Roanoke High School - Acorns Yearbook (Roanoke, VA)

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Taba Tifinal East HANKSGIVING was a perfect fall dayg the air was crisp but g ,A not too cold-ideal football weather. Roanoke High School was to play the Lynchburg High School for the State cham- gi lg pionship. Our team had defeated in succession the Belmont fi ig Athletic Club, Roanoke College, Randolph-Macon Academy, ' Jefferson Athletic Club, Troutville High School, and other teams in this section, while Lynchburg had defeated the Norfolk and Peters- burg High Schools, and was proclaimed champion of that part of the State. The interest centered in this final game surpassed that of any ever shown before. The Norfolk ck VVestern ran a special section to bring the crowd from Lynchburg. The great game was to be played at the Fair Grounds. The crowds started to pour in long before the scheduled time. The Martha Wfashington Literary Society came in a body, with colors flying, offering encouragement to our boys. The ground was in excellent condition and the white lines in contrast to the green grass made a pretty sight. Amid the shouts and cheering of a most enthusiastic crowd, our team appeared at the gate and was greeted with a tremendous burst of applause as it trotted on the field for its final practice of punting, running through sig- nals, and kicking goals. As another thundering bellow of applause burst forth, we stopped and eyed the other team as it appeared on the field. Wife were in the best of condition to win the State championship, and this was the last game we had to win. Gui' opponents were as determined as we were to capture the honor and carry it back to their school. Both teams surrounded their coaches and received final instructions for the battle, which were, f'Hold that linef' Tackle hard, Get your man, Hit the line hard, and Play like h-Y' The captains withdrew to one side and the referee tossed a coin. Lynch- burg won and chose to defend the west goal. The time of the quarters was fifteen minutes, five minutes' intermission between halves. The whistle blew and the battle was on. Our kick-off was high and long, and their man, with clever dodging and side-stepping, managed to bring the 68

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ball back twenty yards. Both teams were nervous which caused fumbling and resulted in favor of our team, as we secured the ball on their thirty-yard line. An end run, a short forward pass, and two center rushes gave us the first goal. The grandstands went wild and old Roanoke High School advanced the ball again and again. As we prepared to kick goal everything became quiet again, the ball dropped to the ground, and a perfect kick by Nelson hurled the ball straight through the goal posts. Again the noise broke forth and we grew confident of victory. The ball was placed in the center of the field and the teams lined up for the second kick-off. This time our men got well down the field on the kick-off as the ball sailed high in the air, and the man was tackled in his tracks. VVe were on the twenty-yard line and our quarter back tried a long forward pass to the right side. A Lynchburg player jumped into the air, caught the ball, and was off down the field with no one between him and the goal but Daven- port, who was playing on the left side. It was a beautiful race, although it did not seem beautiful to us at the time. Running diagonally across the field, Davenport with wonderful speed was gaining on the fleet-footed Hillclimber. lf he could only catch him before he reached the goal! At the ten-yard line Davenport made a beautiful dive and brought his man to the ground. The crowd stood up and yelled themselves hoarse, cheer after cheer being given for Davenport, the hero of the day. The ball was only seven yards from our goal and the two teams lined up, each with a determination, Lynchburg to make a goal, and Roanoke to keep them from it. A center rush was expected and our men crouched low. Like a Hash the ball was shot back and the right half back started around left end, our whole team after him. Suddenly the left end was seen dashing around right end, easily making a goal, downing the ball directly back of the posts. The double pass had fooled us. It was now Lynchburg's chance to root and their schoolmates responded with a will. The goal was kicked and the score tied. The first quarter ended without further scoring on either side. The whistle blew and the teams again lined up, both with renewed deter- mination to win, The ball was ours on the forty-yard line. First we tried a long end run, but gained very little. Then a forward pass was executed, which was good for Hfteen yards. Then we fumbled the ball and Lynchburg got it. They tried their double pass again, but our left end downed the man behind the line of scrimmage. Then they tried to force their way down the field by brute strength. Our defense was like a stone wall, for every man was doing his duty and playing the game of his life. The ball was lost on downs and 69