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Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1929: Massillon 10, Akron South 6

Tigers Win First Game In Three Years From Akron South
DEFEAT RUBBER CITY TEAM 10-6 IN HARD FOUGHT GRID BATTLE

By LUTHER EMERY

That old adage “the third time’s the charm: has once more withstood the attack of the unbelievers. Eleven husky boys wearing the blue and white of Akron South, tried vainly to break down the reliability of the old saying Saturday afternoon and now the Washington high gridders are gloating over their 10 to 6 victory, the first registered over a South high team in three years.

But the Akron team was not charmed into a mystic state of coma Saturday afternoon. In fact it was very much awaken, so much so that the Cavaliers dug their cleats into the turf of Massillon Field and played their best football of the year. This will be attested by Akron fans.

Tigers Score Early
Uncorking a fierce offense with the initial kickoff, the Tigers swept 38 yards down the field for a touchdown before four minutes of the game had expired. It was an inspired Massillon team that lined up for the kickoff after that sudden rush and another drive began for the opponent’s goal. It was then that the unexpected happened and the luckiest break that is possible in football today gave Akron a touchdown. A Massillon man fumbled on the Akron 38-yard line, and Akron player grabbing it before it touched the ground and racing unmolested 54 yards across the local team’s goal line.

The break awakened the spirit of the Rubber City gridders and they came back to put on a great battle and display their best football of the season. Had they not had that stimulant it is altogether probably that they would have been swamped under a heavy score by the orange and black.

With a team equally as heavy if not a little more so than the Massillon eleven. Doc Wargo brought his Cavaliers to this city Saturday hoping for a victory. Smarting under a defeat handed it by Wooster high the previous week the Akron aggregation was primed to the limit for Saturday’s battle with the Tigers. But the Washington high team tossed a monkey wrench into the Akron machinery right off the bat when it recovered the fumbled kickoff on the Akron 38-yard line and then waded through for a touchdown which added to the extra point, would have been sufficient to have beaten the blue and white.

15 First Downs
Offensively “Doc” Wargo’s team had nothing. It scored two first downs in the first period after the grand awakening but from then on found its plays smothered by Tiger linemen with very few yards gained. On the other hand the local team showed sufficient offensive strength to score three or four touchdowns, producing 15 first downs, four of which were registered in each of the first, second and fourth periods and three in the third.

Though the local team crossed the Akron goal line but once it was within the shadow of the visitors’ cross bar on two other occasions, a fumble spoiling one chance to score and the final gun, another.

An October sun that penetrated the jerseys of the athletes and a screen of dust that gathered in clouds over the field made playing and visibility difficult. As a result time was called out Saturday more frequently than usual for injuries and brief rest intervals.

The Washington high band appeared in uniform for the first time this season, and drilled on the field between halves with the Akron South band. The local band still lacks sufficient uniforms to pass around to all its members.

Attendance Poor
Saturday’s attendance was not up to expectations. Akron was not accompanied by a very large delegation which is probably due to the fact that the Rubber City team has not gone very far on the gridiron this fall. However, the turnout of Massillon fans also was small, probably no more than 1,500 attending.

Akron’s touchdown came as a result of the luckiest possible break. A fumble this year is dead at the point where the opposing team recovers the ball, providing the ball touches the ground before recovered. It is only on rare occasions that a fumble is caught in mid air, but such was the case Saturday when the ball flew into Hickman’s arms, and with the Massillon team massed on the right side of the line, he had a clear field ahead for a touchdown.

The touchdown gave the Akron team more fight and the addition of Huth, playing with a broken nose to the center of the line, strengthened the visitors defense and gave the Tiger ball carriers more than a battle.

First Quarter
Massillon kicked off to start the game, but South fumbled and a Massillon player recovered on the 38-yard line. Toles was injured when he was caught under a pile of Akron players when diving for the free ball. He had to be carried from the field. Getz took his place, Williams and Kester hit for nine yards. A Massillon pass was incomplete but South was penalized five yards for being offside giving the locals a first down on the 24-yard line. Williams hit for seven yards, and Clendening failed to gain at right end. Williams slipped through for a first down on the 13-yard line, Kester reeled off five yards at right end and Williams followed through with a plunge to the one-yard line. He went across on the next play. Clendening kicked goal with Kester holding the ball. Score: Massillon 7; South 0.

Gabalac kicked off to Blatz who returned to the 42-yard line. Williams plunged for a first down on the Akron 46-yard line in two attempts. On the next play a Massillon man fumbled after crossing the line of scrimmage and Hickman grabbed the ball before it could reach the ground and raced 54 yards for a touchdown without a Massillon player laying his hand on him. Keller’s attempted forward pass for the extra point was incomplete. Score: Massillon 7; Akron 6.

Gabalac kicked off to Williams who returned to the 45-yard line. Kester tried a long pass, Hickman intercepting on his own 30-yard line. Gabalac made a first down in three dashes. Stark went out of bounds after a two-yard gain. Gabalac failed to gain but Mihalic passed to Keller for a first down on Massillon’s 43-yard line. Gabalac made three yards, Feiling two and Stark bucked for three more but Gabalac lacked a foot of making a first down and the ball was surrendered to the Tigers on the 33-yard line, the nearest they ever came to the Massillon goal. Williams lost two yards but made it up on the next play. South partially blocked a Massillon punt but the Tigers recovered without gain. Kester then got off a good punt to the 32-yard line, where the Akron safety man signaled for a fair catch but was tackled by a Massillon player. A 15-yard penalty was the result. Gabalac lost two yards and Stark failed to gain. Kester intercepted Keller’s pass on the Massillon 48-yard line. Clendening made three yards and Kester slipped around right end for a first down on the Akron 40-yard line as the quarter came to an end.

Second Quarter
Clendening picked up three yards but failed to gain on a double pass. The play, however, was called back and South was penalized five yards twice on successive plays for being offside, giving the Tigers a first down on the 27-yard line. Williams made a yard and Kester three more at right end. Clendening broke through right tackle for a first down on the 14-yard line. Williams failed to gain on a spinner, and a double pass was fumbled on the next play. Mihalic recovering on the 20-yard line.

Sir Louis, who replaced Gabalac, lost two yards in two plunges and then punted to Clendening who was downed with the ball in midfield. Clendening lost two yards but came back to gain nine on the next play. After failing to gain, Kester punted over the goal line. The play, however, was called back and South penalized five yards for offside giving the Tigers a first down on the 38-yard line. Williams gained four yards in two plunges and Kester got two more on a lateral pass. Kester’s pass on the fourth down was incomplete and South took the ball on the 32-yard line. Sir Louis gained four yards and then was thrown for a two-yard loss. Feiling could get but two and Sir Louis punted to the 45-yard line. Clendening and Williams made six yards but a fumble resulted on the next play, Huffle recovering for Akron. Willison tossed Feiling for a seven-yard loss. Mihalic’s pass was grounded. He lost four yards on the next play, and Sir Louis punted out of bounds on the Massillon 45-yard line. Two plays gained but two yards as the half ended.

Third Quarter
South kicked to Blatz who returned to the 36-yard line. Rice picked up six yards, but Clendening lost two. Kester punted to South’s 22-yard line. Sir Louis gained six yards in two plays and then punted to Clendening on the Massillon 49-yard line. Williams made a yard and Clendening four more on a double pass. Kester carried the ball out of bounds after a gain of a yard. Kester made two yards, but Clendening lost it. Kester punted out of bounds on the 23-yard line. Sir Louis gained two yards but a penalty for offside set South back five yards. Sir Louis punted to Clendening on the 37-yard line. Clendening reeled off six yards and Rice got a couple more. Clendening then found his way through for a first down on the 27-yard line. Rice picked up four yards and Clendening carrying the ball three times in succession made it first down on the 15-yard line. He plunged for two more and Kester slipped through for three. Williams made two yards on a spin play. With the ball on the eight-yard line, Kester called for a placekick, and Clendening dropped back to boot the pigskin between the bars, the ball striking the crossbar but luckily bounding over. Score: Massillon 10; South 6.

Kester kicked off to the 13-yard line; Williams making the tackle. Stark lost two yards and the quarter ended with the ball on the 11-yard line.

Fourth Quarter
Feiling could gain but a foot. Gabalac punted to Clendening who returned to the 40-yard line. Kester made a yard but lost seven on an end play. When Clendening failed to gain; Kester punted out of bounds on the 21-yard line. Stark failed to gain. Gabalac failed to fain and punted out of bounds in midfield. Three plays netted the Tigers six yards and Kester kicked to the 19-yard line. Two plays netted South four yards and Gabalac punted to the 10-yard line, Clendening permitting the ball to roll, but suddenly grabbing it up and returning it to the 28-yard line. Williams hit for five and Rice made four more at left end. Williams plunged through for a first down on the 41-yard line. Kester gained four yards and Clendening slipped through for a first down on South’s 46-yard line. Williams and Kester worked together for another first down on the 36-yard line. Clendening pulled down four yards at left end and Kester got two and Williams made it first down on the 25-yard line as the game came to an end.

Line up and summary:
Massillon Pos. Akron South
Toles LE Amrein
Willison LT Hickman
Herman LG Vargo
Lewis C Eichalberger
Pfister RG Huffle
Blatz RT Zela
Houriet RE Keller
Kester QB Mihalic
Clendening LH Gabalac
Knowton RH Stark
Williams FB Feiling

Score by periods:
Massillon 7 0 3 0 10
Akron South 6 0 0 0 6

Substitutions:
Massillon – Getz for Toles; Rice for Knowlton.
Akron South – Smith for Huffle; Sir Louis for Gabalac; Huth for Eichelberg; Howiler for Feiling; Popodide for Smith; Porter for Mihalic; Gabalac for Sir Louis; Feiling for Howiler; Huffle for Vargo; Kazac for Popodide.

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Williams.
Akron South – Hickman.

Point after touchdown:
Massillon – Clendening (placekick).

Field goal:
Massillon – Clendening (placekick).

Referee – Shafer (Akron).
Umpire – Gross (Marietta).
Head Linesman – Shearer.

Time of periods – 12 minutes.

Alfred Lewis
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1929: Massillon 41, Dover 0

Washington High Scores 41-0 Win Over Dover
LIGHT CRIMSON LINE YIELDS TO POWERFUL OFFENSE OF TIGERS

By LUTHER EMERY

The ball was on the 47-yard line. Clendening dropped back as the teams lined up, and with the snap of the ball was off on a run around left end. Dover thought he would whip a lateral pass to Kester, but instead he suddenly cut across the line of scrimmage, and although twice apparently tackled, broke away and raced across the Crimson goal line.

