Cloud 9, the nimbus heaven reserved for great moments, lost its most recent occupant today as the Massillon Tigers began preparing for Friday’s game against the Mansfield Tygers at Mansfield.
The Tigers reached the heights Saturday night in defeating Niles McKinley 14-8 at the Akron Rubber bowl. Massillon came from behind to dump last years state champions and snap a Red Dragon 48-game undefeated streak started in 1959.
The crowd, a record 28,169 attendance for a high school game, sat throughout a tense and bruising battle and watched as Niles threatened to tie and possibly go ahead with 2:21 remaining. But the Tigers held, and again lived up to a rich and proud tradition of being the best in Ohio schoolboy football.
“I’ve seen it so many times before,” said a visiting newspaperman, well-acquainted with the Tigers. “Your boys come up to the BIG game with poise and confidence, no matter how much of an underdog they happen to be.”
And the 1964 Tigers had plenty of both as they halted the Niles streak that threatened to beak the 52-game undefeated streak compiled by Massillon in the late 30’s and early 40’s.
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BOTH TEAMS had the ball twice in the first quarter with the Tigers losing it the first time on a fumble at the Niles 28. Niles was unable to move the ball past its 38 and punted to the Massillon 33. The Tigers, who wound up with a minus 2 yards in the first quarter, booted out to the 32 after failing to make a first down.
Niles took possession of the ball and started a 15-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that extended into the second quarter. With Mel Dixon and Cee Ellison, the 215-pound, honorable-mention All-Ohioan fullback carrying and quarterback George Infante connecting with passes of 16 and 11 yards to Dixon and McQueen, respectively, Niles moved to the Massillon 6 at the end of the first quarter.
Ellison cracked the Tiger line for 3 yards and tried a second time for no gain. Dixon then took the ball to a foot from the goal line. With fourth and inches to go Ellison went over his left guard to score for Niles with the clock showing 10:12 in the second quarter. Ellison ran the 2 points on a pitchout around his right end, shaking off a neck tackle, to make the score 8-0 in Niles’ favor.
Massillon took the kickoff on its 15 and Dave Sheegog, junior, quarterback, ran it back to the 38. Ed Herring advanced it 3 yards to the 41, Jim Lawrence, who rejoined the team last week, moved the ball another 3 to the 44. Halfback Bob Hewitt picked up another 3 but the Tigers were forced to punt. While the series of plays did not gain much yardage it was important in one phase. The Tiger backfield found its timing, something it lacked in its first game against Cleveland East. Kanner punted to the 30 to end the drive.
Niles picked up a first down in 3 plays and then got 2 more on the ground before Infante had 2 incomplete passes with safety-man John Frieg breaking up the second. Infante, punted to the Massillon 28 from where Sheegog ran it back to the 39, and the Tigers were on their way.
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KANNER THREW a quick 13-yard pass to end Rick Paige for a first down on the Niles 48. Herring slashed into the Niles line for 7 yards to the 41and Hewitt picked up 3 more to the 38 for the first down.
On the next play, Lawrence started wide around his left end, evaded 2 Niles tacklers at the line of scrimmage and set sail down the sidelines for a 38-yard touchdown run. The last Niles defender was cleared out of the way at the 2 by a jolting block thrown by 160-pound guard Tom Whitfield. Hewitt picked up the 2 extra points over his right side to tie the score at 8-all with 2:52 remaining.
Massillon’s Dave Paul booted to the 12 and Niles brought the ball out to the 25. The Dragons picked up a yard as the Massillon defense held on. With second and 9, Ellison started around the Tiger left end. Wes Goodnough grabbed onto the big fullback’s elbows and as more Tigers hit him Ellison fumbled and the ball bounced loose on the 27 where linebacker John Muhlback and safety John Frieg recovered.
A quick pass to Paige from Kanner for 5 yards. Lawrence hit into the line for a first down on the 16. Kanner then found Paige all alone in the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. A run for the extra points by Herring was short and the Tigers were ahead 14-8 with 59 seconds in the half.
The third quarter found both teams shoving each other between the 30-yard lines. Massillon fans had a few anxious moments when the Tigers went for a 4th and 1 situation on their own 47 and failed to make the yard. Niles tried 3 straight passes and all were incomplete. A short kick gave Niles the ball on their own 44 after the Tigers failed to move. Halfback Phil Ziegler picked down with an 8-yard pickup. Ellison got 8 and Dixon 4 more for another first down on the Massillon 33.
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THE TIGERS DEFENSE stiffened as 2 tries at the Massillon line yielded 5 yards. On a 3rd and 5 situation Niles tried a pass that was incomplete. Niles relied on Ellison with 4th and 5 but he was able to get only a yard against the Tiger defense.
With Sheegog replacing Kanner at quarterback after the senior signal caller suffered leg cramps, the Tigers held the ball (unreadable) plays and picked up 3 first downs in moving to the (unreadable). With 4th and 7, Sheegog was thrown for a 6-yard loss, giving the Dragons the ball on their own 33 with 4:26 remaining.
In 3 plays Niles had a first down on their 47. A 6-yard run by Zielger moved the ball to the 46. Two incomplete passes made it 4th and four. Infante found Mel Dixon all alone up the middle for a 22-yard gain, the Tiger secondary bringing the speedy back down on the 24 with 2:21 remaining.
Ellison picked up a yard and Dixon gained 7 to the 16. Dixon picked up a first down to the 13. Niles tried the pass up the middle and almost made it but the ball was a little too high for the receiver.
With second and 10, Infante went back to pass but found tackle Jim Binge looming in front of him and tried to run to the left where Larry Larsuel knifed through and dropped him for a 5-yard loss to the 18, with 1:28 left in the game. Niles tried 2 more passes, both of which were incomplete and Massillon took over on its own 17 and ran out the clock for its second win of the season.
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THE MASSILLON dressing room was a scene of bedlam when Tiger fans and well-wishers were admitted after the game. Coach Earle Bruce, whose first Massillon team hurdled the defending state champs in the second game of the season, said he felt “like somebody gave me a million dollars.” Bruce termed Lawrence’s touchdown run the key play of the game and said the Tigers stopped the powerful Niles running attack by hitting hard.
In the Niles dressing room, Coach Glenn Stennett, who took over when Tony Mason left for the University of Michigan, was downcast as were his boys. Stennett said, “Massillon played a great game. We have no excuses. Our kids played a good game, but not good enough. My congratulations to Massillon.”
