The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1920-09-15

the game when the university @ol
Minnesota invited the two leading
teams to play the championship on
Northrop Field and DR.. H. L. Will
liams presented the winning team
with a large silver loving cup. The
1919 season proved to be most sue
cessful one from every standpoint.
The interst was kept at a high pitch,
due to the fact that the standings
were in doubt until the last game had
been played. The quality of play was
of distinctly high grade, and the
game attracted the attention of the
public in a greater degree than ever
before. Open play, with the forward
pass, punting and the running game
featured the attack. The defense,
however, seemed to be less formid-
able and in the case of many teams
could not compare with the strong
and well-developed offense; yet the
style, of play was immensely interest,"
ing and seemed to be satisfactory to
spectators. players and coaches
alike.
81 Although it was the intention Of
the University Of Minnesota to have
an undisputed state championship in
high school foot ball, it was unable
to arrange it. so on account of the
lack Of suitable weather, which was
a big handicap to several of the teams
in the northern part of the state. The
result was that the state title rests
equally between Virginia and 'WOr-
Ellington, although Bemidji went
thru the season without defeat. In
the semi-finals, Bemidji and Montevi-
dec played a 90 tie at -.4ontevideo
and Virginia and Worthington play
ed &C tie on Northrop Field at the
University. It was the desire of the
University at first to have BemldJl
play Worthington and Virginia play
Montevideo, but on account or the
lateness OF the"season it was decided
to flip a coin to have the two WIN
ners play the final game, but that
each team was to share honors with
the team they had first played a tie.
Consequently Virginia and 'Worthing-
ton were both presented with a sill
yer loving cup by DR.. H. l.. Williams,
veteran Gopher coach when Virginia
defeated ,MOntevideo on Northrop
Field by score Of 1877.
Coach Jackson OF Virginia turned
out the best eleven that has repre-
sented the iron ore metropolis for
years. The team was scored on only
in its last two games, namely,
against Worthington and Monte
video, the latter being thru an inter-
copied pass. Worthington must be
given great credit for fighting its
way to equal honors with the heavy
Virginia team. The team was coach
ed by George Myrum, who played
Quarterback and acted as their
coach. Myrum was easily one of the
most elusive players ever seen on a
scholastic eleven.
Bemidj, with their well-balanced
team, was classed as one of the best
scholastic teams in the state. They
won the undisputed championship OF
Northwestern Minnesota for the Sec
ond consecutive time. The game with
Montevideo was played under two
big handicaps Tie Bemidji eleven
was forced to 60 without practice out
of doors for two weeks prior to the
important game with Montevideo on
account of an fee and snow covered
gridiron and finally on account Of be-
ing misinformed on the condition Of
the field. Upon arriving at Monte
video they found a muddy field and
were not prepared with mud cleats as
were the Montevideo eleven. The Be-
midji-Montevideo game without a
doubt drew one of the largest crowds
that ever witnessed a high school
game, excluding the Twin cities.
ontevideo. coached by Niharte, a
former Illinois man, won all their
games handily until they met Be-
midi, who played them to scoreless
tie on their own field, and then were
defeated the next week easily by Vir-
ginia at Northrop Field. Central
High of Minneapolis was represented
by strong and well-balanced team
and might have been a champion
had not Coach Mitchell not with
drawn his team from the race. Lit
tie Falls, after being out OF football