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1971: Massillon 6, Niles McKinley 7

October 1, 1971July 29, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tigers lose spirited defensive battle

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

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.

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.

MASSILLON – 6
Ends – Matie, McGuire, Stephan, D. Edwards.
Tackles – Weirich, Heath, Geiser, Green.
Guards – Christoff, Graber, Mayles, Heck.
Centers – Studer, Cocklin.
Quarterbacks – Dingler, Muhlbach.
Halfbacks – Spencer, McLenndon, Thompson, Wonsick, Jackson, Weise, T. Edwards.
Fullbacks – Perry, Hannon.

NILES 7 0 0 0 7
MASSILLON 0 6 0 0 6

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.

ATTENDANCE – 17,458

History

1971: Massillon 20, Cleveland Benedictine 0

September 24, 1971July 29, 2017
by Eric Smith

Determination prevails in Tiger win

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

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.

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.”

BENEDICTINE – 0
Ends – Szabo, Vavro, Koeth, D. Kniola, Zamaria.
Tackles – Switalski, Rochford, Melson.
Guards – Lanigan, DeFranco, Glowik.
Center – Pisching.
Quarterbacks – Petrovich, Seres, Keller.
Halfbacks – Holpuch, Woods, Favorite, Petruziello, Hodavievic, T. Moriarty, P. Moriarty.
Fullbacks – Teresczuk, Modzelewski.

MASSILLON – 20
Ends – Stephan, McGuire, Matie, D. Edwards, Rowe.
Tackles – Weirich, Andre Heath, Geiser.
Guards – Christoff, Heck, Graber, Bash, Mayles.
Centers – Studer, Cocklin.
Quarterbacks – Dingler, Muhlbach.
Halfbacks – Spencer, McLenndon, Nussbaumer, Thompson, Wonsick, Weise, T. Edwards, Jackson.
Fullbacks – Perry, Hannon.

MASSILLON 8 0 0 12 20
BENEDICTINE 0 0 0 0 0

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.

ATTENDANCE – 12,726

History

1971: Massillon 56, Cincinnati Taft 0

September 17, 1971July 29, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tigers win 56-0; Bennies lie in wait

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

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.

“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

History

1971: Massillon 32, Cleveland Heights 0

September 10, 1971July 29, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tiger defense is superb in heat bath

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

It was anything but weather for football.

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.

“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.”

HEIGHTS – 0
Ends – Vinocur, Deering, Sague.
Tackles – A. Stallworth, Siegel, Kirk, Allen, De Baggis, Kovatch.
Guards – Freedman, Faerber, Sorin, Johnston, Shewman, Thomas, Gutin, Burlin.
Centers – Rahamin, Lohwater, Coco.
Quarterbacks – Lipman, Visci, Wasson.
Halfbacks – M. Stallworth, Marinelli, Toomey, Mintz, Corrigan.
Fullbacks – Metcalf, Spigutz.

MASSILLON – 32
Ends – Stephan, Matie, Vogt, D. Edwards, Nussbaumer.
Tackles – Weirich, Andre Heath, Peters, Green Geiser.
Guards – Heck, Graber, Mayles, Guiffre, Keller.
Centers – Studer, Cocklin.
Quarterbacks – Dingler, Muhlbach.
Halfbacks – Spencer, T. Edwards, McLenndon, Thompson, Andy Heath, Wonsick, Nussbaumer, Weise, Jackson.
Fullbacks – Perry, Hannon

MASSILLON 8 18 0 6 32
HEIGHTS 0 0 0 0 0

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.

History

1970: Massillon 28, Canton McKinley 0

November 14, 1970July 27, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tigers claw Bulldogs

By MIKE ZEMELKA

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

MASSILLON
Ends – Steve Luke, McGuire, Spencer, Stephan, Clary, Perry.
Tackles – Ridgley, Strobel, Weirch.
Guards – Jaskinski, Jellel, Sims, Graber, Groff, John Nussbaumer.
Centers – Studer, Gaddis.
Quarterback – Franklin.
Running backs – Mauger, Cardinal, Harper.
Defensive Backs – Pattinson, Bill Luke, Thompson, Hank Nussbaumer, Wonsick, Fletcher, Sullivan.
Middle Guard – McLenndon.

