Interceptions help Massillon roll 37‑14 Tigers’ defense keys win over Magics!
By ROLLIE DREUSSI Independent Sports Editor
Massillon Tigers did a little tinkering with their defense Friday night, and it paid off with a 37‑14 win over Barberton in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Switching to what Tiger coach Mike Currence called a “4-stack” or “over-shifted 5” defense. Massillon didn’t allow Barberton a first down through first half, then came up with the big play at the right time in the second half to thwart a Magic rally.
Program Cover
“Massillon made some major adjustments defensively that helped them.” Magic coach Rudy Sharkey said, “They were in a “4‑4” most of the time, and we weren’t really prepared for that.”
Whatever kind of defense it was, Sharkey said his team made it look good because of numerous offensive mistakes.
“We continue to give away the ball every time we’re on the football field Sharkey said, “Of course, you have to give credit to Massillon, they’re tough. But I’ve never seen a team that gives so many games away.” he explained.
“In the first half, we had receivers open all over the field, but they either missed the ball or the quarterback Brian Breitenstein) overthrew them
“I just get so damn frustrated with us giving the ball away and not executing.” Sharkey said.
“I think our defense played a great first halt,” Currence said. “I really felt we upset their tempo and kept them off balance.
“We intercepted them three times and that was a factor.” Currence pointed out. “It was a great morale booster for us.”
Mike Spicer had the first interception, and it set up the Tigers’ first score. Paul Turner, intercepted a pass in the second quarter which Massillon failed to capitalize on, but the Tigers allowed Barberton only 23 total first‑half yards en route to a 21-0 lead.
Barberton rallied, cutting tile lead to 24-14 and appeared ready to get back in the game when Joe Peto recovered a Mike Jones fumble at the Tiger 18 yard line with just over eight minutes to play in the game.
Two plays later, however, junior linebacker Tim Manion picked off a Breitenstein pass at the nine yard line and almost returned it all the way, getting caught from behind at the 33. Six plays later the Tigers added a touchdown to quell the Magic threat.
“Tim Manion has a nose for the ball,” Currence said.
Massillon opened the scoring by capitalizing on Spicer’s interception. They drove 27 yards in six plays with quarterback Dave Eberhart going over from the one with 8:13 showing on the first-quarter clock. Eberhart added the point after for a 7‑0 lead.
The Tigers then drove 56 yards in 12 plays with halfback Mike Jones making a nice catch on a five yard scoring pass from Eberhart. Eberhart booted the point after for a 14‑0 lead with :42 left in the first quarter.
Eberhart missed a 35‑yard field goal try in the second period, but scored on another one yard sneak with 1:25 left in the half. He added the PAT kick for a 21-0 lead.
The TD was set up by a 14-yard point return by Jeff Spicer to the Barberton 38. The Tigers took 10 plays to score with Eberhart hitting halfback Robert Oliver with 17-yard pass on third-and-15 to the Magic 21. Jones also had a fine 10-yard run to the one to set up Eberhart’s scoring run.
When the Tiger offensive attack bogged down in the third quarter. Barberton responded with a 21-yard TD run by fullback John Jones. Massillon was penalized on the ensuing conversion kick, and Barberton elected to go for two from a yard and a half out. But Mike Loretto nailed Jones short of the goal line, and Massillon led 21-6 with 3:31 left in the third quarter.
The Tigers finally got a drive going, and moved from their own 36 to the Magic 25, where a third-down incompletion brought up a fourth-and-seven.
Sophomore Jun Bushe come on to try a 41‑yard field goal, and his line-drive kick was good, making it 24-6 with 11:19 to play. The kick seemed to bring the Tiger bench to life as players ran out on the field to congratulate Bushe, who was making his first appearance in a varsity game.
Barberton hung tough, however, and drove 55 yards in nine plays with Marty Potter hauling in a seven-yard TD toss from Breitenstein with 8:31 to play. Breitenstein then passed to tight end John Trew for the conversion and the Magics trailed 24-14.
The ensuing kickoff sailed into the end zone, and the Tigers took over on the 20. Jones was hit hard and fumbled, with Peto recovering at the 18.
Manion and middle guard Jeff Grove nailed Jones for a two-yard loss, and then Manion picked off Breitenstein’s throw on the next play.
“We had a man wide open and he threw an interception,” Sharkey lamented. “That’s was the big giveaway there.”
Manion returned the hall to the Barberton 33 and the Tigers scored six plays later when halfback Dave Huth ran three yards to paydirt. Eberhart’s kick was good and the Tigers had a safe 31‑14 lead with 3:12 to play.
Barberton took the ensuing kickoff and got a first down on a Breitenstein pass, but then gave up the ball on four straight incompletions from the Tiger 47.
Four plays later, George Roknich dashed 37 yards for the Tigers’ final TD with only :46 left in the game.
The win brings Massillon’s record to 6‑0‑1 and extends the Tigers’ regular‑season unbeaten string to 29 games Barberton falls to 3‑3‑1.
“Massillon has a fine football team, Sharkey said. “You can’t take anything away from them. They can score on anybody. and their defensive adjustments helped them tonight. But I don’t know if it will be enough to help them go all the way or not.”
Currence isn’t worrying about that right now. The game he’s concerned about is next Saturday’s visit to Niles, which has a surprising 3-2‑1 record under former Tiger assistant coach Frank Thomas. The Red Dragons will host Warren Howland tonight.
TIGER GRIDSTICK
MASS OPP
First downs rushing 14 4 First down passing 3 3 First downs by penalty 1 1 Total first downs 18 8 Yards gained rushing 263 80 Yards lost rushing 11 13 Net yards gained rushing 252 67 Net yards gained passing 57 96 Total yards gained 309 163 Passes attempted 15 27 Passes completed 4 8 Passes intercepted by 3 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 78 0 Times kicked off 7 3 Kickoff average 46.4 52.7 Kickoff return yardage 29 81 Punts 4 6 Punting average 36.3 37.2 Punt return yardage 10 23 Punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 3 0 Fumbles lost 1 1 Penalties 7 6 Yards penalized 64 41 Touchdowns rushing 4 1 Touchdowns passing 1 1 Touchdowns by interception 0 0 Miscellaneous touchdowns 0 0 Total number of plays 73 54 Total time of possession 28:06 18:54 Attendance 10,706
BARBERTON 0 0 6 8 – 14 MASSILLON 14 7 0 16 – 37
MASS – Dave Eberhart 1-yard run (Eberhart kick) MASS – Mike Jones 5-yard pass from Eberhart (Eberhart kick) MASS – Eberhart 1-yard run (Eberhart kick) BARB – John Jones 21-yard run (run failed) MASS – Jim Bushe 41-yard FG BARB – Marty Potter 7-yard pass from Brian Breitenstein John Trew pass from Breitenstein) MASS – Dave Huth 3-yard run (Eberhart kick) MASS – George Roknich 37-yard run (kick failed)
Massillon defense smothers Barberton Holds Magics to 64 yards in 21 ‑ 6 win
By ROLLIE DREUSSI Independent Sports Editor
Massillon Tiger coach Mike Currence didn’t have too much. too say after his team’s game in the cold, wet and windy Akron Rubber Bowl Saturday night.
He didn’t have to.
The Tigers passed their toughest test of the season by beating the Barberton Magics 21‑6. That gives the Tigers a perfect 6‑0 record while Barberton falls to 5‑2.
The Tiger defense was outstanding, holding the Magics to a total 64 yards for the game and registering nine quarterback sacks.
The offense had a few problems, but Dave DeLong and Bill Scott managed to come up with enough of a passing game ‑ despite the miserable conditions ‑ to assure the Tiger victory.
“I’m just pleased with everyone,” Currence said afterwards. “I’m pleased that we can come up to the Rubber Bowl and play a great team like Barberton and come out a victor.
“It’s just too bad we can’t pat ourselves on the back and take a week off. We have to come back Monday ‑ and lose a day of rest and start preparing for Jackson (which comes to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Friday night).
“I think I get about a five second high out of it,” he added of the Tiger victory which avenged a 9‑7 loss to the Magics two years ago.
“There’s a lot of determination on this ball club,” Currence said. “And it showed. Our kids played like they wanted it.”
That was almost an understatement. Except for a shakey start ‑ the Tigers fumbled four times in the first half but lost only one – the Tigers controlled the tempo of the game.
The Tiger defense held the Magics to 24 yards in the first half as Massillon took a 7‑0 lead. The Magics tried to use the shotgun in an effort to get their passing game going, but the Tigers consistently put a hard rush on quarterback Brian Breitenstine.
“They threw a lot of people at us,” Magic coach Rudy Sharkey acknowledged after the game. “And we didn’t handle it well. We played well except on the offensive line.”
Sharkey was also upset at the officials ruling on a controversial pass play that set up the Tigers’ first score.
On a second‑and‑10 from the Barberton 46, DeLong threw a long pass to wide receiver Marty Guzzetta.
Guzzetta turned back and caught the ball ‑ despite being bumped by Magic defensive back John Verhotz – and he Verhotz tumbled to the turf. Verhotz came up with ball and Barberton fans thought they had an interception.
There was a pass interference penalty against Verhotz on the play, but the officials ruled simultaneous catch and the Tigers declined the penalty and took the ball at the Barberton five yard line.
On fourth‑and‑goal from there, DeLong ran a keeper around left end, hurtling over a Magic defender into the end zone for a 6‑0 Tiger lead. Jeff Fry’s kick made it 7‑0.
All this came in the second quarter, after the Tigers had fumbled away their initial possession of the game, and almost fumbled away the lead on their next possession.
The Tigers had taken the opening kickoff and marched to the Magic 35, where they faced a fourth‑and‑five situation. DeLong ran a keeper, but fumbled the ball over (Jeff Wade recovered) to the Magics at the 33.
Barberton drove to the ‘Tiger 41, but a 19‑yard punt gave the Tigers possession on their own 22.
They started another drive which reached the Barberton 42 when DeLong hit Mike Reese for 13 yards and a first down. On the next play, Mike Jones carried into the line and had the ball knocked from his arms into the air. Several Barberton players rushed for it, and knocked it even farther back while trying to pick it up.
Tiger tackle Gerald Wesley then fell on it, but it squirted away on the slippery artificial turf all the way back to the Tiger 35 where DeLong alertly recovered it (for a 23‑yard loss).
The Tigers had one more scoring threat in the second quarter, but it ended when Fry missed on a 43‑yard field goal attempt.
The third quarter started out with Len Robinson intercepting a Breitenstine pass on the third play from scrimmage. DeLong was then intercepted on a long pass to Guzzetta, with Verhotz picking the ball off at his own 18.
The two teams then punted the ball back and forth for the remainder of the third quarter. The Tigers started a drive near the end of the third period that carried to the Magic 27 as the quarter ended.
