Part 3 – Running Backs in the Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame – The Early Years
The Tiger Football Hall of Fame recognizes those individuals that have made contributions to the Tiger football program, whether it be a player, coach, band director or just an individual who has been influential in a positive way. Inductees are honored in the WHS Sports Hall with plaques that display the inductees’ contributions. As of 2022, a total of 105 members have been inducted.
This entry is Part 3 of a series that presents the inductees by playing position and features running backs that competed in the 1940s and before.
Seven Massillon running backs have gained Hall of Fame distinction during this period, including Stanfield Wells, Edwin “Dutch” Hill, Henry “Heine” Krier, Ed Molinski, Bob Glass, Tommy James and Fred “Pokey” Blunt. There are a few other running backs in the Hall that not listed, as these players were inducted either through another playing position or as a coach.
Stanfield Wells (1906-08)
Not a lot is known about Stanfield Wells’ time at Massillon, other than he played one year for the Tigers, at left halfback and teamed with his twin brother, Guy, who was on the line. That, after the family had moved in from far away South Dakota. The team was not stellar, finishing 1-5. But after Massillon he played collegiately for the University of Michigan (1909-11) and then professionally for the Akron Indians, the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Heralds.
“Stanfield Wells was Massillon’s first All-American. He was a fine man, big fellow, played a little pro ball. I went up to Michigan to meet him. He was overjoyed. He got to talking and asking about some of the Massillon people he graduated with. He went back in his bedroom and came out with his Massillonian in his hand. He asked me about quite a number of ones who were in there.” – Luther Emery, The Independent (Ref. Massillon Memories, by Scott Shook).
In 1994 he was inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Edwin “Dutch” Hill (1922)
Dutch Hill
Dutch Hill moved to Massillon for his senior year after aging out at Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. And he made an immediate impact for the Tigers, as a 6’-0”, 190 lb. fullback, passer and punter, scoring at least one touchdown in every game. For the season he tallied 33 TDs and helped lead his team to a 10-0 record and a state championship under legendary head coach Dave Stewart.
Eight touchdowns came against Akron North in a 94-0 victory, leading one sports reporter to write, “The big fullback gained from five to ten yards with six or eight Akron players hanging onto him, trying desperately to down him. Other times he bowled the entire Akron team over like a ball knocks over pins on a bowling alley and then would dash away for a touchdown leaving a trail of fallen Akron warriors in his wake.” Dutch also scored three of the four touchdowns in a 24-0 victory over Canton McKinley.
“He was a big star,” said Bud Houghton, former Massillon player and head coach. “He was just a big burly guy. Kind of had a swaggering walk. He normally plowed over everybody.”
“He was a powerhouse,” said classmate Tom McConnaughy. “He would take the ball and plow through the other team, knocking them right and left.”
Following the season he was named All-State. His high school football career over, Hill left behind the following Tiger records:
Most touchdowns rushing in a game (8)
Most points scored in a game (48)
Most touchdowns scored in a game (8)
Most touchdowns scored rushing in a season (33)
Most touchdowns scored in a season (34)
Second most points scored in a season (204)
Later he was named as Massillon’s All-Time First Team Fullback and in 2006 was inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Henry “Heine” Krier (1932-34)
Henry Krier played running back during Coach Paul Brown’s first three seasons at Massillon. In 1933 the team finished 8-2, with Krier contributing 12 touchdowns, 11 rushing and one via an interception return. He also kicked 17 points after touchdown.
In his senior year the 174 lb. back scored 21 rushing touchdowns and accounted for 22 PATs, totaling 148 points to lead the team in that category. Seven TDs came against Youngstown South and three each were tallied against Alliance and Akron West. Although the team finished 9-1, it was the third straight loss to McKinley and Krier was never able to enjoy a win in that rivalry.
Nevertheless, he was named 1st Team All-Ohio and left his mark in the record book:
Second most rushing touchdowns in a single game (7)
Second most points scored in a single game (45)
Ed Molinski (1933-35)
Ed Molinski served several positions for Coach Paul Brown, who was in his earlier years at Massillon. During his 3-year career as a Tiger, Molinski’s team compiled a 27-3 record and were named both state and national champions during his senior year.
Molinski stood 5’-10” and weighed 182 lbs. and he spent his first two years at guard and linebacker. In his senior year he was moved to quarterback, which at that time was the lead blocker for the running backs in Coach Brown’s system. But it might not have happened since, as he was also a pretty good boxer, his father feared injury on the gridiron. Only, Brown saw it differently and persuaded the father to relent. So, he continued to box in the off-season and became the Ohio state heavyweight Golden Gloves champion.
“I told Eddie, ‘If you make good at Massillon I’ll write to Elmer Layden at Notre Dame and recommend you.” I didn’t hear a word from Eddie from then on, until the practice the Friday night before the game with Canton McKinley. Eddied saw me standing on the sidelines and came over and said, ‘You know you told my family if I made good you’d write a letter to Notre Dame.’ I said, ‘Yes, I remember that.’ He said, ‘Well, do you think I made good?” I said, ‘I think you did, now I’ll write that letter.’ Layden wrote back and said he’d send some alumni. Sure enough some alumni came down and talked to him, but they didn’t come to any kind of an agreement. Eddie looked all around and finally landed at Tennessee, where he was All-American.” – Luther Emery, The Independent (Ref. Massillon Memories, by Scott Shook).
“Massillon is where it all started,” said the now Doctor Edward Molinski. Talking with the great Massillon sportswriter Luther Emery, Molinski went on to say, “If you guys hadn’t persuaded dad to let me play football, I probably would be walking the streets with holes in my shoes.” (The Emery Wheel, Massillon Evening Independent, 1963)
In 1964 Molinski was inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Bob Glass (1935-37)
Bob Glass
Bob Glass was one of the best running backs to roam the gridiron for Massillon. Standing about 5’-10” and weighing around 200 pounds, Glass was a rare combination of speed and power. Equally adept at smashing the middle of the line, running slants or streaking around the end, Massillon foes for three years were always confronted with the difficult task of setting up a defense that would hold Glass in check. Unquestionably, Glass was one of the best ball carriers in Ohio scholastic history.
In addition to his superb ball carrying ability, Glass performed the other duties of the triple threat back – passing and kicking. He handled all the punting, kick-offs and extra points and did an outstanding job in each department. His poorest specialty was as a passer, although here he was still better than average, as he did most of the throwing during the 1937 season. On defense, he alternated at end and halfback.
During his 3-year varsity career from 1935-37 he scored 47 rushing touchdowns, helping his team compile a record of 28-1-1 and capturing three state championships and two national championships. He was also team captain during his senior year and All-Ohio in each of his three years.
“Bob Glass, I’ll grant you, broke every rule that Paul Brown ever made. I saw him smoke, drink beer. But he was a just a fun-loving guy who didn’t give a shit. He was one of those ‘Go to Hell’ guys who loved to have a helluva good time. But he could play football. Had that been a lesser player, Brown would have had him out of there a long time ago.” – Earl “Ick” Martin, Massillon player (Ref. Massillon Memories, by Scott Shook).
Record book:
Second most career rushing touchdowns (47)
Second most career points (343)
Third most career touchdowns (47)
After Massillon, Glass played for Tulane University, receiving Honorable Mention All-American. In 2008 he was inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Tommy James (1938-40)
Tommy James never lost a game during his three years at Massillon, with his teams going 30-0 and winning the state title each year. They also won two national titles. All under Head Coach Paul Brown.
In his junior season, Tommy recorded ten touchdowns and had the distinction of scoring the first TD in the new Tiger Stadium. The points came against Cleveland Cathedral Latin, which owned a 17-game winning streak, and propelled the Tigers to a 64-0 victory. James also threw the first touchdown pass in the new arena, a 50-yard completion to Horace Gillom. His team punctuated the season by christening newly opened Canton Fawcett stadium with a 20-6 victory over Canton McKinley. For his effort, Tommy was named 2nd Team All-County.
In his senior season, James added to his responsibilities by throwing most of the passes. He was both the leading rusher (13 TDs) and the leading passer (10 TDs) in a season that included three rushing touchdowns against Erie East, Pennsylvania, and three passing touchdowns against Warren Harding. “My senior year I was the tailback (left half) in the old single wing,” he said. “You handled the ball more, called the signals, did the passing. The right half was Ray Getz.” – Jim Thomas, Canton Repository, February 2, 2003.
Following the season he was named 1st Team All-Ohio. His next stop was Ohio State, followed by the Cleveland Browns. In 1994 he was inducted into the Massillon Wall of Champions.
Fred “Pokey” Blunt (1939-41)
Pokey Blunt was able to experience three state championships and two national champions enroute to a 29-0-1 overall record. He scored nine touchdowns during his junior year, including three against Cleveland Cathedral Latin in a 39-0 victory.
In his senior year Blunt tallied 13 times. His best performance came against 8-3 Alliance when the team captain crossed the goal line three times, helping his team to a 46-6 romp. After the season, Blunt was named 1st Team All-Ohio.
Paul Brown had high praise for the speedy running back. “I often wondered whether my Ohio State team that first year, which lost one game, 14-7 to Northwestern, could have beaten our ’40 team here in Massillon. Our ’40 team was much faster. Ohio State would be bigger. I coached both teams. Blunt was the most deceiving fella, tremendous jet speed. If I compared him to the guy who was playing for me at Ohio State it would have been no contest as far as being a long shot running back was concerned. It’s a thing that’s crossed my mind more than once.” – Paul E. Brown, Massillon and Ohio State Coach (Ref. Massillon Memories, by Scott Shook).
From player to coach to sports administrator, William M. “Bill” Edwards spent a lifetime in the sports arena, mostly with football. Along the way he posted some outstanding achievements. And he also rubbed elbows with some of Massillon’s greats. Here is his story.
Edwards was born in Massillon on June 21, 1905. Although he attended school in his formative years, he dropped out following the eighth grade at age 14 to work in the mines in East Greenville in order to help support his family. However, he did play three years of football for the semi-pro Massillon Maroons, which won the Ohio championship in 1921. Then, in 1922 he left the mines and decided to return to school, enrolling in Washington High School as a freshman.
High School
It’s unknown if football is what brought him back to school. It’s also unknown if it was Coach Dave Stewart that drew him back in. It might be that Paul Brown, his classmate, exerted some influence. But it also might have been Tink Ulrich. In any case, he made an immediate impact during his first year and held down a starting linebacker position throughout his time at Massillon. He was big and he was powerful and a thorn in the side for any opposing runner. Edwards was also adept at kicking extra points, punting and kicking off. By his third year he added fullback to the list. A local newspaper reported that as a ball carrier “he was never brought down by a lone defender.” He also hated wearing a football helmet, since it bothered his ears. So, many times he just didn’t.
In 1922 the Tigers finished 10-0, outscoring their opponents, 379-28. With popular acclaim in vogue at that time, Massillon declared itself state champion. During the season, Edwards kicked 13 PATs, just missed a drop-kick field goal, and against Warren recovered a fumbled punt snap in the end zone for a touchdown. He was also instrumental in helping his team to a 24-0 victory over Canton McKinley. But his big moment came against Cleveland Shaw when he drop-kicked an extra point with 27 seconds remaining in the game to give his team a 7-6 victory and keep the winning streak alive.
Edwards played left tackle on offense, blocking for stellar running back “Dutch” Hill, but he really excelled at linebacker on defense. “On the line the work of Salberg and Edwards stood out prominently. This pair of tacklers stopped many a Canton drive.” (Massillon Evening Independent).
