The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-23
SPORTS
PLAY SHOWS SPEED
Varsity Football Team Puts Up a
Snappy Game Against Central
High School Men. >...
St. Paul High Eleven Ties Second
! Team-Minnesota Rooters
/ Are Much Encouraged.


football tenn succeeded In crossing the goal
lime of tho plucky Minneapolis Central high
school eleven in yesterdays. game on Northrop
field. In twenty minutes of snappy play the
gophers scored five touchdowns and Rogers con-
verified three Of these into goals. - 49,.
The st. PauI Central high team succeeded III
holding the second varsity team down to
cipher. The light but gritty lads from the saint
~ city put up a strong defense, the work OF
McGregor at left end being especially note
worthy. The second team played regulation Min
nesota football. That is to say, they per-
formed in a listless, careless manner, until the
time too far gone to score. Then they
started in to play the game as 1t should be
played, keeping up the squirt for half dozen
downs at the end of which time called.
1t the kind of play which has lost
Minnesota varsity teams any number of games
in time past. The second eleven had little diff
fculty In gaining ground when they refrained
from fumblins and did not confuse the signals:
The fumbles, however, quite frequent
enough to destroy all their chances Of scoring.
Once with the ball the high schools two
yard line, McCircgor got the sphere on tumble
and sprnted thirty-tive yards before he was
downed by Harcldson.
vARsITY's PLAY FULL OF GINGER.
The play in the second contest was decidedly
encourag tng. In point of speed and ginger the
play left little to DO desired The varsity start
ed after the high school boys the minute the
whistle blew. and in about three minutes had
battered their way ninety yards down the field
for touchdown without check. This sort of
procession continued throughout the game, save
when an occasional tumble gave the high school
the ball.
J. Harris ran the varsity beautifully, and repeat
sdly put the plays off before the high school
boys had gotten their places in the line 1t
was the fastest, snappiest play ever seen on
yNorthrop field at this time of the year, and in
point Of speed the work was fully up to the
usual varsity form in championship games
: On the whole the fumbling much less
frequent than is usual IN the first games Of the
season Most encouraging Of ALL however, was
the disposition to play the game at the start,
at the finish and all the time between. The
eleventh hour brace characteristic of last years
team was forestalled by first hour brace
SCIENCE IS LACKING.
>. In point Of science 1t must be admitted that
the play left much to be desired. The line
men, although outclassing their opponents in
weight failed usually to open holes for the
backs. and the varsity made It's gains largely
Through the speed of the play and the superior
weight of the men. Time and again runners
were tackled at the line, but excess beef enabled
them to shake off their opponents and pillow
other hand, did good work in clearing the way
for the linemen to carry the ball. and Rogers,
Van Falkenburg and Smith and Flynn did good
work in advancing the sphere. Rogers, espe-
c1aly, showed good judgment in picking his
holes.
Individual criticism of the varsity's play is
acter of the game. The work of OBrien and
Davies in advancing the ball. as well as that of
the four 1nemen previously mentioned, was ex-
cellent Both these men appear to be half
backs of varsity caliber. They possess the
two most essential qualities for successful
half, speed and nerve, in high degree. Lig-
gett's reckless line bucking evoked some ap-
plause; the decollette character of his uniform
evoked more.
The work of the team in handling and running
back k1ckofs, on the whole. left much to be de-
sired. No criticism be made of some Other
features of the game. because opportunity fol
such critisim given. The varsity did not
punt once, so that their work in this respect can
not be sized up. On the whole, the exhibition
was encouraging.
knowlton and La Fans were both out In
uniform at the close Of the games, and praoticet
punting for Il short while. They will probably
be out for regular practice to-day.
SCRUBS HAVE PRACTICE GAME,
Following the varsity game, the third anf
Fourth teams, under Captains Nye and Mccarthy
respectively, were pttted against each other il
twenty minutes of fierce play.
In the game between the third and fourth
teams, some fast work done on both sides
and for the first half of the play neither side
scored Then Nye secured the ball on a tumble
and ran twenty-five yards for a touchdown fo
the third team.
After that some fast work made it look a.
though the third team would again; but
tumble gave Burdtck the ball for run of nearly
eighty yards and a touchdown, which tied thu
score.
Toward the end of the varsity game O'Brie1
hurt his knee and carried FROM the field
HIS injury is not serious but will keep hin
out of the game for day two. Yesterday