1971 Season

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Record: 8-2
Combined Statistics: Link

Head Coach: Bob Commings (3rd Year)
Record To-Date at Massillon: 25-4-1

Team Captains: Michael McGuire, Larry McClenndon, Glen Weirich

All-Ohio: Willie Spencer (1st)

All-American Conference Standings:
Warren Harding (5-0)
Niles (3-1-1)
Massillon (3-2)
Canton McKinley (2-2-1)
Alliance (1-4)
Steubenville (0-5)

AP State Poll:
1. Warren Harding (10-0) (UPI State Champion) – defeated Massillon
2. Elyria (10-0)
3. Akron Garfield (9-0)
4. Troy (10-0)
5. Cincinnati Moeller (9-1)
6. Massillon (8-2) – lost to Warren Harding
7. Fremont Ross (9-1)
8. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (10-0)
9. Columbus Eastmoor (9-1)
10. Toledo Woodward (9-1)

All-Time Record: 501-149-32
Series Record vs. Canton McKinley: 41-30-5

Noteworthy Items: (1) Two losses by one point each to Niles and Warren (in spite of dominating the stats) prevented Massillon from winning a consecutive state title. One of those losses was to state champ Warren Harding. (2) Massillon defeated Alliance 36-6 to record its 500th all-time victory. (3) Against Canton McKinley, Massillon’s Darius Edwards returned two pass interceptions for touchdowns and running back Willie Spencer added 142 yards and two TDs in a 29-6 dominating win. (4) In a trial of the computer poll prior to its implementation in 1972, Massillon finished first in Region 3.

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