The sun., 1916-12-03
OHIO STATE BEST
OF WESTERN TEAMS
With Harley Running Wild
Buckeyes Have Leading
Right to Title.

e. Football in the middle West this sea
son failed to reach the mark set in past
years. There was a noticeable lack OF
high class material. scarcity OF good
coaching and falling on In power OF at
tack. a point OF football in which team
OF the middle Western section have led
heretofore. The elevens rated high at
the start OF the season were dethroned by
those thought weaker. Only one team
stood out indicated. that being Ohio
state, which not only is entitled TO con-
ference championship rating but gener-
ally is looked upon as the best In the
section.
Teams outside the conference. such as
Michigan. Notre Da.rH Nebraska and the
Michigan Aggiet, were not overly sue
ccssful. this season. BY It's defeat by the
Army No,re Dame loses most OF its an
nual glory. although II gained credit by
mussing up the Michigan Agg!es and
south Dakota. The Michigan team
lost TO Michigan and Notre Dame. and
once more Is relegated to the ruck from
where II anne three years ago Notre
Dame probably was the best team out
side the conference.
Michigan had about the poorest reason
IL has suffered in several years Cornell
and Pennsylvania each Michi-
gan. and II was only able to defeat SYRIA.
cuse after a bitter struggle in which a
late open attack turned the tide OF the
game.
Minnesota Was strons.
There were several agreeable surprise
in the big Nine" the collegiate gan
zation comprised OF Chicago. Illinois,
Northwestern. Minnesota. Wisconsin.
Iowa. Ohio State. Purdue n Indiana.
Minnesota had IA POWERFUL team. with
six outstanding stars in Baston at end,
Wyman at fullback. Long at quarter
back. Townley and Eklund guards and
Mayer tackle. Most followers OF the
game thought the Gophers the best IN
the West. but defeat at tn. hands of ILL.,
nois cost Minnesota any title ratinH.
Baston. who played left end for Min.
nesota. vas one OF the best wing mer
ever developed In the West. Adept al
catching forward passes. n deadly
tackler and capable Of carrying the bali,
Baston stood out as a really remarkable
player, He captained his team and leL
with spirit enough to convince all he Is 9
great player.
Ohio state by defeating Northwest
ern In it's final game. 20 to 3. and
thereby keeping It's slate clean for the
, season. gained signal honors. Although
Ohio State did not play Chicago or
Minnesota. its claims are just. as II
defeated Illinois and Northwestern, con
querors OF Minnesota and Chicago re-
spectively,
Harley Il Sensation.
Like Minnesota. Ohio State had a
player who stood out In the West In
! Chick Harley: the nineteen-year.old
halfback sensation, Harley was a
powerful back who never wac halted
and It was his sensational open field
, running that beat both Illinois and
Northwestern. the two teams in cham.
pionship running.
! Most Of the Western critics look upon
Harley az the best back Of the year
rating him even higher than Johnny
Maultbesch Of Michigan and Cofali OF
Notre Dame. TWO outstanding stars. In
Ohio states three big games Harley
II was who carried the day, AEains,
Illinois Harley raced more than hall
the distance Of the field for Ohio States
only touchdown and kicked goal, win.
ming for his team 7 to q. He scored
both to%uchdowns and kicked both goal
against Wisconsin. which gave Ohio
a II to Is triumph.
In the am against Northwester
the Teams were deadlocked , to In
the fourth period when Harley from
a kick formation evaded the forwards
lodged past the secondary defence and
raced past Driscoli Of Northwestern fol
a touchdown. Following this he asSir
ploughed along until tho ball was In
position to be carried over by Capt
Sorensen Of Ohio.
1t Is hard to give frst place to q one
man team such a. was Ohio State, but
Harley 10 able to shoulder the honors
! He 10 to Ohio State what the inimitabl,
! Willie Hsston was to Michigan, and
many Western experts ere rsfSrrtnS d