The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-13
Crimson and Gray Saved From a
Shutout in the Football Game
With Holy Cross by a MisspIay
Near the End of the Game
PUPPIES GRIDIRON
HEROES SCORED TWICE
Superior Weight Backed Up by
Heady Work on Larkin's Part
and Brilliant Playing by Reid
MCCabe and Mercer in the
Contest

on the grtdiron yesterday afternoon, at
the Holy Cross campus, and the Holy
Cross boys won by a score of II to 5,
in game that was good to watch
Both teams played their strongest
elevens and the contest was for blood
Tech was fearful it would be without
the services of Clancy and Chickering
its best ends, but both men were in
uniform and did excellent work when
they had an opportunity to try for
gains. Rylands made the only touch
down for Tech and he got the opportu-
nifty on tumble by Sicily, but Skelly
did enough brilliant work for Holy
Cross to have this mistake overlooked
Hal McCabe and DOC" Mercer were
in the Holy Cross line, much to the
delight of the Holy Cross supporters.
1t was MERGERS first appearance on the
gridiron for a couple of seasons, and
he showed it by his handling of the
ball. He was not so sure as the other
men and made some fumbles that
| looked disastrous but when ii came to
breaking up the Tech line, he was very
much in the game. McCabe acted as
captain in the absence of Lawler, and
his presence at centre gave the Holy
Cross men confidence.
Tim Larkin, the little quarterback
|
last year, was Johnny on the spot for
Holy Cross yesterday afternoon. His
clear head kept the players of his side
on the right lines all the time and no
player on either eleven followed the
ball so closely. Several times during
the contest he saved Holy Cross by
capturing balls on fumbles and it was
he who made the first touchdown for
the collegians after Sicily had dropped
the ball and the Tech line was scram-
bling for it. He got there first and
was over the line before Tech hardly
knew what was up. He caught three
of the five kickoffs from the Tech side
and he lodged through the Tech team
for long runs every time.
Reeds sensational vault of the Tech
line was one of the features of the
game, as he made gain after gain by
sailing over the opposing line, as it
was touched to break up the Holy
Cross plays. Skelly and Baldwin
bucked the Tech line hard and with
good success.
Outside of Clancy, Chickering and
Rylands, none of the Tech men had
any opportunity to distinguish himself
as Tech did not have the ball long
enough to do anything to speak of in
ground gaining. The Tech team was
much lighter than the Holy Cross elev-
en- but it withstood the terrific plunges
of the heavier men well. The Tech
men were not in such good physical
condition as the collegians and time
was called more frequently to allow
them to catch their wind
Holy Cross used its beef most of the
| time and plunged at the Tech line for
repeated and sure gains. It's trick
plays did not meet with success. The
| tackle back formation was disastrous
many times and the collegians had to
| depend on line plunges and Reeds
hurdling to make gains.
Captain McCabe won the toss for
Holy Cross and chose to defend the
west goal. Walsh kicked off for Holy
Cross 20 yard line where Larkin was
waiting for the ball He made a neat
catch and was down the field like
flash, getting back 25 yards before he
was downed by Chickering. The Holy
Cross began it's fearful attack on the
Tech line, battering it time after time
for small though sure gains. Reed
went through for five yards on the first
try and repeated the play on the next
| line up. Skelly then relieved him and
took the ball for the third play and got
through for five more. Holy Cross
tried right tackle over but lost four
yards on it and then Reed made one
of his sensational vaults. He got the
| ball on the pass and before Tech knew
| what was up he was over the line, not
as graceful as a bird but as surely
There was only Clancy and Rylands be-
| tween him and the goal but Clancy was
there for keeps and he tackled the
Holy Cross fiier and downed him after
gain of 10 yards. Skelly was sent
| through Techs left end at the Is yard
| line and in the mixup he lost the ball
| 7 he ,,foI
ball up on the bound and darted for the
line 10 yards away. The whole Tech
team was after him but the speedy lit
| tie quarterback had the running
strength to get there and he ducked
! through for touchdown in minutes
and 10 seconds. Baldwin missed his
try for goal.
On the kickoff, Walsh sent the ball
down the field and Larkin once more
got under ard brought 1t back 90
yards before he was downed Holy
Cross tried its tackle back formation
again but Mercer dropped the ball and
Clark fell on it in the centre of the
field. This was the first time Tech had
the ball and her supporters cheered
the players vigorously In the first mix
up Burke was stepped on and hurt so
badly it was thought he would have to
leave the game but he pluckily con-
LiHueu. dllupGSn ne WAS III q weakened
condition the rest of the contest.
Walsh gained six yards through the
collegians right end and Clancy tried
the opposite side for four more Chick
ering got around the right end for five
yards and then Hawkes. was given the
ball but he was downed in his tracks
by Noone without a gain. Chickering
went through for three yards but on
i the next play he fumbled and the ball
went to Holy Cross at its IS yard line
4 Baldwin and Mercer made four yards
each in the next two plays and Holy
I Cross worked its tackle back forma-
I ton again, this time with great sue
cess. Mercer made Is yards on the first
try and 10 on the second. Two rushes
i through the centre put the ball on
i Techs So yard line and time was called
for the first half.
Baldwin kicked out of bounds twice
i at the opening of the second half.
! Walsh kicked to Holy Cross 20 yard
line where Noone got the ball but he
was tackled by Clancy before he could
make more than five yards. Reed made
one of his fiishts over the Tech line
for a gain of five yards when Holy
I Cross had four to gain on the third
down. Skelly went through the left end
for eight yards. The right tackle over
formation gave Mercer another chance
IL drop the ball and he did so, but
Baldwin fell on the ball and Holy
4 Cross retained possession The play
cost Holy Cross 10 yards and Reed
punted. Burke was waiting for the ball
as it sailed through the air but he fun