M.H.S. IS STILL INVINCIBLE

New Philadelphia Beaten Thursday 21 to 5

RECORD CROWD IN ATTENDANCE

The Visitors Played a Fast, Open Game,

but Were No Match for Massillon’s Weight, Speed and Skill

Massillon Scored on in Last Gasp

The Massillon high school football team today lays claim to the championship of Ohio.

The Massillon high school football team capped the climax of an unbroken series of victories and cleared its claim to the state title by defeating New Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day afternoon at the Massillon ball park by the score of 21 to 5.

The game was played before the largest Massillon crowd that ever witnessed a high school game. Two thousand people packed the bleachers and filled the sidelines of four sides of the field.

The game, although perhaps the most erratic played this season, was never-the-less the prettiest in point of real interest and good open new style football. Both teams had a series of open shifts and double passes which kept the game in the air from start to finish and put the defensive eleven off its guard at all times. The forward pass was worked time and again for large gains by both teams, although Massillon was least successful with this new style game against the lightning New Philadelphia defense than against any other team which they have met this season. The first five minutes of play was perhaps the fastest and most exciting five minutes the Massillon squad has been through this season. New Philadelphia tore about the field at a great rate and it was some time before the Massillon team could see through their slight attack of over confidence and realize that they were once more up against it.

Slowly the Massillon team by great effort pulled itself together and worked itself into the old time form which had cleaned up the large mid-season games in such perfect and invincible manner. The machine which through nine long games had upheld and carried to victory the orange and black against the strongest teams in this part of the state, was soon in working order. It had allowed New Philadelphia to carry the ball to within thirty yards of the goal while Massillon was getting into the game. Here Massillon held and then the tables turned. Massillon’s one hundred and fifty-eight pound touchdown machine had come to its own. By a few of the great assortment, by end runs, double passes, forward passes, the plays from every conceivable formation the ball with little resistance was carried down the field.

When Massillon’s team came to its own there the complexion of the game changed completely. Instead of fighting a nip and tuck game for the goal the Massillon team soon outgeneraled and outplayed New Philadelphia for the rest of the first half. After the first touchdown Massillon hardly punted once. The ball was carried to the three yard line and Wells went over for the first touchdown through right tackle. The teams changed and in a short time Blackburn was forced over for the second. A few minutes later Blackburn kicked a perfect goal from the thirty yard line and before the half ended Wells went over for the last score Massillon was destined to make Blackburn kicked three faultless goals.

THE SECOND HALF

In the second half the complexion of the game again changed. Massillon after winning the game beyond a doubt started to take things easy. The game was as fast and exciting as ever. New Philadelphia playing to the limit of its power and endurance and ringing in every resource in the shape of fake plays. Massillon seemed to be attempting only to hold its own. Toward the end of the second half the climax of the game arrived. On a long end run from a place kick formation Giligan broke around right end for a run within two yards of the goal. After pushing off one tackle after another he was nailed by Atwater. Excitement was intense. The crowd surrounded the players in a howling mob. New Philadelphia’s small crowd of rooters shouted themselves hoarse for a touchdown, while with Massillon it was one desperate, “Hold! Hold! Hold!” New Philadelphia was desperate and Massillon in the hour of trial was weak. A crashing fullback plunge through right tackle placed the ball over the line for the only score made through Massillon’s hitherto invincible line on straight football. Goal was lost on the kick out and the game ended.

Massillon did not play her best game against New Philadelphia but it was above the average, and more than that it was sufficient.

Following is the line-up:

Massillon – 21 Pos. Phila. – 5

Miller le Broadhurst

Erb lt McPherson

Heyman lg Melhorn

Leahy c Boyd

Clay, McConnell rg Lahmer

Wagner rt Gintz

Ellis, Zintsmaster re Smith

Atwater qb Myers

Wells lh Englehart

Blackburn rh Schwab

Sonnhalter fb Giligan

Touchdowns:

Massillon – Wells 2; Blackburn 1.

New Philadelphia – Giligan 1.

Goals from touchdown:

Massillon – Blackburn 3.

Umpire – Garvin, of Wooster.

Referee – Johnson, of Wooster.

Timekeeper – Coleman.

Head Linesman – Bast.

Time of halves – 25 minutes.