The clouds that occasionally spat raindrops on the fans were no more sullen Saturday afternoon than the Dover football team after that run of Clendening’s. One previous touchdown had been made, on straight football, but whatever hope Dover had of winning after the first score, was crushed to earth with this feature dash of the day. Broken in spirit the Crimson gridders yielded yards easily to the touchdown thirsty Tigers and by the end of the game the score was 41 to 0.

Dover Never Threatened
Forty-one to nothing. That is a new record for the orange and black this season and represents the highest score a Washington high team has made since the middle of the 1926 season when Akron Garfield was defeated by half a hundred points.

Forty-one points tells the strength of the Tigers offense Saturday and it might have been a dozen or so greater had they elected to make it such. “Nothing” bespeaks the power of the forward wall, and even had the Massillon goal been moved up 27 yards for Dover to shoot at a big zero would still have been the visitors score, for never did the Crimson squad get any nearer the Tigers’ goal line than the 27-yard stripe.

Admittedly outweighed by their Tiger opponents, the Dover boys were completely outplayed in every department of the game The Massillon attack flashed brilliantly at the start of the game, and after rolling up four touchdowns in quick succession was at its peak when in the middle of the second period, Coach Elmer McGrew sent in his shock troops, thus putting an end to the scoring and placing the teams on a more even basis in a matter of strength. Two more touchdowns were scored in the second half when the regulars went back into the game.

Team Shows Strength
Clendening made the feature runs of the afternoon, but his play was no more brilliant than the line plunging of Williams, the all around ability of John Kester, and the blocking of Worthington, the fourth member of the backfield. The Tiger line as a whole seldom wrinkled under the thrusts of the Dover backs, and its ability to push back the front ranks of the visitors, gave the Tiger ball carriers a broken field for their running.

Standing head and shoulders above their teammates, Baker, Foutz and Rees were the shining lights on the Dover squad. Followed closely by the orange and black, Baker, groomed as the big threat of the Crimson, failed to make an impressive showing until late in the second period, when with many Massillon substitutes on the field, he reeled off a series of end runs that gave his schoolmates the only thing they had to rejoice over all afternoon. However, his play was marred with slugging on his part and he was ejected from the game in the fourth period by Referee Lobach. Foutz, was the visitors’ chief ground gainer on the plunges while Jimmy Rees was the greatest menace on the Dover line to Tiger ball carriers.

Clendening Shines
Clendening with runs of 47, 30 and 19 yards for touchdowns was the Tigers’ chief scorer for the day. In addition to his long runs he kicked five extra points from placement after touchdowns, giving him a total of 23 points for the day. Williams, Kester and Worthington, each contributed six points to the Massillon collection.

The first touchdown was made by John Kester in the middle of the first period on a straight march of 77 yards. The second came in the closing minutes of the period on Clendening’s 47-yard run.

The second quarter had no more than opened until Worthington bucked through left guard for four yards after a parade of 65 yards up the field. The fourth set of points was another of those scintillating dashes of the colored boy this time from the 30-yard line. The fifth scored in the middle of the third period was the direct result of the terrific line plunging of Glenn Williams during which he carried the ball three out of four times while driving the Dover team backward 55 yards across its goal line. Clendening scored the sixth and final touchdown in the fourth period on a 19-yard wiggle and snake run.

15 First Downs
In a matter of first downs, the local team had 15 to Dover’s six. The Tigers tried two passes and both failed. Dover completed four out of eight throws for a gain of 24 yards, having four incomplete passes. Massillon was penalized 45 yards and Dover the same distance.

If Dover had anything to boast about it was its band, and the generous support of its fans. The Dover band outnumbered and outplayed the Massillon musicians, and drilled on the field between halves. If a count had been made it probably would have been found that Dover had as many fans in the stands as Massillon which means that approximately 1,000 attended the game from the Tuscarawas county city.

To the surprise of many spectators, as well as reporters, the first kickoff was made 12 minutes earlier than the time given to the newspapers for announcement Friday. As a result many of the fans who chose to watch the progress of the World Series baseball game until a few minutes before the start of the football contest found the first period nearly half over when they reached the high school field. Officials fearing that darkness would not permit completion of the game started it ahead of schedule and the late arriving spectators were the losers.

Baker kicked off toe Kester who returned to the 13-yard line. Williams made six yards in two plunges. Kester punted to his own 46-yard line. Riefensnyder and Baker failed to gain and a pass Teglo to Lahmers was good for but three yards. Baker punted to Clendening who returned to his 25-yard line. Williams made a first down in three plays on his own 40-yard line. A lateral pass, Clendening to Williams gained five yards and Clendening reeled off five more for a first down in midfield. Kester ripped off another first down on the Dover 40-yard line and Williams and Worthington plunged for another on the 30-yard line. Williams slipped through for a gain of seven yards and Kester found a hole for eight more and a first down on the 15-yard line. The Tigers were penalized 15 yards but Kester got off to a 23-yard run and Clendening made it a first down on the four-yard stripe, Kester took it over on his second attempt, a run around right end. Clendening place-kicked the extra point.

Kester kicked to Dover on the 35-yard line, and when three plays netted but seven yards Baker punted short to Clendening on the 48-yard line. Worthington made a yard and on the next play Clendening slipped around left end for a run of 47 yards and a touchdown. His place kick was wide of the goal posts. Score: Massillon 13; Dover 0.

Kester was downed with Dover’s kickoff on the 35-yard line. Williams made seven yards and Clendening two, but Massillon was penalized five yards. Williams made up for the loss by hitting center for a first down on his own 45-yard line, as the quarter closed with the local team leading 13-0.

Second Period
Clendening broke away for a run to Dover’s 30-yard line. Williams picked up nine yards and Worthington made it a first down on the 18-yard line. Williams rammed center for five yards and then made a first down on the four-yard line. He fumbled but recovered without gain. Worthington slipped through left guard for the third touchdown and Clenedning place-kicked the extra point. Score: Massillon 20; Dover 0.

Kester kicked to Baker who was downed on Dover’s 26-yard line. Thomas, Baker and Teglo picked up but seven yards and Baker after getting a poor center pass punted quickly, almost laterally and out of bounds on his own 30-yard line. On the next play Clendening broke away for a touchdown, and place kicked the extra point. Coach McGrew then began shooting his subs into the fray. Score: Massillon 27; Dover 0.

Massillon kicked to Dover on the 35-yard line. Thomas made two yards but Baker lost three around right end. When Thomas failed to gain, Baker punted short to his own
42-yard line. Kester got five yards but the Tigers were penalized the same distance. Clendening slipped through for five and Rice made 10 yards but a penalty of 15 yards was inflicted on the locals for failing to halt on a shift play. Kester then punted 55 yards over the Dover goal line. Dover took the ball on the Massillon 20-yard line. Thomas and Foutz each gained three yards and Thomas picked up but one more after which Baker punted out of bounds on his own 45-yard line. The game was delayed frequently through the substitution of players. Kester made four yards, Singer a yard, but Little lost a yard. Mudd punted over the Dover goal line, and Dover was given the ball. Foutz failed to gain, but Baker got away for his team’s first down, carrying the ball to his own 38-yard line. Foutz gained six yards in two attempts and Thomas picked up a yard. Baker slipped through the Massillon line for a first down on the local’s 34-yard line. Foutz made two yards and Baker five more but the ball was called back and Dover penalized 15 yards. Fourtz passed to Smith for a gain of seven yards and Baker was held without gain. Houriet blocked Foutz’s pass and the visitors surrendered the ball on downs. Bordner fumbled on the next play but recovered as the first half ended with the locals leading 27 to 0.

Massillon tried a short kick but Dover covered on its own 45-yard line. Thomas fumbled and the local team recovered on the 49-yard line. Williams and Clendening made eight yards. Kester fumbled but recovered for a loss of two. Kester punted out of bounds on the 18-yard line. Thomas got a yard but Baker lost two. Baker punted short to Kester on the 35-yard line who returned to the 25-yard line. Rice failed to gain and the Tigers were penalized five yards. Two passes were incompleted bringing a five-yard penalty and Kester punted over the goal line. With the ball on the 20-yard line, Foutz and Riefensnyder plunged for a first down on three plays. Three more plays failed to gain more than three yards and Baker punted out of bounds on the Massillon 45-yard line Williams gained nine yards on two plunges and Kester waded through for a first down on the Dover 40-yard line. Rice stumbled and lost three yards but Williams plunged for a first down in two drives at the line, stopping at the 21-yard stripe. He was hurt on the play but continued in the game. Kester made a yard and a cross pass, Kester to Clendening brought a first down on the
10-yard line. Williams took the ball over in four plays, and Clendening added the extra point from placement. Score: Massillon 34, Dover 0.

Kester kicked off to Thomas who returned to the 26-yard line. Foutz carried for eight yards as the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter
Foutz plunged for a first down on his own 38-yard line. Thomas got a yard, Baker six, Foutz a yard and then Foutz slipped through for another first down in mid-field. Baker failed to gain but Teglo passed 13 yards to Lahmers for a first down on the Massillon 37-yard line. Dover was penalized five yards and a pass was incomplete. A second pass Teglo to Baker gained but two yards and a third pass went for naught. Baker punted to Kester, and was caught slugging a Massillon player who was running interference for Kester. Baker was ejected from the game and Dover penalized half the distance to the goal line, giving the Tigers the ball on the 24-yard line Kester found a hole for four yards and Clendening took the ball from Williams and ran 19 yards for the last touchdown of the game. He kicked goal. Score: Massillon 41, Dover 0.

Kester kicked off to the Dover 34-yard line. Foutz gained but four yards in two plays and Kester returned a Dover punt from his 15-yard line to the 35-yard line. Williams and Rice gained six yards and Clendening was stopped in his tracks. Kester punted out of bounds on Dover’s 28-yard line. Foutz failed to gain and Teglo’s pass was grounded. He gained two yards at center. Kester took the return punt on the Massillon 40 yard line and was held without return. Kester was thrown for a loss of three yards. The game ended soon after.

Line up and summary:
Massillon Position Dover
Toles LE Sauers
Willison LT Rausch
Pfister LG Horn
Lewis C Rees
Herman RG Davis
Blatz RT Schlelper
Houriet RE Lahmers
Kester QB Riefensynder
Clendening LH Baker
Worthington RH Teglo
Williams FB Thomas

Score by periods:
Massillon 13 14 7 7 41

Substitutions:
Massillon – Rice, rh; Snodgrass, lg; Getz, le; Price, rg; Mudd, fb; Knowlton, lh; Hoyman, c; Little, lh; Bordner, rh; Hoagland, rt.
Dover – Foutz, rh; Smith, re; Godfrey, lg; D. Godfrey, lt.