Scott ‑ who has been hobbled by a knee sprain – entered the game for the first time to start the fourth quarter. The Tigers faced a fourth‑and‑two situation, and Scott hit Guzzetta on a curl pattern for a first down at the Magic 20, Two plays later, however, Verhotz tipped Scott’s pass and Wade picked it off at the 19.
Breitenstine went to the air on the first play, and Tim Reese intercepted the ball at the Magic 31 and returned it to the 21.
Following three incompletions (one by DeLong), Scott hit Guzzetta on a fourth‑and‑10 play for 13 yards and a first down at the Magic 18.
On second‑and‑12 from the 20, Scott hit Bill Beitel for eight yards and then found Greg Evans open down the middle for the touchdown with 7:50 to go in the game. Fry’s kick failed and Massillon led 13‑0.
The Magics’ score was set up when Mike Hodgson took a low snap while attempting to punt and was forced to run with the ball, He almost got away, but was tackled for a two‑yard loss at his own 24.
Seven plays later ‑ on fourth‑and‑18 from the 20 – Breitenstine scrambled out of the pocket and hit Dave Carrell with a pass for the touchdown. Bryant Lemon sacked Breitenstine as he looked to pass for the extra points.
The Magics then tried an onside kick, but Guzzetta recovered the ball at his own 45 while sliding out of bounds with 1:25 left in the game.
Three plays later, Bill Burkett burst 56 yards through the Barberton line and crossed the goal line with :03 showing on the clock. DeLong hit Beitel with a conversion pass to cap the scoring.
DeLong finished the game with five completions in 14 attempts for 100 yards. Scott was 4 of 7 for 40 yards and one touchdown. Burkett topped the Tigers with 58 yards rushing in eight carries, while Sam McDew added 41 in 14 carries and Beitel had 36 in five carries. DeLong picked up 29 yards in eight carries.
Defensively, Bob Simpson led the Tigers with five quarterback sacks and one tackle for minus yardage. The Tiger middle guard also had nine solo tackles and five assists.
The Tiger defense held the Magics to a net total of 10 yards rushing.
The Tigers will play Jackson Friday at 8 p.m. in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The Magics will host Toledo Scott.
The win should put the Tigers at or very near the top of the Class AAA Region 3 computer rankings,
FINAL STATISTICS MASS OPNT First downs: rushing 5 3 passing 8 2 penalty 0 1 total 13 7 Yds gain rush 187 57 Yds lost rush 42 47 Net yds rush 145 10 Net yds pass 140 54 Total yds gain 285 64 Pass attempted 22 16 Pass completed 9 6 Pass int by 2 2 Pass int yds 0 3 Kickoffs 4 2 Kick off ave 48.5 27.0 Kickoff ret yds 13 46 Punts 3 7 Punt ave 31.7 30.0 Punt ret yds 23 0 Punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 5 0 Fumbles lost 1 0 Penalties 6 4 Yds penalized 79 21 TDs rushing 2 0 TDs passing 1 1 TDs by int 0 0 Other TDs 0 0 No, of plays 59 50 Time of poss 24:48 23: 12 Attendance 10,000
MASSILLON 0 7 0 14 21 BARBERTON 0 0 0 6 6
Mass ‑ Dave DeLong 5 run (Jeff Fry kick) Mass ‑ Greg Evans 12 pass from Bill Scott (kick fail) Barb ‑ Dave Carrell 20 pass from Brian Breitenstine (run fail) Mass ‑ Bill Burkett 50 run (Bill Beitel pass from DeLong)
Massillon’s passing game is too much for Barberton Preps Milan Zban
It wasn’t Sunday and it wasn’t the National Football League, but Massillon and Barberton weren’t a bit bashful about putting the ball in the air.
In the 34th meeting between the two teams Saturday night at the Rubber Bowl, Massillon employed a two‑quarterback system and attempted 22 passes, completing nine for 145 yards.
The result was a 21‑6 win over the Magics before a chilled and wet crowd of about 10,000, most of whom left before the finish and failed to witness the game’s longest score, a 50‑yard sprint from scrimmage by Massillon’s Bill Burkett with just seven seconds to go.
The win kept the Tigers unbeaten through six games while Barberton slipped to 5‑2.
Barberton tried to match Massillon’s passing game, but the Magics’ offensive line couldn’t contain the Massillon defenders. Middle guard Bob Simpson sacked Magics quarterback Brian Breitenstine five of the eight times he was dropped.
MASSILLON coach Mike Currence used both Dave DeLong and Bill Scott, DeLong setting up the game’s first score with a 41‑yard pass and Scott throwing to tight end Craig Evans for a 12‑yard touchdown in the fourth period.
Barberton, whose deepest penetration had been to Massillon’s 42‑yard line in the first half, finally got on the board after trailing 13‑0 when Breitenstine, a sophomore, connected with tight end Dave Carrell for a 20‑yard scoring shot with 1:25 left in the contest.
Both coaches agreed it was Massillon’s pass rush that made the difference.
“Simpson had a tremendous game, but he plays like that all the time,” said Currence of his 6‑0, 205‑pound defensive lineman. “I think he’s the best in the state and when they had to double- and triple‑team him, that allowed our other linemen to seep through.
“This was a big, big game for us,” Currence added. “This should help us the rest of the way and put us in pretty good shape in the computer standings.”
Massillon, ranked atop the Beacon Journal’s Class AAA poll, is second in the Associated Press statewide survey and fifth in the computer ratings in Region 3.
Barberton, ranked fourth by the Beacon Journal and 17th by the AP, stood 13th in the computer ratings.
A DISILLUSIONED Barberton coach Rudy Sharkey allowed that Massillon’s ferocious pass rush sawed off his shotgun offense. “Massillon controlled the line of scrimmage and we couldn’t pass. When we can’t pass, we don’t go anywhere,” he said.
“The first touchdown was a gift by the officials,” said Sharkey, alluding to split end Marty Guzzetta’s controversial catch over Barberton defender John Verhotz, who had apparently intercepted the 41‑yard pass which set up the Tigers’ initial touchdown in the second quarter. “The rest (of the touchdowns) they earned.”
“That first score changed the complexion of the game. But from where we started the season (a loss to Buchtel), we’ve come a long way, so I guess I’ve no complaint.”
DeLong, who was five for 14 for 100 yards with one interception, set up the game’s first score with the heave to Guzzetta and later hit the end zone himself with a diving attempt from the four-yard line which made it 7‑0 at the half.
Then alternate quarterback. Scott came on the scene in the second half, throwing but seven times and completing four, including the 12‑yard touchdown pass to Evans in the fourth period.
After Barberton got on the board with 1:25 to go in the game, it appeared the Tigers would just run out the clock. That is, to everybody except Burkett, who bolted up the middle for 50 yards and the game’s final score with just seven seconds to go.
Massillon’s win was the 27th of the long series between the two schools. Barberton, which won the last meeting in 1977, 9‑7, owns six wins. One game ended in a tie.
‘Breaks, ‘Magics’ ball control stop Tigers Barberton wins opener 9-7
By ROLAND A. DREUSSI Independent Sports Editor “I think we have as good a ball club as they do, but I just don’t think we got the breaks.”
That statement by Massillon Tiger head coach Mike Currence pretty well summed up his team’s 9‑7 loss to the Barberton Magics in the Akron Rubber Bowl Saturday night before an estimated crowd of 18,000.
THE MAGICS used a ball control offense and a stiff defense to avenge a 21-0 defeat to the Tigers last season.
Program Cover
The Tigers suffered a couple of letdowns in their kicking game and fumbled the ball away, though one fumble was a very questionable call on the officials’ part that stopped the Tigers’ deepest drive of the second half.
Currence said he thought it was a bad call because the pass, to Curtis Strawder at Barberton’s 25 yard line, “touched his hands twice,” meaning he didn’t have possession.
Strawder was hit and the ball bounced away, with Barberton’s Stinker Webb recovering at the Magics’ 28 yard line.
“That was our best penetration of the second half,” Currence said. The play occurred with just over five ‘minutes left in the game.
“THE BREAKS weren’t with us tonight,” Currence said after the game. “We had the chances. We missed a field goal, we fumbled when we weren’t supposed to.You’ve got to give Barberton credit though, they hit us and hit us and hit us again. I didn’t think they could control the ball on us but they did. I was surprised,” Currence said.
The Magics had the ball for 18 of 24 minutes in the first half when they took a 9-7 lead. Final times of possession were 29:58 for Barberton and 18:02 for Massillon.
“We don’t think plays win football games, players do,” Barberton head coach Rudy Sharkey said when asked about the Magics’ offensive performance.
Referring to the Magics’ ball control offense, Sharkey said that hadn’t been his game plan.
“We have a slogan in our lockeroom that says ‘Whatever It Take,’ We were prepared to do what we had to, pass or run. But that defense of Massillon’s was tough,” Sharkey said.
“I FELT very good tonight about our running and passing balance,” he added. The Magics gained 146 yards rushing – 94 by Larry Ricks – and 65 yards passing. Most of the Magics’ passing yards came in key situations, and Barberton’s only score of the night came on a pass to wingback Terry Cameron.
The Tigers scored first in the game, getting the ball for the first time at Barberton’s 38 yard line after a 21-yard punt.
Following an incomplete pass, Richard Cleveland gained nine yards through a big hole up the middle Mike Grove swept left end for 24 yards and a first down at Barberton’s five yard line.
Cleveland carried over left guard to the three and Greg Carpenter went up the middle to the one yard line. Quarterback Brent Offenbecher then scored on a sneak.
Mark Westover booted the extra point and Massillon led 7-0 with 7:35 to go in the first quarter. The six‑play drive took only 1:50.
“I THINK we got a false sense of security,” Currence said, referring to the drive. “We scored so easily, the kids might have thought it was going to be an easy night. It wasn’t.”
Following an exchange of punts, Barberton took over at its 20 yard line with 2:55 to go in the first quarter.
They then drove 80 yards in 16 plays, using up 8:26 on the clock, as Cameron took a pass from quarterback Jeff Finley that was good for 16 yards and the score. Dennis Sellers was wide with the extra point and Massillon led 7-6 with 6:29 to go in the half.
During the drive, the Magics converted first downs three times on third down and once on fourth down.
Following a touchdown on the kickoff, Massillon. took over on their own 20. Offenbecher lost five yards attempting to pass and Cleveland lost a yard.
ON THIRD down and 16. Cleveland gained two yards on a draw but the Magics were called for a late hit and were assessed a 15‑yard penalty.
However, despite the fact that it was a dead ball foul and the Tigers’ did not get the down over, the officials stepped off the penalty from the line of scrimmage and did not count the two yards gained by Cleveland.
This proved crucial because it because it put the ball on the Massillon 29 and made it fourth and one. Had the Tigers been given credit for the two‑yard gain, it would have been a first down.
The Tigers elected to punt, and Westover kicked the ball off the side of his foot out of bounds for a net three‑yard punt.
