Category: <span>History</span>

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1959: Massillon 30, Cleveland Benedictine 6

Long Gainers Push Tigers Past Benedictine

30-6 WIN IS NO. 5

Sparma-Herring Pass, Big Gallops By Wood, Hastings Repel Benies

By CHARLIE POWELL

That Massillon Tiger trademark of yesteryear – the long, explosive type play that can take the starch out of the opposition in a jiffy – again held forth at Tiger stadium Friday night and the orange and black knocked off the invading Cleveland Benedictine forces, 30-6, before 11,920 fans.

The Tigers used three of the long gainers as a spring-board to their fifth consecutive victory of the season and the win over the big, determined but outclassed Benies coupled with Warren Harding’s reversal of form undoubtedly will provide the Leo Strang-coached gang with a tighter grip on their No. 1 state ranking.

Program Cover

Warren, upset by East Liverpool, 14-13, has been Massillon’s arch rival for the top spot in the Associated Press poll. Now it seems as though Springfield, Lorain or Toledo DeVilbiss will assume the runner-up role.

The Panthers can’t be counted out. The season is far from being over and a Tiger loss will send their hopes for that elusive crown right down the drain.

THE GAME of the year still looms for Friday the night of Oct. 30.

* * *

BEFORE WARREN comes Mansfield (next Friday night at Tiger stadium) and Coach Strang will be happier if the Bengals can present a more consistent attack against the Mansfielders.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Strang said over telling locker room well-wishers about a “frustrating” night.”

“It went about the way I expected …we would have to go from a long way out and that’s what we did.”

“It was as frustrating ball game as we’ve played, mainly because we did not move the ball consistently. Of course, we should give credit where credit is due. They had me worried and we had our hands full trying to block them,” he commented.

He said that several of his players told him that a few of the Benie linemen ‘had to be held” – they couldn’t be moved to either side of the hole.

“We knew Benedictine had a tough team and would come down here all hopped up. They have my respect. And you can ask the boys, they rate on a par with Alliance or Steubenville,” Strang said.

The Benie pilot, a downcast Auggie Bossu, was reluctant to talk but claimed the Tigers are a good ball club – “as good and probably better than your teams of the past few years.”

“Yes, it was a good game…for Massillon. Yes, we played hard…but we didn’t win,” the usually mild-mannered mentor rasped before excusing himself to see about an injured player.

* * *

BOSSU POINTED out that his team’s best runner last night, Joe Miano, previously was a second stringer. And he said that his punter, Bob Jambor, was averaging 42 yards per kick, going into last night’s game.

Against the Tigers, Miano averaged over five yards a carry with his longest jaunt of 30 yards setting up Benedictine’s only touchdown. Stocky Paul Rini showed ability to gallop in the open field at times.

On more than one occasion the ball carrier had found a hole at the line but it was quickly closed by Massillon’s linebackers and deep backs.

The Benies took to the sky 13 times but only four made connections and three were intercepted.

However, the Tigers’ inability to muster a sustained drive and Jambor’s amazing punting (an average of 47.2 yards for five kicks) made it a pretty dull affair except for the long striking plays.

The long gainers were turned in by Art Hastings, on a dash of 62 yards which set up the Tigers’ second touchdown, a 41-yard pass play from Joe Sparma to Bob Herring and a
69-yard sprint by Jim Wood.

These crowd-pleasing antics helped the Orangemen out gain the visitors by 339 yards to 182. Massillon netted 257 yards on the ground to 136 for the Benies.

* * *

NEITHER TEAM’S passing attack was nowhere near sensational but the aerial game was real prominent for the hometown lads.

The talented Sparma was right on the button with his fling to Herring which paved the way for the third TD of the evening and the defensive backs hauled in no less than three Benie forwards.

An interception by Martin Gugov, who incidentally started his second game on offense as Lefthalf Bill Finney was kept out of uniform due to an injury, put the Tigers in position for their first score. Prior to the Sparma-Herring payoff pitch-catch it was Herring who intercepted a pass.

Nick Daugenti, the defensive back and punt return specialist, made the first interception on the third play of the encounter but his effort went for naught as the Tigers were forced to punt. Daugenti, who did not play the second half because of a sprained ankle, caught the ball after it was deflected by Art Hastings.

The first time Daugenti returned a punt he wheeled from the end zone out to the 20 and Massillon was on the move in a hurry. Sparma threw down the middle to Wood who made a diving catch at the Benie 39 but four plays later End Tony Palmieri recovered a fumble by Gugov. However, the latter made amends when he intercepted a toss by Dennis Andrews and from the Benie 24 the orange and black reach pay dirt in four plays.

Gugov picked up six and Hastings four before Gugov added two. Then Hastings slicked off the left side and went in standing up. Gugov bulled across for two more points and the Tigers led 8-0 with 16 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Four plays into the second period Herring returned a Benie punt seven yards to the 25 and Hastings had the Tiger fans emitting superlatives on the very first play from scrimmage. He hit off left tackle, did a tight-rope act down the west sidelines and aided by a beauty of a block by Virg Bukuts, zipped 62 yards to the Clevelanders’ 13. On the next play Gugov barreled through right tackle for six, Wood swept end for the PAT and it was 16-0 at 9:36.

* * *

A MOMENT later the Tigers were penalized for illegal substitution but the ball was placed at the original spot after a hurried discussion by the officials. After the kickoff Massillon defensive subs took the field…all nine of them. The penalty was stepped off, then retracted, because it was not a case of substituting. Everything was “jake” after two more players entered the lineup and the defense forced Benedictine to punt.

The ball changed hands in a hurry. Gugov lateralled as he was tackled and Sparma and Palmieri wrestled for possession. Palmieri had the final say at the Tiger 25. With second and 14, Andrews’ pass was intercepted by Herring at the 15 and he got out to the 37.

Hastings pounded 22 yards in three tries before Massillon scored again.

From the Benie 41, Sparma hit Herring who had slipped behind the secondary at the Benedictine five. The mite halfback snagged the ball, was hit, but fell across the zero stripe. Gugov’s run was short but the Tigers led 22-0 and that’s the way it was at intermission.

Midway in the third round Halfback Tom Kosewic recovered a Tiger fumble at the Massillon 29 but the Tigers held and took over at the 31 as Captain “Sluggo” Bednar batted down a fourth down aerial.

The most peculiar play of the night resulted on the first Tiger try from scrimmage.

Sparma went back to pass, was hit, and the ball floated out to the 35 where big Tony Gibbons, a tackle, cradled it and churned goalward. Gibbons, however, coughed it up as he was tackled and Tiger tackle Don Appleby recovered at the 29.
After Gugov gained two, Wood winged 69 yards to put the Massillonians ahead by 28. The speedy halfback went through the left side, found himself in the clear at the 40 as the Benies looked around for the guy with the ball, and outran Rini to the end zone. Sparma passed to End Bob Zumbrunn in the end zone for two more markers.

Early in the final heat Jim Houston, Tiger guard, recovered a fumble at the Tiger 49 but aftre Wood wheeled 22 yards the attacked bogged down.

Benedictine, playing against a sub-studded lineup, marched 79 yards for its only
six-pointer in a dozen plays.

* * *

ON THE FIRST play Miano scatted 31 yards and three plays before the TD, a pass, Joe Bujak to End Al Grigaliunas, resulted in a 24-yard gain. On third down at the one, the Massillon defense ganged up at the middle but Miano hit off the left side all by his lonesome and it was 30-6 at 1:55 with 1:55 remaining. The same Miano was stopped short on the PAT attempt.

Benedictine had the ball for 54 plays as compared to Massillon’s 42 tries but the long strikes and the Tiger defense (led by Bednar, Hase McKey, Houston, Gary Wells, Frank Midure, Jay Willey and Don Appleby) proved to be more than enough.

Outside of Miano’s 24-yarder in the final quarter, the blue’s biggest rushing gain amounted to only eight yards.

In the third frame the Tigers had the ball for only four running plays but with the help of Wood’s 69-yard effort, netted 82 yards.

Hastings, the workhorse of the attack, twisted and fought his way for 130 yards in 13 carries while Wood made 96 yards in seven trips and Gugov gained 30 in eight tries.

The loss was the second in five starts for the Benies who now trail the Tigers in the series, 4-1.

A Jim-Dandy

MASSILLON
ENDS – McKey, Barkman, Zumbrunn, Bodiford, Oliver, Royer.
TACKLES – Appleby, Bukuts, Wells, Haines, Herbst, Herndon, Paul.
GUARDS – Willey, Bednar, Midure, Houston, Brugh, Anzalone, Crenshaw, White, Whitfield.
CENTERS – Snodgrass, Snyder, Demis.
QUARTERBACKS – Sparma, Larson, Null, Smith.
HALFBACKS – Finney, Wood, Daugenti, Gugov, Herring Kurzen.
FULLBACKS – Hastings, Hershberger, Dean, Toles.

BENEDICTINE
ENDS – Grigaliunas, Forgach, Watson, Torda.
TACKLES – Phile, Jason, gibbons, Zahorsky.
GUARDS – Marcin, Tyrdik, Palmieri, Janiak, Wojas, Labuda.
CENTERS – Siath, Kestner.
QUARTERBACKS – Bujak, Andrews, Kolenich.
HALFBACKS – Rini, Malinak, Farro, Kosewic, Brock, Jambor.
FULLBACKS – Miano, Tollis, Schepis.

Scoring by quarters
Massillon 8 14 8 0 30
Benedictine 0 0 0 6 6

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Hastings (12, run); Gugov (13, run); Herring (41, pass); Wood (69, run).
Benedictine – Miano (1, run).

Extra points: Massillon – Gugov (run); Wood (run); Zumbrunn (pass).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Andy Moran.
Field Judge – Andy Lindsey.
Head Linesman – Harvey Hodgson.
Umpire – Horace Rainesberger.

Statistics
Mass Bene.
First downs – rushing 9 6
First downs – Passing 2 2
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 11 8
Yards gained rushing 265 145
Yards lost rushing 8 9
Net yards gained rushing 257 136
Yards gained passing 82 46
Total yards gained 339 182
Passes attempted 13 13
Passes completed 3 4
Passes intercepted by 3 1
Times kicked off 5 2
Kickoff average (yards) 35.8 33.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 43 57
Times punted 3 5
Punt average (yards) 29.3 47.2
Punt returns (yards) 68 21
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 3 4
Lost fumbled ball 3 2
Penalties 0 4
Yards penalized 0 20

Joe Sparma
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1959: Massillon 28, Steubenville 8

Tigers Beat Stubborn Big Red 28-8
Bengals Come From Behind To Win After Terrific First Half

By CHARLIE POWELL

Massillon is still undefeated and when the scholastic polls come out next Tuesday the Tigers more than likely will remain atop the pack.

But for some 24 uncomfortable minutes at Steubenville Friday night the might of the orange and black was very much in doubt.

The host Big Red, with a partisan crowd of 9,000 screaming for a king-sized upset, gave the Bengals one big scare before the Tigers flexed their muscles and carved out a hard-earned 28-8 triumph, their fourth in a row and 20th in the history over the Steubers.

Two sensational runs – the first an electrifying punt return of 55 yards by Nick Daugenti and the second a 67-yard gallop by Art Hastings – kept the Tigers from being on the short end of the count at halftime. Steubenville marched 67 yards in a great display of power in the second period and so at the half it was the Daugenti-Hastings combination with 12 points, the Big Red with 8.

Then in a second half the Bengals, who may have been a little over-confident going into the game, ground it out and actually breezed home.
* * *
IT WAS ALL Massillon during the second half as Leo Strang’s stouties, apparently getting straightened out during the intermission lectures, made hay on a third quarter drive of 35 yards following a timely recovery of a Big Red fumble by Gary Wells and the next time they got possession; went on the prowl for an icing-on-the-cake touchdown, the ultimate tally being rung up in the final period.

While the enemy controlled the pigskin and kept the Tiger followers in a lather for just about the whole first half, things worked just the opposite in the last two rounds.

In the final analysis, the Tigers packed too much savvy, speed and depth for the Big Red.

Massillon ran only 13 plays from scrimmage the first half. Except for the dazzler by Hastings, the Tigers made little headway. Offense wasn’t enough to worry about, the defense was torn to shreds by wedge-like power plays which featured a wave of deadly blockers.

The hosts continually hit off the right side and Massillon was virtually helpless. By halftime, the Redmen had gained 122 yards on running plays.

But the defensive changes that were hastily rendered as the bands strutted their stuff proved to be the difference.

The Big Red was at Massillon’s mercy in the second half. Except for a couple sprints up the middle and a few short passes, the Tigers handled the Steubers with comparative ease.
* * *
THE ORANGEMEN didn’t look like the same team that swept past a defensively stronger Alliance outfit but after the altered defensive alignment the Tigers showed the ability deserving the state’s No. 1 ranked combine.

An elated Coach Strang, “happy to get out of it alive,” stressed that a big factor in the win was that the Tigers did not lose the ball once on a fumble.