While the Massillon victory was really a team effort, there were several standout performances as the game films showed. Co-captain John Muhlback earned the player-of-the-week award by getting his man 72 per cent of the time. On defense Muhlback made 13 individual tackles and had 5 assists.
Lineman honors went to guard Larry Larsuel who got his man 65 per cent of the time and who on defense freed Muhlback by handling the Niles tackles. Backfield honors went to Bob Hewitt for his blocking and running.
The movies also showed guard Tom Whitfield as one of the out-standing 2-way players. Dave Whitfield came in for a share of the honors on defense as did Jim Binge. Terry Manson and Ed Herring also did well on blocking assignments and Herring kept up the fine running he displayed in the East game. Offensive tackles Dennis Rambaud and Dennis Morgan also were praised.
BRUCE ALSO credited Sheegog and Gene Biddle for the job they did in replacing injured regulars. Sheegog played quarterback after Kanner went out with leg cramps and Biddle took over at linebacker when Paul Marks also left with leg cramps.
Special credit went to the sophomore team which last week ran the Niles offensive and defensive patterns in scrimmage.
Saturday’s game was the fifth meeting between the schools. Massillon has won all 5, scoring 160 points to Niles 14.
STATISTICS Mass. Niles First downs—rushing 6 8 First downs—passing 3 3 First downs—penalties 0 1 Total first downs 9 12 Yards gained rushing 150 132 Yards lost rushing 20 15 Total number of plays 45 61 Net yards gained rushing 130 117 Net yards gained passing 48 67 Total yards gained 178 184 Passes attempted 5 19 Passes completed 4 5 Passes intercepted by 0 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 0 0 Times kicked off 2 2 Kickoff average (yards) 46 46 Kickoff returns (yards) 36 36 Times punted 4 4 Punt average (yards) 30.3 32 Punt returns (yards) 31 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 2 3 Lost fumbled ball 1 2 Penalties 1 2 Yards penalized 15 10 Touchdowns rushing 1 1 Touchdowns passing 1 0 Touchdowns by interception 0 0 Miscellaneous 0 0
Officials John Agnone (Youngstown) referee. Joe Romano (Mansfield) umpire. Jim Langhurst (Williard) field judge. John Holzback (Youngstown) head linesman. Bill Shaughnessy (Akron) back judge.
Strang Admits He Called ‘Poor’ Contest At Akron Tigers To Practice On Running Game
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
It takes a big man to admit he made a mistake. Washington high Coach Leo Strang can be put into that category today.
After viewing movies Sunday of his charges 13-6 loss to Akron Garfield Saturday night at the Akron Rubber Bowl before 19,598 fans, the skipper said, “There’s no doubt about it, I called a poor game. There were too many wrong calls. We should have run more, that’s for sure.”
He said the Bengals will do a lot of work on their running game this week in preparation for the invasion of the Mansfield Tygers Friday, in an effort to boost their season’s record to 2-1.
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Strang listed two other factors as important in the loss. “Our passing was not up to par,” he said. “The timing was off. We missed come completions by inches. Garfield was tremendously high. They pointed more towards the game than we did. We did not underestimate them, however. They were able to put special emphasis on their ‘big game of the year.’ We cannot put special emphasis on every game. They have a good team. It will take a good team to beat them.”
Strang was pleased with his defense. Except for a disastrous fumble and a bad breakdown on one play, the Tigers did a good job in this respect. “I would be tickled to death if our defense played that way all the time,” Strang said. “We did make a few mistakes that have to be corrected, however.”
Garfield Coach Dan (Babe) Flossie had a plan after watching the Tigers in action the preceding week and it paid off. Athletic Director Harry Kidder spoke for Flossie who took off rapidly with his team after the game – the Rams dress at their school rather than at the Rubber Bowl.
“Massillon’s whole offense is their passing,” Kidder said. “We planned to give them their running game and take away their passing threat and we did it.”
The Rams dropped back five and six pass defenders and double and sometimes triple teamed ends Will Perry and Floyd Pierce and wingback Bill Blunt. Blunt, the team’s leading receiver was able to catch only one pass.
“He caught that one,” Kidder said, “because one of our halfbacks thought he was on the other side of the field and didn’t cover properly.”
The Orange and Black completed only seven of 22 passes for 106 yards to add to 65 net rushing for a 171 total. Only 10 of the aerial yards came in the second half and only 15 of the ground total. The Tigers lost 37 yards rushing.
Garfield, on the other hand, lost only 8 and gained 224 total yards, 188 rushing. Only 36 yards came through the air. But the Rams completed two of the three passes they threw, one on a touchdown drive.
Massillon led in first downs 9-7. That was the only other department in which the Tigers bettered the Rams.
All this was a hard pill for the Tigers to swallow. The first loss to an Akron school since South turned the trick 7-6 in 1931 could prove disastrous to Massillon’s hopes for a comeback state championship this season.
The Tigers were the first to get an offensive going early in the second stanza. After a Garfield punt was run back 10 yards by Bill Blunt, the Bengals scored in four plays, picking up a first down in the process.
On third down from the 50-yard line, quarterback Ron Swartz connected with Blunt on a play that covered to the Garfield 23. On the next play Swartz hit Perry for the remainder of the distance with 9:07 remaining in the quarter. Swartz tried another aerial to Perry for the conversion, but it failed.
Floyd Pierce hauled in a Garfield aerial on his 45 after Bender’s 36-yard runback of the kickoff and it looked as if the Orange and Black was ready to roll again. But they lost the ball on downs.
After a Garfield punt, the Tigers got to the Rams 26 on two nice runs of 11 and 18 yards up the center by Jim Lawrence and a reverse by Blunt. There the Rams held.
On the next play Ed Bender broke off tackle and streaked 74 yards for the tying touchdown, with 1:49 remaining completely outdistancing the WHS secondary which was playing in close. All of Steve Kanner’s fine punting – three times behind the 10-yard line – had gone for naught. Bender booted the tie-breaking point.
Blunt made a fine runback of 31 yards on which he was temporarily put out of action by a jarring tackle. Then the Bengals drove to the Garfield nine near the end of the half but were stymied again. The Tigers moved 56 yards from their own 35 in six plays with four first downs.
There was some more fine running by Lawrence4 – one 15-yard distance – and a 28-yard pass from Swartz to Pierce from the Garfield 37 to the nine.
The second half was strictly Garfield’s. Halfbacks Bender, John Butash and fullback Cliff Watson started churning up the Rubber Bowl turf. They continued to drape themselves with glory because of their work in the defensive secondary. The Garfield line completely stymied the Bengals except for one stretch in the last quarter.