Barberton took over at Massillon’s 32 and drove to the 23. On a fourth and one play, the Magics were called for offsides and they faced a fourth and six from the Massillon 28.
FINLEY THEN bit Dave Peters with a 12‑yard sideline pass to give the Magics a first down at the Massillon 16. Three plays later. Barberton called time out with 50 seconds left in the half. They faced a fourth and three situation at the nine yard line.
Sellers entered the game and split the uprights with a field goal from 27 yards out to give Barberton a 9 7 lead with :46 showing on the clock.
Following an 18-yard kickoff return by Tom Gehring the Tigers took over on their own 40.
Offenbecher hit Strawder with a 14-yard pass on second down to give Massillon a first down at Barberton’s 46 with :28 left. After a pair of incomplete passes, Offenbecher found Bob Grizzard at the Barberton five yard line and the Tigers called time out with three seconds to go in the half.
Westover attempted a field goal from the 12 yard line, but the kick was blocked.
BARBERTON’S ball-control offense and hard hitting defense made the 9-7 lead stand for thr rest of the game.
The Tigers did play the game without the services of Mark Pringle, their top receiver.
BREAKS…
“But we should be able to have depth enough to fill in,” Currence said.
“It was just a damn good ball club we played, You can’t expect to run over a team like Barberton.” he added.
Statistically. Barberton only outgained the Tigers 211-202 in total yardage and the Tigers had 12 first downs to 11 for the Magics.
HOWEVER, Barberton controlled the ball and made no turnovers, while Massillon lost two fumble, and one interception.
Ricks carried the ball 22 times for the Magics for a net total of 94 yards to take game rushing honors. That was 34 yards more than the entire Massillon team gained.
The Tigers will open their home season Friday night against Gahanna Lincoln at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
M B First downs rushing 5 8 First downs passing 7 3 First downs penalties 0 0 Total first downs 12 11 Yard, gained rushing 96 155 Yards lost rusting 38 9 Net yards gained rushing 60 146 Net Yards gained passing 142 65 Total yards gained 202 211 Passes attempted 16 9 Passes completed 10 5 Passes intercepted by 1 0 Yardage on passes intercepted 0 0 Times kicked off 2 3 Kickoff average (yards) 45.5 42.3 Kickoff returns (yards) 26 0 Times punted 4 4 Punt average (yards) 36.5 25.8 Punt return (yards) 0 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 5 2 Lost fumbled ball 2 0 Penalties 4 9 Yards penalized 38 73 Touchdowns rushing 1 0 Touchdowns passing 0 1 Touchdowns by interception 0 0 Miscellaneous touchdowns 0 0 Total number of plays 42 55 Total time of possession 18:02 29:58
Bengals stumble 9-7
By FRED GERLICH Repository Sports Writer AKRON – “We got a slogan up in our locker room,” Barberton head football coach Rudy Sharkey said Saturday night.
“It just says, ‘Whatever it takes.’”
All it took against Massillon was a ball-control drive and a 27 yard field goal as the Magics pulled a 9-7 win out of their hats before 20,000 Rubber Bowl onlookers.
Asked what his team had in its arsenal to offensively combat Massillon’s “run and shoot” attack, Sharkey said, “We don’t think plays win games, players do and the players won tonight.”
Barberton controlled the ball for 29:56 of the contest, including 18 minutes in the first half when all 16 tallies were put on the scoreboard.
The Magics did it with a little bit of everything, outgaining the heralded .Tigers 146-60 and adding 65 more yards passing for a 211-202 total offense advantage.
Tailback Larry Ricks led all ground gainers with 94 yards in 22 carries, while Massillon’s Mike Grove gained 47 yards in six trips.
“I didn’t think Barberton could control the ball on us, I really didn’t,” Massillon Coach Mike Currence said.
“I was surprised.”
“We did so well in our scrimmages that it probably hurt us,” Currence added. “We got a false sense of security in our abilities.”
Poor punting accentuated first half play. Barberton received the opening kickoff and was stopped on downs by the Tigers. The Magics Ken Bates then lofted a 21-yard punt which Massillon’s John Letcavits caught at the Barberton 38.
After an uncompleted pass, Richard Cleveland bolted for nine yards and Mike Grove raced 24 yards to the Barberton five. Three plays later Brent Offenbecher vaulted in from one yard out for the initial score. Mark Westovers’ conversion kick made it 7-0.
The Magics showed great ball control in a 16 play, 80-yard drive that consumed 8:26 with qua, rterback Jeff Finley passing to Terry Cameron 16 yards to cut the margin to 7-6 as Dennis Sellers’ point after try was wide to the left.
Bengals
Sellers redeemed himself only after Westover shanked a three-yard punt off the side of his foot, landing out of bound on the Massillon 32. Seven plays later, Sellers booted a 27-yarder through the uprights for a 9-7 lead with 46 seconds left in the half.
But Offenbecher, who completed only one of 11 passes in part time duty as a sophomore last season, bettered his 1976 totals with a pair of passes for 55 yards that took the Tigers to the Barberton five with three seconds remaining.
But Westover’s 22-yard three point attempt was blocked and things remained as status quo.
In the second half, the Tigers advanced as far as the Barberton 38-yard line with 5:10 left when Offenbecher hit Curtis Strawder with a 10-yard pass reception. Hit hard, Strawder caughed up the football and it was covered by Booker Webb at the 38.
Massillon got a final opportunity with 2:35 remaining starting at its own 14.
Three completions by Offenbecher moved the ball to the Tigers’ 47. But on the third completion Grove fumbled and Karl Niehaus fell on the pigskin to douse the Tigers’ hopes of avoiding a second straight season-opening loss.
“The breaks weren’t with us tonight,” Currence remarked. “We had a call go against us on the pass to Strawder.
“It touched big hands twice, but the officials called it a fumble.”
Currence noted that the failure of the Tigers’ kicking game and pointed out the pregame loss of Mark Pringle affected the Tigers, “Although we should have had enough depth to fill in.”
“You have to give Barberton credit-they hit us and hit us again.” Currence stated. “We just got the jitters out there.”
Did the Tigers sustain any other injuries that would affect next week’s home game against Granaha Lincoln?
“Yes, our feelings are hurt,” Currence said solemnly. “We’ll have trouble trouble coming back next week,”
Tigers, Magics lineups
TIGERS Offense Quarterback: 14 Brent Offenbecher (Jr, 6 0, 167); fullback: 28 Richard Cleveland (Jr., 5 11, 185); halfbacks: 44 Mike Grove (Sr., 5 9, 175), 33 Greg Carpenter (Sr., 6 0, 208), 45 Jeff Beitel (Jr., 5 7, 150); ends: 20 Mark Pringle (Sr., 6 1, 182 ), 86 Bob Grizzard (Sr., 5 5, 150), 80 Curtis Strawder (Jr., 5 10, 147), 87 Eric Clendening (Sr., 5 10, 174); tackles: 75 Tim Daniels (Sr., 6 8, 260), 78 Mark Namany (Sr., 6 4, 210), 73 Bob Kovacsiss (Sr., 5 11, 246); guards: 65 Bob Berquist (Sr., 5 10, 195), 61 Toby Leonard (Sr., 5 8, 183); center 50 Dick Lutz (Sr., 6 1, 212).
Defense Ends: 85 David Engler (Sr., 5 9, 190), 52 Frank Sweterlitsch (Sr., 6 1, 193); Tackles: 68 Tony Matie (Sr., 6 1, 218), 39 Jerry Shafrath (Sr., 6 1, 214); Middle guard: 59 Carl Dorsey (Sr., 5 10, 192); Linebackers: 62 Kurt Walterhouse (Sr., 5 11, 187), 47 Steve Dottavio (Sr., 5 9, 212); monster back: 27 John Letcavits (Sr., 6 1, 172); safety: 21 Marc Longshore (Sr., 6 1, 182); halfbacks: 22 Mike Hickey (Sr., 5 10, 171), 11 Darren Longshore (Jr., 6 0, 165) Kicker; 15 Mark Westover (Sr., 6 1, 218).
MAGICS Offense Quarterbacks: 7 Jeff Finley (Jr., 5 10, 168); fullback: 42 Ron Gable (Jr., 5 10, 198); Wingback: 48 Terry Cameron (Sr., 6 2, 167); Tailback: 47 Larry Ricks (Jr., 5 10, 190); Ends: 25 Dave Peters (Jr., 5 11, 158), 1 Booker Webb (Jr., 5 8, 144), 84 Brian Sutton (Jr., 6 0, 178); tackles: 51 Tim Phillips (Sr., 6 2, 210), 74 Chuck Rowland (Sr., 6 6, 260); guards: 69 Gary Bradford (Jr., 5 10, 172), 68 Joel Campbell (Sr., 6 1, 178), 67 Mark Friedman (Jr., 5 10, 185); center: 50 Dan Ozbolt (Jr., 5 11, 182).
Defense Ends: 44 Dave Wood (Sr., 5 11, 174), 80 Bob Genet (Jr., 5 11, 174); tackles: 72 Mike Jones (Jr., 6 0, 205), 71 Bob Hill (Sr., 6 2, 197); middle guard: 96 Robert Delaney (Sr., 5 8, 156); linebackers: 61 Dan Baker (Jr., 5 11, 174) 43 Karl Niehaus (Sr., 6 2, 195); free safety: 1 Webb; strong safety: 48 Cameron; defensive halfbacks: 37 Marcus McKinnie (Sr., 6 2, 182), 22 Tim Scott (Sr., 5 10, 158). Kickers: 88 Dennis Sellers (Sr., 6 2, 195), 47 Ricks, 89 Ken Bates (Sr., 6 2, 182).
Series 33rd meeting, Massillon holds series edge with 26-5-1 record.
“We aren’t championship caliber yet,” said Mike Currence.
“We played sloppy football,” said Rudy Sharkey.
THOSE STATEMENTS by the head coaches of the Massillon Tigers and Barberton Magics summed up Friday’s Parents’ Night game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in which the Tigers shut out the Magics 21-0 in a non-league game.
A crowd of 10,234 watched the Orange and Black roll to their fifth straight victory after losing their first two games. They also saw the Obiemen hang up their second straight shutout.
Barberton dropped to 3-4.
Program Cover
Currence had said earlier this week that his defenders had to get the ball for the offense. They picked off four of Barberton’s eight fumbles, setting up there touchdowns. Junior linebacker Steve Dottavio, substituting for senior Gary Border who is out with a broken arm, grabbed off two bobbles. Senior defensive end Bob Furnas got the other.
Junior monster back Kevin Gowins, with the reserve in late in the fourth quarter, picked up the final Barberton fumble at the Tigers’ 31-yard line to stave off Barberton’s last threat. So good was the Massillon defense that the Magics did get past their 45-yard line in the first half and were stopped at the Tigers’ 30 and 43 in the second half by pass interceptions by halfbacks Randy Lash, a senior and Mike Hickey, a junior.
