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Mason, staff kept Red Dragons going despite graduation losses
GREAT TEACHERS
By Steve Ruman
NILES
By September of 1963, the Niles McKinley High football program had reached a level unmatched in area history.
The Red Dragons were owners of a 37-game winning streak which produced a state title in 1961 and state runner-up finishes in SSRq60 and SSRq62. The success completely captivated a town, caught the eye of an entire state, and even garnered national attention.
“We would often get calls from sportswriters in other states, wanting scores, wanting stories,” said Bob Shaw, an assistant under head coach Tony Mason in ’63. “Between the winning streak and the number of ex-Niles players who were playing major college football, Niles was nationally known.
“In town, families simply didn’t plan weddings in the fall. We played our games on Saturdays, and if you had a wedding on a game night, no one would attend. Everyone would be at the game.”
Given the magnitude of the spotlight, it would have been understandable had the ’63 team caved under the expectations of living up to past success. After all, while the roster featured 22 seniors, it also included just two lettermen.
However, Niles did have two things in its favor as it prepared to kick off its ‘63 season.
“We had maybe the best high school coaching staff ever assembled,” said Jim Futey, a senior fullback on the team. “I mean, a lot of that staff ended up at big colleges. The ones who didn’t, they could have had they wanted to.
“You also have to take into account the fact that for three years, in practice we went up against the best team in the state.”
Indeed, the Red Dragons not only remained in the spotlight, they shined brighter than ever.
Sparked by a tenacious defense which virtually shut down all opponents, the SSRq63 Red Dragons posted a 9-0-1 record, earning the school its second state title in three years. The undefeated season extended Niles’ unbeaten streak to 47 games.
Niles shut out seven opponents. An eighth foe — Steubenville Central Catholic — scored its lone points on a punt return. Only Toledo Scott and Farrell were able to score against the Niles defense.
Scott scored three touchdowns against Niles in a 60-22 rout. Two of the touchdowns came after the Niles first and second stringers had showered and were in street clothes, watching from the sidelines. Farrell grabbed a quick 6-0 lead on the Dragons, then was manhandled 27-6.
Meanwhile, the youthful offense exploded to produce the second-highest scoring output in Niles history (401 points).
Niles roared past its first three opponents — Cleveland East Tech, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney and Akron St. Vincent — by a combined score of 142-0. In week four, Niles and Cincinnati Roger Bacon would square off in an epic defensive standoff.
With both clubs sporting a 3-0 record, the Dragons and the Spartans battled to a 0-0 tie. For the first and only time during Niles’ unbeaten streak, an opponent held a statistical edge on the Dragons. Roger Bacon’s final drive ended at the Niles six-yard-line, where the Spartans narrowly missed a field goal in the waning seconds of the contest.
Anthony Flarey, a senior guard on the team, believes coaching kept Niles in the game against an opponent he says “was loaded with talent.”
“Honestly, talent-wise, Roger Bacon probably had the edge,” Flarey said. “They had a ton of skilled players, many who went on to have standout college careers. But our coaching staff had us so prepared, it was uncanny.
“They scouted opponents like no other staff did back then. We knew opponents’ formations, we knew what plays to expect. Preparation kept us in that game.”
Shaw said that Mason’s attention to detail went way beyond the norm. When he arrived in Niles in 1958, Mason implemented a year-round conditioning and weightlifting program which more advanced than many major college programs. He often had the first half of games filmed, then studied that film at halftime.
Shaw remembers the day Mason requested to have uniforms equipped with a pair of stripes toward the bottom of each sleeve, near the elbow.
It wasn’t a fashion statement. Instead, it was just another strategic move by Mason.
“Tony came up with the idea of the two stripes, believing that if they were sized and placed on the jersey correctly, they might confuse the defense,” Shaw said. “He figured that a ball carrier could position the football in a way in which it would be camouflaged in the stripes. Or a defender might mistakenly take the stripes for the ball, and go after a guy who didn’t have the ball.
“That’s something only Tony would think of.”
Following the tie with Roger Bacon, the Dragons regrouped to register wins over Steubenville Central Catholic (54-6), Toledo Scott (60-22), Farrell (27-6) and Erie Tech (62-0).
With two games remaining, the Dragons were ranked first in the United Press International statewide poll, and second in the Associated Press poll, behind Massillon. Niles fans were hopeful season-ending wins against a pair of perennial powerhouses would vault their team to a unanimous state title.
First up was a home game against Toledo Central Catholic — the defending state title holders.
Against Central Catholic, the Dragons scored two quick touchdowns and were never threatened in a 20-0 win. Senior quarterback Bill Gales fired a pair of touchdown passes to Steve Sisko and Mel Dixon, while junior fullback Cee Ellison tallied a one-yard run to register the scoring. The vaunted Toledo offense was limited to 68 total yards in the contest.
One week later, more than 15,000 fans packed Mollenkopf Stadium to watch the Dragons thrash Warren G. Harding, 36-0.
Niles wasted little time against the Panthers, running just three plays on the game’s first possession before Ellison rambled 39 yards for a score. Dixon added a six-yard touchdown run, while Gales connected with Jim Berline for three touchdown passes to complete the rout.
Harding gained 14 net rushing yards on 24 attempts.
Two days after the win over Warren, Niles was crowned state champs by both the A.P. and UPI voters.
Niles received word it won both poll championships on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 12:43 a.m. At the time, more than 300 players, coaches and fans were packed into Alberini’s Restaurant awaiting word from Columbus. At 1:30 a.m., an 80-car caravan paraded through the streets of town.
“The support was unreal back then,” Flarey said. “And again, a lot of that was because of our coaches. They weren’t just about football. They were all about molding young men into strong students and decent human beings. They were teachers. The town was grateful for that.”
Flarey went on to play collegiately at the Naval Academy, while Futey continued his career at Northern Michigan. In fact, nearly every one of the 22 seniors played at the college level at places like Michigan, Yale, Notre Dame, Ohio University and Dayton.
“College coaches used to come around to the school all the time,” Futey said. “They wanted Niles players, because they knew we were well-coached, and very disciplined.”
Final stats from the ’63 season reveal a team-oriented championship. Though Niles was one of the most dominating running teams in the state, no player came close to rushing for 1,000 yards. Dixon, with 661 yards, was the leading rusher, followed by Ellison (582 yards), Phil DePerro (543 yards) and Frank Lukz (328 yards).
Gales completed 51 passes - 16 for touchdowns - in 97 attempts for 968 yards while being named a high school All-American.
The following September, Niles opened the season with a 54-0 win over Cleveland East Tech under new head coach Glen Stennett. One week later, more than 30,000 fans would pack the Akron Rubber Bowl to watch Niles’ 48-game winning streak come to an end in a 14-8 loss to Massillon.