The Makio - University of Illinois

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doing the coaching. Denison presented a better defense than Wesleyan and the
Buckeyes were at a disadvantage with the loss of Addison and (jillam, who were
both ill with influenza. Despite these handicaps, Ohio was able to defeat the Granville
squad 34 to o. This game was also featured by the playing of the Ohio State
backfield, Davies in particular looming as a Varsity star. Matheny and Myers
were a great help to him in the matter of interference. On the line Huffman was
beginning to stand out as a star, while the ends again appeared to be able to cope
with any end runs, in addition to handling forward passes.
After the Denison game on October 12 the Buckeyes were idle until Case was
played, November 19. In the meanwhile the influenza epidemic hit the country
and the Northwestern contest was cancelled because of the difficulties in traveling
at that time. The Alichigan game was also postponed until November 30. Practice
was continued during the time no game was played and November 9 Ohio
State defeated a weak Case team 56 to o. Davies again ran wild on his opponents,
scoring practically at will. With the exception of his sensational playing
the game was void of interest The Case team was badly crippled because the
army doctors at the Cleveland University refused to allow any of the backfield
men to participate because of their physical condition.
A week later the Buckeyes made their first and only trip of the season, it being
to Illinois, where two years before "Chic" Harley had become famous by defeating
the mini in the last few minutes of play. But the Illini, twice defeated by
Ohio State, dazzled the Buckeyes by an offense much different from that the Ohio
team had met in at-home contests. A big line with two pairs of fast backfield
men was too much for the Buckeyes to stop-, Illinois winning 13 to o. Illinois received
the ball on the kickoff and never stopped going until after a touchdown
was scored.
Only once during the game did Ohio State threaten to score. That was when
Rife ran 70 yards through the entire Illinois team, only to be tackled and fumble
on the one yard line, the Suckers recovering the ball and punting out of danger.
After this Illinois was able to score again. The game was played on a wet field
which made forward passing impossible for either team. Illinois easily had the
better team, but had Rife been able to hold the ball on his long jaunt the Buckeyes
might have braced enough to get a tie. The game marked Rife as a star in the
backfield. It also emphasised the seriousness of the short practice which was making
it impossible for Coach Wilce to develop a team capable of defeating Western
Conference foes, when the other teams were having over twice as much time for
work.
After the Illinois beating the Buckeyes improved greatly during the week and
started the game against Wisconsin the next Saturday like a new team, twice
working the ball to the Badgers ten yard line only to loose it on downs. Wisconsin
punted out of danger twice but the third time Halfback Smith dropped
back and instead of kicking ran around right end for 68 yards and a touchdown.
JENE AT Ohio State and Ohio Wesleyan Football Game
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