The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-14
Exciting Football Game With
Hestbr0Ok Seminary.
POkTLAND HIGH WON THE BAT
TIE AFTER A HARD FIGHT.


Portland High school won its third con.
secutive game yesterday afternoon on tbe
Deering grounds, defeating the heavy
team of the Westbroolz seminary to the
tune of 10 to 4. 1t was well fought bat
tie and gave an opportunity of sizing up
the work of this snappy eleven on defen-
sive plays. With the right side of their
line in a very weak condition in the first
half the Portland boys succeeded in hold
ing the Westbrook team for seventeen
minutes before they were able to score
touchdown, and even then the score
would not have been made had it not
been for several unfortunate fumbles and
decidedly slow work on the part of the
High school backs at critical points. The
game was witnessed by four hundred
enthusiasts and they all came away i'm
pressed with the belief that the High
school has team this year to be proud of
and one which will do itself credit on the
gridiron before the year is out.
The Westbrook Seminary eleven is a
we'll balanced organization with plenty of
fame for themselves on other teams in
this state. There was Kelly in a uniform
OF the Westbrook seminary. Last year he
made fine record for himself ON the
High school team and is considered very
strong man. Then there was Bennett an
old Kent's hill player, Hall, who has had
great deal of experience, and several
%
Seminary team averaged fifteen points
heavier to the man than the Portland
team, and in the first half put up very
snappy battle Had the right of the Port
land g line been strengthened in time the
Westbrook men would not have had such
an easy time in getting this touchdown
and 1t wasn't very easy one for them
either.
Portland's centre is decidedly weak, the
backs need coaching in breaking up in
reference and running, the quarter back
is sometimes very slow and nervous and
nothing tends to weaken a team so much
as this players lack Of GOODNESS. The right
end is weak and there is where strong
man is needed and would be felt. OF the
two quarter backs, Walker, who played
during the second half is decidedly the
best man and surer on his passes. An
derson is fine little player, but is too
slow in handling the ball and apt to fun
BILE. With practice and coaching he would
| fill the position WE'LL however. Files was
clearly out of form yesterday. He went
| in to play in the second half and did not
seem to get into the game at all. One
thing which told against him was an in
jury he received early in the second half
which bothered him great deal. Twit-
| chell needs coaching badly if he is to be-
come great ground gamer. He is slow
in getting underway and then takes too
many chances on losing ground. Of
the two men who played right end yester-
day, Fogg is decidedly the better. Har-
mon could not seem to get into the inter-
ference. He too needs encouragement from
good coach to be made into good man.
Some stronger men as guards and centre
would be a great help, but those in the
position yesterday did excellent work and
in the second half in particular smashed
up the heavy backs of Westbrook until
they hesitated before trying the centre for
gains.
Underwood and Anderson are this year
the mainstays Of the team. The one is
always just where he is wanted and sure
tackle and better captain than the team
has had in years. He displays excellent
Judgment in his plays and handles the
team finely. The team rs whole is cap
able of playing fast and snappy game
and one full of scrap and ginger. 1t is too
bad that the days are passing SO rapidly
without a good coach. 1t is crying
necessity if Portland is to do anything in
the way of capturing championship games
this fell.
THE GAME.
Westbrook won the toss and took the
north goal giving Portland the ball. The
sun was in the eyes of the Portland men
when they lined up for the kick off. The
Westbrook team looked to be by far the
heavier of the two and the crowd antici-
pated clean victory for them when it
sized up the two teams.
Underwood kicked Off to the twenty
five yard line. A Westbrook man missed
the catch and fell ON the ball in his
tracks, barely saving it from the hands of
the p. I'll. S. slirmishers. On the line
up the Westbrook team played horse with
the Portland boys for a few minutes.
They knew that the right side of PORT
land line was the weakest and against
this point they massed all their strength.
Murch. the heavy full back of Westbrook
began rushing the ball over, instead of
through the centre and about every plav
he made. took the ball five yards nearer
the +. ii. S. goal. Once he tried it after
Knight had made a short gain and On the
second down with four yards to gain and
he run against a snag. Murch was held
for loss OF ground and shortly after
wards Stafford got around the right end
for the necessary gain, but was brought
down In terrible shape by Anderson's