Tigers Grind Out 20-0 Victory
Over Lincoln
But Move
Slowly On Ground
Absence
of a breakaway runner that smacks of a Homer Floyd or an Ivory Benjamin was never
more conclusive when Washington high’s Tigers met Canton Lincoln at Tiger
stadium Friday night.
Only
twice did a ball carrier make over 10 yards on a single effort but grind’em out
thrusts, a couple of dandy passes and a defense that made the Lions yell
“uncle” were more than enough as the Bengals uncorked a 20-0 triumph before
11,783 fans.
Indeed,
Leo Strang’s charges enjoyed a big statistical bulge over the Lions, who have
yet to beat a Massillon team in 14 tries.
The Tigers controlled the football, running 58 plays to Lincoln’s 36,
gained 251 yards to 89 and were stopped without a first down on just one series
of plays.
And
indeed this Lincoln team, literally playing its heart out, had the Bengals well
scouted.
* * *
BUT ON ENDLESS occasions the line blocked, and the leather luggers got through an
opening only to wind up with short yardage.
The downfield blocking wasn’t the world’s worst, either, however the
runners, seemingly were intent on trying to ram the tackler down or were
cutting inside when they might have been heading away from the mass of young
humanity.
For
the second straight week Fullback Dave Dean was the wheel-horse, carting 25
times and gaining 93 yards and hitting in for one touchdown. The veteran Corky Pledgure, still not in the
best of shape, had a good night as he ripped off 54 yards in 10 carries and
hard-nosed Jim Hershberger ran seven times for 28 yards.
Pledgure
winged for 20 yards once, Hershberger got off a 13-yarder and wingback Corny
Clark raced for 11 yards once but that was the extend of any long gains.
Coach
Strang, visibly upset by the inability of the runners to be loose as a goose in
the open field, did not blame all on the boys, however.
“We
have to keep remembering that only a few of these boys have had much varsity
experience. They are still learning and
believe me, they are looking better every week.”
“It
takes time and a little patience. We
looked a little better tonight. I
thought the defense was fine, didn’t you?”
To
this, everybody must nod their heads in agreement. The defense was very good.
* * *
THE LINCOLN TEAM, losing its second straight start, made only five
first downs and its best gain went for eight yards. The Tigers did a good job containing such dangerous ball toters
as swivel-hipped Art DeOrio and hard-running George Saimes.
“We
will keep trying to improve the defense, too, but we’ve got to emphasize the
running game right now,” Strang said.
Lithe
Tom Spencer, who started at tailback; sophomore Art Hastings, who went in at fullback
for a few plays in the final period and Clark, who showed nice speed on end
sweeps apparently will rate a lot of attention next week.
Clark
was helped by “surprise” plays that went to the left side. But the slim senior, who has had most of his
duty confined to defense, displayed lots of courage as he barreled across for
two extra points after Massillon’s first touchdown.
The
first TD, coming with 5:06 remaining in the second quarter, was made by
Pledgure. He tallied on a sweep from
the one after the Bengals had marched 63 yards in 14 plays.
* * *
A THIRD PERIOD score climaxed a drive of 63 yards in 10 plays and came on the best
play of the night. With the ball at the
22, Quarterback Joe Sparma after faking beautifully, whipped a jump pass to big
Bob Vogel at the eight. Bob made a nice
catch of the hard-thrown ball and there just wasn’t any stopping him.
Following
the kickoff, Lincoln failed for a first down at the Tiger 33 and the hosts went
all the way, the drive carrying over into the final round. After 14 plays and a total of 66 yards, Dean
cracked across from the one.
The
first quarter was almost void of consistent gains. On the last play of that session Spencer gained three yards to
his own 39 and the second quarter started with the orange and black determined
and destined to break the deadlock.
Pledgure
and Dean did most of the work and Pledgure circled left end for the score from
one yard out. On the conversion
attempt, Clark took a pitch-out and sailed around left end, driving in to make
it 8-0.
* * *
LINCOLN HAD the ball for only sic plays in the second panel and only nine plays in
the third period. Shortly after the
second half got under way, Clark returned a punt 20 yards to his own 37 and the
Tigers stepped on the gas. Sparma
pitched handsomely to Vogel for 14 yards and Clark zipped for 11 on a pitch-out
(with Guard Gail Karrenbauer making the key block) to help put the oval at the
Lion 22. Then with Bill Zorn flanked
right, Sparma hit the glue-fingered Vogel and at 5:42 it was 14-0. Sparma intended to put his foot to the
football on the try for the extra points but a bad pass from center nixed the
deal.
A
20-yard kickoff return by Dave English helped Lincoln reach Massillon territory
but the Lion bid flunked at the Bengal 33.
Hershberger and Dean gained 25 yards on the last five plays of the
quarter and the Tigers continued to advance the pigskin in the final canto.
It
was Dean, Pledgure, Hastings and Sparma stepping to the one before Dean
ploughed through the middle for the Tigers’ third and final six-pointer at
5:57. On the conversion attempt, the
Lions put on a big rush and spoiled any chance for a placement by Sparma.
The
maroon-shirted team made two first downs after the kickoff but was forced to
relinquish possession at the orange 33 and two plays with one responsible for
eight yards via a Sparma-to-Vogel connection, it was all over – and Alliance
next for the Strang gang.
MASSILLON
Ends
– Zorn, Vogel, Oliver, Barkman, Mitchell.
Tackles
– Bordner, Donat, Herndon, Haines, Clicker.
Guards
– Karrenbauer, Perry, Bednar, J. Kasunick.
Centers
– Shilling, Snyder, Cooley.
Quarterbacks
– Sparma, Finney, Snivley.
Halfbacks
– Wood, Clark, Spencer, Radtke, Herhsberger, Pledgure.
Fullbacks
– Dean, McKey, Morrow, Hastings.
CANTON LINCOLN
Ends
– Dan English, Okey, Tabellion.
Tackles
– Pikna, Caughey.
Guards
– Thompson, Paratore, Frazier, Parrish.
Center
– Brandstetter.
Quarterbacks
– W. Billings, Crewse.
Halfbacks
– Dave English, DeOrio, Wilson.
Fullback
– Saimes.
Scoring by quarters:
Massillon 0 8 6 6 20
Lincoln 0 0 0 0 0
Massillon scoring:
Touchdowns – Pledgure run-1; Dean run-1; Vogel pass-22.
Extra points – Clark 2, run.
OFFICIALS
Referee
– Mack Schaffer.
Umpire
– Steve Hering.
Head
Linesman – Octavia Sirgo.
Field
Judge – Dick Klar.
STATISTICS
M L
First Downs – Passing 2 0
First Downs – Penalties 0 0
Total First Downs 16
5
Number of Rushing Plays 58 36
Yards Gained – Running
Plays 228
102
Yards Lost – Running
Plays 21 13
Net Yardage – Running 207 89
Passes Attempted 5 3
Passes Completed 3 0
Passes Had Intercepted 0 0
Yards Returned –
Intercepted Passes 0 0
Net Yardage – Running and
Passing 251 89
Number of Kickoff Returns 1 4
Yardage – Kickoff Returns 26 66
Average Length of Kickoff
Returns 26 16.6
Number of Punt Returns 3 1
Yardage – Punt Returns 33 14
Average Length of Punt
Returns 11 14
Number of Punts 2 4
Average Length of Punts 31 27.7
Number of Fumbles 1 2
Own Fumbles Recovered 1 2
Ball Lost on Fumbles 0 0
Number of Penalties 0 1
Yards lost on Penalties 0 5