The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-21
FOOTBALL
VARSITY IS STRONG
Minnesota Team Has Good Enough
), Material to Win the Western
Championship.
Backfeld Is Especially Good =
O'Brien Will Fill Place Of
Harris cAceptably.
Varsity 81, Minneapolis Central 6.
Varsity SO, st. Paul Central O.

Altho the varsity team was scored on
by Central high, Saturday afternoon, the
general opinion among the rooters is that
Minnesota has the material for one Of the
best teams in the history Of the institu-
ton.
With the exception of the 1901 team.
when eight members Of the championship
eleven of the year before reported, the
squad at the varsity is stronger than 1t
has been at this date any season in the
last six years. Right end is still weak,
and the guards are hardly up to stand
strong.
The accident to Sig Harris, the speedy
quarter who dislocated his left elbow
Saturday, will not weaken the team ma
terially. Henry OBrien is playing a
game fully as strong as that put up by
Sig. It is question whether Harris or
the st. Paul man will hold the place
when Sig gets back into the moleskins.
Minneapolis Central high put up re-
markable game Saturday. Fred Hunter,
who scored the one touchdown for the
high school boys, Thayer the fullback,
Keyes, right end, and Cass, right tackle,
were the stars Cass plays a game which
would win him place on almost any uni
versity team in the west. Thayer out
punted the varsity kickers easily, and his
good work in this respect enabled Central
to keep the ball in varsity territory dur
ing the first fifteen minutes Of the half.
The high schools score came like light
ming out of clear sky. After being out
played by the high school in the first ten
minutes. the varsity got together and
bucked thru the schoolboys for a touch
down. Davies missed a hard goal, and the
score was to 0. Almost on the first play
after the next kickoff Hunter got around
right end DR.. Williams had taken out
Marshall, thinking the colored boy was
loafing. Bergen, who replaced him, was
neatly boxed by the schoolboys, and Hunt
er, aided by perfect interference, got past
Harris, and had a clear field. Irsfield an6
Davies tried to overtake the stocky half
back, but they might as well have chased
the wind. Hunter easily ran away from
the varsity men, and planted the bal
souarely under the goal posts, after a ru1
of 80 yards. Thayer kicked the goal ant
the high school was in the Lead.
That woke the varsity up, and durin,
the rest of the half the men played rea
football, scoring three more touchdown
in Jig time. Central still played a con
sistent game, but was too much out
weighed. In the second half the varsit
had walkover against the st. Paul Cen
trail The saints had bad attack Q
stage fright and did not play anywher
near the game that had been put up b.
the Minneapolis lads. Their tackling wa
varsity style-usually around the necl
NeuSsle and Bergen, who replaced IrSnel
and Davies at halves for the varsity
played good football. Neussles hurdlin
was one of the features of the game
O'Brien, at quarter. ran the team wit
speed and good judgment, and displaye
his usual ability in carrying the ball.
One of the most interesting points G
the game was the Quarterback play.
The crowd was curious to see just wha
plays would be used under the new rule
which allows the man who first receive
the ball from the center to run with il
Saturday the varsity took advantage c
this rule in making end runs, the cente
passing the ball directly to halfbacl
who carried it around the opposite en-
or outside tackle. The direct pass give
an opportunity to bring this play off wit
much more speed than when two me
handle the ball.
Saturdays play demonstrated the fac
that the varsity has at least four goo
halfbacks. Irsfield is easily the star {
the quartet, and Davies is not far benin
him. Neussle and Bergen also are ur
questionably varsity material. Currer
plays a fair game at fullback. OF til
guards, Burdick is the most promising
and Russell comes next. Summing vi
the varsity is strong in the back fel
and at the tackles. There is still lack
good punter, and it is strange that Glea