East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-11-20


ball players and rooters that returned
yesterday afternoon on the delayed
train from Baker City, where the high
school team went down in defeat Sat
urday. However, the score was so
close and the game won with such
difficulty by Baker that the Pendleton
team suffered no disgrace and 1t was
welcomed home with expressions of
regret but few of censure.
According to those who witnessed
the game, victory was not as easy for
Baker City as was indicated in the
dispatches Saturday. During the first
half the ball was kept in Baker City
rather than Pendleton territory, and
the advantage was rather with the
visiting team than otherwise. Also,
there was an excellent chance for a
Pendleton touchdown in the second
half had not a fatal tumble lost them
the ball.
In the first half Strand kicked off
to Bakers 10-yard line. and 1t was
returned 20 yards. Then the ball
went to Pendleton on downs, and on
the first play Reeves went through the
Baker line for five yards, after which
the team was held until Turner punt
ed. The ball was then worked back
and forth during the entire half,
though mostly in Baker territory, and
the half closed without a score.
At the very outset of the game
Turner. Pendleton's quarter. received
an injury to his back which made him
unable to play his usual game. al
though he did not leave the field. In
the punting that was done during the
half he is said to have excelled that
of the Baker City kicker
One OF the features of the first hall
was a 25-yard run by Strand, in which
he was downed by the safety. Also
some good ground gaining was done
by the latter, and also 25-yard end
run. However, ON the last named he
fumbled the ball when tackled and II
was taken In by n Bakerite. The first
half ended with the ball on Bakers
35-yard line.
In the second half Baker kicked to
Pendleton's 25-yard line, and the ball
was soon lost on downs. Good gains
were made by Baker in line plunges
and hurdles through Pendleton's left
guard and tackle, which place was
made the point of attack during near
" all of the game. AS a result, Reeves
and Goodman, who held those places
were subjected to merciless hammer
ing.
During the second half Lester Means
went into the game, relieving Good
man, but as he had been out of the
game for a month through an injury
he was in no condition to withstand
the onslaughts.
However, at one time during the last
half it looked favorable for a Pendle'
ton score. The ball was in their hands
in Baker territory and was being taker
towards the goal with good gains
when an unfortunate tumble by Tur
ner gave the ball to Baker. This dis
heartened the team considerably, anC
the ball was worked back by Bakei
and a touchdown was made within
about eight minutes of the close of thu
half A goal was also kicked, thu
making the score to o.
On lining up after the touchdown
Pendleton went into the game will
more spirit than they showed durint
any other part of the game, How
ever, while some good gains wer'
made, time was called before the!
could redeem themselves. The hal
closed with the ball near the cente
of the field.
But few plays were used by eithe
team during the game. Bakers favor
ite plays were line plunges or hurdle
through Pendleton's left line. Rarel!
did they make an end play, and whei
they did but little was gained, 70
they could make little headway aroun'
either Stricklin or Thompson. Sew
eral quarterback fakes were tried
Most of Pendleton's gains were mad
by end runs by Strand, Pierce o
Stricklin, while Scott, . Baker an
Thompson were stars on defensiv
work.
On returning from Baker City yes
terday Coach Dan P. Smythe said:
"I don't want to make excuses TO
the defeat, but 1t certainly was Pen
dleton's off day My men did no
play the kind of ball they are capabl
of except during the last few minute
of play, when it was too late. w
could beat Baker City If we were t
play them here"