Tag: <span>Akron</span>

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1936: Massillon 58, Cleveland East 0

TIGERS SHOW POWER IN DEFEATING EAST 58 TO 0
Stream-lined Massillon Team Surprises Most Optimistic Fans With Speed and Well-timed Blocking

By LUTHER EMERY

The Tigers are not extinct!

Coach Paul Brown emerged from the jungles of pessimism Friday evening with another troupe of fine performers who pounced on Cleveland East in the flag bedecked Massillon arena for a 58-0 triumph before 8,000 fans in the opening football game of the season here.

It cheered those dubious fans who bewailed the loss of nine members of the 1935 state championship team and revealed that Trainer Brown and his able assistants, C.C. Widdoes and Hugh McGranahan have given Massillon another great football team.
Tigers Superb in Every Department
Performing on a stage that presented as pretty a setting as you will find on any high school gridiron, the Tigers supreme Friday evening so much so that little can be said about the Cleveland East team.

The Massillon gridders made 28 first downs to none for East and the most yards the visitors made in any one series was nine.

Just as he said Coach Brown presented a troupe of fast and spectacular performers. They ran, they passed and showed their spunk when their opponents had the ball.

They scored a touchdown the first four plays of the ball game, crossed their opponents goal line twice in each of the first, second and third periods and ended the game by shoving the ball over three times in the closing frame.
Played Clean Game
They played a clean game, were penalized but once for holding, though they were set back on two other occasions for failing to pause a second after completing their shift.
They were in condition, for not a player was injured and for that matter only once during the ball game was time taken out for injuries and that was for a slight bump an East lineman received on the leg. He continued in the game.

Not holding any weight advantage, the Tigers won through speed and fine blocking. To the fan, the ball carrying of Byelene, Glass and Herring and the passing of Byelene to Charley Anderson and Gillom was outstanding, but to many other persons it was the blocking of Red Snyder, Charley Anderson and Guards, Jim Miller and Warren Wyatt and the other backs, who actually won the game. When the ball carriers made runs, the blockers were in front of the carrier, cutting down would-be tacklers and all the man with the ball had to do was run.

Defensively there was little to be desired. Gus Peters and Junior Anderson, the tackles refused to be moved. Gillom and Charley Anderson cleared the ends and Don Snavely, directing defensive play from behind the line, was under most of the tackles.
Score In Four Plays
Following the preliminary pageentry which was as fine as you will se at most big college games, the Tigers in their flashy uniforms received at the south end of the field. Anderson took the ball and started up the alley, running from his five-yard line to the 35-yard stripe before being downed. Herring got around right end for four yards and Byelene, running hard, carried the ball into Cleveland territory for a first down on the 41-yard line.

Herring wormed around the left side for 38 yards to the three-yard line and Byelene went over on the next play. Glass’ kick was wide of the goal posts and the score was 6-0 in the Tigers favor.

Glass kicked off to Marcus who brought the pigskin back to his 25-yard line. When two plays only gained three yards, Valarian quick kicked to the Massillon 20-yard line, Herring only returning eight yards before being downed. Herring on the first play went to his
42-yard line. Glass made three and Byelene ran all the way to the Cleveland 20, only to have the ball called back and the Tigers penalized 15 yards for failing to stop a second on their shift. Byelene punted to Nativio who tried to catch the ball on his own 40. He fumbled, however and Snavely got on top of it to give the Tigers a first down on the East 40. On the first play Byelene, running behind perfect interference, came around the left end for touchdown. Glass placekicked the extra point and the score was 13-0.
Launch Third Touchdown Drive
Glass kicked off to Nativio who was tackled on his 29-yard line. Failing to gain more than three yards, Valarian punted to Herring who returned from his 20 to his 35-yard line. East held the Tigers this time and Glass punted to the Cleveland 25-yard line. After Valarian had made a yard, Nativio gained eight around the Tigers’ left end, the longest gain made by East during the ball game. The visitors could not make their yardage, however and Valarian punted over Herring’s head to the goal line, Herring returning to his nine-yard line. On a double reverse the Tiger halfback ran (unreadable…) down on the 27. Byelene made seven more as the period closed.

