, Houston, Willey, Wells, Radel.
Centers – Demis, Bradley.
Backs – Baker, Hastings, Snively, Brown Gugov, Dean, Null,
Schenkenberger, Kurzen, Herring, Smith, Larson,
Williams, D. Smith.

SPRINGFIELD
Ends – Rush, Karvin, Currey, Tucker, Garrison.
Tackles – Gilbert, Henry, M. Daniels, Thompson, Miller.
Guards – Gaier, Bacon, Brown, Glanton.
Centers – Stephens, Bartley.
Backs – Westfall, Fugate, Cobb, D. Daniels, Wilson, B. Henry,
Browning, Pritchet, Taylor.

SCORE BY QUARTERS
Massillon 6 20 14 22 – 62
Springfield 0 6 6 20 – 32

SCORING
Massillon – Royer (72, pass from Null); Hastings 4 (1, run; 93, run;
6, run; 8, run); Ehmer (33, pass from Null);
Dean 2 (1, run; 7, run); Ivan (45, pass from Larson).

Springfield – Rush (7, pass from Westfall); Fugate 3 (29, pass from
Westfall; 45, pass from Westfall; 9, pass from Westfall);
Tucker (41, pass from Westfall).

CONVERSIONS
Massillon – Hastings 2 (runs); Null (run); Royer (pass from Null).

Springfield – Pritchet (run)

STATISTICS
Tigers Wildcats
First downs – rushing 14 3
First downs – passing 3 6
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 17 11
Yards gained rushing 368 143
Yards lost rushing 13 34
Net yards gained rushing 355 109
Yards gained passing 189 213
Total yards gained 544 322
Passes attempted 12 21
Passes completed 6 12
Passes intercepted by 0 0
Times kicked off 10 6
Kickoff average (yards) 43.5 50
Kickoff returns (yards) 115 156
Times punted 1 4
Punt average (yards) 34.0 38
Punt return (yards) 17 12
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 3 4
Lost fumbled ball 2 4
Penalties 2 5
Yards penalized 16 35

Art Hastings