Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-17

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Fighting fiercely to the last minute Of
play Nebraska went down to defeat before
the powerful Minnesota eleven at vinton
park yesterday afternoon in one OF the
hardest battles ever waged between these
two teams.
Neither side scored in the opening half
and the advantage seemed to be with the
Cornhuskers when the whistle sounded for
the ten-mlnute intermission; but in the
second half the Gophers succeeded in twice
crossing the Nebraska goal n In once
getting the bali over the crossbars for a
drop kick, making the score: Minnesota.
IL; Nebraska, 0.
In holding the Gophers to a To o score
in the initial half King Coles men aid
what neither Iowa nor Ames could do in
their games with the Gophers and placed
themselves In the class OF the former Ne
braska teams that lave always given Min.
nesota a hard battle.
Line Surprisingly strOsE.
1t was Nebrasks's line. thought to be
extremely weak. that-dld heroic work and
actually outplayed their opponents during
most OF the game. The powerful opposition
Of the Cornhusker tackles and center dur
ing the first half broke up the offensive
play OF the Gophers and cast q pail OF
gloom over the small contingent from the
northern state.
The C~ornhuskers did not weaken in the
second half, but the backfield failed to
play as well as 1t had in the opening seq
sion and with the slowing up OF the backs.
the linemen did not show the ginger ana
dash that had marked their work In the
opening session.
For Minnesota there were two aiars. one
who met with an accident and had to leave
the game. and another who stayed through
both halves, apparently growing stronger
In his offensive play as the game drew TO
a close. The former was Johnston, left
half, who was tackled just after the sec
ond half opened. sustaining a broken leg
and being forced from the ~game-probabfy
to be laid VI for the rest of the season
and almost certain to be out OF the Chi
cago game two weeks off.
Captain McGOvern Great,
The second man was Captain McGovern,
who played at quarter, His wonderful
running back Of punts many times drew
the large row to its feet and forced the
rooters silently to give him praise. He
punted well, too, his kicks going a greater
distance than those OF the Nebraska cap
tain.
When tackled the agile little Gopher
would ,wriggle and writhe In such a way
that many tacklers were thrown to the
ground. allowing McGovern to speed on
toward the Nebraska goal. In the second
session he ran back thirty and thirty-iva
yards on several OF Captain Beltzer's
punts.
All the time he ran the team at quarter
In a rapid way, forcing play after play to
a varied attack that at times bewiidersd
the cOrnhusksrs and kept their defense
guessing.
Until Johnston broke his leg he WA
called upon to carry the ball most OF the
time. and he received many OF the punts in
the first half, running them back nearly O.
we'll as his leader. II was a mistake on
Coach Williams part to permit Johnston
to carry the ball so often. and this error
cost him his star haIfback.
Three Chances 20 seOre.
a forward pass, 9 blocked kick and .
tumble OF a punt gave Minnesota iis
three chances to score. The first touch.
was made three minutes after the
second half opened and just after Johnston
had been removed from the game. -
The Gophers had the ball on Nebraska's
fNItY five yard line. McGovern hurled the
bail 70 fsltIJthn rhe rRsStA the Cam.
husker right wing. solhs TO thu five yard
line. Here two plunges At the line failed
to put the ball over and the qophers had
one yard TO make. Smith. fullback. was
called upon and pushed the oval across.
Farnam failed to kick goal and the score
stood: Nebraska. 0; Minnesota. s.
A few minutes later. with the play In
territory and Captain Raltxar
backed up on his own t~wenty-yard line,
a punt was neoessltated. The Nebraska
fell back and booted the ball.
Walker, left tackle. broke through the line
and blocked the ball. Rademaoher fell on
the ball and Il vas Minnesota's on Ne
eighteen-yard line. R~OsenwaId on
plays pushed the ball to the one-yard
line, from where Smith again pushed the
bali over for a second touchdown. Farnum
kicked goal.
Poor handling OF q punt from Meoov.ru