CANTON McKINLEY
Ends – Turner, Stover.
Tackles – Randle, DeStefano, O’Brovac.
Guards – Gordon, Williams, Cook.
Centers – Clark, Hoon, Fields.
Quarterback – Vance.
Running Backs – Zachary, DeGraffenreid, Cleveland, R. Umbles, Hall, Barnett, Lewis, Kelley.
Middle Guard – Carbone.

ATTENDANCE – 22, 500

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’

By KEN SHERER
Repository Sports Writer

MASSILLON – Clang, clang, Clang-clang, clang-clang.

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.

History

1970: Massillon 68, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 7

November 6, 1970July 27, 2017
by Eric Smith

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

History

1970: Massillon 22, Warren Harding 0

October 30, 1970July 27, 2017
by Eric Smith

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

1970: Massillon 52, Barberton 0

October 23, 1970July 27, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tigers maul game Barberton 52-0

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

Cliff Wilson sounded as if he were still in the coaching ranks.

“Boy! That score doesn’t tell half the story of the game!” Washington high’s first year principal said as he made his way down the sideline toward an exit.

Massillon’s Tigers mauled Barberton’s inexperienced Magics 52-0 Friday night in a
non-league before 10,120, the season’s smallest crowd at Tiger stadium, but the Ohio’s
No. 1 team knew it had been in a battle. The Orangemen came out with assorted bumps and bruises administered by the hard-hitting Summit Countians who hung on tenaciously although out of the game by halftime.
* * *
IT WAS Massillon’s sixth straight win and third straight shutout – fourth of the season.

The Tigers’ “Attack Pack” has gone 16 consecutive quarters without allowing a
touchdown – 14 without giving up a score. Niles scored a second quarter field goal three weeks ago.

Barberton out-gained the Tigers 97-95 on the ground in the first half, but a 42-0 advantage in the air gave Massillon a 137-97 overall advantage. The Magics led in first downs 8-6.

The Tigers had a clear statistical edge in all departments, except first downs, by the game’s end. The margin here was only 16-14.

Barberton moved the ball about as well as any team has against the Tigers, rolling up 30 more plays. This could be explained in part by the fact that the WHSers scored very quickly each time they got their hands on the ball.

First-year Coach Ron Fenik mixed his plays well, junior quarterback Bob Gleichert dazzled the Tigers with his slight-of-hand and was hard to contain. Senior halfback John Yarsa and junior fullback Ed West appeared to be the most effective runners as the Magics gave the Orangemen some of their own medicine with counter criss-cross and power pitch plays.
* * *
THE ORANGE and Black had trouble getting under way, but really moved after the intermission. The county’s and All-American conference’s leading scorer, tailback Mike Mauger, tallied two touchdowns and two conversions to lead the parade.

Quarterback Dennis Franklin continued to menace the opposition, scoring one touchdown, passing for one and a conversion. Wingback Larry Harper, caught one TD pass and two PAT tosses – one from Mauger.

The Tigers’ new play, which was tried twice successfully, should make the opposition more cautious. Franklin ran well outside a couple of times from another new wrinkle, the power formation.

Mauger, Franklin and Harper each added to possible All-Ohio credentials as did
Co-Captain Tom Cardinal with steady play both ways.

The “Iron Curtain” of Co-Captain Steve Luke, Willie Spencer, Tim Ridgley, Kirk Strobel, Pete Jasinski, Dave Kulik and Steve Studer, provided more good running room.
* * *
THE TIGERS didn’t score until 5:08 of the first quarter. Cardinal powered over tackle for 55 yards after a punt. Franklin tossed to Harper for two more points.

Spencer blocked a punt to give the Tigers’ possession on the Barberton 40-yard line. Eight plays later Franklin boot-legged end from the 10 with 10:17 left in the second stanza. Mauger went off tackle to make it 16-0.

With Cardinal on the sideline nursing a painful, but not serious shoulder injury, Barberton drove 68 yards, after the kickoff, scored a TD on Gleicherts pass to sophomore halfback Rick Lay, but was set back to the 18. On fourth down, junior cornerback Art Thompson intercepted a Gleichert aerial and ran 78 yards for a score, the longest such run in the county this season and the third longest in Tiger history. With 4:48 left, Mauger again blasted over tackle, for a 24-0 count.

With fourth down five, on his 44, a third of the way through the third canto, Gleichert ran from punt formation, but was stopped on the 45. Six plays later Mauger went over tackle from the two on first down, with 6:04 left, for his first TD. He had two chances to kick a PAT, thanks to an offside penalty, but missed both.