“Our breakaway runs (Daugenti’s punt return and Hastings’ TD jaunt) were the only bright spots in the first half. After we went into more basic football at the start of the second half we were able to keep going on short yardage plays. And of course, again our breakaway boys turned in runs to set up the touchdowns.”

Discussing the defensive adjustments, he cited the charging, tackling and pursuit, which provided a grade-A parlay to put the skids to Steubenville’s sweeps.

The tougher Tigers held Steubenville to a net gain of 36 yards via rushing over the last two quarters but Strang had a bushel of praise for the Big Red.

“They were the most aggressive team we’ve met and if they had a speedster with breakaway potential, I think they would be near impossible to stop,” he commented.
* * *
STRANG CLEARED the bench with most of the lads getting a good bit of playing time.

An all-junior defense, with the exception of a senior, Bob “Zeke” Zumbrunn, played a good portion of the last quarter and turned in an outstanding performance.

This crew, which plays defense against the Tiger offense throughout the weekly practice session, has been dubbed “The Tail Twisters.”

With the Tigers throwing their opponents for losses amounting to 51 yards, Steubenville finished with a total of 191 yards gained through the infantry route.

Hal Paul’s team had the edge in first downs (12-9) but the Tigertowners ripped off 227 yards, all but 14 on the ground.

Quarterback Joe Sparma had one of his infrequent “off nights” in the throwing department but the running game was more than enough. As usual his generalship and ball-handling was the work of art. And punting? Friends, he was dynamic. Two of his punts put Steubenville’s back to the wall and he wound up with a scintillating average of 39.2 yards per kick.
* * *
HASTINGS was the workhorse of the attack and of course had plenty of help from Jim Wood, Martin Gugov and Daugenti with Bill Finney inserting several yardage-gulping efforts.

The lone pass connection, which spelled a third TD for the Tigers, was an eye-popper. Sparma’s throw was taken on a nifty over-the-shoulder catch by big Hase McKey, who was one of the real standouts on defense.

Before the battle was even five minutes old, Daugenti had the Tigers stands rocking.

Steubenville’s Wally Neel punted from his own 16 and Daugenti, who plays defense when he’s not on the punt return team, fielded the pigskin at the Massillon 45.

No sooner than he caught the ball he was hit. But the tackler was left in the dust as Nick twisted away, cut for the right sidelines and completed a 55-yard dash behind some beautiful blocking.

Wood was stopped a foot short on his run for the PAT attempt but at 7:39 Massillon was out front.
* * *
THE BIG RED bounced right back and moved from their own 24 to the Tiger 48 before having to punt again. On the last play of the session, Sparma punted.

The riverfront array, barreling off the right side as Neel, Tom Cunningham, Leon Lindsey and Bob Crossley shared the ball toting chores, marched to pay dirt. A 19-yard run by Crossley on fourth down set the stage for Cunningham who tallied from a yard out on a third down situation. When sub quarterback Dohrmann Sinclair bootlegged left and hit in for two more points at 5:15, Massillon was in arrears for the first time this season.

Steubenville’s fans went wild but in short order they sat back stunned no end.

Daugenti pounced on the bounding kickoff at the Tiger 24 and on the very next play, Hastings put the Bengals back in the lead.

Finding a hole off the left side he dodged away from one would be tackler and was free at the Tiger 30. All he had to do was to turn on the speed and outrun the secondary. This he did. And how.

After Art completed the 76-yard scamper, Gugov crashed across for the conversion points but the effort went for naught because Massillon was called for backfield in motion.

On the second try, Sparma passed to Hastings who caught the ball at the four but was stopped at the one.

The Big Red hit on a 26-yard pass play but was forced to punt and another punt by Sparma wound up first half play.
* * *
ON THE FOURTH play of the third period, Crossley fumbled, Wells recovered, and Massillon was on its way for a very important six-pointer.

Hastings and Wood carted to the 15 before Sparma twirled to McKey, who caught the oval at the goal line. Gugov’s run for two more points gave Massillon a 12-point advantage with eight minutes left in the quarter.

A Big Victory
MASSILLON
ENDS – McKey, Barkman, Zumbrunn, Oliver, Royer, Bodiford.
TACKLES – Bukuts, Appleby, Wells, Haines, Herbst, Paul, Herndon.
GUARDS – Houston, Bednar, Midure, Willey, Whitfield, White.
CENTERS – Snyder, Snodgrass, Demis.
QUARTERBACKS – Sparma, Larson.
HALFBACKS – Finney, Wood, Herring, Gugov, Daugenti.
FULLBACKS – Hastings, Hershberger, Dean, Toles.

STEUBENVILLE
ENDS – Hutter, Crain, Sobolewski, P. Cunningham, W. Johnson.
TACKLES – Sizemore, DeFallo, Delderich, Smith.
GUARDS – McMasters, Staib, Pyle, Kramer.
CENTERS – Switzer, Conrad.
QUARTERBACKS – Crossley, Evans, Sinclair.
HALFBACKS – Neel, Lindsey, B. Johnson, Patterson, Terry.
FULLBACK – R. Cunningham.

Scoring by Quarters
Massillon 6 6 8 8 28
Steubenville 0 8 0 0 0

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Daugenti (55, punt return); Hastings (76, run); McKey (15, pass); Hastings (4, run).
Steubenville – Cunningham (1, run).

Extra points:
Massillon – Gugov (run); Sparma (run).
Steubenville – Sinclair (run).

OFFICIALS
Bob McPhee.
Leo Less.
Ted Humphrey.
Glen Dicken.
Statistics
Mass. Steu.
First downs – rushing 8 9
First downs – Passing 1 2
First downs – penalties 0 1
Total first downs 9 12
Yards gained rushing 213 191
Yards lost rushing 0 51
Net yards gained rushing 213 140
Yards gained passing 14 49
Total yards gained 227 189
Passes attempted 10 13
Passes completed 1 5
Passes intercepted by 1 0
Times kicked off 5 2
Kickoff average (yards) 42.2 46.5
Kickoff returns (yards) 28 50
Times punted 5 3
Punt average (yards) 39.2 32.3
Punt returns (yards) 59 27
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 0 2
Lost fumbled ball 0 2
Penalties 5 4
Yards penalized 55 50

Joe Sparma
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1959: Massillon 14, Alliance 0

19,387 See Tigers Beat Alliance 14-0

By CHARLIE POWELL

Massillon’s Tigers or maybe we should say terrific Tigers, Friday night had higher voltage than Marilyn Monroe ever had.

They had to have it, partner, to take the wind out of the sails of the Alliance Aviators, 14-0, in a rip-snorting, hard-hitting defensive battle, the likes of which is seldom seen anywhere.

As the crowd of 19,387 paid fans will attest, two mighty fine football teams staged a rock’em, sock’em spine-crinkler at Tiger stadium.

As it turned out, the Tigers had their troubles, keeping their fans shaking like a wet dog for over three quarters, but the offensive punch was just lethal enough to deflate the hopes of the Aviators and their rabid followers.
* * *
THE HUSTLERS wearing togs (which for the first time included white shoes and new black jerseys) struck for a second period touchdown made on a 10-yard pass, Joe Sparma to the big Hase McKey six plays after Bill Finney got off a 56-yard dash. But it was anybody’s ball game until mid way in the final session when the Bengals marched, 52 yards with second string left half Martin Gugov going across from the seven after Massillon capered on an 18-yard jaunt by the same lad and an 18-yard pass play, the slick throwing Sparma to the slippery Hastings.

Leo Strang’s charges, who passed away a golden scoring opportunity late in the first half, bottled up the defending state champions except on two occasions, and it was their ability to dig in on critical third-down-and-short-yardage situations which proved to be a main factor.

But the one big play that will be “re-played” for many moons came about late in the third quarter when a touchdown would have given the Aviators new life and made the Tiger task more rigid.

The Aviators capitalized on Bobby Wallace’s passing and the running of a pile-driver named Charley King, 146-pound junior halfback, to advance from their own 45 to the Tiger three-yard line. The first pass of the drive, Wallace to End Larry Shinn (who made a diving catch), was good for 11 yards and the second, a 16-yard effort from Wallace to Halfback Lee Woolf, put the pigskin at the Bengal seven.
* * *
ALLIANCE FANS were in an uproar while Massillon faithful literally held their breath.

King, who in a good night’s work gained 103 yards in 20 tries, then made four yards and on second down, Wallace unfurled another pass.

He tossed into the right flat, near the goal line and although the Tigers were in a 10-man line, three Massillon players managed to drop back into the end zone. Linebacker Frank Midure – one of many Tiger stalwarts – only had to take a couple of steps to his left to latch onto the ball.

Midure stepped from the end zone into the playing field and chugged to the Tiger 30. Tiger fans breathed more naturally.

The Aviators were down and just about out. Massillon held them the next two times they had possession. McKey, the ace middle guard, knifed in to thwart a third-down-and-one line smash and when Nick Daugenti returned a punt to the Bengal 48, the hometown heroes went into action to apply the clincher.
* * *
AFTER GUGOV’S touchdown the visitors made one first down before Halfback Hugh Wilson’s fumble was recovered by Captain “Sluggo” Bednar at the Alliance 47 and it was all over but the hurrahs.

The Aviators still haven’t won a game at Massillon since 1927. It was the first loss of the season, in fact it snapped an eight-game winning streak and the setback put a real crimp in Aviator hopes for top ranking in the Ohio scholastic poll.

Apparently Massillon’s No. 1 rating was solidified as the Tigers captured their third straight decision and ran the Alliance series tally to 41-5-2.

But it will be out of the frying pan and into the fire for the orange and black. Steubenville is next. Albeit the Steubers lost to Paul Warfield and Co. of Warren Harding 13-8 last night, as next Friday’s game at Steubenville will be another stiff fight.

If the Steubenville fray – or any other game, has as much hard tackling as the one last night it will be something!

Both sides went at it hammer and tongs, with jarring tackle followed by jarring tackle. There was some good, crisp blocking too and both teams came up with some nifty gainers but every single yard was given grudgingly.
* * *
THE TIGER infantry outdid the invading crew by gaining 235 yards to Alliance’s 152. Via the airways, however, Sparma hit on four of nine for 46 yards as Mel Knowlton’s defense apparently was set up to stop the long pass. Wallace threw 11 times and completed four for 67 yards. The Tigers had a bare 12-10 edge in first downs.

But it’s always the score that counts and Massillon today was all hotsy-totsy.

The phrase, “team effort,” is over played in many instances but that is what made the orange and black the better team last night.

Coach Strang, passing out the bouquets in the dressing room , thought the “big play” was Midure’s timely interception.

“There was a lot of defense out there. We can thank Russ Ramsey’s scouting crew for doing a fine spy job and making adjustments to our defense.

“I don’t think anyone else will hold Alliance scoreless. They have a real fine football team…there were a lot of crucial plays but our kids did their job…our second stringers came through in grand style…all the boys gave it everything they had and we should certainly be proud of them,” he added.
* * *
STRANG ALSO commended his assistants who passed along strategy from their spotting booth atop the stands.

He said all the defensive players deserved lots of credit but singled out McKey and Bednar for leading the way. Sparma shined in directing the offense – and the sweet-slinging quarterback was under a handicap in the last quarter.

Right before the second TD, Joe was conked on the head and was wobbly for the remainder of the game. In both scoring drives he hit on key pass plays and his faking threw the visitors off kilter more than once.

The running backs, given big holes and then twisting, dodging and bulldozing on their own, filled the order. Finney was the leading yardage-getter with a net of 109 yards in 14 trips with the pigskin. Hastings made 85 yards in 13 tries and Gugov, in five carries, picked up 47 yards.

In the other dressing room, a downcast Knowlton was bothered, and rightfully so, by the fact that the Aviators failed to hit the jackpot on their third quarter drive.

“It we had gotten that touchdown, which we should have, we would have had the game,” he commented.

“We were moving but when you lose one like that I think it can mean the difference,” he said.
* * *
AN ASSISTANT remarked that the interception meant the game and Mel reiterated his view.

“We were doing all right but when you lose one like that on third and three it’s just tough,” he lamented. (Actually it was second down and six to go at the time).

For Alliance, the veteran Woolf was held to 23 yards in seven carries while Wilson carted nine times for 38 yards.

Besides averaging over five yards a clip, the sturdy King did some fine blocking and was a bear on defense.

Most of the first quarter was defense. Midure recovered a fumble on the third play of the night and from the Aviator 41, the host aggregation marched to the 12 only to surrender the ball on downs as Sparma was halted on a four-and-three fake pitch-out play.

After an exchange of punts a 32-yard pass, Wallace to End Paul Trieff who caught the ball behind two defenders at the Tiger 39 and sped to the 31, put the Alliance boys in business. They gained five in two plays, McKey then stopped Woolf at the line of scrimmage and on fourth down King was stopped a yard short of a first down at the Massillon 22. Before you could say Khrushchev the Tigers shot ahead.
* * *
FINNEY found a hole on the left side, wriggled in the clear at the Aviator 35 and darted 56 yards to the Aviator 22. Hastings gained five, a Sparma to Wood pass was good for eight and after two five-yard penalties against each team, Sparma went to the air again.

