Tag: <span>Ralph E. Hall</span>

History

1908: Massillon 12 Canton Central 6

MASSILLON HIGH
WON THE DAY
A Tigerish Game Was
Won in Whirlwind Fashion.
SCORE:  MASSILLON  12,  CANTON   6

The Black and Gold Trimmed a Tough Proposition in the Last Five Minutes of Play

The Enthusiasm was Unbounded

In the hardest and fastest gridiron battle ever waged in the history of the local school, Massillon high for the first time in twelve years sent its old time rival, Canton high, down to defeat Saturday afternoon by the score of 12 to 6.  After thirty-eight minutes of play in wihich the two teams, fighting like tigers, see-sawed back and forth across the field, both teams broke loose in a fit of desperation and three touchdowns were raced over the line in whirlwind fashion.  With but eight minutes left to play, L. Wise secured the ball on what appeared to be a fumble and chased behind the two posts for Canton’s first and only touchdown.  In the last five minutes of play Massillon came to its own.  After a fumble by Canton the ball, chased by half a dozen players of both sides, bounded behind the goal posts where Davis, of Massillon, fell on it.

It was Massillon’s turn now and the enthusiasm was unbounded.  Blackburn kicked a faultless goal but the game was not yet won.  A few minutes later another of Heyman’s long spiral punts was fumbled on the ten yard line.  Blackburn secured the ball and trotted over for the second and decisive touchdown.  If enthusiasm was wild before it was frantic now.  Massillon’s small but loyal bunch of rooters jumped and fell and rolled from the grandstand onto the field in an ecstasy of joy.  Every voice was shouted hoarse.  The players embraced one another and wept upon Blackburn’s neck.  A perfect goal gave a new lease of life to the unquenchable outburst.

There was yet one minute and thirteen seconds to play and the desperate wearers of the black and red determined to make this count for at least a tie.  But it could not be.  Massillon considered the game over and won, and by frantic efforts Canton carried the ball on crashing line bucks to within twenty-three inches of Massillon’s goal.

Here Massillon held like a stone wall and on the third down and goal to gain, with five more seconds to play, Canton took time out to regain its wind. Behind the goal posts was a howling mob; Massillon rooters yelling like mad to hold, hold, hold and Canton supporters crying frantically for a touchdown.  Things happened fast in the next few seconds.  The ball was put into play, and the giant McGregor, wheeling into action, bore down upon Massillon’s left side.  The compact was crushing, but Erb and Heyman held.  The next moment Massillon’s backfield crashed into the breach, and as the whistle blew for time the pigskin settled back two feet from Massillon’s inviolate goal.  The trick was turned and Massillon had come to her own.

Canton lays its defeat to a weakened line-up, but although Massillon was strengthened by the addition of Sonnhalter and Heyman, recently of the second team, they were weakened as much or more than Canton by the lack of a left end.  Kelly, who was relied upon, had his toe injured in practice, and Richards failed to show up at the last minute.  Moody held the position down well, considering the fact that he had been playing guard all season.  The real cause, however, lies deeper. Both teams played hard, both desperately at times, but in Massillon’s defensive playing was a Carlysle daring recklessness which knew no fear and nailed the man at any cost.  On offensive was displayed careful plugging tactics, and a readiness to profit by the least incident which was Johnny on the spot from start to finish. It was this which gave Massillon the ball on the fumbles and which put over the touchdowns before any one could impede.  Behind it all lay Heyman’s great punting.  Fifty yards was often covered through his great booting, and the speed of Massillon’s line in getting down the field and nailing the man held the ball most of the time in Canton’s territory.  More than this a difficult spiral curve made it almost impossible to catch one of the punts. Invariable fumbling on the part of Canton’s backfield gave Massillon its two decisive touchdowns.

Every one of Massillon’s players covered himself with glory.  There was not a waver, not a moment of indecision.  There could not have been, and still have allowed the score to remain as it did.  Every player was in the game heart and soul, to do or die, from start to finish.  Both guards, Heyman and Blackburn, played their positions well, but eclipsed their record here by their perfect kicking and other exploits.  Davis, at center, held his man, beside making one of the two touchdowns.  Clay and Erb, the two massive tackles, were towers of strength on each wing and allowed no gain except such as could be shoved over their prostrate bodies.  Atwater, at quarter, not only ran the team to victory, but defended the goal perfectly and ran back punts in first class shape.  Hammersmith and Snavely played their usual hard and fast game at the halves, blocking the line and nailing end runs.  Sonnhalter, at full, was the backbone of the team not only gaining often on offensive, but blocking a thousand holes in the line through which the ball might otherwise have been shoved for decided gains.  Coach Hall was jubilant over the result of the game and feels that Massillon’s real form has at last arrived.

