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1917: Massillon 7, Canton Central 6

COACH SNAVELY’S LADS, IN GAME BATTLE, BEST SUPERIOR ENEMY, 7-6

Thirteen fighting orange and black clad gridiron warriors of Massillon high school covered themselves with the large gobs of glory, slush and mud Saturday afternoon on the M. B. A. C. field. These 13 youthful gladiators accomplished a feat which all of Canton and half of Massillon considered impossible. They defeated the crack red and black eleven of Central high, Canton, 7 to 6, in the annual grid tilt between the two old rivals and grabbed off the scholastic championship of Stark county for the second straight time. It was the last game of the season.

Going into the struggle in which Canton high was a decided favorite, because of its top notch playing all season, Coach Snavely’s boys fought with all the fury and vigor of a tiger at bay and their titantic efforts were rewarded with victory. The largest crowd that has witnessed a scholastic battle this season was on hand to see the big struggle although the atmosphere was decidedly chilly for spectators.

It was a break of the game that gave Massillon its chance to win which also was responsible for Canton’s score. But break or no break, it does not detract one whit from the glory that should go to the orange and black for it justly deserves all that it won. It was a tense struggle with Canton having the edge on the offensive play, but while the visiting eleven made eight first downs to six for Coach Snavely’s youthful Tigers, Massillon always tightened and the red and black only penetrated the local eleven’s 20 yard zone once, that was in the second quarter.

Touted as the best scholastic eleven turned out at the Canton institution in many years, the red and black journeyed to Tiger town Saturday confident of winning by at least three touchdowns. Why should it not have confidence? Did it not defeat Alliance 67 to 0 while Massillon only won 27 to 7; didn’t it not hold New Philadelphia scoreless while the Tuscarawas county lads walloped the orange and black 27 to 0, and did it not defeat Rayon of Youngstown 27 to 0 while the best Massillon could do was to win 15 to 0?

It had every reason to be confident of winning and it possessed an admirable backfield in Boldt, Mitchell and Rate, three athletes fleet of foot and powerful line plungers. Besides this it outweighed Massillon several pounds to the man.

But it did not take very long to show that Massillon’s “green” team would give the veteran Canton eleven a hard battle and that there wouldn’t be any victor until the struggle was over. Coach Snavely’s line, composed mostly of men playing their first year of varsity football time after time rolled back the rushes of Canton’s heavier and veteran front line of defense and brought the great Boldt and Rate to earth with very, very few of the big gains they were expected to make in dashing through the orange and black line or sweeping around the ends.

Give the orange and black all the credit in the world for it came up from behind and won a battle very few expected it to win and give to Coach John Snavely a share of this credit for developing a team that will fight to the last ditch no matter what the odds are against it. Sheer pluck and a determination to win at all costs turned the trick.

The first quarter was nearly over when Canton scored. Canton had received to start the battle but Mitchell fumbled on the second play and Converse covered on Canton’s 27. Thomas, aided by gains by Converse and Archbold, ripped up the Canton line for two first downs and placed the ball on Canton’s four yard line when a five yard penalty for being offside shoved the orange and black back to the nine yard line. Massillon was held then and when a forward pass failed on the fourth down, Canton gained the ball on its nine yard line. The red and black immediately punted, the kick getting past Thomas and going to Massillon’s 45 before being recovered by “Swig.” The local eleven was held and Archbold punted, a strong wind carrying the ball to Massillon’s 45-yard line where Mitchell grabbed it and carried it to the 30 yard line before being downed. A Rate-Lautenheiser pass covered half the distance to the goal and three plunges with Rate carrying the ball carried the pigskin to Massillon’s 3 yard line from where Boldt carried it over on a cross buck. On the kick out Canton missed the ball and lost a try for goal.

From then on until early in the third quarter the play was confined mostly to the middle of the gridiron. With the ball on the 30 yard line, Roderick made a bad pass which went over Rate’s head, and the ball bounded toward Canton’s goal line with the orange and black hot in pursuit. Fulton tried to pick up the leather but it slipped out of his fingers and kept bounding on until it bounded over Canton’s goal line and at least five orange and black warriors pounced upon it while Canton made a desperate effort to recover. When the mass of players had been pried apart plucky little Fulton, Massillon star right end was under the heap tightly hugging the leather which meant six points for his team and a possible victory. Thomas kicked goal and Massillon was one point to the good, a lead it kept through the balance of the struggle although Canton tried with all its might to score again.

Near the end of the quarter Massillon brought the ball back to Canton’s 30 yard line but held and on the fourth down Thomas tried a kick from placement from the 39 yard line which struck the cross bar. Another inch higher and Massillon would have had three points more.

In the fourth quarter Canton carried the ball 30 yards to Massillon’s 31 yard line but lost it when Oberlin intercepted a Canton pass on his 35 yard line.

Every one of the orange and black warriors who participated in the struggle deserves oceans of credit but the playing of “Swig” Thomas, Massillon’s youthful halfback, was the bright spot in the orange and black’s attack. Paid especial attention by Canton because of his offensive ability, “Swig” plowed through the red and black line for many big gains and played an important role in the big victory. Archbold also ripped the Canton line to pieces on several occasions.

On defense, Massillon’s playing was par excellence. Outweighed considerably, the line was shoved back on several occasions but rallied gamely and throughout the greater part of the game outplayed its red and black foes. Cheyney, Fulton, Oberlin, Converse and Archbold played prominent roles on the defense.

A REAL VICTORY

Massillon – 7. Pos. Canton – 6.

Wittmann le Guest

Cheyney lt Lautenheiser

Taylor lg Steele

Ertle c Roderick

Harrison rg McCarel

Oberlin rt Cameron

Fulton re Wiseman

Graybill qb Snyder

Thomas lhb Boldt

Converse rhb Mitchell

Archbold fb Rate
Substitutions – Massillon: Edwards for Taylor, Taylor for Edwards, Kemp for Taylor.

Touchdowns – Boldt, Fulton.

Goal from touchdown – Thomas.

Referee – Snyder, of Harvard.
Umpire – Bletzer, of Mount Union.
Headlinesman – Miller of Massillon.

Time of quarters – 12 minutes.

Score by quarters—
Canton 6 0 0 0 6
Massillon 0 0 7 0 7