Spencer recovered a fumble on the Magics’ 31 shortly after the kickoff. Eight plays after, Mauger just made the end zone over tackle on fourth down from the two. With 45 seconds showing he hit Harper just inside the right end zone corner for two more points.

Barberton punted from the end zone early in the goodbye period and Harper ran back from the 38 to the 31. Then Franklin, eluding tacklers, sprinted toward the sideline and threw to Harper who made a diving catch between two foes for a TD with 10:39 left. Scott Dingler, a junior quarterback, threw the conversion aerial over Spencer’s head.

Bernard Sullivan made a 30-yard extra-effort punt runback to set the stage for the final six-pointer. Two plays later, Thompson scored from 32 yards away on the counter
criss-cross with 7:40 left. Dingler bootlegged the conversion.

Barberton held the ball, thereafter, until the four-second mark, consuming seven minutes, 32 seconds.
* * *
“THEY PREPARED for us well,” Bob Commings, the Tigers head coach said. “They played a nice game, they got outside of us a couple of times and I don’t think we were quite ready for those do-dads which Gleichert had in there. We knew he was a good player.”

Commings was not happy with the first half attitude, feeling his charges fiddled around too much.

“We moved the ball a little bit on them,” Fenik said. “We knew they had a good team when we came down here. We just made some bad mistakes.”

This was to be expected of the underclass-studded lineup.

“We think Gleichert will be a good player one day,” Fenik continued. “He’s a heckuva kid!”
THE GRIDSTICK
M B
First downs – rushing 13 11
First downs – passing 3 1
First downs – penalties 0 2
Total first downs 16 14
Yards gained rushing 222 155
Yards lost rushing 5 36
Net yards gained rushing 217 119
Net yards gained passing 73 31
Total yards gained 290 150
Passes completed 3-7 4-13
Passes intercepted by 1 1
Yardage on passes intercepted 78 0
Kickoff average yards 8-47.9 1-27.0
Kickoff returns yards 9 95
Punt average, yards 2-43.5 6-26.3
Punt returns, yards 47 0
Had punts blocked 0 1
Lost fumbled ball 0-1 1-1
Yards penalized 4-60 5-46
Touchdowns – rushing 5 0
Touchdowns – passing 1 0
Touchdowns by interception 1 0
Total number of plays 40 70

Official:Tigers can’t play
post-season tilt

COLUMBUS (AP) – Top-ranked Massillon and No. 2 Upper Arlington will have to wait until a regular season 1972 meeting to settle their differences.

The Ohio High School Athletic association, the governing body of the state scholastic sports, ruled Thursday a proposed charity game between the two Class AAA powers after the season was out.

A group had wanted to match the two in a Thanksgiving Day game in Bowling Green for the benefit of the Wichita State University airplane crash fund.

“THE ONLY way they could play the game was if both schools would drop one of their regular season games,” Commission Harold Meyer said. “Massillon and Upper Arlington both played 10 games this fall. That’s the limit under the OHSAA constitution.

Massillon, top-ranked in the Associated Press’ Class AAA state poll and Upper Arlington, in second place are not regularly scheduled until 1972 at Upper Arlington.

The OHSAA again sanctioned the Ohio North-South basketball Classic at Marion in June and tabled a proposal by cable television representatives to telecast state high school sports events on a delayed basis.

History

1970: Massillon 40, Steubenville 0

October 16, 1970July 27, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tigers’ awesome display routs Big Red

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

Two “Big Red Machines” have screeched to halts this week. The Baltimore Orioles took care of one, the Massillon Tigers, the other.

Combining their most awesome offensive display with another devastating effort by the “Attack Pack,” the Washington high gridders pulverized Steubenville 40-0 Friday night at Tiger stadium. The season’s biggest crowd, 13,861, watched the home coming massacre.
* * *
THE TIGERS, No. 1-ranked in Ohio by the Associated Press, stretched their win streak to six and took over first place in the All-American conference by one-half game. Defending champion Canton McKinley (5-0) can throw the race into a tie again with a win tonight at Niles.

Steubenville (3-3) dropped into solo occupancy of the cellar.

The Tigers got over another big hurdle in their effort to regain the Ohio toga, shed after two straight titles, in 1966. But that the Orangemen should run up as many points was surprising.

Even though Steubenville lost the AAC’s second leading passer, Jeff Spahn, with concussion in the second quarter and two-way outstanding end Les Washington via the same type of injury in the fourth, Coach Abe Bryan refused to put the blame there.