This time McKey was open in the left flat and husky Hase latched onto the swinehide at the one, took one step, and it was six to zero at 9:54. Finney was stopped short on the PAT attempt.

That was the first half fireworks, although the Orangemen were working up a storm before intermission. Hastings sprinted for 20 and Gugov got 14 to help reach the Aviator 22. Then Sparma winged another beauty with Hastings on the receiving end and Art did the pile-driver act to plant the ball on the seven but an offside penalty turned the cheers to sadness.

Two plays netted two before a mix-up in the backfield caused Sparma to lose nine yards.

Alliance threatened in the third period but Midure nullified a 52-yard march and there was nothing to write home about for the first four and a half minutes of the last chapter.

Daugenti returned a punt 12 yards and the Bengals started the drive that knocked Alliance chances into limbo.
* * *
FINNEY sandwiched gains of five and three yards around Sparma’s one-yard try at the middle before Gugov raced 18 yards to the 25. He would have had a touchdown except that he stumbled over a teammate at the Alliance 30.

The very next play was also good for 18 yards as Sparma pegged to Hastings. From the seven, Gugov barreled off right tackle and at 4:55 Massillon had its insurance six-pointer. Gugov stabbed at left tackle on the PAT try, fumbled and Wood recovered in the end zone to make it 14-0.

Two minutes later Bednar pounced on a fumble and the Tigers were moving again. Wood sped 18 with the help of a block by Jim Houston on a statue-of-liberty and Hastings made nine and six, respectively, but this bid was thwarted by a holding penalty. Massillon turned over the ball at the Alliance 28 and after Wilson went seven on a double reverse, the gun sounded.

A Big Victory

MASSILLON
ENDS – McKey, Barkman, Oliver, Zumbrunn.
TACKLES – Appleby, Bukuts, Haines, Wells.
GUARDS –Bednar, Willey, Midure, Houston, Whitfield, White.
CENTERS – Snodgrass, Snyder, Demis.
QUARTERBACK –Sparma.
HALFBACKS – Wood, Finney, Herring, Gugov, Daugenti.
FULLBACKS – Hastings, Hershberger, Dean.

ALLIANCE
ENDS – P. Trieff, Shinn, Longmire, Havelock.
TACKLES – Davidson, D. Trieff, Caserta, Kennedy.
GUARDS – Paone, Adomius, Britton, Taylor.
CENTERS – Furcolow, Teeters.
QUARTERBACK – Wallace.
HALFBACKS – Woolf, Wilson, Headley.
FULLBACKS – King, Prince.

Scoring by quarters:
Massillon 0 6 0 8 14

Touchdowns – Massillon: McKey (10-P); Gugov (7-R).
Extra Points – Massillon: Wood (Recovered fumble in end zone).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Dan Tehan.
Field Judge – C. W. Rupp.
Head Linesman – Arthur Rittersbaugh.
Umpire – Roy Wisecup.
Statistics
Mass. Alli.
First downs – rushing 9 6
First downs – passing 3 4
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 12 10
Yards gained rushing 262 161
Yards lost rushing 9 9
Net yards gained rushing 253 152
Yards gained passing 46 67
Total yards gained 299 219
Passes attempted 9 11
Passes completed 4 4
Passes intercepted by 1 0
Times kicked off 3 1
Kickoff average (yards) 43.3 50
Kickoff returns (yards) 15 26
Times punted 3 3
Punt average (yards) 35.8 31.3
Punt returns (yards) 25 34
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 1 2
Lost fumbled ball 1 2
Penalties 6 1
Yards penalized 40 5

Second-Guessers
Have Field Day as
Tigers Top Aviators
By DON LIGHTNER
Repository Sports Writer

MASSILLON – What would be your strategy if you had the football planted on the opponent’s three-yard-line with three plays to push it into the end zone?

Well, it’s assured the 19,387 fans who attended the Massillon-Alliance clash here last night would be of one opinion – by all means, try to run it over.

But they had one big advantage. They could second-guess.

Alliance quarterback Bob Wallace elected to pass. The aerial was intercepted and Massillon went on to post a tooth-jarring 14-0 victory.

Although it is easy to question Wallace’s decision, one can not find too much fault with it.

For argument’s sake, let’s say the pass clicked for a touchdown. Alliance would have tied the game at 6-6 with a chance to go ahead 7-6 or 8-6 depending on the conversion.

This would have given the Aviators a tremendous psychological lift and put the pressure on the Tigers.

However, this is not to say the Bengals would have lost. Massillon scored another touchdown in the final period. But it might have been a different game.

With a lead in the third quarter, Alliance could have played it cozy and forced Massillon to take chances.

But this is only conjecture. The state’s top-ranked Bengals played heads-up football all the way. They had to – all the way.

They turned in a great performance defensively. Few fans figured they could hold the defending state titlists – ranked – No. 2 – scoreless.

Alliance had two other streaks snapped. It was the Aviators first loss in 15 games and stopped their shut-out mark at eight games. The Aviators hadn’t been scored on since the fourth game of last season.

Massillon Coach Leo Strang was all smiles after the game. Boosters and friends flowed into the locker room to give him a well-deserved pat on the back.

“Boy, if the fans didn’t get their money’s worth tonight, they never will,” Leo said smiling.

“I was very well pleased with our defensive work. I’ll bet you there won’t be another team this season to hold Alliance scoreless.

“I wasn’t too happy with our offense. I believe we made more mistakes against Alliance than we did in our previous two games combined.”

Strang went on to say quarterback Joe Sparma couldn’t remember for some time how the Tigers got their last touchdown.

“Joe must have been bumped pretty hard,” Leo continued. “He doesn’t know even when he got hurt. But I noticed something was wrong when on two plays he turned the wrong way on handoffs. Joe just doesn’t make those mistakes.”

Strang also said Wallace made the right call when he tried to pass for the touchdown.

“It’s just an automatic call,” Leo said. “We were in a 10-man line. Actually, that was the thing to do.”

Over in the Alliance locker room, Coach Mel Knowlton already was talking about getting another win streak started.

“We’ll just have to get going all over again,” Mel said. “After all, a 9-1 record isn’t bad at all.”

Knowlton refused to criticize Wallace for his decision to pass. “If the pass would have worked, Bob would be a hero,” Mel said.

“I believe we would have won the ball game if we could have scored. But it’s just one of those things. No one is to blame.”

Massillon got its first scoring drive started early in the second period. Alliance pushed the ball to the Massillon 22-yard-line where it lost possession on downs.

On the first play from scrimmage, Tiger halfback Bill Finney raced 56 yards before being hauled down on the 22-yard line.

After two running plays netted only four yards, Sparma went to work. He threw a nine-yard pass to halfback Jim Wood and followed up by pitching a TD strike to end Hase McKey in the end zone.

That was all the scoring in the first half.

In the third quarter, Alliance covered a fumble on its own 45.

Sparked by 17 and 11-yard passes by Wallace to halfback Leo Woolf and end Larry Shinn, respectively, Alliance had a first down on Massillon’s seven-yard-line.

Fullback Charley King rammed to the three. Then came Wallace’s controversial pass, which ended the drive. Guard Frank Midure picked it off in the end zone and ran it out to the Massillon 30-yard line.

Massillon iced the decision in the fourth period.

After forcing Alliance to punt, the Bengals drove 53-yards in six plays. Halfback Martin Gugov covered the final seven yards.

On the extra point run, Gugov fumbled in the end zone but the pigskin was recovered by Wood.

While many players from both teams turned in top jobs, Alliance’s King stole the show.

He was the backbone of the Aviators. He not only carried the load offensively, but did a tremendous job defensively.

Massillon showed its depth by sharing its running duties between Wood, Hastins, Finney and Gugov.

Massillon held an 11-10 advantage in first downs. It gained a total of 299 yards to Alliance’s 219.

The Aviator’s had an edge in the passing department, hitting on four of 11 for 67 yards. The Bengals threw nine times, completed four for 46 yards.

Massillon boosted its series lead over Alliance to 30-5-1. Last season, the two teams battled to an 8-8 tie.

Joe Sparma
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1959: Massillon 65, Canton Lincoln 0

Tigers Blast Canton Lincoln 65-0
Massillon Bengals Bomb Lions With Six Touchdown Passes

By CHARLIE POWELL

There will be little time to make merry music but Tigertowners will live “high on the hog” as long as they can.

That just about sums up the flippant feelings hereabout with Washington high football faithful, smug as a bug in rug over Friday night’s stream-roller show against Canton Lincoln and already thinking about that big one – the Friday night, October 2 battle with arch-rival Alliance.

The host Tigers, poised and powerful against a vastly out-manned but spunky club, applied the crusher by a 65-0 time – highest Massillon tally since 1954 and Lincoln’s worst licking at the hands of the Tiger in 15 years’ of combat.

Program Cover

Last night’s runaway marked the end of Massillon-Lincoln grid relations, at least for a few years, and it was a rude farewell party the Bengals tossed before 10,808 at Tiger stadium.

They scored two touchdowns in the first period and hit for 32 points in the second frame before taking the pressure off the accelerator.
* * *
THEY PULLED off 31 running plays for 301 yards. These plays were simple power maneuvers up the middle or end sweeps. In one of Massillon’s greatest displays of passing pyrotechnics in years, quarterbacks Joe Sparma and John Larson lofted the pigskin 29 times with eight completions going for a whopping 198 yards. These aerial bombs were of every description as the eligible receivers had the Lions in a tizzy trying to figure out the patterns.

In other words, the Tigers had it nice and easy while giving the Alliance scouts in the stands plenty to think about.

As the orange and black won their 14th decision over the Lions (one game ended in a draw), the defending state champion Aviators also were punching out their second straight triumph of the young season.

Before the game here was all over, fans were talking about next week’s fray. And hastily made signs, including a deluge of red and white ones carrying the message “Alliance, Beat Massillon” made their appearance.

Neither side will overlook any possibility of building up the tension for this big one. You can bet the rival coaches will go over every point of strategy and a packed audience for the big one is almost assured.
* * *
TICKETS have been selling fast and it should be a standing room-only turnout. Alliance this week sold out its original supply of tickets and asked for, and got additional tickets for the track seats.

The Leo Strang coached Tigers apparently were not thinking about anything but the job at hand last night.

They ran up the most points by a local team since the 1954 Bengals clobbered Struthers
68-0 and bettered the 1949 thrashing of Lincoln by five points.

It was the 23rd time (since 1920) that a Massillon team has scored 65 points or more. The biggest Bengal romp came in 1922 when the Tigertowners, coached by Dave Stewart, walked all over Akron North, 94-0.

It was Massillon’s 10th shutout starting with the opening game of 1957 and it was the most points ever allied by one of Strang’s teams.
* * *
FULLBACK Art Hastings 86-yard scamper for the second touchdown of the night and the passing of Sparma put the Tigers well on their way.

Sparma, who did not play as much as second string quarterback Larson, completed five passes, four for touchdown. Larson completed three, a pair of them for six-pointers, and also got off a crowd-pleasing 20-yard touchdown run after being trapped on a pass play in the third quarter.

None of the regular backs ran too often with Finney’s 64 yards in six trips leading the ball carriers. Hastings had 93 yards in three tries, second stringer Nick Daugenti picked up 35 in three tries (once running for 22 yards), Martin Gugov went 38 yards in four trips and a third string halfback, Doug Toles, carted five times for 17 yards.

The crowd saw Wingback Jim Wood hit pay dirt three times. And in doing so, he came up with a performance very few backs will be able to tell their future grandchildren about.

The hustling senior snagged three touchdown passes from the cool-operating Sparma in a space of six and one-half minutes during the second period.

End Bob Barkman caught two touchdown passes and a sub end, Theopolis Bodiford, completed the touchdown parade by going in on a 52-yard pass play with only 13 seconds remaining in the game.
* * *
THE TIGERS dropped four aerials including three “sure touchdown” throws two by Sparma and one by Larson. The former also pegged for two successful conversions.

Lincoln, which gained only 89-yards (74 on five passes) against an improved Tiger defense, saw a third down forward backfire with the game about a minute old. Finney swiped a throw in the flat by Quarterback Phil Billings and the Bengal halfback raced 43 yards down the west sidelines.

He placed the ball at the Lion four and after being held for no gain, Bill hit off right tackle for the first TD at 9:48. Mishandling of a handoff ruined the run on the try for two points.

Lincoln was forced to punt after the ensuing kickoff and Daugenti returned to the 11. After Finney made three, Hastings, in his first ball-toting chore of the night, highballed 86 yards for another touchdown. He veered off the left side, found himself free at the 25 and outran a couple Lincoln players to the end zone. Finney was stopped short on the conversion play.
* * *
NEAR THE END of the stanza defensive Tackle Terry Snyder recovered a fumble at the Massillon 31. A Sparma to Hastings pass gained 12 and Finney, in two tries, made 35 to help put the ball at the Lion 15 on the last play of the period. Then on the first play of the second quarter, Sparma worked himself loose from one would-be tackler, threw to Wood at the goal-line for six and Gugov swept end for two points. But the Tigers were penalized 15 yards for holding. However, Sparma’s pass to Herring in the end zone made it 20 to zero.

