Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-21
MERRILL BEATS
RAPIDS 49 to 6

The score does not indicate the
real merits Of the two teams.
FHorty-nfne to Six, certainly looks
bad. But the fact of the matter as
the Rapids, boys put up an excellent
game ana played the Merrill team Oh
its feet at different stages of the
game.
IT. was perfect DAY and there
was a big crowd to see the game.
Merrill had already played four gam
es and Won them all and locked on
this game with the Rapids as the
toughest of the season.
Merrill kicked off and in the first
ten minutes of play the ball chang
ed hands frequently, both sides do
ing considerable iumIbling and neith-
er making any decisive gains. Both
teams We're peHalized 10 yards f or
holding. During The last three min
utes Of the quarter Merrill by line
plunges, end runs and forward passe
put the ball over, but failed to kick
goaal. Quarter ended with bali in
----,,-le OF field.
The second quarter was all Grand
Rapids. The boys steadied down
and stopped fumbIing and by a serie
of forward passes, fake plays, line
smashes and Tacklee runs made big
gains, bewirder1ng the Merrill players
by the fierceness of their attack.
Smith went over for a touchdown but
Deyo failed to kick goal. The ball
STRIKING an upright. Duung the last
four minutes OF this quaGter the bali
was in Merrill territory End of half
score, Merrn 6; Rapids 6.
The Merrill roofers expected
strong team and got Y sIffd after the
showing made by the Rapids men in
the first half, they wene plainly wor-
rtea.
Both teams came back for the last
half full OF confidence and it was
anybody's game for the first seven
minutes OF the third quarter. Nedth-
er side ooulumake distance thru the
line or around ends and seemed to
nave solved each others plays. Mer-
r1II kicked field goal from the
70 yard fine. Score Merru 8; Ra
pids c.
This seemed 10 put confidence in
3he Merrill men and to take it oaIt
OF the Rapfds players. The roo.-
ers went Wild and chAered their
team. Merrill WenbOVer for two more
touunaowns i'll the next three min
utes and kickedgosI botntimes. Score
at end OF third quarter, Merrill %;
Rapids 6.
Grand Rapids was still hopeful OF
winning ana full Of fight. They
rushed the Merriu team diff it's feet
and put ball on Merrill's one yard
line. Merrill heldfOr downs and punt
ed cut or danger. Rapids returned
punt a Melriu player touched the
u and it rolled back of their own
goal line, where DIT was again touch
ed by a MerriIl player and Stark ran
shru and fell on tile ball. This was
4 Touchdown for the Rapids and is
The same pay by which Wisconsin
made its first touchdown again ST
Purdue Saturday. The releree, who
ruled against the Rapids and gave
Merrill the bail on their own 20 yard
lime. Grand Rapids still held to i
dea OF winning and took ball AWAY
from MerruI and marched down to
Merriu's S IU yald line where a for
ward pass on fourth down was in
complete and MerTiIl got bail onoWn
20 yard line. from that time the
pep oozed out of the Rapids players
and Merrill paraded down the field
for series of touchdoWns. Final
s>yore, Merrill 49; Rapids 6.
The referees knowledge of the
game seemed to be very vague as
he allowed violations OF several ruI-
es and ignored uhe Rapids cap
ans protest. The rule referring
10 men on the lime was constantly
broken, the Merrill team pulling play
ers back and having only five men
on the line. The rule against push
ing and pulling theman with the ball
was also broken. The old shOestring
play in which the end goes out and
niues before a forward pass is made
and for which the penalty is Is
yards with others were ignored by
the referee and served to take the
heart out of the Rapids team
Wautnma first team win play
the Rapids sec ond team Friday after
noon.
The first team viii play at Mana
wa ext Saturday.