Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-16
We WIN FROM MERRILL
THE NORTHERNERS ARE SHOWED UNDEE
In Saturdays Football Game With Grand
Rapids High SchooI-Fina Score is
II to o.

II there was any strength IN the
Merrill football team Saturday it was
successfully hidden from the view of
the spectators. AS practice in
offensive playing for the Grand
Rapids high school, the game was Of
some value. For about two short
minutes during the entire game did
Merrill have the ball. The only times
the Merrillites gave our boys any
trouble was near the close of the first
and second halves, One minute before
the end Of the second half they sue
cessfully prevented fourth touch
down. With the ball on the goal line
Grand Rapids was held on the third
down. Then for the second time dur
ing the game Merrill secured the ball,
and made good use of the opportunity
by advancing it twenty yards. The
spectators interest 10 the proceedings
was again aroused, There appeared
to be blood in the eyes Of the Mer-
ril!ites. But, alas. it was too late.
Time was called and the game was
over. The crowd dispersed and the
MerrilliteS went home to tell the
news.
The weakness of the opponents did
not act aS an incentive to the Grand
Rapids players. They did we'll but
can do better. They were in pink of
condition and at times it seemed as if
they merely toyed with the football
lists from the north. With a little
more training it is safe to predict that
Grand Rapids will be able to hold
their own with any high school team
in the state. Capt Kelley, COrcOran, p,
Murgatroyd and Brennan were as
usual good grOund-gainers. 1t was
seldom that they failed to make the
required distance. Brennan was
especially d bad Indian in the eyes of
the NorthernerS. Whenever he
sailed forth to do battle he was gen.
orally given the right of way
The game opened with kick off by
Kelley. Merrill lost ten yards, and
after several attempts at line smash
ing gave up The ball to Grand Rapids
on the fifteen yard line. Brennan
then made a five and d ten yard
plunge for the first touch down.
Kelley kicked goal. Score, to O.,
Merrill kicked off to Horton who
advanced The ball ten yards. Corcoran,
Brennan and Murgatroyd were now
given their turns and the procession
went quickly towards MerrilPS goal.
Brennan made the last ten yards of
the Journey and the second touch
down. Kelley added point by kick
ing goal Score, Y to 0. Merrill
again landed the pigskin in Horizons
arms and he carried it forward ten
yards. The ball was then advanced
with much regularity by CorcOran,
Brennan and Murgatroyd. When the
third touch down was about to take
place, Merrill became inspired with a
spirit of opposition. Time was called
and that ended the first half.
Evidently Merrill thought that
Horton, because he was small, would
be an easy mark. For third time
they kicked the ball to him. This
time. however. he made no advance.
Corcoran made an attempt without
success. The ground gamers then
began a systematic series of plungeS,
making two, three and five yard clips
almost at will. To break the mUnO-
tony Brennan broke away and, giving
the WarwhOOp, measured off fifteen
yards in Grand Rapids favor before
he was laid low. Gains were then
made by Kelley, Corcoran and Muir:
gatroyd supported by another ten-yaro
| run Oy brennan. M uTSdufOyu went
the remaining distance of three yards
and touched the ball behind MerrIll's
goal posts Kelley failed to kick goal
Score, II to 0. Merrill now lifted the
ball to Kelley and he advanced it five
yards. Murgatroyd went forth five
yards, Brennan; ten: Kelley, five
Corcoran, five. Then after a few
more forward movements the bal
rested on Merrill's two yard line. L
was here that Merrill made he
grand stand. After two downs Crane
Rapids was able to get the ball on tl1'
goal line, and aS the third down tOl(
no different story, the Northerner