Glass made five and East was penalized 15 yards for piling up. Herring lost a yard at right end and Byelene’s pass to Anderson was too far for him to reach. Herring made nine yards at center and then ran 32 yards to the four-yard line. In two attempts he went over for a touchdown. Glass’ kick was wide of the uprights and the score was 19-0.

Glass kicked to Valarian who returned the ball well to his 32-yard line. When a pass and two line plays failed. Valarian punted to Herring on the Tiger 45. He returned seven yards. Byelene made six at left end and then tossed a pass to Odell Gillom for a touchdown. It was a gain of 42 yards. An attempted pass for the extra point failed and the score was 25-0.

Coach Brown sent in a string of seven substitutes. Jim Miller kicked off to East’s 20. East began ramming the Tiger line, but Roy Herman stopped the visitors by intercepting a pass on the East 35-yard line. The Tigers worked the ball to the nine-yard line but lost it on downs. East punted back to the 39-yard line and Byelene passed to Edwards for a first down on the 15-yard line. Three plays netted five yards and the half ended with the Tigers in possession of the ball on the 10-yard line.
Third Period
The Tiger first string eleven started the second half. Snyder took the kickoff and brought it back to the Massillon 42. A pass to Anderson advanced the ball to the 39-yard line and Byelene and Glass carried to a first down on the 25. A five yard penalty and another three-yard loss by Byelene while trying to pass kept the Tigers from gaining their ground. Glass punted over the goal line. Failing to gain, Valarian punted to Herring who returned to the 33-yard line. Glass plunged for a first down on the East 33 and a pass, Byelene to Anderson gained another first on the 20. Glass made five at center and Herring raced to a first down on the six-yard line. Glass plunged over but the ball was called back and Massillon penalized 15 yards for holding. Herring failed to gain so Byelene passed to Anderson for a touchdown and Glass kicked goal, bringing the score to 32-0.

Oberst kicked to Glass who brought the ball back to his 37. Herring went around left end to the East 42. Glass plunged for eight yards. Byelene passed 34 yards to Gillom for a touchdown and tossed another to Gillom for the extra point. The quarter ended with the score 39-0.

A drive that began in the third stalled at the one-yard line. Valarian immediately punted to Herring who ran the ball back to the 17-yard line. He went over for a touchdown on the next play. Glass kicked the extra point.

Valarian kicked to Snyder who brought the ball back to the 40-yard line. Glass gained nine on a spinner and then raced through the alley for a first down on the East 37-yard line. Byelene tossed to Anderson for a touchdown. Glass’ kick hit the goal post and the score was 52-0.

The Tigers kicked off, held and took the ball on the East 48. Byelene passed over Gillom’s head. Glass plunged for a first down on the 34-yard line. Herring made seven at right end and Byelene put the ball on the 12-yard line. Glass made eight but the Tigers were penalized five yards. Glass made seven at center. A pass over the goal line was grounded, so Glass hit the center of the line for a touchdown. His kick was wide of the posts, leaving the score at 58-0. An entire new Massillon team took the field and in the closing minutes of play, Philip Pizzino, fullback broke through for two first downs.

The Tigers completed eight passes for 197 yards and one point after touchdown. Nine passes were grounded. East completed one pass for no gain, had three grounded and one intercepted.

Massillon was penalized 60 yards and East 25 yards.
A Good Start
Massillon Pos. Cleveland East
Gillom LE Nehis
J. Anderson LT Sakenes
Wyatt LG Simmons
Snavely C Waller
Miller RG Karloneck
Peters RT Sutphin
C. Anderson RE Strauss
Byelene QB Nativio
Herring LH Valarian
Snyder RH Oberat
Glass FB Marcus

Score by periods:
Massillon 13 12 14 19 58

Substitutions:
Massillon – Shrake, qb; Edwards, re; Herman, rh; Pizzino, fb; Swoger, rt; Lee, c; Greenfelder, lg; Howard, rg; Wursbacker, le; Dixon, lh.
East – Hocevar, c; Gurak, e; Milhellic, g; Raspardia, g; Brandford, c; Artele, lh; Rorchert, fb; Robicci, t; Slants, qb.

