The Massillon Tiger Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 will be inducted this August during the Massillon Football Booster Club’s Reverse Raffle event. Included this year is new member Ron Ertle, who played linebacker for the Tigers in 1965-67. During the event he will receive a distinctive plaque commemorating his achievements. A second plaque will be mounted in the WHS sports hall in the space reserved for past Hall of Fame inductees. In addition, Ertle will be recognized on the field prior to the opening football game against Valdosta, Georgia.
“Ruby” Ertle played both linebacker and lineman under Head Coach Bob Seaman. As a starter during his junior year he instantly became a force on defense, giving a hundred percent on every play. One could describe him as just a “really tough player.” Against Canton McKinley he had a pass interception to quell a drive, and also during the season recovered two fumbles. Unfortunately, the Tigers’ record that year was 4-5-1.
In his 1967 senior year Ertle was named a team co-captain along with Trevor Young and was once again a dominating force on the field. That led to a much more successful campaign than the previous year, with the team finishing 9-1 and earning 2nd place in the Associated Press state sportswriters poll. Massillon’s only loss that year came at the hand of the eventual No. 1 team, Upper Arlington, by the score of 7-6. But the Tigers did defeat both McKinley 20-15 and undefeated Steubenville 26-16 on the way to a 4-0 mark in the All-American Conference.
Ertle finished the year as the leading tackler. He also scored four extra points from his tight end position. After that the awards flowed in. First, he received the Touchdown Club’s Hardnose Award, well-representing the attributes associated with this Bob Commings accolade, the Reese’s Raiders “E” Award for effort, efficiency and endeavor, and was named Massillon’s Most Valuable Player. After that came Massillon Independent All-County linebacker and WHBC Player of the Year. All of that culminated in him being named 1st Team All-Ohio linebacker and Ohio Football News Magazine All-Ohio linebacker. The following summer he participated in the Ohio North-South All-Star Game.
As one looks back today on the 10 games which the Washington high grid team played this year and also contemplates the final Associated Press poll due Tuesday, Tiger Coach Bob Seaman’s words sum it up pretty well. * * *
EVEN WITH the Tigers’ 20-15 victory over Canton McKinley at rain-pelted Fawcett stadium last Saturday afternoon before a full house of 20,500 to write a 9-1 finish to the 1967 season, it’s not likely to be enough to bring the Bengals a state championship.
Undefeated Upper Arlington (10-0) will probably be the King-pin come Tuesday as the result of that fourth and 7 counter play recalled by Seaman after the victory over McKinley. It was that strategy which led to Arlington’s 7-6 win over the Tigers.
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But “Operation Comeback ‘67” can still be rated a success in the minds of the fans of the Orange and Black. For their team has bounced back from a 4-5-1 season to probably second place in the state and the championship of the All-American Football Conference.
The last win came every way but easy. The Tigers shot out to a 12-0 first period lead but barely got out of the game alive against an outstanding Bulldog eleven coached by Ron Chismar. Only a last-minute pass interception by junior Halfback Bert Dampier staved off disaster.
The Pups had the ball on the Massillon 14-yard line, third and 7 after a 51-yard pass-run play from Quarterback Ted Bowersox, who had previously scored twice, to Wingback Gerald Davidson. His 33-yard run after the catch found him going out of bounds on the 17. Bowersox tried to hit Davidson again in the end zone but Dampier came down with the pigskin for a touchback and Massillon ran out the clock. * * *
IT WAS THE Bengals defense which did the job as the offense never really got going after the first quarter. One drive in the second quarter got as far as the McKinley 35 but Bowersox intercepted a pass on the 30 to stop the threat.
The Tigers had the ball for 6 series in the second half, not counting the final one when they ran the clock out. The WHS eleven got only one first down and that was via a personal foul penalty.
The Bulldogs outstanding job of pursuing led by Middle Guard Gaylord Sweat, effectively throttled the Seaman-men. Seaman said McKinley did a “good job of getting to the ball.” Chismar said his charges did a “great job. It’s a shame they couldn’t have won.”
The Tigers were paced by a superlative defensive secondary, which allowed the Bulldogs to complete only 6 of 24 passes. Dampier, besides his game saving interception, also aborted a McKinley drive with an interception on his 15 in the third period.
Manson was in the game due to a first quarter ankle injury suffered by Co-Captain and Quarterback Trevor Young. Junior Marc Malinowski was forced to vacate his safety spot to do the signal calling and showed promise for next year. However, Young’s absence affected the offensive timing. * * *
THE BENGALS’ other co-captain, Linebacker Ron Ertle, was all over the field again. Both ends, Tim Richards, and Russ Fenton, did a good job of containing Bowersox.
Linebacker Hoyt Skelton recovered a fumble on the Bulldog 38 in the third quarter. But the Tigers couldn’t move the ball.
Shortly thereafter, Tom Houser downed a Malinowski punt on the 3 to put McKinley into a
1967 Massillon vs. McKinley
deep hole. On the third down in the ensuing series, Bowersox faded to the end zone from the 5, and hit End Jim Iams in the flat. But “Monster” Larry Shumar, weighing only 152 pounds, decked the 175-pound end for a safety, one of several nifty plays by the diminutive junior during the afternoon.
Junior Tailback Jim Smith led the offense by scoring one of the first period touchdowns and collecting 99 net yards in 18 tries for a season’s total of 1,011. Art Hastings’ 1,274 in 1969 marked the last time a Tiger had over 1,000 yards.
Malinowski got the other welcome frame tally.
But the most spectacular score was Mark McDew’s 90-yard runback of the second half kickoff for the Tigers’ third touchdown behind some fine blocking. Only 10 seconds ticked off the clock. Smith missed on the conversion run. * * *
SMITH’S SCORE came over left guard on first down from the one with 6:05 left in the first quarter. The 75-yard drive took only 5 plays. Smith set up his own score with a 54-yard blast through the center which put the ball on the one. McKinley Co-Captain Ron Martin made the tackle.
Then came the conversion keeper on which Young got hurt.
McKinley fumbled on its 40 while driving after the kickoff McDew recovered and the Orange and Black had its second TD 6 plays later with 2:40 left. Malinowski ran off left tackle on a keeper on third and 4 from the 10 after bobbling the ball and crossed into pay dirt. Twelve and 14-yard runs by Malinowski and Smith had set up the score.
A pass fell incomplete on the conversion try.
