Sunday, December 1st @ Rock Island - Island City Park - 0,000
The Lineups: Rock Island........vs.....Spring Valley
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
T |
|
Spring Valley Miners (IL) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
R.I. Independents |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
| RII | Davenport Interception Return | (A.Salzmann 1pt) |
INDEPENDENTS WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP December 2nd – Sunday – Neither team carried a weight advantage but Spring Valley carried the edge in age and experience. At least that is what the visitors who accompanied the team from Spring Valley thought. Prior to the game the betting was so heavy on the Miners that many locals thought there was something wrong a key player on the Independents. For about an hour before the game no bets could be secured backing the Independents. As soon as the team made their way onto the field and all could see everyone was fine betting resumed. |
The Game – Spring Valley took the kick and had several short gains as they drove across midfield and into Rock Island territory. The defense stiffened. The two teams exchanged punts and battled it out until the near the end of the quarter. With seconds remaining quarterback McQuade dropped back for an apparent punt. After taking the snap McQuade turned and threw the ball towards the end Kern. Ted Davenport and another Independent player broke towards the ball. Kern was not able to hold on to the pass and the ball slipped through his hands in into the arms of Davenport. The half back took the ball and raced through an open field. The crowd erupted as he cross the goal line for a touchdown. The second quarter was quiet and neither team scored. |
In the third quarter the Independents showed they were the more offensive team. Loyal Robb and Art Salzmann pounded the line with plunges and MacManus dazzled with his broken field running. The Independents moved close to the Spring Valley goal two times in the quarter. Once, MacManus lined up on the wet field and tried a drop kick. The soaked ball never had a chance and the kick resulted in a touchback. Another time on a 3rd down from the 15 yard line MacManus was about to line up for another goal attempt, his teammates convinced him to go for the first down instead. The next play resulted in the ball getting to close to the sidelines making the kicking angle impossible. Spring Valley took over after a failed 4th down conversion. The game ended with Spring Valley in possession of the ball around midfield. Source -Rock Island Argus December 2nd, 1912
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SPRING VALLEY SUPPORTES SORE ABOUT GAME December 5th - Stunned. Fans of the Spring Valley Miners are still trying to figure out just how the locals beat their hometown team. They have raised questions about the Independents lineup and suggest that Rock Island stacked the team with college ringers. With both teams disbanded and no chance of another game, supporters have put up $1,000 saying the Rock Island could not do it again. One supporter contacted the Rock Island Argus and had this to say, “It could not happen again in 100 years. We have $1,000 beans to say so, I would also like to know how many Rock Island players played Sunday or were they all university players; there were more players on the sidelines than there were spectators.” The Rock Island Argus responded, “Everyone one of the players making up the Rock Island Independents are Rock Islanders with one exception. Right tackle Swanson who is from Moline. None of the players are university men although there are several on the team who have the ability to make a university eleven had they the opportunity.” Source -Rock Island Argus December 5th, 1912
2/10/12 - Picture of Team in Argus |