Touchdowns:
Massillon – Byelene 2; Herring 2; Gillom 2; C. Anderson 2; Glass.

Points after touchdown:
Massillon – Glass 3 (placekicks); Gillom 1 (pass).

Referee – Rupp.
Umpire – Brubaker.
Head Linesman – Roudabush.

TIGERS IMPRESSIVE IN OPEN

By FRED J. BECKER
Sports Editor

Massillon’s football bugs – 8,000 strong – trekked to Massillon field Friday night to get their first peek at Coach Paul Brown’s 1936 edition of the Washington high school Tigers.

These 8,000 bugs marveled at the splendid condition of the gridiron with its beautiful carpet of green. They expressed satisfaction at the improvement in the lighting system which made it easier to watch night encounters. They praised the athletic board for covering a section of the stands on the west side of the field.

Apparently they were satisfied with everything. And then the Tigers went into action and the convincing fashion in which they manhandled Cleveland East 58 to 0 sent those 8,000 bugs homeward about 10:15 completely daffy about the aggregation which began defense of the scholastic state championship, won by an undefeated team in 1935.

Massillon’s Tigers of 1936 are going places again this fall, if their playing last night is any indication of what they will do the remainder of the season. Of course, it is a bit early to wax too enthusiastic about the team but those orange and black clad lads certainly turned loose a thrilling brand of football last night.

They showed the result of expert coaching. Their defense was of that old stonewall type and their offense was the smoothest working and most highly polished a local high school football team has ever shown in its opening encounter.

The thing that impressed this writer most was the great blocking and interference given the ball toters. A smashing interference that formed quickly and cut down would-be tacklers with deadly precision and accuracy made it easy for such lightning like runners as Bob Glass, Edgar Herring and Mike Byelene to scamper for long gains. That same interference also gave Byelene plenty of protection when he began rifling passes into the hands of waiting receivers.

The type of interference the Tigers turned loose last night is rarely seen on a high school football team. Before the season opened Coach Brown said that speed and precision would be the highlights in the 1936 attack. The Tigers had plenty of both last night.

If the Tigers continue to improve and there is no reason why they should not, they are going to be mighty hard to stop. But the team of 1936 faces this one serious obstacle – lack of seasoned and capable reserves. The Tigers of last night will go a long ways if they escape serious injuries to the star cogs in the machine. Should any of the regulars, especially in the backfield, be put on the hospital list a different picture may be painted.

It was an ideal night for a football opener. Stars studded the sky and the air had enough snap in it to pep up players and fans.

The stands filled early and shortly after 7:30 the drum and bugle corps of Massillon Post, No. 221, American Legion, marched on the field to make its first public appearance of the year. The legion outfit gave a splendid exhibition of drilling and playing, giving local boosters a glimpse of the tactics they will use in Cleveland next week while competing for the national drum corps title.

Between halves Washington high’s rapidly improving band marched and played and acquitted itself with great credit. It is a musical organization that will bring a lot of praise to Massillon.

With their first victory tucked in their belts, the Tigers next week will prepare for a Saturday afternoon invasion of Mansfield. Next Saturday night Massillon will see its first college football game played here when Western Reserve, coached by Bill Edwards, former local grid hero, meets Bowling Green on Massillon Field.

All in all, it looks like another big football year for Massillon

Mike Byelene
Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1910: Massillon 0, Akron 16

AKRON HIGH DOWNS MASSILLON HIGH
Locals Outweighed About 12 Pounds to Man

MASSILLON OUTPLAYED AKRON

Line Could Not Hold Heavy Men Playing Against Them
Locals Went Into the Game Without Practice
Akron Forced to Fight for Every Yard

In one of the hardest fought battles of the year the Massillon high school team met its second defeat of the season at Akron, Saturday, by the score of 16 to 0.