1967 Massillon vs. McKinley
Junior Tackle Jon Brandyberry recovered a fumble on the Tiger 44 and 11 plays later the Pups were on the scoreboard with 4:35 remaining in the second quarter. An 8-yard run by Bowersox, a 10-yarder by Martin and 6 and 9-yard passes for Bowersox to Davidson and Iams set up the 6-pointer, the latter coming on fourth down from the 14 and giving the Bulldogs a first down on the Bengal 5.
Bowersox scored through the center on third down from the one and then kicked the conversion. On the Tigers’ first try after the kickoff, Bowersox recorded his interception on the McKinley 30 to stop a drive highlighted by sophomore Darnell Streeter’s 23-yard kick return and Smith’s 18-yard romp off right tackle.
McKinley’s other score came with 4:45 left in the game. The Bulldogs drove 78-yards following a Tiger punt in the dying seconds of the third quarter. The push took 17 plays. * * *
THE BIG maneuvers were a 21-yard pass-run combination from Bowersox to Davidson’s 4-yarder which netted a first down on the one by a gnat’s eyelash.
Bowersox scored on the next play through the center and passed to Davidson to make it 20-15.
Bengals Stifle Big Red Title Hopes Jim ‘Tiger Turbine’ Smith Scores 4 TDs, Gains 184 Yards
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
The Massillon Tiger showed Friday night why he has been king so many times. He put forth the strongest side of his twany, battle worn hide at monsoon like Harding stadium in Steubenville. * * *
THE WASHINGTON high gridiron aggregation rode into the “Valley of Death,” marches on through it and right out the other side with a hard-fought 26-16 victory over the state’s previously top-ranked and undefeated Big Red, apparently stifling the River City’s title hopes 2 years in a row.
The estimated standing room only crowd of 13,000 got the word that the Tigers believe they still have a right to the Buckeye throne even though showing an 8-1 record. The Stubbers, likewise 8-1, also hung out the message ensigns in a formation which read, “We still deserve second spot.” * * *
THE BIG HERO had to be junior Tailback Jim Smith. The “Tiger Turbine” was at his best power wise, unstoppable outside, off tackle, up the middle and probably anywhere else Quarterback Trevor Young had directed him to go. He scored all 4 of his team’s touchdowns – may have had a fifth but slipped on the wet turf – and gained 184 yards in 39 carries for a 4.7 average.
Smitty’s effort got him a new team number for number of carries. The late Bob Glass had the previous mark at 31 when Massillon beat Steubenville 13-0 in 1937. * * *
THE WIN ALSO put the Tigers into first place in the All-American Football conference with a 3-0 mark. The Big Red, the strongest and most versatile team Massillon has played to date, dropped to second at 2-1. They do not play Niles.
Another thing which the contest served to point out is what sound, conservative football will do for you – like hatching valuable time, which the opposition would like to use, off the clock, thereby limiting the foe’s potential scoring opportunities. * * *
THE GAME also served to show that when the Tigers are at full strength offensively – which they weren’t when Upper Arlington handed them their only defeat – that Bob Seaman’s crew is hard to beat.
Tight End Tom Houser and Fullback Reggie Moore, both seniors and both out with injuries since the Altoona game 3 weeks ago, were back at their bruising best. Houser hacked away at defenders on his end of the line. Moore mangled them out of Smith’s path off tackle and added some timely running. Neither he nor Smith suffered any losses. * * * THE BENGAL Landers stepped out to a 14-0 lead at the beginning of the second period but the tough Stubbers were in front 16-14 at halftime. The toast of Tigertown roared in front again to stay with 12 points in the goodbye canto.
Three of the 4 TDs by the Tigers came on long drives, the last after a fumble recovery close in. The Tigers moved 69 yards on 14 plays after the opening kickoff for a tally with 4:38 remaining in the first quarter. * * * SMITH SCORED over left tackle on third down from the one-yard line after charging 20 yards around end on third down to the Steubenville 30 minutes earlier to keep the drive going. He might have also scored the conversion on a pitchout but slipped on the muddy turf and fell short of his target.
A 10-play, 51-yard drive after Russ Fenton’s 19-yard runback of the Stubbers’ next punt put Tiger fans into ecstasy again and took the game into the second period. As in the first drive, Smith picked up most of the yardage and tallied on second down from the one-foot line off right tackle with 11:12 left in the half. Young helped with a beautiful 33-yard scamper around end to the 3.
Young’s pass to Ertle made it 14-0. * * * STEUBENVILLE took over a Massillon punt on the Tigers’ 49 midway to the second period. Six plays later junior Fullback Bob Sims, a great runner even though hobbled by a leg injury, slipped off right tackle on first down from the 25 and got the Big Red’s first 6 points with the clock showing 6:49 left.
Halfback Keith Burke got a lateral from Quarterback Dave Corsi and hit End Jim Smith for the conversion.
Sims, who picked up 65 yards on 10 carries without a loss during the night, scored the other Big Red TD. After Burke had recovered Young’s fumble on the Massillon 39, the Stubbers got their deadly passing game into high gear and scored after 10 plays. * * * CORSI BEGAN hitting flanker Don Osby, connecting for 4, 14 and 16 yards. The crucial sky counter was a 4-yard fourth down pass from the 5 to Burke for a first down on the one. Smith scored over left tackle on the next play 27 seconds left in the half.
Corsi threw Bob Young for the conversion. Young making the catch on the one and going on in to put the Stubbers in the lead.
It began to look like the Big Red’s passing warfare might be too much for the Tigers, but secondarymen Mark McDew, Bert Dampier and Marc Malinowski, all juniors, were equal to the task in the second half. * * *
ANOTHER JUNIOR, Larry Shumar, starting at “monster” back for the first time as senior Bill Simon was lost to the team for the remainder of the season with fractured neck vertebra put a lot of pressure on to dent the Big Red’s running hopes. Simon’s injury showed up in X-rays taken Friday after he had complained of neck pain all week.
Steubenville failed to get past the Massillon 46 in the second half as the Tigers put on a great defensive show to go with their offensive masterpiece. * * *
TAKING OVER ON their 21 after a Steubenville punt near the end of the third quarter, the Obies opened up their ground attack still more by utilizing Wingback McDew on short, sliding pass pattern to the right, the first time the locals attempted to pass during the night.
Eleven plays later Smith had his third score with 10:41 left in the last quarter. Big plays were on Young-to-McDew connections on the aforementioned slides – 32 yards to the Big Red 48 and 16 yards to the Stubber 28, both setting up first downs on third down strategy.