In his sophomore year Edwards was named team captain, a first at Massillon for an underclassman. Having been shifted to center and lining up alongside Carl “Ducky” Schroeder”, the team fashioned an 8-2 record. Edwards shared kicking duties that year and kicked eight PATs.
In 1924, his junior season, Edwards was again named team captain and played with quarterback Paul Brown. He was also a teammate of running back Elwood Kammer. Both of these players would later coach Massillon. In spite of outscoring their opponents 320-28, the Tigers finished 8-1, with the loss coming to Youngstown South 1-0 via forfeit when Stewart took his team off the field while challenging several referee calls. During the season Edwards kicked 38 PATs and caught a touchdown pass. He was also most likely the leading tackler (defensive records weren’t kept).
With his high school career over and the proud owner of a 26-3 team record and three wins over McKinley, Edwards looked forward to the next level. But he looked back at three outstanding years as a Tiger. In fact, the all-time Massillon High School football team, which was selected in 1958, noted that Edwards was the “Greatest Tiger of them all.”
He also played some basketball at Massillon, again teaming with his friend, Paul Brown.
Bill Edwards is pictured in the front row, third from the left. Elwood Kammer is to his right and Paul Brown (black shirt) is to his left. Coach Dave Stewart is in the second row, behind Brown.
By the time his senior year rolled around, Edwards was twenty years old, too old for Ohio high school football. So, he enrolled in Kiski Prep, located in Pennsylvania, as a scholarship player before returning to Massillon for the second half of the school year. There he received his diploma, and prepared for the collegiate level.
College
The first stop as a college player was Ohio State and the freshman team in 1927, where he roomed with Paul Brown. He was also named captain. But he left after the season for Wittenberg, joining six other former Massillon players, including Ducky Schroeder.
In his first year he kicked an extra point as time expired to help his team to a 7-6 victory over Ohio Wesleyan, which had beaten both Michigan and Syracuse. The next two years he was named team captain and excelled at center.
Grantland Rice wrote, “Edwards is the best center in the nation, but I can’t name him All-American because of his team’s schedule.” Walter Eckersall did not overlook Edwards playing at a small college and named him to his All-America team. He was also named to Sam Willaman’s All-American Team.
While at Wittenberg Edwards earned a bachelor’s degree (1931) and then attended a Master’s degree from Columbia University (1956) while coaching.
Coaching
With school behind him, Edwards chose a career path in the coaching world and had a laundry list of stops, including:
Springfield High School (1931) – Assistant coach and history teacher.
Fostoria High School (1932-33) – Head coach. Produced an 8-2 record in year two, the school’s best mark in ten years. His 1932 coaching offer from Fostoria was better than the offer he received from Massillon, which at the time was replacing Elmer McGrew. With Edwards now out of the picture, the Tigers decided to go with Paul Brown.
Western Reserve University (1934) – Assistant coach.
Western Reserve University (1935-40) – Head coach, replacing Sam Willaman, who died suddenly. Compiled a 49-6-2 record. Had three undefeated seasons. Won five Big Four Conference championships (1935-38, 40). Defeated Arizona State 26-13 in the 1941 Sun Bowl. Coached future Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
Detroit Lions (1941-42) – Head coach. Compiled a record of 4-9-1. Taking over early in the season, moved the team from last place that year to third the next, before enlisting in the Navy prior to season’s end. Bill Belichick was one of his players. Bill would later name his son after Edwards, young Bill’s godfather.
Saint Mary’s Pre-Flight (1943) – Assistant coach, lieutenant commander, World War II.
Cleveland Browns (1947-48) – Assistant coach, tackles. Coached under Paul Brown. Cleveland won the AAFC championship both years and was undefeated in 1948. Coached tackle Lou “The Toe” Groza.
Vanderbilt (1949-52) – Head coach and athletic director. Compiled a record of 21-19-2. Introduced the passing game to the passing game to the Southeast Conference. Was named National Coach of the Week six times.
North Carolina (1953-54) – Assistant coach.
Wittenberg (1955-68) – Returned to his alma mater as head coach and athletic director. Replaced the single-wing offense with a pro-style passing attack. Established Wittenberg as an annual contender for the Ohio Athletic Conference title. Compiled a record of 98-20-4. All-time Wittenberg winningest coach. Unbeaten in 1962, 63 and 64. NCAA College Division Poll Champion by the Washington Touchdown Club (1962 and 1964). Won or tied for the Ohio Athletic Conference Championship seven times. Coach of the Year (1963 and 1964). Coached future Oakland Raiders quarterback Charlie Green in 1962-64. The Tigers went 15-0-1 during that span. During his three years, Green passed for 5,575 yards and threw 61 touchdown passes. In 2002, Green was inducted into the College Hall of Fame.
During his career, Edwards received several coaching honors, including:
Ohio College Football Coach of the Year (1957 and 1962).
Two times American Football Coaches Associated College Division Coach of the Year (1962–1963).
National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors Hall of Fame (1974).
Case Western Reserve Hall of Fame (1979).
Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (1979).
Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor (1985).
Vanderbilt Hall of Fame (1986).
College Football Hall of Fame (1986).
Football Writers Association of America award for contributions to the game.
Massillon Wall of Champions (1994).
Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame (2019).
Honorary member of the American Football Coaches Association.
“Wherever I’ve been, from playing for Massillon High School to coaching college squads at Western Reserve, Vanderbilt and Wittenberg, I’ve had some wonderful experiences that I will always remember,” said Edwards.
“If I had it to do over again, I’d still be a football coach,” he said. “You know, I got as much out of coaching the kids as some of them say they got out of playing for me. It’s a little tough sometimes to admit to yourself that one of your players has more humility than you do, or is a little more honest, but it happens. If you teach a boy to compete, he will compete for the rest of his life. Football coaches are educators who teach, among other things, discipline, loyalty, sacrifices for a common good, and cooperation to achieve a worthwhile goal.”
Paul Brown called him, “One of the greatest football players I have ever seen in high school or college. Later he joined me on the Cleveland Browns and did an outstanding job. The players admired, respected, and liked him. He has been my lifelong friend and I cherish my association with him. He has deserved every honor that has come to him.” Other top-level head coaches also had great respect for Edwards.
Edwards left the coaching world after the 1968 season with 38 years on his resume, while leaving his mark at nearly every stop along the way. He was simply a winner and rightly acknowledged throughout his career. His overall head coaching record was 168-45-8, which included a 1-0 record in bowl games. At time of retirement, he had the second-best winning percentage among active coaches with at least 100 wins and owned a commendation from President Richard Nixon for his achievements.
After coaching Edwards remained in Wittenberg as athletic director until 1973. Wittenberg’s football stadium is named Edwards-Maurer Field in honor of both head coaches. Also, the winner of the Wittenberg–Case Western Reserve football game receives the Bill Edwards Trophy.
Not bad for a former coal miner.
Post-Football
Edwards enjoyed hunting and fishing in retirement and spending time with wife Dorothy and their three children. He died in Springfield on June 12, 1987, at the age of 81.
This begins a new series called TIG (Tigers Impacting the Game). TIG will focus historical contributions to the game of football by former Massillon Tigers and Massillonians.
On this date May 24, 1967 in NFL History the AFL approved the Cincinnati Bengals franchise for expansion. The Cincinnati Bengals became the 10th team in the AFL and competed in the western division beginning with the 1968 season. Paul Brown was the owner and head coach of the newly formed Cincinnati Bengals.
In 1970 the AFL (10 teams) and the NFL (16 teams) merged and formed what is now known as the National Football League. The Cincinnati Bengals were placed in the AFC Central Division with Cleveland, Houston and Pittsburgh.
Brown would coach the Cincinnati Bengals from 1968-1975 compiling a record of 55-60-1 with an 0-3 record in the NFL playoffs.
Later the same year in 1967 Paul Brown would become part of the 5th official class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2017 marks the 50 year anniversary of the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. All thanks to Massillon’s own, Paul Brown
Pictured above Paul Brown is shown choosing the inaugural helmet.
On a stuffy night dedicated to the late Paul Brown, in front of 11,365 in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, the Washington High football team played inspired, hard‑hitting football in mugging the Alliance Aviators 35‑6.
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Massillon’s powerhouse one-two running punch of Travis McGuire (13 carries for 96 yards) and Falando Ashcraft (16 for 68) each delivered two touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Jack Rose’s tricked‑up (to key on lightning‑legged quarterback Tremayne Banks) 50 defense held Alliance to no first downs in the first quarter and 38 yards in the first half en route to a solid performance.
It was a solid season opener, the kind Paul would have liked.
“Paul Brown was football,” Alliance head coach Fred Thomas said. “Naturally, we didn’t like the outcome, but it was an honor to be here on a night like this.”
Thomas apologized for his team being in the end zone loosening up before the game when an announcement honoring Paul Brown was greeted with a warm, prolonged standing ovation.
“No way we would have been on the field if we’d have known that was coming,” Thomas said. “We meant no disrespect. We would have stayed in the locker room.”
No apology was needed. The Aviators meant no harm and turned in an effort equal to their abilities.
“I’ll say the same thing I said last year when we beat Stow (51‑0) in the opener,” said Massillon head coach Lee Owens. “I said they were a good team that would win some ball games. They won eight. Alliance is a year away from being a real good team. But they’re going to be good this year. They’ll win some games.”
Paul Brown won 79 games over nine years, turning Massillon into the biggest name in high school football. Owens focused on the Hall of Fame coach who died recently during his pre-game team speech.
“The man who wrote the letter to the editor pretty much wrote my pre‑game speech for me,” Owens said. “I made the same points he did.”
The letter to The Independent, penned by Ed Voshall, essentially said the players and the coaches of today are charged with carrying on the traditions launched by Paul Brown in the 1930s.
The player charged with the responsibility of quarterbacking the Tigers on Friday was Nick Mossides, a 6‑foot, I55‑pound senior getting his first varsity start.
Owens kept it a secret all week as to whether Mossides or senior Troy Burick, who started at safety, would be the QB.
“I was told, the team was told, on Monday,” Mossides said. “I was excited about it. I’ve been working hard for a long time to get ready for the chance to do this.”
Mossides’ inexperience showed at times when he was pressured and threw the ball into traffic; however, when he got good protection, which was most of the night, most of his tosses were zipped with precision. He completed 7‑of‑15 passes for 88 yards and one interception.
“I think I threw the ball fairly well to (Marc) Stafford, (Geoff) Merchant and (Mark) Hawkins,” Mossides said. “I’ve got to throw the ball a little better. I missed a couple of throws.”
Mossides said his heart was jumping a bit when he ran out onto the field amid the big crowd, but he felt calm after he took the field. He focused on reading the defense first, then checking to see if a blitz might be on.
“I felt pretty comfortable,” he said.
Stafford, a speedy senior, caught three passes for 51 yards.
“Nick did real well,” Stafford said. “I thought the whole team played well. On offense, the line did an excellent job.
“We made a lot of mistakes, but we played hard as a team. We’ve been working real hard.”
The Tigers built a 35‑0 lead when second‑team running back Dan Seimetz scored on the first play of the fourth quarter and Jason Brown booted his third extra point (he was 3‑for‑4 on the night).
The first‑stringers played briefly in the fourth quarter before the second unit was summoned. Alliance’s second‑year starting quarterback Tremayne Banks scored on a 51yard run with 3:12 left in the game. Dana Wofford blocked the P.A.T. kick attempt to remove some of the sting.
“I thought our defense did a real good job dealing with their option,” Owens said. “You’ve got to give Jack Rose a lot of credit for coming up with a good plan, and our players for executing it.”
The Tigers wound up with a 332‑172 edge in net offensive yards.
“We played pretty well but not as well as we should have,” observed senior defensive end Jason Woullard. “We need to work on our pass coverage … reading keys.”
