Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-22
OMAHA CLINCHES ITS CLAIM
Now U~ndisputed Champion o.
Nebraska Scholastic Teams.
PLACE KICK WINS THE DAY
Lincoln shows Great speed In the
New Open Game, but the Purple
and white Score only
Points.
Omaha High. 4; Lincoln High. 0.

Omaha High. 4; Lincoln High. O.
Omaha High school clinched its claim
10 the Nebraska state foot ball cham
pionshlp yesterday afternoon at Dietz
park. winning through a place kick
from the thirty-five-yard line in the
middle Of the second half. The glory of
booting the ball over belongs to Gardner,
who was not In the lineup In the first half.
From the minute Callahan of Lincoln
kicked off at the beginning of play until
the last whistle blew. the game was either
sides although the chance Of Lincoln de-
preciated considerably as the second half
progressed. Both teams played every
ounce OF foot bail which they had within
them and the contest was so fierce in the
second half thai time was taken out again
and again until one or more players could
recuperate.
Lincoln starts Fast.
The first half was all Linooln's and the
visitors missed a touchdown by the mar
rowest possible margin. the time beir
called with the ball one yard from tn goal
line. The red and white had len going
down the field twenty and thtty yards at
the jump through beautiful execution OF
the forward pass. What would have hap
pened IL there had been a minute more to
play, OF course, DelOnSs ~ ihS hip VI
endless speculation, yet the general con-
viction was that It was mighty fortunate
for Omaha that the half ended when II did.
The second half told a different story.
Omaha's greater weight and a reinforced
back field produced big gains at straight
foot bail and a few minutes after play had
begun Omaha had the ball on Lincoln's
three-yard line. Mckinney and then Mills
failed to gain and Gardner, who had re-
placed Prentiss. was called upon. He
plunged into the line, but Lincoln held as
tight as before and the ball went TO Lin
coin. L. Mann kicked It out OF danger for
the time being. Soon Omaha had the ball
back within striking distance and the same
sequence of ~fruitless attempts to shove the
pIgskin over resulted More exchanges OF
kicks resulted, and finally Mann punted
from his own ten-yard line to Mckinney.
who heeled II for a fair catch at the
thirty-five yard intersection. Gardner after
but little preparation kicked it straight over
the cross bar. The goal was a long one
to make and admiration of the kick was
mingled with the enthusiasm over the first
and only score of the game.
Hut One score Made.
Neither side came near scoring after this,
but until the close the $500 spectators
we're frequently breathless. since every other
play was a kick or n forward pass and the
possibilities Of Mckinney, Mann or Will
liams getting way with a clear field were
considerable. Moreover. 1t had grown so
dark by now that accuracy in catching
was impossible and the ball. fumbled after
every long kick by Thompson or Mann,
might at any instant be picked up by a
fleet end and a score made.
The Omaha back field was hitting the
line harder in this half and whereas in
the first half II had difficulty In making
first down at all, in the second long
foot ball. Lincoln had made its big dis
tances in the first half through the won
derfully long and accurate passing Of Cal
lahan. The double pass was used to great
advantage several times and It was by
plays OF this sort. In which Quarterback
williams and l.. Mann shone conspiouously.
that the ball was kept In Omaha territory.
Lincoln tried the pass with much less sue
cess In the latter part Of the game. The
ball was now generally missed and a
fifteen-yard penalty. of course. was the
result.
LincOIns Fail with Pass.
Omaha also used the pass with success
several times. but its proficiency was less
than Lincoln's. In the kicking depart
ment Mann outpunted Thompson, but the
gain which would thus have resulted on an
exchange OF kicks was frequently more