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Kester; Clendening 3; Worthington; Williams.

Points after touchdown:
Massillon – Clendening 5 (placekick)

Referee – Lobach.
Umpire – Clark.
Head Linesman – Weise.

Time – 12 minute halves.

Alfred Lewis
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1929: Massillon 31, Zanesville 6

Washington High’s Improved Offense Downs Zanesville, 31-6
TIGERS HANG UP FIVE TOUCHDOWNS TO COP FIRST WIN OF SEASON

By D.J. REMLEY

Eleven fighting, snarling Tigers were uncaged at Massillon field, Saturday afternoon, and not until they had fanged and clawed out a 31 to 6 decision over the Zanesville Blues did they satisfy their appetites. With knots already tied in their tails by Akron East and Lorain the young orange and black warriors pounced upon the Muskingum river team with the same attacking spirit that a jungle cat springs upon its prey.

With their backs to the wall fighting down two early season defeats, the Tigers of the 1st St., SE, institution unleashed an attack that started with the opening whistle and sent the downstate gridders homeward bound with a good case of blues as it was their first defeat of the year and came after they had climbed to a pinnacle by crushing the strong Coshocton team but a week previous.

Coach Elmer McGrew not only had his orange and black ball toters imbibed with a fighting spirit, but he had them working with more precision and smoothness than shown against either Akron East or Lorain. The backs ran the ends and plunged the line, using successfully pretty double and triple pass plays. The team showed a far better offensive with the line, and blocking backs opened large gaps in the forward wall spilling prospective tacklers.

Score Early in Contest
Three minutes and 45 seconds after the kickoff, the Tigers had the highly touted river city eleven staggering with shock and surprise as Williams plunged across the goal line for the first points to go into the orange and black record books this year. It was a bit of flashy field running and ball toting by Kester and Clendening, the colored flash that placed the pigskin in position for a one-yard plunge over the scoring line.

Not even momentarily did the drive halt and three minutes later another set of orange and black scores had been chalked up. As on the first set of counters, Kester and Clendening did the brunt of the ball carrying with the former being credited with the touchdown.

Skirt Zanesville Ends
Kester and Clendening collaborated in skirting the woefully weak Zanesville ends and driving off tackle and Worthington and Williams were good for substantial and repeated gains through the line, but it was left to Singer, big dusky athlete of the Zanesville eleven to furnish the sensation of the day. Taking a kickoff in the second period on his own 23-yard line he dashed behind the perfect interference down along his right side of the field for 77 yards and a touchdown. Not an orange and black player laid hands on him in his touchdown spring.

Again in the fourth period he furnished a thrill but the level headedness of Clendening, Tiger safety man, put taboo on another set of counters for him. Grabbing the leather on his own 21-yard line he shook free of several orange and black linemen and sprinted by the secondary defense. Forty yards up the field he raced with Clendening the only obstacle between him and the goal posts. The little Massillon safety man drove Singer toward the boundary line and then left his feet sending the Zanesville star sprawling out of bounds.

Tigers Are Improved
Massillon showed a vast improvement in both defensive and offensive play over that displayed last Saturday against Loran. However this building up process, the matter of attack especially must continue if the eleven is to bring defeat to its perennial foe from McKinley high, Canton, in its windup tilt. The team play as a whole was better Saturday but again it must be considered that the Blues are not in a class with either Akron East or Lorain. Zanesville may be considered a tough proposition in the southern part of the state but there is not doubt that either of the teams that trounced Massillon could run roughshod over the Blues.

Zanesville had only one real good offensive threat, who not only did most of the visitors ball lugging but also the passing and kicking. The invaders had a fair aerial attack completing five forwards out of 13 tries for a net gain of 52 yards. Massillon tried but two forwards and both were grounded. However, the lateral pass was brought into use several times with worthwhile effect.

Worthington Scores
Massillon’s two touchdowns in less than seven minutes ended the scoring scene for Worthington who plunged from the three yard line. Williams added the extra point by diving across from the two-yard strip. Then followed the spectacular dash of Singer to end the scoring for the half.

Bynum’s fumble of a punt and recovery by Blatz paved the way for some fancy stepping by Clendening and his scoring of the fourth Massillon touchdown in the third period. Blatz took possession of the ball on the 36-yard line and from there Clendening did most of the lugging, his travels culminating when he crossed the goal line from the two yard mark on an off tackle play.

Pretty runs by Kester and Clendening were the makings of the final touchdown in the same period. The touchdown followed a rapid fire drive of 62 yards. Kester carrying the ball across from the five yard strip. Clendening’s kick for a goal was wide of the mark.

Second Stringers Get Chance
Early in the fourth period Coach McGrew began sending his second stringers into the fracas and to some it was their initiation to varsity football. At the final whistle practically the entire first string squad was already taking shower baths, having been replaced by substitutes. It was the first time this season that the orange and black mentor had an opportunity to put his reserves under fire. Although their attack did not have the drive of the first squad they played well and held the downstaters scoreless.

Massillon clearly outplayed the Zanesville team and toted the ball far greater distances in their marches as can easily be determined from the fact that the orange and black registered 19 first downs, seven in the first and eight in the third period, against seven for Zanesville. Five of Zanesville’s 10 yard allotments came in the final period.

First Period
Massillon received and Kester returned the kickoff 10 yards to his own 43-yard line, Williams plunged for four and Kester rammed through the line for 14 more. A Massillon guard was offside and drew a five yard penalty. Kester punted out of bounds on Zanesville’s 16-yard line. Clendening fumbled Singer’s punt after an 11 yard return and Herman covered for the locals on the 40-yard line.

Kester hit off tackle for 15. Clendening added one and Kester five and Clendening’s
six-yard gain made it first down on the nine-yard line. Kester circled his left end for eight and Williams lunged across. Clendening’s kick for the extra point failed.

Singer returned the Massillon kickoff 12 yards to his own 26-yard line. He lost four on the next play and then punted out of bounds on his own 39-yard line. Clendening ripped 10 yards off tackle. A drive through the center of the line netted Kester 19 and it was first down with 10 yards and goal to gain. Williams crashed the line for five. Kester netted one and on the next play Moorehead dropped him in his tracks. On the fourth down the orange and black quarterback skirted around his left side for the second touchdown. The pass from center in the try for the seventh point was wide and Clendening was downed almost in his tracks. Score Massillon, 12; Zanesville, 0.

The orange and black kickoff again went to Singer and he carried back the oval 15 yards to the 30-yard line. Singer was driven out of bounds with no gain. Reilly found the orange and black line like a stonewall and was stopped with no gain. Singer punted out of bounds in midfield. Williams and Kester netted four yards and a forward pass was incomplete. Kester punted to Bynum whose 18 yard return placed the oval on the 24 yard mark.

Singer hit off left tackle for five and after Bynum was held punted to Clendening on the 43 yard line. An exchange of punts then gave Massillon possession of the ball in midfield. Worthington gained five on a triple pass and Kester added three. On a double pass Worthington advanced the ball nine yards to the 28 yard line was the period ended.

Second Period
The backfield in motion brought a five yard orange nad black penalty. Kester’s pass to Clendening was a trifle too far. On a lateral pass from Kester, Clendening gained eight yards. Worthington added two and Clendening made it first down on the 12-yard line. Drives by Kester, Williams and Clendening gave the orange and black another first down and Worthington had the scoring punch. Williams bucked his way across the line for the added point. Score: Massillon 19; Zanesville 0.

The third time proved to be the charm for Singer. He received his third kickoff on the
23-yard line and not a Massillon man as much as touched him as he sprinted the remaining distance for the only Zanesville score. He missed his try for the additional point, the ball hitting the cross bar.

The Zanesville kickoff went to Houriet. He was downed on the 27-yard line. Worthington was held and Rice who replaced Clendening advanced five on a double pass. Williams was held and Kester punted. Houriet downed Bynum in his tracks on the 28-yard line as he received the kick. Delaying the game cost Zanesville five yards. Sheridan failed to gain and then Singer’s boot slipped off the side of his foot and went out of bounds on his own 26-yard line.

Kester gained seven yards and Williams’ plunged through the line for five yards went for naught as the orange and black backfield was in motion and a five yard penalty resulted. A Kester-Williams lateral pass failed to gain. Another attempt to break through the Zanesville defense failed and the ball went to the downstaters on the 26-yard line. Willison stopped Singer without a gain. A new player inserted into the fray by Zanesville talked before a play was executed and cost his team a 15-yard penalty.

Singer punted to Kester in midfield, who caught the ball and on the same play booted it back across the Zanesville goal line. The play cost the Tigers nine yards as the ball was brought out to the 20 yard line whereas it had been on the 11-yard line when Singer punted. Singer passed to Piper for 13 yards and the first time the downstaters negotiated the required 10 yards. Singer executed another pass for nine yards with Moorehead on the receiving end and then plunged through the line for eight and another first down as the half ended.

Third Period
Worthington took the kickoff and returned it to the 27-yard line. After Williams had plunged for two yards Zanesville was penalized 15 yards. Clendening who was back in the game gained a yard and two five yard penalties, both for offside, then were inflicted upon Massillon. Worthington advanced 10 yards but Clendening was held and Kester punted. Bynum fumbled and Blatz recovered for Massillon on the Zanesville 36 yard line.

A Kester-Clendening lateral pass was good for four yards. Williams registered for eight yards and a first down. Drives by Kester and Williams earned five yards and on the fourth down Clendening took the oval on a double pass for an 18-yard advance being downed on the two-yard line. In two plays Clendening carried the ball across. Williams was stopped on a plunge for the seventh point. Score: Massillon 25; Zanesville 6.

Massillon received the ball on the 38-yard line. Clendening ripped off 10 yards and a lateral pass, Clendening to Kester, netted two more. Kester broke through for a 20-yard run to the 30-yard line, Williams, Worthington and Clendening registered enough ground for a first down on the 17-yard line. Williams, Worthington and Kester gained seven yards in three tries and an offside Zanesville player gave Massillon a first down on the five-yard line, from where Kester carried the ball across. Clendening missed goal. Score: Massillon 31; Zanesville 6.