Smith scored through the middle on first down from the 3. Burke knocked down a conversion aerial headed for McDew. * * *
DAMPIER INTERCEPTED a pass intended for Burke on the Steubenville 47 with 3:04 left in the game. Massillon was unable to get the first down, Malinowski’s punt traveled only about 20 yards but Steubenville was offside, giving Malinowski another try.
Burke muffed the catch attempt on his 15, senior Tackle Bill Ricker, replacing the injured Ernie McGeorge, hopped on the ball and the Tigers continued in business. Three plays and 2 penalties later, Smith went off tackle from the 3 for the clincher with 30 seconds remaining in the contest.
Corsi grounded Young’s conversion pass to Ertle.
MASSILLON – 26 Ends – Houser, Dampier, Richards, Ertle, Twiggs. Tackles – Snowball, Ricker, Laase, M. Snyder. Guards – Whitfield, D. Gipp, Russell, M. Cardinal, Doll, Couto. Centers – B. Moore, Skelton. Quarterbacks – T. Young, Malinowski, Shumar. Halfbacks – Jim Smith, Fenton, McDew, Fichter, Autrey, Evans. Fullbacks – R. Moore, M. Gipp. Streeter.
Smith, Young, Spark Tigers To 7th Win Obies Score 22 Points in 2nd Half Automatic Sign Works Real Well
By KEN SHERER
Good rushing by Tailback Jim Smith and Quarterback Trevor Young sparked the Massillon Tigers to a 22-0 victory over Warren G. Harding Friday night before 11,051 paid customers at Tiger stadium.
The out manned Panthers gave the Tigers all they wanted in the scoreless first half, but Bengal Coach Bob Seaman gave Young the “automatic sign” and the Tigers ran wild in the second half.
Young was something else. He scored 2 touchdowns on runs of 21 and one yards and heaved a 21-yard pass to Wingback Mark McDew for the other Tiger score. * * *
THE WIN RAISES the Obies’ All-American Football conference record to 2-0 and 7-1 overall. It also sets the stage for Friday night’s invasion of 8-0 Steubenville, ranked No. 1 this past week in the Associated Press poll. Warren is 3-5 overall and 0-3 in AAFC play. Steubenville also is 2-0 in the league. The Big Red defeated Weirton, W. Va., 32-19 Friday evening.
The game was mostly defense by both teams in the first half. Warren was stopped on the Massillon 5-yard line in the first period and again on the Tiger 21 in the second quarter. Poor field position put unwanted pressure on the Tigers’ offense during most of the first half, although the Orange and Black did manage to sputter to the Warren 14 behind rollouts by Young and off tackle and pitch out plays by Smith.
Two plays after the Black Panthers received the second half kickoff, Warren’s Greg Williams tried to pitchout to Fullback Robert Stewart. The ball missed its target and Tiger Greg Manson recovered at the Warren 25-yard line.
That’s the play that broke our back,” Warren Coach Bill Shunkwiler said after the game outside the Panther locker room.
Smith blasted through left tackle for 4-yards and on the next play, Young rolled left and followed the downfield blocking of Blaine Moore, Bill Snowball and Dave Gipp. * * *
TREVOR, who stands 5-8 and weights 165-pounds, shook off Warren’s Chuck O’Donnell at the 9 and went untouched the rest of the way. Young then rolled to his right for the PAT and an 8-0 lead at 10:53.
Linebacker Ron Ertle put the pressure on Warren’s punter, Andrew Tenekedes, late in the third period. It resulted in a busted play as Bengal junior Richard Laase pounced on Tenekedes at the Warren 35.
Young rolled for 11 yards, Smith added 7 on 2 carries, Darrell Streeter sliced for 8 more and Smith again picked up 15 yards on 2 plays to move the ball to the Warren 5.
Streeter hit the right side on a quick opener to the 1 and Young sneaked through left guard for his second TD at 11:23 in the fourth period.
Young rolled and passed to Tight-End Ertle, who ran a pattern to the deep right corner of the end zone, for the 2-point conversion and a 16-0 lead. * * *
WARREN then gained a first down before the Bengal defense again forced the Panthers to punt. The Obies took over on their own 15 and traveled 85 yards in 12 plays for their final TD.
On second and 19 at the Warren 29 and after a 5-yard penalty for taking too much time, Young dropped back and hit McDew over the middle at the 9-yard line. The junior wingback shook off 2 Warren defensive backs and cut to his right for the final TD at 2:52. Streeter’s run for the extra points failed.
Smith totaled 136 yards rushing for the night, and Young 79. Gerald Wesley, the AAFC rushing leader, was held to 54-yards. Smith now has gained 732 for the season and Wesley 705.
Arlington ‘Bears’ Down on Massillon 7-6 Injuries To Bengals Are Too Much Anyone For A Break In Tigers’ Slate? Schmidt Gains 108 Yards
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
The rigors of a 10-game “Murderers Row” football schedule caught up with Massillon’s Tigers Friday night at Tiger stadium. Those who would seek to criticize Coach Bob Seaman for daring to suggest the Obies should have a “breather” now and then found out what happens when you don’t have one.
Playing without two-thirds of their power blocking because of injuries last week to Reggie Moore, 200-pound fullback, and Tom Houser, 224-pound tight end and sometimes front man in the I, the Bengals were clawless. The absence of 220-pound senior Linebacker Hoyt Skelton didn’t help matters either as Upper Arlington edged the Orange and Black 7-6 before the season’s biggest crowd, 19,017, on Homecoming night. * * *
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IN BEATING Massillon, the Bears ended a 6-game winning streak and extended their skein to 7. Tiger chances for a state title have dimmed but the lights haven’t been turned out yet.
To make the situation even worse, Friday Tom Robinson, 174-pound junior who practiced all week as Houser’s replacement, injured a knee in practice Thursday night. Mike Snyder, 192-pound senior, was switched from strong tackle at the last minute to fill in for Robbie and did the best he could under the circumstances.
Had the Obiemen had a “breather” Friday night instead of a continuation of their killer slate, those on the injury list would have had a week to recuperate.
Co-Captain Trevor Young, near tears after the game said, “We let the fans down.” But the Tigers didn’t let anybody down. They had about as much chance of winning as an 8-cylinder car has of moving with the wires off 5 of its spark plugs.
