The Washington herald., 1917-10-24
|BELNAP'S RUSHING IS
EASTERN'S DOWNFALL
Central Swamps Capitol Hill Team
Through Brilliant Work.
By s. H BAKER.

Snapper" Belnap. who played
quarterback for the Central High
School eleven proved the big thorn
in the side Of the Eastern High
School team in the scholastic clash
at the Mt. Pleasant stadium yester-
day afternoon when the dark Blue
and White defeated Coach Farmer s
Capital Hill warriors by an over
whelming score of IS to o.
It was not only Belnap's rare judg-
ment in maneuvering his attack and
counter attacks that places him a.
the hero on the occasion but it was
his individual ability to carry the
pigskin when called upon. 1t was this
deminutive Central player that stood
out prominently In Centrars decisive
victory. Belnap tailed three touch
downs during the fray and could
have registered on more occasions II
he chose to run with the ball himself,
as time and again when Central need
ed the necessary yards for first down
1t was Belnap who brushed of the
ends or plunged his way through
tackles for these gains.
Capt. Long who has been the MAIN
stay of the Mt. Pleasant eleven to
date, was in the fray every minute.
Eastern had heard Of the ability of
Long and its defense was built to
stop the rushes Of the cracked Cen
trail leader. Long was never halted
although credit must be given Coach
Farmers aggregation for the system
they used in halting his attack in
the first half and Jay" as he Is
known to the followers OF scholastic
football. took a good roughing in the
first two periods.
Eastern had guessed wrong in
figuring that II they stopped the Cen
trail leader they could stop the Mt.
Pleasant team. 1t was Belnap's tudg-
ment in running Stansfield, Wilson
and himself that baffed the Capital
Hill tribe. It Is no disgrace to Coach
Farmers frey and scrappy Eastern
eleven to take this drubbing from
the Centralites as the Mt. Pleasant
school has one Of the best scholastic
teams ever developed in the history
of scholastic football in the District
and followers OF these games must
dofr to c. A. Metzler, coach of the
Mt. Pleasant team.
Eastern defense was all that could
be expected, as they fought all the
way for every inch Of ground gain
ed by the Mt. Pleasant team. 1t was
a plucky fight against big odds, as
the Eastern team were outweighed a
few pounds and their light back
field shows promise OF yet upsetting
the dope in this scholastic series. The
Capital Hill teams forwards were
unable to cope with the Minnesota
shifts and fast rush attacks Of Cen
trails brilliant line.
CentraPs linemen would sweep aside
the Eastern forwards to make room
for the fast rushes of the backfield
charges of Belknap. Long, Wilson
and Stansfield. Five and ten yards
at a clip, and occasionally long end
runs of twenty and thirty yards were
the charges of this Central team. but
on five occasions this scrappy East
downs and forced them to punt.
The Capital Hill team showed its
same old quality of defense, but the
offense was a trifie ragged, due to
the fast charging Central line. East
ern was unable to get on any Of Its
double passes or forward heaves fol
long gains, but little Thomas and
Sweeney in this diminutive backfield
showed brilliantly in this battle.
The biggest ground-gainer for the
Central eleven outside Of Belknap's
brilliant playing was the ability oi
Capt. Jay" Long in outpunting New
man. OF the Eastern team. Newman
was hurried in getting OF his punts
but only two were blocked, one re.
sulting in a safety for the Mt. Pleas.
ant team.
Eastern never threatened to score
as play throughout the contest was
almost entirely in their territory and
the light blue and white were or
the defensive during the most of the
battle. Centraps substitute team ir
the last period showed great form
against the battered Eastern play.
ers. The summary: