The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-10-08

Ing a Qec1SlVe victory over the lege team in a slow but interest 9 to o, the Plainsmen never b upon, a desire of all Auburn ele Howard, although decisively de- feated, put up a game fight and won the praise of the crowd in this respect. That Auburn will have powerful of fensive team this year was demon strated in the game, and with steady improvement, which is the Donahue method, the Plainsmen will be for midable foe to any southern eleven.
 Auburn, as in former years, is exceed ingly weak at the opening of the gridiron season. The team which Donahue started and played for the majority of the game yesterday showed the lack of speed but an abundance of skill. The failure of longer training also told on the PIainsmen and the Baptists had the edge in this respect.
 STRONG BACKFIELD
 Auburn has good material, but not an abundance. The backfieid is exceedingly strong on the offensive, especially on end runs and skin tackle plays, but there is great room for improvement on the de- fense. The line will be better than last year. this being the redeeming feature of the Plainsmen's initial victory yesterday.
 It can be said that Auburn made poor showing yesterday. The chief fault was in the running of the team. Signals were called slowly and twice as many plays should have been run as were. Coach Donahue noticed the fault and 1t was upon this flaw that the Plainsmen leader concentrated his efforts to remedy as the game progressed, using every man he had to call signals They were all about on the same basis, however
 Auburn did not get going in the hrst half the Baptists holding well, allowing only one touchdown to be scored upon them. In the second half. however. the Howard defense withered and Auburn fast piled up a score. One touchdown, the last was scored in the last two min- utes of play.
 AUBURN RECEIVES
 Captain Strickland won the toss and choose to receive, giving Captain Hair ston the choice of goals. He selected the southwest goal. Auburn started the game with their main offensive play, end runs and skin tackle. bucks. They worked we'll but the chief fault with the end runs was the failure of the runner to rol- low his interference. After about eisnt minutes of play, in which time Auburn had made two first downs. which clearly shows how slowly the team was being run Cauptain Hairston broke lose around his left end and went 55 yards berore ne was stopped Steed crossed the goal line on the next play over right tackle Hair- ston missed goal
 Auburn received again and hkewise Hairston, who was calling signals, un- corked end run after end run Prender- ga st was the most effective, making an average of 20 yards on each attempt. Occa sonally, however, Howard man would break through the line and smear a play only to be followed by another sweeping end run.
 After a number of end runs and sKin ia ckIe bucks, the ball was caried to Towards six-yard line on the first down. Here the Howard tea m displayed hght and nlenty of it. holding the Auburn backs without a gain In four attempts. The ball was then punted out Of danger. Acton kicked 35 yards and Hairston was downed in his tracks.
 AERIAL ATTACK STARTED
 The first forward pass of the game was tried a few minutes later, but It 1alleu- Auburn fumbled, but recovered. Rereree Streit penalized the Plainsmen 10 yaros for their slow playing, Il sets or signals being called before the referee imposed his penalty Auburn lost the ball on downs and Acton kicked 40 yards The first half ended a few minutes later with the ball in Auburn's possession in the center of the field.
 The second half witnessed much better playing The Plainsmen got their plays under way more quickly and the end runs gradually began to become more enec- tive.
 Howard kicked off again, and after few plays. Prendergast circled left end for 50 yards, his interference being flne. Hairston fumbled and Howard got the ball. Howard fumhled, however, and Au- burn recovered on the Baptists' N-yard line Line plunges and skin tackle bucks placed the ball on the six-yard line. Rickenbacher diving over left tackle on the next play for the second touchdown Hairston kicked goal.
 TOWARDS BALL ON FUMBLES
 Auburn received again, but lost the ball on fumbling Howard got the ball and uncorked a forward pass attack Two passes failed. but pass from Bar Der to Clayton netted 15 yards. Caton caught pass few minutes later which netted 15 wards. Hairston intercepted the next attempt of the Baptists, but was c.owned in his tracks. c. Jones caught pass from Steed which netted 90 yeards Another pass to Jones gave the Plains men 10 more yards and Prendergast ana Pat Jones circled end for nine yards each, placing the ball on Towards l2- yard line.
 Two successive plunges by Revington gave the Plainsmen their third touch down. Hairston again missed goal from an easy angle
 Auburn received and immediately opened an aerial attack. The first pass failed but the Steed-Jones combination was again successful, netting 20 yards. Two passes failed, and Howard got the ball. Acton bunting 40 yards. Acton in- tercepted pass, and 1t was Towards ball in the center of the field. SCOTT SCORES TOUCHDOWN Scott intercepted pass and Auburn had the ball on Towards 45-yard line Thirty yards was the result of pass from Steed to Hairston. placing the ball on the 15-yard line. Two passes failed and Scott went over left guard for a touchdown on the next play with only a few seconds left to play. Hairston missed goal.
 Howard kicked off again, but the game was over before one play had been run, Auburn having the ball in Howard ter ritory.