At 10:14 Wood put his mitts on another TD throw by Sparma. A bad punt gave the Tigers possession at the Lincoln 36 and on the next play Sparma hurled again with Wood making a sensational diving catch for the host’s fourth touchdown. Toles hit guard for two more points.

Hastings returned a punt 29 yards to the Lincoln 26 a few minutes later and again Sparma put the oval in orbit. It came down in the hands of Wood once again. Jim caught the ball at the 17 and carried two Lincoln players into the end zone with him. Another nice catch by Wood made it 36-0 at 4:37.
* * *
WITH ABOUT a minute left in the half, Gugov returned a punt 15 yards to the Lincoln 30 but the Orangemen were set back 15 yards due to a clip. After a Sparma pass was dropped in the wide-open spaces, Daugenti churned 22 on a sweep before the Sparma-Barkman combination was “dead center” on a 38-yard scoring play. Gugov made two more points on a sweep and Massillon led 44-0 at the half.

The Tigers continued red-hot in the third session. They took the kickoff and marched 63 yards. Finney got off a 22-yarder and Larson passed to Hastings for 13 before Wood raced seven yards for a touchdown, which did not count because of another clipping penalty. However, three plays later Larson from the 20, failed to locate a receiver, shook off one defender and barreled down the right side for six points. A fumble kept Herring from making the try for two more markers.

Linebacker Frank Midure recovered a fumble at the Lincoln 34 a minute or so later and in seven plays the home team had another TD. Wood, Gugov and Toles gained on the ground and from the seven. Larson pitched to Barkman who made a fine over the shoulder catch at the five and went in to make it 56-0. And it was 58-0 as Wood crashed across the final stripe.

Massillon got to the Lion 14 early in the final chapter and a second bid on the quarter just managed to beat the clock.

Guard Lawson White pounced on a fumble at the Lincoln 47 to set the stage. Two aerials went for naught before Larson’s flat pass settled in the arms of Bodiford at the Lincoln 37. It was a simple matter for the junior end to go on to pay dirt. Nobody touched him and after the Tigers were penalized for delaying the game, Jim Hershberger split the uprights for the 65th point.

Lincoln lost John Andreadis, quarterback-end due to an arm injury in the second half and Steve Scott, a sub halfback, had to have a few stitches put in his face and upper lip.

The Tigers, who used several regulars rather sparingly (Tackle Don Appleby who has been limping got in for one play) came out of the game in good shape although another tackle, Virgil Bukuts, couldn’t remember a thing after getting konked on the head in the second half.

Statistics
Mass. Lin.
First downs, rushing 13 3
First downs, passing 7 3
First downs, penalties 0 0
Total first downs 20 6
Yards gained rushing 307 70
Yards lost rushing 6 55
Net yards gained rushing 301 15
Yards gained passing 198 74
Total yards gained 499 89
Passes attempted 29 10
Passes completed 8 5
Passes intercepted by 1 2
Times kicked off 10 1
Kickoff average (yards) 41.7 37
Kickoff returns (yards) 47 158
Times punted 1 7
Punt average (yards) 29 18.2
Punt returns (yards) 37 24
Had punts blocked 0 1
Fumbles 3 8
Lost fumbled ball 0 3
Penalties 6 1
Yards penalized 60 5

Massillon Jolts Lincoln,
65 to 0
Aerial Attack Nets
Four Touchdowns in 2nd Quarter;
Wood Catches Three

MASSILLON, O. – Massillon’s Tigers and Canton Lincoln closed the book on their long football rivalry here last night – and the Tigers made the last chapter the most disastrous one for Lincoln in the 15-game series.

The talented Tigers tallied touchdowns with monotonous regularity to bury Lincoln, 65-0, for their most lopsided triumph against their Canton opponent.

The victory also preserved Massillon’s clean slate against Lincoln. The Tigers won 14 of the 15 games and the other was a scoreless tie in 1945.

Lincoln couldn’t hold Massillon down this time. The Tigers scored first on Euvll Finney’s
four-yard burst with only two minutes gone.

They scored again moments later when Art Hastings raced 84 yards and then Quarterback Joe Sparma put on a scintillating passing exhibition to put the game completely out of Lincoln’s reach.
Hurls 4 Touchdown Passes In 2nd Quarter
Sparma pitched four touchdown passes in the second quarter. He connected with halfback Jim Wood on tosses of 15, 36 and 26 yards and finished with a 38-yarder to end Bob Barkman.

Second-string quarterback John Larson took over in the last half and accounted for the Tigers’ last three scores. He tallied the first one himself on a 20-yard run. Then he threw 7 yards to Barkman and connected on a 48-yard pass-run play with Theopolis Bodiford to finish the rout.

The last TD came with only 13 seconds left and gave the Tigers their biggest scoring splurge since 1954 when they romped over Struthers, 68-0.

MASSILLON – 65
Ends – Barkman, McKey, Oliver, Zumbrunn, Royer, Bodiford.
Tackles – Bukuts, Haines, Jcypder, Appleby, Paul.
Guards – Houston, Willey, Whitfield, Midure, White, Bednar, Wells, Crenshaw.
Centers – Snodgrass, Demis.
Backs – Sparma, Wood, Finney, Hastings, Larson, Null, Toles, Smith, Hershberger, Kurzen, Herring, Gugov, Daugenti, Dean.

CANTON LINCOLN – 0
Ends – C. Wilson, Pikna, Barr, Sereyches.
Tackles – Garaux, Easkerman, T. Wilson, Leidner.
Guards – Kerr, Thompson, Evans.
Centers – Lewis, Brandstetter.
Backs – Hill, Billings, Sirgo, D. Wilson, Price, Scott, Cronin, Slcakford, Wolkers, Andreadis.

Massillon 12 32 14 7 65

Massillon scoring – Touchdowns: Finney (4, run) Hastings (86, run); Wood (15, 36, 26, passes); Barkman (38, 7, passes); Bodiford 48 (pass); Larson (20, run).

PAT – Herring (pass); Toles (run); Wood (pass) (run); Gugov (run); Hershberger (placement).

Joe Sparma
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1959: Massillon 40, Akron South 6

Tigers Claw Akron South 40-6
Bengals Flash Good Offense And Score In First Three Minutes

By CHARLIE POWELL

Putting the zest of a band of Davy Crocketts into the game, the Massillon Tigers made their initial assignment look comparatively easy as they planted a sound haymaker on Akron South high in a mutual opener Friday night at Tiger stadium.

They punched out a 40-6 triumph as they scored over land and through the air. The defense even hit for the jackpot and 32 boys got into the act.

They struck pay dirt with two minutes and five seconds gone by in the first quarter and followed with four more touchdowns, a safety and four two-point conversions.

Program Cover

They simply had too much in the arsenal for the Cavaliers who presented only a token aerial threat that kept things interesting for a spell.
* * *
THE SOUTH gridders, making their debut under new coach Ted Osborn, came right back for six points after Massillon gained an 8-0 advantage but before the first round was over the Bengals had staked themselves to a 16-6 lead and when their third touchdown came mid way in the second period, there was no question as to the eventual victor.

When it was over the 10,729 fans in attendance wended their way homeward, the Tigers seemingly took the win in stride.

They appeared to be thinking about the future. Apparently they realized the mistakes they made along the way and how they will have to work a little harder to get ready for the more severe tests.

In the words of Coach Leo Strang – “We have a lot of work to do.”

He said his charges proved to be what the coaches figured for the opener. The boys made mistakes and some were expected since not too many of them have had too much previous varsity experience. However, he also pointed up the fact that several of the seasoned performers have room for improvements.
* * *
FINAL STATISTICS showed that the Cavaliers, who now have lost three straight openers to the Tigers, gained only 83 yards by rushing but Strang asserted that the Tiger defense needs considerable work.

On the other hand, Osborn thought a big difference was Massillon’s defense.

“You have more experience. We had a hard time trying to run against your defense but we did all right considering our lack of experience,” said Osborn.

“We are building our offense around three basketball players (Mercer Mitchell, Terry Marsh and Bob Taylor) and a boy (Quarterback Jerry Campbell) whom we believe will be an outstanding passer. Our passing would not offset your running. You have a powerful running attack.”
* * *
THE SOUTH MENTOR said his team was handicapped by the absence of its first and second string centers but the Tigers also were operating below par.

Actually, the Tiger attack was sporadic but when the team jells, Bengal boosters will be able to tell just how strong it will be against more formidable foes.

Strang’s gang found holes for 365 net yards on the ground and the passing attack, kept fairly well under wraps, clicked on two occasions for 69 yards.

Sparma’s first forward of the evening settled in the arms of Wingback Jim Wood who sped to the Promised Land to complete a 52-yard play.

Before the remaining 45-odd minutes were up, Hastings winged his way 63 yards, Lefthalf Bill Finney scored on runs of four and 14 yards and second team Halfback Martin Gugov went across from two yards out. The Tigers got two points on a safety near the end of the first half when defensive Halfback Jim Hershberger tackled Cavalier Fullback Bob Taylor back of the South goal line.
* * *
BEFORE ALL the fans were in their seats, the Bengals put six points on the scoreboard. End Bob Zumbrunn returned the opening kickoff to the Tiger 37 and in two tries Finney picked up 12 yards before Hastings lost two on a sweep.

But then Sparma wound up, pegged to Wood all alone at the South 36 and at 9:55 Massillon had its first touchdown of the 1959 season. It was 8-0 after Finney smacked off tackle.

Not a bit of air was taken out of the South boys, though, and they went on the prowl after the kickoff was returned to the 35. After five plays made 13, Campbell passed to Marsh, who made a fine leaping catch and would have gone the rest of the way but for a shoestring tackle by Hershberger. The pass moved the ball to the Massillon 17. Taylor made five, Lykes three and Brown followed with nine on a pitch-out for the touchdown. Campbell was snowed under trying to pass on the conversion attempt and it was a close ball game with 5:41 left in the quarter.

It took the Tigertowners just one minute flat to hike their margin. Scooter Bob Herring returned the kickoff to the 32 and after Finney hit tackle for five, Hastings got loose. He took a handoff, whipped through the left side end was in the open, getting rid of one defender with a terrific fake at the South 40, then twisting way from another at the 30 before completing his 63-yard jaunt. Finney’s off tackle slant made it
16-6.

South completed three passes before the quarter was history and on the second play of the second panel, luck frowned on the Akronites. Massillon’s Finney pounced on a third down fumble at the three and the fireworks that followed had Tiger fans chortling in glee.
* * *
WITH SECOND and one at the 22, Oliver took Sparma’s pass behind the safetyman and dashed to the end zone only to see an illegal formation penalty wipe out the score.

However, Sparma, Hastings and Finney kept things moving. A 37-yard run by Hastings put the oval at the enemy four and Finney went in for another tally at 5:49. Hastings ran across the extra points.

With less than a half-minute remaining in the half, South was trying to get out of its own back yard and Taylor was hit in the end zone on a sweep. Hershberger made the initial grab and Zumbrunn, Wayne Paul, Gary Wells and Wally Brugh helped give the Tigers two more markers.

Gugov’s interception of a pass preceded the Tigers’ first of two TD’s in the third period. He put the oval on the Cavalier 29 and Finney got off a 10-yard run before making the final 14 on a sweep. Hastings was stopped short on the conversion attempt at 8:11.

South was forced to punt a couple minutes later and the hosts drove 46 yards with Gugov getting off a 14-yard effort and Herring whizzing for 20. From the two, Gugov went across and a pass, Sparma to Zumbrunn ended the scoring for the night.

The Tigers had their second offensive unit on duty at the outset of the final quarter but no headway was made. When the first stringers returned Sparma hurled to Wood for a 17-yard gain, the latter ran for 15 and Herring sped 25, but no serious bid was mustered.

MASSILLON – 40
E – Oliver, Pierce, Zumbrunn, Royer, Bodiford, Barkman.
T – Snyder, Appleby, Bukuts, Paul, Herndon, Haines.
G – Houston, Willey, Midure, White, Wells, Brugh, McKey.
C – Snodgrass, Demis.
QB – Sparma, Larson.
HB– Finney, Wood, Toles, Kurzen, Herring, Gugov, Daugenti.
FB – Hastings, Hershberger.

AKRON SOUTH – 6
E – Marsh, Mitchell, Coteat, Toomer.
T – Stephenson, Earnest, Gray.
G – Butler, Harris.
C – Clayton, Stembridge.
QB – Campbell, Kluka.
HB – Brown, Lykes, Greene, Vinson, Green.
FB – Taylor, Isaiah.

Massillon 16 10 14 0 40
South 6 0 0 0 6

TD – Finney 2, Wood, Hastings, Gugov, Brown.
PAT – Finney 2 (runs), Hastings (run), Zumbrunn (pass).
SAFETY – Massillon

Hastings, Finney Feature Bengals’
Easy 40-6 Romp

By BOB STEWART
Repository Sports Writer

MASSILLON – Wide open and free scoring football is back at Massillon.