The teams lined up as follows:

Canton – 6                      Pos.               Massillon – 12.
Blythe                               le                              Moody
Gauchat, L. Wise               lt                                    Erb
Blanchard                          lg                            Heyman
Wise, Lash                        c                                 Davis
Carper                              rg                         Blackburn
Lothamer                           rt                                  Clay
Zeiter                                re                                Wells
Kahler                              qb                            Atwater
Steiner, Smalley                 lh                    Hammersmith
Harris                               rh                             Snavely
McGregor                         fb                         Sonnhalter

Score end of first half:
Canton – 0
Massillon – 0.

Touchdowns:
Canton – L. Wise.
Massillon – Davis; Blackburn.

Goals from touchdowns:
Canton – Blythe  1.
Massillon – Blackburn  2.

Failed goal from field:
Canton – McGregor  2; Blythe.

Referee and Umpire – Hazlett of Canton.

History

1908: Massillon 0 Canton Central 17

MASSILLON HIGH DIED GAME
Put Up a First Class Contest Against Canton
CANTON,  17;       MASSILLON, 0.

McGregor, Disabled,
Went Into the Game and Turned the Tide of Battle
Massillon Carried the Ball to Canton’s Ten-Yard Line
but Couldn’t Put it Over.

Although defeated in the end by the score of 17 to 0, the Massillon high school football team managed to give Canton’s aggregation the worst scare it has received in many a long day when the two teams met for the first time this season on the high school grounds, Saturday afternoon.  Expecting a one-sided score which could be reckoned by tens, it ran into a snag in the very first scrimmage, which promised to be its undoing.  The day was only saved by rushing the disabled McGregor, Canton’s massive and invincible fullback, into a suit, and trotting him out to hunt for the weak spots in Massillon’s stone wall defense.  With few exceptions he was the only man who could make a dent in Massillon’s light but scrappy line.  When he did not carry the ball he made the hole for the other fellow.  The advent of the heavy full back was not noticed at once but in the long run he proved the deciding weight in the scales of victory.

Massillon was more than an even match for the original team with which Canton started the game.  Receiving on the first kickoff it made its yards repeatedly against the dazed Canton team, which had not anticipated such things.  Massillon’s greatest playing was done in the first ten minutes of the second half.  The same can be said of Canton, for in this time the two teams held against each other like two walls of adamant, the ball changing hands several times without moving more than a yard or two either way.  Massillon received the ball on the kickoff in the second half and carried it without losing it, to Canton’s ten yard line.  One touchdown and a goal meant victory for Massillon.  With victory ten short yards off, Massillon played like a demon, but Canton, goaded by fear of defeat, held in desperation.  Every hole in the red and black line was plugged by Canton backs.  Massillon’s every trick was tried but Canton’s ends were wise and refused to be drawn in.  Erb dropped back for a try at goal but the kick was blocked.  Massillon recovered the ball and the battle royal began again.  Twice the ball was lost and gained by Massillon on fumbles, but with twelve downs in succession the ball was not advanced an inch.  Twice Massillon had but one man between the runner and the goal, but twice this man nailed the play.  Atwater and Snavely carried the ball in these cases and carried it back for thirty yards, being downed by the last man between himself and the goal.

Canton soon came to its own.  Receiving the ball on a punt it took a mighty brace and bore slowly through Massillon’s line, carrying the ball down the field on plunging line bucks.  After losing the ball several times it at last forced it over for the second touchdown.  The third touchdown was secured by the same tactics, although Massillon’s line never said die, and fought for all that was in it until the whistle blew.  In the latter part of the second half Massillon punted every time it received the ball.  It had not given up the hope of scoring but considered this the only manner in which it could again get within striking distance of the goal.  Massillon’s good work in downing the runner where the ball dropped made this possible.