So well did Bender, Butash and Watson run the ball that the Rams hung on to it for practically all of the third canto. The Tigers got only two series of plays – six straight downs – at about the midway point.
Near the end of the period Blunt fumbled a punt and guard Bob Sine recovered for Garfield on the Tigers’ 21. By the time the 11:24 mark of the last stanza had arrived, the Rams had put the winning margin on the score board. Butash went over from the one after five plays and two first downs but missed the conversion.
The Orange and Black had its last big drive right after the kickoff. Tom Gatsios came up with a 24-yard runback to put the ball on the Tiger 39.
With Jim Lawrence doing most of the running through the center as the Bengals tried to get their ground game going, Massillon managed to get to the Rams’ 25 after 10 plays and three first downs. But linebacker Marion Della Serra broke through on fourth and three and tossed Lawrence for an eight-yard loss. The Tigers never threatened again.
MASSILLON – 6 Ends – Pierce, Perry, Hose, Jones, Goodnough and McAllister. Tackles – Tarle, Miller, Binge and Morgan. Guards – Castile, Larsuel, Paflas, Swisher, Rivera, Paul, Mulhbach and Whitfield. Centers – Scassa and Frank. Quarterbacks – Swartz, Gatsios and Kanner. Halfbacks – Blunt, Getz, Eckard, Rink Schenkenberger and Shanor. Fullbacks – Lawrence and Hewitt.
GARFIELD – 13 Ends – Young, Wright and Malone. Tackles – Hamric, Nemith and Apley. Guards – Cianociola, Puckett, Vance and Sine. Center – Brockett. Quarterback – Hannig. Halfbacks – Bender, Butash, Adam and Della Serra. Fullback – Watson.
Massillon 0 6 0 0 6 Garfield 0 7 0 6 13
Touchdowns: Massillon – Perry (23-yard pass from Swartz). Garfield – Bender (74-yard run); Butash (one-yard run).
Points after touchdowns: Bender (placement).
Officials Referee – George Ellis (Akron). Umpire – Tony Pianowski (Cleveland). Head Linesman – John Cseh (Akron). Field Judge – Harvey Hodgson, Jr. (Massillon)
GAME STATISTICS Mass. Opp. First downs, rushing 5 5 First downs, passing 4 2 First downs, penalties 0 0 Total first downs 9 7 Yards gained rushing 102 196 Yards lost rushing 37 8 Net yards gained rushing 65 188 Yards gained passing 106 36 Total yards gained 171 224 Passes attempted 22 3 Passes completed 7 2 Passes intercepted by 1 1 Times kicked off 2 3 Kickoff average (yards) 51.0 50.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 79 46 Times punted 5 6 Punt average (yards) 39.6 44.0 Punt returns (yards) 6 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 2 2 Lost fumbled ball 1 1 Penalties 2 5 Yards penalized. 20 25
Massillon Defeats Alliance in Rubber Bowl Grid Classic, 40-0
Underdog Aviators Cover Themselves With Glory in Defeat, Time After Time Halting Bengals; More Than 34,000 See School Boy Battle
Alliance High School’s Aviators and Massillon Washington’s Tigers staged the greatest scholastic football show northeastern Ohio has ever seen, Friday night, when they battled in the Akron Rubber Bowl, before a throng of more than 34,000 fans.
Massillon’s Tigers, as expected, won the game. The Bengals triumphed 40 to 0 but they had to fight for nearly every point and the underdog Aviators covered themselves with glory in defeat.
Fighting all the way, Alliance held Massillon to one touchdown in the opening quarter, two in the second and blanked the Tigers in the third frame. It was the first time this season that Massillon’s first eleven has been held scoreless for an entire quarter.
Breaks Help Tigers
Massillon tallied three touchdowns in the final quarter and some breaks were necessary to make this possible. Otherwise the Tigers would have had to settle for less and Massillon fans who had wagered on 40 points or more would have had to pay off.
As it was, Alliance gave Massillon the stiffest fight it has had so far, and the lowest score the Tigers have won by. The Tigers met grueling resistance all the way and the Aviators tackled viciously doling out a real body beating. When it was over Massillon knew it had been to a football game.
Tigers Win Toss
Massillon won the toss and elected to receive. Alliance was defending the south goal. Earl Branfield kicked off and big Horace Gillom returned to Massillon’s 45-yard line. On the first play Ray Getz was flopped for a five-yard loss. Then Getz picked up 10 yards and a first down on a reverse. Steve Luca, Alliance fullback, was hurt on the play but stayed in the game.
“Pokey” Blunt made a first down on the alliance 45. Tom James picked up six yards before he was nailed by Bill Snodgrass. On an end around play, Gillom took the ball from James and ran 39 yards for the first touchdown. He had perfect blocking to get him into the clear. With James holding the ball, Getz placekicked the extra point.
Alliance Threatens
Gillom then kicked off to Alliance and Charles Gainor returned to the Alliance 28. Fullback Luca broke through for seven yards on the first play. When Gainor and Luca added only yard in two plays Gainor punted and Nick Stoica hit Tom James, Massillon safety man, hard and he fumbled on the Massillon six. Stoica recovered the ball to put Alliance in scoring position.
It was the first time this season any opponent had held the ball inside the Massillon 30-yard line. Massillon held for downs on the one-yard stripe. Blunt picked up three yards and then Gillom punted out to the Massillon 44.
Gainor punted to the Massillon 12 where James was thrown hard. Massillon then reeled off two first downs to hold the ball on the Alliance 47 as the opening quarter ended.
When play was resumed Massillon drove to the 27 but there the Aviators’ defense stiffened and they took the ball on downs. Snodgrass and Gainor made but little yardage in two plays and Gainor punted to the Massillon 41 without a return.
Second Touchdown
James passed to Gillom for a first down on the Alliance 42. Blunt drove to the Alliance 29 and James broke away to the 14. Gillom then took the ball on an end around play and picked up two yards. James then fumbled as he started to run but recovered as the ball bounced perfectly into his hands and he scored the second touchdown. Getz placekicked the extra point making it 14-0.
Gillom kicked off for Massillon to the Alliance 35. Gainor then threw the only pass the Aviators attempted and it was intercepted by James. It was the Tigers’ ball on their own 44. Gillom picked up 11 yards and James passed to Kingham for a first down on the Alliance 33. James ran to the 24. This advance was stopped when Blunt fumbled but recovered on the Alliance 37. Alliance held for downs on its 27. Gainor punted to the Massillon 38.
