LHS Football Team, 1922-3
First Row -- Elton Little (Captain), Gerald Dickinson.
Second Row -- Harold Sanger, Thomas Nichols, John Larson, Schuyler Fitch, Elmer Grossman.
Third Row -- Harry Stewart [sic], Castle Brownell, Frank Einsphar, Harold Trump.
Fourth Row -- Mr. Lansford (Coach), Justin Viant, Paul Berg, Maurice Miller, Franklin Petry, Elwyn Belshaw, Charles Sherard, Mr. Botkin (Assistant Coach).
Momence, Ill., there, September 30.
Momence, Ill. here, October 14.
Froebel (Gary), there, October 21.
Lemont, Ill., here, November 11.
Lemont, Ill., there, November 30.
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Football Resume
Lowell High made her debut into footballdom at Momence, Ill. The game started with Momence kicking. Lowell took the ball down the field for a gain of several yards and then fumbled. Momence recovered and pounded through our line for a touchdown. Again before our boys could stop them they marked up six points more. The quarter ended with the score 12 to 0, Momence having missed both goals on try for points.
The second quarter opened with the Lowell boys playing much harder, holding Momence for downs several times. In the last half minute of play Momence was able to score again and the half ended with neither side having a decided advantage.
In the second half Lowell went back with more fight and determined to keep Momence from scoring if possible. She did well considering the fact that she fumbled so much she was unable to gain ground when in possession of the ball. Momence fumbled some, but not as much as did Lowell. After the ball had changed from one side to the other several times Momence was able to make one more touchdown. This ended the scoring during the game.
The next quarter was a fight from start to finish. Both sides gained ground consistently until within a few yards of the goal, when they were held for downs or lost possession of the ball on fumbles. While on the defense both sides seemed to be able to hold their own in a pinch, but on the offense neither side seemed to have the punch to put it across. The game ended with Lowell in possession of the ball on Momence's ten- yard line. The score was 24 to 0.
Two weeks later Momence came to Lowell for the return game and proceeded to teach our team some more football to the tune of 25 to 0. In the first half our team was unable to get together and Momence was able to gain ground whenever they pleased. They made one of their touchdowns on a pretty run of eighty yards, eluding all of Lowell's tacklers. After this Lowell seemed to lose heart, and although they played hard they were unable to stop the visitors. The first half ended 19 to 0.
The second half was a different story, both sides working the ball down to their opponent's goal only to be held for a down. Momence worked hard during the half, but failed to score more than once, and that was fifteen seconds before the close of the game. Momence played a good hard game and earned all she got.
On October 21, Lowell went to Gary to meet the strong Froebel team, which is classed as one of the best teams of Indiana. Lowell played hard, but her inexperienced team was no match for Froebel's veterans. Froebel outplayed our team in every department of the game, but it was due to inexperience and not to effort on Froebel's part. The final score, 56 to 0, does not tell half the story, for Lowell fought hard during the entire game.
Saturday, November 11, Armistice Day, was a great day to the whole world, or at least to half of it. To the students of L.H.S., the coach of the football team and to the team itself, it was of double importance, for it was the day of Lowell's first football victory. Lowell defeated the Lemont High School 14 to 0.
The first half was played fast and clean. Lowell took the ball and marched straight through for a touchdown. Trump kicked goal for one point. Lemont came back strong and advanced to Lowell's three-yard line, where they lacked the punch to put it over. Trump kicked out of danger and both teams see-sawed back and forth in the middle of the field until the first half ended.
The second half opened with a rush. Trump made two long runs and then the ball was carried over for a touchdown. Trump kicked goal for one point. Lemont was strong in the forward pass game. She completed numerous short passes, but was inaccurate in her long runs. The rest of the game was played with no outstanding features. Trump was the stellar performer at long end running. Einspahr and "Bus" were good for six to eight yards through the line.
On Thanksgiving Day Lowell went to Lemont to play the return game. All during the game there was a high wind and at intervals it rained enough to keep the grass wet and slippery. Lemont kicked to Lowell. Trump returned the ball to the forty-yard line. The wind caused a bad pass by center, Lowell losing twenty yards. Trump kicked. Lowell being handicapped by wind and penalties could make no gains. Lemont took the ball, their runner escaped for a long end run, they advanced to Lowell's five-yard line, where they were held for down. Lowell kicked. Lemont advanced, and on a lateral pass made thirty yards for a touchdown. They failed to kick goal. Half ends 6 to 0.
Second half -- Lowell received, but were forced to kick. Lemont threatened Lowell's line but were stopped on the twenty-yard line. They failed in an attempted place kick. In the last quarter Lowell marched down the field. Lemont intercepted the pass, and took the ball to center field. There the team see-sawed for several minutes. Lowell weakened and Lemont forced the ball to their eight-yard line. Berg and Grossman went in for Miller and Sanger. They held Lemont for a down and began the march for Lowell's goal. With three minutes to play they went the entire length of the field to Lemont's thirteen-yard line, when the timekeeper ended the game.
From the 1923 Lowell High School yearbook, page 43.
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