Barberton also had the misfortune to be stymied by 70 yards in penalties and some unfortunate punting by junior Tom Thomas, subbing for senior Rick Donnelly who received a leg injury against Akron Hoban last week.
THE TIGER offense went back to its old tricks, getting into Barberton territory 10 times, but scoring only three times. Barberton senior halfback Bill Rackley intercepted a third quarter pass at his own 10 and a fourth quarter pass at his own 15.
Senior tackle Bob Hill picked up a Tiger first quarter fumble at the Barberton 12.
Mike Hardwick was wide left with a 22-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter after the Tigers had a fourth and one on the Barberton nine but were called for encroachment.
“We still don’t have the ability to put somebody down and put them down quick,” Currence said. “You have to have great poise to do that. When we got ahead and let up, they were good enough to come back on us.” Currence thought his defensive ends, juniors Frank Sweterlitsch, Dave Engler and Furnas, who filled in for Engler after he re-injured his ankle in the third quarter, did great.
“BARBERTON RUNS the outside option well and those three boys did a great job,” Currence said.
Currence said Barberton completely surprised him. The Magics used a 4-4 defense instead of their 5-2. Barberton used the “I” and split backs more than the “Y” or inverted wishbone.
“Rudy Sharkey gave us fits,” Currence said. “You just don’t beat a coach like that by an awesome score. Barberton has a good young club. We’ll meet them in the opener next year at the Rubber Bowl.”
The Tigers’ first touchdown came after Dottavio’s recovery at the Barberton 47 in the second quarter. Senior quarterback Bret Traylor ran for 15, 12 and five yards – the last, the scoring jaunt, coming after a 15-yard defensive pass interference call.
Hardwick kicked the conversion with 49 seconds showing on the clock.
DOTTAVIO GOT his second fumble recovery in the third quarter at the Barberton 25. Traylor was thrown for a 12-yard loss on the next play and injured. Sophomore quarterback Brent Offenbecher then came in and hit junior end Mark Pringle with a 37-yard pass for the score.
Hardwick kicked the conversion with 10:52 showing on the clock.
Furnas recovered a fumble on the Magics’ 19 in the fourth quarter. Five plays later sophomore fullback Rich Cleveland bulled over from the one.
Hardwick kicked the conversion with 7:04 showing on the clock.
In reviewing the game, Sharkey said his team has been inconsistent this year.
“There have been nights when we played super football but tonight wasn’t one of them,” he said. “A lot of our problems started when we lost our punter last week. Our substitute kicker Thomas kicked 55-yard and 38-yard punts last week. He came into the game tonight and there was one time he didn’t make the stick. That was the beginning of the end.”
SHARKEY WAS concerned that his offense put his defense into the hole time after time and pointed out you can only do that so often.
“Defensively our kids played well,” he said.
He explained his changes in offense and defense as put in to try to get something going for his team.
One bright light for the Magics was junior tailback Terry Cameron who netted 102 yards in 18 tries, losing only one yard. Cleveland netted 67, losing five, in 12 carries for Massillon.
BARBERTON – 0 Ends – Bates, Smith, Gamier, Peters, Sharkey, Bizach, Niehaus. Tackles – Coher, Garren, Roland, Jones, Bob Hill, Hutchison, Watkins. Guards – DeAngelis, Campbell, Bill Hill. Center – Canale. Quarterbacks – Finley, Karalic. Halfbacks – Huffman, L. Ricks, Rackley, Gable, Hymes, F. Tivkd, McKinnie, White, Chastain, Bowman, Henderson, Robertson, Hepfl. Tailback – Cameron. Punter – Thomas.
SCORING SUMMARY M – Bret Traylor, 5 run (Hardwick kick); M – Mark Pringle, 37 pass from Brent Offenbecher (Hardwick kick); M – Rich Cleveland, 1 run (Hardwick kick).
OFFICIALS Referee – Chuck Hinkle. Umpire – Jim McNally. Head Linesman – Bill Kulich. Field Judge – Ken Newton. Back Judge – Ron Bennington. ATTENDANCE – 10,234.
GRIDSTICK M B First downs rushing 10 7 First downs passing 3 1 First downs penalties 1 1 Total first downs 14 9 Yards gained rushing 212 159 Yards lost rushing 57 30 Net yards gained rushing 155 129 Net yards gained passing 85 33 Total yards gained 240 162 Passes completed 3-15 2-10 Passes intercepted by 2 3 Yardage on passes intercepted 9 42 Kickoff average (yards) 4-39.3 1-32.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 12 25 Punt average (yards) 3-26.3 5-25.0 Punt returns (yards) 0 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 3-1 8-4 Yards penalized 4-30 7-70 Touchdowns rushing 2 1 Touchdowns passing 1 0 Total number of plays 61 51 Total time of possession 24:37 13:23
Fumbles, pass problems marr 46-0 rout over Magics in homecoming
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
It was a lot easier than a lot of folks thought it would be Friday night, but there were sounded also a pair of sour notes.
The Massillon Tigers rolled over Barberton 46-0 before 12,524 at the rain-sprinkled Tiger stadium non-league homecoming, hanging up a 6-1 slate while handing Barberton its first loss in seven games. The Magics had tied once.
THEY HAD been touted as a dangerous ball club, but the Tiger defense dug in again when it needed to for its fifth shutout in seven tilts. The offense continued to gobble up yardage by the bags full.
Program Cover
The discords were sounded when Tiger backs lost the pigskin on four of five fumbles. It cost them because two of the bobbles occurred deep in Magics territory – probably preventing touchdowns – and the other brace came about the only times Washington high had the ball in the goodbye canto.
The Orange and Black passing game saw only one completion in seven tries as Tiger Coach Bob Commings got a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and got a chance for an extra sky route workout. Receivers couldn’t find the handle for quarterback Scotty Dingler.
Both the ball handling and passing headaches have caused consternation before and could be disastrous when the state’s top ranked Warren Harding Black Panther invade next Friday for an All-American conference affair.
“We’ll just have to concentrate on holding the ball,” Commings declared. “First things must come first. You have to get the ball and then go through the hole. I think our guys were trying to get down field without the ball.”
About the passing, he explained, “It was off, but it was not the quarterback. When he puts the ball in there and they can’t catch it, it’s not his fault.” * * * COMMINGS SAID the Tigers’ offensive line did a fine job and liked the way in which the Orange and Black got a lot out of the “I” formation with senior Willie Spencer in the tailback slot. The WHSers had shown a couple of plays from that set last week at Steubenville and used it almost the whole first quarter Friday night.
Commings didn’t use the “I” in the second half with Spencer sitting on the bench, suffering from the effects of the muggy weather. He had gained 124 yards – losing none in 12 first half carries and scored two touchdowns.
Tailback Larry McLenndon, also played at right half, which Don Perry in the lead running slot and tallied once. Defensive halfback Tom Hannon put six points on the scoreboard as did wingbacks Art Thompson and Terry Edwards.
The other two points came in the third stanza when defensive end Todd Cocklin tackled junior quarterback Doug Huffman in the end zone for a safety as Huffman faded from the nine.
The Tigers took the opening kickoff, after a 19-yard runback by Hannon and scored in 10 plays, covering 67 yards, with Spencer and Perry carrying the pigskin. Spencer tallied on third down from the one over right tackle with 7:23 on the clock.
Dingler kicked conversion. * * * THE GROOVY HIPPED Hannon ran a punt back 44 yards for a TD with the help of end Mike McGuire’s two man block as the time lights stopped at 2:20.
Dingled added a point.
Tom Jackson, like Hannon, Cocklin and Edwards a promising junior, knocked down Doug Huffman’s second quarter fourth down pass to end Jim Bauschlinger in the end zone, to give Massillon the ball on its five. Spencer flew through left tackle on the next play and picked up 15 more yards on a face mask call to give the Tigers first down on their 26.
An eight-play 95-yard drive had started and Spencer also ended it with a four-yarder through the center after Thompson had charged 51 yards over left guard on third down from the WHS 49 after a motion penalty.
With the clock reading 5:25, Dingler put the ball through the uprights.
Thompson got off another scintillating run on fourth down, after a holding penalty and raced 56 yards for the last counter of the first half, reversing field nicely and breaking a couple of tackles. Halfback Larry Young tried to stop “Gritz” with a desperation tackle, but only succeeded in giving him an extra push into pay dirt at 2:54. * * * DINGLER’S PAT boot was good.
Hannon ran back a punt 22 yards and added 14 more yards through the center to get the Tigers off and winging for a 38-yard, five-play scoring offensive. McLenndon went in off right tackle on first down from the four with 5:24 remaining in the third period.
Hannon ran the conversion off a pitch over right tackle.
The final excursion to the Promised Land started after junior middle guard Alex Wood had recovered a fumble on the Magics’ 22. The tally came after four plays with Edwards clearing left tackle on first down from the six at the 2:33 mark.
Junior quarterback Kevin Westover found Edwards in the right corner of the end zone for a two-pointer.
The Tigers had the ball for only two minutes and 50 seconds in the fourth quarter as junior tailback Jim McKinnie picked up quite a bit of yardage and the Magics got to the Massillon 25 before losing the ball on downs as tackle Glenn Weirich and safety Hank Nussbaumer threw Huffman back 14 yards – with the aid of a fumble. * * * BARBERTON WAS also stymied on fourth down at the five as McLenndon and McGuire hauled down McKinnie.
“They did a good job on what they were trying to do against us,” Commings said. “Some might have thought it was easy, but it wasn’t. They’re young like Akron East.”
“They beat us real good,” Barberton Coach Ron Fenik said. “They ran through us, over us and around us. There’s not much you can say.”
While McKinnie was a bright light the Magics’ first half running, senior tailback Bob Glenchert looked good before the intermission and seemed most effective when running from counter plays as the Tiger defense was angling the opposite way.
Commings called it running to daylight.
Junior wingback Rick Lay, both an outstanding runner and pass receiver, left with 7:35 remaining in the third quarter and was to have an ankle X-rayed. His absence hindered the Magics’ offense.
THE GRIDSTICK M B First downs, rushing 21 9 First downs, passing 0 1 First downs, penalties 1 1 Total first downs 22 11 Yards gained rushing 351 176 Yards lost rushing 8 53 Net yards gained rushing 343 123 Net yards gained passing 8 26 Total yards gained 351 149 Passes completed 1-7 4-12 Kickoff average (yards) 7-43.0 1-46.0 Kickoff returns (yards) 42 69 Punt average (yds.) 1-41.0 6-32.5 Punt returns (yds.) 65 2 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles (lost) 5(4) 5(3) Yards penalized 4-50 3-25 Touchdowns rushing 0 0 Miscellaneous 1 0 Total number of plays 56 59
Cliff Wilson sounded as if he were still in the coaching ranks.
“Boy! That score doesn’t tell half the story of the game!” Washington high’s first year principal said as he made his way down the sideline toward an exit.
