Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1908 — ANOTHER BIG FOOTBALL GAME [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER BIG FOOTBALL GAME

£. T’a - » d t-1 t W FT • Rensselaer City Team is to Play Lowell Here Wednesday, Dec. 2. Lowell Will Bring Rooters Along.

Wednesday, Dec. 2, will be the Bth anniversary of the great football contest between Pat O’Dea’s South Benders and the old guard that for many seasons kept the local goal line from being crossed by the enemy. It was the Monday after Thanksgiving, but it was the 2d of December. And strangely enough the Bth anniversary of that contest has been selected as the date for the game between the present Rensselaer city team and the Lowell Athletic Club. For several years Rensselaer has organized a team annually for the express purpose of playing Lowell a game and Rensselaer has always either won or tied until this year when Bruce Hardy took a crowd of huskies to Lowell and got them slimmed to the tune of 15 to 4. Lowell gave our boys a fine reception, showed them a splendid time and didn’t rub it in because they won the game, but they were mighty greatly tickled, for they had been striving year after year to get a team that would beat Rensselaer. Our boys didn’t mind the defeat so much, either, on account of the fact that the two towns have always maintained such friendly relations and if some one had to beat us we would sooner have it Lowell than any one else. Of the game the Lowell Tribune says in part: Until Sunday Lowell has, on four different occasions, left the field the vanquished, while the bloody red and somber black of Rensselaer has been flaunted to the breeze, the victor. But Lowell’s long sought

victory was not gained in any easy manner. Rensselaer fought well and nobly, never faltering for an instant and even with odds against them, in the matter of score, played most brilliant foot ball and for a time in the second half it seemed as though Lowell would again be defeated. Forward pass followed forward pass, end runs, line plunges, all the tricks that go with good foot ball were tried successfully and Lowell was forced back, back to within 15 yards of their goal. Then on off-side play by Lowell she lost 7 1-2 yards. Then they held; with their goal threatened, with Rensselaer striving for that touch down, fighting with every ounce, Lowell held. That was a gallant stand and well done. The ball went to Lowell and an instant later Shurte’s trusty boot put the ball out of danger; but not for long. Rensselaer came back more determined than ever. A splendid end run by Collins placed the ball on the 20 yard line and Morgan in a well executed drop kick put the ball squarely between the uprights and the score given. Lowell can at last say she has defeated Rensselaer. But we cannot help but admire the pluck, nerve, perseverance and fighting spirit that we find its equal. Nowhere with the we find its equal. Now her e with the odds against them, can you find a team so dogged, so determined, so full of fight until the final whistle blows. Rensselaer, even in your defeat, you are game, we admire and respect you.