Massillon’s playing exceeded the hopes of the most sanguine.  The line played low, the backs ran low, and the tackling was not only low but hard.  There was no dragging.  When a man was hit he knew it, and he faded without delay.  Behind the playing on both sides was a Carlisle desperation, which brooked no trifling.  Canton had thought Massillon would be easy and was desperate with the fear of defeat.  Massillon knew that if ever under the sun, now was a chance to defeat Canton, and it was determined to do it.  Every player was in the game to do or to die.  Canton turned the trick, and Massillon died game.  The score may after all be a fair estimate of the strength of the two teams for Canton easily outweighed Massillon ten or fifteen pounds to the man.  This counted for little until the final test in the second half, when it won the game.  A practical demonstration of Massillon’s ginger was Dave Reese, its 120 pound center who played the game against three different opponents of massive proportions and who stuck them all out.

An unprecedented crowd of over a thousand people boxed the field on all sides, and with the exception of a few Canton adherents, gave Massillon its undivided loyalty.  If anything under the sun aided Massillon in the accomplishment of such great things it was the heroic loyalty of two hundred high school students, principally girls who took their stand at the north side of the field and yelled and shouted and sang themselves hoarse for the yellow and black in defeat and victory.

Following is the line-up:
Canton – 17                    Pos.                  Massillon – 0
Blythe (c)                          le                            Richards
L. Wise                             lt                                    Erb
Howells                             lg                                  Carr
C. Wise                             c                                Reese
Karper                              rg                         Blackburn
Lathamer                           rt                                  Clay
Cover                               re                                Wells
Brooks                             qb                            Atwater
Harris                               rh                             Snavely
Steiner                              lh               Hammersmith (c)
Lawson, McGregor           fb                                Davis

Time of halves:  20 minutes.

Touchdowns:  Canton – McGregor  2; Blythe.

Goals from touchdown:  Canton – Brooks  2.

Referee – Bast.
Timekeeper – Hall.
Linesman – Bloomberg.

History

1907: Massillon 0 Canton Central 44

SCORE 44 TO 0
AND CANTON WON
Sad Blow to Supporters Of the M.H.S. Team.

IT WAS A CRUSHING DEFEAT.
Lack of Enthusiastic Support Cannot be Charged as Cause of the Trouble – One Hundred Massillon Students Saw Game – Other Sporting News.

Lamentably loose and inaccurate tackling combined with Canton High’s successful use of the forward pass, are the only explanations which Massillon High is able to offer for her crushing defeat at the Stark county fair grounds Wednesday afternoon.  The score of 44 to 0 in favor of the team from the county seat was a sad blow to Massillon High’s supporters, as a victory was confidently expected.  In the first game of the season, Massillon High played Canton High a 0 to 0 game, which is the best showing made so far this year by the local team.

Lack of enthusiastic support was certainly not the cause of Massillon’s defeat, whatever else might have caused it.  Over one hundred high school students, principally girls, accompanied the team and kept up a running chorus of screams, squeals, derisive songs and sadly jumbled yells during the entire game.  The feminine contingent evidenced the proper spirit as they did not cease their joyful noises when touchdown after touchdown was scored by those rude Canton boys.  The joy of the Canton girls got somewhat beyond bounds as they attempted to lord it over Massillon High’s fair representatives in quite a pugilistic manner, but the threatened riot was quelled without bloodshed.  However, the Massillon girls had some biting comments to make on Canton’s hospitality and courtesy to visiting rooters.

The game was played at the Stark county fair grounds, where an excellent gridiron has been laid out.  Canton High was not supported nearly as strongly as was expected.  Although Canton High played the same team as in the beginning of the season, it showed a vast improvement in every branch of the game, especially in the forward pass.  Canton was able to gain her yards on neither end runs or line bucks and was excelled in punting.  Practically every gain was made on the forward pass and the double pass, but these gains were usually immense as a result of Massillon High’s deplorably loose tackling.  Several of her touchdowns were made on runs of half the length of the field.  Massillon High played fairly well on the offensive, Grinnell and Sonnhalter making some excellent tackle and cross bucks, while Dow and Wagner were used in running the ends with but less success.  Dow and Captain Grinnell tackled hard and accurately but the rest went after their men with but little confidence.  In the second half the tackling improved wonderfully, Wells, Richeimer and Wagner landing some men very neatly.