Massillon then opened a drive for its third touchdown. Getz took a pass from James for a first down on the Alliance 21. James broke to the nine. Alliance was penalized five yards to the four. Getz crashed over for the touchdown. He then missed his placement boot and the score was 20-0.
Massillon Is Halted
At the outset of the third quarter after the Tigers had regained possession of the ball on their 49 when Gainor punted, they drove to the Alliance 39, where Carl Castiglione stopped the advance by intercepting a flat pass from James.
Gainor punted to the Massillon 47 without a return. Massillon then drove to the Alliance 13 but once more the Aviators held for downs.
Massillon shortly after came storming back but the Aviators stopped this advance on the one-foot line. Gainor then punted out to the Alliance 40. Gillom punted over the Alliance goal line and the Aviators took possession on their own 20. Gainor punted to Massillon’s 41. Just as the quarter ended Massillon made a first down on the Alliance 30.
Adams passed to Gillom for 30 yards and a touchdown as the final period opened. Getz placekicked the goal making it 27-0. Soon after an exchange of punts, Massillon took the ball on the Alliance 48.
Passes by Adams to Gillom placed the ball on the 11 and Blunt then scored on a reverse. Getz placekicked the goal making it 34-0.
Young Eddie Howell fumbled and Massillon recovered on the Alliance 24 to set the stage for the final touchdown. After losing yardage on three running plays Adams passed to Robinson for the score. The Aviators blocked Getz’s placement attempt making the final score 40 to 0.
Coach Paul Brown of Massillon left his first stringers in the game until the closing minutes of the final period. The statistics favored Massillon by a heavy margin but the Aviators’ brave-hearted defense in the clutch kept the score down.
Massillon registered 19 first downs to one for Alliance and picked up a net total of 341 yards to 34 for the Aviators. The Tigers completed 10 of 18 aerials tossed to net 161 yards and two of these tosses brought touchdowns. Alliances only pass was intercepted.
The Tigers were penalized 40 yards to five for Alliance. Gillom of Massillon punted four times averaging 43 yards. Gainor booted 12 times and averaged 30 yards. Two of this kicks were good for 45 and one for 50 yards.
The game was sponsored by the Akron Junior League. Alliance sent a giant motor cavalcade of fans to the game. The cavalcade was led by a Stark County sheriff’s patrol.
Before the game the Alliance and Massillon Bands participated in the flag raising ceremony. The Massillon Senior and Junior Bands staged a colorful halftime show. The Massillon Senior Band also put on a short show following the game.
Lineups and summary follow:
Massillon – 40 Pos. Alliance – 0 Robinson L.E. Addison Broglio L.T. Stoica Russell L.G. Iannoti Appleby C Ruff Wallace R.G. Boschini Henderson R.T. Welbush Gillom R.E. Branfield Kingham Q Gainor Getz L.H. C. Castiglione James R.H. Snodgrass Blunt F Luca
Score by quarters: Massillon 7 13 0 20 – 40
Touchdowns: James 2, Getz, Gillom, Blunt and Robinson.
AN AKRON high school coach thinks the staging of the Alliance-Massillon high school football game here Friday night was “an insult to every coach and schoolboy player in Akron.”
Every man is entitled to his own opinion and if that is his, that’s all right. From our observations around town yesterday; from conversations heard everywhere; from countless phone calls from fans who just wanted to say they had never before dreamed such a complete football show was possible, I’d like to say that this coach’s opinion is definitely in the minority.
IS IT WRONG to entertain our neighbor’s children simply because we happen to have children of our own?
If and when it becomes wrong to permit two teams to play on a neutral field in a neutral city, then there could be no Army-Navy game in Philadelphia, because Jefferson Medical college, Pierce, and Penn Charter school are all located there.
And Baltimore never again could have this great classic of the service elevens because Calvert school is in Baltimore.
Never again could Cleveland entertain Notre Dame and Illinois or the Navy-Notre Dame game, because Spencerian college might interpret the invasion of these outside elevens as a direct insult.
TO WHICH we say phooey. Spectacles like that presented by Massillon and Alliance teams, bands, majorettes and other units are of definite benefit to any community.
This one pulled a great throng because it is so unusual for Akron fans to have opportunity to see anything like it.
Let Akron schools put on the same kind of show and there would be no advantage in bringing in two out of town outfits.
Football fans have to be satisfied. For 55 cents Friday night they could see a brilliantly staged three-hour show replete in unusual, novel and highly entertaining features.
If 27,000 or more persons elected to see the Friday night show than attended a city series game here yesterday afternoon, that certainly was within their rights to do so.
AKRON COACHES have complained to me that they do not get paid for coaching. They are school teachers and coaching athletic teams is a sideline diversion, they want one to understand.
They do not want to be criticized for any shortcomings in building strong football clubs. They want criticism directed at higher school administrative officers.
Nobody is attempting to argue that Akron teams do not provide keen competition and thrilling contests. They do.
Massillon simply has perfected a great football machine and a super band show, which ranks among the greatest the nation has ever known. By no stretch of imagination can we figure out why it is an insult to anybody in letting Akronites see this show without having to go out of town.
THE MASSILLON story is becoming one of national importance. During the next few weeks you will read it in practically every newspaper in the country.
Massillon itself does not go after this publicity. The publicists are coming to Massillon.
During the recent conclave of sports writers at the World Series, the Massillon story was told dozens of times by Fritz Howell, Lew Byrer, Robert Olds, this writer, and other Ohioans, to the anxiour ears of writers from Louisville, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Newark, New Orleans, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and scores of other cities where good high school football is known and appreciated.
These fellows either have written it by now or will be writing the story soon. The nation’s largest newspaper syndicate is preparing articles on Massillon for release in the immediate future.
In every line of endeavor it is nice to have some one unit excel; to stand out far above all others; to illustrate just how this particular endeavor should be done….properly.
It might be a Bobby Jones in golf, the old Yankees in baseball; a Bobby Riggs in tennis. For complete football show it is Massillon.
Some Frown On Program
WE KNOW full well that some persons look unkindly upon this game and this great spectacle. And some will complain about parking and others about slow ticket handling…
This is something new in athletic ventures for Akron and there are bound to be some rough edges in the operation. Most of these rough places will disappear in time as Akronites become accustomed to the stadium and how to reach it with the least inconveniences…
But every good Akron fan will go out of his way tonight to help make the program the more enjoyable for the many guests from out of town. Some of the benefits from this stunt of showing Akron’s neighbors how easy it is to come to Akron will make their appearances long after this football program has been written into the books…
And if it should work out that Akron university begins to attract athletes from Alliance and Massillon that will be an added benefit that will make itself felt in the improved caliber of Tommy Dowler’s Zippers.
