Fumbles, pass problems marr 46-0 rout over Magics in homecoming
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
It was a lot easier than a lot of folks thought it would be Friday night, but there were sounded also a pair of sour notes.
The Massillon Tigers rolled over Barberton 46-0 before 12,524 at the rain-sprinkled Tiger stadium non-league homecoming, hanging up a 6-1 slate while handing Barberton its first loss in seven games. The Magics had tied once.
THEY HAD been touted as a dangerous ball club, but the Tiger defense dug in again when it needed to for its fifth shutout in seven tilts. The offense continued to gobble up yardage by the bags full.
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The discords were sounded when Tiger backs lost the pigskin on four of five fumbles. It cost them because two of the bobbles occurred deep in Magics territory – probably preventing touchdowns – and the other brace came about the only times Washington high had the ball in the goodbye canto.
The Orange and Black passing game saw only one completion in seven tries as Tiger Coach Bob Commings got a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and got a chance for an extra sky route workout. Receivers couldn’t find the handle for quarterback Scotty Dingler.
Both the ball handling and passing headaches have caused consternation before and could be disastrous when the state’s top ranked Warren Harding Black Panther invade next Friday for an All-American conference affair.
“We’ll just have to concentrate on holding the ball,” Commings declared. “First things must come first. You have to get the ball and then go through the hole. I think our guys were trying to get down field without the ball.”
About the passing, he explained, “It was off, but it was not the quarterback. When he puts the ball in there and they can’t catch it, it’s not his fault.” * * * COMMINGS SAID the Tigers’ offensive line did a fine job and liked the way in which the Orange and Black got a lot out of the “I” formation with senior Willie Spencer in the tailback slot. The WHSers had shown a couple of plays from that set last week at Steubenville and used it almost the whole first quarter Friday night.
Commings didn’t use the “I” in the second half with Spencer sitting on the bench, suffering from the effects of the muggy weather. He had gained 124 yards – losing none in 12 first half carries and scored two touchdowns.
Tailback Larry McLenndon, also played at right half, which Don Perry in the lead running slot and tallied once. Defensive halfback Tom Hannon put six points on the scoreboard as did wingbacks Art Thompson and Terry Edwards.
The other two points came in the third stanza when defensive end Todd Cocklin tackled junior quarterback Doug Huffman in the end zone for a safety as Huffman faded from the nine.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff, after a 19-yard runback by Hannon and scored in 10 plays, covering 67 yards, with Spencer and Perry carrying the pigskin. Spencer tallied on third down from the one over right tackle with 7:23 on the clock.
Dingler kicked conversion. * * * THE GROOVY HIPPED Hannon ran a punt back 44 yards for a TD with the help of end Mike McGuire’s two man block as the time lights stopped at 2:20.
Dingled added a point.
Tom Jackson, like Hannon, Cocklin and Edwards a promising junior, knocked down Doug Huffman’s second quarter fourth down pass to end Jim Bauschlinger in the end zone, to give Massillon the ball on its five. Spencer flew through left tackle on the next play and picked up 15 more yards on a face mask call to give the Tigers first down on their 26.
An eight-play 95-yard drive had started and Spencer also ended it with a four-yarder through the center after Thompson had charged 51 yards over left guard on third down from the WHS 49 after a motion penalty.
With the clock reading 5:25, Dingler put the ball through the uprights.
Thompson got off another scintillating run on fourth down, after a holding penalty and raced 56 yards for the last counter of the first half, reversing field nicely and breaking a couple of tackles. Halfback Larry Young tried to stop “Gritz” with a desperation tackle, but only succeeded in giving him an extra push into pay dirt at 2:54. * * * DINGLER’S PAT boot was good.
Hannon ran back a punt 22 yards and added 14 more yards through the center to get the Tigers off and winging for a 38-yard, five-play scoring offensive. McLenndon went in off right tackle on first down from the four with 5:24 remaining in the third period.
Hannon ran the conversion off a pitch over right tackle.
The final excursion to the Promised Land started after junior middle guard Alex Wood had recovered a fumble on the Magics’ 22. The tally came after four plays with Edwards clearing left tackle on first down from the six at the 2:33 mark.
Junior quarterback Kevin Westover found Edwards in the right corner of the end zone for a two-pointer.
The Tigers had the ball for only two minutes and 50 seconds in the fourth quarter as junior tailback Jim McKinnie picked up quite a bit of yardage and the Magics got to the Massillon 25 before losing the ball on downs as tackle Glenn Weirich and safety Hank Nussbaumer threw Huffman back 14 yards – with the aid of a fumble. * * * BARBERTON WAS also stymied on fourth down at the five as McLenndon and McGuire hauled down McKinnie.
“They did a good job on what they were trying to do against us,” Commings said. “Some might have thought it was easy, but it wasn’t. They’re young like Akron East.”
“They beat us real good,” Barberton Coach Ron Fenik said. “They ran through us, over us and around us. There’s not much you can say.”
While McKinnie was a bright light the Magics’ first half running, senior tailback Bob Glenchert looked good before the intermission and seemed most effective when running from counter plays as the Tiger defense was angling the opposite way.
Commings called it running to daylight.
Junior wingback Rick Lay, both an outstanding runner and pass receiver, left with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter and was to have an ankle X-rayed. His absence hindered the Magics’ offense.
THE GRIDSTICK M B First downs, rushing 21 9 First downs, passing 0 1 First downs, penalties 1 1 Total first downs 22 11 Yards gained rushing 351 176 Yards lost rushing 8 53 Net yards gained rushing 343 123 Net yards gained passing 8 26 Total yards gained 351 149 Passes completed 1-7 4-12 Kickoff average (yards) 7-43.0 1-46.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 42 69 Punt average (yds.) 1-41.0 6-32.5 Punt returns (yds.) 65 2 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles (lost) 5(4) 5(3) Yards penalized 4-50 3-25 Touchdowns rushing 0 0 Miscellaneous 1 0 Total number of plays 56 59
It was a nice try, fellows – sliding the Tiger down a wire just prior to the kickoff, to be cremated by flames from the scoreboard horse’s mouth – but it wasn’t about to turn out that way.
The Orange and Black had a terrific Friday night! In fact you might say it was devastating! * * * AN ESTIMATED crowd of 10,000 saw the Tigers boot the “House of Horrors” myth right out of Harding stadium and into the Ohio River which surges by Steubenville.
Of the 26-0 victory over the Big Red, Washington High Assistant Coach Nick Vrotsos said, ‘This was the most gratifying of any here since I joined the staff.” The native of Martins Ferry – just down the stream a bit – has seen seven since he came to Massillon in 1958.
When going over the latest list of Tiger assets, you could mark them off as follows: Item 1 – Tailbacks Willie Spencer and Larry McLenndon gaining 352 of the Orange and Black’s 378 net rushing yardage. Spencer, the All-American conference’s leading rusher and scorer, gaining 193 yards in 20 carries – including 114 in 10 lugs in the first half – and tallying two touchdowns; McLenndon picking up 159 yards in nine tries and two TDs; both boys doing this while playing a lot of defense along the way.
Item 2 – An offensive line, led by guards Bruce Christoff, Randy Heck, Dan Guiffre and Scott Graber and center Steve Studer, snaring the opposition slicker than a mousetrap pinions an unsuspecting rodent – a tribute to the coaching of Vrotsos.
Item 3 – An all-around defense tighter than the purse strings on Jack Benny’s pocketbook, resulting in the Tigers’ fourth shutout in six tries and only 126 total yards for the Big Red. * * * “USING TWO TAILBACKS certainly helped us, our line blocked well, we defensed them real well and I thought quarterbacks Scott Dingler and Kevin Westover looked good,” head Coach Bob Commings said. “We had more depth and that hurt Steubenville.”
By winning the Tigers moved to a 5-1 season record and took over third place in the All-American conference at 1-1. The defending league and Ohio Class AAA state champions should have picked up valuable ground in both the Associated Press poll and the Ohio High School Athletic association’s computer ratings.
While handing out praise for top performances, a great deal should go to 139-ound Steubenville senior quarterback-defensive back Mike Mavromatis. He perhaps more than any other epitomized the courage and guts of a team which took an unmerciful pounding, but time and again came back for more.