Except for the beginning of the game when the Bengals moved well outside, they couldn’t get any kind of continuity of attack going. Without Moore, to work inside, junior tailback Jim Smith couldn’t move at all on the outside, averaging his lowest rushing figure of the season, 2.9 yards. * * *
THE BENGALS got out of their own territory only twice all night – in the first and second quarters. The last half was played mainly in the shadow of the Obies’ goal post, as Massillon got only 2 first downs.
“Did the injuries hurt us?” Seaman asked and then just as quickly answered. “I guess they did! They stopped our offense purely and simply. We missed Houser. When he double teams down, he double teams down!”
“There are not many teams who can lose 3 first stringers, one a 2-wayer (Houser) and have subs fill in and do the job they did tonight. I’m not pleased, of course, but I’m proud of our boys.”
Houser was in for only 4 plays while Moore did some kicking off. Skelton saw very limited action.
In an obvious reference to Arlington’s schedule, Seaman said, “I wish I had to get ready for only one game a year instead of 10. We play too darn many tough ones.” * * * WITH JUNIOR fullback Geoff Schmidt, showing the way as he did last year, with 108 net yards in 31 tries, for a 3.5 average, the Bears beat the Tigers at their own game – control football. The Bruins ran 83 plays to the Obies’ 51. Without their power attack, the Orange and Black couldn’t hang on for any length of time.
Marv Moorehead, who has seen his charges win here 2 years in a row, watched the Bears total 144 more yards and 11 more first downs than Massillon.
“Our defense won the game,” Moorehead said. “It was great in the second half. The whole interior was a thing to behold.”
Then Moorehead spat out names like a machine gun, mentioning linebacker and Co-Captain Carl Compton, tackle Jim Merrell and ends Steve Sikora and Bruce Johnson as his big guns.
Actually, the game boiled down to 2 plays – one to Massillon’s credit in the second stanza and another in Arlington’s plus column in the goodbye canto. The former was Marc Malinowski’s 75-yard interception return for a touchdown helped by Russ Fenton’s key block with 6:41 left. A pass to Smith for the conversion was incomplete.
The latter came on fourth and 7 on the Obiemen’s 29. Senior Co-Captain and halfback Gary Moore scampered 22 yards on a counter play, one of the few calls made by Moorehead all night. An offside penalty put the ball on the one and after Schmidt missed on a dive play, he drilled off tackle for the equalizer at 4:46 with Scott Hustson’s kick the clincher.
It appeared the Bengals were going to be off to the races in the first quarter. Mark McDew, junior halfback, pilfered a pass on Massillon’s 39 as Arlington went on the move after the opening kickoff.
Smith raced 20 yards on an option left on the first play. Two plays later Young charged through the center for 16 yards to the 14. Young and Smith moved the ball to the 4-yard line but the Tigers were hit with a procedure penalty. Smith and Young again combined to get to the 2 but someone in the line missed a faking maneuver and Young was tossed to the 7 ending the invasion.
The Tigertowners’ only other drive came at the beginning of the second quarter after a punt. They moved 40 yards to the Arlington 44 with McDew running 17, 10 and 8 yards.
However, with fourth down on the Bears’ 43 and the ball short of a first down on what must have been one of the closest measurements in Bengal football history, Smith couldn’t get the necessary yardage with the Obies’ blocking short circuited.
Arlington made repeated drives into Bengal land and almost scored in the third period but ran into a clipping penalty on the Massillon 6. Holder Ted McNulty ran with the ball on a fake field goal attempt on fourth down but was felled 9 yards short of the mark.
The Tigers return to All-American conference warfare next week by ending the home season against Warren Harding.
Tigers Gain Revenge, Incentive Obies Rap Niles 14-6
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
If there ever was an example of good, hard basic football, it was played before 17,287 fans Friday night at Tiger stadium. Massillon and Niles McKinley spent 48 excruciating minutes banging away at each other on the ground with sheer brute force.
By the time the Tigers had won 14-6, the season’s largest crowd walked away with praise for both teams and the feeling that a horde of Draculas had been working on them.
In beating the Red Dragons, the Bengals got over a big hurdle and perhaps gained a big push for the last half of the season, wherein the Tigers will have to go against “5 of the toughest football teams any high school in the country will have to face, including 4 undefeated teams and 3 in the top 10 in the state,” as Coach Bob Seaman put it. * * *
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THE VICTORY gave the Bengals revenge for a 20-12 defeat last year at Niles and a 1-0 record in the tough All-American Football conference. The Orange and Black are tied with Steubenville, also 1-0, for second place one-half game behind Canton McKinley (2-0).
Warren and Niles are both 0-2 with Niles’ overall record 3-2 under rookie Coach Fred Conti.
Massillon, undefeated in 5 games, has now won one more than in all of last season. The game ended a 5-game home stand for the Obiemen who will travel to Altoona, Pa., for a game against the Mountain Lions (4-0) who are idle this week.
Niles beat the Bengals in the statistical department but not on the scoreboard as the Bengals had it in the clutch, calling on that great Tiger tradition as they have so many times in the past.
“We beat a very good football team with a fine backfield tonight,” Seaman said, “we won a helluva lot of games on statistics last year, but not on the scoreboard. This time we won where it counted.” * * *
CONTI, by no means dejected in defeat, said, “A couple of breaks killed us. I’m real proud of these boys. They’re a young bunch but we fought them down to the wire.”
He added, “We have only one regular returning back. When your team gives a performance like ours did in Tiger stadium, you’ve got to be proud. Massillon has a good team, but we did everything but beat them, gave them everything they wanted.” The key to the Tigers’ success was a shift in thinking at halftime.
“We ran outside the first half but couldn’t break away,” Seaman explained. “We came back and played football in the second half, running at them. We brought Mark McDew back into the formation.”
Marvelous Mark, junior right half or wingback, ran only once in the first half, picking up 5 yards, but carried 10 times in the second, netting 42 yards and a touchdown, while running to the right where his ability is at its best. * * *
QUARTERBACK Trevor Young did some good work on the keeper to pick up key yardage. Tailback Jim Smith did his usual bull-like job from the tailback slot with the aid of some good holes.
On the other side, junior fullback Lou Tabor, senior halfback Roger Jones led the way behind some fine blocking.
The Tigers mounted the first offensive, a 26-yard first quarter affair which ended when senior halfback Joe Gayonski intercepted a Young-to-McDew sky shot from the Dragons’ 34 on second down. Gayonski landed in the end zone for a touchback.
