In 1903, the Massillon Tigers became the first pro football team in Ohio. By the next season, many other Ohio cities organized teams, including the Canton Bulldogs. And Massillon and Canton, located only seven miles apart, became heated rivals right from the beginning. In a two-game series that ended in 1906, Canton topped Massillon 10-5 in the first game, but Massillon won the next game, 13-6. After the game, the 'Massillon Independent Newspaper' came out with a big news bulletin revealing a gambling scandal involving the Canton coach and one of its top players. Canton did not play again until 1912. From 1912 until 1919, Massillon-Canton battles were the highlight of every pro season. The Bulldogs, led by legend Jim Thorpe, won unofficial world championships in 1916, 1917, and 1919. Even today, the intense Canton-Massillon games continues in one of America's most storied high school rivalries. Footballhistorian.com - Archives - Football History