The Massillon Tigers unveiled their 1959 grid aggregation by rolling to an impressive 40-6 victory over the Akron South Cavaliers here Friday night before 10,729 fans.

The Bengals showed an always dangers passing game and devastating break-away running attack in ripping a speedy but smaller and less experienced Akron team.

Coach Leo Strang’s crew exploded twice in the hectic first quarter – on a 52-yard pass play from quarterback Joe Sparma to halfback Jim Wood and then on a 63-yard spring up the middle by junior fullback Art Hastings.
* * *
THE SCRAPPY Cavaliers refused to roll over and play6 dead.

South took the kickoff after Massillon’s first score and marched 65-yards in nine plays with halfback Virg Brown capping the drive by scoring from eight yards out.

Taking the kick off following the Tigers’ second touchdown. South again was on the move, penetrating to the Massillon four-yard line as the quarter ended.

A screen pass from South quarterback Jerry Campbell was complete to Mercer Mitchell but he fumbled on the three and the Tigers covered to stave off South’s last threat.

Starting on their own three, the Tigers’ Hastings and Finney combined to carry the ball 97 yards in 13 plays. Finney scored from three yards out. The series saw a 70-yard TD pass play from Sparma to Bob Oliver nullified by a penalty.
* * *
BOB ZUMBRUNN, the Tigers’ left end, caught fullback Bob Taylor in his own end zone for a safety just before the first half ended.

A 13-yard scoring jaunt by Finney and a one-yard plunge into the end zone by Martin Gugov in the third period finished the touchdowns for the night.

Finney ran over two extra points and Hastings one and Sparma passed to Zumbrunn for the fourth conversion.

Hastings and Finney were the mainstays of the Bengal rushing offense.

Hastings carried 10 times and accounted for 150 yards, an average of 15 yards per carry. Finney averaged 6.5 yards, gaining 79 yards in 12 tries.

“Our offense looked pretty good,” smiled Strang after the contest. “But I sure wondered where our defense was in that first quarter.”

“We made a lot of mistakes but none that can’t be corrected,” he noted. “Don’t take this South team too lightly. They will do all right this year.”

“Our scouting reports called South ‘quick’. Boy they’re pretty darn fast if you ask me.”

When asked how he thought his boys did, coach Ted Osborn of South pondered for a few minutes and then answered. “We did pretty much as I expected. Our boys are pretty green and I put in a complete new system this year.”

Osborn, who had coached 11 years at Akron Central, took over the helm of the Cavaliers this year. South last year dropped all ten of its ball games.

The Tigers racked up 16 first downs, 13 rushing, to Akron’s eight. South got three rushing, four passing and one on a penalty.

The Bengals ground out 365 yards on the ground and added 70 on two pass completions for a 435 yard total. South passed for 105 yards and rushed for 83.

A Good Start

MASSILLON – 40
Ends – McKey, Barkman, Oliver, Pierce, Zumbrunn, Royer, Bodiford.
Tackles – Appleby, Bukuts, Paul, Herndon, Haines, Wells.
Guards – Houston, Willey, White, Midure, Brugh.
Centers – Snodgrass, Snyder, Demis.
Quarterbacks – Sparma, Larson.
Halfbacks – Finney, Wood, Herring, Kurzen, Ggov, Daugenti.
Fullbacks – Hastings, Hershberger, Toles.

AKRON SOUTH – 6
Ends – Mitchell, Marsh, Coteat, Toomer.
Tackles – Gray, Earnest, Stephenson.
Guards – Clayton, Butler, Harris, Woods, Woodall.
Centers – Slembridge, Clayton.
Quarterbacks – Campbell, Kluks.
Halfbacks – Brown, Lykes, Crooks, Green, Greene.
Fullbacks – Taylor, Simmons, Rollins.

Score by quarters
Massillon 16 10 14 0 40
Akron South 6 0 0 0 6

Massillon scoring
Touchdowns – Wood 52, (pass); Finney 2 (4, 14 runs); Gugov 2, (run); Hastings 63 (run).
Safety – Hershberger, tackled Taylor in end zone.
Extra Points – Finney 2 (runs); Hastings (run) Zumbrunn (pass).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Lymper.
Head Linesman – Shopbell.
Umpire – Walker.
Field Judge – Hodgson.

Statistics
M A
First downs, rushing 15 4
First downs, passing 2 4
First downs, penalties 1 2
Total first downs 18 10
Number of rushing plays 46 24
Yards gained, running plays 376 90
Yards lost, running plays 11 7
Net yardage, running 365 83
Passes attempted 8 16
Passes completed 2 6
Passes had intercepted 1 0
Yards returned, intercepted passes 16 6
Yards gained, passing 69 105
Total yardage, running and passing 435 188
Number of kick-off returns 3 6
Yardage, kickoff returns 56 67
Average length of kickoff returns 18.6 11.1
Number of punt returns 3 1
Yardage, punt returns 30 9
Average length of punt return 10 9
Number of punts 1 4
Total yardage on punts 39 119
Average length of punts 39 29.7
Number of penalties 4 8
Yards lost on penalties 60 40
Number of fumbles 3 3
Own fumbles recovered 2 1
Ball lost on fumbles 1 2

LOOKING’EM OVER
with CHARLIE POWELL

OUR TIGERS DID a pretty fine job of making it a pleasant opening night for all their fans who like to see them pour on the coal. For that matter, all fans who like to see them win by any kind of a margin.

It was the highest number of points rattled off by a Massillon team in any game since the 45-7 beating administered to Canton Lincoln (next week’s opponent) in 1955. And it was the most markers for a Tiger opener since Struthers was crushed by a 68-0 count in the 1954 inaugural.

The Cavaliers went back to Akron with bitter recollections of a 40-6 thumping and it might have been a lot worse.

Fumbles, most of them caused by the ball carrier being ahead of the handoff, slowed the Bengals somewhat, but actually they clicked smoother than did the 1958 edition in their debut against South.
* * *
IF YOU WERE in the stands last night you may recall that twice early in the second period Quarterback Joe Sparma ran with the ball when he wasn’t supposed to be doing same.

The first time Art Hastings raced past Joe before he could get the pigskin into Art’s hands and Sparma hit off the left side for 11 yards and a first down. Four plays later the same thing happened. Joe dropped the ball, picked it up and chugged six yards for another first down.

Such is the game of football.

Both plays kept the drive going that led to the Tigers’ third touchdown of the night.

It was during this span that Sparma hit Bob Oliver with a beauty of a pass that was good for 69 yards and a touchdown. But the picture play was nullified due to a 15-yard penalty called by an official who ruled that a halfback lined up even with the ball. In other words, the Tigers had an illegal eight-man line.

Coach Leo Strang attributed some occasional ill timing in part, to the fact that Hastings hadn’t practiced too often recently with the other three first-string backs.

Not much fault could be found with a team that won by a whopping score – and one that had 10 boys (offense and defense) starting in their very first varsity game.

From what he witnessed, Strang figured it was a “fair” performance.

Indicating that the Orangemen still have a lot of work in the wind, he said that down field blocking and tackling will get special attention next week.

“If I was pleased with anything it was the second team defense. The boys on that second unit did a pretty good job that second half. At times our running game looked good,” he added.

Speaking about the defense, he claimed there may be some changes made for the Lincoln game.
* * *
THE FUMBLES surprised yours truly because in all the pre-season scrimmage games the Tigers had fumbled the swinehide only a couple times.

Maybe it was just one of those nights when they needed handles on the ball.

Strang also pointed out that South had some mobile backs, a good passer and good receivers.

A hard-to-handle runner was Bob Lykes, a lanky sophomore. This boy’s father played under South coach Ted Osborn when the latter was coaching at Akron Central quite a few years ago.

Mike Kluka, the No 2 quarterback who did the punting for the Cavaliers, is a cousin of George Izo, the former Barberton passing ace now a Notre Dame quarterback.

Massillon fans shouldn’t worry about the boys “not being in top shape.”

Most of the players who required the attention of trainer Walt Keller were slightly banged up before the game. None appear to be too serious.

Captain “Sluggo” Bednar was itching to get in there. He got the idea he’s ready to play but the cast won’t come off his arm until next week.

The magic number now is nine. Keep working, gang!

Joe Sparma
Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large)

1958: Massillon 38, Canton McKinley 16

Tigers Were Just That In 38-16 Win
Massillon Clobbers Bulldogs After Trailing Twice In Opening Period

By CHARLIE POWELL

His trousers soaked and hinging limp, his white shirt dotted with mud, his brow furrowed, Jimmy Robinson fought his way through the snowstorm of back-slapping in the Massillon Tiger dressing room until he found the boy he was looking for – Tiger defensive star Hase McKey.

He grabbed McKey’s hand, sized him up and said, “You played the greatest game I’ve ever seen in high school football. And I mean that.”

It was quite a compliment coming from a man in his 36th year of coaching. Maybe Robinson was right, maybe McKey was the greatest of the galaxy of stars on the turf and for that matter, some of the losing McKinley Bulldogs, were not far behind.

Bob Vogel
Program Cover

The names of McKey, Bill Zorn, Bob Vogel, Joe Sparma, “Sluggo” Bednar, Jerry Mitchell and Dave Dean were prominent as the “Comeback Kids” of Tigertown shot down their arch-rivals 38-16, before over 22,000 fans, most of whom took a good drenching from the elements.
* * *
HOWEVER, FOR fairness sake, it was truly a team effort, including some determined, gritty, old-college-try performances by a bunch of semi-anonymous battlers that upset the equilibrium of the scrappy Bulldogs and left the howling crowd with a hangover of excitement.

Except for one brief sortie in the third quarter, the charged-up invaders met a stonewall when they tried to move the pigskin overland. Two passes were responsible for the jolting McKinley touchdown at 8:18 of the initial quarter and after a pass interception, the Tigers went ahead. On the ensuing kickoff, McKinley’s Gene “Sonny” Mastin, a slight-built boy playing his first year of football, went 89 yards and the Bulldogs again “shook up” the Massillonians.

It takes a real football team to stage a comeback twice within a short space of time. Another team might have folded but not the Tigers. They roared back with gusto.

A 63-yard drive, initiated near the end of the first panel, was climaxed at 10:50 of the second chapter and before halftime, the Bengals legged it 44 yards to go ahead to stay.

The defense, which was a Tiger trademark all season long, brought about still another second period score that drove the nail in the Bulldog coffin. Vogel blocked Dave Sitzman’s punt at the McKinley 15 and two Tigers, linebackers Bednar and Frank Midure, covered the pigskin at the two before Co-Captain Dean plunged across with only five second left in the half.

The third stanza was void of any serious action but a 34-yard drive by the orange and black, culminated midway in the final session, gave Massillon additional spirit of joi de vivre.

When it was all over Coach Leo Strang had been carried off the field on the shoulders of joyous players and he and his assistants took the traditional trip to the showers, the Tigers had checked in their eighth victory against one loss and a tie.
* * *
IT WAS MASSILLON’S second straight win over the Bulldogs, who finished with a 5-5 mark, and provided the Tigers with a 31-27-5 edge in the colorful series.

Massillon now has been the winner in eight of the last 10 Tiger-Bulldog encounters and its modern era advantage stands at 34 victories, 12 losses and three ties. The difference was the biggest since the Bulldogs were pummeled 48-7 in 1953.

The triumph, coming in the only game the Tigers had to play on a soggy field all season, improved on the Massillon record of either going unbeaten or not having lost more than one decision during any campaign but once since 1947.

Massillon’s prestige in the Ohio scholastic poll may be enhanced. Whether Strang’s gang move up to second or third, of course, is only hypothetical. One thing is virtually
certain – another Stark county school, Alliance, will rule the roost.

Strange, whose team jelled offensively after several changes in the personnel were made, had nothing but the kindest words for the players, his assistants and others who played a hand in the successful season. He pointed out that the Tigers had looked better in several other games but quickly added that McKinley was a fighting team “and any time you run up against a ball club like that, you’re in for trouble.”

Nevertheless, the Bengals out did the red and black in the statistical department. First downs were 14-11, rusing yardage 216-135 and passing yardage 107-43.
* * *
A FEW PENALTIES bogged the Tigers down but strange as it may seem , there was only one fumble, and the Tigers recovered their one bobble. The punters, Sitzman and Sparma, did well and the latter, who finished the year with 33 completions in 74 attempts for 556 yards, passed nine times and hit on six of them for 106 yards and two TDs.

Dean pulled a football “hat trick” with three scores, all on short plunges, and he set up one himself via a sensational 56-yard jaunt in the opening period.

Defensively, the Tigers were mighty tough after McKinley’s power plays called for some early adjustments. The type of Bulldog plays and treacherous footing hampered the defenders who had limited nine previous opponents to an average of 97 yards per game.

However, they maintained their record of having given up only one touchdown all season through the line.

Zorn and Vogel, terrors throughout the game, each blocked a punt and Mitchell and McKey helped take the starch out of the Bulldogs with timely pass interceptions. One of Mitchell’s interceptions was a terrific over-the-shoulder catch.

