Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-12
DROP KICK BEATS
INDEPENDENTS IN
] CRUELLINC GAME
geck Island Loses TO Davenport sun
day Before 4,74s Fans by IL
TO 10 Score.
DoNAyAs is STAR FOR WINNERS
Islanders Go Into Game in Crippled
Condition Davenport Load
cd Heavy.
BY COOK SMITH.

Smarting under a defeat handed
them a week ago by the Minneapolis
Marines. the Rock Island lndepend-
ents were unable TO stage comeback |
Yesterday afternoon at Douglas held |
and were handed defeat by the Day- |
export Athletics by the score OF u
to 10 in the most grueiling contest
ever staged on the local field. The
toe of Donavan was too accurate, reg
istering two drop kicks, netting SIX
points, and touchdown was made by
Honey" Meersman.
Walter Brindley, who has been plac-
cd in the hall of fame by the local
followers on account Of winning sew
eral games via the air route, fell be-
low expectations in the game yester-
day. In four attempts. Brindley made
one perfect drop kick early in the
game, but the remaining trials went
wild IL was In the last quarter with
one minute to play when 5000 minds
with but one thought watched the
play. Every heart in the park throb-
bed heavily when Brindley backed mp
on the 30-yard line 70 attempt drop
which was the only thing that would
have won the contest for the locals
The crowd became silent when Muir
ply called the signals for drop. The
boot went wild by few yards.
All kinds OF coniectures were made
as to the real identity Of the visiting
club Yesterday. Davenport uncovered
several stars in the contest Sunday
whose work was on the scintillating
style. Williams who came from Camp
Dodge, was the real star Of the con
test. II was his long gains and two
\ beautiful drop kicks that assured the
game for the visitors Donavan, who
4 IL known by another name in private
life, PLAYED q wonderful game and IL
was his excellent generslship that
helped the Athletics TO victory.
Davenport Scores Early.
Davenport presented a much faster
and better coached team yesterday
than was pitted against the Independ-
ents FIVE weeks ago in Davenport In
place Of working old style play, they
executed some wonderful open field
shifts that bewildered the Islanders
at tines.
Tho Athletics proved to he in excel
{ lent condition and results show that
Coach Calvin has been directing his
men in strenuous signal and scrim
mage practices during the week
Every man played great game ant
were responsible for their victory.
Captain Koch won the toss ant
chose to receive at the south goal
Wyland kicked 70 Koch who returue,
the oval 10 their own 40-yard line
After a steady march by the backfelt
n~to ri ~ hell
rushed 10 the locals 2S-yard line
Here nonsvan put the first counte
over when he drop-kicked the ova
directly between the uprights Of tn
goal post Following this kick bot
teams fought harder than ever befor
and one Of the toughest battles eve
witnessed here was staged.
Rock Island scored IN the secon
quarter by the air route, Donava
kicked TO Brindley who returned tn
ball to his own 33-yard line After
run of IS yards by Mansfield and
successful forward pass to Morris. tn
ball was advanced to the Davenport
42-yard line, where the Iowans' liz
held. Brindley placed the oval owe
the goal post on the drop route fro
very difficult angle, tieing the coul
to 3.
Mansfield Big Ground Gamer.
Rock Island put over the first toucl
down of the game in the second qua
ter when Mansfield carried the bs
over from the 2S-yard line on a cris
cross. The ball had been rushed
the Davenport's 2s-yard line VIII,
Quarterback Murphy called Jer-
a through the right side of the line {
a criss-cross. Mansfield carried L
oval straight down the side line al
when stopped by Donavan was ov
the line. Brindley later annexed a
other point. Score was 10 TO 3.
Mansfield was the biggest groui
gamer for the locals. On two ocC
sions he advanced the ball for
yards and in the second period Jer
nearly got away for touchdown
q long run after travelling 30 var
before he was stopped by Donava
The Davenport club was complete
outclassed on Mansield's run til
scored Rock Islands only touchdov
Donavan was unable to locate the m
with the ball until Jerry had almt
crossed the line.
Davenport Scores In Third Period
Tho Athletics scored their or
X touchdown In the third period afi
L several wide end runs and long Il
4 ward pass to Williams, which pass
u the ball on Rock Islands flve-ys
n line. On several plays Meersman CT
ried the ball over. Donavan miss
M the goal kick. Score stood 10 to 8
Rock Islands favor.
The star quarterback redeemed hi
III self when he placed the oval over I
goal post for his second drop kick
the game. Score, IL TO 10, which ste
y at the end of the game.
Davenport's final score came In
HI third period after they had rushed {
NJ oval TO the locals l5-yard line, VIII
the Independents held like ste
wall
In the final quarter OF the ha
fought contest the ball remained
play near the middle of the field I'll
late in the period 0'Leary. who VI
In the game at the beginning of {
quarter. was a big ground gamer
the locals. On several occasions
ball was rushed 10 the Dayenport's
yard line by the backfield. when Bri
ley would attempt to place a tell
kick through the uprights. Rock
lands last chance came in the ii
minute TO play. when the ball was c
ried to the Davenports 20-yard l
by several forward passes from NJ
ply to O'Leary and Quinn. With
minute 10 play, Bridley backed
with the result OF the whole game
his toe. The drop went high in