Massillon’s Tigers mauled Barberton’s inexperienced Magics 52-0 Friday night in a non-league before 10,120, the season’s smallest crowd at Tiger stadium, but the Ohio’s No. 1 team knew it had been in a battle. The Orangemen came out with assorted bumps and bruises administered by the hard-hitting Summit Countians who hung on tenaciously although out of the game by halftime. * * * IT WAS Massillon’s sixth straight win and third straight shutout – fourth of the season.
The Tigers’ “Attack Pack” has gone 16 consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown – 14 without giving up a score. Niles scored a second quarter field goal three weeks ago.
Barberton out-gained the Tigers 97-95 on the ground in the first half, but a 42-0 advantage in the air gave Massillon a 137-97 overall advantage. The Magics led in first downs 8-6.
The Tigers had a clear statistical edge in all departments, except first downs, by the game’s end. The margin here was only 16-14.
Barberton moved the ball about as well as any team has against the Tigers, rolling up 30 more plays. This could be explained in part by the fact that the WHSers scored very quickly each time they got their hands on the ball.
First-year Coach Ron Fenik mixed his plays well, junior quarterback Bob Gleichert dazzled the Tigers with his slight-of-hand and was hard to contain. Senior halfback John Yarsa and junior fullback Ed West appeared to be the most effective runners as the Magics gave the Orangemen some of their own medicine with counter criss-cross and power pitch plays. * * * THE ORANGE and Black had trouble getting under way, but really moved after the intermission. The county’s and All-American conference’s leading scorer, tailback Mike Mauger, tallied two touchdowns and two conversions to lead the parade.
Quarterback Dennis Franklin continued to menace the opposition, scoring one touchdown, passing for one and a conversion. Wingback Larry Harper, caught one TD pass and two PAT tosses – one from Mauger.
The Tigers’ new play, which was tried twice successfully, should make the opposition more cautious. Franklin ran well outside a couple of times from another new wrinkle, the power formation.
Mauger, Franklin and Harper each added to possible All-Ohio credentials as did Co-Captain Tom Cardinal with steady play both ways.
The “Iron Curtain” of Co-Captain Steve Luke, Willie Spencer, Tim Ridgley, Kirk Strobel, Pete Jasinski, Dave Kulik and Steve Studer, provided more good running room. * * * THE TIGERS didn’t score until 5:08 of the first quarter. Cardinal powered over tackle for 55 yards after a punt. Franklin tossed to Harper for two more points.
Spencer blocked a punt to give the Tigers’ possession on the Barberton 40-yard line. Eight plays later Franklin boot-legged end from the 10 with 10:17 left in the second stanza. Mauger went off tackle to make it 16-0.
With Cardinal on the sideline nursing a painful, but not serious shoulder injury, Barberton drove 68 yards, after the kickoff, scored a TD on Gleicherts pass to sophomore halfback Rick Lay, but was set back to the 18. On fourth down, junior cornerback Art Thompson intercepted a Gleichert aerial and ran 78 yards for a score, the longest such run in the county this season and the third longest in Tiger history. With 4:48 left, Mauger again blasted over tackle, for a 24-0 count.
With fourth down five, on his 44, a third of the way through the third canto, Gleichert ran from punt formation, but was stopped on the 45. Six plays later Mauger went over tackle from the two on first down, with 6:04 left, for his first TD. He had two chances to kick a PAT, thanks to an offside penalty, but missed both.
Spencer recovered a fumble on the Magics’ 31 shortly after the kickoff. Eight plays after, Mauger just made the end zone over tackle on fourth down from the two. With 45 seconds showing he hit Harper just inside the right end zone corner for two more points.
Barberton punted from the end zone early in the goodbye period and Harper ran back from the 38 to the 31. Then Franklin, eluding tacklers, sprinted toward the sideline and threw to Harper who made a diving catch between two foes for a TD with 10:39 left. Scott Dingler, a junior quarterback, threw the conversion aerial over Spencer’s head.
Bernard Sullivan made a 30-yard extra-effort punt runback to set the stage for the final six-pointer. Two plays later, Thompson scored from 32 yards away on the counter criss-cross with 7:40 left. Dingler bootlegged the conversion.
Barberton held the ball, thereafter, until the four-second mark, consuming seven minutes, 32 seconds. * * * “THEY PREPARED for us well,” Bob Commings, the Tigers head coach said. “They played a nice game, they got outside of us a couple of times and I don’t think we were quite ready for those do-dads which Gleichert had in there. We knew he was a good player.”
Commings was not happy with the first half attitude, feeling his charges fiddled around too much.
“We moved the ball a little bit on them,” Fenik said. “We knew they had a good team when we came down here. We just made some bad mistakes.”
This was to be expected of the underclass-studded lineup.
“We think Gleichert will be a good player one day,” Fenik continued. “He’s a heckuva kid!” THE GRIDSTICK M B First downs – rushing 13 11 First downs – passing 3 1 First downs – penalties 0 2 Total first downs 16 14 Yards gained rushing 222 155 Yards lost rushing 5 36 Net yards gained rushing 217 119 Net yards gained passing 73 31 Total yards gained 290 150 Passes completed 3-7 4-13 Passes intercepted by 1 1 Yardage on passes intercepted 78 0 Kickoff average yards 8-47.9 1-27.0 Kickoff returns yards 9 95 Punt average, yards 2-43.5 6-26.3 Punt returns, yards 47 0 Had punts blocked 0 1 Lost fumbled ball 0-1 1-1 Yards penalized 4-60 5-46 Touchdowns – rushing 5 0 Touchdowns – passing 1 0 Touchdowns by interception 1 0 Total number of plays 40 70
Official:Tigers can’t play post-season tilt
COLUMBUS (AP) – Top-ranked Massillon and No. 2 Upper Arlington will have to wait until a regular season 1972 meeting to settle their differences.
The Ohio High School Athletic association, the governing body of the state scholastic sports, ruled Thursday a proposed charity game between the two Class AAA powers after the season was out.
A group had wanted to match the two in a Thanksgiving Day game in Bowling Green for the benefit of the Wichita State University airplane crash fund.
“THE ONLY way they could play the game was if both schools would drop one of their regular season games,” Commission Harold Meyer said. “Massillon and Upper Arlington both played 10 games this fall. That’s the limit under the OHSAA constitution.
Massillon, top-ranked in the Associated Press’ Class AAA state poll and Upper Arlington, in second place are not regularly scheduled until 1972 at Upper Arlington.
The OHSAA again sanctioned the Ohio North-South basketball Classic at Marion in June and tabled a proposal by cable television representatives to telecast state high school sports events on a delayed basis.
10 Players Score As Tigers Scuttle Magics 90-Point Total Misses Massillon’s One-Game Record by 4 Markers
By CHARLIE POWELL
Even a team of horses couldn’t have slowed down the mighty Massillon Tigers Friday night.
This pigskin powerhouse, only two games away from Massillon’s first undefeated season since 1953 and an apparent state championship, blitzed Barberton’s Magics 90-0 before 8,197 fans at Tiger stadium where Tiger fans yelled for more right down to the fading seconds.
Program Cover
When sub halfback Bob Herring scooted 65 yards to pay dirt with only 28 seconds remaining and Martin Gogov followed with a blast for two bonus points, the Bengals became Tiger town’s fourth team ever to score over 80 points in a single game.
They ran over, through and around the woefully weak Magics and a sharp passing attack added kindling to the fire as they finished with the second highest one-game scoring avalanche in Tiger grid annals.
Only the unbeaten 1922 combine had a more astronomical figure, 94-0 over Akron North and only the 1918 team (82-0 over Uhrichsville) and the 1923 array (by the same score over Salem) ever tallied more than 80 markers in a single engagement. * * * THE TENACIOUS Tigers, winners of eight in a row this season and 11 dating back to 1958, are the highest scoring Washington high school outfit since 1953 (399 points in 10 games) and seem a lead-pipe cinch to reach the charmed 400-point circle in the two remaining games.
They have rattled off 375 points for an average of 46.8 points per tilt and are destined to become the ninth 400-point team in all history, the previous teams being those of the 1934, 35, 36, 39, 40, 49, 50 and 52 campaigns. Most points scored in a single: 483 by the ’35 crew.
The win was Massillon’s 11th straight over Barberton and put the series standing at 23 victories, four losses and one tie. It was Barberton’s worst licking by the Tigers, the biggest margin heretofore being 54-0 in the 1934 fray.
The Tiger express gained 608 yards (to 93) and 10 different players figured in the scoring led by that adept Art Hastings and speedster Jim Wood.
Hastings, his best effort being on a second half kickoff return of 82 yards, hit in for three touchdowns and Wood made two, both on passes. Art got two more points on a conversion run to bring his season total to 88. Wood twice converted on runs and brought his mark to 66.
Smoothie Joe Sparma pegged two six-point aerials, one to Wood and the other to End Bob Barkman while Wood made his other TD on a toss from sub quarterback John Larson. Sparma, who completed four aerials for 112 yards, also sneaked across for a TD.
Sub, halfback Martin Gugov, one of seven boys having single touchdowns, added four conversion runs to finish with 14 points.
With the help of his 65-yard payoff prance, scatback Herring wound up with 108 yards in five carries to lead the leather-luggers. * * * HOWEVER, HASTINGS, Wood, Gugov and Bill Finney (one touchdown churned off lots of yardage). Hastings accumulated 98 in seven trips, Wood 76 in eight, Gugov 63 in nine and Finney 50 in seven.
Another sub, small but strong Doug Toles, carted four times for 42 yards and made one touchdown. The other TD was reeled off by nimble-footed, Nick Daugenti on a six-yard run in his only try,
On the other hand ,the out-manned Magics had a meager 56 yards rushing and five of 17 passes added another 37.
Their best bid came early in the final quarter. A 14-yard run by Halfback Tracy Marsh helped them advance to the Bengal 23. But sophomore End Larry Ehmer tossed Quarterback Ron Molloric for a four-yard loss and on the next play, Molloric fumbled as Tackle Ken Herndon put the squeeze on and Jay B. Willey recovered for the Tigers.
Barberton became a loser for the fifth time in eight starts. Two wins and a tie are on the “black” side of the ledger.
The Magics never had a chance after the first period in which the host team made 24 points. In the second, third and fourth quarters the Tigers added 22 markers.
Leo Strang’s boys splurged to 436 yards in 40 rushing plays while the passing of Sparma and Larson (six for 16) tacked up an additional 172 yards. Further more, the Orangemen had possession 16 times and failed to score only four times.
