The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-10-01
GHl!|||I|'|IlY
KEOKuK LOSES
FIRST BATTLE
Local High School Eleven Trimmed
by Carthage, Seven toyNothing,
Here Saturday
Afternoon.
LAST QUARTER FIGHT
Purple and White Makes Desperate
Endeavor to Even up Scores
in Last Few Minutes
Of Play.
LAST QUARTER FIGHT

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the Keokuk team in the first quarter
of Saturdays game, gave Carthage
chance to force through lone touch
down and win the seasons curtain
litter, to 0.
1t was the first game of the season
for both teams, but Carthage, with a
heavier team and more brilliant at
tack, had the advantage over Keokuk
and early in the game overwhelmed
the locals for the first and only score.
In the last half of the game Keo-
kuk came back gamely. and despite
the handicap of bucking a heavier
team, fought desperately to the end,
matching dexterity against strength
and coming within an ace of tying
the score A forward pass in the last
few minutes of play almost netted
Keokuk the needed touchdown to tie
the game, but the ball was fumbled
and the chance lost.
Although playing a slow game at the
start, the keokuk team improved
with each quarter and in the last had
the ball the greater part of the time
In Carthage territory and was every
bit a match for the visitors.
1t was Keokuk's first test by fire,
and with several green men in the
line, the team lacked confidence at
the start, but the way in which the
men rallied for the last quarter at
tack, proves that they have the goods
and will show up in stronger light
In future contests. Captain Megchel-
sen at center, played level headed
game and directed his men in an
able manner. 1t is too early to pick
stars for this years team, but Rob
erts, veteran of '16 had plenty of
fight and was one Of the best ground
gamers for Keokuk Ebersole seems
to be well placed at quarter. Ebby is
clever player and hard to tackle,
and he made several important gains
Saturday by lodging through a whole
filed of Interference.
Carthage was represented by a
splendid team. The line displayed
holding qualities and the backfield
was strong on line plunges, the
heaviest work being carried by He.
cox, who was really called on for
more than his share of the work
but who was always ready for the
call. Clark was also good at quarter
Keokuk kicked off, but Carthage
was soon held and forced to punt
In the opening quarter neither side
could gain ground and the ball was
kicked back and forth on the field
until near the end when Carthage
recovering a tumble, began a vigor
GUS offensive that carried the bal
within one yard of Keokuk's goal as
the quarter whistle sounded. A line
smash by Quarterback Clark took the
ball across on the opening play OF
the second quarter and Hecox kicked
goal.
Keokuk tried a first forward pass
in this quarter, but it was a failure
Carthage held the ball most of the
time within striking distance of the
Keokuk goal and once Hecox tried {
drop kick from the thirty yard line
but high wind carried the ball fal
to the left of the goal posts.
Both teams injected a little more
pep into the second half and a few
long runs were made, but to no rea
advantage. Keokuk tried three for
ward passes in succession near tn,
end of the third quarter, but all wer,
failures and the last time the bal
was captured by Carthage. Tn,
visitors were penalized twice in III,
third quarter, once for five yards ant
second time for fifteen, and durin,
the course of the game, they wer,
BET back a number Of times. TIL
game, however, was far from rough
and there was practically no wrane
ling. Clark made a twenty-five ware
run in this quarter and Ebersole dis
tinguished himself by advancin,
thirty yards through field of inter
ference. Keokuk's quarterback wa
hard to down and whenever he %
his hands on the ball he manage
to dodge and slip and slide to a goo
gain. ~ " s0o
The fourth quarter saw the Ker
kuk team making a desperate effor
to score and the local players wer
the match Of the visitors ever
minute of the quarter. The local