Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-24
Rock Island Gets the Jump in First
Minute Of Play on Touchdown
by Ursella.

Completely dazzled by the speed,
shift and wonderful teamwork Of
the Independents. the Panhandles
of Columbus took the worst beat
ing they have ever been subjected
to on the gridiron at Douglas park
yesterday afternoon. The final
score registered by the rampant
Islanders Wet 40 to 0.
The visitors appeared dazed soon
after the kickoff when Rube Ur-
sella broke away on a Ga yard run
for a touchdown, aided by beauti-
full interference. This was some
thing they had not calculated upon.
In fact coming .own on the train
they. had it doped out that they
would win by at least two touch
downs.
x After that spectacular display Of
ability, Islanders ran around,
through. and over the Panhandles,
covering territory at will. Another
touchdown was added in the same
quarter. In the second quarter
Ursella covered one yard for the
third. In the third quarter Ursella
and Chicken registered. In the
final period, Novak raced Al yards
for a touchdown, assisted by the in
reference of Buland and Oak
Smith. Smith took the only man
out of the play that had chance
to get the fieet-fot ted Novak.
The terrific pace set by the Is
landers right from the start was
kept up until the final whistle. The
Panhandles thought they were fac
ing a highly trained college elev-
en-, so fast was the going. Rock
Islands teamwork was beautiful
to behold. Every man seemed to
be in front of the ball on the runs.
Besides the long runs for touch
downs made by Ursella and Novak,
the same pair, Chicken and Mans
field slipped past for gains OF 20
and 30 yards at regular intervals.
In the third quarter, Tom Henry
was almost away for touchdown
on the kickoff. As it was he was
not downed until past the 40-yard
line, starting from under his own
goal. =.
It was the most unexpected sur
prise that has ever happened to tho
Pandandles. Being confident Of
victory, they were sorry outfit
that boarded the RATHER for home
last night. They said that other
teams have sue sded In going
around or passing over their line
but Rock Island was the first to
ever go through 1t with success.
The locals not only smashed
through, but also went around.
Line Impregnable.
The line of the locals was i'm
pregnable from end to end. The
visitors were unable to make . sin
gle first down during the game.
The farthest advance they sue
ceeded in making In three attempts
was i've yards. frequently their
best men were thrown for losses.
Frank Nesser, the big bruiser at
fullback, tried desperately to COM
plete one Of his celebrated long for
ward passes, but ev, ry time they
went wild or were intercepted by
Rock Island. At least q half dozen
passes made by Nesser were
snasged by q local player. Novak
garnered three Of them, himself.
The Islanders added q little variety
to their style by trying q few passes,
but none were completed.
That the Independents must be
rated as one Of the two most power
full teams in the country, is the
statement Of Manager Joe Carr Of
the Panhandles. He says that the
Canton Bulldogs is the only az
gregation that can give the locals
arun for the honors. A week ago
yesterday when the Panhandles
were defeated by a close score by