The scoring summary:
FIRST QUARTER – Barberton received, had to punt on fourth down and John Mackovic, rushed by McKey, kicked high but not far, the ball being grounded at the Magic 32. On the very first play for the Tigers, Sparma faded back, passed to Barkman on a “perfect” 32-yard scoring play at 10:15. Finney made it 8-0 on a slant off tackle. A minute later McKey intercepted a pass and Massillon took over at the opponents’ 40. With Finney rambling for 24 on a sweep, the Tigers reached the five before Hastings tallied standing up on a five-yard scoring play at 5:07. Gugov ran the extra points. Barberton again had to punt. Daugenti returned 10 yards to the Tiger 35, and Wood promptly zipped 50 yards, fighting and twisting the last 10. From the two, Sparma sneaked across behind Guard Jim Houston. At 1:27, Hastings converted on a run.
SECOND QUARTER – On the first play, Barkman recovered a fumble as Frank Midure banged into Jim Whitman. Tigers moved 21 yards before Larson, on the first play he was in the game, passed to Wood for 33 yards and another score at 9:52. This was another picture pass with Wood catching on the dead run. Several minutes later Bednar recovered a fumble at the Tiger 32. Hastings legged for 26 before Sparma unlimbered his arm again, tossing to Wood who raced 26 yards to complete a 43-yard maneuver at 6:25. Wood also ran the points. On the second play after the kickoff, Wally Brugh recovered still another Magic fumble at the Barberton 24. Toles scored by smashing off the right side from five yards out after previously gaining 17 yards on a sweep. Gugov ran across two more points with 4:35 left in the half.
THIRD QUARTER – Barberton’s Jack Romain kicked off, the ball going to Wood who reversed to Hastings at the 18. Art sped down the east sidelines and with Midure slowing up the last defender just enough, Hastings went all the way, 82 yards for another TD. Time left: 11:43. Three plays after the kickoff Bednar intercepted a pass and Massillon had possession at the enemy 28. Hastings bolted off left tackle, got a fine block from Tackle Virgil Bukuts, cut away from two would-be tacklers and scored again. Gugov converted on an off-tackle smash at 9:52. Late in the period, the Tigers marched 51 yards to pay dirt with the big gains being a 20-yarder by Hastings and an 18-yard burst by Toles. From the five, Finney roared through right tackle to score at 2:25 and Herring made the conversion points standing up.
FOURTH QUARTER – After Willey recovered a fumble on the third play of the final stanza, the orange and black rolled 65 yards in 10 plays. Enroute Hastings made 15 before stumbling and Gugov barreled for 16. The 12-yard touchdown run was made by Gugov at right tackle and at 5:39, Baker passed to McKey to make it 76-0. After the kickoff Barberton had to punt, Daugenti returned 10 yards to the Tiger 48. Gugov gained 15 on a sweep, Larson passed to Oliver for 27 and Daugenti then scored at 1:59 on a six-yard burst off the right side. With 34 seconds remaining, Massillon got the ball at its 20 after a Barberton punt rolled into the end zone. With the fans yelling “Go, Go, Go!” a pass failed and with the opposition looking for another pass, Herring ripped off the left side and dashed 65 yards to score. With 16 seconds left, Gugov rammed through the right side and that was it, 90-0.
OFFICIALS Referee – George Ellis. Head Linesman – Clarence Rich. Umpire – John Russ. Field Judge – Bill Holzworth.
STATISTICS Mass. Barb. First downs, rushing 18 5 First downs, passing 3 2 First downs, penalties 1 0 Total first downs 22 7 Yards gained rushing 444 106 Yards lost rushing 8 50 Net yards gained rushing 436 56 Yards gained passing 172 37 Total yards gained 608 93 Passes attempted 16 17 Passes completed 6 5 Passes intercepted by 3 1 Times kicked off 13 1 Kickoff average (yards) 40 42 Kickoff returns (yards) 72 21.3 Times punted 0 8 Punt average (yards) 0 26.6 Punt returns (yards) 34 0 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 3 6 Lost fumbled ball 2 5 Penalties 3 6 Yards penalized 25 36½
Massillon Raps Barberton, 90-0 Tigers Roll Up Highest Score Since 1922; Hastings Tallies Three
Plain Dealer Canton Bureau
MASSILLON, O. – Massillon’s top-rated Tigers put on one of the hottest offensive showings in their history before 8,197 frigid fans here last night as they buried Barberton’s Magics, 90-0.
The triumph was the eighth straight for the Bengals, and it was their biggest since the 1922 Massillon team blasted Akron North, 94-0. That was the all-time high score for the Tigers.
The Tigers erupted for 12 touchdowns. Nine players took part in the scoring parade. Art Hastings led the way with three tallies and Jim Wood had two.
Massillon scored three times in every quarter. A 32-yard Joe Sparma to Bob Barkman pass gave the Tigers a tally on their first scrimmage play of the game. A few moments later, Hastings went five yards through center. Then Sparma capped a 65-yard drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak.
Wood caught both his touchdown passes in the second period. One was a 43-yarder from Sparma and the other a 32-yard toss from substitute quarterback John Larson. Doug Toles blasted over from five yards out to give Massillon a 46-0 halftime advantage.
Barberton kicked off to open the second half and Hastings took a handoff and sped 78 yards down the sidelines. Just two minutes later, after a pass interception, Hastings went 28 yards for this third tally. Bill Finney ended the third period with a five-yard touchdown burst.
Martin Gugov went 12 yards and Nick Daugenti five for the Tigers in the last quarter, then Bob Herring wound things up with just 16 seconds to play when he raced 65 yards into the end zone.
The Tigers racked up 608 total yards against Barberton, while holding the Magics to 93.
But Barberton never stopped scrapping. The Magics are made up primarily of underclassmen.
End Jerry Toth sparked Barberton on defense, while fullback Jim Whitman led the Magic ball carriers with 52 yards in 14 carries.
Barberton now has a 2-5-1 record for the season. It has lost 19 times, won 3 and gained one tie in its long series with Massillon.
Magic Coach Raps Massillon’s Strang Hits ‘Pouring It On” In Wake Of 90- Rout
By PHIL DIETRICH
Somewhere between the sixth and the 90th point in Friday nights’ stunning loss to Massillon Washington, Barberton High’s Tom Phillips made up his mind.
“There definitely is going to be something done about that 90-0 trimming,” he said bluntly. “Barberton must decide. Do we take such beatings – at a price – or do we find our own level of competition?”
“A lot of Barberton people feel we should play and beat Massillon. Perhaps we should, but now is the time to decide. It’s not fair to the kids to take a merciless beating like that. How do you go about reconciling the work that went into preparing for a game that turned out like that one.”
“It is bad for squad morale, bad for the coach’s confidence in his own ability – bad for football itself!”
Thirty-five-year old Tom Phillips in his first season as varsity coach of the Magics, was angry for his players and angry for himself. He took a deep breath and leveled the verbal finger squarely at Massillon grid boss Leo Strang.
“That’s what happens when you have a coach who obviously wants to get to the top fast,” he said gruffly. “Barberton was just another rung in the ladder to get him there.”
“He knew early we didn’t have a chance. So what happened? In the second quarter we made two first downs. He immediately rushed in another defensive unit to stop us.”
With 22 seconds to go in the first half and the score 46-0 he still had Hastings (Art), Sparma (Joe) and his other guns in there.”
“I’ve taken trimmings before – although never this bad – including a couple from Massillon. There is a difference, though, primarily in coaches. Did you ever hear of a coach running up 90 points before while using only part of his squad.”
“He had every reason to use them all, too. It was Dads’ Night at the stadium.”
It was pointed out by Barberton Athletic Director Karl Harter that Massillon’s point standing in the high school football polls served as a challenge to the Tiger team and coaches and affected Friday night’s score. Phillips agreed.
“No doubt about it,” he said. “Springfield has been gaining on Massillon, which lost ground last week despite that one-sided win over Warren.”
“This goes a bit deeper, though. Other Massillon coaches – Tom Harp, for example – didn’t believe in pouring it on. In the long run Massillon will suffer. You won’t resign yourself to the nine beatings you’ll take before you beat’em once – not when the beatings are like last night’s.”
“Canton Lincoln finally dropped’em and there will be more. I had calls from as far away as Niles – from friends and acquaintances who wanted to say how sorry they were to hear about that score – sorry for me and sorry for football.”
Harter took a more philosophical view. His experience runs through much of the 23-game Barberton-Massillon series – and the 19 Tiger victories.
“Certainly, Massillon was intent on getting points,” he said. “I hold the polls to blame. They create pressure on teams and coaches. It is bad for high school football.”
“You can’t take it away from Massillon’s team. They have speed and depth and marvelous balance. I’ve never seen a better Massillon team. They can score any way they want to score.”
“Phillips used all his kids and fortunately none of them were injured.”
Not physically, perhaps, but Phillips seems to detect cracks in the morale.
He said he plans to do something about it, but soon!
LOOKING’ EM OVER with CHARLIE POWELL
THE BARBERTON coach Tom “Red” Phillips, was a very upset man after his team was given a pummeling Friday night. He refused to shake hands with Tiger Coach Leo Strang and he waved his players off the field before they could go through the usual post-game compliments.
The Magic mentor would not allow newsmen in the team dressing quarters and as one reporter tried to get in, a voice from within the locker room said “Go see Strang.”
In the Tiger dressing room, Strang showed he was upset too.
He explained that all 43 Tigers dressed for the night got into the game and that all but two or three played in all four quarters. * * * SIX SOPHOMORES got to suit up with the varsity for the first time this year and two of them were plugging away even before the first period was concluded. The sophs were Quarterback Bob Baker, Halfback Fred Philpott, Center Ed Radel, Tackle Dan Spees and Ends Larry Ehmer and Ken Ivan.
“We can’t tell them not to play to the hilt or not to try to score” commented Strang, who was carried off the field by a few players.
Actually, Leo didn’t have much to say about the landslide. What can a guy say about a game like that?
“I was pleased in that the boys showed they wanted to play their best football and that so many got a chance to score.”
“It also gave us an excellent opportunity to look at some of the kids who will be coming back next year,” he added. * * * THE 90-POINT total was Leo’s personal high. One of his Upper Sandusky teams paddled Mifflin 86-0 several years ago.
The barreling Bengals used spread formation plays more than usual as they toyed with the visiting club. By actual count, they used 25 different plays to slice out a whopping 608 yards net gain.
Much will be said, and written, and rightly so, about the offense so we’ll take an opportunity to plug the Tiger defense.
It has allowed only four touchdowns and an average of 101 yards per game! Last night the Magics made only 56 yards on the ground and 37 in the air. Massillon’s ball-hawkers intercepted three passes and recovered five fumbles. * * * PASSES WERE intercepted by Hase McKey, “Sluggo” Bednar (after the ball was deflected by Frank Midure) and sub Joe Smith while enemy fumbles were pounced on by Bednar, Bob Barkman, Wally Brugh, Gary Wells and Jay B. Willey.
Barberton had only two plays good for over 10 yards all night. Keep it up you Tigers! * * * THE VICTORY should increase Massillon’s stock with some of the voters in the scholastic poll.