Woullard said he agreed with coaches’ comments during training camp that tackling needed to get better.
“The hard work paid off, I think,” Woullard said. “We did a better job wrapping up tonight. We worked hard on tackling every day. The first thing we did in practice was the gauntlet drill.”
The Tigers capitalized on two Alliance turnovers to take a 21‑0 lead. But their first touchdown came on a prolonged drive on their first possession after and Alliance punt.
Mossides got things going by completing a third‑and‑16 pass for 17 yards to Stafford. Ashcraft powered in from a yard out at 6:50 of the first quarter, Brown made the point‑after kick, and it was 7‑0.
The drive consumed 67 yards and covered nine plays.
There was no further scoring until midway through the third quarter. Alliance running back Gerard Hawkins (who gained 700 yards last season but held to minus‑4 yards Friday) was smashed by Turley, and Burick recovered the subsequent fumble at the Alliance 5‑yard line. Ashcraft scored from two yards out two plays later, the point-after kick was wide, and the Tigers led 13‑0 with 6:19 left in the half.
Alliance had the ball near midfield when an option pitch got loose and was recovered by Tiger linebacker Eric Wright. The Tigers punted a few plays later but the fumble established the field position that led to a Tiger TD.
Burick’s 33‑yard punt return gave Massillon possession on the Alliance 22‑yard line. On the next play, the line created a wide avenue on a draw play through which McGuire neatly stepped for a 22‑yard touchdown run. Ashcraft ran for a two‑point conversion and it was 21‑0 with 1:08 left in the half.
The Tigers blew open the game with an impressive scoring march on the opening possession of the third quarter. It was fourth‑and‑goal from the 4 when the draw play worked again, with McGuire again doing the scoring honors. Brown’s kick made it 28‑0 with 6:23 left in the third quarter.
The drive consumed 13 plays and covered 62 yards.
Jerry May relieved Mossides at quarterback and conducted a nine‑play, 61‑yard scoring drive capped by Seimetz’s touchdown ‘
“The two turnovers in the first half gave Massillon a short field to work with, and you can’t give a short field to a team as good as Massillon,” Alliance’s Thomas said. “I take nothing away from Massillon. Up front, they hit us really hard. We’re a little banged up. I hope we can bounce back.”
Alliance’s 280‑pound senior tackle Rod Shedrick was motionless on the field for several minutes late in the game.
“He had a twinge in his neck,” Thomas said. “We didn’t want him to move and played it safe.”
Shedrick is apparently OK. He was treated and released at Massillon Community Hospital.
The Tigers will be back home next Friday to take on Walsh Jesuit. Alliance will play its home opener against Jackson, whose last game was a 1990 playoff loss to Massillon.
GAME ONE
MASSILLON 35 ALLIANCE 6 M V First downs rushing 13 5 First downs passing 7 2 First downs by penalty 0 0 Totals first downs 20 7 Net yards rushing 229 137 Net yards passing 103 35 Total yards gained 332 172 Passes attempted 17 17 Passes completed 8 4 Passes int. by 0 1 Kickoff average 50.7 27.5 Kickoff return yards 20 120 Punts 3 6 Punting average 34.3 35.7 Punt return yards 41 0 Fumbles 3 3 Fumbles lost 0 3 Penalties 3 3 Time of possession 28:24 19:36
Crusader defense keys 24‑6 victory Moeller too much for Tigers to handle
By ROLLIE DREUSSI Independent Sports Editor
AKRON ‑ For slightly more than three quarters Saturday night, the Massillon Tigers played almost as good as the best high school football team on earth.
Unfortunately, they were playing the team that is not only the best on our planet, but is out of this world: Cincinnati Moeller.
So to many it seemed like whistling past the graveyard for the Tigers to challenge this powerhouse loaded with big, strong, quick, highly skilled players. The Tigers not only challenged, they threatened.
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Even the 23,950 who packed the Akron Rubber Bowl to see Moeller win its 36th straight game, 24-6, saw a glimmer of hope when the Tigers trailed only 10-6 at the half.
They had about given up the ghost when Larry Newman, with his team trailing 17-6, returned a punt 39 yards to the Moeller 33. That was the first time the Tigers started a drive outside their own 29 all night.
With 8:34 to go in the game, the fans were on their feet. The Tigers came out in the shotgun formation. But alas, Moeller would have none of this. Quarterback Rick Spielman’s pass into the right flat for Jim Geiser, was intercepted by Moeller’s Mike Plummer.
The game Tiger defense held, but a punt by Moeller’s Ken Harper bounced down the artificial surface to the one yard line. Spielman tried to sneak the ball out for some running room, but the Crusaders’ tough defensive line jarred the ball loose and linebacker Mike Harmeyer ‑ who caused the Tigers trouble all night ‑ recovered at the one.
Hiawatha Francisco, who gained 123 yards in 22 carries, scored on the next play and Moeller had its second straight victory over Massillon.
While Gerry Faust had his Notre Dame football team stung by Michigan 25‑7 Saturday, the program he built carried on nicely under the guiding eye of his successor, Ted “Baci” Bacigalupo.
The jubilant Moeller players, long after the game was over, stole their coach from a group of reporters and carried him off to the showers, chanting “Baci, Baci, Baci!”
In the quiet Massillon lockerroom, Tiger coach Mike Currence was asked the inevitable question: did he think there was any other team around that could beat Moeller?
“I haven’t seen anybody that could beat them,” he said.
For not only does Moeller have a great defense and a rugged, ball‑control offense, it has Harper. He not only boomed three kickoffs into the end zone and averaged 47.7 yards per punt, he kicked a key 36‑yard field goal with 27 seconds left in the first half to boost Moeller’s lead from 7‑6 to 10-6.
As much as any of the Crusaders, he was responsible for doing in the Tigers. His foot kept the Tigers deep in their territory all night. And against an excellent defense like Moeller’s, you just don’t drive 80 yards for a touchdown every time.
“Every drive we started with. bad field position,” Currence said. “Then we finally got good field position and we made a mistake. We had one good drive and we had them worried a little, but field position hurt us. We have to get out there where we’re not afraid to use our whole offense. Our defense was on the field too long and they were able to wear us down. Our defense played well enough to win the ball game, but you’ve got, to give Moeller credit,” he said.
Though the score was similar to last year’s state title game (won by Moeller 30‑7), the Tigers were not blown out, nor were they embarrassed. They were just outmanned. Moeller was too big and too good.
But the Tigers took the game to them. A fierce hitting defense held the Crusaders at bay in the first quarter and into the second, stopping Moeller’s first four drives.
Massillon’s fine defensive play made Moeller gamble early in the second quarter. With the ball on the Tiger 19, Tim Manion dropped back to punt on fourth-and-nine Moeller decided it needed a big play and massed 10 players on the line to go for the block.
They didn’t get. it, and instead were called for roughing the kicker. However, Massillon was called for illegal procedure on the play, and instead of a first down, they just ran the play over.
Moeller took over at the Massillon 45 and six plays later halfback Jeff Clouse broke through the left side of the Tiger defensive line and scampered 19 yards for a touchdown. Harper’s kick made it 7‑0 with 5:36 left in the half.
The Tigers took over at their own 20, and were facing a third‑and‑10 after an incomplete pass a screen pass to Michael Moore (which gained nothing because Harmeyer smelled it out and made the tackle).
But Spielman found Dan Ricker open and hit him for 11 yards and a first down and the Tigers had some confidence. Robert Oliver took the next pass for 18 yards and first down at the 49.
On third and 14, Spielman threw down the middle and George Roknich made a fine catch, hanging onto the ball after a hard hit by Moeller’s Rob Brown. The fans came alive as Massillon had a first down at Moeller’s 31.
Spielman hit Bob Catlin for six yards to the 25, then passed to Roknich down the right side. Roknich broke two tackles and scored with 2:53 on the clock. Pandemonium reigned in the stands. Bob Larkin broke “through to block Manion’s extra point kick, and Moeller clung to a 7‑6 lead.
Spielman’s passing was almost all of Massillon’s offense, as he completed nine of 21 for 100 yards. The Tigers totaled only 19 yards rushing.
The Crusaders then started a drive at their own 25 and picked up two quick first downs, the second on a roughing the passer penalty that moved the bell to the Tiger 46.
Massillon’s defense stiffened, and Moeller faced a third‑and‑10 situation. Mike Willging, who completed only three of 12 passes in the game, hit Clouse for 23 yards and a first down at the Tiger 23.
Moeller pushed the ball down to the 19, and Harper split the uprights from 36 yards out with just 27 seconds on the clock.
“That field goal hurt,” Currence said. “And the interception that set up their score hurt. We lost a little confidence in our ability to win the game after that.”
The interception he was talking about came on the third play of the second half. On third‑and‑eight at his own 31, Spielman scrambled away from the Moeller rush and threw long down the left sideline. Brown intercepted the ball at his own 38 and returned it 26 yards to the Tiger 36. Nine straight running plays produced a touchdown as Dave Springmeier covered the last four yards. Harper’s kick made it 17‑6 with 6:21 on the third‑quarter clock.
Moeller got the ball back following a punt and drove deep into Tiger territory again. They made their only big mistake of the night when Clouse fumbled the ball and Grady Robinson recovered for Massillon at his own 12.
Manion got the Tigers out of a hole with a 70‑yard punt that rolled dead on the Moeller nine. The Crusaders punted, and Newman returned it to the Moeller 33. That’s when the shotgun misfired and Plummer intercepted on first down to knock the wind out of the Tigers.
The Crusader defense proved too much for Massillon in the second half, denying the Tigers a first down. Their fierce pass rush kept Spielman scrambling all night.
“In the second half, we just didn’t execute well and the kids lost a little confidence in winning the ball game,” Currence said.
I’m still proud of the way we played against them,” Currence said. “We played like Tigers. We just made some mistakes.”
And even a Tiger can’t afford mistakes when its playing the best high school team in the universe?
Moeller 24 Massillon 6 M C First downs rushing 0 13 First downs passing 5 2 First downs by penalty 0 1 Total first downs 5 16 Yards gained rushing 28 257 Yards lost rushing 9 14 Net yards rushing 19 243 Net yards passing 100 37 Total yards gained 119 280 Passes attempted 21 13 Passes completed 9 4 Passes intercepted by 0 2 Yardage on pass interference 0 27 Times kicked off 2 5 Kickoff average 51.0 56.0 Kickoff return yardage 32 32 Punts 7 6 Punting average 42.4 47.7 Punt return yardage 46 7 Fumbles 3 1 Fumbles lost 1 1 Penalties 2 2 Yards penalized 30 10 Touchdowns rushing 0 3 Touchdowns passing 1 0 Number of plays 39 66 Time of possession 18:16 29:44 Attendance 23,950
MOELLER 0 10 7 7 – 24 MASSILLON 0 6 0 0 – 6
Mo ‑ Jeff Clouse 19‑yard run (Ken Harper kick) Mass ‑ George Roknich 25‑yard pass from Rick Spielman (kick failed) Mo ‑ Harper 36‑yard FG Mo ‑ Dave Springmeier 4‑yard run (Harper kick) Mo ‑ Hiawatha Francisco 1‑yard run (Harper kick)
Will the Tigers get their “Aerial Circus” cranked into high gear?
Will they be quicker than a Cleveland East team which could be the most agile the Orange and Black will face this year?
These were the two questions uppermost in the mind of Washington High School head football Coach Mike Currence Thursday before he put his charges through their final pre-game workout.
Program Cover
THE TIGERS (0-2) and the Blue Bombers (1-1) will square off tonight at 8 p.m. at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Currence is hoping that with Brown on hand and a dry field predicted, good luck will follow.
