1920: Massillon 0, Canton McKinley 14

MASSILLON LOSES TO OLD FOE IN GREAT TILT

2 TOUCHDOWNS IN 3RD QUARTER GIVE CLEAN RECORD TO CANTON

Greatness is always measured by success.

Even though the orange and black eleven of Washington high school last Saturday afternoon went down to a 14 to 0 defeat before the onslaught of the great red and black machine of McKinley high of Canton, in the annual tussle between the two schools on the Pearl street gridiron the gritty battle waged by the youthful Tigers stood forth even more brilliantly than the victory achieved by Massillon’s perennial enemy.

Greater even in defeat than it has been in victory the orange and black aggregation need not be downcast because of the defeat. Fighting a foe superior in weight, strength and ability, both individually and as a team, the local eleven fought with such fierceness and tenacity that Canton’s powerful troupe was indeed fortunate to emerge from the conflict a victor by two touchdowns.

It was Canton’s first victory over Massillon since 1916 when it trimmed the Youthful Tigers 7 to 6 and besmirched an otherwise perfect record. With the triumph goes the scholastic championship of Stark county for Canton has met and defeated both Alliance and Massillon. And the east enders, by registering victory Saturday, finishes the 1920 campaign with a perfect mark of eight victories and a record of not having one point scored against them during the entire season.

Considered as having only the barest of chances of winning last Saturday’s gridiron classic, the youthful Tigers sprung one of the biggest surprises of the season when they outfought and outplayed the Cantonians in three of the four quarters. In only one quarter, the third, did the red and black machine display any of its highly advertised steamroller tactics and in that quarter the foe from the east end city smashed through the Massillon team for both its touchdowns.

The rest of the battle was decided in Massillon’s favor. Although the local eleven did not succeed in getting within Canton’s 20-yard line until the fourth quarter, the orange and black, displaying all the grit and determination characteristic of local scholastic aggregations, which in the past have fought with their backs to the wall and acquitted themselves in a creditable manner, beat back the attack of the invaders with such decisive results that it earned even greater praise than did the victors.

Massillon was outweighed. Its offense was not as well drilled as that of the Canton eleven. But it was not outfought and it was that fighting spirit, that determination to hold Canton at all costs, that allowed the orange and black to arise from the smoke of battle even greater in defeat than Canton was in victory.
It was a typical Massillon-Canton duel. Struggling warriors threw themselves into the conflict with utter abandon. There was only one object in view and that was victory and throughout the strife the struggling elevens fought back and forth over a muddy gridiron in one of the greatest scholastic battles ever seen here. Canton won because it had the better team. That much was almost a certainty before the game began. But the red and black machine only won after it had battered down and trampled under foot the plucky orange and black clad lads who never for a moment gave up trying and who were only beaten after a much heavier eleven had crushed them down.

There was no big individual star in Massillon’s play. Every one of the lads who participated in that engagement covered himself with glory. They all fought and played their hardest and there is no one to criticize them for what they failed to do because they did much better than they were expected to.

“Chuck” Hess, midget quarterback, probably was Massillon’s biggest offensive star. The local luminary was closely watched by the Canton team but at that he succeeded on several occasions in breaking away from the red and black warriors for nice gains. On defense the entire team played remarkably well with J. Tilton, Graber and Snyder doing Yeomen service.

Canton rolled mainly upon straight football for its gains but it was not until the third quarter that its husky backs were able to smash their way through the Massillon line for any substantial gains. Canton’s highly touted attack showed itself only in the third quarter. During the rest of the fracas it didn’t have a chance simply because the youthful Tigers crumbled up the Canton line and stopped the backs before they could get under way.

“Hunk” Harmony was the lad largely responsible for Canton’s victory. This sterling warrior made both the east enders touchdowns, crashing through Massillon’s line twice for counters. Mitchell, who in previous battles, had been the star of the Canton offense did not shine very brightly Saturday.

During the first two quarters Massillon outplayed its red and black foes. The orange and black made two first downs in the initial quarter. In the second quarter Canton made three first downs and came very near scoring a touchdown, but Massillon’s defense was of such stonewall proportions that the Canton machine was turned back within two yards of the local team’s goal line.

Canton’s big advantage came in the third quarter when with Harmony as the battering ram, it plunged through the local team for six first downs and hung up its two touchdowns.

The fourth quarter saw the orange and black rally and make a desperate effort to score. It commenced an aerial attack that, had the field been dry, might have worried the red and black aggregation considerably. In this period Massillon completed five forwards but because of the slippery conditions of the field the receivers of the passes were not able to elude the Canton warriors.

It was also in this quarter that “Romey” Greenfelder, the team’s star goal kicker, tried his best to at least register points against the red and black but he failed in four attempts although his third try from the 42-yard line was a perfect kick but fell short by a scant two feet of going over the cross bar.
Canton made 10 first downs to four for Massillon. The red and black punted 10 times to eight for Massillon. The orange and black had a big advantage in the aerial game, completing seven passes for a total yardage of 34, while Canton heaved only three successful passes for a net gain of 19 yards. Each team intercepted two forwards.

Canton tactics were considerably rougher than those of the local team although the game was very clean. The east enders drew several penalties for holding. Massillon was penalized but once.

Defeated, But Not Disgraced

Massillon – 0 Position Canton – 14
Graybill LE Jackson
Harrison LT Bridge
Nelson LG Tobay
Roth C Smith
Graber RG Wolf
Snyder RT M. Miller
Lyons RE Clark
Hess Q Mitchell
Greenfelder LH Harmony
Howells RH Kennedy
J. Tilton F Van Nostram

Score by quarters:
Canton 0 0 14 0 – 14

Substitutions: Massillon – Ulrich for Greenfelder; Greenfelder for
Ulrich; Rosenberg for Hess; Mollet for Lyons; R. Tilton for
Graber; Lyons for Mollet; Mollet for Roth.
Canton – M. Miller for Clark; Relfsnyder for M. Miller; Ketman for Wolf.

Touchdowns – Harmony 2.

Goals after touchdown – Kennedy 2.

Referee – Blythe, Mount Union.
Umpire — Pickerel, Ohio State.
Headlinesman – Wilson.

Time of quarters 15 and 12½ minutes.