The local boys did not lose out because of their playing ability, as they outplayed Akron, but the game was won by Akron’s weight. The Akron team outweighed the local team by at least twelve pounds to the man and with the heavy backs pounding at Massillon’s light line substantial gains were made. A few end runs were tried by the Akron team but these being quickly broken up, they would start on the line again.

The Massillon line played hard but were forced back on account of the weight of their opponents, fighting hard for every yard that was lost. The Massillon backfield played a great game, stopping the bucks that came through and carrying the ball for good gains at times.

The game began about 1:30, as soon as the Massillon team arrived on the field. The local team was handicapped on account of having no practice before the game as they did not get to the grounds until a half hour after the game was scheduled.

At the start Akron kicked to Massillon, Kester fumbled the ball, Sonnhalter regaining it. Massillon was held for downs and Heyman punted. Akron started down the field with their heavy backs tearing up Massillon’s light line and finally shoved Williams over for the first touchdown.

Massillon pitched to Akron and they again started down the field, when the Massillon line took a determined stand and Akron was forced to punt. Heyman received the ball and returned it a short distance. Massillon tried a forward but an Akron player got the ball and advanced it to the ten yard line, when the period closed.

At the beginning of the second period Massillon held Akron for downs and Massillon took the ball. Heyman punted and Barber recovered. Massillon again lost the ball on a forward pass. Akron got the ball within striking distance of the goal then tried for a drop kick that failed. Massillon got the ball and Heyman punted to the middle of the field. Time was called for the first half. Score 5 to 0.
The second half was a repetition of the first. In the third period, Palmer got a Massillon forward pass and made the second touchdown. Goal was kicked. Score 11 to 0.

In the fourth period, Doyle was pushed over the line for the last touchdown of the game. Goal was again kicked. Score 16 to 0. Several minutes afterward, the whistle blew for the end of the game.

A dozen or more of Massillon rooters who saw the game were satisfied with Massillon’s playing if the weight had been equal on both sides, the score might have been different.

The line-up:

Massillon Pos. Akron
Miller le Palmer
Keeton lt Saalfield
Wagner lg Swinehart
Arthur c Woldsmith
Hoffman rg Haag
Reinoehl rt Crisp
Zintsmaster re Smith
Kester qb Marshall
Custer, Barber lh Williams
Sonnhalter rh Foltz
Heyman fb Doyle

Touchdowns:
Akron – Palmer and Doyle.

Referee and umpire – Bast and Snyder.

Time of periods – 10 minutes.

Massillon Tigers Black Letter Logo History

1909: Massillon 0 Akron 0

AKRON HIGH HELD MASSILLON HIGH
A Battle Royal at the High School Saturday. 0 – 0 IN FAVOR OF MASSILLON

The Local Team Carried the Ball to the One-Yard Line, but Was held by Opponent Erb Saved the Day A Large Crowd Present

In perhaps the greatest game of high school football Massillon ever saw, the local unconquered aggregation rushed the strong Akron team to the limit of its skill and endurance to save itself from defeat on the high school grounds Saturday afternoon.  After forty-five minutes of terrific contest the game ended with the ball near the middle of the field and with a tally for neither team. Although the final score as it stood was immensely satisfying to the Massillon camp, the fact that the ball was not shoved over the goal from the one yard line is a disappointment no less bitter because it was so near.

It was in the second half that Massillon in five straight line bucks had torn the Akron line to shreds and advanced the ball to the one-yard line.  It was third down and the goal to go.  A hurried consultation was called and a silent signal decided upon.  Without a word the ball was passed to Sonnhalter who waded headlong into Massillon’s right side.  Akron’s defense was massed in a tangled heap behind the play and Massillon was held for downs.  In two downs Akron carried the ball through Massillon’s disorganized defense to the center of the field.  On the third play Massillon, enraged at the turn of affairs, was again on the job with its stonewall defense and smothered the play behind the line before it had started.  At this time Massillon again returned to form, and began to shove Akron back again but nothing was accomplished before the half ended.

