Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-11
LOSE IN FIRST
CAME OF SEASON
Rock Island High School Foot
ball Team Is Downed by
Clinton High.
FINAL SCORE is 5 TO 0
Visitors Score Earl and Then Hold
Locals Safe-LiittS Work Is
Feature of Game.

| Feature of Game.
| The Rock Island high school football
| team lost its first interscholastic game
of the season Saturday. Clinton max
| ing a touchdown in the first few min
utes of play. and then holding the
locals for the remainder of the game.
Clinton failed to kick goal after max
! ing its touchdown and the final score
was ; 10 O.
The game was played in a pouring
rain, which so bothered the players
that they were unable to show their
real form Fumblius was frequent,
principally on account of the ball be-
ing wet and slippery. and it was Gin
tons good fortune to profit by nearly
every tumble.
Score in short Order.
Rock Island kicked off to the visitors
and the first scrimmage took place on
the 25-yard line. Clinton fooled the
Rock Island defense on the very first
play. man playing well out towards
the side lines on The left and receiv-
ing a forward pass as soon as the ball
was put into play. y good gain re
suited from this play and the ball was
brought almost to the center of The
field. Then on off tackle plays and
line smashcs. Clinton worked the ball
down TO the locals 20-yard line, where
they We're held for two downs without
4 gain. Generalship won the game for
the visitors at this point. \ formation
for a place kick was called. and as the
ball was passed back from center the
Rock Island defense closed in on the
kicker which left the field in front of
the line of scrimmage perfectly open.
Two Clinton backs went out from their
line and received a forward pass from
The man who received the ball from
the center. and before the Rock Island
quarterback and fullbacll could get 10
them. the ball was over the line. The
try at goal failed and the score was
to 0.
Locals Liven Up.
After having been scored upon. the
locals took a brace and for the re-
mainder of the half more than played
Clinton even. The ball swayed back
and forth in the center of the field
with Rock Island in possession of it
most of the time. The crimson and
gold made the mistake repeatedly,
however. of failing to punt on their
third down when they had little chance
of making their distance. and the re-
suit was that Clinton received the ball
time after time on downs when they
could have been pushed from % 70 40
yards nearer their own goal had Rock
Island punted This failure to punt on
the third down was the principal rea-
son for the loss of the game A fair
punt always means a gain of at least
% yards for the puntcr's side. and if it
is well placed gives both sides an
equal chance to recover the ball. Gin
ton repeatedly took advantage of this |
phase of the game. and because of |
their recovery of most of their own
punts, they won the game by keeping |
Rock Island away from their goal line |
Play Well in Second.
The local high school boys had all |
the advantage in the second half. but |
they were unable to nose out a victory. |
although they were twice in possession
of the ball on their opponents 4-yard |
line. Captain Dick Lift did most of
the offensive work for Rock Island, his
long end runs. which brought the ball
almost to the goal line, being the
feature of the game MacManus at
fullback ard Canty at left half played
good ball. but neither showed the form
nor the power which chara cteriZed the
work Of Lift Richie played the posi-
rfr,nI nn1- +li |
showed that with a little more train
ing he will make a star man, especi-
ally in returning punts. The crimson
and sold appeared to be weakest in
the line. through which the Clinton
backs were able to gain repeatedly,
md which failed to make effective in
reference for its own back field when
n possession of the ball
Defeat Unexpected.
Both the students and team are Il
title downcast by the unexpected de
eat at the hands of team which has
lot beaten Rock Island in seven years,
)ut nevertheless the players and Coach
gray intend TO double their efforts to
get into shape for the game next
with Rockford. The lineup
Saturday was as follows:
Rock Island-Behnamann left end
Orips, left tackle; Allsbrow, left guard;
center; Tremann, right guard;
right tackle; Kittilsen.
light end; Rice, quarterback; Lift,
light half; Canty, left half; MacManus.
Clinton-Stormes, left end; Howes.
eft tackle: Spaulding, left guard; Vic