“We were outplayed, out hit and out coached,” he said, “Massillon is a fine team,
well-coached in its techniques, has a lot of spirit and a lot of pride.”
* * *
“WE DIDN’T think it would be that bad,” he said. “I knew we were making mistakes, but I didn’t think we were that poor.”

Commings didn’t think it was any easy game for the Tigers.

“Our kids did what they were supposed to – took it to them,” he explained. “They were well prepared for us and defensed us perfectly. However, our kids blocked well. We didn’t expect to score 40 points. It was a pretty complete game (good in all aspects).”

The Tigers got tremendous second-effort running from tailback Mike Mauger and Larry McLenndon, fullback and Co-Captain Tom Cardinal and quarterback Dennis Franklin. Commings was unstinting in his praise of each.

Franklin has his best aerial effort with seven completions in 10 tries for 156 yards, passing for two touchdowns and a conversion. He also scored a conversion.
* * *
MAUGER DELIVERED the mail twice to the Big Red end zone. Both are gaining impetus in their drive for All-Ohio honors.

The “Iron Curtain” provided spacious running room again, firing off the ball with devastating results. A couple of the “Magnificent Seven,” two-way tackles Kirk Strobel and Tim Ridgley, got ratings of “great” from Commings.

Guards Pete Jaskinski and Dave Kulik continued to spearhead the pulling and trap blocking. It appears the entire line is vying for All-Ohio honors.

“The secondary was all over their receivers like glue,” Commings said, “but when you play that good, it’s got to be a team effort.”

The Tigers had 273-20 net yards rushing and 17-0 first downs advantages after the first half. Mauger had gained 102 of his 108 yards and carried the ball 17 of his 19 times. He got a rest most of the second half because he’s been playing on a gimpy ankle since the Niles game and didn’t practice much this week.
* * *
FINAL READINGS showed Massillon ahead 416-75 in net yards gained and 26-5 in first downs. Steubenville got into Tiger territory once – shortly after getting their initial first down with 10:29 left in the third quarter. The “Attack Pack” then stopped the Steubens on the Massillon 47 on fourth down by a gnat’s eyelash.

Larry Harper got the Tigers off and winging with a 24-yard runback of the opening kickoff and just missed a six-pointer on a first play bomb. Seven plays and one face mask call later, Franklin hit tight end and Co-captain Steve Luke on the one with a third down,
36-yarder and Luke carried in, while juggling the ball, with 9:47 left. Split end Willie Spencer couldn’t hold Franklin’s conversion pass.

A Big Red series later, the WHSers took off on a 16-plan trek with Mauger barreling off tackle from the two on second down with 1:05 left. This time Franklin and Spencer found the right combination for two points.

The Tigers put together an eight-play drive after the next Steuben series. But the penetration went only as far as the Steuber 24.

Two plays later, Ridgley jumped off Jeff Spahn’s bobble to give the Massillon’s possession on the River City 37. Mauger carried on five of the next eight plays as the scoreboard lights blinked some more.
* * *
“THE MAILMAN” picked up 16 yards in the last four plays himself, blasting over from the one on third down with 2:49 left in the second canto. Franklin bootlegged the extra two points.

After the next Steuber series, on third down from the Tiger 42, Franklin hit Harper on the 10. “The Scooter” carried the rest of the way to stop the clock at 0:52. McLenndon ran the end for the conversion, but the Orangemen were called for clipping. Franklin tried to find Harper, but “The Meance’s” pass fell incomplete in the end zone.

Harper got off a nifty 52-yard TD jaunt early in the third period only to have a holding penalty kill his effort. Later in the stanza, Bill Luke picked off a fourth-down, punt formation pass from the 50, ran back 20 yards to the Big Red 44 and another TD was in the making.

Eight plays, a 17-yard pass-run from Franklin to Spencer and a piling penalty later, the WHS team had its fifth TD, coming back from an illegal use of the hands penalty en route. Cardinal got his first counter of the season on a trap through the middle on third down from the five with 10:20 remaining in the game. Mauger’s kick went under the crossbar.

Two series after, Art Thompson scampered 25 yards with a punt to start a 36-yard,
eight-play jaunt. McLenndon ended the scoring from nine yards out off tackle with 1:34 left. Tim Willoughby was brought down short of the conversion.