“It would be awfully embarrassing to lose with Brown watching,” Currence stated.
There are expected to be about 10,000 fans on hand to watch the Tigers and to watch Brown lauded at halftime when the stadium will be officially renamed in his honor. The Tiger Swing Band will present a special show in his honor.
“Quickness will play a big part in the game,” Currence said, “and there’ll be a lot of footballs in the air – as long as it doesn’t rain.”
East has a junior end named Myron Hockett who causes Currence cause for concern.
“I DON’T believe we have a receiver as quick, but Sam George is pretty quick,” Currence said. “Hockett seems to have the moves. Their coach, Joe Pledger, told me Hockett is also a big-time basketball prospect as well as a football prospect. He’s one of the best receivers I’ve seen.”
Currence said senior quarterback Ricky Holman also likes to throw to junior tight end Charles Radford and senior wingback Steve Reeves.
“He also catches well,” Currence said. “He’s an excellent kid – a two-way man. He also plays in the secondary with Holman.”
Five Bombers go both ways, including two other offensive backfield men – senior tailback Darnell Duncan and senior fullback Tony Jones. Duncan is a secondary man, Jones a linebacker in East’s 6-1 alignment.
Senior center Juan Pope also plays a defensive end slot.
“EAST THREW more than they ran last week against Warren Reserve,” Currence warned. “Our secondary hasn’t been tested yet because of the wetness. I think our boys are pretty good pass defenders. They won’t meet anybody better than Holman.”
The Bombers drop back and give Holman maximum protection, according to Currence.
“He throws the out-cut pass as well as any high school boy “I’ve ever seen,” Currence said. “He can duck out of trouble and I’ve seen him throw 30 to 40 yards off the wrong foot while running. He also throws the in-cuts well and is a threat with the keeper.”
Currence expects East to try the bomb to Hockett and short ones to the talented receiver if the Bombers get inside the 25-yard line.
East likes to run isolation and counter plays off their fullhouse-I as well as rollout for Holman to run with the backs running.
“A BIG question with East is who is injured,” said Currence. “Joe hasn’t told anyone but I suspect the tailback is hurt. Why else would they run Holman off a fullhouse-I and not run the tailback.”
Pledger reported in Thursday’s Evening Independent that he would hold injured players – now well – out of Friday’s games and would also not open up his offense. This is to prepare for the opening of the East Senate League campaign next week.
“I think he would like to have a victory over Massillon over any East Senate victory,” Currence said.
He expects Pledger to do some innovating defensively because he changed his coverage twice against Lakewood St. Edwards when Currence coached in 1974 and 1975. The Tiger skipper won both games.
“Because of East’s quickness the Tigers’ run and shoot offense will get its best to date,” Currence said.
DURING THE week stadium groundskeeper Paul Ford has filled holes with dirt so Currence hopes for dry weather. Otherwise the game could be a battle of the mud bowl.
Currence has been in contact with the Cleveland Browns this week to find out to where to buy a tarp. The stadium had one but it wore out.
To win tonight Currence said the Tigers must execute in games as it does in practice. He feels the ball handling has improved this week except for Tuesday. The Tigers haven’t had a wet ball to work with but have used old ones on which it’s hard to get a grip.
“It would be great if we could score the first touchdown,” Currence said. The morale has been good. It hasn’t been all drudgery as you might think it would be after two losses, although we were really down after last Friday. That loss hurt worse than the first loss.”
Currence had a similar problem at Westlake. After 40 points per game and putting up a 3-0 record, Currence’s quarterback broke his thumb. Westlake lost the next four games – all by about six points. Snap problems were in the bugaboo.
“I KNOW we’ve got the talent to win,” Currence said. “We’ve just got to get some experience.”
Only lineup change will see junior Marc Longshore playing some defense and doing some specialty work and senior Van Jones starting at safety, now fully recovered from a shoulder injury.
Senior defensive halfback Bill Henderson had the flu Wednesday. Senior defensive tackle Jesse Toles banged his elbow again Thursday. He had an infection.
Senior defensive tackle Randy Laase sprained a knee Thursday. Senior Mike Hardwick would replace Laase as the kickoff man and junior Mark Namanny at the tackle position.
Should Henderson not make it, senior Dave Warthen would replace him.
Brown sees Tigers win first 16-6
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sport Editor
The “Big D” was in charge Friday night, but it wasn’t Dallas.
The “Tiger Claw” and Blue bomber defenses battled with plenty of malice before 11,273 at the official recognition night for the renaming of Tiger Stadium to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
WITH BROWN on hand the Washington High gridders fought back in the fourth quarter to a 16-6 win over Cleveland East. It was the first win for the Tigers after two shut-outs. East drops to 1-2.
Brown had coached Tiger footballers on the same gridiron from 1932-1940.
“I think my kids outplayed Massillon tonight,” said East head coach Joe Pledger. “There’s no way they can convince me Massillon actually beat us. The Massillon kids played their hearts out but in the second half we started to get penalized like something out of the “Twilight Zone.” “We can’t understand why a penalty is called every play. It got to a point where it looked like something personal. They never let our offense get out. We stayed in the hole and started to make mistakes because they couldn’t react to all the penalties.”
East was called for 13 penalties (140 yards).
TIGER CHIEFTAIN Mike Currence said, “I think East outplayed us except for the fourth quarter. I think we wanted it worse than they did. Coach Pledger has a very experienced ball club. I’m glad of the way our kids hung in there.”
“The officials made some good calls tonight and they made some nobody saw. Our offensive line let us down.”
Massillon was called for seven penalties (75 yards).
Currence gave a lot of credit to the East defensive line.
“They were just quick as could be,” Currence said. “We couldn’t get around the end. Senior Juan Pope is one of the best defensive ends we’ve seen. Junior tackle Hammond Ford kept getting in there.”
THE QUICK East pursuit cut off the perimeter game for the Tigers and put plenty of pressure on Tiger passers. They completed no passes in 11 tries.
Meanwhile, the “Tiger Claw” defense made only one mistake. That was when East senior quarterback Ricky Holman scored around right end from 39 yards away with 3:07 left in the second quarter.
The conversion kick was wide left.
The TD had been set up when the Tigers failed to cover the punt on the kickoff following a second quarter safety and the Bombers got the ball down on Massillon’s 47. A holding penalty set East back but a roughing the punter call gave them the ball on the 39.
The Tigers won the game on a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns.
JUNIOR FULLBACK Jerry Shafrath scored on his first effort of the night, a three-yard run up the center, with 11:56 left in the fourth quarter. A Bret Traylor to Jay Harper pass was incomplete on the conversion try.
Shafrath ran for 46 yards without a loss on seven carries in the final canto.
The “Tiger Claw” defense had picked up the ball on a bad fourth down snap on the last play of the third stanza. Punter Tony Jones was tackled on the East three-yard line by end Dave Engler and linebacker Kurt Walterhouse, both juniors.
Halfback Billy Henderson got the Tigers under way on their other touchdown drive by intercepting a pass on the East 43. A personal foul call on East put the ball on their 27.
On second down on the 20 – after an illegal shift penalty – sophomore Rich Cleveland ran for the TD with 4:11 left. Mike Henderson’s kick was off to the left.
MASSILLON WAS first to hit the scoreboard. After running out of downs at the East seven in the first quarter and negating a 25-yard Cleveland run which put them there, the Tigers held East on three downs.
Jones dropped back to punt, with the ball on the 13. Center Juan Pope snapped the ball over Jones’ head and out of the end zone with 4:20 left.
East got socked with a personal foul and encroachment violations in the second quarter and had third down on the 11. Holman was chased into the end zone by seniors Jesse Toles, a tackle, Anthony Grizzard, a monster back and co-captain and junior end Frank Sweterlitsch.
Holman intentionally grounded the ball with 9:10 left for another safety.
The Tigers lost the ball on downs on the East 25 in the second quarter and were snuffed out by the clock at the Bomber 30 at the expiration of the second half.
The only other Tiger threat came near the end of the game when a short kick by Jones after a high snap went out of bounds at the East 28. But two Tiger passes fell incomplete and then a Brent Offenbecher to Shafrath handoff missed connections and East recovered at the 33.
EAST – 6 Ends – Campbell, Sutton, Robison, Crumpton, Edwards, Avery, M. Hockett. Tackles – Wilkerson, Randleman, McGlothan, Dye, Ford. Guards – Dunham, Martin, Strothers, Hughs, Mack. Centers – Pope, F. Jones. Quarterback – Holman, Jackson. Halfbacks – K. Hockett, Johnson, Duncan, Reeves. Fullbacks – T. Jones, Terrell.
SCORING SUMMARY M – Safety (East center snapped ball out of end zone); M – Safety (Ricky Holman, East, illegally grounded ball in end zone); E – Holman, 39 run (kick failed); M – Jerry Shafrath, 3 run (pass failed); M – Rich Cleveland, 20 run (kick failed).
OFFICIALS Referee – Craig Smith. Umpire – Merle McConkey. Head Linesman – Charles Flohr. Field Judge – Randy Manuella. Back Judge – Steven Kromer.
ATTENDANCE – 11,273.
GRIDSTICK Mass. CE First downs rushing 9 (numbers First downs passing 0 missing) First downs penalties 0 Total first downs 9 Yards gained rushing 215 Yards lost rushing 36 Net yards gained rushing 179 Net yards gained passing 0 Total yards gained 179 Passes completed 0-11 Passes intercepted by 2 Yardage on passes Intercepted 13 Times kicked off 3-53.3 Kickoff returns (yards) 61 Times punted 6-33.5 Punt returns (yards) 5 Had punts blocked 0 Fumbles 3-2 Yards penalized 7-75 Touchdowns rushing 2 Total number of plays 49 Total time of possession 20:25
‘Proud day’ for Brown’s family
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor
“This is a proud day for my family. ‘Thank you.’”
With those words Paul Brown, the pride of Tigertown, Friday night acknowledged two standing ovations and other plaudits by the fans and officials of the school at which he taught and coached in the thirties.
Brown was presented with a plaque by Lee McCauley, who had been chairman of the Massillon Jaycees’ “Paul Brown Week” festivities here in June.
L.C. YOUNG, superintendent of Massillon schools, was presented with a plaque by Delbert Demmer, president of the Board of Education. That plaque will hang on an outside wall of the west stands of Tiger Stadium, renamed “Paul Brown Tiger Stadium” in Brown’s honor in May by the Board of Education.
Brown received the first of his standing ovations when he and Mrs. Brown and others involved in the special halftime at the Tiger-Cleveland East game walked down the west sidelines during the Tiger Swing Band’s fanfare at the beginning of the intermission.
The other standing ovation came when he addressed the crowd.
“I spent many happy days here,” Brown said. “It was the best job. I think I did more good and got more backing than anywhere in the country.”
He thanked the fans on behalf of his players, coaches and the public who helped him gain the honor of having the stadium named after him.
“I ALSO want to give Lute Emery a public thank-you,” said Brown. “He helped us tremendously in controlling the spirit and thoughts of what we were doing – trying to be the best in everything I’m a very fortunate man.”
When Brown coached here, Emery was a sports writer for The Evening Independent. He is now the editor.
The Tiger Swing Band’s presentation of “Theme From the Olympics” and “Sweet Georgia Brown” must have really pleased Brown, who saw the band started here in 1938 by George E. “Red” Bird. Watching Tom Ickes perform as Obie must have also brought back memories for Brown who found the Tiger skin used by the first Obie.
The presentations to Brown and Young were made after the band formed “Paul” and “Brown” during the “Theme From the Olympics” number.
