The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-02
SAVANNAH WON EASY
TOOK CHARLESTON FOOTBALL
TEAM INTO CAMP.
BY SCORE OF II TO o.
VISITORS FOUGHT DESPERATELY
EVERY FOOT GAINED.

OutcIassed and OutpIayed the Boys
From "OVer Home" Went Down
Before the Sturdy Forest City
Men-The Game the Best Ever
Played on the Local GridirOn and
Witnessed by Enthusiastic Spec
tatOrs-VisitOrs Had Plenty Of
Money and Lost Heavily by Their
Teams Defeat-Many Exciting
Plays and Scrimmage Kept the
Crowd Interested and EnthuSed.
In a one-sided but fiercely contested
game of football Charleston went down
in defeat yesterday afternoon on the
Bolton street gridiron before Savannah
to the tune of II to 0. The Charleston
men fought gamely and died hard, but
they were no match for the sturdy
Savannaihians, and ten minutes of
play sufficed to show that both in
offensive and defensive work, the boys
from "over home" were outclassed.
Fully 5000 people, devotees of the
game, filled grandstand, bleachers and
side lines, and in their enthusiasm
crowded the field so that at times play
was delayed, the police being unable
to keep the crowd back. Whenever
either team, and especially Savannah,
made a good play-and they made
several-the crowd went wild, and the
scoring of a touchdown was the sig
nal for and scene of pandemonium.
The Savannah men were first in the
field, and were shortly followed by the
crimson and black warriors from the
city over the river. 1t was apparent
that the Charlestonians were out
classed in weight fully eight pounds
to the man, but they were a sturdy
lot, and each man looked every bit
a football player. The betting-and
there was a good bit of twas at even
money and the Charlestonians backed
their over confidence with legal tender
that found willing takers. AT least ST.
900 was Wagered and lost on the game.
Showed Well at First.
During the first five minutes of play
Charleston showed up to better adj
vantage than at any other stage of the
game. They even made substantial and
repeated gains in which they brought
the ball up the field fifty yards or more
before Savannah could recover herself.
The Charleston rooters, at least hum
dred of whom accompanied the team,
let loose their approval in no uncertain
terms and it looked rosy for the boys
in red.
But the enthusiasm was short lived.
Shortly after Savannah had gotten the
ball her superior strength and strategy
began to tell, and one by one the root
ers from cover home" took to the tall
timbers. The team played pluclxily on,
fighting every inch to the last ditch,
play, they saw that it was not for vic
tory TO perch on their banner. they
gamely tried to avoid nest-egg by at
tempting a difficult goal from the field.
1t would be hard to say who did the
best playing on the Savannah team.
Every man played the entire game, and
there was not one who did not contrib
ute his share to the general result
Capt. Cope generated his men with
rare skill at particular points and
stages of the game, demonstrating his
thorough knowledge of the play and
rules. Capt. Sneed, of Charleston made
the best of the limited opportunities
he had for a demonstration of his gem
eralship. the ball being in the hands
of the local men the best part of the
time.
Players in a "Scrap."
Shortly after the game began the
only unpleasant feature of the exhi-
bition, besides, perhaps, the crowding
of the field occurred. Captain Sneed
it was claimed held Rossiter, Savan-
nah's tackle, preventing him from get
ting into a play through his territory.
This angered the big tackle and he
proceeded to punch the Charleston cap
tain, not once. but several times,
Players interferred and mixed matters
up, and the crowd surged on the field
| making matters look serious Several
of the crowd took g hand in the scrim-
mage, but cooler heads had a quieting
influence. and the crowd was dispersed
and play resumed, though a number
of the players and spectators will take
home souvenirs of the msunderstand-
ing.
Savannah was in the pink of condf-
ton, while, on the other hand the Char
lestonians, though speedy and agrees
siVe, were often laid out. This was due,
in no small measure, to the fierceness
of their tackling, which was the most
excellent feature of their play.
Similar Team Plays.
The style of play of the two teams
was similar, though the boys from
home observed closer formation. and
made a wider sweep in circling the
ends. The trouble appeared to be that
their sweeps were wider than they
were long. Both teams were a trif1e
weak in defensive play. Savannah's
line was like a stone wall, and to the
work. of the men in the line is due
to great extent the victory.
The game began at O'clock. Char
lesion won the toss and choose to de-
fend the south goal. Cope kicked off
to the Is yard line. the ball being
caught by Buist, who returned it ten
yards before being downed The bali
was passed again to BUST, who made
beautiful run behind faultIess in
reference for twenty yards but ne
ran out of bounds. The ball was then
brought in. Holcombe attempted TO
go around left end. but was downed
by Landsburg without gain. Then
followed short gains of three, five and
eight yards.
The play of the Charlestonians at
this point is marked by much SNAP.
Sumter bucked two and a half wards
through tackle on first down. Buist is
passed the pigskin and circles left end
for eight yards, when he is downed
by Cope in a pretty tackle. Then Butts
and Holcombe, alternately carried the
sphere over the field, behind fine in
terterence for several ten yard gains.
Savannah Takes n Brace.
Here Savannah took a brace. Lands
ourg downed Charleston's big right
halt back for five-yard loss. After an
other fntiIo ott