Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-12

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In a game replete with fumbles that
made the contest uncertain and slow,
the Occidental football team was VIC
orious over the University of South
ern California yesterday afternoon on
the Highland Park campus, by score
of 10 to 0.
showed we'll at times on the offense
and defense, fumbling marred what
might possibly have been fair exhl-
bition. Something like hypnotism ap-
peared to hover over the players OF
both teams and fumbling finally de-
veloped into the spectacular part of
the struggle.
u. S. G. did the most miserable work
in this respect, and time after time
the cardinal-sweatered huskies would
start on an advance march only to
throw away what chance of touch
down there might be.
Merril's team played with something
of machine-like precision, especially
before Spaulding left the game, Civ
ing way to Hodge. The latter played
a good game in the field, but lost more
than one opportunity by slowness in
driving the team with quick signal
work.
Occidental Charges Well
were superior to Holmes squad and
gained most of their ground by get
ting into the plays low and hard, the
men working together in fighting for
the inches. The varsity team was able
to gain through the black and gold
forwards, but not with the same de-
gree of success that marked the line
plunging of the Highlanders. The Oc-
cidental ends were practically impreg-
nable, A. Merrill and Hagerman in
most instances throwing the varsity
backs behind their own line for losses.
Merrill's men showed a strong de-
fensive game all around and the big
forwards had little difficulty as a rule
in getting the jump on the university
formations. Petty and Weiman played
in better form on the defensive than
in any game during the season, though
the former was not up to the form he
has previously shown at the offensive
play.
The most ragged work of the day
must be charged to the university men
who fell below what was expected of
them after the game with Stanford.
ochoa undoubtedly loomed UP as the
strongest player of the Methodist
squad and on both offense and defense
he gave evidence of a natural ability
for gridiron work. His line plunges
netted the best gains of the day for
the university during the first half,
though Jack White, who entered the
game in the last half, shared equally
with the big full back in securing the
needed territory Haigler was heavy,
and at times made fair gains but his
slowness gave the Occidental backs
ample opportunity to down him when
he got through the forwards.
A. Merrill the Star
A. Merrill of the Occidental eleven
carried off the honors for the longest
individual gains, and in one instance
on a split play slirted the left wing
of the university for thirty-f1ve yards
bringing the ball within the shadow
of the U. S. c. goal posts.
Clark the big full back of the
orange and black, showed the same
steady form that distinguished his
play against the st. Vincent team and
was equal to a gain In nearly every
instance that ground was needed.
Bruce Merrill and Thatcher played
more consistent ball than in any of
the games thus far during the sea-
son, and showed a better aptitude at
the defensive game than in the pre-
vious contests.
The orange and black line exhibited
the result of low charging drill and
with the exception of a few instances
fell before the opposing rushes of
Holmes men. Had 1t not been for
their fatal fumbles the Occidental men
NOulu nave run up larger score, as
the varsity players found 1t impossible
to keep the ball for more than three
or four downs without tossing it to an
Occidental man.
u. S. c., on the other hand, would
in all probability have scored at some
stage of the game. barring their FUN
bles, for in more than one instance
they started off in a steady march to
the Occidental goal for what seemed
In all likelihood a touchdown.
The team work of the Highlanders
was far ahead of that of their oppo-
nents, and that fact alone would have
given them victory casting the FUN
bles of either side out of the ques-
tion.
Occidental Must Work
II Occidental is to win against Po-
mona next Saturday, however, there
must be some hard work for the High
landers do not appear fast enough to
take the measure of the Claremont
men, on yesterdays form and the pos
sibility of Merrill's men winning from
Pomona does not loom up in striking
fashion.
Elliott, the u. S. C. left end. was
fast at getting under Ochoas punts
and showed the class that marked his
play of former seasons.
Weiman and Ochoa engaged in a
punting battle during the last half
with honors even, although the Occi-
dentals might have gained to advan-
tage by further resort to the kicking
game considering the U. S. C. ten
dency TO tumble.
Hagerman and Merrill were speedy
In following Weimans punts, and
when Hodge entered the game he also
displayed clever ability In downing
the man receiving the kick.
Story Of the First Half
Ochoa kicked off out of bounds and
the ball was brought back Ochoa
kicked TO Clark and the full back came
back for five yards. Occidental carried
the ball TO the forty-yard line on bucks
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