Second place Springfield, which trailed the Tigers by 36 points this week, finally beat Lima after being behind 6-0 in the first half. When the score was announced at Tiger stadium, Massillon fans let out a real roar. But there was not much noise when Bob Smith gave the 22-6 score. * * * THE CROWD included Dennison university’s gridders who play at Akron today. Ex-Tiger Al Slicker was among the group but Al, who had worked his way up to a regular job as an offensive guard, won’t get to play because of a torn ligament in his right knee. He is expected to be back in the starting lineup for the Big Red’s season finale against Ohio Wesleyan, Nov. 14.
Tiger Gridders Beat Barberton 32-0 Bengals Hot And Cold In Chalking Up their Sixth Of The Season
By CHARLIE POWELL
It was just like somebody was continually twisting a couple of water faucets. First hot, then cold, hot then cold, hot then cold.
That’s the way the Massillon Tigers ran (and passed) as they took the steam out of the Barberton Magics before 10,158 paid fans at Tiger stadium Friday night.
The Bengals weren’t “up” for the tussle. They had all the earmarks of a world-beater at times, but at other times stumbled along and yet ran up their highest point total of the season, 32-0, for their fourth shutout of the campaign plus their 10th victory in a row over the Magics.
A combination of Tiger boo-hoos, their apparent lackadaisical mood, and some battling on the part of the invaders whose defense, featuring crashing linebackers, occasionally tipped the local lads off balance, probably kept the score from being more lop-sided. * * * THIS “PARLAY” helped Barberton hold onto the football with the Purple having possession for 33 running plays and eight passes.
Offensively, the Magics – in becoming the sixth Tiger victim of the season – averaged less than two yards a play in 38 rushes as they gained 64 yards overland and added 23 when they put the pigskin in orbit.
The visiting array never did pose a serious threat. Their longest gain amounted to 13 yards and that pass connection, coming on the last play of the third panel, was nullified by a penalty.
Along the same lines, the Bengals showed only flashes of a sustained effort.
They marched 60 yards right off the bat for a lead touchdown and before the first period was over, hiked the count to 16-0 with a second six-pointer climaxing a 54-yard drive prodded along by a roughing-the-kicker call against Barberton. * * * CORNELIUS CLARK, pepper-pot defensive back and punt return specialist, hauled back a Magic kick 24 yards and the Tigers drove 40 yards for a third TD in the third round. A 45-yard pass play, Joe Sparma to Bill Zorn, helped the hosts cover 65 yards in the last period.
On only one other occasion did the boys coached by Leo Strang move deep into enemy territory. This scoring overture occurred in the scoreless second period when the ball was lost on a fumble at the Barberton six.
The running of reliables Dave Dean, Art Hastings and Jim Snively and the passing of Sparma and Bill Finney who made his first start and played most of the game and the pass catching of Dean, Zorn, Bob Vogel and Bob Oliver sparked the attack which accounted for 310 net yards.
In 54 plays the Tigers made 238 yards on the ground and 117 in the ozone. They had 16 first downs to seven for the losers.
Finney completed five of eight passes with one being intercepted while two Sparma tosses were on target for 54 yards in two plays before the final touchdown of the night. Finney once ran for 18 yards on a keeper but Tiger fans were moaning as he was thrown for losses totaling 23 yards on four pass plays. * * * HASTINGS, the touch-and-go running sophomore, put his hands on the ball 20 times and gained 110 yards for an average of 5.5 yards per try while Snively averaged over six yards in eight carries netting 52 yards. Dean, getting some rest, carried only four times and gained 33 yards.
Vogel latched onto three passes for 37 yards and one touchdown, Zorn caught two for 58 yards, Dean one for 13 and Oliver one for nine.
Massillon won the toss, chose to receive and Hastings planted the ball on the Bengal 40 to get the ball rolling. In four of the 12 plays which followed, the Tigers lost 13 yards, but a 10-yard sweep by Snively, an 18-yard bootlegger by Finney, a 12-yarder by Dean, a Finney to Dean pass for 13 and a Finney toss to Vogel good for nine, placed the pigskin at the Barberton six. Then Dean exploded off right tackle and nobody touched him until he hit the final stripe at 6:57.
Snively veered through the right side for the two extra points.
After the ensuing kickoff, the Junie Ferrall – coached forces were forced to punt and this time the orange and black started winging from its own 46-yard line. In six plays and with a minute left in the quarter, the score was 16-0. On a crossbuck Dean plugged for 11 and a seven-yard gain by Hastings set the stage for the 18-yard scoring pass, Finney to big Vogel.
Bob got behind a Barberton defender in the end zone and grabbed the ball on the dead run. Snively again ran to the right for the extra points. * * * AFTER A MAGIC punt and John Vargo’s intercpetion of a Finney pass, the Tigers provided the only excitement of the second canto. Clark pounced on a fumble at the Massillon 45 and Hastings zipped three times for 19 yards. Snively inserted 11 yards in two cracks and a 13-yard pass, Finney to Zorn (who played on offense for the first time in four weeks), put the ball on the Barberton 13.
At this point Martin Gugov, heretofore a member of the sophomore team, entered the game and promptly banged off tackle for what looked like a nice gain – or even a touchdown, but the ball was fumbled, Barberton’s Bill Mobley recovered, and that squashed the threat. Two plays later the half was over.
The third period was a little on the dull side until Clark returned a punt 24 yards to the Magic 40. Snively and Hastings took the ball to the three before Snively, finding a big hole at right tackle, went across standing up. Gugov dived through the same spot and it was 24-0 with 3:45 remaining in the quarter.
Midway in the final session the Tigers started from their 16 and gained 47 yards before a holding penalty slowed them. Two running plays netted nothing, a pass was off the Finger-tips of Zorn and on fourth down a fake punt failed to pan out. Consequently Barberton too over at the Tiger 45. * * * HOWEVER on the very next play Bob Mobley, the Barberton tow-head who played both quarterback and left half, fumbled and Gary “Sluggo” Bednar was Johnny-on-the-Spot for the hometowners. After his recovery at the 45, Sparma entered the game and immediately twirled to Zorn, who caught the oval over his shoulder at the 24 and barreled to the enemy 10. Sparma threw again, this time Oliver taking a flat pass for nine yards and on the next play, Hastings scored off tackle. Jerry Allen came in to run across and change the score to 32-0 with 1:49 left in the fray.
Barberton picked up two first downs before Clark intercepted a pass at the Barberton 35 on the last play of the game.
The loss was the fifth in eight starts for the Purple. It was the third straight year the Tigers have scored over 30 points against the Magics, they losing 33-0 last year and by 35-6 the year before. The series now reads Massillon 18 victories, Barberton three victories, one tie.
STATISTICS Mass. Barb. First downs – rushing 13 7 First downs – passing 3 0 First downs – penalties 0 0 Total first downs 16 7 Number of rushing plays 54 45 Yards Gained – running Plays 238 96 Yards lost – running plays 45 32 Net yardage – running 193 64 Passes attempted 13 8 Passes completed 7 3 Passes had intercepted 1 2 Yards returned – intercepted passes 0 1 Yards gained – passing 117 23 Total net yardage – running and passing 310 87 Number of kickoff returns 1 5 Yardage – kickoff returns 13 75 Average length of kickoff Returns 13 15 Number of punt returns 2 0 Yardage, punt returns 48 0 Average length of punt return 24 0 Number of punts 1 4 Total yardage on punts 36 132 Average length of punts 36 33 Number of penalties 4 2 Yards Lost on Penalties 30 17 Number of Fumbles 5 5 Own Fumbles Recovered 3 4 Ball Lost on Fumbles 2 1
Tigers Take Magic Out Of Barberton 30-0 Benjamin Romps For Three Touchdowns, Averages 17 Yards
By CHARLIE POWELL
It’s an exception rather than the rule when somebody in a Massillon Tiger jersey puts on a one-man show.
There was an exception Friday night and that “somebody” was the flashy fireball named Ivory Lee Benjamin.
The kid with dash, daring and 300-horsepower legs gave Tigertown fans a treat and Barberton the treatment as he sparked the Bengals to a methodical 30-0 victory over the not-so-magic Magics before some 7,000 chilled rooters at the Barberton stadium.
Program Cover
He pranced to pay dirt three times on runs of eight, 41 and 56 yards. Well, actually four times, but a 43-yard trip was made null and void by a penalty.
He toted the pighide 13 times and wound up with a gain of 225 yards. He caught one pass for four yards, intercepted on enemy pass and made quite a few stops on defense. He now has made 13 touchdowns.
Any wonder why we say he was a one-man wrecking crew? * * * BENJAMIN LEFT the Barberton fans buzzing. A few may have kept right on talking about him after they went to sleep.
After the show produced by the Tiger co-captain and left halfback was concluded, Barberton’s general mentor, Junie Ferrall wasn’t about to go into the whys and wherefores of the battle.
He just kept shaking his head and repeating, “That Benjamin…just too much Benjamin.”
Well, Mr. Ferrall, as you know and we all know, he couldn’t have done it all by his lonesome.
How about that line which opened holes you could have engineered a battleship through? How about the timely running of Scott Kanney, who was filling in at fullback in place of the injured Chuck Beiter? How about that fine ball-handling in the backfield? How about that defense which limited the Magics to 65 yards on the ground?
There were two big reasons why the Tigers didn’t do more damage. * * * ONE – THE BARBERTON quarterback, Bob Mobley, whose faking, running and passing antics kept the defenders off balance all night. Two – the fact that the Bengals began to rest on their laurels once it appeared evident they could move the ball and Barberton couldn’t.
Anyway you looked at it, the Tigers put their sixth victory of the season in the record books.
It was Massillon’s ninth straight win in the 21-game series, which has now seen the Tigers cop the duke 17 times.
And now in 1957 two remaining – unbeaten Akron Garfield and once-beaten, Canton McKinley.
The loss was the fifth in eight starts for Barberton, which will end the season against Roger Bacon high at Cincinnati next week. * * * COACH LEE TRESSELL summed things up this way:
“As a whole we moved the ball pretty well. Ivory looked real good. So did Scott (Kanney) and Leaman (Williamson).
“That Mobley was something. He kept us guessing, as we thought he would. Although our pass defense allowed seven completions, we weren’t hurt too much. But between their passing and the running of Burroughs (Bob) we had enough to worry about.”
Kanney averaged over 12 yards a carry and tallied a first period touchdown on a 17-yard blast up the middle. The other Tiger TD was made by speedy Jim Snively, who zoomed 50 yards on a punt return to add icing to the cake in the last quarter.
Williamson made tackles in wholesale lots and blocked a punt.
Mobley, a southpaw slicker, ran the Barberton team with plenty of nerve. The junior standout handled the ball like a pro, hit on five of 10 passes, caught two aerials, intercepted one Massillon forward and ran five times for 17 yards. * * * BURROUGHS, a 215-pound sophomore, who is built like a tank, churned through the line 15 times and averaged over three yards a clip.
