1967: Massillon 12, Altoona, PA 7

Seaman Must Continue to Draw Aces

By KEN SHERER

Tiger Coach Bob Seaman pulled an ace out of the deck in Massillon’s 12-7 decision over homestanding Altoona, Pa., Saturday night.

Trailing 7-6 at the end of the first half, the Obies took the second half kickoff and stormed down field for the winning touchdown.
* * *

IT WAS NOT the kind of offense some 4,000 Bengal fans in Mansion Park were used to seeing under the former Sandusky skipper. The line blocked with powerful quickness and the backfield ran with utmost authority.

One big reason in the change was the periodic insertion of tight end Bill Houser into the backfield. He led the interference – mainly through the Tiger’s right side of the line.

Another factor was the blocking of tackle Bill Snowball, who had 6 stitches put into the bridge of his nose early in the first half.

Houser, who scales 215 teamed up with tailback Jim Smith (187) and fullback Reggie Moore (199) to give the Orange and Black a 601-pound backfield.

Seaman will have to keep pulling aces from his deck of plays, or else come up with equal performances from the team for the remaining 4 games.

THE BENGALS will host Upper Arlington – ranked No. 2 this past week by Associated Press – followed by Warren Harding, Steubenville and Canton McKinley. Upper Arlington may come into Tiger stadium as the No. 1 team in Ohio, since Steubenville knocked off previously top-rated McKinley 20-15 Friday night.

The Mountain Lions didn’t score the first 2 times they had the ball. Massillon, also unable to move the pigskin on its first series, took over the ball again midway through the first period.

Quarterback Trevor Young rolled to his right and pitched out to Smith, the ball squirting through his hands with Tim Tyler recovering for Altoona at the Massillon 30-yard line.

On the next play, the sensational Greg Campbell, a 170-pound senior halfback, shot through right guard on a dive play, shook off a Tiger at the 24, and scampered straight into the end zone for a 6-0 lead at 4:20. Doug Dean hiked the margin by one point with his extra point kick.

Halfback Mark McDew put a 20-yard return on the following kickoff to the Massillon 30. The Tigers then drove 70 yards in 13 plays for their first TD of the night.
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MOORE LED the drive with 30 yards in 4 carries, Smith added 10 in 3 tries, McDew 8, Bill Simon 9 and Young 13 yards in 4 carries. Young capped the effort from the 1 on a sneak over left guard. Moore’s run on the point try failed, and Altoona was still in control, 7-6.

Altoona stormed right back and drove 62 yards in 17 plays to the Massillon 3, where they were stopped by a stingy Obie defense. Massillon marched to its own 40-yard line before the halftime gunned sounded.

Altoona had the ball 33 plays to 26 for Massillon in the first half, but the Tigers showed the Pennsylvanians what ball control was in the second half as they had it for 35 plays to a mere 16 for Altoona.

The “Suicide Squad” formed a line down the right sideline on the second half kickoff and that “Magnificent Massillon Madness,” as it was called by an Altoona radio announcer, took over.

McDew scampered 31-yards on the return to the Massillon 42. The Tigers stormed to pay dirt in 12 plays, as Smith carried 7 times for 40 yards. At 6:44 Young rolled to his left, attracted 2 Lion defenders on his fake and pitched out to Moore who went the final 7 yards for the score.
* * *
YOUNG’S RUN on the extra point play failed but the Tigers had the winning 12-7 margin on the scoreboard.

Altoona’s Campbell busted up a near Tiger TD later in the third quarter. At the Altoona 26 on fourth down and 12, Young dropped back and threw to Bert Dampier, who appeared to have Campbell beat. But Campbell dove at the last minute and tipped the ball.

The Tigers drove to the Altoona 13 late in the final frame, but Simon fumbled and Dave Gengo recovered for Altoona. Lion QB Jim Fry fumbled on the next play and Snowball recovered for Massillon. On 4th and 3 yards to go for pay dirt, a Young pass bounced off the pads of Tim Richards to end the Tigers’ final threat.

MASSILLON – 12
Ends – Houser, Dampier, Richards, Robinson, Twiggs.
Tackles – Ricker, Snowball, McGeorge, Laase.
Guards – Ertle, D. Gipp, Cardinal, Whitfield, Doll, Russell.
Centers – B. Moore, Skelton.
Quarterbacks – Young, Malinowski, Schumar.
Halfbacks – McDew, Smith, Fenton, Autrey.
Fullbacks – R. Moore, Simon.

ALTOONA – 7
Ends – Dean, Esponlaub, Withers, Plummer.
Tackles – Askey, Reid, Kitt, Costlow.
Guards – Turchetta, Luciano.
Centers – Wieble, Strohm.
Quarterback – Fry.
Halfbacks – Delozier, Campbell, Fusco, Duncan, Simmes, Tyler.
Fullback – Rabenatine.

Massillon 0 6 6 0 12
Altoona 7 0 0 0 7

Touchdowns:
Altoona – Greg Campbell (30 yards).
Massillon – Young (one-yard), Moore (7 yards).

Extra points: Altoona – Dean 1 (kick)

INDVIDUAL RUSHING
Massillon
Player Att. Net. Ave.
Young 12 36 3.0
Moore 15 89 5.9
Smith 24 118 4.9
McDew 4 13 3.2
Simon 3 23 7.6

Altoona
Player Att. Net. Ave.
Campbell 14 89 6.3
Rabenstine 13 48 3.6
Delozier 6 26 4.3
Pry 1 -8 -8

THE GRIDSTICK
Massillon Opp.
First downs (rushing) 31 10
First downs (passing) 1 0
First downs (penalties) 1 0
Total first downs 22 11
Yards gained rushing 299 175
Yards lost rushing 20 0
Net yards gained rushing 279 166
Net yards gained passing 14 6
Total yards gained 293 172
Passes attempted 4 8
Passes completed 1 1
Passes intercepted by 1 0
Yardage on passes intercepted 0 0
Times kicked off 3 2
Kickoff average (yards) 46.7 47.5
Kickoff returns (yards) 51 51
Times punted 1 1
Punt average (yards) 36.0 38.0
Punt return (yards) 0 0
Had punts blocked 0 0
Fumbles 2 2
Lost fumbled ball 2 2
Penalties 3 1
Yards penalized 15 5
Touchdowns rushing – 1
Touchdowns passing 0 0
Touchdowns by interception 0 0
Miscellaneous 0 0
Total number of plays 64 49