“He’s a great kid! A real competitor!” said Commings. Mavromatis was about the hardest guy to bring down the Tigers have run up against this year, but men like end Bob Stephan and linebacker Mike McGuire were equal to the task.
There were no scores in the first quarter even though both teams got close with the Tigers’ effort dying on the Steubenville 18 after Spencer had landed on a first play Big Red fumble on the Steubenville 32. An offside penalty and a fumble on a pitchout set the Tigers back to the 33.
A 25-yard pass-run from Mavromatis to halfback Herm Davis on the ensuing series didn’t help the Big Red as Mavromatis was thrown from the Tigers four to the 19 on fourth down by Spencer who then took off over right tackle for 43 yards to the Steubenville 46 to start an 81-yard, five-play drive. After offside and motion penalties – the last of which nullified his TD – Spencer went over left tackle from the 21 on second and 14 with 8:54 left in the second canto. * * * DINGLER’S KICK was wide right.
Davis intercepted a pass on the Steubenville six and Hannon picked off a Big Red aerial on the Massillon 28 to thwart further first-half scoring.
Hannon ran back the second half kickoff 24 yards and McLenndon set sail over right tackle on the next play for 57 yards and a TD with the help of a downfield block by McGuire. The score came with 11:26 left and Spencer followed around with a right end for two more counters.
Willie got the next score with 6:54 left in the fourth quarter, capping a five play, 70-yard drive with a 38-yard jaunt over right tackle, breaking a tackle in the process. A 17-yard, pass-run from Dingler to Thompson down the center after a motion penalty set the stage.
Spencer missed the conversion over left tackle.
The Tigers took over on the Big Red 46 after a short punt. Westover unloaded a 30 yarder to McGuire who jumped up between two men on the 15 along the left side, grabbed the ball and continued to the four. McLenndon traversed right tackle with 4:22 remaining for six points. * * * HANNON DIDN’T make the end zone for the conversion but two minutes later hauled in a pass from his 22 to his end zone to kayo Steubenville’s final threat.
Commings had yanked the first team but put them back in again, drawing the ire of Steubenville fans. However, he instructed his team not to call time with the clock running out and the Tigers on the Big Red 10 after McLenndon had raced 64 yards around left end to the Steubenville 17. With state championships decided on polls, the shutout is a necessity.
“It went pretty much as we expected as far as Massillon’s aggressiveness and power was concerned,” Steubenville Coach Abe Bryan said. “They just handled us out there. We made some mental mistakes, but hit well. We went away from our game plan in the first quarter and really blew it badly. Then we had to play catch-up football. They have a fine team. We are not physical enough and must eliminate mistakes with our size if we are to beat the good teams.”
He concluded, “Spencer played a great game and broke an awful lot of tackles when we had clean sweeps.”
SCORING SUMMARY M – Spencer, 21 run (run failed); M – McLenndon, 57 run (run) M – Sepncer, 38 run (run failed) M – McLenndon, 4 run (run failed).
OFFICIALS Referee – Milo Lukity. Umpire – Dr. Henley Freeman. Head Linesman – Sam DiBlasi. Field Judge – Jim Murray.
ATTENDANCE – 10,500
THE GRIDSTICK M S First downs, rushing 16 7 First downs, passing 2 1 First downs, penalties 2 1 Total first downs 20 9 Yards gained rushing 408 151 Yards lost rushing 30 54 Net yards gained rushing 378 97 Net yards gained passing 70 29 Total yards gained 448 126 Passes completed 4-7 2-13 Passes intercepted by 2 1 Yardage on passes intercepted 0 0 Kickoff average (yards) 5-49.0 1-42.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 25 97 Punt average (yds.) 2-36.5 6-35.3 Punt returns (yds.) 10 4 Fumbles (lost) 3(1) 1(1) Yards penalized 7-55 3-25 Total number of plays 54 55
Scotty Dingler added something new to the Tigers’ offensive arsenal Friday night – the conversion kick.
The Washington high quarterback booted six of them, two short of the all-time mark of eight set by guard Bob Pflug in 1923, reached twice by center Jerry Krisher in 1950 and once by halfback Tom Boon in 1952.
THE LAST to kick six was tackle Bob Williams in 1954.
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The WHSers put together a well-run offense with another stingy defensive job for a 42-6 victory over Akron East before 9,230, the smallest in the first five games – all played at Tiger stadium. The win gave the Orange and Black a 4-1 record and dropped the Orientals to 2-2.
“Dingler has worked hard on kicking conversions,” Tiger head Coach Bob Commings said, “and it paid off. I was also pleased with his kickoffs. He’ll do it some more, although it’s kind of tough on a quarterback. He’s a good short tackler and it gives us that extra man in there.”
Tailback Willie (The Wrecker) Spender scored two touchdowns, picked up 117 net yards, losing none, in 13 carried; ends Mike McGuire and Joe Matie each scored once as did fullback Don Perry and tailback Larry McLenndon.
The Tigers picked up 518 total net yards while giving up 155, allowing the Orientals no further than the Massillon 42 and completed four of eight passes for 128 yards. It was the Orange and Black’s best showing of the season, but they lost three of four fumbles, reverting to an early-season malady and it cost them.
“THEY WERE by far the quickest team we’ve played,” Commings states. “Their offense was well conceived, they knew what they wanted to do against our angle defense, hurt us with the quick fullback hitter and were a good team, but just didn’t have enough personnel. They were the best we’ve played against all year and might have given some others ideas.”
The Tigers got their first score on a 68-yard, eight-play drive, aided by a 15-yard face mask call. Hannon started it with a 23-yard kickoff runback and Perry bulled over from the five on first down with 2:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Todd Cocklin started the next drive with a recovery of sub quarterback Eric Parson’s fumble at the Massillon 47. Seven plays and a five-yard procedure penalty later, Spencer rolled around left end on third and five from the Orientals’ 35 for the touchdown with 10:31 left in the second quarter.
The Tigers almost had a TD on a first-down pass from Dingler to split end Mike McGuire from the Massillon 47, but a cornerback came rushing in, couldn’t be blocked and the pass didn’t get to McGuire. They missed another in the second period when Hannon ran back a punt 65 yards, but the kicker had been roughed.
A six-play, 73-yard drive netted the WHS high team its third score with 1:45 left in the second canto. Dingler, getting excellent protection, hit McGuire on the 26 from second and 10 on the East 41 and McGuire carried in. The pass was perfectly thrown on the hook pattern down the middle.
The groovy-hipped Hannon ran the second-half kickoff back 25 yards and the Tigers scored in eight plays after McGuire had picked up McLenndon’s fumble at the East 20. McLenndon went into Promised Land over right guard on second down from the six with 8:57 showing. * * * A FIVE-PLAY, 61-yard drive, with Spencer on the scoring end and Perry providing a 41-yard romp over right tackle to the East five, caused the scoreboard lights to flash again. Spencer went over the same tackle on first down from the five with 10:24 left in the goodbye episode.
The last touchdown was thwarted temporarily by a series of misadventures. Hannon took a Westover screen left on the Tigers’ 30 and ran 31 yards to he East 39, but the Orientals intercepted a pass.
Don Muhlbach re-intercepted on the next play and ran back 44 yards to the East 35, but then came a clip. Hannon scooted through the center for 14 yards to the Massillon 43 and second and one.
Westover hit split end Joe Matie on the Orientals’ 25 and Joe scored with 4:05 to go.
Dom Patella, East coach, thought his team did very well considering he started only three seniors.
“Line play made the difference,” is the way he explained his third loss to Massillon. “They blew us out of there and got stronger as the game went along.” * * * “SPENCER WAS outstanding offensively. Jim Bolden and Merle Burdette (a junior and sophomore respectively) are not in Spencer’s class, but will be outstanding as they get older.”
After a month’s sojourn at home, the Tigers will travel to Harding field in Steubenville next Friday for their second All-American conference game.
SCORING SUMMARY E – Thomas, 1 run (run failed); M – Perry, 5 run (Dingler kick); M – Spencer, 35 run (Dingler kick); M – McGuire, 41-yd., pass-run from Dingler (Dingler kick); M – McLenndon, 6 run (Dingler kick); M – Spencer, 5 run (Dingler kick); M – Matie, 57-yard pass-run from Westover (Dingler kick).