Grinnell kicked off to McGregor at 3:15 and the ball was brought to the middle of the field.  K. Miller received the ball on a punt but made no gain.  Grinnell made excellent gains on a series of tackle bucks, but Canton gained the ball on downs.  McGregor gained well on line bucks.  A forward pass fails and Wagner gets the ball.  Stephanson received the ball on a punt but was brought to the earth by a good tackle by Wagner.  By means of a double pass, Stephanson now eluded or shook off all the Massillon players and made the first touchdown after a twenty-five yard run.  McGregor kicked goal.  Score 6 to 0.

Grinnell kicked to Stephanson, who although tackled by half a dozen Massillon players, gained half of the field before he was downed.  Canton High failed to gain and was also penalized fifteen yards.  Massillon received the ball on downs but Captain Grinnell’s punt was blocked.  Canton returned the punt to Sonnhalter, who failed to gain.  Massillon was penalized and had twenty-five yards to gain, and Grinnell punted.  A forward pass to Stephanson worked beautifully and he eluded everyone but “Yank,” who brought him to earth.  McGregor went fifteen yards for the second touchdown.  He missed goal.
Score 11 to 0.

Toward the end of the half Massillon High visibly weakened, particularly in tackling, and the half ended with the ball on Massillon’s twenty-five yard line.

No changes were made in the line-ups at the beginning of the second half.  McGregor kicked to Wagner.  Canton gets ball on downs and Brookes and Stephanson work double pass for long gains.  In several minutes McGregor shot through the line like a catapult for a touchdown, but Wells blocked the goal kick.  Score 16 to 0.

Massillon High’s tackling now improved.  Dow and Wagner bringing their men down hard.  Weeks made a forward pass to McCoy for a long gain and Canton gained steadily.  McGregor went the last fifteen yards for the touchdown.  McGregor missed goal.
Score 21 to 0.

Grinnell kicked to Brooks, Richeimer bringing him down in his tracks.  After several plays Stephanson broke away and ran half the length of the field for a score.  He was tackled at the goal line by Richeimer.  McGregor kicked goal.  Score 27 to 0.

Grinnell kicked to McCoy, who ran half the field before being downed.  Sonnhalter advanced the ball a little on a punt and Grinnell returned it.  McGregor ran thirty yards for a touchdown.  McCoy kicked goal.  Score 33 to 0.

Hope was now dying fast in the breasts of Massillon High’s supporters and the corners of the mouths were down instead of up.  Guy Wells raised a little enthusiasm by a brilliant tackle, but this soon subsided when Stephanson, closely followed by Dow, ran half the field for a touchdown.  Dow downed him just behind the line.  McCoy kicked goal.
Score 38 to 0.

McGregor carried the ball back forty yards.  Punts were exchanged, Grinnell far excelling.  Brookes carried it back a short distance and then Weeks made the best run of the game, seventy yards for a touchdown.  McGregor missed goal.  Score 44 to 0.  The half ended before the ball was well in play again.

The teams lined up as follows:

Massillon High                 Pos.   Canton High
Dow              le             Blythe
Baer               lt             Eynon
W. Miller       lg               Wise
Erb                 c    Waterhouse
Hollinger        rg             White
Richeimer       rt             Harris
Wells             re     Stephanson
K. Miller      qb         Brookes
Wagner        lhb           McCoy
Grinnell        rhb            Weeks
Sonnhalter     fb      McGregor

Touchdowns:  Canton – McGregor   5; Stephanson  3.

Goals kicked by:  Canton – McGregor  2;  McCoy  2.

Referee and umpire, alternating –                        Merwin of Massillon.
Hazlett of Canton.
Timer:  Cronebaugh of Massillon.
Head Linesman – Hall of Massillon.
Linesman –                        Atwater of Massillon
Krammer of Canton.

Attendance – 300.

Time of halves – Twenty-five and Twenty minutes

History

1907: Massillon 0 Canton Central 0

CANTON KEPT
FROM SCORING
Two High School Teams Play
a 0 to 0 Game

WAS A GREAT GRIDIRON BATTLE.
Supporters of the Massillon Team
Were Delighted With its Work –
Grounds Were in Excellent Shape
and a Big Crowd Witnessed the Game.

For the first time in many years the Massillon High School football team kept the Canton High School team from scoring Saturday afternoon.  While Massillon High has won an occasional victory from Canton High on the baseball diamond, the fates have for the past three or four years been dead against them on the grid.  This year’s team delighted its supporters Saturday afternoon by playing a 0 to 0 game with its usually victorious opponents. It was one of thE neatest gridiron battles seen in this football city for many a day.