Niles got going in the second period, moving 71 yards to the Tigers 7 before fumbling with Russ Fenton, Bengal end, diving on the ball at the 20. Tabor combined 14 and 15-yard runs with 2 personal foul penalties to spearhead the drive.
The Bengals monopolized play for almost the entire first half of the third quarter, taking the kickoff and moving 71 yards with the help of a 23-yard jaunt by Smith, a 10-yard run by McDew and an 8-yarder by Reggie Moore but lost the ball on downs at the Niles 26. * * *
TWO PLAYS LATER, tackle Tom Houser batted a pass into a fly ball. Moore intercepted and the Obiemen had a first down on the 26. After Young had scampered 13 yards for a first down on the 12, Smith cut back against the grain off left tackle for a touchdown with 5:02 left. Moore dove over right tackle for an 8-0 lead.
Then it was the Dragons’ turn roaring back 74 yards with Jones, Tabor and Gayonski taking turns blasting away at the Tigers’ line. Gayonski’s 21-yard runback started the trouble while Jones added to the Bengals’ misery with a 14-yard run for a first down at the Massillon 40.
Gayonski finished things by catching a 9-yard fourth down pass from quarterback Lou Lukz on the one and falling into the end zone with 9:50 showing on the clock in the fourth quarter. McDew intercepted a pass intended for John Ziegler to thwart the conversion try.
The Obiemen then drove 55 yards in short bursts with McDew and Young toting the pigskin and getting a personal foul penalty thrown in. Smith picked up a key first down on the 25 by vaulting over a steep pile in the middle of the line. McDew ran around end for 18 yards to the one and then off right tackle for the score with 5:17 left.
Young tried to run for 2 more points but failed to skirt the right end. Houser uncorked a 60-yard punt into the end zone for a touchback with 1:49 seconds left to cap a good night of kicking by himself and Moore but Niles still wasn’t through. With Ziegler switching to quarterback and doing some fancy running in bursts of 11 and 15 yards and Tabor adding 14, the Dragons had second and 13 from the Tigers’ 41.
But Young, inserted at safety, picked off a pass at the Bengals’ 10 and ran back 19 yards as the game was about to end.
Maybe Massillon’s Tigers weren’t as sharp as in the first 3 games and maybe they caused the faithful to overheat on a cold Dad’s night. But a victory over a Mel Knowlton-coached Alliance high team is not to be sloughed off.
The undefeated Washington high eleven got its fourth victory of the season before 11,277 fans at Tiger stadium Friday night via a 20-14 count. The spirited Aviators slipped to 2-2.
TIGER Coach Bob Seaman admitted his team was listless. “We weren’t ready,” said Seaman. “The pep rally at the high school this afternoon was the flattest I’ve ever seen.” But, at the same time he was “pleased with the way his charges came back” after spotting a “real fine” Alliance team to an 8-6 halftime lead.
Debits such as poor tackling, not enough pressure on the quarterback and broken plays went into the Obiemen’s book. But there were also credits such as some good passing, an outstanding inside ground game for good ball control and the keeping of Alliance in poor field position most of the night.
KNOWLTON pegged the field position angle as one of the most important aspects of the game. “If we could have gotten out of the hole, we’d have been in business. We had good position only twice and scored both times. It was our own fault. It’s tough to throw when you’re backed up against your own goal line.”
Seaman agreed, “We punted 5 times and they returned 5 times for about 2 yards each time. That’s decent punt coverage.”
He thought Tom Houser’s punts and Reggie Moore’s kickoffs were exceptionally good and helped put Alliance in the hole.
MOORE switched to tailback Thursday in an effort to spell junior Jim Smith who has an acing left shoulder, combined effectively with Smith off tackle and through the center. Smith netted 70 yards and 2 touchdowns in 18 tries, Moore 63 in 13.
The Orange and Black found another receiver, Houser, the tight end, who “runs well for a 230-pounder,” Seaman said.
He added, “The took away the sweep and left us with the off tackle and passing opportunities.”
SEAMAN explained the broken plays occurred because the Tigers were running a lot of automatics or changes at the line on a noisy night.
Through the years, the Tigers have had a lot of trouble with Knowlton’s off tackle and sweep plays and Friday night was no exception. Lionel Grimes, George Lear and Stan Terrell all did well. Grimes going for 42 yards in 7 tries, Lear, 38 to 8, and Terrell, 40 in 11. Terrell and Lear each scored TDs.
IT WAS A GAME of breaks as the Tigers lost a fumble early in the second quarter on the Alliance 5-yard line, recovered by Grimes. Seaman said had his Bengals gone on in to score, on the 51-yard drive, it might have been all over.
But Obieman Bill Snowball and George Whitfield recovered an Alliance fumble on the Aviator 8 early in the third quarter and scored moments afterward on what Seaman called the turning point.
Smith, bulldozer No. 1, went over on the first play, crashing right tackle with 11:54 left in the third period. Moore, bulldozer No. 2, went the same direction for a 14-8 lead.
NEITHER team got out of its own territory the remainder of the period except when Tiger quarterback Trevor Young got off a 20-yard pass-run combination to Houser good for a first down on the Alliance 42. But there the Bengal attack sputtered.
Early in the last period, Houser’s punt, a combined tackle effort by Co-Captains Young and Ron Ertle and Dave Gipp, plus an offensive interference penalty left Alliance with fourth and 16 on its 9. Marc Malinowski ran back Nick Sucaciu’s punt from the Aviator 42 to the 36. Nine plays later the Tigers had the winning score.
AIDED BY a fourth down pass from Young to a leaping junior split end Bert Dampier, the Obiemen picked up 9 yards and a first down on the 9. Moore ran through the center to the 3 and Smith carried over on the next play at 4:57. Moore missed on the conversion run.
Alliance capped the night’s scoring with 52 seconds left after an 82-yard drive in 9 plays. The big play was a 38-yard pass run combination from quarterback Kurt Utterbeck to halfback George Lear. Larry Shumar, a junior “monster” back for the Tigers, brought Lear down on the Massillon, 44 halting the TD threat for the moment. But the 6-pointer came 6 plays later, aided by a 15-yard holding penalty on the Bengals.
LEAR went off right tackle on first down from the 4 for the tally. A pass to split end Bruce Cartwright failed on the conversion try.
Massillon got on the scoreboard first during the typical Knowlton game which saw him scare the living daylights out of the Bengals.