Outside of the touchdowns, there were “big” plays which played vital roles.

One resulted in the officials getting a “booing serenade” from the McKinley fans who didn’t like a pass interference call at the Bulldog one-yard line early in the second period. With the ball at the McKinley 24, Sparma sent a pass into the right hand corner of the end zone and both the intended receiver, Charley Royer, and the defender went crashing to the ground. Massillon was given possession at the one and on his second thrust, Dean cracked through right guard. Jim Snively’s slice off right tackle made it 16-16 at 10:50.
* * *
BOTH OF MITCHELL’S interceptions led to Tiger scores and of course the blocked kick set the stage for another.

Let’s get down to brass tacks.

Massillon won the toss of the coin and after receiving, made not a yard before Sparma kicked on third down. Tiger fans got the shocker in short order.

After Chester Warren, their top runner made four yards, the Bulldogs took to the skyways with Sitzman connecting with end Bill Babics, thanks to an assist by Midure who partially deflected the ball, and the ball was planted at the Tiger 25. Two running plays netted nine and Warren got a first down at the 14. Sitzman threw again, this time incomplete, but on the next play he hit Babics for a touchdown that put new life in the team and new hope in the McKinley fans.

Babics made the catch over his shoulder and the other end, Larry Tolson, took a Sitzman pass on an identical snag for two more points.

After the kickoff, the Bengals started from their own 30. Dean in his first carry of the day, hit off right tackle on a ride play, got a good blocking and was off and running. He went 56 yards before Leroy Shipp brought him down from behind at the McKinley 14. However, the Orangemen couldn’t uncover the necessary punch and turned the ball over to the enemy at the nine.

Four plays later Mitchell made a tremendous interception at the Bulldog 30 and raced all the way to the McKinley three. Dean got two at center before he dived off right guard for a touchdown at 3:12. Art Hastings cracked left tackle and it was all tied up.

Not for long, though, as McKey’s kickoff was taken by Mastin at his own 11. The
nimble-footed end-halfback, got behind a wall of blockers along the east sidelines, sped past the last potential tackler at the Massillon 40, and was off to the races. After his 89-yard gallop, Sitzman passed to Babics to put McKinley ahead once again.
* * *
THE TIGERS seemed to let down the second half. There was nothing to “write home about” in the third frame and in the final quarter there were two punts, one by each team, before the home side added another clincher.

Sitzman, kicking from his own 17, had his punt almost blocked and Mitchell returned it 15 yards to the Bulldog 34. Snively and Hastings carried to the 15 and from that point, Sparma twirled to Zorn, again covered at the goal line. But Bill put his “meathooks” around the leather for another TD, and Sparma passed to Hastings for two more markers.

With the help of a Sitzman to Kettlewell pass for 21 yards, McKinley moved to the Tiger 17 before the Bengals forced a turnover. Allen ran for 13, Sparma for seven and passed to Vogel for 11 as the action came to a halt – and the Tiger wafted about on Cloud Nine.

A Grand Climax

MASSILLON
Ends – Vogel, Zorn, Mitchell, Barkman, F. Pierce, Oliver, Zumbrunn.
Tackles – Donat, Bukuts, Bordner, Haines, Paul, Snyder, Garman, Appleby, Snodgrass.
Guards – Karrenbauer, Slicker, Perry, Midure, Placevk, Bednar, Willey, J. Kasuncik.
Centers – Shilling, Cooley.
Quarterbacks – Sparma, Finney.
Halfbacks – Snively, Wood, A. Pierce, Allen, Hastings, Spencer, Gugov, Royer, Clark Radtka.
Fullbacks – Dean, McKey, Morrow, Hershberger, Toles.

McKINELY
Ends – Tolson, Babics, Wilder, Mabry, Mastin.
Tackles – Swimmer, Shipp, Rausch, Averette, Guedel.
Guards – Rossetti, Mussulin, Conner, Kroh.
Centers – Stevenson, Straughn.
Quarterbacks – Sitzman.
Halfbacks – Warren, Fontes, Cook, Carter, Kettlewell, Schnoke, Mathieu, Wilcoxen.
Fullbacks – Ball, Cook.

Scoring by quarters:
Massillon 8 22 0 8 38
McKinley 16 0 0 0 16

Massillon Scoring:
Touchdowns – Dean 3, (runs , 1, 1, 2); Zorn 2, (Passes, 20, 15).
Extra Points – Hastings 2 (1 pass, 1 run); Snively (run); Allen (run).

McKinley Scoring:
Touchdowns – Babics (pass, 13); Mastin (kickoff return, 89).
Extra Points – Toles (pass); Babics (pass).

OFFICIALS
Referee – Dan Tehan.
Umpire – Mack Schaffer.
Head Linesman – F.G. Skibbie.
Field Judge – Don Malone.

STATISTICS
Mass. McK.
First downs, rushing 9 8
First downs, passing 4 2
First downs, penalties 1 0
Total first downs 14 11
Number of rushing plays 56 47
Yards gained, running plays 218 145
Yards lost, running plays 2 10
Net yardage, running 216 135
Passes attempted 11 10
Passes completed 7 3
Passes had intercepted 0 3
Yards returned,
Intercepted passes 58 0
Yards gained, passing 107 43
Total yardage,
running and passing 323 178
Number of kick-off returns 3 5
Yardage, kickoff returns 57 124
Average length of kickoff
Returns 19.0 24.8
Number of punt returns 3 3
Yardage, punt returns 24 7
Average length of punt return 8.0 2.3
Number of punts 4 4
Total yardage on punts 117 122
Average length of punts 29.2 30.5
Number of penalties 5 2
Yards lost on penalties 45 28
Number of fumbles 1 0
Own fumbles recovered 1 0
Ball lost on fumbles 0 0

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1958: Massillon 36, Akron Garfield 0

Tigers Easily Beat Akron Garfield 36-0
Tight Bengal Defense Repels Presidents For A Minus One Yard

By CHARLIE POWELL

“Have football, will travel” seemed to be the theme song of the Massillon Tigers as they propelled the pigskin through, over and around Akron Garfield in a remarkably easy 36-0 romp at chilly Tiger stadium Friday night.

The Bengals gained 309 yards over land and 132 via the airways, made 22 first downs and the Presidents to a pair of stick-movers and – get this – a net of minus one yard.

More of the same – that’s what all good Tiger faithful are wishing now. The big one comes up next Saturday afternoon and this, of course, is the traditional tussle with Canton McKinley’s Bulldogs.
“BEAT McKINLEY!”
Ye, that’s the cry and we will hear that cry, constantly to say the least, and perhaps in our sleep, for the next seven days.
* * *
THE 1958 FOOTBALL season of the Tigers has brought forth fruits of victory and pangs of disappointment but the most pleasing result of all could only be a prized triumph over the team to the East.

This year’s Massillon-McKinley game will have no pot of gold or state championship riding on the final outcome, but it still is a banner attraction. The stands will be packed, as just about everybody hereabouts realizes that anything and everything can happen when the Tigers and the Bulldogs start clawing away.

With the Bulldogs experiencing a lean year, they know that by beating Massillon they can make amends for past failures.

The Bulldogs have a new coach in Jimmy Robinson, the former Lehman boss, a raft of speedy backs, a veteran quarterback and several hard-nose stalwarts on the line. It will be a case of everything to gain, nothing to lose for them.

All seats have been sold for the encounter. Because temporary bleachers have been placed in front of the stands, there will be no available standing room.
* * *
THE TIGER Booster club will get the ball rolling for “Beat McKinley Week” at its meeting in the high school auditorium Monday night.

The old home-town will dress up as per usual and all merchants are being asked to fly their Tiger flags all week long.

The Washington high warriors will enter the battle with a record of seven wins, one loss and a tie. McKinley was 4-4 going into this afternoon’s skirmish with Cleveland John Adams at Fawcett stadium.

The lop-sided win over Garfield was Massillon’s seventh in a row over a President array.

The Prexies lost to the orange and black 30-0 last year and 35-0 the year before but their representatives on the field last night actually had very little semblance in the 1956 and 1957 clubs.

They stayed in their pitching but the Tigers had too much of everything.
* * *
BEHIND FINE blocking, Jim Snively, Art Hastings, Dave Dean, Jerry Allen, Jim Wood and Martin Gugov ran with abandon. Joe Sparma and Bill Finney shared the passing role and their strikes to Bob Vogel, Bill Zorn, Jerry Mitchell and Allen were very instrumental.

The defensive dandies, protecting the top record among “big time” schools in the state, did not allow Garfield a first down in the first half. On the third play of the second half the invading team made their fist of the night and their second, and last, came after a
delay-of-game penalty against Massillon aided them late in the final period.

Garfield reached Tiger territory only twice all evening and never came close to pay dirt as the Bengals racked up their fifth shutout of the season.

Nearest the Presidents got was the Tiger 47-yard line after Halfback Bob Price, their star punter, intercepted a pass early in the game. However, four plays later the visitors had to punt from their own 46.

The score, which was Massillon’s highest output of the year, might have been more
one-sided had it not been for Price’s booming punts or the fact that the Tigers temporarily ran out of gas after going inside the 15 twice in the third quarter.
* * *
PRICE KICKED seven times for an average of exactly 40 yards per punt, his best effort being at 51-yarder. On the other hand, the orange punted only once with a fourth quarter “line drive” by Sparma carrying 54 yards.

Offensively, the Leo Strang coached forces treated the crowd, which included 8,579 paid, to much fireworks in the very first period.

The second time they had the pigskin they rolled 60 yards in seven plays with Snively whizzing the final 34. Four minutes later they made a second TD with Allen hitting across from the three after seven plays had covered 53 yards.
On the first thrust, Massillon started from its own 40-yard line. A 15-yard pass play with Mitchell taking a Sparma throw, and short chunks by Snively, Hastings and Dean planted the ball at the Garfield 34 before Snively got loose. He banged through a hole at left tackle, did a cutback at the 25 and was gone. At 5:38 he hit off the right side to make the score
8-0.
* * *
GARFIELD was forced to punt after the kickoff and Bob Oliver returned to the Tiger 44. After an incomplete pass, Snively got off another nifty run, this one for 22 yards, and then Allen, Dean and Hastings alternated in toting the oval to the enemy three from which point Allen tallied through a giant-sized hole on the right side. A bad exchange in the backfield ruined the try for two extra points.

A 40-yard run by Snively went for naught early in the second frame but the second time the Tigers had the ball in that session they didn’t stop until they changed the score to 20-0.

They advanced 86 yards in nine plays with a pair of aerials accounting for the last 35 yards.

Dean and Allen were the running stickouts as Massillon moved to the Garfield 35. Then Sparma threw out into the right flat. The pass was wobbly but carried right to Mitchell, sitting down on the 13. On the next play Sparma and Zorn made connections on a jump pass with big Bill catching the ball at the four and falling across. A run for the extra points was short.
* * *
NEAR THE END of the quarter McKey blocked a punt with Zorn catching the ball at the Garfield 37. Sparma twirled to Vogel who made a nice catch to help gain 23 yards but on the last play of the half, Price bobbed up to intercept a Sparma toss. Thus it was 20-0 at intermission.

Garfield came out for the second half a more determined ball club but after picking up one first down, a screen pass thrown by Ronnie Tate was deflected by McKey and Zorn gathered it in at the President 37.

On the very next play, Massillon scored again. This time Sparma got off another jump pass and it was caught by Vogel after being deflected by Price. Vogel juggled the ball for an instant at the 24 and then had a straight shot to the end zone. Sparma passed to Zorn for two more points with eight minutes left in the quarter.
* * *
McKEY RECOVERED a fumble at the Garfield 36 three plays later but after Finney passed to Zorn for 15 and sophomore Gugov got 12 yards in two tries, Massillon fumbled with Taylor recovering at the Garfield two.

But Garfield had to kick again and Massillon went from the visitors’ 44 to the 14 before the big fizzled out. During this drive, which was hurt by a holding penalty, Gugov ran twice for 11 yards, Allen once for 13 and Finney passed to Allen for seven yards.

Following a punt early in the final canto, the Tigertown team drove 43 yards in eight plays. Allen ran well in this scoring overture, going for 11 once and for 18 on another trip before he bulled the last four yards at 6:49. Gugov hit off tackle for the extra points.

STATISTICS
Mass. Gar.
First downs, rushing 17 2
First downs, passing 5 0
First downs, penalties 0 0
Total first downs 22 2
Number of rushing plays 64 37
Yards gained, running plays 334 48
Yards lost, running plays 25 49
Net yardage, running 309 -1
Passes attempted 17 7
Passes completed 7 0
Passes had intercepted 2 1
Yards returned, intercepted passes 0 21
Yards gained, passing 132 0
Total net yardage,
running and passing 441 -1
Number of kick-off returns 1 6
Yardage, kickoff returns 8 74
Average length of kickoff returns 8 12.3
Number of punt returns 6 0
Yardage, punt returns 43 0
Average length of punt return 7.1 0
Number of punts 1 7
Total yardage on punts 54 280
Average length of punts 54 40
Number of penalties 4 4
Yards lost on penalties 40 30
Number of fumbles 5 4
Own fumbles recovered 2 1
Ball lost on fumbles 3 3

Bob Vogel
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1958: Massillon 32, Barberton 0

Tiger Gridders Beat Barberton 32-0
Bengals Hot And Cold In Chalking Up their Sixth Of The Season

By CHARLIE POWELL

It was just like somebody was continually twisting a couple of water faucets. First hot, then cold, hot then cold, hot then cold.

