The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-10-02

Elated over their 60 win from Vir-
ginia in the final seconds of the con-
test, the Memorial high school foot
ball team is all set for its next foe
Eveleth, which the Red and White vii
meet on the Hilltop gridiron Friday
night.
The Vermilion Rangers viii play
under the lights of the newly construc-
| ted Eveleth Stadium, which is sched-
uled for dedication a week from to-
morrow, when EEeleth viii entertain
Virginia.
While Coach Steve Smrekar's gang
was not given the honor of formally
opening the new stadium. they can
rate their game as preview to the
ceremonies, and in this respect have
added incentive to scalp the Hilltop
eleven
That Eveleth viii have plenty to say
about such an attempt was indicated
in its TO defeat of Gilbert in the
lair of the Montgomerymen Coach
George Lees IL lettermen, one of
whom played on last years champion
ship team regularly, decisioned Gilbert's
five veterans in their own back yard,
a feat that is not going unnoticed by
the cautious Coach Smrekar
Coming back in great style from the
doldrums Of defeat and inactivity mark
ing the opening Of the campaign, the
Vermilion Rangers smeared the Blue
devils aplenty during the final quarter,
and registered their first win over the
Queen City since 1887.
Scoreless until the final seconds, the
game ended in story book fashion as
Fullback Stanley Mestnik heaved
pass to End Louis Senta good for 80
yards and 6 points. The try at the
extra point failed.
Ely scored no less than three touch
downs, but two of them were dis
allowed. All were marked up in hectic
fourth quarter that saw the Devils
potent medicine decidedly smashed by
a fighting Ely eleven.
First touchdown" came when Senta
gathered in Virginia pass and gal
loped 40 yards to cross the goal line
standing up. But the officials ruled the |
ball was not in play at the time. Second |
touchdown" came a short time later |
when MeStnik uncorked a heave to |
Halfback Joe Omerza who raced 80 |
yards to score. Again the officials |
stepped in to say that the ball was
caught out of bounds.
But the Ely team did not give up |
Again Mestnik numbered his tossing |
arm and shot pass to Senta with |
only Is seconds left in the playing |
time. and Senta gobbled up the pig
skin and ran it over the goal line.
From the opening minutes, when |
Mestnik made the spectators eyes pop |
with 90-yard punt, to the final gun, |
the game was one of the most exciting |
on record. During the entire opening |
half the clubs battled even up The
closest Ely got to pay territory was |
the Virginia 20-yard line where the |
Vermilion Rangers lost the ball on
downs The Bluedevils got slightly |
farther, to the Is, where Ely took |
possession of the oval
The third period was also even, but |
the final Il minutes were Ely's by a |
wide margin, although Virginia started |
by blocking an Ely punt on the latter's
80. A completed pass put the ball on
the Is, and another pass that followed |
was snagged by Mestnik, who kicked
the ball out Of danger to the Virginia |
40. Virginia lost the ball on downs
on the Ely 48, and it was then that
Ely got into high gear, with about
three minutes to go.
Keith Browneu sneaked around end
for yards, and Mestnik made it a
first down with through the line.
Mestnik went through the line for 3,
and then uncorked two passes good for
and Is yards. respectively. Then
came the first touchdown pass, which
was brought back when the receiver
caught the ball out of bounds. With
seconds remaining Mestnik let go
again, and connected with Senta for
he marker.