Massillon tried a short kick but Zanesville covered on its own 40-yard line. Keloski was thrown for a loss and on the next play a 15-yard penalty was inflicted on Zanesville when the team failed to halt sufficiently long on a shift play. Singer punted as the period ended.

Fourth Period
Clendening gained 12 yards in two tries advancing the ball to the 25-yard line. Massillon was penalized 15 yards when Blatz used his hands on offense. Massillon lost the ball on downs on the 21-yard line. A Zanesville pass was incomplete. Coach McGrew began sending substitutes into the fray. Singer dashed around left end for a 40-yard run being knocked out of bounds by Clendening on Massillon’s 21-yard line.

The Zanesville backfield was in motion on the next play and a five-yard penalty resulted. A forward, Singer to Moorehead, was good for five yards. Singer was on the receiving end of a pass from Reilly that was good for 21 yards. Lewis broke through and threw Bynum for a two-yard loss. Singer failed to gain and two passes were incomplete, Massillon gaining possession of the ball on the 13-yard line. Williams and Rice, who had replaced Worthington, gained six yards and then Clendening punted to Bynum. Singer made a pretty 15-yard run. Massillon was penalized five yards and then Bynum made it a first down with a five-yard gain. Singer gained nine yards on a lateral pass and then plunged for another first down.

Zanesville however tried to score by the aerial route and lost the ball on downs a moment later on the Massillon 35-yard line. Mudd replaced Williams and plunged for three yards and followed with a five-yard drive. Massillon lost the ball on downs in midfield. Singer passed to Moorehead for five yards. Zanesville then lost the gain on the next play, being penalized for offside. A pass was incomplete and Singer punted out of bounds on Massillon’s 48-yard line. On the next play Massillon was offside. Time was up before the referee had stepped off the five yards.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Position Zanesville
Toles LE Moorhead
Willison LT Slack
Herman LG Buzza
Lewis C Blickel
Pfister RG McKeowan
Blatz BT McFarland
Houriet RE Sheridan
Kester Q Reilly
Clendening LH Singer
Worthington RH Keloski
Williams F Bynum

Score by periods:
Massillon 12 7 12 0 31
Zanesville 0 6 0 0 6

Substitutions:
Massillon – Rice for Clendening; Clendening for Rice; Getz for Toles; Singer for Kester; Rice for Worthington; Mudd for Williams; Knowlton for Singer; Shanklin for Lewis.
Zanesville – Piper for Sheridan; Sheridan for Keloski; Wittlinger for Reilly; Reilly for Wittlinger; Taylor for Buzza.

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Worthington; Williams; Kester 2; Clendening.
Zanesville — Singer.

Point after touchdown: Massillon – Williams (line plunge).

Referee – Barrett.
Umpire – Maurer.
Head Linesman – Range.

Time: 12 minute periods.

Alfred Lewis
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1929: Massillon 0, Lorain 6

1st PAGE WITH LEAD STORY MISSING ON LIBRARY TAPES ARTICLE BEGINS WITH PAGE TWO

MASSILLON 0
LORAIN 6

Second Quarter
On the first play of the second session Chaszar made five on a long end run. Lepkowski got two before Lorain got another fine yard penalty for offside. Chaszar punted to Massillon’s 30-yard line. Worthington made two and Clendening eight in three plays. It was Massillon’s second first down. Kester made no gain around end and Massillon got another five yard penalty.

Worthington carried the ball without gain and Clendening punted, putting the ball on Lorain’s 25-yard line. Lepkowski made one yard before Chaszar punted to Massillon’s
25-yard line. Williams made no gain. Massillon received another five yard penalty. Kester punted to Lorain’s 40-yard line. Lepkowski made five yards through the line. The visitors got a five yard penalty for offside. After another try which netted them four yards the visitors received a 15-yard penalty for holding. Chaszar made no gain and punted to Massillon’s 45-yard line. Urbas recovered Clendening’s fumble. Lepkowski made no gain before Lorain was given one more 15-yard penalty for using hands on offense.

At this point the Massillon defense started to show itself. Andres lost seven and Chaszar was thrown for three more. Chaszar punted, the ball being held on Massillon’s 15-yard line. Kester returned the punt to Lorains’ 40-yard line. A Lorain man fumbled and Houriet recovered, giving the Tigers the ball on the opponent’s 45-yard line. A beautiful short parallel pass from Kester to Clendening and a snappy run by Clendening put the ball on Lorain’s 10-yard line. Williams made no gain through the line. Kester got two in a line plunge. Worthington put a neat pass in Kester’s hand and Kester took the ball to the
two-yard line. The center threw the ball high on the throwback and it hit Worthington’s forehead, bouncing behind the line. Andrews fell on it for a touchback.

Lorain took the ball on the 20-yard line. Lepkowski made two through Chaszar made no gain as the half ended.

Third Quarter
Kester kicked to the opponent’s 35-yard line. Chaszar and Pincura made two yards. Chaszar punted to Massillon’s 25-yard line, Clendening returning the ball 17 yards before being downed. Kester made no gain. Kester punted to Lorain’s 45-yard line. Lorain received a five-yard penalty when its center tossed the ball outside the line. Lepkowski made three and Chaszar none. Chaszar kicked to Massillon’s 10-yard line. Williams made 21 yards around right end, giving Massillon another first down. Clendening made eight through the line and Kester lost one. Williams tossed the ball to Kester who made a yard.

Kester punted, Lorain getting the ball on its own 30-yard line. Lorain made a yard in two tries. Chaszar punted to Massillon’s 30-yard line. Clendening fumbled and Wellet recovered. A long pass gave Lorain 22 yards but it was declared illegal, two men having grabbed it.

Chaszar made four yards through the line. Lepkowski added two more.

Andrews took the ball from the center, pivoted and handed it to Pincura who made a
five-yard pass to Chaszar. Chaszar raced around the left end near the sidelines for the only touchdown of the game. Chaszar kicked for goal and missed, making the score Lorain, 6; Massillon, 0.

Andorka punted, Kester took the ball and carried it 18 yards to his own 28-yard line. Williams made no gain through the line. Lepkowsi grabbed Kester’s pass on the 50-yard line and carried it to Massillon’s 25-yard line. Picura lost four yards and Lepkowski made two through the line. A pass, Chaszar to Lepkowski, was good for five yards as the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter
Chaszar fumbled on the first play of the quarter and Kester recovered on his own 20-yard line. Kester kicked to Massillon’s 45-yard line. Pincura crashed through for five yards and Chaszar added five more, giving Lorain a first down. Chaszar made nine and Kepkowski added two more, the visitors getting another first down. Andrews made 11 in a neat run around left end, Lorain getting its third first down in succession. The Massillon defense came to the fore again, Pincura being taken back for 13 yards. Andres lost eight in the next attempt. A short pass, Andres to Chaszar, netted the visitors 16 yards but it wasn’t enough for a first down. A Lorain pass was unsuccessful and Massillon got the ball on its own 18-yard line.

Clendening made three through the line. He was hurt in the play and was removed. Rice made four and lost two. Kester punted to the 50-yard line. Chaszar made 17 yards on a pretty run around right end, but the play was called and Lorain got a five-yard penalty for offside. Wellet took the ball around right end for 35 yards, stepping out of bounds two yards from the goal. The play did not count as the visitors had held and Lorain got 15 yards more from the officials. Wellet took the ball through the line for six yards. A Lorain pass was unsuccessful. Wellet made three, not enough for a first down, and Massillon got the ball. Massillon was penalized five yards because the backfield was in motion. Houriet made no gain. Kester’s pass to Houriet was incomplete. Kester’s punt was blocked, Ursic recovering for Lorain on Massillon’s nine yard line. Chaszar made three. Pincura added two more and Wellet got two. Lepkowski got two, one less than enough for a first down and it was Massillon’s ball on its own two-yard line. Kester punted to Massillon’s 40-yard line, Pincura returning it to the 25-yard line. Lorain, to put a grand climax on the game, got a 15-yard penalty for holding as the gun went off.

Massillon – 0 Position Lorain – 6
Toles LE B. Urbas
Willison LT Romoser
Pfister LG McGue
Lewis C Bunn
Herman RG J. Pincura
Blatz RT Andorka
Houriet RE Ursic
Kester QB E. Andrews
Worthington LH S. Pincura
Clendening RH Nickolette
Williams FB Lepkowski

Score by periods:
Lorain 0 0 6 0 6
Massillon 0 0 0 0 0

Subsititutions:
Massillon – Snodgrass for Lewis; Rice for Williams; Getz for Houriet; Houriet for Clendening; Singer for Worthington; Hoagland for Snodgrass.
Lorain – Chaszar for Nickolette; Kalb for Romoser; Rogers for Bunn; Beers for Andrews’ Romoser for Kalb; B. Andorka for W. Androka; Andrews for Beers; Homola for Urbas; Wellet for Andrews.

Touchdown: Lorain — Chaszar.

Referee – Howells (Sebring).
Umpire – Kirk.
Head Linesman – Maurer (Wooster).

Alfred Lewis
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1929: Massillon 0, Akron East 6

Green Washington High “11” Loses First Duel To Akron East
RUBBER CITY YOUTHS SCORE TOUCHDOWN IN NEAR CLOSE OF GAME

By LUTHER EMERY

Stirred by the general realization that it was their first football game, of the season, and urged on by a thousand anxious Massillon fans, a sturdy little group of orange and black grid warriors plugged away with all their might against Akron East Saturday afternoon; but were not equal to the task and went down fighting under a 6 to 0 score.

Under a warm September sun, the two teams battled each other fiercely in the opening game of the season for each. It might have been too hot for football had it not been for the crisp northwesterly wind that brushed over the field throughout the game, but the cool breeze only served to whet the pangs for grid conquests and envelope both players and fans in a football atmosphere.

Flash at Times
Green, with the exception of a couple of seeds in the core, the Massillon eleven would flash brilliantly one time and then look like a group of grade school boys on the next play. Yet, in spite of the defeat and the mediocre showing at times, the play of the Tigers gave evidence that Coach Elmer McGrew has the making of a winning eleven before the end of the year.

The lack of understanding which goes hand in hand with inexperience, coupled with the only penalty of the game, defeated the youthful Tigers.

Simple but deceptive, the Massillon youngsters were unable to diagnose a spin play staged by the Orientals in their victorious march to a touchdown in the fourth period.

Spin Play Deceptive
Time and again Ostravitch or Fontaine playing near the line of scrimmage, whirled around as if to hand the ball to one of their teammates but completed the circle and carried the ball directly through the center of the line, the interference wiping out the remaining members of the Massillon defense who were not fooled by the fake passes to other backs.