The grounds were in excellent shape.  Wire had been strung entirely around the field, obviating the annoyance caused by spectators getting in the way, goal posts had been erected and when the two teams dashed onto the field to hold a short limbering up practice before the game, they were cheered by a throng of hundreds of people.  The field was dotted with pennants, the orange and black of Massillon and the red and black of Canton High, and about every third rooter was attacked to a large red megaphone.  Rome’s reputation in the howling line was entirely cast in the shade.

The game commenced on the second at 3 o’clock.  Cheered on by cries of “Rifferty-rafferty, riff-raff, chifferty-chafferty, chiff-chaff,” etc., which is the first chapter of Canton High’s sensible, intelligent yell, the Canton players lined up at the west end of the field and received the kickoff from Massillon.  Brooks caught the kick, but advanced it only a short distance.  On a fumble Massillon soon gained the ball, but in its own territory.  After several ineffectual attempts to circle the ends, Grinnell tried a forward pass to Wells, which failed, and Canton got the ball.  Unheeding Massillon’s failure in the same line, the Canton High immediately tried a forward which also failed, Grinnell capturing the ball.  Dow was then hurled and thrust against the line for eight yards, Grinnell and Wagner also steadily pounded the line and Massillon gained its yards for several downs.  Canton got the ball far down in its own territory and immediately attempted to punt, but Snavely crashed through the line and blocked it on Canton’s ten-yard line.

Massillon High now went wild with delight.  Nothing seemed surer than that Canton High should be scored upon.  As a last resort Canton again tried the forward pass.  This time it succeeded and about twenty yards were gained.  A delayed quarter back run netted about fifteen yards more for Canton, and they were out of danger for the time being.   The forward pass was by far the most popular play.  Canton tried it again and Snavely downed the runner in his tracks, and when the same play was tried again Wagner got the ball but was knocked out.  In about five minutes he insisted on re-entering the game.  Punting was now resorted to.  Captain Grinnell out punted his opponent by many yards on every punt. The ball going out of bounds, both teams hurdled the wire, crashed through the crowd and in an instant a mass of humanity was rolling over and over in the road.  When the mass was resolved into its elements, Keeley Miller was found snugly wrapped around the ball.  The first ended with the ball in Massillon’s possession near the middle of the field.  Neither side had scored.

Although Wagner was badly injured, he insisted on entering the game when the teams lined up after a ten minute respite.  In the second half he played the game of his life.  Many a time he was the first man down the field on a punt, would down his man, and then lay stretched out on his back thoroughly done up.  The injury which he received in the first half only seemed to make him play the harder.  Canton High kicked off to Massillon when the second half began, Grinnell getting the ball.  Punting soon became more the custom than ever.  Grinnell’s trusty leg always sending the ball forty yards or more.  Canton now made a good end run which looked good for a touchdown, but the runner was downed by the indomitable Wagner far down in Massillon’s territory.  Things looked…

REST OF COPY NOT AVAILABLE

Oct. 10, 1907
PRACTICE GAME

High School Team Defeated
by Adversaries’ Superior Weight

Although the Massillon High School football beam enjoyed a good practice game against the Business College eleven on the high school grounds Wednesday afternoon, the enjoyment ended there, for the final score was not at all to its liking.  Much to the High School team’s surprise and indignation, the Business College team trimmed it by the score of 6 to 0.  The victory was due to the terrific line hitting of the Business College and Thompson’s end runs.  Although the business College had not played before this season, excellent signal work was done and the runner was always given excellent interference.  The High school was greatly out-weighed, and this was the reason for their defeat, as they could not withstand the onslaught of the Business College’s much heavier back field.

Both captains seemed desirous of kicking field goals.  Whenever either team got within striking distance, and sometimes when they were not, a try would be made by Grinnell or Schnierle for goal from the field.  Every attempt failed.  Massillon High played a much better game on the ends than was the case of New Philadelphia last Saturday.  Thompson was the only Business College back that made any gains on the end.  Punting honors were about even between Grinnell and Thompson, each kicking well.

The High School team has no reason to chide the girls for non-support.  A large crowd of high school maidens were in evidence and in spite of the fact that theirs was the losing side, sent cheer after cheer echoing across the field.