Best direct benefit from tonight’s affair – not considering now the child welfare work the program will help carry on – would be for Akron’s own high school teams to look upon it as a challenge, and to set in at once to determine the two best local elevens and to plan for a meeting on the Rubber Bowl gridiron as a climax to the current season.
Then, with every Akron school contributing to the color and the pageantry or to the game itself, tonight’’ spectacle must be surpassed. And with it, the crowd. ++++++++++++++ SOME OF THESE days the new stadium is going to be completed. It is nearer completion today than it was last Friday but not by any great measure.
Maybe if the president had decided to stop off long enough this evening to take a look at WPA’s handiwork at the stadium, the edifice would be completed today as though by miracle.
“Big League Stuff,” Says Little Old Man At Rubber Bowl
It’s Nothing Else
By EDDIE BUTLER
A LITTLE old man, who admitted he had come out to be surprised, settled himself comfortably on row 34 directly behind the southeast goal post for last night’s Massillon-Alliance charity grid battle, beamed as people swarmed in from all angles of Akron’s palatial Rubber Bowl and, tickled as a kid with a new toy, quipped: “Boy, this is the big leagues.”
And the 30,000 fans who witnessed the complete show – a rip-snorting, football battle, a glamorous band performance, and a colorful fireworks display, will agree he said a mouthful.
But the best part of the whole affair was that everyone present had a seat where the show could be seen, followed and enjoyed.
More than surprised with what he had seen, the little old man remarked as he got up to leave; “This is the first time in my life I paid general admission prices for a ringside seat.”
And the crowd got plenty of action for its kopeks. Alliance had Massillon so completely scouted that the Aviators made the going anything but a breeze for Paul Brown’s grand aggregation. It was the first time this year that the Tigers had seen an enemy on the wrong side of the Massillon 30 when Alliance recovered a fumble in the first period, and the Aviators are the only team that forced Brown to keep his first string in action for four quarters.
It was power and speed that saved the Tigers. The Aviators had the Tigers’ trick stuff down so well that only on the Tigers’ initial touchdown was it effective.
The fans expected to see a faultless Tiger eleven in action – and they did. But it was the band’s antics that left’em gasping.
At their best for this show, the Tiger bandettes quickly reviewed all their regular stuff – and then wowed the spectators with a flag formation done with lights after the big stadium lamps had been extinguished.
Almost without hesitation, the band offered a salute to Alliance, roared down the field with “Hold that Tiger,” came back with “Rampart St. Parade,” and then offered imitations of a Dixieland band with a brass section playing and the rest of the band doing a dance step. In the post-game performance the band played “Take Down the Flag,” and then concluded a brilliant performance with a novelty number that included a military march, a Dutch dance, a swing tune and a hillbilly hop – and this called “Mutiny in the Band,” just about stole the show.
A tribute to the band’s performance is the fact that few persons moved from their seats until the bandettes rolled off down the field.
But that was the senior band. The Massillon junior high crew, a 100-piece organization, was sensational. Few college bands would have attempted the routine offered by the juniors. Like its footballers, Massillon doesn’t have a worry over band members. Its growing’em.
An announcement over the public address system by Bob Wilson that a car was parked and securely locked in the parking lot with the motor running drew one of the evening’s big laughs.
The second guessers among us in the closed end of the stadium thought the Massillon captain erred in the third period when he refused a penalty against Alliance after the Aviators had successfully punted out from their own one-yard line. The Tigers had the ball on Alliance’s 39 – and the Tiger captain figured he had the ball and he’d keep it. His judgment was soon vindicated as the Tigers marched to a touchdown.
The skin worn by Obie the Tiger mascot is a $400 creation.
Many persons are asking today: “How does the Massillon band do it?” The answer is that George “Red” Bird, the school’s music director and bandmaster, with his advisors, Myron McKelvey, assistant director, and Mac Wickersham, dramatic director, work all performance details out on a blackboard before the band ever hears about them.
Then Bird introduces the outline to the band, McKelvey takes the majorettes, and Wickersham provides the properties.
Only after the band has mastered the details – and its precision last night was remarkable – and the majorettes have learned their cues, and all the properties have been obtained is the idea presented to the Massillon fans.
A gent who claimed to be a member of the Massillon booster club insisted it is tougher to make the band than it is to make the Tiger football team. Even now the horn-tooters are four deep – and there is a long waiting list.
You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen the black and silver outfits of the Tiger majorettes. The girls appeared first in all white – and did a quick change for their half-time strut in skin-tight shorts and jackets that are just about the niftiest outfits ever seen here.
End Earle Branfield of Alliance will be the topic of discussion in Massillon football circles for a long time. This powerful youngster defied the famed Tiger blockers – and was mainly responsible for the failure of the Tiger “mystery stuff” to click.
A souvenir seeker in the end section got his sports mixed and wanted to keep the ball when the Alliance place-kicker booted it into the stands during the pre-game practice. The Aviators’ student manager almost had to knock him down to recover the ball.
Golf Pro Johnny Coughlin of Silver Lake CC was one of those raving over the grandeur of the Rubber Bowl. “Akron certainly has got something to brag about now. This place must be one of the finest in the country,” he offered.
Few persons cared that Massillon won, 40-0. Even the Alliance team and its rooters went home with the satisfaction that the Tigers knew they had been in a ball game, and that the greatest crowd ever to see a high school competition in these parts had roared a hearty “well done” when the timer’s gun sounded.
AVIATORS SHOW GREAT DEFENSE
Tigers Gain At Will In Middle Of Field But Have Hard Time Moving Ball Inside The 25-Yard Lines In Stark County Title Tilt
By LUTHER EMERY
A gallant band of red and blue clad Alliance football players, tried their utmost Friday evening to shock the Ohio scholastic football firmament, by beating Massillon, and though they succeeded in part where four others failed, they eventually went down to a 40-0 defeat.
While 33,000 fans, the largest crowd either team has ever played before and probably the largest crowd ever to attend a scholastic football game in Ohio, looked on in awe, the Alliance gridders, fighting like gamecocks, held the Tigers to one touchdown the first period and completely whitewashed them the third quarter.
Alliance Keyed for Game
What was wrong with Massillon? You will hear that wherever you go today. The Tigers were sluggish, but they also were up against one of the fightinest, gamest ball clubs they have faced in a long, long time.
Massillon was ripe for an upset, and Alliance pointed as it was and higher than a kite tried its best to bring it about. Could it have coupled a better offense with its defensive efforts it would have come considerably nearer than 40 points of its objective.
