Tigers
roll to fifth win,
49‑7
over Newark
'Laugher' belies players
concern for Hendershot
By
MIKE HUDAK
Independent
Sports Editor
MASSILLON ‑ The most advanced computer in
the world would be hard pressed to match the efficiency of the Massillon Tigers
Friday night.
The state's No. 2 ranked Class AAA team ran
roughshod over the visiting Newark Wildcats in a 49‑6 'laugher,' but
there was little joy in the Tiger lockerroom before the contest.
"We wanted to dedicate this game to Scott
Hendershot," said Tiger junior Chris Spielman afterwards. "This one
was for him."
The Tigers' 55, a junior backup lineman, was not
on the sidelines for Friday's game. He was home with his family, his stomach in
knots, awaiting news on his 7‑year‑old sister, Dawn Marie, last seen
leaving school Wednesday afternoon.
"Scott was right where he should have been
tonight," said Massillon head coach Mike Currence. "The team prayed
for the little girl's safe return before and after the game. It was certainly
something that was on our minds; we were all ready to play tonight.”
Newark tried to be fancy from the start, as the
opening kick was promptly caught and passed across the field to a player
stationed on the sidelines, who promptly fumbled the ball out of bounds, a
harbinger of things to come for the Wildcats.
Newark mounted one of its best drives on its
opening possession, though, advancing to the Tiger 48 before being forced to
punt.
The Tigers began on their own 28, marching the
remaining 72 yards in just six plays. Jim Bushe, returning to action after a
hip pointer cost him most of two games, announced himself healthy by rambling
16 yards on the first play. Three plays later, fullback Tim Sampsel found a big
hole and rambled 29 yards to the Newark eight, his longest gain of the year. A
play later, Spielman broke through for a seven‑yard touchdown run,
followed by the first of seven straight Bronc Pfisterer conversion kicks.
Seconds later, Spielman stepped in front of a
Terry Balding pass, recording his second interception of the year; the third
was to follow. Less than three minutes after the first Tiger score, Spielman
rambled 12 yards for the second.
Newark again was forced to punt, and after a
jitterbug return by Gary Conley, the Tigers marched 66 yards in seven plays.
After his punt return, Conley kept the ball rolling by grabbing a 30‑yard
pass by junior quarterback Brian DeWitz down to Newark's 36. Bushe capped the
drive with a three‑yard run with 10:38 remaining in the half.
"Our offense was better tonight because Jim
was back with his running and blocking," said Currence. "He looked
very strong.”
"My hip didn't bother me at all," said
the senior speedster afterwards. “I was just too happy to be back on the
playing field to worry about pain."
The Tigers actually had to punt the next time
they gained possession, a high, spiraling 41‑yarder by DeWitz, the baby‑faced
bomber with the leg of steel. But Newark certainly couldn't do anything with
the ball, except fumble it away on an option play with the Tigers' Bob Robinson
hopping on the loose orb after a 12‑yard loss on the Wildcat eight.
Three plays later, Tiger senior Tom Gruno bulled
it over from two yards out. The half ended with the Tigers up 28-0. It was
almost 35‑0 ‑ on the Tigers final possession before halftime,
Conley found himself unbelievably open behind the Newark secondary but DeWitz's
pass just eluded his fingertips.
Massillon received the second half kick, with
Tom Manion almost breaking it for a long‑gainer before being hauled down
at the Tiger 34. Three plays later, DeWitz arched a bomb over a leaping
defender and into Conley's hands for a 55‑yard score. Action for Tiger
offensive regulars was over for the night.
Tigers roar to fifth straight win.
The quarter ended with the Tigers leading 35‑0.
Spielman's diving, fingertip interception which stopped a Newark drive at
Massillon's 21 highlighted the remainder of the period. After the theft, the
Tigers' regular defense followed the offense to the sidelines as the Tiger
backups saw their most extensive playing time of the year.
Early in the fourth quarter, a 38‑yard run
by Tom Gruno ‑ his longest jaunt of the season ‑ put the ball on
Newark's 15. Senior Mark Smith went the final eight yards with 9:57 left in the
game.
The Tigers' seventh TD of the night came after a
Mike Gallant interception at the Newark 26 which he returned to the 19. With
7:35 remaining in the game, junior Brian Spicer smashed over the line from four
yards out to cap a short, four‑play drive.
Newark finally scored with 4:54 remaining. A 73‑yard
drive was finalized by a 14‑yard run by Newark's Tim Dierks. Finishing
what they had begun, the Wildcats' kick was off the mark.
Newark fell to 2‑3 with the loss. About
the only consolation coach Bill Biggers could find is that his team didn't lose
the game in the waning seconds like the previous two weeks.
"That was the worst I've ever been beaten
in 11 years of head coaching," said Biggers. "We were embarrassed
here tonight, but that's not to take anything away from the Tigers; they're a
fine, fine team.
"In the end, it wasn't our mental errors or
the crowd that beat us; the Tigers just blew us out plain and simple. They're
the best team I've ran across, both offensively and defensively, in a long
time."
Now the 5‑0 Tigers must prepare, for
Barberton on Friday night. The Magics haven't shown much in the way of wizard‑like
powers so far this year, but the Tigers can hardly afford to be overconfident
after last year's shocking loss to the tradition‑bound school.
"It's Up To You in '82" is the
official slogan for this year's squad, but Spielman always ends his post‑game
quotes with a slogan that's just as good: "Tonight's over and done. It's
next week's game that matters now."
MASSILLON
49
NEWARK 6
M
O
First downs
rushing 12 8
First downs
passing 4 3
First downs by
penalty 0 2
Totals first
downs 16 13
Yards gained
rushing 249 73
Yards lost
rushing 13 44
Net yards
rushing 249 73
Net yards
passing 119 73
Total yards
gained 368 146
Passes
attempted 16 23
Passes
completed 8 6
Passes int. by 3 0
Yardage on pass
int. 11 0
Times kicked
off 8 2
Kickoff average 55.4 30.0
Kickoff return
yards 23 85
Punts 3 7
Punting average 45.0 35.6
Punt return
yards 38 0
Punts blocked
by 0 0
Fumbles 2 2
Fumbles lost 0 1
Penalties 4 0
Yards penalized 40 0
Touchdowns
rushing 6 1
Touchdowns
passing 1 0
Miscellaneous
touchdowns 0 0
Number of plays 53 58
Time of
possession 24:22 23:18
Attendance 9,414
Newark 0 0 0 6 6
Massillon 14 14 7 14 49
M ‑
Spielman 7‑yard run. (Pfisterer kick).
M ‑
Spielman 12‑yard run. (Pfisterer kick).
M ‑ Bushe
3 yard run, (Pfisterer kick.)
M ‑ Gruno
2‑yard ran. (Pfisterer kick,)
M - Conley 55
yard pass from DeWitz. (Pfisterer kick.)
M ‑ Smith
8‑yard run. (Pfisterer kick.)
M ‑ Spicer
4‑yard run. (Pfisterer kick.)
N ‑ Dierks
12‑yard run, (kick failed).