The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-22
MARION PROTESTS
 REFEREES DECISION Game Awarded to Birmingham High School on TechnicaIity PLAY WAS IN DISPUTE Different Interpretation of Rules--The Field Was Muddy, Preventing Fast
 Work-What the Officials
 Had To Say.

On muddy and sloppy field, the Br- mlngham High school met the Marion Military institutes football team at West End park yesterday. and by vir- tue of the decision of Referee Lynch, won the game by score of 6 to D.
 The game, however. was far from being satisfactory. It is being pro- tested by Coach Pfeister of Marion, who bases his claim on an erroneous interpretation of the rules, a decision declaring a touchdown void, and be- cause the game was not concluded.
 On account of the muddy field the game was slow and uninteresting. The heavy track, furthermore, brought about several fiuke plays, on which every score of the game was made. There was a small crowd out to wit ness the sport.
 However, both teams battled man fully. On the defensive, the line of each was impregnable to the assaults of the other Had the course been fast. it is very probable that the High school, on account of it's swifter gait and more scientific methods. would have triumphed decisively. The Ma rion team outweished the High school by an average of about fifteen pounds to the man.
 Each Team Scores.
 Marion scored first, towards the end of the first half After the visitors had punted, they recovered the ball. After losing it, they gained it again on q tumble. After two futile downs. a fake placed kick was called for, and the locals were taken completely by surprise. A forward pass resulted, and shannon broke across the line. The ball was kicked out. and fairly caught. Referee Lynch. however, declined to allow Marion to try for goal. claiming that there was no signal for fair catch. Coach Pfeister bases his pro- test on the ground that the rules make it unnecessary to signal for fair catch when the ball is punted to the man who catches 1t by a member of his own team. The rules do make this exception. and on prima facie evidence. the protest looks proper.
 In the second half. it began to ap pear as if there would be no more scoring. However, the High school, after bunting, recovered the ball on Marion's l yard line, Lampkin falling upon it. In one down, Fullback Harsh was sent against the line, and by beautiful buck went over easily. Streit kicked pretty goal
 The Referees Despair.
 Then. as everyone was preparing to leave the park, there occurred the most spectacular play of the game. The High school punted Quarterback Har- dy of Marion caught the ball, and made a dash for the opposing goal He shook off every man attempting to tackle him, and ran across the line. then between the goal posts. There was instantly a "holler" from Coach Prince of the High school, and numer- ous High school sympathizers. Referee Lynch was completely lost. The claim was being made that Hardy ran out of bounds. This Hardy denied, as did his coach, and other spectators. In his despair, Referee Lynch appealed to the umpire and the head linesman. Pro- lessor Stakeley of Howard, himself former football star was umpire. He gave 1t as his best Judgment and opin- ion that Hardy did not run out of hounds Head Linesman Young, prin- cipal of one of the schools of the city, was not so certain. He stated in hearing of the sporting editor Of The Age Herald that the uncertainty was so strong that he would be unable to make a positive declaration. Referee Lynch claimed not to have seen the slay. It was growing dark fast It Aouired fully twenty minutes for the referee to decide. He finally declared the touchdown did not count. basing nis decision on the doubt in the mind of the head linesman.
 Game Not Concluded.
 in the meantime, 1t had grown too aark for further play. The game was