Central High School - Centralian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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Foot ha II T the opening of Central’s 1919 football season. Central was without a coach. Mr. Carson, who for many years had tutored Central’s teams in a wonderful fashion, had resigned. Mr. Tapp assigned Mr. La Fromboisc to the squad temporarily and he had charge of it until September 26, when Mr. Mitchell tex k charge of the first squad, with I.a Fromboise handling the seconds. With but two weeks before the North game in which to get the team into shape. Mr. Mitchell put the squad through a half mouth of strenuous practice, and when they trotted out upon North's field, they appeared as a championship organization from start to finish. “Mitch’’ had plenty of material from which to pick his 1919 “bunch. and lie started the North game with a veteran combination: Captain Rasmussen at . center; Sterner and Hall, guards; Miller and Woolery. tackles; Norton and McGovern, ends; Hale, quarter; Grose and Skobba, halfs; and Kyllingstad, fullback. In the first game of the season at North High field. Central met and defeated North, for the first time since 1912, 13-0. North kicked off and Central started a drive down the field, substantial gains by both Grose and Skobba brought the ball to North’s 15-yard line. Hale carried the ball around left end. and. with perfect interference, made a touchdown. Skobba kicked the goal. This ended the scoring for a while. During the second and third quarter the play was mostly in midfield, neither team having an advantage. In the fourth quarter, however, Grose intercepted a forward pass, and steady gains bv Skobba and Kyllingstad brought the ball to North’s 13-yard line. Skobba gained eight through center, Grose four, and then “Fritz put it over. Skobba missed the goal. The final score was 13 to 0 in favor of Central. Friday, October 17, Central met and defeated East at Nicollet Park—20 to 7. East started out in a whirlwind fashion and carried the ball down the field, making gain after gain, and before the Central players were aware, had obtained the only touchdown scored on them all season. This, however, was only the case of the first quarter, because Central’s combination soon got together, and before the half was over the score was 13 to 7 in Central's favor After repeated gains by Kyllingstad. Grose, and Skobba. Skobba put the oval over. Ballentine missed the goal. Central kicked oft' to East, and as they could not gain, Engen attempted to punt, but Norton blocked it and raced down the field for the other touchdown. This time Ballentine kicked the goal. In the second half. Central kept the ball almost entirely in East's territory, and in the last quarter Hale slipped around the end for a 20-yard run and a touchdown. Ballentine finished the good work. Jimmie Taylor proved himself a mainstay on Central’s line by his playing in this game. Grose, I lale. Woolery. Ballentine. Rasmussen, and Taylor were Central’s stars, while Engen and Nelson played the best for the Eastsiders. On Friday, October 24. Central’s warriors met and defeated South at their I 13 J

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ru A-iu 7=1 r j field, 6 to 0. The game was played in a drizzling rain. Central’s stand was packed more than it had been in any of the previous games, and the rain did not stop them from cheering their team to victory. During the first quarter both teams carried the ball, but neither team was able to gain an advantage. Central kicked off, and South received, but failed to gain. The second quarter, however, was different. Archer carried the ball around right end for a good gain. Grose bucked the center for four and carried the ball around left end next time for first down. Skobba then took the ball for a gain, and Grose again hit South's line for first down. Then came that pretty forward pass. Archer to Skobba. with which Skobba scored the lone marker of the game. The score at the end of the half was 6-0. In the third quarter Johnny Ballcntine was the feature of Central’s play. South kicked off, and time after time lie carried the ball, always gaining from four to ten yards at a try. During this period the ball was almost continually in South's territory, and the only thing that enabled South’s team to withstand this strong attack was Swanson’s punting. In the last quarter the play resembled that of the first nearly all the time, each team carrying the ball, only to be held by the other and forced to punt. The nearest that South got to Central's goal was our 25-yard line, and then Central held like a stone wall. Mitchell's men were coached to watch South’s forward passing and they did. South attempted fifteen times to forward, but did not complete a single one. For Central on the line, Captain Rasmussen, Taylor, Hall, and Woolery were the stars, while in the backfield Archer, Grose, Ballcntine, and Skobba played well. After two weeks’ rest. Central defeated West at Nicollet Park 14 to 0. School spirit seemed to prevail among the spectators, and when the teams began to play, both of them seemed to be boiling over with the lighting spirit to win. The muddy field prevented the Central team from defeating their rivals by a larger score, but it was an interesting battle. For Central, Grose, Hale, Captain Rasmussen, and Hall starred. The victory over West was the fourth straight win and gave Central the city championship with a clean slate. South defeated Mechanic Arts, champions of St. Paul, and Central in turn defeated South, giving Central the twin city championship. With Clarence Hall as a leader of Central’s 1920 warriors, and with Ballen-tinc, Norton, Hale, and Erling back. Central has a good outlook for the 1920 championship. f n j