1940: Massillon 40, Alliance 0

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.

Points after touchdown: Getz 4, (placements).

Substitutions: Massillon – Pizzino, Cardinal, Adams, White,
Holt, Demando, Oliver, Erdely, Bray, Stout and Fuchs.
Alliance – Fritz, Mantho, Andreanni, Howell, Bard, Faulkner and
Bugara.

Sees Game As Insult To Akron

Alliance-Massillon Tilt Protested

By JIM SCHLEMMER

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

Alliance
Snodgrass 6 9 10 -1
Luca 16 34 2 32
Gainor 11 16 16 00
Bugara 1 0 1 -1
Howell 1 3 0 3

MASSILLON WINS AS 34,000 WATCH

28th Straight Is 40-0 Decision Over Alliance

(Reprinted from Saturday’s final edition)

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

Massillon 7 13 0 20 – 40

Subs:
Massillon – Pizzino, lh; Cardinal, lt; Adams, lh;
White, lh; Holt, q; Demando, rt; Oliver, lt; Erdley, rh;
Bray, re; Stout, c; Fuchs, c.
Alliance – Adnreanni, c; Bard, rg; Demuth, le; Mantho, lg;
Howell, lh; Bugara, lh; Fritz, re.

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.

Touchdowns: Gillom 2, James, Getz, Blunt, Robinson.

Points after touchdowns: Getz 4.

Massillon 7 13 0 20 – 40

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

Subs: Massillon – Pizzino, lh; Cardinal, lt; Adams, lh,; White, lh;
Holt, q; Demando, rt; Oliver, lt; Erdley, rh; Bray, re; Stout, c;
Fuch, c.
Alliance – Andreanni, c; Bard, rg; Demuth, le; Mantho, lg;
Howell, lh; Bugara, lh; Fritz, re.

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

Subs: Massillon – Pizzino, lh; Cardinal, lt; Adams, lh,; White, lh;
Holt, q; Demando, rt; Oliver, lt; Erdley, rh; Bray, re; Stout, c;
Fuch, c.
Alliance – Andreanni, c; Bard, rg; Demuth, le; Mantho, lg;
Howell, lh; Bugara, lh; Fritz, re.

Touchdowns – James 2, Getz, Gillom, Blunt, Robinson.

Points after touchdown – Getz 4 (placement).