Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-11-23
Ashland Wins
Championship

Ashland high school clinched the
football championship of southern
Oregon Saturday when Medford high
school was defeated on their own
field by ~ to 0 after the closest and
hardest fought game of the season.
Nearly 1900 people witnessed the
contest, which was nip and tuck all
the way, and although the strong
Medford team put up a game and
scrappy fight it was generally con-
ceded that Ashland was the superior
team and that the victory was a de-
cisive one. The victory was the sew
enth for the locals this season and
they carry the proud record of hold
ing each of these opponents to no.
score totals except in the case of the
Alumni game, in which the graduates
scored field goal, but were beaten
by 40 to 3. No outside team has
ever been close enough to score and
as yet their goal line has never been
crossed,
The game brought forth the larg-
est amount of open play to be seen in
this section of the state this year,
and both teams used the forward
pass to great advantage. Medford
tried to punch the local line but were
unsuccessful at nearly every attempt.
End runs brought them big gains at
several times during the contest, but
the Black and Red finally resorted
to the use of the pass as their only
hope. Many short ones and a few
longer tries we're converted into big
gains for the losers and came near
resulting in score for them in the
last quarter. Brilliant defensive
work saved the locals, however, and
Medford's last chance had gone.
Medford's line showed up to much
better advantage in Saturdays game
than that of the week before, and it
was only with difficulty that the
Ashland boys could make yardage
through the home guards line. In
almost every case the winners lost
on use OF the end run and a number
OF pass plays were also unsuccessful,
but superior team work always stood
the local men in we'll and the ball
was kept in Medford's territory most
of the time. Medford's defeat was
largely due to their inability to make
much yardage on the Ashland de-
fense.
Both scores were made in the first
half, the first as a result of Lilly's
brilliant work in circling left end in
the opening period, the second COM
ing after Mayfield received fifteen
yard pass from Lilly in the second
quarter and ran twenty yards to a
touchdown. Lilly's playing was a
big feature of the game and was only
rivaled by the gritty work of Captain
Bob Spencer, the sensational line
smashing of Delsman and the won
derful defensive game put up by
Cunningham. Every man on the
winning eleven played the game OF
his life and each deserves his share
of the praise. AS team they dis
played a fine machine-like combina-
tion, and but for the injury to Cap
tain Spencer early in the last hall
would probably have given even bet
ter accounts OF themselves. His alb
sence from the lineup left big gar
in the backfield and spoiled the
chance for the fans to see a wonder.
full display Of formations which they
had been expected to turn loose in
this game. Spencer deserves the
highest of praise for his gritty show.
ing In the last quarter when he re.
entered the contest. with but one ser.
viceable arm and played the hardest
90 restore the confidence OF his team.
mates. He was In such a shape as
TO demand time out at several times
but gamely stuck TO his task.
One OF the prettiest plays OF the
game was spoiled In the last quarter