Perhaps the most spectacular play of the game was Erb’s fling tackle from the rear, which brought Ross to the ground and saved the game and Massillon’s inviolable goal line.  Ross had broken through Massillon’s line, cleared the backfield and was off like a shot for the goal, fifty yards away, through a clear field.  Massillon’s heart dropped, until Erb gave chase.  The big tackle gained all but ten feet on the Akron back and then left his feet, covering the remaining distance with a long dive, which landed on Ross at the knees.  Aside from this Massillon’s goal was threatened but once and then only at a distance of fifteen yards.

Akron, evidently judging from last year’s score, expected something on the order of a
walk-away.  Mass received on the kickoff and it took about six seconds of smashing, crashing football to disabuse the visitors of this idea.  When Massillon started in on its heavy interference formations and tricks, Akron realized that they were up against it for fair, and acted accordingly.  From this time on it was nip and tuck from start to finish.  Massillon played a slow but terrific offense, which tore through Akron’s line time and again for consistent gains.

Akron played a whirlwind offense, which would have carried a less experienced team off its feet, but Massillon was Johnny on the spot and ready to deliver the goods at all hours of the day and night.  At times Akron gained through Massillon’s line, and once in a great while broke around end, but all in all, Massillon’s defense was invulnerable.  Akron played a wide open defense with ends back, calculated to catch all forward passes, and open playing.  For this reason Massillon was able to hammer the line in great shape.  Aside from straight football Akron had especially two plays which were foolers until Massillon got wise.  One was a backward pass on an end run, and the other a forward to the right half.  The first worked several times and the latter but once.  Massillon soon got next to the first, and followed the second close, but not in time to stop it, the only time it worked successfully.  Although Massillon was outweighed considerably it played by far the heavier game.  Akron played a fast game but were not as quick individually as the Massillon team.

Heyman did Massillon’s punting until he was removed at the end of the first half on account of injuries received two weeks ago.  Blackburn booted the leather thereafter and covered Heyman’s distance but without Fritz’s elusive spiral.  The Akron punter had a good spiral but was out-punted by both of Massillon’s kickers.  Much of Blackburn’s kicking was blocked on account of advancing too near the line before kicking.

Massillon’s team played individually like an aggregation of all stars and collectively like a clock.  Blackburn played everywhere all the time. He punted, carried back punts and tore large gaps in Akron’s line as big as a barn through which he played for gains.  Once after a punt of forty yards he went down the field and dropped the runner in his tracks.  Sonnhalter played his usual plunging game at full and was in for the obituary on all of Akron’s attempted forwards.  The backfield played well together.  Atwater mixed up  the signals well and kept Akron guessing on most of  the plays, beside playing a general all round game otherwise.

Massillon’s line was alive and kicking from the word go.  The three guards, Heyman, McConnell and Zintsmaster, played hard and aggressive ball without a relapse.  Wagner and Erb, at tackles, were towers of strength on either side of the line and at times carried the ball for considerable gains.  Miller, at left end, put up a fast and speedy game at all times, and Ellis, at right end, played a crashing defensive game that was death to interference.

Leahy, at center, backed up the line in great shape and managed to land in the center of every play that was made, often breaking through and blocking one behind the lines.

The line-up and summary:

Massillon —  0                 Pos.               Akron – 0
Miller                                le                 Williams, Sisler
Erb                                    lt                 Baer
Zintsmaster, Heyman         lg                 Saalfield
Leahy                                c                 Walsmith
McConnell                        rg                 Foltz, Doyle
Wagner                             rt                 Crisp
Ellis                                   re                 Zook
Atwater                            qb                Weeks
Wells                                lh                 Zollinger (capt.)
Blackburn                         rh                 Ross
Sonnhalter                         fb                 Criss

Time of halves:  25 and 30 minutes.