That spin play gained most of East’s yards, but even then the Orientals might not have scored were it not for a 15-yard penalty, the only one of the entire game called on the Tigers for piling up when it was third down with six yards for the Orientals to go for a first down and the ball on Massillon’s 38-yard line.

That penalty seemed to take all the fight out of McGrew’s boys and their resistance was meager when East reeled off the remaining 23 yards on six attempts. Fontaine carried the ball across for the touchdown, but his attempted drop kick for the extra point was wide.

Tigers Rally
But the Tigers rallied and hearts thumped wildly the next couple of minutes when the hopes of the Massillon fans rose and fell with a brilliant dash of Clendening into East territory, but the run ended for naught when he fumbled when tackled and East recovered. Two plays netted East a first down and right then and there the Tigers got their break of the game, a fumble, but it all came too late, for the final whistle blew before the play could be returned.

The last dash of the orange and black was something Massillon fans, who have been watching the Tigers in their pre-season training, expected to see earlier in the game. But although it came late, it gave promise of something that is liable to occur many times this season if the line will only break up the opponent’s defense and stake the backs to a broken field.

Line Lacks Drive
The offense worked fairly smooth Saturday but it couldn’t get underway for the superior charging of the Orientals’ forward wall. The Tiger linemen lacked the drive to push back the front backs of the Akron school with the result that the Massillon backs had difficulty carrying the ball beyond the line of scrimmage.

One thing that can be said in favor of the Massillon boys is that they are in great condition. Time was not called out once for injuries, while East had time taken out several times in order to recuperate members of the team. Of all the Akron players, probably none was roughed more than Sherman Grimm, a second stringer at Washington high two years ago. Grimm, who moved to Akron a year ago, played the role of fullback and did a neat job of punting and tackling for his team. He took time out twice however as a result of bumps received. He had an edge over Kester and Clendening in the punting; Kester having his first kick blocked since he began playing with Washington high.

Long Pass Features
The feature play of the game, as far as Massillon was concerned, was a 30-yard forward pass, Clendening to Toles, in the second period that enabled the Tigers to carry the ball deep into Akron territory. On that occasion the local eleven worked the ball by their own ability to the opponent’s 18-yard line, where it was lost on downs when a pass that just reached Worthington’s fingertips was grounded. Had it been successful it would have resulted in a first down for the Tigers.

East excelled in first downs, making the required yardage 10 times to the local team’s four. Seven of the Akron boys’ 10-yard gains were made in the last half. The Tigers made three first downs in the second period and one in the fourth.

East failed to complete a forward pass while the local team completed one for 30 yards. Both teams had three passes incomplete and one intercepted.

Massillon fans are still looking for football as can be seen from the fact that 1,000 of them were scattered among the 2,500 spectators at Saturday’s game. Considering the fact that only a couple of members of this year’s team are seniors, the hopes of the fans for another winning high school team may be realized.

First Quarter
The game was the first in which the school’s new system of appointing a captain before each game was put into effect, and John Kester was honored as leader Saturday.

Willison was downed with the kickoff on his own 30-yard line. Clendening failed to gain and a bad pass lost five yards. Kester booted the ball to midfield. Fontaine gained five yards, and two tries by Ostravitch gained but three more. Grimm punted to the 10-yard line, Worthington fumbled the ball, but recovering it and returning 10 yards. Clendening and Worthington each cut off a yard and Kester kicked the ball back to midfield, Knowlton dropping Ostravitch in his tracks. Grimm made a yard, Ostravitch eight, and then Fontaine worked a spin play for a first down on the Tigers’ 39-yard line. Ostravitch wheeled through right tackle for seven yards, but Fontaine failed to gain and a pass was incomplete after which Grimm punted to Clendening who returned the ball to the 18-yard line. Kester returned the kick to the Akron 40-yard line where Ostravitch muffed the ball but recovered without return. Fontaine lost three yards on two cracks at the line and Kester went high into the air to pull down Fontaine’s pass on the Massillon 32-yard line. Clendening gained two yards and then the dusky youth caught the Akron boys asleep and punted to the East 18-yard line, where the period ended.

Second Quarter
Fontaine picked up two yards and Grimm punted to Massillon’s 30-yard line, Worthington returning 10 yards. Houriet picked up a yard and then Clendening hurled a pass to Toles that brought a first down on East’s 30-yard line. Worthington gained four yards, but Clendening slipped and fell on an off tackle dash without gain. He shortened the distance by four yards on the next play, however, which paved the way for Houriet to slip through for a first down on Akron’s 20-yard line. Clendening got but two yards on his next two attempts and his pass to Worthington on third down just touched the latter’s finger tips. The Tigers lost the ball when Clendening failed to gain on the next play.

Grimm made four yards and Fontaine’s spin play brought four more. Ostravitch broke away for a run of 14 yards giving Akron a first down on the Akron 40-yard line. Grimm and Fontaine picked up but two yards on the next two plays, and Grimm then punted to Clendening who returned 20 yards to his own 40-yard line. Clendening got two yards, Houriet four yards at left tackle, Worthington three yards, and then Houriet made it first down on East’s 48-yard line. Clendening and Worthington reeled off eight yards in two attempts, but Clendening’s pass was high, after which he punted short and out of bounds on East’s 31-yard line. Lindsay and Mitchell made nine yards and then Fontaine slipped away for a run of 22 yards, but he fumbled when tackled and Clendening recovered for Massillon. Houriet gained four yards as the half came to an end.

Third Quarter
Clendening kicked off to East’s 35-yard line. Grimm punted to Clendening who was downed on Massillon’s 30-yard line. Worthington and Williams each bucked the line for two yards, and Kester punted back to East’s 38-yard line. Mesko got a yard but Grimm failed to gain. Grimm punted to Clendening who returned to his own 40-yard line. Clendening lost a yard on a double pass, and Mitchell pulled down a Massillon pass on Akron’s 42-yard line. Fontaine gained 15 yards through right tackle. Grimm failed to gain but Mitchell reeled off eight yards on two charges at the line. Fontaine’s pass was incomplete and the Tigers took the ball on downs on their own 32-yard line. Kester immediately punted to East’s 39-yard line. Mitchell returning to the 44-yard line. Mitchell and Fontaine made seven yards and Mitchell slipped through for a first down on the local’s 48-yard line. Fontaine was tossed for a loss of three yards. Grimm punted to Clendening who returned to the 35-yard line. Clendening’s pass was high and Kester’s punt was blocked by Thomas; Fontaine recovering on the Tigers’ 38-yard line, where the quarter ended.

Fourth Quarter
Fontaine and Ostravitch failed to gain and a pass was knocked down. Grimm punted out of bounds on Massillon’s nine-yard line. Kester returned the kick to Akron’s 48-yard line. Ostravitch gained two yards and lost a half yard in two plays. Fontaine however slipped through for seven yards on a spin play and then repeated for a first down on the Massillon 41-yard line. Fontaine gained three yards and the Tigers were penalized for piling up, giving East the ball on the 23-yard line. Fontaine gained four yards on a spin, and Ostravtich made it first down on the 12-yard line. Fontaine made three more yards and then Ostravitch cut in through right tackle for a first down on the two-yard line. Ostravitch failed to gain, but Fontaine went over for the touchdown. His try for point drop kick went wide of the uprights.

Pfister took the kickoff and was downed on his own 40-yard line. Kester circled left end for seven yards, Williams failed to gain at center, Kester executed a beautiful lateral pass to Clendening who dashed to Akron’s 35-yard line where he fumbled, East recovering. Ostravitch gained three yards, and Fontaine raced the ball back for a first down on his own 48-yard line. East fumbled on the next play, and Massillon recovered but the game ended before play could be resumed.

Lineup and summary:
Akron East Position Massillon
Brubaker LE Toles
Miller LT Willison
Gillespie LG Pfister
Thomas C Lewis
Pudelka RG Herman
Chenoweth RT Blatz
Mowery RE Knowlton
Fontaine QB Worthington
Ostravitch LHB Clendening
Mesko RHB Houriet
Grimm FB Kester

Score by periods:
Akron East 0 0 0 6 6
Massillon 0 0 0 0 0

Substitutions:
Akron East – Tarbox for Miller; Ferguson for Mowery; Bennett for Gillespie; Mitchell for Ostravitch; Lindsay for Grimm; Mowery for Ferguson; Grimm for Lindsay; Ostravitch for Mitchell.
Massillon – Williams for Houriet; Houriet for Knowlton; Price for Herman; Herman for Price; Rice for Worthington.

Touchdown:
Akron East – Fontaine.

Time of periods – 12 minutes.

Referee – Michaels.
Umpire – Young.
Head Linesman – Kester.

Alfred Lewis
Massillon vs. McK - Throwback (Large) History

1928: Massillon 0, Canton McKinley 7

CANTON DEFEATS MASSILLON IN ANNUAL TILT
FORWARD PASSES WIN GAME AND TITLE FOR McKINLEY ATHLETES

By LUTHER EMERY

Picked to lose by three or four touchdowns, a fighting Washington high school football team smeared Canton McKinley during three and one-half quarters on Massillon Field, Saturday afternoon, and weakened only momentarily in the second period, when the invading bulldogs succeeded in pushing across a touchdown and kicking the extra point to win 7 to 0.

The gallant Massillon gridders were victorious in defeat, that is if there is such a thing as a moral victory, and it appears as though there is for every Massillon fan, in spite of disappointment, was more or less satisfied with the result. But moral victories do not win football games and bring county championships and as a result Canton McKinley retains the grid title and also gets another leg on the University trophy to be awarded to the team first to win the county title three times.
Perfect Setting for Grid Classic
With the crowded stands a mass of color, a warm sun driving away the cold and a light wind brushing the field, a perfect setting was given for the classic, and one that will be remembered for many years. It demonstrated the power of 11 fighting hearts and served to prove the uncertainty of scores in a Canton-Massillon game.

“Lindy” won fame by flying and Canton used the ozone to win the Stark county title. The widely heralded passing attack of the McKinley gridders which swept aside half a dozen teams this fall carried the red and black to its one and only touchdown.
Canton Takes to Air.
The bulldogs took to the air to work the ball into the local team’s territory, and when line plunges failed to bring yards, tossed, passes on fourth downs putting the once tough skin of a pig on the six-inch line where it was carried across in a pileup of players, that completely hid Nick Green, the ball toter, from view. That was the only touchdown of the game and the only time either goal was seriously threatened, but it was a mighty sweet touchdown for Canton and brought a howl from the McKinley stands and a sigh from the Massillon rooters.
Defensive Game.
Massillon played a defensive game, and Canton knew it. The east-enders found it difficult to penetrate the forward wall and only did so on formations of deceptions. But where Canton had an offense, the orange and black had none. The local gridders found it difficult to penetrate the forward wall of the Canton team and were completely smothered when they attempted to beat the Cantonians at their own game and toss passes. Not a Massillon back was able to gain consistently and first downs for the local eleven were as scarce as hair on a frog’s back. Canton, however, succeeded in making the required yardage on nine occasions and thus rightfully deserved the victory.