The whole thing started from a block march toward the north end of the stadium. The band then broke into the formation of Brown’s names, first “Paul” and then “Brown”. The majorettes did a twirling routine with ribbons on their batons.
“SWEET GEORGIA Brown” followed the presentation and featured a well-performed, tricky shuffle turn from block formation and a trumpet octet. The brass performers must have been exhausted after that because they were blowing harder than a hurricane blasting at the coast of Florida.
In the octet were John Bach, Barb Shuck, Lisa Zook, Al Dean, Bob Corban, Ann Archibold, Scott Ickes and Patty Smith.
The Tiger Swingsters countinue to amaze the fans each week with their marching and dancing dexterity and the manner in which they flood the stadium with their big sound.
For the first time this season, the Tigers wore all-black uniforms. When they came through the pre-game hoop (“Hi P.B.” and “Go Tigers”) they were led by senior co-captain and guard Mark Lauber.
There seemed to be a psychological battle going on prior to the game, as neither team came out right away for the kickoff. Finally the Tigers made it first.
HEAD statistician Tom Persell wore a new orange leisure suit in the pressbox.
Cleveland East’s band was not on hand.
The Blue Bomber head coach, Joe Pledger, explained that the reason he likes to run quarterback Ricky Holman as much as he did Friday night is that Holman is a tremendous athlete and a durable one.
“If anybody can hurt you on a football field, he can,” Pledger said.
Because of East’s poor field position most of the night the Bombers couldn’t throw as much as they normally do.
EAST’S REGULAR punt-snapper was in during the safety and the poor snap that resulted in the Tigers taking over at the 3-yard line. Pledger said the penalties hurt more than the kicking game problems.
Pledger said he knew what Currence runs and East used to use the run-and-shoot, so that helped them too.
Mike Currence, Tiger head coach, related that he thought the problem on the snap signal which brought two illegal shifts was noise from the fans. The quarterback turns his head, he said and if he yells too forcibly he will lose his mouthpiece and get a 15-yard penalty.
In the fourth quarter Currence put sophomore Brent Offenbecher in at quarterback.
“I wanted to see if Brent could open it up for us,” Currence said. “We had tried to open it up and couldn’t get the ball there. Bret Traylor was ‘off’ and pressured hard. They were giving us the motion pass. He has the arm, can take two steps and hit that motion pass. I thought if we could complete one we would take a little pressure off.”
CURRENCE thought the offensive backs played a good game and that fullback Jerry Shafrath ran harder in the fourth quarter than anybody else.
“You have to give him credit,” said Currence. “I’m hoping he’s healthy and ready to go.” (Shafrath had suffered a knee injury in the final pre-game scrimmage.)
A second-period delay penalty on East was called because the officials had blown the ball dead, it was then fumbled, an East player ran with it, fumbled it and another Bomber picked it up and tried to run with it.
East was not called for a roughing penalty against punter Mark Westover later in the game because the Bomber player who hit him also hit the ball.
Tiger senior guard and Co-Captain Mike Ramsey received a hip pointer, but it was not believed to be serious. His grandfather Russ, who is guardian of the pressbox door, was quite concerned.
According to Mr. and Mrs. McCauley, with whom Brown and his wife sat, “The Old Master” was tickled with two safeties, saying it had been 40 years since he had seen two in one game.
Parade to 33rd Straight Victory After Scored Upon First Time This Season
By Alex Zirin
MASSILLON, O., Nov. 16 – They still have the nation’s best scholastic football team living here, as Canton McKinley must reluctantly admit.
Massillon Washington’s Tigers, a dream come true, today added another glowing chapter to the remarkable gridiron history of the city.
Smashing the Bulldogs, 34-6, in their 45th meeting, the Tigers recorded their 33rd straight victory.
It was their tenth and final triumph of the season and brought a sixth consecutive Ohio championship.
Also, it was the sixth victory in a row over the Bulldogs, who haven’t won since 1934, and nine seniors closed their schoolboy careers with the distinction of never having been in a losing game.
Not since October of 1937, when New Castle, Pa., turned the trick, have the Tigers suffered a defeat.
A howling crowd of 22,000 – at least – sat through bitter cold to pay tribute to Paul Brown’s splendid machine.
Not even the presence and advice of Jim Thorpe, Mr. Football himself, could help the Bulldogs today.
They were in the game during the first half, but were helpless before the blocking might of the Tigers in the final periods.
Thorpe, hero of the great Canton Bulldogs in 1915-21, was almost unnoticed.
The Bulldogs held a 6-0 lead for a few minutes in the second period after having become the first team to cross the Tigers’ line since the 1939 Canton team turned the trick.
Athie Garrison, McKinley’s splendid back, scored on a 33-yard gallop to boast his scoring total for the season to 152. He leads the state.
But a great play by Tom James and Horace Gillom soon tied the score and, when Ray Getz booted the first of four extra points, the Tigers left the field at half time holding a 7-6 advantage, and they weren’t bothered after that.
Gillom added another spectacular touchdown in the second half, and he was joined by Getz, James and Herman Robinson.
Two touchdowns came in each the third and fourth periods.
The first part of the opening period was fairly even, but the Tigers drove to the Canton 27 shortly before the gun. They lost the ball on downs at that point, but recovered on the 33 when Garrison fumbled and Gordon Appleby recovered.
But, on the third play of the second period, a maneuver went haywire and a wild pass from the Massillon center was captured by Frank Reale on the McKinley 37.
Matt Brown, Tom Harris and Garrison worked to the 33 and then came the touchdown.
Breaking over his left end, Garrison cut back, picked up the interference that formed in a few seconds and ran over the line unmolested.
Neal Rubin came in to try for the point, but his effort was low.
The tying touchdown was the thriller of all thrillers.
With first down on their 45, the Tigers decided on a pass.
Aerial Blitzkrieg
Fading back to his 35, James fired a tremendous forward to his right. Gillom, leaping over the head of Brown on the Canton 25, tipped the ball with one hand, caught it with the other, stiff-armed Brown, broke loose from Ed Snyder and hot-footed down the sidelines for the score. Getz booted the placement and the Bulldogs, although they wouldn’t show it, were licked.
Some 30 seconds later, Gillom almost scored again. He intercepted a Harris pass on the Canton 45 and reached the 14 before a side block and his own momentum drove him to his knees just as the gun sounded.
Gillom’s tremendous second half kickoff forced the Bulldogs into a hole. Garriosn returned deep from his end zone out to his 20. Canton couldn’t gain and James returned the ensuing punt 10 yards to the Canton 30.
In five plays Massillon had its second touchdown. The honor this time went to James, who had alternated with Blunt in bringing the ball to the 3. Getz was accurate and the toll was 14-6.
More Razzle Dazzle
Eighteen plays later, Massillon countered again. The break this time was a blocked punt by Russell that Blunt recovered on the Canton 43. James, Getz, and Blunt used straight football plays to come to the 17 and then the Tigers shot the works.
Getz lateraled to James, who lateraled to Blunt, who lateralted to Robinson, who fired a forward pass to Gillom, standing alone in the end zone.
Getz kicked and the score was 21-6.
Gillom’s mighty catch of a James’ pass sparked the next touchdown, in the fourth period. This time, a spread formation, featuring a triple lateral, brought the ball to the 9, from where Getz ran left end for a touchdown. Getz again was right and it was 28-6.
James’ 61-yard rush though center enabled the scoring of the last touchdown. Robinson climaxed the show by taking a pass away from three Canton guards on the 8 and cutting over the line. Getz finally missed ,but who cared?
There was one big difference between the teams. That was blocking.
MASSILLON CANTON WASHINGTON – 34 McKINLEY – 0
Robinson L.E. Chabek Henderson L.T. Reale Wallace L.G. K. Williams Appleby C Beck Russell R.G. Sirk Broglio R.T. Smith Gillom R.E. Pickard Kingham Q Snyder James L.H. Harris R. Getz R.H. Garrison Blunt F Brown
Canton 0 6 0 0 – 6 Massillon 0 7 14 13 – 34
Substitutions: Massillon – Pizzion, f; Cardinal, rg; White, lh; P. Getz, rg; Adams, rh; Hill, lg; Oliver, lt; Armour, le; Fuchs, c. Canton – Staudt, re; Winters, le; Rubin, re; Hooper, lh; Crider, lh; Pappas, lg; Conroy, lg; Parshall, lt; Chessler, rg; C. Williams, lg.
Massillon-Canton SATISTICS Massillon Canton First downs 14 9 Yards gained rushing 276 146 Yards gained passing 121 59 Yards lost, net 11 17 Passes attempted 6 19 Passes completed 4 7 Passes intercepted by 2 1 Yards lost on penalties 25 6
Tigers, Trailing For First Time This Year, Prove Title Claims
Take Advantage Of McKinley Defect To Score Touchdowns That Give Coach Brown His Greatest Team
BY HARRY YOCKEY Repository Sports Editor
A true champion is one that can overcome all conditions, and Massillon’s terrific Tigers were still perched on the Ohio scholastic football throne today because they proved to the complete satisfaction of 22,000 shivery fans that they had the spirit and ability to stage a comeback after being scored upon for the first time this season.
Looking at the picture from the Canton angle, a weakness that was evident throughout the season defeated the Bulldogs. They just couldn’t throttle Massillon’s aerial attack and that, along with the Tigers’ tricky offense, spelled the difference.
Even Paul Brown, coach of the Tigers, admitted he was worried just a little when Athie Garrison skirted left end for 32 yards and a touchdown. That fine bit of running by the Bulldog star, put the Tigers in a hole for the first time this season and gave Brown an opportunity to learn whether he was going to have the greatest team since he took over the Massillon reins in 1932.
Tigers Take Lead
The Tigers supplied the first part of the answer when Tom James, with the wind to his back, tossed a long aerial to Horace Gillom who went 25 yards for a touchdown with only 45 seconds of the first half remaining. When Ray Getz kicked the extra point he enabled the jubilant Tigers to leave the field with a one point lead.
If the Bulldogs had been playing more alert football, the Tigers probably would have gone scoreless in the first half and the psychological effect on Massillon may have made a great difference in the outcome.
Playing a safety position, Garrison, who must be credited with a note worthy performance, made the mistake of trying to intercept the ball instead of batting it down. The ball went through his fingers and into the hands of Gillom who packed it across the goal line. The play was obvious from the start as only a few seconds remained before the half time gun would have ended Massillon’s chances of scoring. If the McKinley backfield had been playing deeper it could have prevented completion of the pass or at least nailed Gillom before he could slip away.
Fail To Stop Play
Instead, the Bulldogs suffered a blow from which they were unable to recover throughout the last half. Forced to punt against the wind at the opening of the third period, the Bulldogs saw Massillon take the ball on its 30-yard line, plough through for a touchdown and kick the extra point.
That gave the Tigers a more comfortable margin but not a lead that was impossible for the Bulldogs to overcome. But the state champions for the sixth consecutive year resorted to another aerial play that McKinley should have broken up but didn’t. When Getz ran deep with the ball, two Bulldogs were close on his heels but failed to nail him before he had tossed the ball to Herman Robinson who quickly heaved it to Gillom. The latter made a beautiful catch in the end zone.
Incidentally, that particular play had been tried by Massillon on numerous occasions during the season but Saturday marked the first time it paid off.
Gillom again was on the receiving end of an aerial that gave Massillon a first down on the Canton 10 and paved the way for the third touchdown. Garrison was running beside the Massillon star when he caught the ball but was unable to knock the ball down and didn’t nail Gillom until he had registered a 29-yard gain. Getz took the ball across on the next play.
