The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-10-03
GREAT DEFENSE
SAVES DETROIT
FROM A DEFEAT
Locals Arc Stopped Four Yards
q. Frsm Touchdown in Last
Quarter.
Ri ]. L. HUGHES.

initial appearance of the Independ-
ents for 1921 against the Detroit
Tigers at Douglas park yesterday
afternoon The fact that the game
ended in a scoreless tie was due
entirely to a formidable defense
presented by the visitors, but it
cannot be taken to indicate that
the teams measured up equally.
Rock Islands attack was far SUI
perior to that of Detroit but the
Tigers showed enough reserve pow
er to prevent touchdowns twice
when Rock Island was battering
at; their door
81 The Tigers fought gamely and
tried hard but could not muster
an offense to make any appreciate
showing against the strong for
ward wall of the Independents. At
no stage of the battle was the goal
of the local aggregation in danger.
Detroit got past midfield twice but
was stopped short of Rock Island s
40-yard line each time.
On the other hand, Rock Island
held possession of the ball for over
three-quarters of the playing time
and maintained fast pace
throughout. In the second quarter.
a concerted drive against the big
line of the Tigers brought the ball
within "a yards of goal, where, aft
er three futile attempts to cover
distance, Councilman failed on
dropkick. In the second half, par
ticuIarly in the final quarter, the
independents worked desperately
to register and were stopped only
four yards short of the last line.
Thrice Rock Island tried for a
winning score via the air, and
thrice the coveted three points
went glimmering. due to poor
kicks. In the first, and again in
the third quarter, Councilman es-
sayed- to boot the ball over from
. the vicinity of the 40-yard line. His
first attempt went wide and his sec
ond was partially blocked. Brind-
ley, injected into the fray at cru
cial stage in the final quarter,
made the third failure of the aft
ernoon in this respect by sending
the ball wide of the posts from the
25-yard line.
Three Forwards.
Rock Island completed three for
ward passes, giving reason to ex-
pect considerable of the team in
this respect later In the third
quarter. Dave Hayes thrilled the
fans by gathering in 25-yard pass
from Woenig after a hard run.
Near the end of the game, Brindley
passed to Malone for Is yards. In
the second quarter Councilman
completed a short pass to Nichols
for eight yards. A number of fail
ures were recorded but with more
drill these should be prevented in
the future. When within four yards
of goal in the last quarter. Brindley
passed from a fake dropkick for
nation over the line. The ball was
touched by a couple of Independ-
ents and held but 1921 rules re-
quire that the pass be completed
by the man first touching the ball.
With Sackstader in the role OF
passer, Detroit's celebrated for
ward pass attacked failed to ma
terialiEe. In several attempts,
only one was completed, and this
netted but six yards. The Tigers
had to resort constantly to punt
ing, and in this Woenig excelled
both DE Gree and De Prato.
i
were highly pleased with the show
ing of the Independents, however
The line is something TO be proud
of, and the punch is there in the
offense, and is bound to assert IT.
self in coming battles In gong
against Detroit in the first game OF
the season. the locals were taking a
long chance, for the Tigers are rec
ognized as one of the best in the
business. They should improve
greatly in the next few weeks and
when the Independents meet them
in return game. wonderful con-
test should be the result with eth
er apt to register victory.
Captain Frank Coughlin play
ed a reliable, steady game at left
tackle but the work of Buland and
Lyle on the right side of the line
stood out with especial emphasis.
This pair mixed in everything,
showing the same power that has
helped the Independents along 10
success in the past Fitzgerald
stood up in his old style at the cen
ter-position, demonstrating the pep
that Rock Island fans have liked
SO well heretofore. keefe. former
Notre Dame star. showed to ad-
vantage at left guard, while Hayes
and Woenig played adroiuy at the
wings.
Sid Nichols. at quarterback. di-
rected the play with q precision
that bids fair to bring him into the
front ranks or field generals this
season. In addition ne consistent
ly advanced the ball He handled
the ball we'll. not a tumble being
made by the Islanders during the
entire game.
himself by his playing at halfback.
He reeled off several gains, which
though comparatively short, were
accomplishments in view of the
fine defense offered by Detroit.
Councilman is fast and shifty and is
welcome addition to Rock Is
land
Eddie Novak played a great de-
feGse game during the first halt
but had difficulty negotiating
ground against Detroit's famous
ends, yoss and Clago. Malone
who took his place in the second
half, Jared no better in the matter
of carrying the ball. Both, how
ever, possess the qualities of fast
backfeld men and coming tilt