The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-12-05
Missed Placement
Provides Edge In
Thrilling Battle
At Wickers Field

for the Pensacola Goshawks
last night, gave the Camp
Lejeune Leathernecks a
hardfought 1912 win in the
second annual Conch Bowl
football clash. II was the
greatest athletic event in
the city's history.
But that's only half the
story - the ballgame had
everything in the way of
football thrills to keep more
than 5000 fans on the edge
of their seats at Wickers
Field Stadium. It could have
gone either way.
But, in addition to the
football game. the Miami Sc.
Nor High Schools million
Dollar Band" staged a half
time show the likes of which
Key Westers have never seen
on their home grounds.
And any doubt that service ball
teams don't have that old college
try was dispelled last night when
the two clubs fought like demons
to come UP with q win. Their eff.
forts had all the fire Of the college
version Of the gridiron pastime and
the fineness Of the play-for-pay
fraternity.
Although the Marines dominated
the first quarter with an impress
sive running game, featuring the
antics Of one Jimmy Lee, q rub
bery-legged halfback who proved
to be mueho hard 10 stop.
a Navy punt from their own
- yard line that landed on the
- end than feok . bad bounce
and relied ell HE way back 10
the IS late In The first quarter
save lhe Marines the break they
needed 10 seere.
On the first play Of the second
quarter. the Marines capitalized on
that bit Of fortune when Ronnie
Byrd hit Bill Hawkins with a pass
In the end zone. Fouts' try for the
extra point failed to make II a so
ballgame.
But, the Navy came back with a
spirited push from their split 7 for
nation that put them back 10 the
ballgame for real.
II was Ray Vohden, thei: fire.
brand quarterback, who supplied
the punch that enabled the Navy to
knot the score with just three
minutes remaining In the half.
Nohdsn faded Back 10 pass on
HE ewn % yard line, and when
he couldn't find > receiver, de.
elded 70 run. Ard run he did
right through he entire Marine
defense. A. The end Of his 70
yard TO lavns. sss score was ell
He'd W a. IS. An attempted Ne.
Wy field sos' - ihs half ended
frem the ~ ard line was block.
ID by HE Marines.
The air was full of footballs in
the second half Of the battle. With
Vohden and his understudy, Mitch
Price doing the throwing, the Ma
Wy moved downfield late In the
third quarter only to be thrown
back when Price was smothered
by inspired defensive work by Glen
Graham and Bin Stovall.
The Marines again hit pay dirt
In the third period when halfback
Ray Smith sneaked over from the
one yard line to climax a SO yard
march featuring the slippery run
ming Of that boy Lee and Bill Haw-
kins.
Howie Hosteler kicked the cru
eial extra point to put them into a
1876 lead.
II was an 90 yard jaunt by Ray
smith that put the Navy back into
the Aall game in the third period.
Smith took q punt off the toe of
Lee on his own 20 and before the
Marines could lay a hand on him
he was in the end zone.
But, Ken Coston's kick was low
and to the left and the Marines
maintained q slim one point lead.
The final period, produced the
finest action Of the evening with
the Marines fighting to increase
their shaky lead and the Navy
going all out to make up that one
point.
1t was an aerial game for both
sides marked by frequent inter
eeptions. The Navy began to click
with three minutes to 60 but last
minute pass interrogation by the
Marines spoiled their bid. They
ran the clock out and won the yer.
dict - the second loss for the Cos.
hawks this year.