Watch Robinson Score
Failure of three McKinley backfield men to cut down Robinson on a pass play gave Massillon its last touchdown late in the third period. The Bulldogs hit Robinson as he took the ball from James and, thinking they had knocked him out of bounds, watched him run 10 more yards across the goal line to have the officials signal a touchdown that meant little as far as a victory was concerned.
Massillon completed only four passes, but three of them went for touchdowns and the other one paved the way. That, in a few words, is the story of the Canton-Massillon game of 1940.
The Tigers played championship ball against a team that refused to give up until the final gun. But the Bulldogs were playing a rival that Coach Brown after the game labeled as “the greatest team I’ve had the pleasure of coaching.”
The Tigers have been famous for their precision and they committed few mistakes yesterday despite conditions which made ball handling doubly hard. They tackled, blocked, ran and passed in a manner that leaves no question as to their championship ranking.
MASSILLON STORMS BACK AFTER CANTON CROSSES GOAL FIRST
By JACK MAXWELL
TIGER STADIUM, MASSILLON, Nov. 16 – Massillon’s famed Washington High Tigers laid undisputed claim to their sixth Ohio scholastic football championship here this afternoon by turning back their traditional rival, McKinley High school, before a record crowd of 22,000 fans.
The score was 34-6.
By winning Massillon stretched its amazing winning streak to 33 games and its consecutive victories over Canton to six. It was the first defeat of the season for the Bulldogs who had won eight games and tied one.
The victory also helped Massillon move a step nearer an even split with Canton on the 45 games in which the two schools have been matched. The score now stands: McKinley 22, Massillon 20 and three games tied.
At game time it was announced that the stands were filled to capacity and that the crowd would exceed 22,000.
Matthew Brown, fullback, was named acting captain for McKinley, Gillom and Getz, right end and right half respectively, were serving as co-captains for the Tigers.
McKinley won the toss and elected to defend the south goal.
In the initial kickoff Garrison booted the ball over the Tiger goal line and it was brought out to the 20. Advancing the ball seven yards in three tries Gillom punted on the fourth down. Brown fumbled but Garrison recovered on the McKinley 34.
Bulldogs Begin Drive
McKinley began to roll when Harris clicked off three yards around right end and Brown rammed 15 yards to a first down through right guard. An offside penalty on Massillon advanced the ball five more yards, four of which were erased when Garrison was brought down short of the line in an attempt at left end.
Brown picked up three at center. A pass, Harris to Garrison, accounted for 16 more yards. Massillon took the ball when Robinson intercepted a pass from Harris on the Massillon 16.
Massillon made it a first down on its own 30 with Blunt, James and Getz finding holes in the McKinley line. On the next play James cut through right tackle for another first down on the Massillon 48.
Blunt picked up nine yards in two tries through the line and then Getz skirted left end for a first down on the McKinley 39. A four-yard smash by James through left tackle and a six-yard drive through center by Blunt gave Massillon another first down on the Bulldog 29.
McKinley Line Stiffens
Here the McKinley stiffened and the rambling Tigers found it tough going. Blunt picked up two at center and then two more thrusts at the line were stopped. McKinley took the ball on the 29 when a pass, James to Gillom, was incomplete.
Brown picked up four at right end and then McKinley lost the ball on Garrison’s fumble, which was recovered by Appleby. Blunt hit center for two as the quarter ended.
SCORE: McKinley 0, Massillon 0.
Massillon picked up nine yards on two plunges by Getz and Blunt before McKinley took the ball on its own 37 when Reale covered a fumble by James.
Here McKinley started a scoring drive that was climaxed by a 32-yard run around left end by Garrison. Perfect blocking by his teammates plus ability to evade tacklers in the open enabled him to cross the goal line standing up. Rubin’s place kick for the extra point was low. Score: McKinley 6, Massillon o
Garrison’s kickoff was taken by Gillom who was brought down hard on the Massillon 27. On the next play Snyder intercepted a pass on the Massillon 44. Brown was stopped at center and then made two yards on a short pass from Harris.
A beautifully placed punt by Staudt who entered the game merely to kick, set Massillon back on its seven yard line after Garrison had dropped a long pass from Harris. Gillom, standing behind his own goal line, punted 54 yards to Garrison who returned to the Massillon 45. After two tries at the line by Garrison and Brown and a short pass, Harris to Brown, had yielded nine yards Garrison punted out on the Massillon 20.
James made it a first down on the Massillon 31 on a dash around right end and a slash through right tackle. Three more plays by James and Getz gave Massillon another first down on the Massillon 45.
Gillom Scores On Pass
On the next play James faded back and heaved a long pass which Gillom picked out of the hands of Garrison on the 25 and then rambled on across the goal line to score. The ball traveled 55 yards. Getz place kicked for the extra point. Score: McKinley 6, Massillon 7.
Garrison returned Gillom’s kickoff over the goal line to the McKinley 20. Garrison, Brown and Harris were dragged down for small losses before Harrison punted to James who returned to the McKinley 30. Blunt picked up eight around left end on a deep reverse and then James made it a first down on the McKinley 17 at right end.
Blunt rammed center and cut back to reach the McKinley 5. James went over to score through right tackle and Getz place kicked the extra point. Score: McKinley 6, Massillon 14.
Kick Over Goal Line
Gillom kicked over the goal line and McKinley took the ball on its 20. Two plays short of 10 yards by Garrison and an offside penalty on Massillon gave McKinley a first down on its punt. His kick was partially blocked by Russell and Massillon took the ball on the McKinley 43.
Here Massillon started another scoring drive with James, Getz and Blunt alternating on off tackle smashes and culminating with a dazzling end around pass from Getz to Robinson to Gillom for a touchdown. Getz place-kicked the extra point. Score: McKinley 6, Massillon 21.
Garrison returned Gillom’s kick to the 27 and Brown picked up a yard at right end as the quarter ended. Score: McKInley 6, Massillon 21.
As the fourth quarter opened Harris passed to Garrison for eight. An offside penalty gave McKinley a first down on its 42. Two passes from Harris to Brown and Garrison gained six yards. Harris failed to gain and Staudt came in to punt out of bounds on the Massillon 30. James went back to pass and then elected to run for a first down on the Massillon 47. Blunt hit right guard for six.
James picked up eight yards at right tackle and then passed to Gillom for 29 yards and a first down on the McKinley 10. A 15-yard penalty put the ball back on the 25. On the next play James ran it up to the McKinley 10 and Getz skirted left end to score. Getz place kicked the extra point. Score: McKinley 6, Massillon 28.
McKinley made another scoring threat late in the fourth period when Staudt, called in for a punt, passed to Garrison who galloped 24 yards to the Massillon 27.
Massillon scored again in the closing minutes of play when Robinson took a pass from James on the McKinley 9 and went over for a touchdown. Getz failed to place kick.
M’KINLEY BOWS TO VAUNTED FOE IN SECOND HALF
Scores First Touchdown And Then Collapses; Massillon Denomination Complete
By JACK MAXWELL
Massillon’s mighty Tigers scaled new heights Saturday and today retained a domination of Ohio scholastic football that was almost incredible for its completeness.
Unleashing the full fury of a perfectly coordinated attack in the second half, the talented charges of Coach Paul Brown swept over a courageous but badly out classed McKinley High school team 34-6 at Tiger stadium in Massillon Saturday afternoon.
Accomplished before a capacity throng of 22,000 amid all the color that only a long and intense rivalry can produce, the triumph was a glorious one on so many counts that jubilant Massillon fans were consulting the records today to make sure they missed nothing in their prolonged celebration.
Unbeaten in 33 Games
The victory enabled the Tigers to clinch their sixth consecutive state championship, lengthened an amazing winning streak to 33 games, marked the sixth straight conquest of their most bitter rival and was the most decisive Canton defeat in the 45 contests of an inter city series that began in 1894.
Combining perfect timing, great blocking, deadly passing and spirited defensive play in a manner that was an eloquent tribute to the coaching genius of their mentor, the Tigers drew away with a four touchdown barrage in the second half after leading an aroused McKinley eleven on 7-6 at the intermission.
Although sub-freezing temperature and a chill wind made the role of spectator none too comfortable, the battle was fought under excellent playing conditions. A field that had been protected for nearly a week by a tarpaulin afforded secure footing and each team was able to use its full repertoire of plays.
Bulldogs Fight Stubbornly
Even though they suffered a setback of unforeseen proportions, the previously unbeaten Bulldogs of Coach Johnny Reed did nothing to disgrace the school or city, which they represented. On the contrary, they battled their hearts out from opening whistle to final gun, but their best simply wasn’t good enough. McKinley fought the Tigers on even terms for the entire first half, and scored the lone touchdown made against Massillon this season on a scintillating 31-yard gallop by Athie Garrison in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs received a disheartening blow with 30 seconds left in the first half when a long pass from Tom James to Horace Gillom clicked for 55 yards and a touchdown.
When Ray Getz converted on an accurate placement, the McKinley gridders trailed 7-6 when they went to the dressing room at the intermission instead of holding command.
In the face of a Massillon onslaught terrific in its intensity, the Bulldogs never were able to reveal their true form in the second half and were on the defensive most of the time.
Pass Defense Vulnerable
A faulty pass defense that had been the major McKinley weakness all season made the difference between an extremely close duel and a lopsided Massillon victory. The Tigers attempted only seven passes, but of their four completed ones three went for touchdowns and the other advanced the ball deep into Bulldog territory.
As always, deception and crushing blocking were the twin keys to Massillon success. McKinley stopped the Tigers’ straight running attack frequently, but each time the danger seemed past the Tigers pulled a tricky reverse, a wide sweep behind a wave of interference or a pass to continue their drive.
Worst previous Canton defeats in the ancient rivalry were 24-0 in 1922 and 31-6 in 1929. Otherwise three touchdowns were the largest margin of victory for Massillon. Canton triumphed 44-0 in 1907 to inflict the most crushing defeat of the series in which Canton still leads, 22 wins to 20. Three games ended in ties.
Gillom And James Star
Achievements of the Tigers have come through teamwork, and yesterday’s victory naturally was a group proposition.
Yet Horace Gillom, brilliant Negro end closing a star studded scholastic career, and diminutive Tom James, another senior, were the spark plugs of a powerful machine.
Gillom caught three passes, two for touchdowns, averaged 46 yards on two punts and made tackle after tackle. James directed the offense in fine style, threw all but one of the completed aerials and broke loose repeatedly in the second half, once on a 61-yard gallop. He finished as the leading ball carrier in the fray with an average of 9.2 yards.
Fred Blunt carried the brunt of the offensive burden in the first half, and Ray Getz also reeled off several long runs in addition to scoring one touchdown and kicking four extra points in five tries. Jim Russell and Bill Wallace at the guards were defensive bulwarks and Herman Robinson, Gene Henderson, Gordon Appleby, Eli Broglio, and Dick Kingham all were superb. Only Blunt and Robinson return next year.
Garrison, Brown Sparkle
Heroic in defeat were Athie Garrison and Matthew Brown. Although watched closely by the Tigers, Garrison boosted his season scoring total to 152 points, drove with tremendous power and certainly must be labeled the greatest running back in McKinley history. He averaged 3.8 yards for 11 ball-carrying attempts.
Captain and field general, Brown was the heart and soul of the Bulldogs, both on offense and defense. He carried the ball 14 times for a 2.9 average, had a hand in most of the tackles and still was trying with might and main when the final seconds ticked away. Frank Reale, a rugged tackle; Ed Snyder, a sophomore quarterback, and Don Sirk, veteran guard, were other McKinley main stays.
McKinley forced the Tigers to punt after the opening kickoff and proceeded to institute a march that carried to the Massillon 16 before it was stopped by Robinson’s interception of Tom Harris’ pass.