THE GRIDSTICK M E First downs, rushing 20 7 First downs, passing 3 0 First downs, penalties 2 2 Total first downs 25 11 Yards gained rushing 392 144 Yards lost rushing 2 18 Net yards gained rushing 390 126 Net yards gained passing 128 29 Total yards gained 518 155 Passes completed 4-8 2-13 Passes intercepted by 1 1 Yardage on passes intercepted 22 18 Kickoff average (yards) 7-45.3 2-37.5 Kickoff returns (yards) 46 82 Punt average (yds.) 0 6-32.9 Punt returns (yds.) 14 0 Fumbles (lost) 4(3) 4(1) Yards penalized 5-65 6-61 Touchdowns rushing 4 1 Touchdowns passing 2 0 Total number of plays 51 62
OFFICIALS Referee – Howard Eckert. Umpire – Joe Yanity. Head Linesman – Henry Mastrianni. Field Judge – Charles Hinkle. Back Judge – Robert Walker.
Both coaches called it pretty good when looking ahead earlier this week, but Bob Commings must wish he hadn’t been so correct.
He hadn’t predicted his Massillon Tigers would be edged 7-6 by the Niles McKinley Red Dragons before 17,458 – the season’s largest crowd – Friday night at Tiger stadium, but he figured their strategy well.
NILES’ BOB Shaw loves to burn you when you least expect it.
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And Shaw must have seen something in his tea leaves for he had said 1971 was his turn. This was his second victory in three seasons over Commings – two here – and his third in four tries against the Orange and Black, the first coming in 1966.
On both occasions he stopped Tiger streaks – 32 games without a loss the first time and 13 this trip. His latest effort put Niles in second place behind Warren Harding in the All-American conference. The Black Panthers are 2-0 in the league and 4-0 overall while the Dragons are 1-0 and 4-0.
Massillon, the 1970 league winner, dropped to 3-1 and an 0-1 AAC record. The loss will also undoubtedly drop the defending Ohio Class AAA champion Tigers out of first place in both wire service polls.
“We never gain when we beat Massillon,” Shaw, the boss of the state’s 11-ranked team, said, “but other teams do.”
Friday’s game was a great tribute to both defenses although Massillon outdistanced Niles 14-7 in first downs and 224-158 in total yards gained, posting most of those figures in the second half. Both lines hit hard and the secondarys covered the passing lanes adequately.
The Tigers completed only one of 11 passes and Niles only two of 13 for six and 19 yards respectively. This is not conducive to adequately complementing your ground game.
“They just played good defense,” Commings said. “They made the good plays – we didn’t.” When you give up only one, TD, you’re not playing bad football. Once we settled down, we played good football. They did what they do well – spring one once in awhile. * * * HE ADDED, “Their linebackers and defensive backs coming up were the toughest part of their defense.”
“Both defenses were good,” Shaw agreed. “When you get a 7-6 game, it will always be this way. This was the good football we used to play at Niles. For three years back we hadn’t stopped them. I think we forced them to pass when they couldn’t run. This helped our secondary play good defense. They cut us off with their angle defense. Their backside tackle hurt us.”
This would be Glen Weirich or Steve Studer, depending upon which way the defenders were headed.
Niles quarterback Tom Andres, Jr., burned the Tigers with his ball-handling and speed at times, although linebacker Mike McGuire bombed him several times.
“He’s the fastest man on the team so we wanted him to run the football,” Shaw said. “His good action faking to a back going one way with another coming back, helped. Andres has deceptive speed at 6-3.”
The Dragons got off more long runs, although Tigers Willie Spencer, Larry McLenndon, Don Perry and Art Thompson gave it their best. The Orange and Black offense did it in short chops and forced the Niles’ defense out of its Notre Dame 4-4 and into an Oklahoma 5-4 early in the contest.
After seeing a team score on them for the first time this season, the Tigers took the kickoff and marched 29 yards in 10 plays in the first quarter but were forced to punt from the Niles’ 38.
They moved 68 yards in nine plays in the second stanza to get their touchdown with tailback Spencer starting the drive with a 24-yarder around right end to the Niles 43. He scored for the ninth time in four games – over right tackle on fourth and four form 26 yards away with 4:52 left. A good stiff farm helped. * * * QUARTERBACK SCOTT Dingler tried to run the go-ahead conversion, but halfback Pat Burke and ends Mike Weida and Ted Williams hauled him down just short of the mark.
The Tigers had one more good drive – in the fourth quarter. It was a 10-play affair starting after a 30-yard pun t to the Massillon 39. The drive ended on the Niles 25 with four minutes, 10 seconds remaining.
Fullback Don Perry was short of the first down, but the Tigers were called for illegal procedure and offside and the Dragons were detected on a personal foul, nullifying the run and giving Spencer a chance around left end. However, Williams nailed him.
Niles got all of the margin it needed when halfback Bob Sygar intercepted Dingler’s toss on the game’s first play and raced 26 yards to the Tigers’ 29. In six plays, the Dragons had scored as Andres helped with a 13-yard, third-and-eight jaunt for a first down on the 13.
Fullback Tim Monos scored on third-and-four from the seven when Andres threw to the right and Monos grabbed the pigskin on the two. With 8:34 left, Tom Masciangelo kicked the winning point.
Sygar was a thorn in the side for the Tigers. He bolted 71 yards around the left side on a pitchout just after Massillon’s first quarter kickoff and was brought down by halfback Tom Jackson on the nine. Hannon threw fullback Bob Manella to the 20 and McGuire intercepted an Andres’ aerial on the 15 to halt the drive.
Sygar ran 43 yards to the Massillon 25 on the second quarter, but a clipping penalty called this one off. In the same period, he ran a punt back 28 yards to his 48, but another clip interfered.
He ran 68 yards to the Tigers’ 11 in the third canto, but a clip cancelled this scamper too. Sygar also hopped on Hannon’s fumble in the third episode to give the Dragons the ball on the 50.
NILES – 7 Ends – Kaszonyi, Rose, Weida, Harris, Ted Williams, Tom Williams, Allen, Mackey, C. West. Tackles – Biddlestone, Shehy, Thou, Schweitzer, Tackett, Law. Guards – Baker, Skocik, Pekarovic, Masciangelo, Peterson. Center – Wilson. Quarterbacks – Andres, Joseph. Halfbacks – Sygar, Miranda, Wolfe, Kuhn, L. West, P. Burke, M. Burke. Fullbacks – Monos, Manella.
SCORING SUMMARY N – Monos 7 pass from Andres (Masciangelo kick); M – Spencer 26 run (run failed).
THE GRIDSTICK M N First downs, rushing 14 4 First downs, passing 0 2 First downs, penalties 0 1 Total first downs 14 7 Yards gained rushing 226 170 Yards lost rushing 8 31 Net yards gained rushing 218 139 Net yards gained passing 6 19 Total yards gained 224 158 Passes completed 1-11 2-10 Passes intercepted by 1 1 Yardage on passes intercepted 3 13 Kickoff average (yards) 2-47.0 2-35.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 29 40 Punt average (yds.) 5-33.8 7-27.4 Punt returns (yds.) 0 7 Fumbles (lost) 4(1) 2(0) Yards penalized 2-20 5-55 Touchdowns rushing 1 0 Touchdowns passing 0 1 Total number of plays 64 48
OFFICIALS Referee – Milo Lukity. Umpire – Jack Werkowitz. Head Linesman – Frank Wahl. Field Judge – Del Groezinger. Back Judge – Ron Giacomo.
There were several reasons why Massillon’s undefeated Tigers got their third victory Friday night, but two showed brighter than a lighthouse beacon on the rocky shore of Maine.
Foremost was the determination of the Orange and Black not to be defeated by a strong Cleveland Benedictine team. * * * SECOND WAS a master stroke by Bob Commings in making up a key play on the sidelines.
The result was a 20-0 victory – the third whitewash and the first time a Tiger team had turned the trick since Chuck Mather’s charges did it in 1950. One of the victims was Cleveland Cathedral Latin. Since Mather’s charges went onto a state championship, this may be a good omen.
It was the 13th straight victory for the Tigers, dating to 1970 and the eighth shutout in the last nine games.
