Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-10-26
Local Football Team Outplayed By
Dickinson County Stars in Hard
Struggle on Spirit Lake
Gridiron.
GREENWOOD GETS TOUCHDOWN,
Runs Entire Length of Field in First
Quarter for Webster City's
Only Tally.

Outclassed both in weight and in
defensive ability, the Webster City
high school football team met their
second defeat of the season last Sat-
urday at Spirit Lake. The final
score was 22 to 7. During the first
half, the teams played practically on
even terms, and the count was 9 to
z for Spirit Lake at the conclusion
of the session. However, during the
two remaining quarters, the superior
all-round playing ability of the
Lakeshore Giants proved more than
a match for the best efforts of the
visitors, and two touchdowns in the
third quarter went to swell the mar
gin for the victors.
Webster City had anticipated one
of the hardest games of the season
with the Spirit Lake veterans, who
have won all their games this season
by top-heavy scores, and their expec-
tations were not disappointed. The
line was heavy, affording a stone
wall shelter to the operations Of a
well-balanced back-feld which COM
bined weight with speed. The in
reference displayed was the best OF
any team the Webster City eleven
have played this season.
The most sensational event of the
game occurred in the first quarter,
when Captain Greenwood received
the ball on fake punt formation on
the five yard line, and in a brilliant
exhibition of broken field running,
carried the ball ninety-five yards for
a touchdown. Lane kicked goal. This
was the first time Spirit Lake had
been scored upon by any opposing
team this year, and it was freely pre-
dicted by the large crowd who were
present that it will be the last.
Spirit Lakes nine points in the
first half were gained on a kickoff
which rebounded over the goal and
was inadvertently touched by From
ing for a safety, and on a touch
down gained on alternate end runs
and line plunges, chiefly the latter.
Webster City came back desper-
ately in the second half, with the
hope of breaking into the lead. Any
such chance went glimmering soon
afterfor blocked punt was convert
ed into a Spirit Lake touchdown five
minutes after the beginning of play.
After this the opposing machine
worked with mechanical precision,
opening up hole after hole in the
line into which the charging backs
sifted unerringly. Another touch
down was added in the same quar-
ter
Had it not been for two unlucky
miscues-a tumble on the five yard
line, and the failure of three eligible
men in clear field to receive Ions
pass-the score might have been ev-
en- larger.
Except for ragged interference,
Webster City played a good game.
The team was weakened by the abb
sence of fullback ironing, who was
able to play only a part of the first
and third periods on account of a
sprained ankle. Sparboe at quarter
ran his plays the best he has done
this season, and Britson at center
succeeded remarkably we'll in hold
ing back the tall, rangy, 2O5-lb
fourth year veteran who opposed
him. France and Lane were at most
times effective on defense, and Ralph
Berggren, playing his first game or
the regulars, showed up we'll at end
For Spirit Lake, credit is especially
due to half-back Littell, easily thu
star of both teams.
The Webster City team speak yer!
. appreciatively of the splendid treat
ment accorded them during thei
stay at Spirit Lake. The game 1t
self was remarkably clean ant
sportsmanlike, and almost no penal
ties were incurred by either team
The memory of the spirit LAX
spirit" of courtesy and fairness will
be recalled by the boys "long afte