Standing out on the line, head and shoulders above the rest, both teams included, were Goodman and Buttermore, McGrew’s pair of tackles, who could be found hanging on to some part of the ball carrier’s body on practically every play. Captain Miller, of Canton, ballyhooed as one of the greatest linemen ever produced at McKinley high, was even over-shadowed Saturday by these two orange and black gridders.
Play Even First Period.
Play during the first period was practically even, with Massillon having the first chance to score when a Canton fumble was recovered on the 28-yard line. However, two plays failed to gain, and Watkin’s attempted place kick on the third down was low.

Canton’s first offensive drive started shortly before the end of the first period. Getting the ball on their own 38-yard line on a punt, the visitors started a series of line plays. Spretnak made a yard, and Green slipped through for eight more. Ferral then crashed through for a first down on the Canton 48-yard line.
Canton Scores Touchdown.
Here the quarter came to an end. Canton defended the north goal in the second period. Zagray made three yards at left end and Green drove around right end for a first down on the Massillon 38-yard line. Ferral made a yard at center, but Zagray lost one. Spretnak then stepped back and passed to Green for a first down on the Massillon 19-yard line. Spretnak made a yard, Ferral -two yards, and Green a yard, and on the fourth down, the little Canton quarterback hurled a pass to Nick Green that sailed through the arms of a Massillon player, and the Canton gridder was dropped on the six-inch line. Green took the ball over on the next play, and Spretnak drop kicked the extra point. Not long before the end of the second period, the orange and black got the ball on the Canton 20-yard line, but after two attempts to crack the line failed, the Canton gridders knocked down two Massillon passes and took the ball on downs. Just as the second period came to an end, Hug, Canton right end, pulled the most sensational play of the day by grabbing up a fumbled Massillon punt and, racing ahead of a string of gridders ran 40 yards and across the Massillon goal line. But the run was without result, for the ball was dead at the point of recovery, and the deafening cheer from the Canton bleachers was echoed in greater volume by the fans in the Massillon stands.
Content With Lead.
Canton apparently was content with the seven-point lead, for the visitors were careful with their passes in the second half, and relied on line plunges for gains. Play during the latter part of the third period was largely in Massillon territory as a result of John Kester’s only poor punt of the day, the red and black working the ball to the 19-yard line on one occasion, only to lose it on downs, when two passes were batted to the earth. The fourth quarter was largely a punting duel between Kester and Spretnak, the former having the better of the argument even though he was kicking against the wind. Neither team threatened and the game ended with the ball in mid-field.
Plays With Broken Finger
It takes good internal organs to stay in a game with a broken finger, and that’s what Fisher, Massillon guard, did. Brought to the sidelines by Captain Potts, and suffering considerable pain, Fisher protested against leaving the field. Coach Elmer McGrew surveyed his bench, failed to find a substitute of any value, taped up the injured player’s finger, and he went back into the game and made the tackle on the next play. Fisher’s courage, however, was just a visible sample of the play of the entire Massillon line, for these stalwarts of the front ranks, whose praises are seldom lauded, were really the ones who held Canton to the small margin of seven points. Kester, however, should come in for his share of praise, for his long punts in spite of the poor passes he received early in the game, kept Canton in her own territory most of the contest. Kester has finished a season of remarkable kicking for a sophomore, and in spite of the fact that he stands but nine yards back of the passer, he has not had a punt blocked on him this year. Captain Miller tried to do it and tried hard, for he has blocked punt after punt this year, but he tossed out his hands Saturday only to find that the ball had already left Kester’s toe and was sailing on its way down the field.
Bands Stage Drill
There was plenty of music on Massillon field Saturday, with both Canton and Massillon bands blaring away frequently. The two musical organizations paraded together between halves, the Massillon band forming a large “M” in front of the student bleachers, while the students sang their school song. The bands also played for the flag raising.

Both schools had their mascots “Obie”, the Washington high tiger, was carried up and down the sidelines by the cheer leaders while over on the Canton sidelines a bulldog snarled his viciousness.

Canton was penalized 80 yards to Massillon’s 40, the penalties being for holding and offside principally. The McKinley gridders completed four passes for a gain of 40 yards. Four were incomplete, and one intercepted. Massillon failed to complete a pass in four attempts.
A Perfect Day
The weather probably was the best ever for a Massillon-Canton game. Although the top of the field was slightly loose, slowing up the runners somewhat, yet it was much better than it has been for years. As for temperature, it too was right. Just cold enough to make the blood tingle in the spectators, and not too warm to interfere with the play of the teams.

A crowd of approximately 6,500 attended the game. All bleachers were filled and the sidelines jammed, and the crowd was probably the most orderly of any of the many large Canton-Massillon crowds.

Had Massillon possessed a fair offense, the local team probably would have pulled through on top. The youthful tigers had the ball in Canton territory on several occasions, once as close as the 20-yard line, but every attempt to advance the ball was met by a host of Canton tacklers and the ball was lost on downs.
Newspapers Busy
Three telephones on the field flashed the news of the game back to newspapers, and there were nearly as many cameramen as players on the field.

As a result of the Canton victory, the county seat team and the orange and black each have two legs on the University cup, the winner of which probably will be decided in 1929. With good material coming from the junior high schools, the Washington high students are already talking about how they are going to even matters up next fall and win the cup.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Pos. Canton
Houriet LE Rich
Slinger LT Miller
Garland LG Miday
Buttermore C Tracey
Blatz RG Culp
Goodman RT Zeren
Schnierle RE Hug
Hess QB Spretnak
Kester LH Hutchinson
Hollwager RH Green
Watkins FB Ferral

Score by periods:
Canton 0 7 0 0 7

Substitutions:
Massillon – Fisher for Garland, Potts for Buttermore, Buttermore for Slinger, Lewis for Watkins, Slinger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Hollwager.
Canton – Zagray for Hutchinson, Cordrey for Culp, Rudy for Green, Green for Rudy, Lieber for Ferral, Ferral for Rich, Hutchinson for Zagray, Walker for Cordrey, Kirk for Hutchinson.

Touchdown – Green
Point after touchdown – Spretnak (drop kick).

Referee—Lobach (F. & M.)
Umpire—Morgan (Youngstown).
Headlinesman—Shafer (O. S. U.)
Time of periods—15 minutes.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1928: Massillon 7, Barberton 6

WASHINGTON HI GRIDDERS NOSE OUT BARBERTON BY SINGLE POINT, 7-6
ONE-MAN TEAM FIFTH VICTIM OF YOUTHFUL TIGERS THIS SEASON

By LUTHER EMERY

Their hopes crushed under a 7 to 6 defeat, a disappointed Barberton football team slipped quietly and humbly out of Massillon Saturday afternoon. Tears were streaming down the faces of the gridders who had seen their hopes rise and fall under a strong orange and black attack. Many of them had dug their cleats into turf on Massillon field for the last time for their alma mater.

Most disappointed and broken in spirit of the defeated but gallant gridders was “Mike” Raplenovic, who played his last high school game in a most brilliant manner. Tears coursed down his dust covered face as he wended his way to the clubhouse, assisted by his coach, and exhausted by his untiring efforts to turn defeat into victory for his school. Pat after pat on the back was given him by Massillon fans, who admired him for his athletic ability and his clean play. It was his last game for Barberton and he received the words of praise with a choking “thank you.”

Raplenovic Star of Game

Raplenovic was the Barberton football team. He was the only back who could gain on the orange and black, and his runs frequently were for long distances. He scored Barberton’s touchdown. He did the passing, the punting, and a lot of the tackling. He was the victim of hard and frequent tackling, but his excellent physical condition and his ability to handle himself saved him from injury. Had he been in the Massillon backfield, there’s no telling what the score might have been.

Raplenovic scored Barberton’s touchdown in the first minute and a half of play, on a 24-yard run from scrimmage. The points came so quickly that fans hardly realized the game was under way.

The touchdown gave the signal for the start of the Massillon attack, and after gradually pushing the Barberton gridders back into their own territory, John Kester slipped away for a 4-yard run for a touchdown in the second period which tied the score, and “Dick” Watkins gave the orange and black its fifth victory by booting the extra point from placement.

With a lead of one point the youthful tigers realized that if they could stop Raplenovic, they would win the football game. This they did, and again did not. They kept this 160 pounds of human lightning from getting away for any more long runs for touchdowns, but they did not stop him from getting yards nearly every time he carried the ball, and had it not been for the failure of a bit of strategy upon the part of the Barberton coach in keeping his star player out the greater part of the third quarter, the brown and white might have finished on top.

Barberton Outplayed.

But in spite of the fact that the visitors had the individual star of the day who stood head and shoulders in ability above any other member of the two elevens, the Massillon gridders completely outplayed their rivals the greater part of the game.

The orange and black had at least two other good opportunities to score, losing the ball once on the four-yard line, when Buttermore fumbled on the fourth down, and time and again carried the ball deep into the invader’s half of the field. The local team rolled up 16 first downs, while Barberton made one short of a dozen.

On forward passes, however, the visitors excelled Massillon showing its customary inability to gain with an aerial attack. McGrew’s men tried three passes. Two were intercepted while the third one was not completed. Barberton tried seven passes, completing two for a gain of 22 yards, had four incomplete and one intercepted.

The visitors were set back 65 yards in penalties while the orange and black lost 25 yards through foul play.

Breaks Help Barberton

Barberton’s touchdown came as a result of a bit of ill working strategy on the part of the Massillon team. The local eleven received, Hess being downed on the 25-yard line after taking the kickoff. In an attempt to catch the visitors off their guard, a forward pass was called on the first play, but Wolf’s heave fell into the arms of Sutter, Barberton halfback, who was downed on the 33-yard line. Two drives at the line gained nine yards and on the next play Raplenovic slipped through Massillon’s right guard for a run of 24 yards and a touchdown. Sutter’s kick hit the goal post and bounded to the side.