Junior Mark McDew ran back a punt from the Tigers- 31 to the 36 to ignite a 9-play, 64-yard drive. Moore and Smith took turns running the ball. Young, who completed 4 of 8 passes during the night, hit Houser on a 13-yard, second down pass from the Alliance 37.
THREE PLAYS later Houser pulled in another Young toss on the 25, cut to the left and went the remainder of the distance for the score with 3:05 remaining in the first quarter. McDew failed to reach pay dirt on a conversion.
Alliance took an 8-6 lead into the dressing room at halftime something no other team had done to the Orange and Black this year, when junior halfback Stan Terrell, very elusive all night off tackle, scooted 17 yards through the left side with 44, seconds left. Senior end Jim Terrell caught an Utterbeck pass for the conversion.
ALLIANCE had moved 80 yards in 9 plays following a Tiger punt. Big plays were an 8-yard run by Lear, a 12-yard pass-run play to Jim Terrell, a 10-yarder to Stan Terrell and a 28-yarder to Cartwright.
Had Aviator receivers been able to hold onto passes the rest of the night as they did during this and their other scoring drive, the outcome might have been different.
The Tigers hit their first All-American High School football league opponent here next Friday night in a tough Niles McKinley team under new Coach Fred Conti. The contest will also end the current 5-game home stand as the Bengals head for Altoona Pa., the following week. ALLIANCE –14 Ends – Cartwright, Dailey, J. Terrell. B. Young. Tackles – R. Trieff, Ickes, Brienza, Andreani, Weaver, Weir. Guards – Thomas, Stanley. Center- B. Trieff. Quarterback – Utterbeck. Halfbacks – Grimes, Lear, S. Terrell, Sucaciu, Williams. Fullbacks – Banks, Wable, Slifkin. MASSILLON – 20 Ends – Dampier, Houser, Richards, Twiggs. Tackles – Snowball, Ricker, Laase, Snyder. Guards – Ertle, D. Gipp, Whitfield, Russell. Centers – B. Moore, Skelton. Quarterbacks – T. Young, Malinowski, Shumar. Halfbacks – Smith, R. Moore, Fenton, McDew, Evans, Autrey. Fullbacks – Simon, M. Gipp.
Alliance 0 8 0 6 14 Massillon 6 0 8 6 20
Touchdowns: Massillon – Houser (36-yard pass-run from Young); Smith 2 (8 and 3-yard runs). Alliance – S. Terrell (17-yard run); Lear (4-yard run).
Extra points: Massillon – Moore 2 (run). Alliance – J. Terrell 2 (pass from Utterbeck).
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING Massillon Player Att. Net. Ave. Young 8 7 0.9 Moore 13 63 4.9 Smith 18 70 3.9 McDew 7 26 3.7
Tigers Roar Over Mansfield A Good Team Effort Says Coach Seaman
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Togetherness – a great plus for any football team – paid off for Massillon’s Tigers Friday night before 11,868 at Tiger stadium.
The Bengals roared to their third straight win without a loss in the young gridiron season by a 28-0 count over the Mansfield Tygers off what Washington high Coach Bob Seaman termed a “good team effort.”
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In handing the Tygers their second loss in a row after an opening win, the Obiemen settled a score. The Mansfield eleven of Gary Prahst had battled the Seaman pride to a pointless finish last year in Mansfield, stopping a 30-game Tiger win skein.
It was the second straight shutout for a ferocious bunch of felines who were really hitting the opposition again. Only scores against the Orange and Black this year were when the pigskin was intercepted twice on opening night by Akron East.
The defensive secondary – juniors Mark McDew, Marc Malinowski and Bert Dampier – blanketed Mansfield receivers, limiting an air game that had collected 435 yards in the Tygers’ previous 2 outings to just 64 this time out. * * *
THE FORCE UNIT, spear-headed by senior linebackers Co-Captain Ron Ertle and Hoyt Skelton hitting with power, was tough when it had to be.
The Bengals found that when the bypass route was closed, the direct path through town was effective. Mansfield effectively threw up a roadblock in front of bulldozer No. 1, junior tailback Jim Smith, so bulldozer No. 2, senior fullback Reggie Moore got the call. For 86 yards in 14 tries, a touchdown and a conversion.
Neither lost yardage but Smith was held to his lowest total to date with only 55 on 10 tries as the Tyger defense either prevented Smith from getting around the corner for any distance or forced quarterback Trevor Young to keep the pigskin on the option. Smith bruised his shoulder early in the game but Moore and Young made up the slack.
A by product of the effectiveness of the inside game with its good blocking from tackle to tackle was the faking by Smith, Moore and the Bengals’ other senior fullback Bill Simon to make Young’s play dangerous enough that he was able to score 2 TD’s, a conversion and pass for another 2-pointer even though a broken play was involved.
A pat on the back is also in order for the reserves under the field generalship of Marc Malinowski. They scored the final touchdown, * * *
IF THERE WAS any disquieting note about the game it was that Mansfield had 67 plays to the Tigers’ 50, meaning that the Obiemen were not able to interrupt the Mansfield play continuity with consistency. However, the Tigers remained tough when their goal line was threatened.
Fullback Dave Phillips, a block-busting senior, was called on several times by Prahst in crucial third and fourth down situations and got the necessary yardage. Phillips, who was reported not ready to play with ankle and shoulder injuries, gained 60 net yards in 16 attempts.
It appeared that Friday’s contest was going to be a repeat of last year’s tilt as the teams battled through the first quarter without denting the others’ goal line. Massillon lost the ball on downs on the Mansfield 14. The Tygers had to punt from Massillon’s 36.
The Tigers’ first score came at 5:05 of the second stanza after a 12-yard punt runback by Russ Fenton, a 15-yard right side off tackle romp by Moore and a 42-yard pass-run combination from Young to junior wingback Mark McDew on the same side.
On third down from the 3, Young faked to Smith through the middle and romped over the right side. Following a delay penalty, Young passed to Moore to the right for 2 more points. * * *
AFTER THE ensuing kickoff Mansfield got another drive going aided by a 34-yard Dave Hallabrin-to-Duane Hill pass as Hill, a 6-3 senior split end, leaped up between 2 Tiger defenders for a catch. But Massillon end Tim Richards turned a Mansfield pass into a fumble on second and 10 from the 21 and McDew intercepted a pass on the 5, killing the drive 2 plays later.
