1908: Massillon 0 Salem 18

QUAKERS
ARE TOO MUCH FOR M.H.S.
Massillon Lost to the Salem Team, Saturday.

SCORE:  SALEM  18,     MASSILLON   0
Loose Playing on the Part of the Local Team Allowed Its Opponents Three Touchdowns
Salem Played Well Together and With Spirit.

While holding its own a good share of the time and occasionally making progress forward, the Massillon high school team, by steaks of loose playing, allowed Salem high to pile up 18 points on them, on the high school grounds, Saturday afternoon.  In spite of the score the game was not altogether one-sided.  The two teams were about evenly matched.  Salem outweighed Massillon several pounds to the man but that is not what won the game.  The Salem men got together on the kickoff and stayed together throughout the game.  They played a fast game on defense.  Once in a while Massillon could get through and break up a play before it started, but on the whole the Salemites were too fast and smashed the line before Massillon had a chance to brace.  On defense Salem’s heavy line played low and all attempts at the forward pass or other tricks were watched carefully.

On the other hand Massillon’s playing was erratic. The great form which the team is capable of was not in evidence throughout the game.  Had it been, the two teams would probably have played each other to a standstill.  As it was Massillon was unable to get together. Except, at times the team work and forward pass failed to pan out in the proper proportions.  Once the forward pass was worked successfully but was called back as players were in motion on a line shift when the ball was put in play.  During the latter part of the first half and parts of the second, Massillon held her own.  Once a grand rally was made which almost carried the ball over for a score.

Working Sonnhalter on off tackle bucks continually the ball was carried straight up the field toward the goal, Massillon making her yards time and again.  When but four yards from the goal, Salem took a mighty brace and held for downs.  A punt by Salem got the ball out of danger.  Once again Massillon came within a few yards of scoring on an onside kick from the center of the field.  The ball was kicked by Heyman and went bounding along on the right side of the field.  It was missed by the Salem back and bounded backward.  Two Massillon players made attempts to secure it but Salem players at last fell on it five yards from the goal.  A delayed pass carried the ball out of danger.

Salem in general played a good game, but one player stood out of the team work and distinguished himself by his individual playing.  This was Heis, at right half back, who carried the ball for substantial gains time and again, without any interference by his clever dodging in a broken field.  He ran back punts in the same manner.  Whinnery, Salem’s fullback, although he played a good game and bucked the line in good shape, did not equal Sonnhalter in the general game.  But for Sonnhalter, who blocked up the line in the rear the game might have gone much more to the bad than it did.  Moody, who began the game at right tackle, played hard and blocked his position in good shape.  Clay, arriving in time for the second half, took Moody’s place.  As individuals little can be said against the Massillon team.  In a game like that played Saturday it is team work which counts.  Sonnhalter’s heavy line bucks were responsible for most of Massillon’s gains.  Snavely played a good game and carried back punts well.  Heyman and Erb held the left side well on defensive, while Blackburn, although he had his hands full, handled the 220 pound Lynn in good shape.  Kelly played hard at end.

A crowd numbering five hundred, including the two hundred high school students, turned out to the game and supported the home team to the last gasp.  Songs and yells stirred on the laggard spirits but it was of no avail.  Salem scored two touchdowns in the first half and one in the second.  Goals were kicked each time.

Following is the line-up:

Massillon – 0                  Pos.     Salem – 18
Kelley            le            Rogers
Erb                 lt      McConner
Heyman         lg               Lynn
Davis              c         Tollerton
Blackburn      rg           Shelton
Moody, Clay  rt              Cook
Wells             re             Karey
Atwater        qb                Nuff
Hammersmith lh         Williman
Snavely         rh                Heis
Sonnhalter     fb        Whinnery

Time of halves – 25 minutes.

Touchdowns:  Salem – Heis; Williman; Whinnery.

Goals from touchdowns:  Salem – Muff  3.

Referee – Wittmann.
Linesman – Bloomberg.
Timekeepers – Hall and Coleman.

1908: Massillon 0 Salem 37

HIGH SCHOOL AT SALEM
Massillon – 0        Salem – 37

In a sea of mud and in a downpour of rain, Massillon’s high school football team went down to defeat Saturday at Salem by the score of 37 to 0.  The condition of the field was such that little or nothing of the open and spectacular game could be attempted.  Heavy and plodding playing was the only kind which could make the ground and in this particular the Salem eleven excelled.  The forward pass could not be worked to any advantage at all.  Massillon lost the ball several times on this.  In summing up the game, however, it may be said that it was won by team work.  Salem in general playing together, especially in running interference.  Massillon played hard but could avail little.

Some good playing, however, was done by Massillon.  Almost every tackle made by Massillon was a good one and few which were not so low as possible were as effective.  After the first touchdown in the first half the general trend of the game was seen and Hammersmith went in to stop up the breach.  He played a hard and fast game, making most of Massillon’s few gains.  The only play by which Massillon was able to make substantial gains was a fake end run on a trick tackle play.  This worked several times for good distances.  Snavely and Hammersmith carried the ball on these.  Salem’s line of baby elephants held too hard for gains in this direction.  Dave Reese, Massillon’s 120 pound center, played to good advantage against his 190 pound opponent.  Salem’s biggest Shelton, a 210 pound guard.  These played no defensive game but blocked the holes effectively.

Massillon’s one objection was to the refereeing of Salem’s official, who in certain cases seemed to have it in for Massillon.  In one case the ball was carried back on an unsuccessful forward pass and put into play at the place from which the scrimmage started instead of being carried back fifteen yards.  Other cases were patent.  This would not of course have won the game but it may have changed the score considerably.  Objection was futile as Massillon had no official on the field.  In other ways Massillon was fairly well treated but the players accepted the situation with good grace and have no kick to register.