Reale Recovers Fumble
On the third play of the second quarter, James fumbled and Reale covered for McKinley on his own 37. With a 14-yard pass from Harris to Brown as the big advance, the Bulldogs pushed to the Massillon 31. Garrison then sprinted around his left end, cut back behind deadly blocking and dashed for a touchdown. Neil Rubin’s place kick was low.
A few minutes later, James faded back from his own 45 and passed deep to Gillom, who was covered by Garrison. Garrison leaped to catch the ball but it slanted off his fingers into the hands of Gillom, who caught on the McKinley 25 and romped for a touchdown. Getz booted the conversion.
Massillon needed just four plays to stretch its lead in the first five minutes of the third period. James ran for 13 yards, Blunt for five and again for three, and James knifed through right tackle on a reverse to score. Getz’ place kick again split the up rights.
The third Tiger touchdown came after the Bulldogs had thrown back three running plays short of a first down on the McKinley 17, Robinson came around from left end, took the ball from Getz and started around the right end behind a wall of blockers. But he stopped short of the line, dropped back and shot a perfect pass in the end zone to Gillom, who made the catch unmolested.
A 29-yard pass from James to Gillom, and a 14-yard sprint by James that nullified a holding penalty set up the next touchdown early in the last quarter. Getz circled left end from the 10 for the tally and kicked the conversion.
After Garrison had twisted 24 yards on a screen pass to the Massillon 27, the Tigers braced and took the ball on their own 20. James smashed through right tackle and broke clear for 61 yards to the 19, where he was dragged down from behind by Garrison. Blunt and Getz were stopped, but Robinson took James’ pass away from three McKinley defenders near the sideline on the 9-yard stripe and went over for the last touchdown. Getz’ place kick was just a trifle wide. McKinley Pos. Massillon Chabek LE Robinson Reale LT Henderaon K. Williams LG Wallace Beck C Appleby Sirk RG Russell Smith RT Broglio Pickard RE Gillom Snyder QB Kingham Harris LH James Garrison RH Getz M. Brown FB Blunt
Substitutions for McKinley – Rubin, c; Staudt, e; Winters, e; Chessler, t; C. Williams, t: Pappask g; Conroy, g; Crider, hb; Hooper, hb; R. Brown, g; Parshall, t. For Massillon – Pizzino, fb; L. Cardinal, t; Oliver, t; F. Cardinal, g; Fuchs, c; Adams, hb; White, hb; Hill, g; Holt, qb; Bray, e; Demando, e.
Referee – Dave Reese, Dayton. Umpire – Verlin P. Jenkins, Akron. Head linesman – Earl D. Gross, New Philadelphia. Field judge – A.B. Long, Newark.
STATISTICS Mass. McK. First downs, rushing 13 5 First downs, passing 1 3 First downs, total 14 8 Yards gained, rushing 283 113 Yards gained, passing 123 78 Yards lost 25 18 Yards gained, net total 381 173 Passes attempted 7 21 Passes completed 4 10 Passes intercepted 2 1 Passes incompleted 2 9 Fumbles 1 3 Own fumbles covered 1 1 Own fumbles recovered 0 2 Penalties, yardage 30 0 Punts 2 6 Punts, average yardage 46 21.7
22,000 See Tigers Win State Toga
Bulldogs Collapse After Trailing By 7-6 Score At Half
By BOD EDDIOTT
MASSILLON, Nov., 16 – All the devastating power of Massillon high school’s brilliant football team exploded with every inch of its fury in the faces of Canton McKinley’s Bulldogs here today and the Tigers roared to an amazing 34-6 conquest in the 43rd renewal of Ohio’s bitterest scholastic grid fuel.
Massillon’s victory was expected, but nobody looked for the disaster, which struck McKinley after the half time intermission.
As a shivering but thrilled crowd of 22,000 fans watched the peerless Tigers riddle every semblance of a defense the Bulldogs possessed, the charges of Coach Paul Brown completed their greatest season.
The victory was Massillon’s 33rd in a row extending over a four-year period. It was their sixth straight conquest of the Bulldogs and gave them their sixth consecutive undisputed state championship.
Mere words won’t suffice to tell of Massillon’s second half outburst, which netted four touchdowns and turned what looked to be an even game into one of the worst routs in the long Canton-Massillon rivalry.
For those Bulldogs of Coach Johnny Reed were tough for two entire periods. In fact, to an unbiased observer, it looked as if McKinley was the better ball club for almost half the game.
Still Champions
Score by periods: Canton 0 6 0 0 – 6 Massillon 0 7 14 13 – 34
TIGERS BEAT BULLDOGS 20-6 TO RETAIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CANTON GIVES LOCAL TEAM HARDEST GAME
Bulldogs Threaten Upset By Scoring One Touchdown And coming Close To Another; Slusser And Gillom Shine For Massillon
By LUTHER EMERY
A fighting band of red and black grid warriors played their hearts out at beautiful Fawcett stadium, Canton, Saturday afternoon but bowed 20-6 before the lightning thrusts of the Washington high Tiger.
The victory kept the state championship and the Stark county title in Massillon a fifth straight year and extended the Tiger winning streak begun in 1937 to 23 games. Hardest Fought Game Since 1935 While 22,000 fans filled every inch of the stadium and sat on the slope at the northwest end, the Tiger and Bulldog elevens waged their hottest duel since the terrific game of 1935 when a 6-0 victory started the string of five straight triumphs the Tigers have recorded against their Canton opponents.
Keyed with a new spirit and equipped with a new double wing-back offense, the Bulldogs tackled and blocked as they never did before this season and played a brand of football that would have sent them into the game an undefeated team.
It’s tradition that the underdog plays over his head and the favorite tightens up in a Massillon-Canton game and that was what took place Saturday. The Bulldogs were over their heads compared with past performances this season, but perhaps they were only playing the brand of ball of which they were really capable to producing. Canton Changes Strategy They adopted a first half strategy of consuming as much time in the huddle as possible to purposely delay the game with the hope of keeping down the score and possibly capitalizing on a break.
But when George Slusser crossed the Bulldog goal from the one-yard line in the second quarter and tossed a 21-yard pass to Tom James for another the Bulldogs, trailing 13-0, changed their strategy at halftime and came out to shoot the works in a do-or-die attempt to win.
Massillon fans who had eased back in their seats at the start of the third period feeling perfectly secure on a 13-point lead, were struck speechless when like a bolt out of the sky, Andy Marantides, game little Canton halfback, shot a 20-yard pass to halfback Matt Brown, who caught the ball over George Slusser’s head and ran another 21 yards for a touchdown.
What was apprehension became downright fear for Massillon fans when the Bulldogs came right back with another rush in which officials and the Bulldog backs carried the ball to the Tiger 15-yard line. Here the local eleven held for downs, thanks to a great job of pass defense work by Halfbacks Bob Foster, who batted down what looked like another perfect touchdown pass from Marantides to Brown.
Taking the ball on their own 15-yard line, the Tigers roared back with a drive to their own 49. There the Massillon linemen blasted a big hole in the Bulldog forward wall and on the slickest play of the day and a consistent ground gainer, Slusser took the ball from Bill Zimmerman on a fake spin and ran 51 yards for a touchdown. He cut hard to his right as he crossed the line of scrimmage and circled Bill Goodman, the McKinley safety man.
The touchdown eased the tension of Massillon fans, but the Bulldogs were not yet beaten. They wouldn’t quit as so many teams have done in the face of the Tiger charge, but came back fighting with another touchdown bid that would have reached the two yard line had not Halfback Goodman stepped out of bounds on the 30. It was the last scoring threat of either team and the game ended with the Tigers moving forward with the ball in midfield. Tigers Had Drive When Needed The statistics which favor Canton in first downs and Massillon in yards gained from scrimmage show little difference in both teams. Yet that little difference amounted to a big difference – the Tigers could get yards when needed, while the Bulldogs as in so many games the past season, moved the ball between the 20-yard lines but lacked the drive to put it over.
With a few ifs Canton might have gotten a tie out of it. Had not Foster been alert and timed his leap to a split second to knock down Marantides’ pass to Brown on the two-yard line, the Bulldogs would have had another touchdown. And they might have scored a third, had not Goodman walked the sideline in the last period after taking a pass from Marantides.
It was in the air that Canton gained most of its distance and what yards it made on the ground were gained around the Tiger ends.
Coach Johnny Reed gave his team a new double wing back offense for the game, hoping to spread the Tiger defense with the extra wing back and run fast breaking plays through the center of the Massillon line.
John Swezey, Red Henderson, Gil Pedrotty and Jim Russell, rose to the occasion, however and bottled up the Bulldog backs, while Horace Gillom, playing his greatest high school game, backed up the line with tremendous power. Swezey was particularly outstanding and the Tiger coaches were loud in their praise of his work after the game. Slusser Best Runner Offensively, Slusser, was the shining light for the Tigers. He gained more ground than any other player on the field, carrying the ball 22 times for an average of 7.2 yards, scoring two touchdowns and tossing the pass to Tom James for the third.
James and Foster also played good ball and because of his all around judgment Saturday, James will be first choice at calling signals next year. Foster gave an outstanding exhibition of pass defense work and was in on many a tackle.
Gillom’s punting was on a par with his great defensive play. He averaged 40.6 yards from scrimmage on his punts and kicked one ball 60 yards on the fly.
The Tigers had a series of plays with Gillom carrying the ball. They tried one on the second play after the kickoff, but when Horace fumbled when tackled, it was decided to play safe and continue the ball carrying to boys who were accustomed to lugging the leather.
Big Nick Rotz was outstanding on the Canton line. He was almost too strong for end Ray Getz to handle. Marantides was outstanding in the Bulldog backfield, doing most of the running and all of the punting and passing.
Still Champions Massillon Pos. Canton Getz LE Ryman Pedrotty LT Reale Russell LG Mack Martin C Haines Henderson RG Sirk Swezey RT Rotz Gillom RE Dugger Foster QB Chabek Slusser LH Marantides James RH Goodman Zimmerman FB Brown
Score by periods: Massillon 0 13 7 0 20 Canton 0 6 0 0 6
MASSILLON ROUTS CHANEY, 38 TO 0 Tigers Roll on to 22nd Consecutive Triumph
(From Plain Dealer Bureau)
MASSILLON, O., Nov. 11 – Youngstown Chaney joined the passing parade of Massillon Tiger victims here this afternoon as the champions coasted to their ninth consecutive victory of the season 38 to 0.
Chalking up their 22nd consecutive victory, the Tigers rolled up eighteen first downs and held Youngstown for three periods without any.
In the final stanza, with Tiger second and third stringers in the fray, Supanic drove to Chaney’s only first down of the afternoon. He was not even listed in the lineups. In this quarter Red James punted for the first time for the Tigers.
Tiger first stringers George Slusser and Red James, who for the first time this season did not start, led the afternoon’s scoring with two touchdowns apiece. Pokey Blunt, who poked his way into a staring lineup for the first time scored another and Junior White, third string back scored one also. 80-Yard March An 80-yard drive in the first quarter culminated with Slusser piling over for the first Tiger touchdown. Blunt had sparked the attack with two first down smashes.
In the second quarter, Slusser heaved a 25-yard pass to Ray Getz, who was brought down on the Chaney 13. On the next play, Slusser tallied on a wide end sweep.
For the second touchdown of the period the Tigers started from their 8 after Bill Reed had punted accurately to the sidelines.
A first down by Bill Zimmerman on the 22, a 20-yard sprint by Blunt and Slusser’s dash to the 4 from where Blunt scored, turned the trick.
