The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-11-27
LOUD IN PRAISE
OF LAWT0N TEAM
vlnita High School Received Royal
Treatment at Lawton--Were
Simply outpIayed.

Bruised, battered and defeated. but
with their faces still aglow with pride
in the knowledge that they had val
iantly fought every minute of the great
game at Lawton, on Thanksgiving Day,
the Vinita high school football team
returned last night from its long trip
across the state, where they met and
were vanquished by the now cham
pion Lawton high school team.
'We were just simply over matched
said Captain Lionberger, last night.
They had a much heavier team, and
they play football"
Prof. Masterson said this morning
that the Lawton team averaged about
fifteen pounds to the man more than
Vinita, and in view of this handicap,
the Vinita boys deserve much credit
for the game they played.
The treatment received at Lawton
was the best the Vinita team has ever
received and the boys are loud in their
praise of the gentlemanly team, as
well as the people of Lawton. Espe-
cially were they pleased with the
work Of the referee, Billy McGurren.
He understands the game perfectly and
there was not a wrangle or disputed
decision during the entire game. Dur
ing the first fifteen minutes of play
the Vinita team had the better Of the
contest and the play was in Lawton's
territory but the constant hammering
Of the heavier team had begun to have
a telling effect, and Trott, Elliott and
Billingslea were soon in the injured
class. While they did not retire from
the game they were weakened and the
Lawton boys hammered and battered
their way across vinita's goal for the
first touchdown. just eighteen minutes
after the game opened. During the re-
mainder of the first half with Vinita
in a weakened condition, Lawton added
two more touchdowns. The score at
the end Of the half stood II to 0, in
Lawton's favor,
The second half was one of the
most exciting and spectacular exhibi- |
tions of football ever seen in Oklaho- |
ma. With the game visiting lads val
iantly fighting every inch of the way |
in the face of hopelessly overwhelming |
odds, the Lawton team made three
more touchdowns When the game end
ed the ball was in Vinita's possession
in Lawton territory, but the visitors
were never able to endanger their OPP
ponents goal.
After the game Referee McGurren
shook hands with every one Of the
Vinita team and warmly congratulate
ed them on the fight they had made.
lie stated that Vinita had the best
team that had met Lawton this sea-
son, and said that had the weight Of
the two teams been more equal the
result would have been a different
story
Some thirty or forty of the Lawton
men called at the hotel, in
the evening to express their praise for
the Vinita team. They said that the
gentlemanly behavior Of the Vinita
team and their gameness had certain
" won them a place in the hearts of
.awton football enthusiasts. Manager
Archie Parmenter entertained Thurs
iay evening at his home for the Vinita
boys. The royal treatment received
BY the Vinita boys took away part Of I
he sting of defeat, as they feel it an
ionor to meet such a team as Lawton
las, even in defeat
It is probable that a game with Law
on viii be made an annual event as
he first game has proved a financial
success. About 500 people saw the
day contest
Mrs. /. L. crutchfeld and John 2