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Tiger determination could be broken down into three sub-categories. There was a defense which dug in after a devastating third period blocked punt, a fired up offense which powered its way to the fourth quarter touchdown which helped everybody breath easier and a tremendous tailback, Willie Spencer, who scored two touchdowns to up his season’s total to eight and picked up 111 net yards – losing only one in 22 tries – and got a standing cheer with 1:28 left in the game.
Tony Petruziello blocked Rick Weise’s punt and then recovered it on the Tigers’ 28. Duane Petrovich’s fourth-and-six pass from the 24 to end Bob Szabo made it first down on the 12.
Tackles Glen Weirich and Steve Studer and middle guard Larry McLenndon threw halfback Mike Woods to the 13, end Bob Stephan drove Petrovich to the 31 and halfback Tom Hannon and end Mike McGuire knocked down a fourth-and-24 pass from the 26 to end Dave Kniola to end the threat. * * * THE TIGERS TOOK over and worked their way 74 yards in 16 plays with Spencer, fullback Don Perry and wingback Art Thompson doing the bulk of the running. Spencer scored on fourth-and-three from the six with 11:37 left in the contest.
This was where the always-cool Commings sent in tailback Hank Nussbaumer as a split end set to the same side the formation was pointed towards instead of the normal opposite end.
“We wanted to go outside so we put Nussbaumer out there for extra blocking from a wide set,” Commings explained. “We hadn’t run from this formation before.”
Spencer scored the conversion, but the Tigers were guilty of holding and quarterback Scott Dingler tried a kick from the 24 which fell inches short.
Thompson started the Orange and Black on the way to their final score with an interception on his 46 and a runback to the Benedictine 49. Thompson, Hannon, McLenndon and Spencer ran the pigskin with Spencer picking up key yardage in the 13-play drive.
McLenndon skirted the end on fourth down from the three – losing his shirt in the process – but getting the score with 33 seconds left. * * * THE TIGERS’ other score came after Stephan had recovered a fumble on the first play of the game to give Massillon possession on the Benedictine 30. Spencer went off tackle on the sixth play on second down from the three with 9:20 left.
Dingler’s favorite “cute boot” netted the conversion.
The Tigers had three first half drives stopped as Petruziello intercepted passes at the Benedictine 45 and 10 – the former also featuring a runback to the Massillon 30 which was nullified by a clip – and an offside call mired the Orange and Black at the Bennies’ 30.
“Dingler’s two passes which were intercepted were classic examples of what could have been two great plays,” Commings explained. “He did everything right. We’re going to keep running them and get them open.”
Then Commings praised Spencer for keeping the Tigers in the game offensively and Perry, Thompson, Weirich, Studer and Stephan for playing all the way both ways. Six Bennies did the same.
“The two biggest things which happened were the offense charging down field on that 74-yard drive and the magnificent defense after the blocked punt,” Commings stated, “and we dispelled one rumor – that we couldn’t handle Benedictine in the second half. The Tigers had it when they needed it. Another word for that is character.” * * * AUGIE BOSSU, veteran Benedictine boss, was highly pleased with his teams’ gang-tackling, kick coverage and pursuit and felt good that the Bennies worked the Tigers back to basics.
“They couldn’t blow us out of there,” he said. “They had to finesse us. They got some movement on us – enough for the backs to come driving through. Spencer is a heckuva back with good size to go along with speed and balance.”
“There were two things which hurt us,” Bossu said. “There was that first quarter fumble which gave them good field position and that long second half kickoff which we lost on an offside penalty. Both of these things were unfortunate. They set the tempo for both halves.”
SCORING SUMMARY M – Spencer, 3 run (Dingler run); M – Spencer 6 run (penalty on successful run, Dingler kick failed); M – McLenndon 3 run (run failed).
GRID STICK M B First downs, rushing 18 4 First downs, passing 0 2 First down penalties 0 0 Total first downs 18 6 Yards gained rushing 259 100 Yards lost rushing 16 28 Net yards gained, rushing 243 72 Net yards gained, passing 16 40 Total yards gained 259 112 Passes completed 2-7 3-11 Passes intercepted by 2 2 Yardage on passes intercepted 20 12 Kickoff average (yards) 4-43.3 1-30.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 0 77 Punt average (yds.) 4-28.8 5-37.4 Punt returns (yds.) 5 0 Had punts blocked 1 0 Fumbles(lost) 1(0) 1(1) Yards penalized 5-47 3-35 Touchdowns rushing 3 0 Total number of plays 73 42
OFFICIALS Referee – Hugh Davis. Umpire – Joe Yanity. Head Linesman – Don Miller. Field Judge – Ed Steinkerchner. Back Judge – Dr. Henley Freeman.
There’s only one trouble with a victory like the Massillon Tigers got Friday night. It leaves you too well satisfied at the wrong time.
Washington high’s defending Ohio Class AAA champions demolished Cincinnati Taft 56-0 before 10,516 at Tiger stadium to hang up victory No. 2 and 12 straight in the past two seasons.
TAFT IS 0-2 and has the task of returning to Stark county next Friday to take on Canton McKinley.
Amidst all the rejoicing, Tiger Coach Bob Commings hung up a warning sign:
“The Bennies are coming,” he said, referring to the invasion of Cleveland Benedictine which is slated for next Friday.
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“You enjoy one like this once in awhile if you learn,” he continued. “We’ve had it happen before where we’ve beaten people bit and had a tough game coming up the next week. The only thing which counts is what happens then.”
In each of his three seasons here, Commings has come off easy victories – this time two – to have the tough Bengals starring him right in the face. The team from Cleveland is sure to be rough again this year after Friday night’s 20-0 opening win over Cleveland Cathedral Latin.
The Tigers showed their fans several things against Taft.
– THEY CONTINUED to be tough on defense and are looking forward to that first big challenge.
– The backs ran with authority and held onto the ball much better, even though losing two of three fumbles and made the running attack more consistent behind good blocking.
– The ground game worked as well to the left as to the right as Commings sought to keep his team from being almost all right-handed as it had been last week.
– Good field position pays off.
– There are a lot of hardworking, eager kids waiting in the wings to keep the Tiger machinery working efficiently.
On the last point, Commings again cautioned, “We got a chance to play many kids for experience, but you have to play a good team to find out about depth.”
SO EXCELLENT was the defense for the second week in a row, that Taft got no first downs until midway in the third quarter while the Tigers were rolling up 17 in the first half – 14 on the ground. The game total was 28-3 with the Senators getting two by penalties.
Taft managed only three net yards rushing and 28 total while Massillon got 353 and 384. The Senators got out of their own territory only four times. Once was when Gary Trible recovered Larry McLenndon’s third-quarter fumble on the Tiger 21.
Tailback Willie Spencer was the chief cog in the Tigers’ offensive works, scoring four touchdowns and picking up 71 net yards in 15 tries. Another left half, Larry McLenndon, scored two six-pointers and a conversion. Wingback Art Thompson ran a pair of two-pointers as the Orange and Black scored eight of 11 times it got the ball.
Spencer capped a 13-play first period drive with a run around right end on a pitch on second down from the five with 5:28 left. Side stepping quarterback, Scott Dingler, bootlegging well all night, ran for the conversion off a nice block by guard Scott Graber.
McLenndon scored off right guard on second down from the three with 10:13 remaining in the second quarter after a 13-play drive, highlighted by the running of Dingler, fullback Tom Hannon and key third down pass reception by Thompson. A good second effort also gave mcLenndon the conversion.
Massillon took over on Taft’s 48 following a punt and in seven plays, including a 38-yard run by Thompson and aided by a personnel foul call, scored again as Spencer rammed over right tackle on the first down from the one with 4:42 left.
HANK NUSSBAUMER recovered a fumble at the Taft 35 and the Orange and Black tallied in two plays, a 19-yard pass from Dingler to split end Mike McGuire, seeing his first action after a knee injury and McLenndon’s 16-yard effort around right end on first down from the 16 with 2:29 remaining. Thompson double – reversed the conversion.
A bad snap sent Taft punter, Greg Wooten to the eight where Jim Jackson and Percy Keller hauled him down. In four plays on third down from the four, Spencer traversed left end with 50 seconds left.