Two snappy plays gave them their first score of the third quarter. A recovery of a Chaney fumble by John Swezey gave them the ball on the 27. On his first play of the game, Red James sprinted for the touchdown. After two passes failed, James was again given the ball. He broke through and was on his way for a touchdown for the longest run of the afternoon – 61 yards.
Junior White, Tiger third-stringer, scored late in the final stanza on a 9-yard end sweep around his own left end.
MASSILLON POS. YOUNGSTOWN Getz LE Stamm Croop LT Pietra Russell LG M. Evans Martin C R. Balog Henderson RG Polando Swezey RT Mailey Gillom RE J. Evans Foster Q Reid Slusser LH Mancino Blunt RH Williams Zimmerman F Thompson
POLAR BEARS STAGE AERIAL CIRCUS AS TIGERS WIN 47-6 CROWD THRILLED BY FINE OFFENSIVE GAME Lehman Second Team Of Season To Score On Massillon Eleven; Tally Touchdown On Intercepted Pass After Having Two Scoring Attempts Stopped
By LUTHER EMERY
It was Polar Bear weather, but Tiger might, and today Washington high school’s consecutive victory chain had the 21st link welded into it, a 47-6 triumph over Canton Lehman, last night before 10,000 shivering fans in Tiger Stadium.
Not a one of the 10,000 regretted sitting through the game and most of those who had intended leaving at the half remained to the very end. All Sorts of Formations The lopsided score doesn’t tell the reason why, but had you been there, the intricate formations of the Lehman gridders would have had an appealing effect to your football weakness too.
Were it not for the difference in suits, you might have thought it was the Massillon band when the Lehman gridders spread themselves over the field in squares and something resembling a company front.
It was effective in pushing twice as many first downs over the Tigers than any other opponent has been able to do and most of all, it kept the fans in an excited mood, wondering what to expect next. Intercepted Passes Inevitable But when you spread your team offensively, you also spread your protecting defense for the play should anything go wrong and here the boomerang bounced back on the Polar Bears. Four passes went into the arms of Tiger players and two of them, Horace Gillom and Jim Moody, had nothing to do but run 80 and 60 yards respectively for touchdowns. A third intercepted pass by George Fabian, behind the goal line, stopped a Lehman touchdown drive that had reached the seven-yard line.
The Polar Bears were just as unruly on defense. They lined up with only two men on the line of scrimmage, then as the Tigers shifted, hopped from four to five players into the line and moved two and three of the secondary forward several paces in an attempt to confuse the Tigers in their blocking assignments and upset the Massillon offense.
It didn’t work so successfully, however, for the varsity moved over the Polar Bear goal three times the first quarter and then went to the bench to watch the second and third stringers play the remainder of the game.
Aside from the Lehman offense and defense the game was screwy from another standpoint. The first quarter and part of the second was played without an official timekeeper.
It appears that someone had told Head Linesman Barrett that C.P. Hoffee, who goes to bed and gets up with a stop watch, would keep time. But nobody told Hoffee. The coaches thought Barrett was timing the game.
After the first quarter had lasted 14 minutes, Hoffee, who sure enough was following his hobby of timekeeping for fun, reported to Coach Brown. The Head Linesman was notified. He didn’t have a gun. Time was called. The coaches and officials held a discussion. The quarter ended there and it was agreed that the two minutes would be deducted from the second period which was cut to 10 minutes. Hoffee times the remainder of the game.
The Polar Bears’ desire to make a game of it and give the fans their money’s worth carried them deep into Tiger territory twice in the first half, once to the 16-yard line and again to the seven-yard line. Their fervent desire to score on the local eleven, something only Cathedral Latin had previously been able to do, was finally rewarded in the third quarter and Massillon fans were glad for it. Santora Intercepts Pass The Tigers here hammering down on the Polar Bear 31-yard line when Fabian tried to pass; the ball was partially blocked as it left his hand and Pete Santora gathered it in and headed for the east sideline and south goal. Running with all his might he raced by several Massillon players who attempted to tackle him and collapsed when tackled behind the goal. The attempt by Elsaesser to kick the extra point failed, but it mattered not, for Lehman’s work was done.
The Polar Bears ability to move the ball, kept the game an offensive duel from start to finish. In the entire first three periods, there was but one punt that coming at the end of the first series of plays, when Fuller punted after his team had failed to gain after the kickoff.
The punt put the ball in Massillon’s possession on the Lehman 40. Spectators’ eyes popped out at the sight of Lehman defense and Red James, carrying the ball on the first Massillon play was thrown for a three-yard loss by Bob Fuller. George Slusser felt the Polar Bears out as he got back the three yards on a charge at left tackle. He sized up the situation immediately and the Polar Bear unorthodox defense paid dearly. Slusser dropped back and Horace Gillom streaked down the east sideline toward the south goal.
He was past the Lehman secondary in a flash and took Slusser’s perfect pass with no one between himself and the goal. All he had to do was run and Gillom can do that right handily. Ray Getz kicked the extra point, the ball striking the left post and bounding over the crossbar.
Did that touchdown discourage Lehman? No, sir. The Polar Bears took the kickoff and came right back with their razzle – dazzle, spraddles that carried the ball from their own 27-yard line down to the Tiger 16. Fuller started it out by sweeping right end for 14 yards. Then Panella tossed a 20-yarder to Fuller for a first down on the Massillon 39. He came right back with another 20-yard heave to Fuller that caused the poor Tigers to take time out on their own 19 as Capt. Martin noticed the goal line wasn’t so very far behind him. Tigers Get Ball Fuller tried to carry the ball but was tossed for a three-yard loss. Panella’s pass was grounded. Panella tossed another to Fuller for a six-yard gain that took the ball to the Tiger 16-yard line. The Bears tried another wide spread formation, but took too much time. The referee blew his whistle just as the ball was passed. Fuller passed to Elsaesser and he went over the goal line, but about half the Tigers and Lehman players who heard the whistle, didn’t take part in the play. Lehman attempted another pass but Gillom grounded it and the Tigers took the ball on downs on their 21, thus ending the threat.
Three plays later the Tigers had their second touchdown. Slusser made three yards at left tackle and on a quick break, Foster sneaked through for 11 and a first down on his 35. There Slusser tucked the ball under his arm and raced 65 yards for a touchdown, outrunning Fuller and another Lehman secondary as he streaked down the west sideline to the south goal. Getz booted the extra point on a perfect bullseye between the uprights and the score was 14-0.
The Tigers kicked off to the Polar Bears and back they came with their razz-a-ma-taz. A shot from Fuller to Elsaesser gained 16 yards, another to Uebing produced five and a 15-yard penalty on Massillon put the ball on the Tiger 35.
Clear the decks for Gillom. And that’s what his teammates did as he gathered in Panella’s next pass on the 20-yard line and headed for the south goal. It was an 80-yard run and the third touchdown of the game.
Out came the Lehman first team and in went the second stringers. Getz booted the 21st point and the varsity’s evenings work was finished. In went the Tiger second stringers and with it, Coach Jim Robinson of Lehman shoved his first team back on the field.
The Polar Bears received, but when Fuller tried a pass, Freddie Blunt gathered it in on the Lehman 37 to launch another Tiger drive. The Tigers got down to the 25-yard line, overcoming a 15-yard penalty for clipping that nullified a fine 22-yard mouse trap end run by George Kester, when the prolonged first period ended. Blunt Goes Over Fabian, Blunt and Clendening took turns carrying the ball until they reached the two-yard line. Lehman was offside and a one-yard penalty advanced the ball to the one-yard line where Blunt took it over. He failed to make the extra point and the score was 27-0.
Lehman struck back again after the kickoff was downed on the 27-yard line. A 10-yard peg, Panella to Fuller put the ball on the 37-yard line and there followed the prettiest play of the game. Fuller passed laterally two-thirds the width of the field to Panella who in turn heaved the ball 23 yards to Elsaesser for a first down on the Tiger 32-yard line. A 15-yard penalty on Massillon advanced the ball to the 17. Santora and Fuller made it first down on the seven and sent the Tiger team into an eight-man line. Fuller tried to buck it but hit a stone wall. Panella then attempted a pass, but George Fabian hauled the ball in behind the goal and ran back to the five-yard line. The half ended two plays later.
Lehman kicked off as the third period got underway and Clendening was downed with the ball on his 28-yard line. On the first play he broke fast through the Lehman team and was hauled down from behind on the Lehman 27, after a run of 45 yards. Kester went to the 15 on an end around play and Blunt hit through tackle for the touchdown, Clendening went over for the extra point.
The Polar Bears were still on the loose, however, and aided by a 15-yard pass from Panella to Fuller, came back to the Tiger 44-yard line. They had Jim Moody to reckon with, however, and Jim timed Fuller’s next throw to intercept the ball and race 60 yards for a touchdown. Fabian attempted to toss a pass for the extra point but it failed. Santora Brings Joy To Lehman The following kickoff found the Bears pecking away again. Fuller found Panella for a 25-yar pass as the visitors took the ball to the Tiger 30. There the locals stopped the drive and marched back to the Lehman 31, where Fabian’s blocked pass found the waiting arms of Santora who raced for Lehman’s touchdown. At this stage of the game, the score was about as good as a victory for the Lehman rooters who shouted themselves hoarse. And they were joined by almost as many Massillon supporters who were glad to see the Bears rewarded for their pleasing efforts.
The Tigers scored but once the last period in a drive that began from their own 42. It was Clendening seven yards, Fabian seven yards and a first down on the 28. Fabian lost two but got back five on his second attempt. The Bears left an opening on the left side of their line on the next play and that was all Pokey Blunt needed. He was through and away for a 25-yard touchdown dash, the last of the game. Clendening plunged the 47th point across.
The statistics would not indicate the Tigers as 41 points better than Lehman. They made 13 first downs to the Polar Bears’ dozen and gained 342 yards rushing to the Bears’ 40. On the other hand the Bears’ made the huge total of 155 yards passing to the Tigers’ 40.
Massillon attempted but three passes, completing one, while the visitors made 11 of 21. The Tigers punted but once and Lehman three times, three of the four punts coming in the last quarter.
That both teams were in fine condition, there was no doubt. There were few times out for injury and no dragging on the field. The Polar Bears had a wealth of spirit but were poor in tackling and blocking, particularly the former. Many a time Bear defensive players had opportunities to spill Tiger ball carriers for losses, but spoiled the opportunity with weak tackling.
Good Old Bear Massillon Pos. Lehman Getz LE Uebing Pedrotty LT Lee Russell LG Cline Martin C Wilson Henderson RG Butler Swezey RT Mack Gillom RE Loucks Foster QB Panella Slusser LH Fuller James RH Elsaesser Zimmerman FB Santora
History 
Not a lot is known about Stanfield Wells’ time at Massillon, other than he played one year for the Tigers, at left halfback and teamed with his twin brother, Guy, who was on the line. That, after the family had moved in from far away South Dakota. The team was not stellar, finishing 1-5. But after Massillon he played collegiately for the University of Michigan (1909-11) and then professionally for the Akron Indians, the Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Heralds.
Henry Krier played running back during Coach Paul Brown’s first three seasons at Massillon. In 1933 the team finished 8-2, with Krier contributing 12 touchdowns, 11 rushing and one via an interception return. He also kicked 17 points after touchdown.
Tommy James never lost a game during his three years at Massillon, with his teams going 30-0 and winning the state title each year. They also won two national titles. All under Head Coach Paul Brown.
Pokey Blunt was able to experience three state championships and two national champions enroute to a 29-0-1 overall record. He scored nine touchdowns during his junior year, including three against Cleveland Cathedral Latin in a 39-0 victory.
In 
Springfield High School (1931) – Assistant coach and history teacher.
