Many folks in this area still refer to it as Altoona High School’s greatest football win ever.

Fifty years ago – Oct. 15, 1966, to be exact – the Altoona Mountain Lions traveled to Massillon, Ohio and defeated the fabled Massillon Tigers, 20-14, on their home turf.

At the time, Massillon was considered one of the finest high school programs in the country. The 1960s, of course, produced some of Altoona’s best teams ever, guided by legendary coach Earl Strohm and featuring many players who went on to collegiate and professional stardom.

Altoona and Massillon began a three-game series in 1964, with the Tigers winning the first two – in Massillon (24-18) and at Mansion Park (14-0). The Lions went to Ohio for the third meeting and stunned most of the nation – except for some western Pennsylvania followers – by beating the Tigers, 20-14.

“There was no doubt in our minds that we were going to win that game,” Vince Nedimyer recalled.

Nedimyer, an offensive guard who went on to play at Wake Forest University before returning to Altoona as a teacher, coach and athletic director until retiring, said: “It feels like yesterday.”

“To win there was unheard of,” Nedimyer noted. “It was something we all cherished and remembered and were glad to be part of with the community.”

Only three of 19 reporters in the pressbox predicted an Altoona victory prior to the kickoff – two from Altoona, including late former Mirror sports editor Herb Werner, and one from Cleveland.

Except for a couple costly turnovers, Altoona actually dominated the game, outrushing the Tigers, 291-204, and holding the ball for 64 offensive plays, 19 more than the Ohio team, leaving little doubt in the minds of the 15,810 fans who attended the game.

“(Quarterback) Walter Beatty played a great game, and (linebacker) Dave McGrath made an interception that sealed it,” Nedimyer recalled.

Greg Campbell led Altoona rushers with 88 yards on 23 carries, Phil Witherspoon gained 76 on 11 tries, while Gene Speacht had 28 on eight and Gary Madden 32 on nine. First downs were 18-8 in favor of Altoona.

Altoona drove the length of the field after the opening kickoff, but a fumble (one of three lost by the Lions) at the 1-yard line spoiled the great start. Massillon scored first, taking an 8-0 lead. The Lions, though, responded with a 17-yard TD pass from Beatty to Speacht.

“That was a long time ago,” said Speacht, who went to William Penn College in Iowa and later returned to Altoona where he was a business manager-controller before retiring.

“We had a great relationship with Massillon,” Speacht recalled. “There was a great crowd, the stadium was packed … it was so unreal. There was so much excitement.

“We thought it was going to be our year, and it was,” Speacht said.

The Lions struck early in the second half when Campbell culminated a 73-yard drive with a 3-yard run for a 14-8 Altoona lead. However, Massillon answered to tie it at 14-all.

Later, a McGrath interception gave Altoona the ball at the Massillon 21. Seven plays later, Beatty scored from the 1 on a QB sneak. The Lions led 20-14 and were able to hold off the Tigers the rest of the night.

“I was calling defensive signals,” linebacker Mike Traficante recalled, “and I had to scream in everyone’s ears because the noise was unbelievable.

“It was a great experience for a 17-year-old,” Traficante said. “It was so exciting to play there … so many people. It was real first class.”

More than 3,000 Altoona fans made the trip to Ohio on a special train (it docked within walking distance of the field), busses and automobiles.

“I think we left Friday morning,” center Steve Thompson said. “We practiced there Friday afternoon and had a walk-through Saturday. It was nothing we had ever experienced.

“We had big crowds in Altoona,” Thompson said, “but this was Massillon – the biggest game of our lives.”

In pregame ceremonies, the lights were turned out and players were introduced individually via spotlight. Massillon dressed so many players they encompassed Altoona players in the middle of the field.

“(But), once the game started, and you got that first hit, you just tried to beat the guy across from you,” said Thompson, who went to Duke, and along with his dad, Bob, were the first father-son duo to win the prestigious Cohen Blanket Award as the Lions’ most valuable player.

“The Massillon win was the highlight of my (football) career,” Thompson said.

It was Massillon’s first loss at home since the 1962 season (to Cleveland St. Benedictine) and only the third win ever over the Tigers by a non-Ohio team. Prior to that one, the last Pennsylvania team to win at Massillon was New Castle in 1937.

“I’ll tell you how big it was,” Nedimyer added, laughing. “There was a blurb in Sports Illustrated about our win. It certainly solidified who we were.”

Fifty years later, they’re still talking about it.