Following is the way the teams lined up:

Salem        Pos.        Massillon
Hise              re          Atwater
Grice              rt               Clay
Shelton          rg       Blackburn
Tolerton          c             Leahy
Lynn              lg               Carr
McConnor      lt                 Erb
Rogers           le Richards, Wells
Muff             qb           Bowers
Willaman       rh           Snavely
Cray              lh              Wells, Hammersmith
Theiff             fb              Davis

1907: Massillon 6 Salem 0

THEY TURNED THE TRICK.
Salem High School Went Home
Without a Score
Massillon  6                  Salem  0

M.H.S. SCORED FOR FIRST TIME
Rain Prevented All-Massillon-Panhandle Game Sunday – Other Games Which Were Scheduled Were Postponed – Business College Wins at Canal Fulton.

The Massillon High School football team has redeemed itself, as was confidently expected;  although the score was made on a mistake by the Salem High School team.  It was only made possible by the excellent spirit shown by every one of the Massillon players and the do-or-die determination with which they entered the game.  Not a trace of the loose work which was evidenced in the Canton game was to be seen, every man made clean tackles and made them hard, bringing the Salem runner to the sod with a sickening thud.  It hardly seemed like the same team that was defeated by Canton High last Saturday by that discouraging score.  Massillon seemed to be especially strong in the very department of the game where formerly it had been weak.  On several occasions, long, flying tackles by Massillon’s ends and backs sent cheer after cheer rolling from one end of the field to the other.

Hammersmith’s touchdown in the first part of the second half will be remembered long after the football togs are laid away in the garret for next year.  It was near the first part of the second half and things were looking rather gloomy for the Massillon students.  Salem High had punted and the ball was on Massillon’s five yard line, so, of course, Captain Grinnell returned the punt immediately.  It went to Rogers, but he fumbled it and as it dropped to the ground Hammersmith was down on him like a flash, had gathered up the oval, tucked it under his wing and was off down the field all in one movement.  Exultation burst forth from Massillon’s frenzied rooters for John has quite a reputation in the sprinting line.  Backed up by Grinnell, Wagner and Dow, who warded off presumptuous tacklers, he increased the lead between him and his pursuers and pandemonium reigned among the Massillon students.  As Hammersmith crossed the line between the bars for the first touchdown for Massillon High this season, hats, pennants and canes were in the air, girls embraced each other and men slapped each other on the back and howled.  John was given “three times three and a Tiger” until the crowd was hoarse.  Captain Grinnell then did his duty by stretching out his lengthy leg and lifted the ball between the bars, making the score 6 to 0.

The games was attended by but a small crowd of Massillon enthusiasts but now that the team has started on its winning way, they may feel assured that there will be no coolness in the enthusiasm of the rooters.  As is usually the case, the fair contingent were on hand with their rooting caps on and the songs and cheers made the Salem players nervous and the Salem rooters envious.

The game was called at 3:15, and Captain Grinnell kicked to Whitnnery, who, by clever dodging, passed all of Massillon’s players but Keeley Miller, who downed him on the fifty yard line.  Salem attempted at forward pass, but Hammersmith got the ball.  Salem got the ball on downs and punted to Grinnell, who lost it when tackled, and Salem recovered the ball.  Wagner downed the man behind the line.  Massillon receiving the ball, Sonnhalter made several good line bucks.  Willaman got Wagner behind the line and also received the ball on a punt by Grinnell.  Sonnhalter made a flying tackle in the open field.  Massillon received the ball on a forward pass and Grinnell punted to Whinnerly.  Willaman gained twenty yards on an end run.  Massillon’s ball on downs.  Grinnell punted thirty yards to Willaman, who was downed in his tracks by Dow.  Whinnerly again passed all but Keeley Miller, who made a good tackle.

Massillon High played a punting game, for as soon as he received it, Captain Grinnell punted to Rogers.  Wagner downed him in his tracks.  Whinnerly gained well on an end run, but Hammersmith received the ball on a forward pass.  Again Grinnell punted to Montgomery.  Massillon receiving the ball, K. Miller makes good end run with interference, and the half ends without a score.

Willaman kicked off to Wagner, who gains ten yards.  Grinnell hit the line well for short gains.  Salem received the ball and punted to Sonnhalter, who received the ball on Massillon’s five yard line.  The touchdown, the story of which has already been told, now took place.

After the goal was kicked, Grinnell kicked to Montgomery, who carried the ball fifteen yards.  Whinnerly for a third time got away from all but Massillon’s quarter back. The ball was far down in Massillon’s territory when Grinnell received the ball on Salem’s attempt at a forward pass.  The ball was now passed back and forth, Massillon High punting and Salem high losing it on failures of forward passes.  Grinnell receiving the ball on a punt, commenced a series of line bucks, which gained from five to twenty yards.  He attempted a field goal but the ball was blocked and lost.  Dow and Wells got their men behind the line.  Whinnerly punted to Sonnhalter and the game ended with the ball in the middle of the field.

The line ups were as follows:

Massillon   Pos.             Salem
Dow              le        Willaman
W. Miller        lt       O’Connor
Baer              lg        Augustine
Blantz             c         Tollerton
Carr              rg             Picker
Wells-Hammersmith rt               Price
Hammersmith-Wells             re            Turner
K. Miller      qb    Moff (capt.)
Wagner        lhb            Rogers
Grinnell (capt.) rhb  Whinnerly
Sonnhalter     fb   Montgomery

Touchdown:  Massillon – Hammersmith.

Goal kicked:  Massillon – Grinnell.

Referee – Merwin.
Timer – Hall.
Head Linesman – Garrett.

Time of halves – Twenty minutes.

Attendance – 150.