Statistics do not show the Tigers so badly outplayed. They made 19 first downs and gained the net total of 502 yards from scrimmage. Trouble is that Massillon fans are accustomed to seeing their team go for a touchdown every time they grab the ball.
Hard Going Near Goal
They moved the leather as usual between the 30-yard lines last night but when they got beyond that going their attack bogged down and time again they were thrown back as Alliance took the ball on downs or forced a punt.
Red Welbush, Nick Stoica and Louis Boschini must have made somebody a promise they were going to best Massillon, so brilliantly did they perform. They were in on many a Tiger play and more than once spilled the ball carriers for losses.
Massillon’s end around reverses had a hard time clicking and the well-known deep weak end reverse, just couldn’t be maneuvered. There were Alliance tacklers waiting in the backfield all the time.
There were what you might call two perfect running plays and they produced the first and last touchdowns of the game. Horace Gillom circling left end on the first for 39 yards and Herman Robinson snaring a shovel pass from Dick Adams for 23 yards and the other.
There was what you might call a perfect pass play too, a very fine 30-yard shot that Gillom caught on the fingertips of his outstretched hands in the end zone. The other three touchdowns came the hard way, with Fred Blunt, Tom James and Ray Getz doing the scoring.
Half the Tigers’ points were rolled up in the fourth period after Alliance had held them scoreless the third period. The Tigers had one other scoreless quarter this season, the fourth period of the Weirton game when the second team was in the game for Massillon.
Alliance’s hopes apparently were pinned on a strong defensive setup and the possibility of capitalizing on a break. Having thoroughly scouted the Tigers, the Aviators had set up a defense accordingly, playing at times what virtually amounted to seven and eight-man lines by hopping one or two players into the forward wall at the expected point of attack before Tiger linemen could adjust their blocking assignments to suit.
Passes Work
Tommy James tried to solve the situation by forcing the visitors’ secondary back with passes, and succeeded to some extent, but the Aviators by keeping their secondary on the loose until the start of play were also able to roam that territory fairly well. The Tigers completed 10 of 18 passing attempts for a gain of 161 yards.
Where Alliance was lacking was offense. Nick Luca, Charles Gainor and Bill Snodgrass occasionally found a hole, but ran into it blindly most of the time only to be cut down as the Massillon secondary came up. Not a single Alliance back got away to any sizeable gain, and only one forward pass was thrown, the Tigers intercepting it. Unable to gain ground on offense, increased the Aviators’ defense burden, for they were continually backed into their own territory which they defended with the courage of Revolutionary patriots.
Only once was Alliance in Tiger territory and then ‘twas through no excellence of its own.
Early in the first quarter, James fumbled Gainor’s punt on the 15-yard line, the ball rolling back to the five where Stoica flopped on it. That was the nearest any Massillon opponent has been to the Tiger goal this year, and here the Massillon line demonstrated its great defensive ability. Luca was sent in to the middle of the eight-man line, but he wound up a yard back of where he started. He was fired into the wall again, and the Massillon line bulged for three yards, punting the ball on the three-yard line. Again it was Luca, into the middle for a yard and a half. He was asked to carry the burden on fourth down, but was smothered at the line of scrimmage, the Tigers taking the leather a yard short of the goal. It constituted Alliance’s only threat, and the Aviators failed to make a first down until the last two minutes when they pushed the Tiger second team back for 10 yards.
Alliance also rejoiced over its ability to force Massillon to use its first team most of the game. The seconds who have become accustomed to playing the entire last half, only got in for less than half of the last period.
The Massillon offensive was sluggish. It was the natural spot for a letdown, the schedule of routine having been upset by Saturday night’s game at Erie. No practice was held Monday, leaving the team but two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, to prepare for the game. The ball was handled poorly on plays and there were more Massillon fumbles last night than there have been the whole season put together. Fortunately all but one was recovered.
James, in fact, fumbled one ball for the second touchdown.
He was on his way for a smash at right tackle when the ball popped out of his arms. It looked like a dribble in a basketball game, for a tackler coming in to stop him, dove for the ball instead and the leather bounced back up into the arms of James and he never lost his stride as he ripped around right end for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Getz Kicks Well
Ray Getz’s placekicking is still improving. He kicked six out of eight last night, but only four counted since both teams were offside on two occasions.
Though Massillon took time out for injuries more than it has at any time this season, a glance over players in the dressing room failed to reveal any serious injuries. James and Dick Kingham were both knocked out on the same play at one spot in the third quarter, Kingham throwing a beautiful block at the time to get James away to a long run. Tommy came up with a limp, and both were removed.
The Tigers started in true Massillon fashion and scored a touchdown on the series following the kickoff. Gillom ran it back beautifully to his 44-yard line. Getz made a fake reverse around left end after losing three on his first attempt. Blunt negotiated a first down on the Alliance 45. James circled right end for six yards and the Tigers completely fooled the Aviators on the next play when Gillom circled left end for a touchdown. Getz kicked goal.
Alliance received but Luca was forced to punt, and James fumbled it to give Alliance its only scoring opportunity from the five-yard line. Following an exchange of punts, the Tigers, starting from their own 13, drove to the Alliance 27 where the Aviators braced and took the ball on downs. Play was w ell into the second period by now, and the Aviators punted back to the Massillon 41, from which a successful touchdown drive was launched. A 17-yard pass, James to Gillom and a 15-yard run by James planted the leather on the 14-yard line. Gillom ran literally about four yards around left end but only gained two. On the next play James jumbled his way across the goal line, completely outrunning the Alliance secondary.
The Tigers drove to the Alliance 28-yard line the next time they got the ball, but lost it there after a deep weak end reverse had lost 13 yards. The Aviators as usual couldn’t gain, however and punted out on the Massillon 48. James hurled to Getz for a first down on the 21, a 31-yard pass and James smashed through tackle to a first on the nine-yard line. A penalty for too many times out moved the ball five yards nearer the Alliance goal, and Getz went over on a cutback play through his right tackle, to increase the Massillon lead to 20 points.
Alliance Battles To End
Many expected the Tigers to make a rout of it the third period, but the Alliance gridders had different ideas. An intercepted pass, which Charles Castiglione pulled down on his own 40, stopped them the first time. The Alliance line did it the next time after Massillon had moved the leather from its 29 to the Aviators’ 13. The Aviator linesmen stopped them a second time, this time the Tiger drive reaching the one-yard line where Blunt rammed into a swarm of players and was stopped without gain. A 15-yard penalty, for holding, forced the Tigers back the next time they got the ball.