Referee and umpire, alternating – Merwin and Ambel.
Head Linesman – Bast.
Timeskeeper – Vogt.

History

1908: Massillon 0 Akron 40

AKRON HIGH TOO
MUCH FOR THEM
Massillon Stacks Up Against
a Snag and Loses Out.

SCORE – AKRON  40    MASSILLON   0
The Akron Team Took Twenty-nine Points in the First Half,
but Massillon Tightened Up and Held it to Eleven in the Second.

Akron high’s beef, speed and superior team work was too much for the Massillon high school eleven, which met the Akron school at Akron Saturday.  After forty-five minutes of play Massillon retired from the contest forty-four points in the hole and without a score to its credit.  Unlike the score, however, the playing was not all one sided.  Massillon played in general a hard game but it could not prevail against hits heavier opponents.  There was some good individual playing on the part of the Massillon players, but the general team work was loose and afforded Akron, which played well together, a chance to open up the weak spots.  A good sized score was piled up by Akron in spite of the fact that most of the penalties of the game were called against its players.  Off side playing was the offense losing most of the ground.

The only play which Akron was unable to play was its forward pass.  The play called a man far too one side who was to receive the ball and throw it over the line.  Massillon, however, guarded the man well and the ball was never thrown.  Instead the player cut into the line and was downed without gain.  Other forward passes were broken up by Massillon, causing Akron to lose much on penalties.  Akron’s largest gains were made by straight line bucking.  Weak spots were found all along.  Holes were opened and the runner trotted through, for substantial gains each time.  A triple pass from a tandem on tackle also worked well for Akron.

Massillon was usually held for downs and forced to punt.  Snavely did the kicking.  Massillon’s line did not hold well and consequently the backfield was unable to form proper interference.  Considering the odds Massillon put up a tolerable game.  Akron averaged over 150 pounds while Massillon averages nearer 135.  Akron was also much faster and showed excellent team work.  The first touchdown was made on a fumble sidewise pass, but all the rest were put over the line on straight football.  Only one goal was kicked.  A goal from field counted Akron 4.  Massillon did not take an official along but received an eminently square deal in all parts of the game.

Following is the line-up:

Akron        Pos.        Massillon
Hollinger        le          Atwater, Richards
Zimmerman     lt                 Erb
Scheck, Boath                      lg       Blackburn
Franks            c             Reese
Anderson      rg         Burkhart, Leahy and Moody
Criss              rt               Clay
Williams, Ault re              Wells
Quinn           qb          Bowers, Atwater
Baer, Smith, Sigel              lh  Hammersmith
Jackson         rh           Snavely
Zook, Smith  fb              Davis

Time of halves – 20 and 25 minutes.

Touchdowns:
Akron – Jackson  3; Zook; Zimmerman  2; Hollinger.

Place kick:
Akron – Jackson.

Referee – Cally.
Umpire – Stevens.
Time Keeper – Hall and Moore.
Linesmen – Cass, Blackwood and Leahy.

History

1903: Massillon 0 Akron 26

AKRON HIGH WON Massillon High School Defeated by Score of 26 – 0

The Massillon high school, strengthened by the presence of Gans, of Navarre, Harrison and Myers, were snowed under by the heavy Akron high school football team, Saturday afternoon, on the high school grounds by the score of 26 to 0.

The locals lacked the weight and practice which aided the visitors to pile up such a large score. At times the locals would take a brace and march towards their opponents’ goal line, only to be held at critical periods and prevented from scoring. Myers, Albright and Gans played the game for the locals.

Line-up:

Massillon Positions Akron Tucker C. Fuchs Hollinger R.G. Wynn Stoner L.G. Clause Burkhart R.T. Zeisloft Kaylor L.T. Fuedner Smith R.E. Mars Gans L.E. Kirk Schnierle R.H. Albrecht Myers L.H. Williams Albright F.B. H. Fuedner Harrison Q.B. Gregory (Cap.)