Kester Scores Touchdown

Massillon’s touchdown came in the early part of the second quarter, after a march of 75 yards. Getting the ball on its own 25-yard line where it was punted out of bounds by Raplenovic, the local eleven began a determined drive toward the Barberton goal. Hess struck left tackle for seven yards. Watkins slipped through for six yards and a first down on the 38-yard line. Hess made a yard at left end and Watkins four yards as the first period came to an end. With the ball on the 44-yard line, Kester slipped through for four yards. On the next play he punted across the Barberton goal line, but the visitors were called back and penalized five yards for offside giving the local team a first down in mid-field. Hess picked up three yards at right tackle, while Watkins dashed off left tackle for five yards and hit the same spot again for a first down on the 34-yard line. On the next play Kester broke through right tackle and stepped along the east side line for a touchdown. Watkins kicked the extra point from placement.

Stand Out for Massillon

Kester, Watkins and Goodman played brilliantly for the local team Saturday. Kester’s long punts offset the brilliant runs of Raplenovic, while Watkins’ off tackle dashes were largely responsible for the manner in which the orange and black carried the ball up and down the field. Goodman was a shining light on defense. He dropped Barberton runners for losses and showed ability at following the ball.

Barberton made a desperate effort in both the third and fourth periods to score, but lost the ball on downs both times. However, only the failure of Sutter to hold Raplenovic’s accurate pass kept the invaders from crossing the goal line in the third quarter. Sutter had the ball in his arms, but lost it with no one between himself and the goal line.

Combined Bands Play

The combined junior high and high school bands played for the game and drew the applause of the fans. The bands likely will be combined for the Canton game, Saturday.

The Massillon team played nothing but straight football. McGrew was unwilling to uncork any of his pet plays for the benefit of Canton scouts, saving all his mystery stuff for next week..

The orange and black came out of the game in good shape. No members of the team received serious injuries, and the youthful tigers should be in first class condition for the annual grid classic Saturday.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Pos. Barberton
Minger LE W. Weigand
Buttermore LT J. Weigand
Fisher LG Hackney
Potts C Seryak
Garland RG Constantine
Slinger RT Ricks
Houriet RE Romig
Hess QB Romain
Kester HB Sutter
Lewis HB Raplenovic
Wolf FB Bryant

Score by periods:
Massillon 0 7 0 0 7
Barberton 6 0 0 0 6

Substitutions:
Massillon – Watkins for Wolf, Goodman for Slinger, Blatz for Garland, Schnierle for Lewis, Hollwager for Minger, Slinger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Schnierle, Schnierle for Buttermore, Buttermore for Fisher.
Barberton – Molvartz for Romaine, R. Weigand for Sutter, Moss for Raplenovic, Raplenovic for Moss.

Touchdowns – Raplenovic, Kester.
Point after touchdown – Watkins (place kick).

Referee—Shafer.
Umpire—Howells.
Headlinesman—Kirk.
Time of periods—12 minutes.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1928: Massillon 12, Warren Harding 0

MASSILLON GRIDDERS SPRING SURPRISE SATURDAY AND TROUNCE WARREN 12 TO 0
OUTCLASS VISITORS IN EVERY QUARTER; HESS SCORES TWICE

Digging their cleats into the soggy turf of Massillon Field the Washington high gridders played their best game in two years Saturday afternoon and put to route the highly touted Warren high crew by a score of 12 to 0.

And in spite of the fact that the victory surprised even the most optimistic Massillon fans, the score does not even indicate the margin by which the youthful tigers outplayed the invaders from the Trumbull county city. It might have been an off day for Warren but nevertheless the visitors played hard and used practically every trick formation they knew in an effort to overcome the Massillon team. But the Washington high gridders were awake for a change, and they did not play as though they wore steel shoes. They were out to best Warren and this they did in a most decisive manner.

They had four other chances to score and had crossed their opponents goal line a third time, but the ball was brought back when both teams were declared offside. Warren worked the ball into Massillon territory but once during the entire game, the visitors advancing the ball to the two-yard line, where a forward pass failed to make first down by a few inches and Massillon gained possession of the oval.

Scoring honors for the day went to George Hess, who after three weeks of ineligibility returned to the lineup to score both touchdowns, one on an 85-yard run after taking the kickoff at the start of the second half and the other in a dive over the goal from the two-yard line.

Warren came to Massillon Saturday in high spirits and expected to score its second victory over Massillon in seven years. Backed by an excellent record for the season, with Akron East and Sharon, Pa., two of its victims, the visiting eleven was a heavy favorite to defeat the orange and black. And the Warren team at times flashed an attack that seemed deadly but the rallies quickly flickered out while the Massillon offense was ablaze the greater part of the time. Warren’s offense clicked smoothly and faultlessly, but it was turned back by the Massillon line quite often for losses.

In spite of the fact that the victory was pleasing to Massillon fans the Washington high team should not become so satisfied with the result that it will be caught asleep in its game with Barberton next Saturday. Some of the Warren followers blamed over-confidence for the defeat of their team and even though an excuse does not seem probable, yet the youthful tigers should guard against just that sort of thing by drilling all the harder this week for Barberton and Canton McKinley which will put in its appearance here next week.

Carrying the ball deep into their opponents’ territory several times during the first two periods, the local eleven was turned back as it neared the Warren goal and the first half ended without a score being made. Play, however, was decisively in favor of the orange and black, Warren not working the ball into Massillon territory on a single occasion.

The second half, however, opened dramatically. Even though their team had shown a good punch in the first two periods, Massillon fans were still doubtful when Puegner, Warren end, and former Massillon boy, kicked off to George Hess to start the third period. And with that kick came the fireworks of the game. Hess took the ball on his own 15-yard line, and ran in about as straight a line as any surveyor could lay, for the Warren goal. His teammates got busy and the Warren tacklers hit the turf when they attempted to get close to Hess. “Ike” Lewis took out two men who stood between Hess and the goal line, and with two or three players chasing him, Hess galloped across the Warren line. Largely due to the superior interference accorded him by his teammates, scarcely a hand touched him during the entire run.

It was the kind of spectacular play that always bobs up in a Warren game, and as usual took the heart out of the Warren boys. It was two similar long runs by Vince Define five years ago that upset Warren and three years ago two intercepted passes followed by long runs by Laughlin and Kammer defeated the Trumbull county boys. Thus they had a right to become discouraged after they saw Hess waltzing away for a touchdown.

The second score came in the same period, and although Hess made the points, the entire Massillon team, and especially a punt by John Kester, made the score possible.

The local eleven had the ball on the 39 yard line when Kester stepped back and kicked the ball outside on Warren’s nine-yard line. Latimer returned the punt but it went outside on the 25-yard line. Hess struck for a yard. Buttermore crashed through for six and made two more on his next attempt. Schnierle carried the ball to the 10-yard line for a first down. Buttermore went over on the next play but both sides were declared offside and the ball was put in play on the two-yard line. Hess then drove through for a touchdown. Kester’s kick was wide just as Schnierle’s was after the first touchdown.

Kester missed a hard luck touchdown just before the third period ended when he struck off right tackle and by clever running carried the ball across the Warren goal after a run of 28 yards. Both teams, however, were declared offside on the play and the ball was brought back. The local eleven soon was headed for another touchdown but the threat was spoiled by a 15-yard penalty. In transferring the ball at the end of the third period, the officials made a mistake. The period ended with the ball on the 19-yard line, but the officials put the pigskin in play on the 21-yard line when the fourth quarter opened.

The orange and black made a dozen first downs to Warren’s five and was penalized 70 yards to 65 yards for Warren.

The local team completed its first two forward passes of the year for gains Saturday, one bringing seven yards and another 10. Three passes were incomplete and two intercepted. Warren completed three passes out of 10 attempts for a gain of 43 yards. Seven were incomplete.

The American Legion drum corps helped to entertain the small crowd by participating in the raising of the colors, and drilling on the field between halves. It was unfortunate that the day was not a brighter one and that more fans were not in the bleachers to see the drum corps go though its maneuvers. The drum corps was the third musical organization at the game, both Warren and Washington high schools being represented by bands.

One of the features of the game was the punting of John Kester. His boots traveled long when punting from his own territory, but when in the land of the enemy he placed his punts out of bounds anywhere from the one-yard to the 15-yard line.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. Warren
Potts LE Puegner
Buttermore LT Afills
Garland LG Canzonetta
Lewis C Dahringer
Fisher RG Mock
Goodman RT Schatzel
Houriet RE Titus
Worthington QB Boyd
Kester HB De Santis
Watkins HB Rogers
Hollwager FB Latimer

Score by periods:
Massillon 0 0 12 0 12

Substitutions:
Massillon – Hess for Worthington, Schnierle for Hollwager, Blatz for Fisher, Geis for Goodman, Mann for Garland, Slinger for Buttermore, Buttermore for Watkins, Fisher for Geis.
Warren – Dick for Mock, Ott for Boyd, Chance for Latimer, Latimer for Chance, Howell for Titus.

Touchdowns – Hess 2.

Referee—Barrett.
Umpire—Maurer.
Headlinesman—Kirk.

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1928: Massillon 0, New Philadelphia 0

MASSILLON AND NEW PHILADELPHIA BATTLE TO SCORELESS TIE IN ANNUAL TILT
PENALTIES HINDER ATTACK OF ORANGE AND BLACK RUNNERS

With rivalry at white heat, New Philadelphia fans cheering and Massillon fans booing, the orange and black of Washington high and the red and black of New Philadelphia high battled to a scoreless tie at the latter city, Saturday afternoon.

Tired and weary were the two elevens as they plodded from the field at the close of the game, and tired were the fans who were in the bleachers 45 minutes longer than necessary due to the late arrival of the Massillon team, but the person who minded it most was Referee Hamm who stepped off 100 yards in penalties inflicted on the Massillon team, thereby proving himself the best ball carrier of the day.

The many penalties inflicted on the local eleven, principally for holding and offside, brought a storm of protest from the Massillon delegation of 1,200 rooters who were huddled in one section of the bleachers. They saw their team score a touchdown that would have meant a victory and saw the ball brought back and put into play again. They saw the official step off a quartette of 15-yard penalties and a quintette of five yard penalties, that interfered with nearly every attempt to advance the ball. And with the final crack of the gun, a section of this embittered crowd, swept upon the field, fists clenched, ready for action, but was finally dispersed by a squad of police ready for just such a demonstration. Fists flew at intervals, but fortunately no one was injured and the prompt action of the law saved further trouble.

