Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-18
is BIG SURPRISE
FOR SOx TOWN
Visitors Had Looked for an
Easy Victory Over Rock
Island High.
LOCALS ARE IN GREAT FORM
Not Since Championship Team of
1908 Has Such Class Been
Shown.

1 hC NUN lSldhO A4GA S~hOOh 49,
ball team sprang the surprise of the
season when they defeated the fast
heavy Rockford team Saturday after
noon at Exposition park by the score
of to 2. 1t was generally believed.
even by those on the inside. that the
upstate boys had it on the locals and
that the score would be top-heavy in
favor of Rockford. Despite this fact,
large crowd of loyal rooters turned
out and every one of them received a
most pleasant surprise. The Rock Is
land koys played as pretty a game Of
football as one would care to see. Not
since the days of the last state cham
pionship team of which Rock Island
boosted in 1905 has the red and gold
| exhibited the class which it showed
Saturday. It's defensive work against
the heavier, better seasoned Rockford
ties was wonderful and its offensive
work was little short of marvellous.
With the exception of two fumbles and
,, bad pass on a punt, not a misplay
was made by the local warriors, and
Rockford was clearly outplayed at
every stage VI the
Get Bad Start.
Captain Lift won the toss and chose
to defend the south goal, as that gave
Rock Island whatever advantage there
was in the way the wind was blowing.
Rockford kicked off, and the game was
ON. The kick sailed squarely into
Behnamans hands and the first mis-
NAV Of tho Coma ocourrod uyhen he
fumbled it and allowed a Rockford
man to get possession of it on the %
yard line. Then occurred the first big
surprise of the day, for on three hard
line plunges by the visitors speedy
back field the ball was not advanced
the necessary 10 yards and the Island
ers regained possession of the pigskin.
Lift made a good gain and then Richie
fumbled and a Rockford man picked
lands goal line and touchdown was
apparently in sight. He never reach
ed the line, however, as Kristenson
hauled him down from behind after
an exciting chase. The ball was within
five yards of the goal, though, and
everybody expected to see it go over.
Once more the Rock Island line held
line a stone wall, and although the
ball was carried within few inches
of the line, it was not taken over. and
Captain Lift kicked out of danger.
Rockford Scores First.
The goal was soon in danger again,
as Rockford returned the charge and
brought the ball back within 10 yards
before being held for downs. Lift
dropped back to kick and the pass
went clear over his head. He man.
ever, and a safety was declared, as
he was behind his own goal line. This
counted two points for the visitors
For the remainder of the half the fight
ing was all in Rock Islands territory,
with the ball in the possession of first
one team and then the other Rock
Island did most of the offensive work.
with Richie and Lift carrying the ball
Locals Win i'm Second.
The game was won for Rock Island
in the second half when Dick Lift
fooled the right side of the visitors
line and tore down the side lines for
the only touchdown of the game. The
half opened with Lift kicking to the
goal line, and after Rockford was held |
for two downs they punted and regain
ed the ball when Lift fumbled it in
trying to make a fair catch An ex-
change of punts took place and then |
Rock Island was in possession of the |
ball on the 30-yard line and very close |
TO the side lines. On the first play |
Mcintyre plowed through for five yards |
and on the next play the men started |
off as though it were a repetition of |
the play before. But it was not, and |
when the Rockford team had been |
drawn away from the side lines Dick |
Lift tore down the field with the bali |
under his arm and only one man in
his way That man was given the |
stiff arm and the Rock Island cap
tain crossed the line with the win
ming touchdown. At attempt at punt
ing out. preliminary to kicking for
goal. failed, and the score was 5 to 2.
where it remained during the six or
eight minutes left to play.
The Lineups.
The two teams lined up as follows:
Rock Island = Kittilsen, left end;
left tackle; Allsbrow, left
guard; Benson, center; Tremann, right
guard; Drips, right tackle; Behnaman,
tight end; Richie, quarterback; Canty,
eft halfback; Lift, right halfback;
ftrlIhaPE