The Tigers took over on the Senators’ 48 following a third quarter punt and had a tally in six efforts, including a 15-yard run by fullback Don Perry. Spencer blasted through right tackle on second down from the six with 7:58 to go. Thompson navigated right end for two more.
End Todd Cocklin picked up a Taft bobble on the Senators’ 16 in the fourth canto. Tailback Jim Jackson rolled aro9und left end on the next play with 11:01 on the clock. Both are juniors.
Terry Edwards, a junior wingback, scored with 59 seconds showing, on first down from the seven in a run around right end. His effort ended a 16-play drive by the second string which featured some nice running by both Jackson and fullback Val Keys.
“We weren’t hitting much better this week than last,” a disappointed Taft Coach Elmer Berney said.
He had praise for Massillon saying, “They are well-coached, sound personnel – wise and their big backs execute well.”
GRID STICK M T First downs, rushing 26 0 First downs, passing 3 1 First down penalties 0 2 Total first downs 29 3 Yards gained rushing 361 42 Yards lost rushing 8 39 Net yards gained, rushing 353 3 Net yards gained, passing 31 25 Total yards gained 384 28 Passes completed 2-5 4-14 Passes intercepted by 2 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 19 0 Kickoff average (yards) 9-46.4 1-52.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 25 92 Punt average (yds.) 1-49.0 6-25.1 Punt returns (yds.) 0 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles(lost) 3(2) 4(2) Yards penalized 6-80 8-45 Touchdowns rushing 8 0 Total number of plays 66 48
It was as hot as billie blue blazes on the Tiger stadium gridiron, the pressbox was even more uncomfortable and the defending Ohio AAA champions made it unanimous by putting on the heat in the first half. However, their after –burner was cooled off following the intermission, by backs unable to hold unto the football and to many penalties.
The result was a 32-0 Massillon victory over Cleveland Heights with 26 points coming in the first 24 minutes before 12,677 toasted fans. * * * THE HEAT was a factor which worked against Heights with the temperatures standing at 77 at the kickoff. But the Washington high team seemed to shrug it off, especially the hard – hitting defense. Longtime fans couldn’t remember a hotter temperature for an opener.
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“We wore out four or five kids,” first year Heights Coach Carl Wilson said. “Rafael Rehamin is the best center in the state, but the heat got to him. We had to play him one way. With him in their both ways we would have been more effective.”
Tiger Coach Bob Commings and trainer Mike Internicola both agreed the heat hampered the Orange and Black a little, with the WHSers getting iced down at halftime – something not available in Heights.
“We also played a lot of kids,” Commings said. “We used two nose men, three tackles, four ends, two tailbacks and five guards all the way.”
The skipper was happy with a great defensive team effort which held Heights to zero yards, rushing in the first half, 91 total yards for the game and five first downs. One came in the first half and three during the final five minutes, when Heights made its deepest penetration – to the Massillon 33. * * * THE DEFENSE continually held Heights in its own territory and provided some nice field position for the offense.
A fumble by tailback Willie Spencer on the Massillon 45 and another by fullback Don Perry on the Heights’ 47 in the third quarter were recovered by the visitors’ Rahamin and Brian Sague. A holding penalty on the latter drive didn’t help either. A holding call tacked onto a clip almost aborted a fourth period scoring jaunt. And offside jumps by three different middle guards because Heights was going on a long count didn’t help either.
However, Spencer and Perry, the 200-pound battering rams, did some great running, helped by some outstanding blocking, after the Tigers got over what Commings called early trouble picking up linebackers. Both Spencer and Perry scored twice while Hank Nussbaumer got the other tally and quarterback Scott Dingler the conversion.
Perry missed keeping a drive going shortly after the opening kickoff when he rumbled 18 yards to the Heights’ 45 only to have a clip nullify his effort.
Spencer claimed 126 yards in 12 carries.
The Tigers got their first score when punter Jim Corrigan missed the ball, according to Wilson and Steve Studer got possession at the Heights 34. * * * JUNIOR WINGBACK Terry Edwards took off for 19 yards around right end on fourth and 15 from the 20. Spencer blasted over right guard with 5:48 remaining in the first quarter. Dingler bootlegged the conversion.
A holding penalty almost gimmicked things up in the second quarter after one of junior Tom (Flash) Hammon’s several groovy punt run backs for 17 yards and Spencer’s 36-yarder through the middle to the 22. Then came the 15-yard infraction setback.
But Dingler faded on third and 21 from the 33 and deposited one in the arms of Nussbaumer, playing split end instead of tailback, Hank raced in on the left side with 9:45 left. Tailback Larry McLenndon just missed the conversion.
A bad fourth-down snap from the Heights’ 28 by Rahamin sailed to the one where Corrigan hopped on it, but junior end Dari Edwards hauled him down in a hurry. Perry scored over left tackle with six minutes left. Junior Don Muhlback had to run with Steve Studer’s high snap and didn’t make it.
Hannon started a scoring drive with a 20-yard punt return to the Heights’ 27. Six plays later and helped by a face mask penalty, it was first down on the three, setting the stage for Perry to blast through the middle with 2:30 left. Dingler’s kick was no good.
Senior halfback Art Thompson intercepted a pass on the Tigers’ 26 to stop a Heights’ drive just before the half ended.
IN THE third period, Massillon almost had another TD on a Dingler-to-Nussbaumer combination that would have been a real “Hum Dingler,” but halfback Tom Wasson got a hand into the act and thwarted the long aerial.
The Orange and Black had problems getting their final score. The clip and holding penalties negated a 20-yard Dingler-to-split end Joe Matie effort to the Heights’ 34, but Dingler hit tight end Bob Stephan for 13 to the 41. Spencer ran 17 to the 41 and Hannon, 10 to the 14 from where Spencer scored around left end, with 5:07 left in the game. Hannon failed on the conversion attempt.
Commings summed things up with, ‘We were penalized 85 yards and lost three fumbles. You can’t do that against a good team.”
He lauded Hannon’s punt returns and explained that Nussbaumer had been used on two pass plays because he runs good deep cuts.
Wilson felt his team started slowly, but came along and then missed some opportunities because of penalties and dropped passes.
“I hope there’s a little better future ahead of us,” he said. “It will take a good club to score on Massillon.”
SCORING SUMMARY M – Spencer, 20 run (Dingler run); M – Nussbaumer, 33 pass from Dingler (run failed); M – Perry, 1 run (kick failed); M – Perry, 3 run (run failed); M – Spencer, 14 run (run failed).
GRID STICK M H First downs, rushing 16 2 First downs, passing 2 3 Total first downs 18 5 Yards gained rushing 279 66 Yards lost rushing 16 55 Net yards gained, rushing 263 11 Net yards gained, passing 70 80 Total yards gained 333 91 Passes completed 4-8 7-21 Passes intercepted by 1 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 41 0 Kickoff average (yards) 5-44.3 1-39.0 Kickoff return (yards) 16 96 Punt average (yds.) 3-32.3 9-29.0 Punt returns (yds.) 59 6 Had punts blocked 0 1 Fumbles(lost) 4(3) 2(0) Yards penalized 9-85 7-58 Touchdowns rushing 4 0 Touchdowns passing 1 0 Total number of plays 49 58
OFFICIALS Referee – Jack McLain. Umpire – Alex Rubins. Head Linesman – Irwin Shopbell. Field Judge – Dr. Henley Freeman. Back Judge – Robert Walker.
A relic stands as a tribute to the dedication and determination of a group of young men in whom Coach Bob Commings has placed faith since the spring of 1969.
Of course, the relic is the “Victory Bell” – a treasured locomotive bell which goes to the winner of the Massillon-Canton McKinley football game. * * * COMMINGS HAS insisted this year’s edition of the Tigers – his second – are “quality kids”.
They proved beyond a doubt last Saturday before 22,500 rain soaked football buffs at Tiger stadium they are deserving of Ohio’s No. 1 ranking in the wire services’ Class AAA poll.
It is just a matter of hours before they learn if Saturday’s efforts were enough to maintain the top ranking.
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Saturday’s 28-0 conquest of the Bulldogs climaxed a comeback which Commings began here in 1969 with a 7-2-1 club – a team from which many of this year’s Tigers remembered the heart-breaking 14-7 loss to McKinley.