All told, the host team connected on seven of 16 aerials but failed to offset the crunching ground attack of the Orange and Black.
With Benjamin averaging 17-yards per carry, Massillon had a net rushing gain of 347 yards.
Total yardage was Massillon 351, Barberton 136.
Yet the Magics had the ball for 49 running and passing plays and Massillon was limited to 33 rushing-passing attempts.
But like Ferrall said, “Benjamin was the big difference.” * * * IVORY HAD Tiger fans roaring in the first three minutes of the game. The Bengals received and started to roll from their own 19.
The first Time Benjamin carried he went 15 yards. Then he whizzed for 36 and 31 to help set up his own touchdown from the eight-yard line with only two minutes and 48 seconds elapsed.
On the pay dirt foray he hit off the right side and went in standing up. It was almost a carbon copy of the plays that were good for 15, 21 and 36 yards. Soph Quarterback Joe Sparma tried the extra point but his kick sailed to the left.
After the teams exchanged punts and pass interceptions, Massillon was knocking at TD door again.
Defensive Halfback Jerry Mitchell pounced on a fumble at the 33 and in two plays the rambunctious Kanney covered the remaining distance. He shot through the left side for 16, then came back over the right side, found a hole, and went 17 yards with only one Barberton player getting a hand on him. * * * THIS TIME Sparma’s placement was low and to the right and it was 12-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the opening round.
Barberton bolted back and for a while it looked like the purple was going to tighten the issue.
With Mobley twirling to End Alan Cooksey for 19, Halfback March Ferguson gaining seven and John Howe, from kick formation, throwing to Mobley for 14, the Magics advanced to the Tiger 19.
Then the Magics were penalized 15 yards for holding and after Halfback Norm Spencer gained one, Joe Brownlee and Williamson decked Mobley for an 11-yard loss on a pass play. On fourth down Ferguson took off on a double reverse but slipped and fell as he turned the corner and Massillon had possession on the 43. * * * A MOMENT later Mobley intercepted a pass by Gene Stewart but the Tigers held and took possession at the 35. Kanney ripped off 17, then 17 more after Benjamin banged for 25 but time ran out and the score was still 12-0 at intermission.
Benjamin’s 41-yard jaunt to the Promised Land came after his 43-yarder was nullified. At the start of the second half Howe kicked dead at the 23 and the Tresslelmen rolled to the Barberton 43 before Ivory turned on all jets and outran Mobley to the end zone.
A backfield-in-motion penalty put the oval back on the 41. Sub Fullback Dave Dean rammed for seven before Benjamin made his second official trip to pay dirt. He slammed through the middle, was stopped momentarily at the Magic 38 and then was long gone.
On the PAT attempt the snap from center went astray and McKey, the kicker, picked up the ball and attempted to run across only to be stopped a yard short. And so it was 18-0 with 4:48 remaining in the panel.
There was no further excitement in that period. * * * EARLY in the final canto Barberton gambled and lost. With fourth and four at its own 44, the host club went in punt formation but Howe passed and it was a little too far for Mobley.
Massillon took over and after Sparma’s pass to Mark Anthony failed to hit the target, Benjamin again did a little hurrying. He found a hole at left tackle and steamed 56 yards to make it 24-0 at 5:40. McKey again kicked but the ball veered off to the right.
Following the kickoff the Magics were forced to punt with Howe booting from his 19, Snively fielded the ball at midfield and set sail down the west sideline. Behind a cordon of blockers he ran in a direct line until he got to the 15 where he cut away from one would-be tackler and continued on to touchdown land. McKey’s kick was partially blocked and that was the final 30 to zero.
Barberton proceeded to move from its own 27 to the Bengal 29 as three passes picked up 30 yards but the Magics needed time, a lot more than was left on the clock.
The Tigers came out of the fray in fairly good shape. End Maury Snavely sustained a broken nose and Stewart received a leg injury in the third period.
Massillon scoring: Touchdowns – Benjamin 3, Kanney, Snively
STATISTICS Mass. Bar. First downs, rushing 13 5 First downs, passing 0 4 First downs, penalties 0 2 First downs, total 13 11 Yards gained, running plays 364 116 Yards lost, running plays. 17 51 Net yardage, running plays 346 65 Passes attempted 6 16 Passes completed 1 7 Passes had intercepted 2 1 Yards returned, intercepted Passes 6 31 Yards gained, passing 4 71 Total yardage, running, Passing 351 136 Number of punt returns 2 0 Yardage punt returns 63 0 Average length of punt Returns 21 0 Number of punts 2 4 Total yardage on punts 52 135 Average length of punts 26.0 33.7 Number of penalties 7 2 Yards lost on penalties 65 20 Number of fumbles 2 4 Own fumbles recovered 2 3 Ball lost on fumbles 0 1
Tigers Beat Barberton 35-6 Score Three Touchdowns In First 10 Minutes
By CHARLIE POWELL
Rolling up 159 yards via 10 running plays, Massillon’s Tigers rocked Barberton with three touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of play Friday evening and it looked like a simon-pure rout was in the making at Tiger stadium.
But the Orangemen apparently suffered a let down except for brief spurts in the third and fourth periods and a Dads’ Night crowd, including only 9,945 paid admissions, watched them grind out a methodical 35-6 triumph, their seventh in eight starts.
The Magics, anything but tricky or reminiscent of some of their previous arrays, were outplayed all around and had it not been for their passing game would have been sadly outclassed.
There wasn’t much difference in first downs as the Tigers had only two more than the opposition but the host crew hipper-dippered and blasted its way for 258 net yards rushing while the Magics gained only 96 on the ground.
Passing gave the Magics their only touchdown and all told netted them 105 yards on eight compleltions in 15 attempts.
The aerial game benefited the Tigers too as one connection went for the jackpot and Bob Rinehart, the sweet thrower and neat manipulator of the Tiger “T”, had a pretty fair night with five completions in seven tosses.
The handwriting was on the wall in a jiffy. There wasn’t much for Bengal followers to shout about the last three periods but Coach Lee Tressel was not too discouraged.
He thought the defense, on Barberton running plays, was more than adequate and noted that the pass defense needs polishing up. The only time the Magics didn’t fare too well in the airlanes came in the final session when they resorted to spread formations.
Until that time Junie Ferrall stayed with the straight T with a balanced line and the Magics’ tactics in the ozone kept the Tigers on their toes.
Barberton was weak at the middle and the Tigers quickly took advantage of the situation as Chester Brown, the big fullback who hammers then gallops, carved out the first two scores on lengthy jaunts of 48 and 53 yards. Then Ivory Benjamin, the twinkle-toed speedster, took over the burden and made the last three six-pointers, two on runs (six and 16 yards) and the other on a pass play which covered 16 yards.
Little Davie Richardson, with Mike Hershberger sidelined by a pulled leg muscle, handled the conversion chores in fine fashion. He split the uprights on four with his other shot barely clearing the crossbar. * * * BROWN and Benjamin each gained more yards than the entire Barberton team on the ground as chuggin’ Chester averaged over 14 yards per try on 143 yards in 10 trips and hurrying Ivory made 107 in 15 carries. Larry Washington, Jimmy Bivings and “Chuck” Beiter worked at Hershberger’s right half slot and although none of the trio was scintillating, all were just as instrumental in giving Massillon its 16th victory in 20 meetings with Barberton teams. Beiter also played some at fullback.
It required the Tresselmen just 53 seconds to draw blood.
Washington grabbed up a short kickoff and got back to the Tiger 27. Benjamin made four at right tackle, then came back and zipped around the right flank. The junior standout reeled off a 21-yard run (the last man having a chance shot at him got him) to put the oval on the Magic 48.
Then Brown got a big hole at the middle, wriggled free at the 34 and raced into the end zone standing up.
Barberton made one first down after the kickoff and on a fourth and two situation at the Massillon 36, Bob Savage, the tank-like fullback, fumbled the center pass and Tackle Jim Mercer pounced on the bobble to give the Tigers possession at their own 44. * * * AFTER BROWN made 11 (Barberton’s Dave Lee Bartee came up with a shoe-string tackle to stop him from going the distance) and Bivings lost eight on a sweep, Massillon reached the Promised Land again.
It was Brown again. The play was the same as on his first trip. Given a key block by End Don Elavsky, Chester raced 53 vards, Richardson again converted and the Tigers led 14-0 with 5:22 remaining in the opening heat.
The third tally was set up by Benjamin’s interception of a pass by Magic Quarterback Marco Burnette. Massillon was pounding at the visitor’s 27 after Ivory returned 28 yards.
In five plays six more points flashed up. Beiter pounded for seven, ditto for Brown before Benjamin picked his way 10 yards to the three.
Barberton was then penalized to the one for being offside and on the next play Rinehart sneaked across. But the locals were offside and penalized five yards back to the six. From that point Benjamin found a hole at right tackle and his spurt came easy at 1:46.
Early in the second period Rinehart hit Clyde Childers for 18 yards but the locals stalled and Burnette returned Jim Dutton’s punt to the 32. The Magics digested a five-yard penalty and marched the rest of the way with three passes doing the damage. * * * BURNETTE did all the throwing with Moses Iverson catching one for 13, Bartee one for 10 and Les Jones one for 27 – the final 27 yards. A 15-yard dash by Jim Hatula kept the drive going.
On the touchdown, which came at 3:40, the toss down the middle was snagged by Jones at the five and he could have walked past the final stripe. Barberton had to settle for six after Jones’ placement sailed wide to the right.
Tackle John Halter leaped on a Barberton bobble at the Magic 28 on the third play of the third frame and Massillon jacked the margin four plays later. Benjamin got one, Brown three before Ivory squirted eight to the 16. Rinehart then went to the air. His pitch to the left hit Benjamin, who juggled the oval momentarily at the 10, turned around, twisted away from one would-be tackler and fought his way into the end zone at 9:22.
An exchange of punts followed the kickoff and Barberton then threatened to score. Burnette passed to Sub End Bob Velloney, Regular End Alan Cooksey and another sub, Jerry Mattingly accounted for 41 yards with a 10-yard completion to Mattingly placing the ball on the Massillon 10 as the quarter came to a close.
But Barberton magic failed, and after three aerials went for naught, the locals took over. Benjamin, Beiter, Brown and Washington (text missing)
HOWEVER a holding penalty cost the locals. A Rinehart to Bivings pass made six but Brown got only six and Bivings just one and Dutton was called on to kick again.
Barberton fumbled four plays later and Mercer again recovered.
With 4:09 left and the ball at the 34, Rinehart sneaked for one, Benjamin ran three times for nine, Beiter got five and Brown three before Benjamin made his third TD trip from 16 yards out. He simply got some fine blocking off the left side and outran the defenders to pay dirt at 1:04. Three plays later it was all over.
In addition to the aforementioned Hershberger, Bob Brown, regular right left guard, missed the game because of a broken bone in his left hand. Luckily the locals came out of the scrap without any more serious injuries.
History 