That’s the way the Massillon Tigers ran (and passed) as they took the steam out of the Barberton Magics before 10,158 paid fans at Tiger stadium Friday night.

The Bengals weren’t “up” for the tussle. They had all the earmarks of a world-beater at times, but at other times stumbled along and yet ran up their highest point total of the season, 32-0, for their fourth shutout of the campaign plus their 10th victory in a row over the Magics.

A combination of Tiger boo-hoos, their apparent lackadaisical mood, and some battling on the part of the invaders whose defense, featuring crashing linebackers, occasionally tipped the local lads off balance, probably kept the score from being more lop-sided.
* * *
THIS “PARLAY” helped Barberton hold onto the football with the Purple having possession for 33 running plays and eight passes.

Offensively, the Magics – in becoming the sixth Tiger victim of the season – averaged less than two yards a play in 38 rushes as they gained 64 yards overland and added 23 when they put the pigskin in orbit.

The visiting array never did pose a serious threat. Their longest gain amounted to 13 yards and that pass connection, coming on the last play of the third panel, was nullified by a penalty.

Along the same lines, the Bengals showed only flashes of a sustained effort.

They marched 60 yards right off the bat for a lead touchdown and before the first period was over, hiked the count to 16-0 with a second six-pointer climaxing a 54-yard drive prodded along by a roughing-the-kicker call against Barberton.
* * *
CORNELIUS CLARK, pepper-pot defensive back and punt return specialist, hauled back a Magic kick 24 yards and the Tigers drove 40 yards for a third TD in the third round. A 45-yard pass play, Joe Sparma to Bill Zorn, helped the hosts cover 65 yards in the last period.

On only one other occasion did the boys coached by Leo Strang move deep into enemy territory. This scoring overture occurred in the scoreless second period when the ball was lost on a fumble at the Barberton six.

The running of reliables Dave Dean, Art Hastings and Jim Snively and the passing of Sparma and Bill Finney who made his first start and played most of the game and the pass catching of Dean, Zorn, Bob Vogel and Bob Oliver sparked the attack which accounted for 310 net yards.

In 54 plays the Tigers made 238 yards on the ground and 117 in the ozone. They had 16 first downs to seven for the losers.

Finney completed five of eight passes with one being intercepted while two Sparma tosses were on target for 54 yards in two plays before the final touchdown of the night. Finney once ran for 18 yards on a keeper but Tiger fans were moaning as he was thrown for losses totaling 23 yards on four pass plays.
* * *
HASTINGS, the touch-and-go running sophomore, put his hands on the ball 20 times and gained 110 yards for an average of 5.5 yards per try while Snively averaged over six yards in eight carries netting 52 yards. Dean, getting some rest, carried only four times and gained 33 yards.

Vogel latched onto three passes for 37 yards and one touchdown, Zorn caught two for 58 yards, Dean one for 13 and Oliver one for nine.

Massillon won the toss, chose to receive and Hastings planted the ball on the Bengal 40 to get the ball rolling. In four of the 12 plays which followed, the Tigers lost 13 yards, but a 10-yard sweep by Snively, an 18-yard bootlegger by Finney, a 12-yarder by Dean, a Finney to Dean pass for 13 and a Finney toss to Vogel good for nine, placed the pigskin at the Barberton six. Then Dean exploded off right tackle and nobody touched him until he hit the final stripe at 6:57.

Snively veered through the right side for the two extra points.

After the ensuing kickoff, the Junie Ferrall – coached forces were forced to punt and this time the orange and black started winging from its own 46-yard line. In six plays and with a minute left in the quarter, the score was 16-0. On a crossbuck Dean plugged for 11 and a seven-yard gain by Hastings set the stage for the 18-yard scoring pass, Finney to big Vogel.

Bob got behind a Barberton defender in the end zone and grabbed the ball on the dead run. Snively again ran to the right for the extra points.
* * *
AFTER A MAGIC punt and John Vargo’s intercpetion of a Finney pass, the Tigers provided the only excitement of the second canto. Clark pounced on a fumble at the Massillon 45 and Hastings zipped three times for 19 yards. Snively inserted 11 yards in two cracks and a 13-yard pass, Finney to Zorn (who played on offense for the first time in four weeks), put the ball on the Barberton 13.

At this point Martin Gugov, heretofore a member of the sophomore team, entered the game and promptly banged off tackle for what looked like a nice gain – or even a touchdown, but the ball was fumbled, Barberton’s Bill Mobley recovered, and that squashed the threat. Two plays later the half was over.

The third period was a little on the dull side until Clark returned a punt 24 yards to the Magic 40. Snively and Hastings took the ball to the three before Snively, finding a big hole at right tackle, went across standing up. Gugov dived through the same spot and it was
24-0 with 3:45 remaining in the quarter.

Midway in the final session the Tigers started from their 16 and gained 47 yards before a holding penalty slowed them. Two running plays netted nothing, a pass was off the
Finger-tips of Zorn and on fourth down a fake punt failed to pan out. Consequently Barberton too over at the Tiger 45.
* * *
HOWEVER on the very next play Bob Mobley, the Barberton tow-head who played both quarterback and left half, fumbled and Gary “Sluggo” Bednar was Johnny-on-the-Spot for the hometowners. After his recovery at the 45, Sparma entered the game and immediately twirled to Zorn, who caught the oval over his shoulder at the 24 and barreled to the enemy 10. Sparma threw again, this time Oliver taking a flat pass for nine yards and on the next play, Hastings scored off tackle. Jerry Allen came in to run across and change the score to 32-0 with 1:49 left in the fray.

Barberton picked up two first downs before Clark intercepted a pass at the Barberton 35 on the last play of the game.

The loss was the fifth in eight starts for the Purple. It was the third straight year the Tigers have scored over 30 points against the Magics, they losing 33-0 last year and by 35-6 the year before. The series now reads Massillon 18 victories, Barberton three victories, one tie.

STATISTICS
Mass. Barb.
First downs – rushing 13 7
First downs – passing 3 0
First downs – penalties 0 0
Total first downs 16 7
Number of rushing plays 54 45
Yards Gained – running Plays 238 96
Yards lost – running plays 45 32
Net yardage – running 193 64
Passes attempted 13 8
Passes completed 7 3
Passes had intercepted 1 2
Yards returned –
intercepted passes 0 1
Yards gained – passing 117 23
Total net yardage – running
and passing 310 87
Number of kickoff returns 1 5
Yardage – kickoff returns 13 75
Average length of kickoff
Returns 13 15
Number of punt returns 2 0
Yardage, punt returns 48 0
Average length of punt return 24 0
Number of punts 1 4
Total yardage on punts 36 132
Average length of punts 36 33
Number of penalties 4 2
Yards Lost on Penalties 30 17
Number of Fumbles 5 5
Own Fumbles Recovered 3 4
Ball Lost on Fumbles 2 1

Bob Vogel
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1958: Massillon 0, Warren Harding 6

Warren Overcomes Tigers In 6-0 Battle
First Defeat Of Year Is Also First Failure To Score In 101 Games

By CHARLIE POWELL

The one, only and true difference between a winner and a loser in any sport is the final score.

Despite any second-guessing, anything that is said or done, it was Warren 6, Massillon 0.

It was 6-0 last night, it’s 6-0 today and it will be 6-0 as long as football is played.

The Tigers, try as they did – and that little, three-letter word cannot be overworked – just weren’t meant to bring home the spoils of victory. As a result they tumbled from the ranks of the undefeated, lost the big chance to virtually put the lock and key on the state championship and became the first Washington high school grid team to be held scoreless in over nine years.
* * *
THEY DID MAKE one score – on the sensational first play of the battle as speedy, spunky Jim Snively went all the way, 90 yards, but it didn’t count and thereafter the Bengals had their backs to the well-known wall.

Four times the ever trying orange and black had the Black Panthers on the ropes. In every quarter the Bengals displayed an effective attack and a tough-skinned defense. They won the struggle of statistics, including 15 first downs to Warren’s 10 and a net 285 yards to Warren’s 189.

But – and there is another “big little word” – the kayo punch never came.

The Panthers, avenging the 1957 setback and obliterating just about all thoughts of the upset at the hands of Central Catholic marched 83 yards for the only touchdown, made on a spectacular 26-yard pass completion at 8:36 of the second period, and when the final second ticked off they had truly earned the coveted victory.

The sweet smell of success touched off one of the biggest athletic celebrations ever seen in the home of the Panthers.

Bedlam reigned, with hundreds of wild Warren followers swarming onto the field to shake hands, pound backs and in general, explode with pent-up emotion. It was a mighty big moment. And justly so as the Panthers rocked state football circles and re-kindled their own flame of hope for a proud procession to the throne room.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,500 fans jammed every nook and cranny of the Warren field to see the battle of the titans. There were 8,200 tickets sold but a number of people reportedly “crashed” the gate through counterfeit tickets and there were several hundred fence – climbers. Most everyone came expecting to see a thriller and they were not let down.
* * *
WARREN DESERVES all that is to be accorded a giant killer.

However, Massillon did everything but score and she too must be given due recognition. Let it not be said the Tigers were any Little Sisters of the Poor.

Leo Strang’s eleven fought just as hard as Warren. They hit just as hard and if you don’t believe there was some rockin’ and reelin’ socking during those hectic 48 minutes of action you should ask some of those boys who saw stars once in a while. No less than 10 time-outs were taken because a player had the wind knocked out of him. Warren alone had seven injury time-outs.

The hard-to-swallow loss came after the Bengals had cast aside five opponents and tied Alliance. Warren, ranked fourth in the state following the loss to Central, now owns a 5-1-1 mark, with Sharon, Pa., Lorain and Youngstown South remaining on its schedule.

Massillon has Barberton, Akron Garfield and Canton McKinley left and if the Tigers are successful the rest of the way, the results could make it a close fit at the wire.

It will take an upset or two, probably, to keep the 1958 state champion from being an undefeated team. With last night’s Warren win the stock of Cleveland Cathedral Latin, Alliance and Marion Harding should take a jump but the Panthers of Gene Slaughter will be right in there.
* * *
BEATING A Massillon team for the first time since 1951, the Panthers also became the first team to shut out the Tigers since 1948. That year Len Dawson and his cohorts from Alliance turned the tide, 14-0. Until last night, the Tigers had scored in 100 straight games. The 1945 Tiger-Panther argument ended in a scoreless tie, while the last Warren goose-egg job over Massillon was 12-0 in 1932.

The series now stands at 25 wins for Massillon, and eight for Warren and the one tie.

For those of you interested in figures, the orange limited the hosts to seven first downs and an average of 3.8 yards per play on the ground. Warren’s touchdown pass was the only serious maneuver against the Tigers in the air.

The Panthers, on several occasions, stopped the Tiger attack on crucial plays. On other occasions the Tigers had very little luck riding with them – because a clipping penalty erased a touchdown on the opening kickoff, two passes flicked off the fingertips of intended receivers at the goal line and another was tripped by a defender he had “beat.” Add the fact that Jerry Mitchell got behind his defender in the end zone and then saw his fine, diving effort go for naught as the ball just escaped his outstretched hands by inches.

The Tigers had the outstanding runners too, since Snively, swivel-hipped Art Hastings and the redoubtable Dave Dean each made more yardage than any single Warren runner.

Hastings gained 80 yards in 15 tries, Dean 70 yards in 14 trips and Snively 64 yards in 10 attempts. Joe Sparma made 31 in eight tries.

But the Warren backs, showing speed and elusiveness, kept the invading orange on its toes.

Nimble-footed Paul Warfield with 50 yards in 14 carries, led the Panther infantry. Fullback Bob Sims carried eight times for 44 yards and Halfback Willie Jones made 20 yards in nine trips with the pigskin. Quarterback Joe Malone, pushing the buttons in adept fashion, gained 11 yards in five carries while sub Paul Provitt, replacing Jones who was injured after being tackled on the second half kickoff, ran three times for seven yards.

Now for some of the particulars.
* * *
THE PARTICULAR PLAY, naturally that had all Tiger fans buzzing, was the one that brought the crowd to its collective feet on the first whistle of the cool, crisp evening. Massillon won the toss and received with Snively grabbing the ball at his own 10. Immediately he set sail up the east sideline, got a couple of nifty blocks around midfield and sprung free at the Warren 30. He outran several opponents to the end zone and completed his 90-yard jaunt amid the cheers of Tiger fans.

But a “hankie” was dropped at the 30 and Massillon was set back to its 15 due to a clipping penalty.

