Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-24
FIRST HIGH FOOT
BALL GAME PLAYED
Nebraska City Leads Way,
Playing Tecumseh and Get
ting Ready for Lincoln.
OTHERS START IN A WEEK
BY KARL LEE,


From thirty to fifty high schools
in Nebraska will start foot ball elev-
ems toward championship of some
kind this season.
Nebraska City opened the season
Friday with game with Tecumseh
at Nebraska City. The game was the
first to be played in the state. Prof.
Stevens is coaching the Nebraska
City squad this year. His team is
.captained by Lester Anderson, vet
,eran halfback of last year. Next
Saturday Lincoln will play its first
game with Stevens team.
The state championship fights will
center principally among some thirty
teams in the western, central and
eastern districts. Review of the
progress Of teams last year makes
the following classification available.
In the west, North Platte, Alliance,
Gothenburg, McCook, Scottsbluff,
Sidney, Cozad and the Curtis Agri-
cultural school will compete for SUI
premacy. In the central division
Grand Island, Central City, Kearney,
York, Aurora, Hastings, ONeiL and
Minden will probably prove most
prominent, while in the east thirteen
teams will command the limelight.
Central, South and Commerce High
schools, Norfolk, Lincoln, Beatrice,
Osceola, Nebraska City, Ashland and
Tecumseh appear to be the most
probable leaders.
Gothenburg Loses Vets.
Beaver City started to contest the
championship of the southwest last
year, but having been easily defeated
by Gothenburg, waived its claims.
Gothenburg produced wonderful
team, but has lost several veterans.
Its first game with the Kearney Nor
NAL second team October 6 will per-
NIT of speculation as to its standing
this year. Intense rivalry was mani
fest between Red Cloud, Mason City
and Beaver City last year, adding zest
to the competition, McCook, Cozad
and the Curtis Aggies are probably
the strongest representations in this
section. The contest for the west
championship will open September
%, with game between Alliance and
Scottsbluff.
Western teams have begun enthus-
iastic preparations. Coach Ernie
Frank, famed Nebraska star, has
called his team to order at Scots
bluff, The dope has it that he is lay
ing plans for the western champion
ship. McCook, Senator Norris town,
is also on the run. Coach Prince has
already laid plans for victories over
Minden, the Franklin academy and
the Curtis Agricultural college.
Beaver City has refused to play the
senator's town because OF some diff
ferences. AT Hebron, Coach H. c.
Meents began hostilities a week back
with thirty-nine men, FIVE OF whom
are veterans of last year.
Upstate, Norfolk has been out for
drill two weeks. Coach Walker is
going about his task with silent de-
Norfolk will meet the
Genoa Indians in the first game of !
he season. O'Neil, another eleven
u tie Hoitn that usually mounts nlRn |
n the contest for district cham
oionship, has begun activities.
Big Nine Teams at Work.
Big Nine teams are getting down
% hard regular practice. Most Of |
he elevens will open schedules with
games September 80 The most promi-
tent opening game is that between
Beatrice and University Place at Uni
'ersity Place, September 80. Foot ball
vas taken up for the first time at
he Wesleyan school last year, and |
. good team placed in the field. At
fork, Coach Dewey Harmon of uni
,ersity fame, is handling between
hirty and forty men daily. Pros
'ects for successful season are ex-
,ellent, it is said. Coach NJ. Y. Hard
ng is working with fine bunch of
men at Grand Island. Little is known
If the third city prospects, but il is
conceded that they win be good, con-
idering the excellent record OF last
rear.