Perfect is perhaps the best adjective to describe the Tigers’ play Saturday – and all season long as the ’70 Washington high gridders provided Massillon football buffs with their 16th unbeaten and untied team – the first since 1965. McKinley ended 8-1-1.
It was almost unbelievable of the Orange and Black’s ability to execute to perfection in the mud and bone-chilling rain Saturday. * * * RIB-ROCKING defensive play resulted in the recovery of two Bulldog bobbles and the theft of a McKinley aerial.
Massillon’s defensive unit allowed the Cantonians but a single stick-mover in the first half and just nine for the game.
Because of the efforts of the defensive unit – better known as the “Attack Pack” – McKinley was forced to the air 14 times. On the other hand, Massillon passed just twice.
Here’s the Tigers vs. McKinley
Massillon gained 258 yards rushing. Tailback Mike Mauger climaxed a brilliant s eason – his last – with 137 yards in 27 tries. He scored on a pair of four-yard runs and added a bonus run.
Senior Denny Franklin, the all-around quarterback, romped 37 yards for the Tigers’ third six-pointer with the help of a perfect fake by Mauger and a key block by backup tight end Mike McGuire, a junior. Mauger drove into the line over left tackle. The Pups bought the fake and Franklin sailed around left end as McGuire had cut down the last Bulldog who had the only chance to stop the elusive signal-caller. * * * MASSILLON GOT the game’s first break when Larry Harper, the senior wingback established a Massillon-McKinley game record with a 94-yard return of the opening kickoff. Mark McDew set the old standard when he raced 91 yards with the second half kickoff to help the Tigers to a 20-15 win in 1967 – the last time Massillon beat the Bulldogs until Saturday.
Willie Spencer, also playing his last game as a Tiger, climaxed the defense’s outstanding play when he picked off a Jimmy Vance pass and raced 42 yards to the four. His theft set up Mauger’s second TD with 0:18 left.
Mauger now ranks as the third best all-time Massillon scorer, surpassing the 1937 output of 137 points by halfback-fullback Bob Glass.
Saturday’s two six-pointers and the conversion run after Harper’s TD give Mauger 152 points
Game Action 1970
for the season. His 23 TDs for 1970 ranks second on the all-time Tigers’ list behind Edwin (Dutch) Hill, who tallied 34 TDs in 1922. He now rates as the top scorer of the “Modern Tiger era” – three points better than the 1934 total posted by Heine Krier.
Execution by the line freed Mauger, Franklin, Harper and fullback Cardinal consistently.
Once, however, the Bulldogs did dig in and prohibit the Tigers from scoring. This happened after WHS owned a 16-0 lead. * * * MASSILLON HAD moved 66 yards and tried twice to punch the leather over from inside the one. The second attempt was a crack at right tackle by Mauger. He was stopped 0:40 before the bands took the field.
Junior middle guard Larry McLenndon looked like a fifth back in the Bulldogs’ lineup as he continuously was applying pressure.
He forced junior fullback Artis Zachary to fumble once and Cardinal fell on the leather at the Tigers’ 20 to set up the first WHS sustained drive, which extended into the second stanza.
Mauger ended the maneuver when he slashed over right tackle with 9:31 showing.
Steve Studer (55) celebrates
Key plays in the drive were a 10-yard counter over left tackle by Harper on a third and eight call, a 13-yard pass over the middle to end Steve Luke to the McKinley 36 on a third and 15 try and an 11-yard burst up the middle by Mauger on fourth and two to the visitors’ 25. * * * CARDINAL’S recovery of Zachary’s fumble halted McKinley’s most serious threat of the game. The threat covered 34 yards and began when Vance intercepted Franklin’s first pass attempt, which had glanced off Harper’s out-stretched hands.
Massillon drove 73 yards in nine plays to make it 22-0. The TD came 9:08 before the bell was tugged through the mud from the McKinley bench. The maneuver began when Vance twice overshot targets in an attempt to pick up 12 yards the Bulldogs needed for a first down.
Mauger carried six times for 26 yards and Harper aided with a nine-yard dart around left end. Franklin accounted for the remainder, with the TD coming on his fancy footwork. The call came on a fourth and two situation. Franklin hit Spencer for the PATs, but the Tigers were penalized for illegal procedure. Harper was stopped at the three when he tried to run it in from the eight.
McKINLEY 0 0 0 0 0 MASSILLON 8 8 0 12 28
SCORING SUMMARY M – Harper, 94 return of opening kickoff (Mauger run); Mauger, 4 run (Harper run); Franklin, 37 run (run failed after penalty nullified pass to Harper); Mauger, 4 run (pass failed).
THE GRIDSTICK M C First downs, rushing 16 6 First downs, passing 0 1 First downs, penalties 1 2 Total first downs 17 9 Yards gained rushing 270 91 Yards lost rushing 12 16 Net gain rushing 258 75 Net gain passing 13 40 Total yards 271 115 Passes attempted 2 14 Passes completed 1 5 Passes intercepted by 1 1 Yardage on passes intercepted 42 5 Times kicked off 5 1 Kickoff average, yards 40.0 54.0 Kickoff returns, yards 94 40 Times punted 1 3 Punt average, yards 34.0 33.3 Punt returns, yards 6 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 0 2 Lost fumbled ball 0 2 Penalties 10 2 Yards penalized 96 20 Touchdowns rushing 3 0 Touchdowns passing 0 0 Touchdowns by interception 0 0 Miscellaneous 1 0 Total plays 56
OFFICIALS Referee – Ted Humphrey. Field Judge – Hugh Davis. Head Linesman – Stanley Evaans. Umpire – Robert Brown. Back Judge – Robert Reidenbach.
TD on Starting Kickoff Spurs Win Over Pups
By ROBERT S. STEWART Repository Sports Editor
MASSILLON – The mighty Massillon Tigers took the field in the rain and mud of Tiger Stadium here Saturday and accomplished just what they set out to do – polish off Canton McKinley’s football team and wrap up another state championship.
The Tigers exploded with a spectacular 93-yard run by fleet halfback Larry Harper to get the 75th annual schoolboy classic under way.
Then Massillon methodically ground out a 28-0 victory over the stubborn Bulldogs from McKinley.
Harper’s dash put the Tigers on top with only 14 seconds gone in the game. Not all of the 22,500 fans who watched the game were even in their seats yet. It looked like the rout many had predicted. Virtually Clinches Title for Tigers But McKinley and the mud combined to hold the score to a respectable 16-0 margin at the start of the final quarter.
The win virtually clinches the state title for Massillon, its first in five years and 12th since the inception of the Associated Press poll in 1947.
Although the formality of the final voting must be awaited, certainly the Tigers will remain the No. 1 team in the state, a spot they held for all but one week this season.
It will be interesting to see where McKinley finishes. The Bulldogs have trailed Massillon and second-ranked Upper Arlington (27-6 winner over Marietta, Friday) as the third-rated team the last few weeks.
McKinley finished its season with eight wins, a 7-7 tie with Niles and the loss to Massillon.
It was the 16th time Massillon has been undefeated and untied in the school’s history.
The 1970 edition of the Tigers moves into the eighth spot on the all-time list of high scoring Massillon teams with 412 points. Defensively, this year’s team is tied for 12th with 29 points allowed. McKinley was the Tigers’ sixth shutout victim.
First year coach John Brideweser of McKinley was disappointed, but not disheartened. The Bulldogs were not hanging crepe in their dressing room. No one left with his head down.
Brideweser, who had been an assistant at Massillon last year, said he felt his kids did a great job Saturday and all year long. The McKinley well-wishers praised the team and noted the 8-1-1 record was much better than expected.
Massillon Wraps Up State Grid Crown 28-0 Commings Crew ‘Fanstatic’
That old railroad bell still is ringing today in Tigertown after the top-rated Massillon Tigers whitewashed the McKinley Bulldogs 28-0 Saturday afternoon and won back the bell after two years of absence from Washington high School.
Carl “Ducky” Schroeder, Tiger tackle coach who has been at Massillon for more than 20 years, summed it up perfectly amidst the delirious post-game celebration in the locker room.
“WE CAME ALL the way back and then some,” said Schroeder, who has helped coach 12 state championship teams in his Massillon tenure and probably will have another Tuesday when the final Associated Press poll is released.