Hastings went for eight and Dean seven before the ball was lost on a fumble and the Tigers were in trouble. Warfield swept the right side for 18 yards and Warren’s second biggest gain on the ground all night, but in the next four plays the hosts made only seven yards and it was Massillon’s turn to wax tenacious.

With Hastings twisting and fighting his way for a 28-yarder, Massillon stayed on the ground to move to the enemy 13. A faulty handoff cost it six yards and two running plays made three before Mitchell and a Warren boy got tangled up and Sparma’s pass was a shade too far deep in the end zone.

And it was Warren’s turn to go on the prowl. The last four plays of the quarter netted 20 yards and the Panthers were aided by an offside call against the orange. Warfield and Jones combined for 17 on the first four plays of the second panel and after Warfield dashed for 12 and Sims for three, Warren was at the Tiger 26.

One pass was short and Jones got zero on the left side but on fourth down and with seven to go, Slaughter’s outfit got the pay-off strike.

Malone passed straight down the middle. Jones snagged the oval on the dead run at the 12 and zipped into the end zone. Malone, passing from placement formation, then failed to hit the mark and it was 6-0.

After the kickoff the Bengals got two first downs but a penalty forced them to punt. Six plays later Warren gambling with fourth and a yard and a half to go at its own 45, failed and the Tigers threatened once again. After Sparma lost six on an attempted pass, he threw out to big Bob Vogel, parallel to the line of scrimmage and Vogel, in turn, fired a long crossfield pass toward Mitchell. The 55-yard pitch led Jerry by a step. With Warren looking for another pass, Sparma kept and got into the open on the right side but he was brought down after a 28-yard pick-up and time elapsed before another play could get under way.
* * *
THE FIRST TIME the orange and black got possession in the third frame it fumbled and Warren recovered at the Tiger 14, but the defense stiffened, Massillon took over at the 22, and again got a sustained drive going.

Snively rumbled for 28 yards and he, Hastings, Sparma, Dean and Jerry Allen made four first downs to the Panther 13. On the last two plays of the quarter Massillon netted five. On the first play of the final round Sparma was tossed for a four-yard deficit and on fourth down, Pledgure tried a reverse pass. It lacked a foot from making connections to Mitchell who was diving in the corner of the end zone.

An intercepted pass and two booming punts by Sims, aided by the wind at his back and the hard turf which helped the ball bounce along, then held the Tigers at bay. After the second kick at 3:54, Sparma went to the air. He hit wingback Jim Wood for eight and then Snively for 20. The latter ran for six before Sparma fired to him again, this time the gain being 18 yards and 2:45 remained. But here it was not to be.

A Sparma pass was dropped before he was smothered on another potential pass play. On fourth down Sparma’s peg intended for Allen was broken up at the 10 and the handwriting was on the wall. After Sims banged for 23 yards, the Panthers stalled out the clock. Their fans went whoopee and after they finished their congratulating on the field, continued their celebration in the downtown business district.

Tough To Lose

MASSILLON
Ends – Vogel, Mitchell, Zorn, Oliver.
Tackles – Donat, Bordner, Snodgrass, Appleby.
Guards – Karrenbauer, Slicker, Perry, Medure.
Centers – Shilling, Snyder.
Quarterback – Sparma.
Halfbacks – Snively, Wood, Clark, Radtke, Morrow, Allen, Pledgure.
Fullbacks – Dean, Hastings, McKey.

WARREN
Ends – Tutich, Laraway, Imburgia.
Tackles – Perfetti, Minotti, Colllins,
Guards – Reiser, Thompson.
Centers – Rodosovich, Romig.
Quarterback – Malone.
Halfbacks – Warfield, Jones, Wesley, Provitt, DeCavitch, Brogdon, Howard.
Fullbacks – Sims, Getsay, Zalac.

Scoring by quarters:
Massillon 0 0 0 0 0
Warren 0 6 0 0 6

Touchdown: Warren – Jones (28-pass).

OFFICIALS
Referee – George Ellis.
Umpire – Fritz Graf.
Head Linesman – Irwin Shopbell.
Field Judge – Sam Hodnick.

STATISTICS
M W
First Downs – Rushing 13 7
First Downs – Passing 2 2
First Downs – Penalties 0 1
Total First Downs 15 10
Number of rushing Plays 58 48
Yards Gained – Running Plays 262 149
Yards Lost – Running Plays 23 14
Net Yardage – Running 239 135
Passes Attempted 10 8
Passes Completed 3 4
Passes Had Intercepted 1 0
Yards Returned – Intercepted
Passes 0 7
Yards Gained – Passing 46 54
Total Yardage – Running
and Passing 285 189
Number of Kickoff Returns 2 1
Yardage – Kickoff Returns 13 17
Average length of Kickoff
Returns 6.5 17.0
Number of Punt Returns 1 0
Yardage – Punt Returns 1 0
Average Length of Punt Return 1 0
Number of Punts 1 3
Total yardage on Punts 42 128
Average Length of Punts 42 42.6
Number of Penalties 3 3
Yards Lost on Penalties 25 15
Number of Fumbles 4 3
Own Fumbles Recovered 2 3
Ball Lost on Fumbles 2 0

Bob Vogel
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo

1958: Masillon 20, Mansfield 8

Tigers Rely On Power In Winning Fifth
One Pass, Two Long Drives Net 20-8 Win Over Mansfield Team

By CHARLIE POWELL

Mansfield didn’t have Clyde Beatty to transform the Massillon Tiger into an obedient, tame little pussy cat.

Neither did it have enough strong-armed warriors to corral the Tiger Friday night when the Tiger went on the prowl three times and crushed the enemy under foot, 20-8, to retain its position among the gridiron elite.

Over 12,000 fans at Mansfield’s Arlin field saw the host Tygers fall into a well-laid trap. The orange and black set up the Mansfielders with fancy overtures from the spread formation and when they figured the Tigers were serious about their efforts, they girded their defense to stop the same, and promptly pulled their noose tighter.

Massillon’s stouties switched to ram’em football and just plain, straight, ordinary football paid off in a fifth triumph – a triumph coupled with an upset of Warren Harding that certainly will usher the Tigers into the top seat in the Ohio scholastic title chase.
* * *
THE TIGERS trailed Warren by a slight point margin in the state poll last week. By the early part of next week, voters can be expected to make Massillon No. 1.

In losing, 8-0 to Central Catholic’s courageous Crusaders on the home sod last night, the Warren Panthers went down to their first loss of the season. That setback took some glitter off next week’s Massillon-Warren conflict – but not much.

Warren still must be considered a threat and a victory next Friday at Warren will be a “must” for Leo Strang’s steadily-improved array. A single loss probably would snuff out all titular hopes what with the way Cleveland Cathedral Latin, Alliance, and some of the other are going.

Following last night’s tussle, Mansfield coaches indicated they would favor Massillon over Warren but the Panthers will be in a mighty revengeful mood next week. They should be in a lot better shape physically and when it comes to mental attitude, Gene Slaughter and his assistants should have not trouble at all keying their charges to the right pitch – because Warren has been pointing for the Tigers ever since last year’s clock controversy.

Massillon’s latest victim gave it a good try but the Strang gang was not to be denied once the off-tackle slants and power plays up the middle started to click.

Trying to pin down Coach Strang for comments after action ceased was like trying to stop a very angry bull in a china shop. He was very happy, indeed, but between bursts of joy he emphasized that this hard-fighting Mansfield club was vanquished only because of a
grade-A team effort.
* * *
“ALL OF THEM played a whale of a game. Our blocking was real sharp on those power plays, the ball carriers never stopped plugging and the defense never let down a bit.”

“And you know,” he said, “Our fancy stuff might have gone had we been more settled down at the start.”

In a more serious mood, he recalled the Warren upset and added, “Warren will come back fighting mad next week. They’ll be twice as tough for us.”

Mansfield proved to be a pesky team. The Tom Pierson-coached team gave ground begrudgingly but the Massillon defense contained their offense very well except for the last three and a half minutes of the game.

The red and white averaged only three yards per rushing play and a heads-up Tiger pass defense crimped the aerial warfare.

Pierson, whose team opened the door to its only score against a sub-studded Bengal eleven, said Mansfield was beaten by a “very fine football team…maybe the very best.”

At times the Tiger offensive machine didn’t look like one of the best but on three occasions it was more than adequate.
* * *
END BILL ZORN, one of the many defensive stickouts, partially blocked a Mansfield punt in the second period and Corky Pledgure returned the short kick 17 yards to the enemy 19.

In five plays Massillon broke the ice. Dave Dean, Art Hastings and Jim Snively moved the pigskin to the 14 from which point a pass brought on the first touchdown. On fourth down, Quarterback Joe Sparma whipped the ball to big Bob Vogel who made a great catch a yard away from the final stripe. He turned and took one step over the goal line before being pushed back into the playing area but the Tigers had six points at 5:57 – and still six after a pass on the extra point try failed by an inch.

That was the only big noise of the first half but the first time the orange got possession in the second half, it banged through the Tyger line for another touchdown.

After a punt, Massillon drilled 70 yards in 14 plays with Dean tallying on a smash at right guard from the one at 1:32. Enroute the quick-moving Hastings rambled on runs of 13 and 19 yards and Dean got off a 12-yard gainer. Halfback Jerry Allen, who missed the Steubenville and Benedictine games because of an injury, came in to hit off tackle to make the score 14-0.

After the kickoff the red and white was stymied and on the first play of the final period, Tom Schadek kicked to his own 40. Hastings promptly dashed for 17 and the Tigers were on their way once again.

This drive covered 15 plays with Dean, Allen, Hastings and Snively carrying. From the two Sparma kept, blasted over left guard and into pay dirt and it was still 20 to zero after Hase KcKey’s placement was blocked.

Mansfield took the kickoff and rolled 64 yards with Taylor, Monk, Ragsdale and Howard lugging the leather. With 14 seconds remaining, Ragsdale tallied off tackle and then ran across the two extra points. After the kickoff it was all history.
* * *
THE VICTORY was the 16th for Massillon in the series. Mansfield has won twice while four battles ended in a tie. The current Tyger combine now has won four and lost two.

Sparma’s touchdown pass was his only completion in four second period attempts. There was only one pass tried in the second half. Had the Tigers been forced to the air more often, Sparma might have riddled the home town forces because the receivers were getting behind the defenders.

After the first period most of the Massillon plays were directed between the ends. A sweep was called a few times in order to keep the defense guessing.

Hastings and Dean were the leading gainers for the orange with Hastings making 85 yards in 12 tries for an average of seven yards per try and Dean picking up 78 yards in 17 carries for 4.5 average. Snively carted nine times for 39 yards.

Keep It Up

MASSILLON
Ends – Vogel, Mitchell, Zorn, Oliver, Zumbrunn.
Tackles – Bordner, Donat, Appleby, Snodgrass, Herndon, Haines.
Guards – Karrenbauer, Slicker, Bednar, Perry, Kasunick, Placevk.
Centers – Shilling, Snyder.
Quarterbacks – Sparma, Finney.
Halfbacks – Snively, Wood, Pledgure, Clark, Allen, Radtke, Morrow, Hershberger.
Fullbacks – Dean, McKey, Hastings.

MANSFIELD
Ends – Hayden, Proto, Schadek, McGinty.
Tackles – Lehr, Cole.
Guards – Roth, Schmahl, Conrad, Mrray.
Centers – Scott, Goettle.
Quarterback – Monk.
Halfbacks – Ragsdale, Howard, Marsh, Sams.
Fullbacks – Taylor, Weaver.

Scoring by quarters:
Massillon 0 6 8 6 20
Mansfield 0 0 0 8 8

Massillon scoring:
Touchdowns – Vogel (14-pass); Dean (1-run); Sparma (2-run).
Extra points – Allen (run).

Mansfield scoring:
Touchdown – Ragsdale (1-run)
Extra points – Ragsdale (run)

OFFICIALS
Referee – George Ellis.
Umpire – Don McPhee.
Head Linesman – Bob McPhee.
Field Judge – Jim Langhurst

STATISTICS
Mass. Man.
First Downs – Rushing 11 9
First Downs – Passing 1 0
First Downs – Penalties 0 0
Total First Downs 12 9
Number of Rushing Plays 45 49
Yards Gained – Running Plays 205 164
Yards Lost – Running Plays 1 24
Net Yardage – Running 204 140
Passes Attempted 5 8
Passes Completed 1 2
Passes Had Intercepted 0 0
Yards Gained –Passing 14 10
Net Yardage – Running
and Passing 218 150
Number of Kickoff Returns 1 4
Yardage – Kickoff Returns 8 50
Average Length of Kickoff
Returns 8 12.5
Number of Punt Returns 1 1
Yardage – Punt Returns 5 7
Number of Punts 4 5
Total Yard on Punts 96 128
Average Length of Punts 24.5 25.6
Number of Penalties 5 3
Yards Lost on Penalties 25 25
Number of Fumbles 1 2
Own Fumbles Recovered 1 2
Ball Lost on Fumbles 0 0

Bob Vogel