The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-26
by SAMUEL j. BRooKMAN.


brcuck Heights, o.
by SAMUEL j. BRoOKMAN.
With ten thousand fans looking on.
De Witt Clinton defeated High School
of Commerce for the sixth time in sue
cession at South Field yesterday and
thereby retained the scholastic football
championship OF Greater New York. It
was an exceptionally capable team OF
youngsters that downed the Commerce
squad by a score OF 81 to 0. Alert,
fast, powerful and well drilled, both on
attack and defence. the Clinton eleven
looked strong enough to extend many a
minor college team. Under the circum-
stances the several thousand Red and
Black rooters could be pardoned for
their incessant riot of JOY as their
favorites We're outplaying the rival COM
bination all the way.
On a dry field Clinton might have won
by a much wider margin. large as 1t
was. Tie damp weather of the last
three days had coated the gridiron with
several inches of mud and the backs
found 1t difficult to keep their feet or
to get as much speed as usual into their
dashes off tackle or around the ends.
On two occasions Clinton. after ad-
yancing the ball more than half the
length of the field, lost the ball by
fumbling once on the ten-yard line and
again on the three-yard line. In all.
Clinton threatened the Commerce goal
six times. Three times the threats
were carried out and touchdowns re-
suited Twice the ball was lost on a
tumble and on the other occasion the
Red and Black failed by margin of
inches to make it first down on Com
merce's one yard line.
The Commerce youngsters deserved
a lot Of credit for the valiant fight they
made throughout the tussle. Their
tackling was sure and aggressive al
though a bit high, and they did not
spare themselves bit. but their rivals
were too much for them One first down
was all Commerce could earn during
the four periods Of play. Early In the
second quarter Gehrig, who was the
most conspicuous on the Commerce
side, found a hole in the Clinton line
through which he plunged FOR gam
of yards. On the next play he broke
away for a gain Of 10 yards and made
it first down on Clinton's thirty-yard
line But that was as near as Com
merce could get TO score.
Strong at Every Position.
There were so many youngsters on
the Clinton eleven who played well that
it is rather difficult to pick out the
star Of the combination. Coon, the
right halfback, did most of the ground
gaining and was hard to stop when he
got going F'riedlander at quarterback
directed his team with splendid judg-
ment and ran back punts effectively.
Hislop and Malls at the ends followed
the ball keenly and Commerce learned
early in the contest that it could hope
for little on end runs. In the centre
of the line Payn, with Stanley and
Lewis captain, at his sides, formed a
powerful trio. Together they ploughed
through the centre of the Commerce de-
fence without any trouble whenever a
few yards were needed for n first down.
It was their ability to make the open
ines that helped the backs in their ad-
vance.
Although Commerce was kept on the
defensive practically from the start. il
was not until the middle Of the third
period that Clinton scored its first
touchdown. II came after Commerce,
unable to advance, called on Gehrig 10
try drop kick from the 3S yard line.
The attempt was blocked by Stanley,
and Hlslop. the Clinton left end. recov-
cred it on the A. yard line. Sprinting
clear or the ileld filSlop ran tifty-elshl
yards uumolested for touchdown.
Payn kicked the goal and there was
no further scoring for the half
After the Kickoff in the third period
Commerce made nine yards in three
rushes but failed on the next plunge
at the line and had TO yield the ball
on downs on their own g yard line.
The Clinton backs then tore through
the Commerce line for three first downs
in row. and Coon finally crossed the
line for the second touchdown. a few
minutes later Clinton marched again
half the length OF the field 90 Conn
merces 2 ward line. where LEVITT fum-
bed and Sesit recovered for Commerce.
Gehrig then punted out Of danger