But in spite of the penalties, whether fair or unfair, the game ended with a score that compared favorably with the play of the two teams. Whether or not the orange and black could have scored a touchdown had not penalties interfered no one knows, for the New Philadelphia line was scrapping and scrapping hard. Neither team showed any great offense, both scoring but two first downs each, although the local eleven gained by far the most ground from scrimmage.

The “touchdown” was scored in the last few minutes of play when Jack Schnierle intercepted a New Philadelphia pass on the 35-yard line and scampered across the goal. But the ball was called back, the headlinesman declaring that Hollwager interfered with the supposed receiver, and New Philadelphia was given the ball at the point where the alleged interference occurred. A wild howl went up from the Massillon stands when Schnierle scored the “touchdown,” but an even greater noise rent the air when the ball was brought back, the Massillon fans adding their boos to the bedlam that took place.

With the six points ruled out, the local gridders got angry for the first time in the game and showed their best offense of the day. They carried the ball two minutes later to the red and black’s 34-yard line where Hollwager fumbled and Hensel recovered for New Philadelphia. A minute later they started another offensive march which was stopped abruptly by a 15-yard penalty for holding, and the game came to a finish a few seconds later.

The last minute attack was the only offense the Washington high eleven uncorked. In the first place, it was playing nothing but straight football and in the second place could do little against the fighting forward wall of the red and black and the penalty hazard.

The strength of the red and black’s line was somewhat surprising although it lived up to the advance dope that the game would be a similar battle to the Conneaut affair of a week ago. The Tuscarawas county gridders, however, were even less helpless on the offense than the local team, ball carriers frequently being tossed for losses, but while Massillon was penalized 100 yards during times in which it was in possession of the ball, the red and black was set back but 15 yards when it had the pigskin. One other penalty was charged up to New Philadelphia when the local eleven had the ball but it did not help the orange and black any for it followed a 15-yard penalty inflicted on Washington high on the previous play.

An argument ensued between halves between Coach Elmer McGrew and the referee, over clipping which occurred a few seconds before the end of the half, Houriet was clipped from behind while going down under a punt. The officials saw the clipping but declared that it occurred after the ball had been caught and carried out of bounds by the New Philadelphia safety man. The result was that New Philadelphia was given the ball at the point where the runner went out of bounds, Captain Potts declining a penalty which would have made a difference of about two yards in the position of the ball. However had the clipping occurred before the runner went out of bounds then New Philadelphia would have been penalized nearly to its goal line. The referee argued that his eyesight was good but from the sidelines it appeared that the runner was fully eight yards inside the boundary line when Houriet was clipped.

The red and black counted the game as somewhat of a moral victory. Rooters were enthusiastic over the scoreless tie and in spite of the fact that all the breaks were against the local eleven the wearers of red and black ribbons had a right to be proud of the scrappy game their team put up.

The Massillon eleven should make certain after this that it gets to the field on time. Fans waited in the bleachers 45 minutes after game time before the local team appeared on the field. At least one-half hour of the delay was due to a broken axle on the bus when the team was dressed and ready to leave the school for the field, but barring the accident the Massillon team would have been 20 minutes late.

The officials were prepared to step off a 25-yard penalty for being tardy but did not do so at the request of officials of New Philadelphia high school, which Massillon fans consider very sportsmanlike.

Watkins showed well at halfback in his first game in the backfield, while the playing of Potts and Houriet on the ends was the feature of the Massillon play. Honors were even between Kester and Knauss in punting.

Whether or not the referee was partial to New Philadelphia, Massillon fans can settle in their own minds, but it is not good sportsmanship to threaten to “beat up” the officials. It leaves a bad reputation for the school and makes it all the more difficult to obtain good officiating.

Lineup and summary:

Massillon Pos. New Phila.
Potts LE Keiser
Slinger LT Sherer
Fisher LG Hensel
Lewis C Alexander
Blatz RG Wheatley
Goodman RT Bebout
Houriet RE Douds
Worthington QB Rohrbach
Kester HB Byrd
Watkins HB Foutz
Hollwager FB Knauss

Substitutions:
Massillon – Schnierle for Watkins, Minger for Potts, Potts for Fisher, Francis for Hollwager, Garland for Potts;
New Philadelphia – Marsh for Bebout, Hurst for Keiser, Bebout for Marsh, Hammond for Bebout.

Referee—Hamm (Kenyon).
Umpire—Burghalter (Heidelberg).
Headlinesman—Kiefer (Ohio State).

Henry Potts
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1928: Massillon 12, Conneaut 6

WASHINGTON HIGH GRIDDERS RALLY IN LAST FIVE MINUTES TO BEAT CONNEAUT
KESTER’S RETURN OF PUNT GIVES ORANGE AND BLACK VICTORY

With five minutes to go and Conneaut backed to its goal line, the orange and black tigers of Washington high finally pulled themselves out of the mud on Massillon Field, Saturday, made one desperate effort and pushed across a touchdown that brought a 12 to 6 victory over the invading gridders from the northeastern Ohio city.

Conneaut, woefully weak on offense, made up for its failure to carry the ball by standing firmly on its own soil and battling viciously when the Massillon tiger threatened to cross its goal line. Within the shadow of its goal posts, Conneaut was shoved back a half a dozen times, but the game little band of blue clad warriors refused to yield and turned back the thrusts of the Massillon backs time after time to take possession of the coveted pigskin and boot it safely out of danger.

Scoring on a break in the first few minutes of play when Coach Elmer McGrew’s sophomores and juniors were on the field of duty, the Conneaut gridders made a determined stand until the middle of the second period when the Massillon eleven scored its first points. But even so, the blue clad gridders did not falter for a tie score would be more than satisfactory for them and much better than they had even dreamed of earning. So they dug their cleats into the soggy turf, matched their fight against the weight of the Washington high line and almost accomplished their purpose. In fact the stand of the Conneaut team threw such a scare into the Massillon bench that Buttermore, giant tackle, with one hand in splints and swathed in bandages, rushed into the fray to wipe out part of the defense of the visitors and drill holes for the Massillon backs.

Conneaut nearly accomplished its purpose, a tie score, and might have done so, had it not been for John Kester snatching a punt out of the air on his own 37-yard line and dashing to within five yards of the Conneaut goal before being forced out of bounds. Five minutes were left to play when Kester made his run and he followed it up with two plunges into the Conneaut line which carried him across the goal for the winning points of the game.

Sharing honors with Kester in scoring for the orange and black was “Chippy” Hollwager, tall and slender, who tore the center of the Conneaut line to pieces to register the local eleven’s first touchdown of the game.

The touchdown followed a determined drive of the youthful tigers from mid-field. Carrying the ball to the 15-yard line on line bucks and end runs with all the Massillon backs participating, but stopped momentarily by the sturdy defense of the Conneaut gridders, a substitute was shot into the ranks of the youthful tigers. A whispered order, “Give the ball to Chippy,” must have been issued for five times in succession. Hollwager took the pigskin and at the end of his fifth plunge he was across the Conneaut goal line. The fact that the youthful tigers failed to score more than 12 points, indicates that both attempts to score touchdown by line bucks were frustrated.

Conneaut’s touchdown came as a result of a break in the game. A long punt by Hamilton, the ruthless clipping of a Massillon player which brought the ball back to the local team’s one-yard line, and a bad bounce following one of Kester’s punts were largely responsible for the points.

To start with, Hamilton punted from his own 20-yard line past John Kester to the Massillon 20-yard line. When a Massillon man was caught clipping illegally on the punt, the ball was taken back to the one-yard line.

Kester immediately attempted to punt it out of danger. His kick went away all right. The ball sailed through the air to the 35-yard line before hitting the ground, but it rebounded with one of those boomerang bounces, and before the local team could down it it had rolled back to the 15-yard line. Then came Conneaut’s only offensive and only first down of the day. Two cracks at the line gained eight yards but the visitors were offside and were penalized five yards. Not discouraged, Samppi, quarterback, called for a lateral pass, took the ball, flipped it to Hamilton, who skirted the Massillon right end for a touchdown. The try for the extra point was low.

That was the only splurge of offensive strength that Conneaut could muster and it came at the right time. McGrew’s shock troops were on the field at the time and they were quickly replaced by the seniors who for a time failed to make any better impression with the handful of fans who stood in the stands because Jupiter Pluvius arrived first at the field and drenched the bleachers.

Thirteen first downs were rolled up by McGrew’s warriors to Conneaut’s single 10-yard gain, and the ball was continually in Conneaut territory, not because of Hamilton’s punting, for outside of his team’s defense, his kicking was the next best feature of his team, but largely because the local team picked up 10 to 15 yards every time it was in possession of the ball, and with Kester punting every bit as good as Hamilton, the visitors thus were unable, except on the one occasion, to come out of their own territory.

Forward passes were a joke Saturday. The water soaked ball on every occasion refused to fall into the hands of its intended receiver with the result that three Massillon passes were incomplete and one was intercepted, while a Conneaut pass was intercepted. Conneaut suffered many penalties for being offside, largely as a result of Maney’s over eagerness to tackle the Massillon ball toter. Seven times the visitors were set back for this offense, and coupled with a 19-yard penalty for tripping, it cost them 54 yards during the afternoon. Massillon was penalized 37 yards.

The failure of the local eleven to score more than 13 points against Conneaut, however should not be too severely criticized.

Although the visitors were expected to be easy, due to the fact that they hadn’t won a game this season and tied but one team, yet they never have been trampled over by their opponents. Conneaut has not bowed to any team this year by as large a number of points as the youthful tigers have been defeated by, and the game played by the northeastern Ohio team Saturday was its typical 1928 brand, weak offensively, but strong on the defense.

Lineup and summary:
Massillon Pos. Conneaut
Willison LE Hirsimaki
Maier LT Maney
Herman LG Lyons
Potts C Zumpft
Pfeister RG Maukonen
Goodman RT D. Mosher
Houriet RE J. Mosher
Lewis QB Samppi
D. Hess LH Mumalainen
Worthington RH Hamilton
Kester FB Cantlin

Score by periods:
Massillon 0 6 0 6 12
Conneaut 6 0 0 0 6

Substitutions:
Massillon: Schnierle, lh; Hollwager, rh; Blatz, rg; Slinger, lt; Fisher, lg; Francis, lh; Buttermore, rt; Mann, lt; Watkins, le; Malone, re; Worthington, lh; Minger, rg,
Conneaut – Brewster, lt; Ritari, lh.

Touchdowns – Hamilton, Hollwager, Kester

Referee—Walsh.
Umpire—Barrett.
Time of periods—12 minutes.

Henry Potts