Most of the second half was played in Mansfield territory as the Tigers recovered 2 fumbles and intercepted a pass. Simon, junior tackle, Ernie McGeorge and Skelton covered one bobble on the Mansfield 34 early in the third quarter. Richards picked up another on the Tyger 26 and Skelton intercepted a pass at the start of the fourth quarter on the Massillon 30, but the Benglas ran into an illegal use of the hands penalty on the Tyger 29.
Young scored on the fifth play after the initial miscue on a broken play, going through the center on first down form the 3 with 6:04 in the third period after an offside penalty. A conversion pass to Moore was low.
Smith had set up the score with a 15-yard right side option, just stepping out on the 19.
The second recovery led to another third period score after 7 plays. McDew took a pitch to the left after Young had faked to Smith again through the center and scored from the 3 on fourth down at 2:32. Young’s counter keeper left made it 22-0. * * *
THE RESERVES took over after a Mansfield punt late in the goodbye canto and marched 49 yards in 6 plays. The big plays were Malinowski’s 22-yard romp to the Mansfield 17 and 11-yard trek to the 3.
Moore got the TD behind the second line on first down from the 3, going off right tackle at 1:05. Malinowski’s conversion pass to junior wingback John Hodgson was incomplete.
Next week’s foe will be cross-county rival Alliance, as Tiger stadium is invaded for the fourth consecutive week.
Tigers’ Defense Shines In 24-0 Win Early Game Looked Like A Big Rout Obiemen Score All In 1st Half
By CHUCK HESS, JR.
Auggie Bossu’s Cleveland Benedictine football team might be in a rebuilding year, but you’d never know it.
Bob Seaman’s Massillon Tigers thought they had a rout in the making when they scored 2 quick touchdowns in the first quarter Friday night at Tiger stadium. But the Bennies didn’t get the message. They held the Orange and Black scoreless in the last 2 ½ quarters with the Washington high eleven settling for a 24-0 win. * * *
TO HOLD Benedictine scoreless is an accomplishment in itself, so the Tiger defense must be given plenty of credit. The Bennies were able to put together only one long drive – right after the second half kickoff – but were stopped on the half-yard line.
The Bennies didn’t earn a first down until midway in the second quarter and got only 7 in the game to the Tigers’ 12. The Bennies did get a first down by penalty in the welcome period.
The Obiemen rolled up 217 yards on the ground to 75 for Benedictine. Massillon got 169 of those yards and 11 first downs in the first half.
“Our pursuit was better in the second half and our safety men were closing up,” Bossu said. “We tried to get the boys to meet the blocks better.”
Seaman agreed about the pursuit and also said, “They hurried up in the second half, didn’t stem (move around) before the play. We waited for them and they were gone.” * * *
THE TIGER skipper also took part of the blame in that he departed from the game plan “just to see if we could do some things. We also used a lot of young kids. That will help us in the long haul.”
The Bennies kept the Tigers pretty well bottled up in poor field condition, getting down fast under junior Bob Bacik’s punts.
Tiger junior halfback Mark McDew ignited scoring drives when he returned 2 kicks, one 24 yards in the first quarter and another 18 in the second. He made only one long run from scrimmage, resulting in a score, and carried the ball but twice. Seaman put him back out on the wing again instead of with the rest of the backs as in last week’s contest.
“This is what we planned to do,” Seaman said. McDew did 2 of the 3 touchdowns and 2 of the 3 conversions. * * *
THE TIGERS TOOK the opening kickoff and marched 66 yards for a score in 12 plays with 5 first downs. The Tigers’ twin bulldozers – Jim Smith and Reggie Moore – augured out most of the yardage.
Fourth and 13 on Benedictine’s 24, Quarterback Trevor Young hit McDew in the right side of the end zone. Moore rammed in over the center for 2 more points to make it 8-0 with 5:55 remaining.
Tom Robinson recovered Sadd’s kickoff runback fumble on the Cleveland 34 and the Tigers had touchdown No. 2 in 7 plays with 3 first downs. On second, 7 from the 7, Young hit split end Bert Dampier on the half-yard line. Fullback Bill Simon charged over on the next play at 2:54.
McDew completed things by catching Young’s roll out pass to the right. This gave Massillon 16 points and Benedictine still had not been able to run a play.
Early in the second period after McDew’s second punt runback, the Tigers went 82 yards in 5 plays for their final score. Young faked to Simon going through the middle and then rolled to the right and pitched to McDew who dashed 59 yards down the west sideline for a TD on a third and 4 play at 7:10. Young threw to McDew down the center for the conversion. * * *
LATER in the period, Benedictine almost scored but sophomore halfback Woody Vogel, subbing for senior Tim Russ, the Bennies top halfback, couldn’t hold to a third and 4 pass from the Cleveland 43.
Ferko intercepted a first down Massillon aerial from the Benedictine 37, intended for McDew, on the 9 as the half ended to save a score.
The second half was mainly a contest in punting with the exception of the one long drive by Benedictine, which has yet to score this season after a 0–0 affair with Lakewood St. Edward.
It was victory No. 2 for the Tigers who haven’t really dug deep into their repertoire yet. Mansfield Tygers come in next Friday.
Promising Tigers Win Opener 28-14 Running of McDew, Smith, Defensive Play Are Highlights
By CHUCK HESS, JR. Independent Sports Editor The sigh of relief could be heard all across Tigertown.
Washington high grid fans had been apprehensive about their team after last week’s scrimmage showing against Canton Lincoln. But the Tigers proved Friday night before 11,068 fans at Tiger stadium that they have the makings of a fine team.
For all practical purposes they shut out invading Akron East, 3-time Rubber City champion. But a couple of air born pigskins didn’t reach their intended marks and the Obiemen had to settle for a 28-14 count. * * *
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THE GAME was highlighted by some outstanding running on both sides. For the Tigers it was by marvelous Mark McDew, including 2 punt-return touchdowns. The Tigers’ other halfback, Jim Smith – both are juniors – also scored twice.
Senior Dave Richards, a halfback and Harvey drone, a fullback starred for East. Richards tallied 2 TD’s.
Running from a regular position instead of a wing slot for the first time in the power I, “Mac” helped make the Tigers’ running game all the more dangerous.
McDew’s first bit of inspired running came about halfway through the welcome canto. The Tigers had taken the opening kickoff, lost a fumble to East’s Ted Mobley on the Bengal 39 and forced a punt and resulting 11-yard runback by McDew.