Shortly thereafter, Thompson ran an interception back 27-yards to the Steuber 33, but the Tigers roughed the passer. He ran another back 17 yards to the Massillon 43 to end the game.

STEUBENVILLE –0
Ends – Washington, McCaluslen, Simon, Chorba.
Tackles – Moncilovich, Stasiulewicz, Bougard.
Guards – Hargrove, DiBacco, Bauman, Stefanidis, DeFrancis.
Centers – Cohen, Christian, Hindman.
Quarterbacks – Spahn, Mavromatis.
Halfbacks – Brown, Davis, Young, Johnson, Dryden, King.
Fullbacks – Grey, Cara, Livingston.

MASSILLON – 40
Ends – S. Luke, Spencer, Stephan, McGuire, Clary.
Tackles – Ridgley, Strobel, Janikis.
Guards – Kulik, Jasinski, Sims, Marsh, Groff, J. Nussbaumer.
Centers – Studer, Gaddis.
Quarterbacks – Franklin, Dingler.
Halfbacks – Harper, Sullivan, Pattinson, B. Luke, Wonsick, Mauger, H. Nussbaumer, McLenndon, Thompson.
Fullbacks – Cardinal, Perry, Willoughby, Fletcher.

MASSILLON 14 14 0 12 40
STEUBENVILLE 0 0 0 0 0

SCORING
M – S. Luke, 37 pass-run from Franklin (pass failed);
M – Mauger, 2 run (Spencer, pass from Franklin);
M – Mauger 1, run (Franklin run);
M – Harper, 58 pass-run from Franklin (run nullified by penalty, pass failed);
M – Cardinal, 5 run (kick failed); McLenndon, 9 run (run failed).

THE GRIDSTICK
M S
First downs – rushing 20 3
First downs – passing 5 1
First downs – penalties 1 1
Total first downs 26 5
Yards gained rushing 292 74
Yards lost rushing 32 6
Net yards gained rushing 260 68
Net yards gained passing 156 19
Total yards gained 416 75
Passes completed 7-10 3-11
Yardage on passes intercepted 2-44 0
Kickoff average (yards) 7-46.9 1-48
Kickoff returns (yards) 22 125
Punt average (yards) 0 4-28.7
Lost fumbled ball 1-1 1-3
Yards penalized 5-75 3-35
Touchdowns – rushing 4 0
Touchdowns – passing 2 0
Total number of plays 67 43

OFFICIALS
Referee – Milo Lukity.
Umpire – Dr. Larry Glass.
Head Linesman – Tom Ascani.
Field Judge – Ed Steinkerchner.
Back Judge – Dr. Henley Freeman.

ATTENDANCE – 13,861.

History

1970: Massillon 41, Toledo Whitmer 0

October 9, 1970July 27, 2017
by Eric Smith

Tigers win 41-0 despite 12 penalties

By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Independent Sports Editor

It seemed like referee Jack McLain walked miles Friday night at Tiger stadium.

Surviving 12 penalties totaling 120 yards, Ohio’s No. 2-ranked Massillon Tigers shut out Toledo Whitmer 41-0 before 11,036 to extend their win skein to five as the first half of the season ended. Whitmer, vastly improved since 1969, has won three of five games.
* * *
RULES INFRACTIONS – a problem all season – halted drives on the Whitmer 13 and
34-yard lines, nearly aborted two others, prevented gaining possession on a punt, cost one conversion and caused extra effort to get another.

“Paul Brown said, ‘Good teams have penalties’”, Tiger Coach Bob Commings reminded. “Ours have to be brought under control. They hurt us tonight. It was like stealing votes.”

Commings thought his charges performed well.

“Under the circumstances, we did as good a job as possible,” he commented. “We came off a big win, have a big game next week (Steubenville). We beat Whitmer 60-0 last year and they were well prepared this time.”

While the offense had its troubles, the “Attack Pack” showed well again, limiting Whitmer to 51 yards on the ground – only one in the second half. Pass coverage was more than adequate as the Panthers completed but two of 10 attempts and had two pilfered.
* * *
“THEY’RE A good club,” Whitmer Coach Norm Decker commented, “but we weren’t so awed at the mighty Tigers this time. There was a lot of good hitting. This is the type of football we like to play. We’d like to come back again. I think we matured tonight.”

Decker explained he had two plans of attack. One was to shut off the passing game which killed the Panthers here in 1969 and the other to stunt on defense because the Tigers had trouble picking up blocks against Niles’ defense last week, in a game which Decker scouted.

