1970 Season

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Record: 10-0
Combined Statistics: Link

Head Coach: Bob Commings (2nd Year)
Record To-Date at Massillon: 17-2-1

Team Captains: Tom Cardinal, Steve Luke

All-Ohio: Mike Mauger (1st), Tim Ridgley (1st), Dennis Franklin (2nd), Steve Luke (3rd)

All-American Conference Standings:
Massillon (5-0)
Canton McKinley (3-1-1)
Niles (3-1-1)
Warren Harding (1-4)
Steubenville (1-4)
Alliance (1-4)

AP State Poll:
1. Massillon (10-0) (UPI State Champion, 2nd in National Poll) – defeated Canton McKinley
2. Upper Arlington (10-0)
3. Canton McKinley (8-1-1) – tied Niles; lost to Massillon
4. Sidney (10-0)
5. Cincinnati Moeller (9-1)
6. Lancaster (8-1-1)
7. Sandusky (9-1)
8. Warren Western Reserve (9-1)
9. Columbus Eastmoor (8-1)
10. Troy (10-0)

All-Time Record: 493-147-32
Series Record vs. Canton McKinley: 40-30-5

Noteworthy Items: (1) This was the last recognized Massillon AP Poll state championship. (2) Mike Mauger was named Ohio Back of the Year. (3) Akron St. Vincent scored a TD on their opening drive, the first against the Tigers in five games. Massillon responded quickly by scoring on every subsequent possession taking a 42-7 halftime lead into the locker room. (4) Larry Harper returned the opening kickoff 94 yards against McKinley to propel Massillon to a 28-0 victory. McKinley was undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the state at the time. (5) Upper Arlington finished undefeated and had won the three previous state title, but finished second this year. A potential post-season game against the two teams to benefit the families of the Marshall University plane crash was denied by the OHSAA.

Related Stories

• Dennis Franklin – A Leader On the Field
• “The Year of the Tiger” – 50 Years Later
• Steve Luke – Wall of Champions
• The Greatest Victories of All-Time – The 1970s
• Greatest Massillon Player Performance Series, Part 4 – Running Backs before the Spread Offense