The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-11-30
NOHAWKS'
PRIDE At
STAKE
By r. D. Thomas

OAHkEk6
BY r.. ID. Thomas
Hearts aflutter with the hope o
q triumph that has been q cher
ished dream for seven hard years
the !, Apache football players OF
Southeast Washington today swing
with a vengeance into the final
week Of preparation for their clash
withy-let's say it frankly--the hated
Mohawks.
"a battle will be waged in the
Griffith stadium next Sunday be-
tween the rApaches and Mohawks
for the coveted independent cham
pionship of the city. yet It will be
something more than that.
1t win be THE momentous game
of the most unusual feaud in the
history of sandlot football as tar
back as the oldest of veterans can
remember.
Seven years ago the Apaches Of
today were the popular little Mo-
hawk midgets, gathering IN their
childish way the crumbs of glory
the most feared of all full grown
teams they knew.
The "big Hawks" ruled the roost
and in a spirit that was big-brother
" and alleged with no small degree
Of pride they put out protecting
wings to the loyal and idolizing
little ones.
.s.sSome day." they told the hawk
lfngs IF you yol ngsters stick ro-
gether. learn to play together and
be loyal to your team you will beat
as. That's how we got where we
are. It's teamwork that wins in
this game"
And that bit Of advice was seed
OF trouble for the big Mohawks
that sprouted and grew and grew
until today
BY and bye the little Mohawk
Midgets became the Mohawk Juniors.
and they were ambitious juniors. A
couple of seasons of success, born of
sticking together" - the seed had
taken root-found them dreaming
o. that far away day when they, too.
would be the feared foes OF all in
their path. even as the Big Eawks.
The juniors grew into seniors or
''preps'' and with the growth came
new laurels in a wider field and
more ambition and more pride in
self. The Little Hawks had sprouted
wings and wanted to fly No longer
cared they to share the glory of
the protector. Fame of their own
making had come to them end they
wanted more.
Then came a time when the Little
Hawks no longer were really little.
They were about to blossom forth
quite grown, in fact.
It's about time, we should say,
that you young fellows came into
our club" invited the Big Hawks
with an air somewhat patrOniZ-
ing.
And the Big Hawks received quite
shock.
"Not a chance We're on our own
now, big boys" came the answer
And it stuck. And it piqued the
Big Hawks Well, well, these
young whippersnappers needed a
little taking down.
First cajolery, then derision. then
contempt from the Big Hawks.
Then the upstairs got angry and
changed their names. They came to
loath the name Mohawk. They were
good enough to carry a new name
to a fame known to the old. They
were on their own good and proper.
BY 1923 the Mohawk Props had
become the Apaches and in that year
the Mohawks, sinking their con-
tempt. accepted a challenge from
the boys they once idolized The
pupil lined up against the teacher.
The score was 81 to z. The
Apaches' lone touchdown was the
first, scored against the, Mohawks in
NINE YEARS. S*S "a.
More growth. More experience.
In 1924, the Apaches lost
again, but this time by a score
Of6 to. o and by means of a So
yard forward pass. Ed Lynch
to Mccarthy. former Catholic
University stars, some will re-
member.
That brings us up to last year
when the Apaches anG Mohawks,
row REAL rivals, with the Mo.
hawks defending themselves with a
bitterness that is born only of pride.
fought two battles. And the Mo.
hawks won both. Is to 0 and 8 to 0.
But the Apaches won from that
hard-fought campaign of 1925 a long.
sweet draught from the cup of vic
tory. They fell twice before the
now thoroughly hated enemy, but
they. also twice defeated the Mo.
hawks traditional competitors for
supremacy. the Mercurys. 1t was
their first outstanding achievement
And it was a convincing indication
Of the one, all-desired triumph to
&C ne.
The great opportunity is near at
hand. Hailed by some as one Of the
est-functioning. best-coached
gandlot football machines that Wash.
tngton has known in many a year
the Apaches today fash record for
1925 without a defeat on it,
They have scored 1853. points
against ~ for their opponents.
The await cage :" the big day
AND IS OF THE PRESENT
APACHES WE'RE MOHAWK MID
GETS SIEVE YEARS AGO.
Rink on Roof