“The kids were just fantastic,” praised Massillon Coach Bob comings as he stood in his dripping wet clothes, fresh from a victory shower.
“We came back the last two years and we’re gonna dominate the state of Ohio again,” said Commings.
“I think we are here for two reasons,” said Commings. “First, I was fortunate to hire the coaches I did and second the kids deserved it because nobody has outworked us this year.”
“WE HAVE QUALITY kids at Massillon High. That’s what we preached two years ago when we first came here. We told them we had to have quality players and we have them now!”
“I think it’s really good because we won. We’re in northeastern Ohio and that’s where the state championship belongs. It’s a matter of pride for the All-American Conference.” Tigers Were ‘Fantastic’ “It’s inconceivable to me how any kids could have worked any harder than we did. There was not one dummy on the field all season. We worked on people.”
“The people in this town have been great to me personally, last year too. If anyone deserves the state title they do. The booster club president (Wilbur Arnold, Jr.) even took two vacations to see that everything came off okay.”
“We played 96 minutes (two games, McKinley and Warren) in the mud this year,” continued the former Mahoning County detective, “and we didn’t have one fumble. That’s a tribute to our coaches since we didn’t have any blows in those games.”
McKINLEY played their game and didn’t make any changes. We played our game and didn’t change.”
“We ran the ball well and our defense looked strong despite the condition of the field.”
“Willie Spencer (two-way end) played a heckuva game today. They all did.”
“Justice was done this year,” Commings concluded.
EMOTION RAN through the Tiger locker room after the game. Players were chanting, “We’re No. 1, We’re No. 1,” from their perches atop the lockers and nearly everywhere else. It was like putting three cans of sardines into one can.
The victory bell seldom stopped ringing.
Tiger assistant coach Nick Vrotsos said, “We’ll have a winner! We won’t have to walk in the alleys this year.” The former Tiger cage mentor looked like a proud poppa as he passed out victory cigars to fellow coaches and friends.
Tiger aide Dale Walterhouse said, “We’re claiming the best linebackers in the state. Steve Luke and Tom Cardinal can move and hit. McKinley has been claiming to have the best linebackers in the state. I guess we proved it today.”
“Luke and Cardinal have been leaders on and off the field. They’re hitters on the field and gentlemen off the field,” said Walterhouse about the Tiger co-captains.
McKinley 28-0 Loser
‘Perfect’ Ending For Massillon
By JOHN SEABURN
MASSILLON – The Massillon Tigers gave the Bulldogs of Canton McKinley a good bit more than they bargained for when the teams clashed before 22,500 here in rain-drenched Tiger Stadium Saturday.
When wingback Larry Harper returned the opening kickoff 93 yards to score, the state’s No. 1 ranked Class AAA team was off to a 28-0 victory in the final game of the year for both teams.
Massillon, relying on the charges of tailback Mike Mauger and the fine leadership of quarterback Dennis Franklin and able to move over a slippery turf while the visiting Bulldogs could not.
The Tigers moved to their 10th victory of the season without defeat, wrested the All-American Conference title from defending champion McKinley, ended the Bulldogs two-year domination of the traditional rivalry and rounded the series off to 40 Massillon wins, 30 triumphs for McKinley (8-1-1) and five ties in the 75th game between the two schools.
Mauger, a 6-1, 200-pound senior, set a school rushing yardage record for its “modern era” (since 1932) by carrying 27 times to gain 137 yards.
He scored twice on runs of four yards, the first time in the second period to help the Tigers to a 16-0 halftime lead and the second time when the Orange and Black seized an opportunity to score in the final 18 seconds of play.
Tigers, McKinley remain unbeaten Second-period spree propels Massillon’s 68-7 rout of St. V.
By LARRY NEELEY
Exploding for five touchdowns in the second quarter, the Massillon Tigers clobbered Akron St. Vincent 68-7 Friday night before 9,207 fans at Tiger stadium.
“Now we’ll go underground a little bit,” said pleased Tiger boss Bob Commings, indicating that the Tigers will hold some closed practices in preparation of Saturday’s clash with Canton McKinley. * * * “I’M GLAD it (the St. Vincent game) is over,” Commings said, “and I’m glad we didn’t get anyone hurt.”
“Our kids have taken every game seriously. This is why we did it (9-0 mark),” he said. “We were tired of hearing about a letdown before McKinley.”
Commings played every boy who dressed Friday, he said and the Tigers gained 437 total yards to 83 for the Irish, who stand 2-7.
Tailback Mike Mauger galloped for 115 yards in 13 carries, which included four touchdown jaunts. Wingback Larry Harper scored three times.
The Tigers were jolted to find themselves down 7-6 at the end of the first quarter and burst loose for scores each time they got the ball in the second period.
The Obiemen used only 23 plays in the first half to register a 42-7 margin – an average of 11.7 yards per play. St. Vincent had the ball for 32 plays. * * * JOHN CISTONE, Irish coach complained about the officials’ action on the third play of the second quarter.
Tigers Tom Cardinal had carried on a fourth and three situation and the officials ruled a first down on the Irish 41, after bringing in the chain.
“We stopped them…he (an official) slid the ball up and they made it by inches,” Cistone said.
“We had momentum at the time and were up 7-6,” he added. “I think that was the turning point.”
“I think the officials ruined a good ball game…I won’t say we would have beat them (Massillon). They’re a real fine football team – one of the best – but not 60 points better.
Asked later to comment on the ruling, Commings retorted: “We called it a first down as soon as it hit the ground.” * * * THE VICTORY extended the Tigers’ win string to nine games and set the stage for another classic battle of unbeaten and state-ranked Massillon (No. 1) and arch-rival McKinley (No. 3) here next Saturday. The clash will have added spice in that Bulldog Coach John Brideweser was an assistant last year here under Commings. Furthermore, former Tiger star Jim Reichenback is Brideweser’s defensive coordinator.
Friday night’s Tiger stadium turnout brought the total attendance at all Tiger contests this year to 104,842. Season attendance in 1969 (10 games) was 124,807.
Game action began with the Tigers kicking off to the Irish, who were able to move only 17 yards – to their 46 – before punting.
The Tigers started from their own 23 and moved 77 yards in seven plays for their first score. The push was keyed by a 35-yard scamper by Mauger and a rollout for 24 yards by Franklin. Mauger scored from the two with 5:45 left in the first quarter.
Franklin was stopped short of the goal on conversion run.
Kickoff returns were some of the best plays St. Vincent had against the Tigers and the ensuing return went 28 yards from the Irish 18 to the 46.
ON THE second play from scrimmage, tight end Tom Enright got a step on a Tiger defender and gathered in a Tom Flege pass good for 36 yards.
Aided by a Tiger penalty that gave them a first down, the Irish scored in nine plays. Flege passed eight yards over the middle to Enright for the payoff.
Junior halfback Tim Bialy’s kick put Massillon down by one point with 0:50 left in the first quarter. The shock may have been all the Obiemen needed.
Commings’ crew had the ball on its 49 as the busy second quarter started. After Cardinal’s run for a first down – disputed later by Cistone – the Tigers scored in four plays. Wingback Larry Harper carried the final 31 yards untouched, on a reverse. Cardinal ran for the two points.
The Irish were unable to move after the kickoff and punted to Harper. Massillon was spotted clipping and the Tigers had to start from their 20.
Franklin then flipped an aerial which an Irish defender tipped into the hands of Harper. Out running four men, the swift senior made the play cover 80 yards. Franklin kept for the two-pointer and the Tigers were up 22-7. The Irish began the ensuing series on their 10. On the second play, senior Tiger tackle Roger Groff pounced on a St. V. fumble on the 12.
Cardinal blasted for two yards and then Mauger carried it in. On the conversion try Willie Spencer went high for a pass from Franklin which was ruled complete (sufficient possession) and the Tigers led, 30-7.
TIGER DON PERRY nearly stopped the Irish single-handedly after they received the next kickoff. On the next play from scrimmage he threw quarterback Flege for a 13-yard loss and on the next play he cracked into Bialy for a loss of four more.
With a third down and 27 situation for the Akronites on their own three-yard line, sophomore left half Greg Thurmond got eight yards to the 11. Then Flege’s punt was partially blocked.