In the closing minutes of the quarter, however, they launched another drive that began with Adams dancing his way to midfield on the return of a punt. Pizzino and Adams made it first down on the Aviators’ 30 as the scoreless period ended. On the first play of the fourth quarter Adams tossed to Gillom for the fourth touchdown.
After an exchange of punts, the Tigers secured the ball on the Alliance 47. Adams passed 16 yards to Gillom for a first down on the 31-yard line, and tossed another 21-yard peg to Gillom for first on the 10-yard line. Blunt went through left tackle for the touchdown.
Blunt covered a fumble on the Alliance 24-yard line after the kickoff to put the Tigers in position for their last touchdown. Getz struck through for 10 yards and a first on the 14. Adams was thrown for a four-yard loss but he got three of them back the next play. Gillom was no more than handed the ball until Welbush tossed him a 10-yard loss. With fourth down coming up, Adams tossed a short shovel pass to Robinson who skimmed the sideline in the corner of the field as he crossed the goal for the last touchdown. Alliance came back after the kickoff to get its only first down of the game, but was forced thereafter to punt and the Tigers had the ball at the final gun.
Statistics Of The Game
Mass. Alli. First downs 19 1 First downs rushing 13 1 First downs passing 6 0 Yards gained rushing 381 62 Net yards gained 341 33 Net yards forwards 161 0 Total net yards gained 502 34 Forwards attempted 18 1 Forwards completed 10 0 Forwards intercepted 1 1 Yards intercepted returned 7 0 Times punted 3 12 Returned by 3 1 Average punts (yds.) 37 31 Average kickoffs 50 46 Yards punts returned 36 11 Yards lost rushing 40 29 Yards kickoff returned 35 77 Fumbles 4 2 Lost ball on fumbles 1 1 Penalties 4 2 Yards penalized 40 10 INDIVIDUAL CARRYING Times Yards Yards Yards Carried Gained Lost Net Blunt 18 17 13 64 James 9 112 1 111 Getz 9 54 8 46 Gillom 8 79 15 64 Pizzino 1 5 0 5 Adams 8 31 3 28 Robinson 1 23 – 23
AKRON, O., Oct 11 – The mighty Massillon Tigers scored their 28th successive victory tonight, over powering a stubborn Alliance squad, 40-0, in Akron’s new Rubber Bowl before a record-breaking crowd of 34,000.
The game was the first high school contest played in the new stadium and the attendance was the largest that ever has witnessed a football game in the Akron area.
The Tigers tallied their first score early in the opening period when Tom James found a big hole at his left tackle and behind perfect interference raced 39 yards for the touchdown. Ray Getz kicked the extra point.
MASSILLON ALLIANCE Robinson L.E. Branfield Broglio L.T. Welbush Russell L.G. Boschini Appleby C Ruff Wallace R.G. Iannotti Henderson R.T. Stocia Gillom R.E. Addison Kingham Q Gainor Getz L.H. Snodgrass James R.H. Castiglione Blunt F Luca
Touchdowns – James 2, Getz, Gillom, Blunt, Robinson.
Points after touchdown – Getz 4, (placekicks).
Tigers Depend On Aerials For 28th Triumph In Row
Determined Aviator Defense Forces Ohio Champions To Use Passes For Victory In Rubber Bowl Battle; Tom James Sparks Winners Until Injured
By SAM FOGG. Repository Staff Correspondent.
AKRON – A mammoth record breaking throng of 33,00 northeastern Ohio football fans almost filled the Rubber bowl here Friday night to watch the hard fought football that has made Stark county famous as Massillon Tigers beat back the Alliance Aviators 40-0 for their 28th consecutive victory.
The huge crowd roared its approval of the dazzling Tiger pass attack which won the game, of the spirited defensive play of the Aviators that threw back the famed Massillon running attack, and of a stirring band spectacle presented by three band units of the two schools.
Forced To Pass
An inspired Alliance line that stood off attack after attack of the fast Tiger backs forced the Ohio champions to the air to score the victory. A quick touchdown was slipped over in the opening minutes of the contest, two more were blasted across in the second period, and passes bagged the final scores in the last quarter.
Penetrating waves of Tiger interference, the Aviator forward wall time and again spilled Massillon runners for losses and grudgingly fought against the relentless touchdown parade. Only Tom James, Massillon’s bouncing halfback, proved a consistent ground gainer as he sparked the victory with his runs off tackle and deadly passes.
In turn the Tiger line matched the play of their opponents as they stopped the first serious threat of the season on the one-yard line in the opening quarter and allowed only 37 yards from scrimmage. With James, Dick Adams, and Getz firing passes to all-Ohio Horace Gillom, Herman Robinson and Dick Kingham for long gains, the Tigers collected six quick scores.
Massillon completed 10 of 18 passes for 161 yards. The Tigers accumulated 19 first downs and held Alliance to one gained in the final moments of the game.
Scores On End Around
Receiving the opening kickoff the Tigers used four plays to drive over their first touchdown. From the 40-yard line, Getz, Fred Blunt and James hammered to the Alliance 38, and Gillom came around from his end position to score without an Alliance player touching him. Getz kicked the point.
Four plays later Alliance chased the mighty Tiger team to its own 5 yard line when James bobbled Gainors punt and Stoica covered for Alliance. Luca and Snodgrass moved to the one-yard line in three attempts, but the entire center of the Massillon line and Gillom threw back Luca’s plunge on fourth down.
James engineered two Massillon scores in the following quarter. On the first, he stepped off 15 yards at tackle and a play later, picked up his own fumble on the 11 and crashed over.
For the other touchdown, James tossed to Getz for 30 yards and Getz scored on a sharp cut back from the 4-yard line. In the third period, James was injured on a play and left the game.
On the opening play of the final quarter, Dick Adams threw a pass to Gillom for 30 yards and a touchdown. Later Adams pitched tosses to Gillom for 17 and 20 yard advances and Blunt smashed for a score from 10 yards out. In the closing moments, Robinson fell on a fumble on the Aviator 24 and took a pass from Adams for a 23-yard touchdown play.
Essentially a defensive dog-fight between the two lines, the game featured the play of Harry Welbush, Nich Stoica, Steve Luca and Chuck Gainor.of Aliance and James, Gillm, Jim Russell, Eli Broglio and Adams for the Tigers.
The Washington High swing band, the Massillon junior high school unit and the Alliance band joined forces in the musical pageantry at flag raising. At halftime, the two Massillon groups offered the entire show with the precision drills which have brought standing applause from audiences all season. The rhumba number with “Obie” as Madam Lazonga and the Statue of Liberty tableau featured the show and at the conclusion of the game, the audience remained seated as the “story of the four majorettes” was given as an encore.
