Evening star., 1939-10-29
Gators Seize tumble
Intercept Pass 10
Gain Decision
Bottisto, :1efty Guard,
Is Terps' Nemesis in
Homecoming Game
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

BY LEWIS r. ATCHlSON.
Engulfed in a wave of white jer-
seys that pounded at its goal line
throughout the afternoon, the Uni
versity of Maryland bowed to SUI
perior Florida eleven, 14-0, at Col
lege Park yesterday before home
coming crowd of $500.
The Terps never threatened. They
were too busy warding off the rush
Of swift Gator backs who burned
through the line like hot pokers and
swept around the flanks like feathers
in a windstorm. Maryland sorely
missed Mearle Duvall, its passing ace
and principal offensive threat and
the pitching skill of Pershing Mon
dorff, spiked by lame arm.
But it was the alertness of the
visiting linesmen and secondary that
paved the way to victory, for Florida
cashed in on two breaks of the game
to post its winning points. The first
occurred in the waning minutes of
the first period, when it recovered
tumble on Maryland's 37-yard line,
and the second happened midway
in the final.
Battista Is Terps' Nemesis.
"Mush" Battista, roly-poly 1885,
pound guard, was the hero on both
occasions, for it was he who Topped
on Joe Murphy's tumble and who
gathered in the same Murphy's pass
after it had been DETECTED by Car
men Ferigno, to launch the visiting
delegation on its touchdown excur-
sions.
The interception, incidentally,
choked of promising Terp drive
that had penetrated to Florida's 36
before Murphy uncorked the fatal
toss.
Maryland was in high gear in the
first period. when the Gators threw
up bristling defense, tore into Muir
ply as he tried to crack the line
and bounced the pigskin from his
desperate clutch. 1t had started
from its own 20, receiving the ball
at that point following Walton's boot
into the end zone, and picked up two
consecutive first downs, with Johnny
Boyda and Murphy Juggling the
leather.
Then 1t tried an ill-starred end
around play, with Dick Shaffer
packing the pigskin. But he had
hardly grabbed the ball when an
army of Florida forwards rose up
before him like a Monday washline
and planted him in the turf for an
e-yard loss.
Murphy Loses Ball in Dumping.
Murphy took the ball on the sue
ceeding play and tried to bull his
way through the Gator forwards,
but three of them hit him simul-
taneously. forcing the ball from his
grasp Forest Ferguson and Bat
tista dove for the bounding pigskin,
and when the referee unravelled
them "Mush" was hugging it.
Florida then opened with it's first
power-show of the afternoon. driv-
ing over the goal line in exactly
six plays. Bud Walton breezed
through a cash in Maryland's line
for first down on the 25, Charley
Tate boiled over guard for another
first down on the 10. They teamed
third first down, and from there
Walton ploughed through for the
score. He also added the extra
point with well-directed place.
ment.
A good break on a punt which
struck Bill Governs back and was
recovered by Bob Wharton put
Maryland in position for a scoring
chance early in the fourth period
giving it the ball on Florida's SO
But Florida held, batted down two
passes and surrendered only five
yards by rushing before Murphy un-
corked the game-twisting heave.
Little Houston Running Star.
1t was intended for Bernie Ulman,
and for time it appeared the Off
cials might rule interference with
the receiver and give Maryland the
ball on the Gators II. Battista,
meanwhile, had gathered in the ball
and was waddling down the side
lines. He reached his own AZ before
being knocked out of bounds.
Hubie Houston, slim but light
ming fast 144-pounder, was the hero
of the ensuing drive. He ran Mary
land ragged at the ends and cata-
pulled through jagged rents in the
line with the speed of frightened
deer. Fifty-eight yards Florida trav-
eled for the score, with Houston
slashing through left guard for the
touchdown. He held the ball as
Andy Beno added the last point of
the fray with a placement.
A third Florida march into Terp
territory came to grief on Mary
lands IA, where furry of passes
were grounded. And the line hurled
back lone running play. Mike
Bucha's interception of another
Murphy pass arranged the trappings
for this march.
Pos Florida 90. Maryland tO)
LE----Ferguson -------- Beamer
LI'----GoM Brown