Five plays later with second, 11 on the Tigers’ 29, Mark blasted through center for 61 yards and a first down on the Orientals’ 10. An offside penalty made it 2nd, 11 and Smith raced around the left side on the option for the first score at 5:54. * * * ANOTHER OFFSIDE penalty forced a second conversion try from the 8 after the first was no good. Senior co-captain and quarterback Trevor Young hit McDew on a diving catch for an 8-0 count.
Senior end Tim Richards halted an East drive at the Tigers’ 31 early in the second period and an exchange of punts found McDew consummating a 62-yard punt return after being trapped and reversing his field, to put the Orange and Black ahead 14-0 at 7:45. Junior split end Luther Jackson couldn’t hold Young’s conversion pass.
McDew put his winged feet to good use again midway through the third period, after East had had the ball for most of the quarter. McDew got loose on an 80-yard punt return with help from a picture block by senior end Russ Fenton on the East 20. The time was 7:22.
Young tried to hit Jackson on the conversion, missed, but an offside on the Rubber City opponents gave the Tigers another chance and Smith went over right guard for the 2 points. * * * MASSILLON’S FINAL score came in the last quarter on a 64-yard, 10-play drive started by a 26-yard punt runback by junior safety Marc Malinowski and cluminated by Young’s 9-yard keeper and Smith’s 3-yard jaunt off left tackle at 11:16.
Smith tried the other side for the conversion but couldn’t reach pay dirt.
Tiger fans perched perilously on the edges of their seats in the third quarter when the Orientals made it a 22-14 game.
The Obiemen had driven deep into East territory when Young tried the sky route with first down on the 18. Senior halfback Dave Richards picked off the aerial and returned 90 yards down the east sideline with Smith failing, on a great try to stop the Oriental speed demon. The time was 6:09.
A pass to senior halfback Eleaser Sanders was incomplete on the conversion try but both sides were offside. Sanders raced around left end for the score. * * * A COUPLE of minutes later on the first series after the kickoff, Young attempted to option Smith on third down on a play, which netted the Bengals plenty of yardage and helped Young’s running throughout the night. The flip hit Smith’s helmet and bounced back into Richards’ hands and he was gone with the wind again from 35 yards out at 4:46.
Sophomore Otis Johnson’s conversion boot was blocked but the Tigers were nicked for roughing the holder. Junior halfback Mel Averiett was brought down just short of the zone by Hoyt Skelton and Tom Houser on the second try.
But the defensive gem of the night for the Tigers was yet to come. Midway in the goodbye frame East was driving for another score on a drive which started from the Orientals’ 32 after a Richards’ 27-yard punt return.
With fourth down on the Massillon 2, East’s junior halfback, Melvin Averiett, was tossed to the 9 by Tim Richards.
This was just one facet of some sterling defensive play by the Obiemen, which bottled up the Orientals’ pitch-and-run game pretty well. Senior co-captain and linebacker Ron Ertle did an outstanding job along with Richards and Fenton and utility linebacker Dave Doll. * * * THE BLOCKING of strong siders Dave Gipp, Bill Snowball, and Tom Houser and center Blaine Moore helped.
The Bengals didn’t complete a pass, mostly because the pass blocking didn’t hold up.
The 47 yards of passing yardage by East wasn’t bad considering the Bengals used an all-junior defensive backfield.
With one down and 9 to go on the comeback trail, the Bengals will host Cleveland Benedictine next Friday.
EAST – 14 Ends – Sommerville, Yovanovich, C. Richards, B. Smith. Tackles – Shealey, Davis, Beaubout. Guards – Preer, McGhee. Center – Bennet. Quarterback – Vaughn. Halfbacks – D. Richards, Sanders, McMillan, Mobley, W. Smith, Averiett, Johnson. Fullbacks – Drone, Hill.
MASSILLON – 28 Ends – Jackson, Houser, Dampier, Robinson, Spencer, T. Richards. Tackles – Snowball, McGeorge, Snyder. Guards – D. Gipp, Ertle, Whitfield, Doll. Centers – B. Moore, Skelton. Quarterbacks – Young, Malinowski. Halfbacks – J. Smith, McDew, Fenton, Hodgson, Evans. Fullbacks – Simon, R. Moore, M. Gipp.
INDIVIDUAL RUSHING Massillon Player Att. Net. Ave. Young 8 14 1.75 Moore 5 14 2.80 Simon 1 1 1.00 Smith 14 99 7.68 McDew 11 84 7.55
East Player Att. Net. Ave. Richards 10 61 6.1 Sanders 24 81 3.38 Drone 2 4 2
East 0 0 14 0 14 Massillon 8 6 8 6 28
Touchdowns: Massillon McDew 2 (61 and 80-yard punt returns); J. Smith 2 (12 and 3-yard runs). East D. Richards 2 (90-yard pass interception return and 35-yard option-pitch interception return).
Extra points: Massillon McDew 2 (pass from Young); Smith 2 (8-yard run). East D. Richards 2 (run).
Attendance: 11,066
OFFICIALS Referee – Jack McLain. Umpire – John Rance. Head Linesman – Bud Shopbell. Field Judge – Chuck Hinkle.
THE GRIDSTICK Mass. East First downs – rushing 10 7 First downs – passing 0 1 First downs – penalties 0 1 Total first downs 10 9 Yards gained rushing 235 166 Yards lost rushing 17 17 Net yards gained rushing 213 149 Net yards gained passing 0 47 Total yards gained 218 196 Passes attempted 4 10 Passes completed 0 5 Passes intercepted by 0 2 Yardage on passes intercepted 0 109 Times kicked off 5 3 Kickoff average (yards) 50.2 43.6 Kickoff returns (yards) 74 93 Times punted 3 5 Punt average (yards) 40.0 39.0 Punt return (yards) 15 5 Had punts blocked 0 0 Fumbles 1 1 Lost fumbled ball 1 1 Penalties 3 3 Yards penalized 55 12 Touchdowns rushing 2 0 Touchdowns passing 0 0 Touchdowns by interception 0 1 Miscellaneous 2 1 Total number of plays 48 56
History 
“Ruby” Ertle played both linebacker and lineman under Head Coach Bob Seaman. As a starter during his junior year he instantly became a force on defense, giving a hundred percent on every play. One could describe him as just a “really tough player.” Against Canton McKinley he had a pass interception to quell a drive, and also during the season recovered two fumbles. Unfortunately, the Tigers’ record that year was 4-5-1.