Tiger defensive back Art Thompson gathered in the short boot on the Irish 14 and scored. A conversion run failed.
After the Tiger kickoff, St. Vincent failed to move again and punted from about its 13. Harper returned three yards to his own 47.
Because the half was ending, Franklin stayed in the air and scored after five pass plays.
He was aided by a rare double penalty on the Irish for roughing the passer and unsportsmanlike conduct – on the same play.
IN THE series, Franklin’s aerials were caught by Spencer, Harper, Mike McGuire and then Harper again from six yards out for the touchdown. A fling to Spencer for the two-point try fell incomplete and the Tigers went to their dressing room with a presto-produced 42-7 lead.
St. Vincent kicked off to start the second half and the Tigers returned to their 27. After three carries netted 12 yards, a personal foul call against St. V moved the ball to the Irish 44. After an incomplete pass, Mauger burst into the open and broke sophomore safetyman Dan Gleespan’s last-ditch tackle to score. A conversion attempt pass failed and Massillon led, 48-7.
The Irish lost two yards in three plays the next time they got the ball and punted to Harper on the Massillon 40. He returned 28 yards, St. Vincent was called for a personal foul and the Tigers had the ball on the Irish 17.
Harper gained 11 on a double reverse, Cardinal lugged twice for three and then Mauger scored from three yards out. Tailback Hank Nussbaumer ran for the points after and the score read 56-7.
After the kickoff, the Akron visitors were able to control the ball for 16 plays and move 60 yards to the Massillon seven. The Tigers helped, committing personal foul, interference and holding infractions.
In the next four plays, however, the Irish lost 19 yards and the Tigers took over on their 26. Scott Dingler was the new quarterback as the third quarter ended. Aided by 10-yard runs by Perry and Thompson and three Irish penalties, Massillon moved in to score in 10 plays.
Dingler, hiding the ball well on a bootleg, went the final eight yards to make it 62-7. A conversion pass failed.
The Tigers got their final TD, after Bernard Sullivan intercepted a St. Vincent pass on his 40.
In nine plays with an all-substitute unit, the Orange and Black ground it out via the land route. Tim Willoughby went the final two yards. A run for the PAT’s failed, making it 68-7.
SCORING M – Mauger, 2 run (run failed); SV – Enright, 8 pass from Flege (Bialy kick); M – Harper, 31 run (Cardinal run); Harper, 80 pass from Franklin (Franklin run); M – Mauger, 10 run (Spencer, pass from Franklin); M – Thompson, 14 punt return (run failed); M – Harper, 6 pass from Franklin )pass failed); M – Mauger, 44 run (pass failed); M – Mauger, 3 run (H. Nussbaumer run); M – Dingler, 8 run (pass failed); M – Willoughby, 2 run (run failed).
OFFICIALS Referee – Jack McLain. Umpire – Harrold Rolph. Head Linesman – Tony Pianowski. Field Judge – Henry Mastrianni. Back Judge – Octavio Sirgo.
THE GRIDSTICK M SV First downs – rushing 20 2 First downs – passing 4 4 First downs – penalties 4 3 Total first downs 28 9 Yards gained rushing 304 60 Yards lost rushing 6 40 Net yards gained rushing 298 20 Net yards gained passing 139 63 Total yards gained 437 83 Passes completed 5-7 5-16 Passes intercepted by 1 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 14 0 Kickoff average yards 11-48.7 2-46.5 Kickoff returns yards 44 182 Punt returns, yards 50 0 Lost fumbled ball 0-1 1-2 Penalties 7 7 Yards penalized 72 66 Touchdowns – rushing 7 0 Touchdowns – passing 2 1 Total number of plays 50 58
Franklin, Cardinal sparkle vs. Warren Tigers grind out 22-0 win in mud
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
Washington high assistant Coach Nick Vrotsos called the shot perfectly Friday night.
“We’ll just have to get in there and grind it out,” he said in the dressing room before the game. * * * THAT’S JUST WHAT the state’s top-ranked Tigers did before an estimated 12,000 rain soaked fans at Mollenkopf stadium in Warren as they grabbed their eighth win of the season, 22-0 over the Harding Black Panthers.
It was the Orangemen’s fourth consecutive shutout and broke the “Mollenkopf jinx” – the Tigers hadn’t won there since 1964 and 10 of their 12 losses to Harding high comes there.
The undefeated Tigers handed Warren its fourth loss in as many league games. They maintained their first-place hold in the All-American conference.
With the Warren defense geared to stop the league’s leading scorer and rusher, senior tailback Mike Mauger, senior quarterback Dennis Franklin and senior fullback Tom Cardinal cut loose.
Franklin scored all three touchdowns, one conversion and passed for another as “The Menace” had his finest hour as a Tiger. Cardinal, “Old Reliable,” picked up a lot of crucial yardage. “It was a good one to get under the conditions,” WHS head Coach Bob Commings said, “but the big thing was that the kids were great – so concentrated. They didn’t make an error, didn’t break down on offense or defense in this weather. The assistant coaches did a heckuva job, not only in preparing us for the game, but also in making calls from the pressbox.”
Commings gave Warren Coach Tom Batta a great deal of praise for the manner in which he had prepared his team.
“We felt we had to place people to stop Mauger in order to win,” Batta said. “We thought if we could force Cardinal to run, we would be able to stop them, but all the backs gained about equal yardage. We did hold Mauger scoreless.” * * * BUT TIGER BACKS, behind excellent blocking again from the “Iron Curtain,” rolled up 220 yards while the “Attack Pack” held Warren to 29 and none in the air although the Panthers completed four of nine.
As Co-Captain Steve Luke remarked, “It was our will to succeed which brought us through again.”
The first quarter was scoreless although the Tigers’ first scoring drive started with 7:02 left. After a quick kick the WHSers went 73 yards on 16 plays with Cardinal carrying seven times. Twelve and 15-yard runs by Mauger and a 12-yarder by Franklin helped set up the score.
Franklin sneaked in from one-half yard out on fourth down with one second gone in the second quarter. In attempting to run the bootleg for the conversion, Franklin slipped.
“We thought the quick kick would put them deep in their territory and that we could hold and get good field position,” Batta explained. “We put on a good goal line stand and made them fight for it, though.”
Warren had quick-kicked in one other game – against Steubenville.
One series after the kickoff, Massillon picked up a poor punt on the Warren 32-yard line and scored in five plays, Cardinal’s 19-yarder was a key. Franklin sneaked from the one-yard line on first down and bootlegged the conversion with 6:59 on the clock. * * * MASSILLON HAD the ball in Warren territory on two other occasions, but illegal use of the hands and clipping calls were spoilers.
Neither team got out of its own territory in the third period, but Warren managed its first of three first downs.
The “Attack Pack” held on a short fourth down pass to give the Tigers a start on their last TD drive in the fourth quarter. It covered 61 yards in 10 plays with an 11-yard Franklin-to-Larry Harper aerial and 21 and 12-yard scampers by Mauger and Franklin as keys.
Franklin sneaked from the one-half-yard line with 4:46 left and then hit Harper, a senior wingback, just inside the end line for the conversion.
Late in the period Warren sprung senior tailback Anthony Brown to the Tigers’ 35 and quarterback Harold Fails hit end Ed Vogel on the Massillon 20, but illegal use of the hands and offside penalties nullified the Panthers’ efforts.
After the Tigers had lost the ball on downs on their 18 (Franklin fell on the ball instead of risking a punt), junior cornerback Art Thompson of Massillon ran back an interception 48 yards to end the game.
THE GRIDSTICK M W First downs – rushing 17 2 First downs – passing 2 0 First downs – penalties 0 1 Total first downs 19 3 Yards gained rushing 230 49 Yards lost rushing 10 20 Net yards gained rushing 230 29 Net yards gained passing 32 0 Total yards gained 252 29 Passes completed 2-5 4-9 Passes intercepted by 1 1 Yardage on passes intercepted 52 0 Kickoff average yards 4-45.0 1-45.0 Kickoff returns yards 18 53 Punt average, yards 3-36.0 6-41.3 Punt returns, yards 1 6 Lost fumbled ball 0-2 0 Yards penalized 5-61 5-35 TDs – rushing 3 0 TDs – passing 0 0 TDs by interception 0 0 Total plays 62 40
History 