Alliance Pos. Massillon Branfield L.E. Robinson Welbush L.T. Broglio Boschini L.G. Russell Ruff C Appleby Iannotti R.G. Wallace Stocia R.T. Henderson Addison R.E. Gillom Gainor Q Kingham Snodgrass R.H. Getz Castiglione L.H. James Luca F Blunt
Substitutions for Massillon: Pizzino, fb; Cardinal, t; Adams, lh; F. Cardinal, qb; Oliver, t; Erdley, hb; White, hb; P. Getz, g; Bray, e; Stout, c; Holt, qb; Fuchs, c. For Alliance: Fritz, e; Faulkner, g; Bard, g; Andreanni, c; DeMuth, e; Bugara, hb; Howell, hb; Mantho, t.
Referee – Earle Gross. Umpire – Verlin Jenkins. Head linesman – Eddie Howell.
STATISTICS MASS. All. First downs, rushing 13 1 First downs, passing 6 0 First downs, total 19 1 Yards gained, rushing 390 67 Yards gained, passing 163 0 Yards lost 43 28 Yards gained, net total 510 39 Passes attempted 18 1 Passes completed 10 0 Passes incomplete 7 0 Passes intercepted 1 1 Fumbles 4 2 Own fumbles recovered 3 1 Opp. fumbles covered 1 1 Penalties, yardage 40 10 Punts 3 12 Punts, average yardage 44 32
MASSILLON DRUBS ALLIANCE, 40 TO 0
Record Crowd of 34,000 in Akron Rubber Bowl Sees Tigers Roar to 28th Straight
(From Plain Dealer Bureau)
AKRON, O., Oct. 11 – The mighty Massillon Tigers scored their 28th successive victory tonight, overpowering a stubborn Alliance squad, 40-0, in Akron’s new Rubber Bowl before a record-breaking crowd of 34,000.
The game was the first high school contest played in the new stadium and the attendance was the largest that ever has witnessed a football game in the Akron area.
The Tigers tallied their first score early in the opening period when Tom James found a big hole at his left tackle and behind perfect interference raced 39 yards for the touchdown. Ray Getz kicked the extra point.
Alliance came the nearest of any school to cross the Massillon goal line this season when Nick Stoica recovered a fumble by James on the Massillon 6-yard line stripe. The Tigers were equal to the occasion and stopped four line plays to take the ball on downs on their own 1-yard stripe and Horace Gillom punted out of danger.
The Tigers drove 59 yards for a score in the second period with James tallying from the 14-yard line. Getz again kicked the point.
Late in the second Getz took a short pass from James and galloped to the Alliance 5. The Tigers marched to a score with Getz going over.
For the first time this season Massillon started the first team in the second half and Alliance showing its best defensive play held the Tigers scoreless in the third.
On the first play of the fourth period Adams fired a 30-yard pass to Gillom for a touchdown and Getz again kicked the extra point.
Another aerial, Adams to Gillom, connected on the Alliance 11 and Pokey Blunt scored the fourth touchdown.
Herman Robinson recovered an Alliance fumble on the Aviators’ 24 and then flipped a shovel pass to Adams, who raced for the final score. Massillon out gained Alliance, 19 to 1, in first downs and gained a net total of 341 yards to 34 for Alliance.
The Tigers completed 10 of 18 passes to net 161 yards through the air.
Officials here tonight claimed that the crowd was the largest that ever has viewed a regularly scheduled high school game in the state with only the post-season charity game in Cleveland outdrawing tonight’s contest.
MASSILLON ALLIANCE Robinson L.E. Branfield Broglio L.T. Welbush Russell L.G. Boschini Appleby C Ruff Wallace R.G. Iannotti Henderson R.T. Stoica Gillom R.E. Addison Kingham Q Gainor Getz R.H. Snodgrass James L.H. Castiglione Blunt F Luca
Touchdowns – James 2, Getz, Gillom, Blunt, Robinson.
Points after touchdown – Getz 4 (placement).
MASSILLON DRUBS ALLIANCE, 40 TO 0
Record Crowd of 34,000 in Akron Rubber Bowl Sees Tigers Roar to 28th Straight
(From Plain Dealer Bureau)
AKRON, O., Oct. 11 – The mighty Massillon Tigers scored their 28th successive victory tonight, overpowering a stubborn Alliance squad, 40-0, in Akron’s new Rubber Bowl before a record-breaking crowd of 34,000.
The game was the first high school contest played in the new stadium and the attendance was the largest that ever has witnessed a football game in the Akron area.
The Tigers tallied their first score early in the opening period when Tom James found a big hole at his left tackle and behind perfect interference raced 39 yards for the touchdown. Ray Getz kicked the extra point.
Alliance came the nearest of any school to cross the Massillon goal line this season when Nick Stoica recovered a fumble by James on the Massillon 6-yard line stripe. The Tigers were equal to the occasion and stopped four line plays to take the ball on downs on their own 1-yard stripe and Horace Gillom punted out of danger.
The Tigers drove 59 yards for a score in the second period with James tallying from the 14-yard line. Getz again kicked the point.
Late in the second Getz took a short pass from James and galloped to the Alliance 5. The Tigers marched to a score with Getz going over.
For the first time this season Massillon started the first team in the second half and Alliance showing its best defensive play held the Tigers scoreless in the third.
On the first play of the fourth period Adams fired a 30-yard pass to Gillom for a touchdown and Getz again kicked the extra point.
Another aerial, Adams to Gillom, connected on the Alliance 11 and Pokey Blunt scored the fourth touchdown.
Herman Robinson recovered an Alliance fumble on the Aviators’ 24 and then flipped a shovel pass to Adams, who raced for the final score. Massillon out gained Alliance, 19 to 1, in first downs and gained a net total of 341 yards to 34 for Alliance.
The Tigers completed 10 of 18 passes to net 161 yards through the air.
Officials here tonight claimed that the crowd was the largest that ever has viewed a regularly scheduled high school game in the state with only the post-season charity game in Cleveland outdrawing tonight’s contest.
MASSILLON ALLIANCE Robinson L.E. Branfield Broglio L.T. Welbush Russell L.G. Boschini Appleby C Ruff Wallace R.G. Iannotti Henderson R.T. Stoica Gillom R.E. Addison Kingham Q Gainor Getz R.H. Snodgrass James L.H. Castiglione Blunt F Luca
History 
