The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-10-14
BLUE WON FIRST
WashbUrn Eleven Crumbled
Heavy MOuntaiHeers.
TOyed With Forward Pass
Tore Holes in the Line.
SMILEY FEATURE OF GAME
Drivers Quarter WOrmed and
WiggIed His Steady Gains.
First Real Test of Sons of Ich-
abOd Is FIattering.

Denver, Oct. 14-So close to defeat
in the first half that few even of their
own supporters, who have been will
ing to wager even money on victory,
the Washburn eleven came back in the
third period, swept the Denver Meth
odists off their feet and earned a IL
to victory.
Denver held her rivals in the first
half and managed to keep the Kaws
on the defensive most of the time,
but failed to score on either of the
field goals Schroeder attempted In
the second half Washburn came back
with increased vigor, while the Den
yer eleven, with several substitutes in
the lineup, weakened. Washburn plow-
ed through the line almost at will and
scored touchdowns in the third and
fourth quarters with apparent ease.
Both attempts at goals failed.
Denver outplayed Washburn in the
first half, save when good playing
meant a score. With the defense hold
ing like a stone WALL and the backs
rounding the ends well, the Preachers
We're able to get into striking dist
ance three times. Once Schroeder shot
the ball right into Herbert's arms for
a forward pass that should have re-
suited in a clear touchdown had Her
bert not fumbled. Two other times
the Duke tried for field goals, but
each time the ball dropped low and
come alert Washburn player seized it. |
The second half tells a different |
story. Weakened by their STEADY |
smashing of Washburn in the first |
half, the inexperienced Denver lines |
men came back into the game, unable |
to hold up their end of the play. Time |
and again the backs were downed in
their tracks for no gains. When Wash
burn took the leather, the locals were
unable to hold them and by constant
shifting and the use of a versatile at
-.,r- -sr-sL<
FORWARD passes were frequently used
by Washburn and invariably for good
gains, the reverse of Denver's expert
ence.
Probably, inasmuch as each team
used the same style of play, Wash
burns victory was due largely to Den
ver's absolute failure at the forward
pass OF the seeming scores that
were tried, all but one either failed
or were intercepted by a Washburn
man at a good gain. The one success
full one netted 80 yards.
Washburn. on the contrary, had the
passing down to science. Their first
touchdown was scored by one of these
losses. Toward the end of
the game, however, the D. U. line be-
came weak enough to make it pleas
ant pastime to vary the monotony
with line bucks.
The feature was easily the play of
Smiley, the crack quarterback of the
choice of All-Kansas quarterback. Like
Dutch Harper in the Mines-Aggies
game of the day before, when ever
here was any doubt as to who should
make the attempt at the gain, Smiley
chose to send himself and with just
as good results. Wiry, 1.-THE, little, he
and wriggled his way through
the Denver defense, picking holes
where there were none and laughing
at the futile attempts of Schroeder, to
send him down with mighty tackles.
Smiley, one of the spectacular type
Of quarterbacks was the most salts
lying factor in the afternoon. He is
game to the core and it would be in
eresting to watch him work on a dry
field. He was always in the play and
thought nothing of tenderly placing
The package of air far enough down
he field to create a first down.
The field was anything but fit for
last football. The rains of the pre-
seding days had made the gridiron
leavy and soggy and the result was
hat the Ministers failed to show any
hing like their real speed. Time and
gain Shotwell, who is one of the fast
st backs in the state, slipped in his
racks to be crushed under heavy
players. The back field was
Unable to get started and the shift
vas run off slowly and therefore inef-
ectively. The blame cannot be laid
IN the players, however, as it was due
imply and solely to the gridiron they
we're playing on.