“We thought we could cut off their passing game,” Decker commented, “so we put in some new defenses, switched around a bit and even played an extra back at times.”

It wasn’t so much the Whitmer pass defense that accounted for only six of 16 Tiger completions. Quarterback Denny Franklin was throwing long. Commings felt tossing into the wind hurt.

The Tigers received the opening kickoff and drove 72 yards in 11 plays for a score with 8:12 left. Tailback Mike Mauger crossed into pay dirt on an off tackle slant from seven yards out on first down. He swept end on a pitchout to the opposite side for the conversion.
* * *
A 27-YARD reverse jaunt by wingback Larry Harper set up the score after a procedure penalty had put the Tigers back to the Whitmer 34.

Jerry Freels ran the kickoff back 37 yards to the Tiger 48, but Whitmer lost the ball by inches on fourth down at the 39 – the furthest the Panthers got all night. The WHSers drove to the Whitmer 20, but Freels hauled in a pass on the five, ran back to the 15 and a face mask infraction pushed the ball to the 30.

End Don Perry jarred quarterback Randy Curson three plays later and cornerman Bernard Sullivan intercepted on the Whitmer 48. A 29-yard, Franklin to Harper pass-run was wasted as an illegal use of the hands call sent the Tigers back to the Whitmer 29 from the 13 and they were forced to punt.

Whitmer punted back and the Orange and Black survived clipping and procedure penalties to score their second TD. Franklin hit Harper on a down-and-out pattern on third down from the nine with 25 seconds remaining in the half.

Franklin’s conversion pass to split end Willie Spencer was good. However, there was a clip. Then tailback Larry McLenndon, returning after a one-week disciplinary suspension, was brought down short of the goal line.
* * *
FRANKLIN’S 19-YARD end run after the clipping call and Mauger’s 22-yarder helped set up the score.

Massillon scored again with 7:53 left in the third quarter after a Whitmer punt and
seven-play, 51-yard drive. Fullback and Co-Captain Tom Cardinal’s 23 running yards aided the cause.

Mauger went off tackle from three yards out on second down for his second six-pointer. Franklin’s conversion run was nullified by a procedure penalty so Mauger booted a point.

On the ensuing kickoff, end Mike McGuire banged a Whitmer safetyman who was trying to pick up an errant pigskin. Tqackle Glen Weirich gave the Tigers possession on the 10. Franklin ran the end for the TD with 7:24 remaining. He also successfully ran the conversion but a procedure penalty intervened. Franklin then tried to hit Sullivan but failed.

After a clipping call had stymied the Tigers at their 49, wasting Sullivan’s 14-yard romp to the Whitmer 34 on the inside reverse, the Orangemen were forced to punt. A personal foul call put Whitmer on its eight. Harper ran back Steve Thomas’ punt eight yards and the WHSers were set for a 30-yard, six-play playoff jaunt.
* * *
PERRY’S 12-YARD blast set up the score and on third down from the nine, Franklin hit Harper just inside the marker pylon with 10:24 left in the goodbye canto. Perry sprung McLenndon in for the conversion on an end sweep from a pitchout for two more markers.

Late in the period, cornerback Art Thompson knocked a pass into the air, grabbed it at the Whitmer 40 and raced for an apparent score but Massillon’s Harvey Hodgson, Jr., the head linesman had inadvertently blown his whistle, killing the ball where the run had started.

However, the Tigers came back in seven plays for their final score with McLenndon going over tackle on first down from the two;Quarterback Scott Dingler failed to find McGuire for the conversion. There were 58 seconds left.

THE GRIDSTICK
M W
First downs – rushing 21 2
First downs – passing 4 0
First downs – penalties 1 3
Total first downs 26 5
Yards gained rushing 320 72
Yards lost rushing 9 21
Net yards gained rushing 311 51
Yet yards gained passing 71 18
Total yards gained 382 69
Passes completed 6-16 2-2
Passes intercepted by 2 1
Yardage on passes intercepted 2 10
Kickoff average (yards) 7-46.0 1-34.0
Kickoff returns (yards) 3 92
Punt average (yards) 2-34.0 5-31.6
Lost fumbled ball 0-2 1-3
Punt returns (yards) 17 0
Penalties 12 4
Yards penalized 120 32
Touchdowns – rushing 4 0
Touchdowns – passing 2 0
Total number of plays 73 41

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