This story below is by reporter Howard Graves, who attended but did not graduate from Linfield. After graduating in spring of 1944 from Robinson, Ill., High School (also known as Robinson Township High School or R.T.H.S.), he went to work for weekly (issued on Thursdays) Robinson Argus newspaper.
Howard recalls he was paid 10 cents per column inch to report on high school sports. The Argus was in competition with the Robinson Daily News, which had a full time sports writer and a Saturday edition. That might explain the reasons The Argus story is long and detailed. By the way, Howard joined the U.S. Navy on Nov. 28, 1944. Thus, this article was one of the last he wrote before going into military service.
This story was published in the (issued on Thursdays) Argus. It describes a Armistice Day high school football game –- Robinson vs. Marshall -- in 1944. Armistice Day that year was Saturday, Nov. 11. Perhaps the game was played that night or perhaps it was played Friday night, Nov. 10? Howard thinks it was played on Friday, the typical day then (and now) for a high school football game.
Maroons Win
Armistice Day
Pigskin Tussle
Down Strong Marshall Team By
Scot of 27 to 6; Victory Over
Oblong On Turkey Day, Nov.
23rd Will Give the R. T. H.S.
Eleven The E.I, and Valley
Championships.
By HOWARD GRAVES
Capt. Jack Kaley, know as the arm to his schoolmates, proved that name against Marshall on Armistice Day in the annual pigskin tussle which the Fighting Maroons came out of top 27-6. For Kaley, his runningmate, Dave Steele, and kid brother “Hoop” put on an aerial attack that has not been witnessed for sometime by local fans. The strong Marshall forward wall stopped the vaunted Maroon running attack so Kaley took to the air to bring victory number eight to the Maroons. Perhaps with this victor came the E.I. and Wabash Valley championships for left on the Maroon schedule is only their cross county rival the weak Oblong Panthers.
On the receiving end of these passes were Lew Olds, Bob Schneider, and when Steele wasn’t pitching he was snagging the pitches of Kaley. Defensibly the Maroons were a little off the ball by past performances. The line seemed weak at times and at other times felt like playing the game. But, the old stalwarts Wayne King and Bob Schneider played their consistent game of stopped any play coming their way. The Maroons left loose another backfield threar in Mike Cauley. Cauley ripped some beautiful holes in the Marshall line and was one of the better players on the field.
The Lions won the kick off toss and took their ball on their 40 after both teams exchanged points and the ball rested on Marshall’s 46 yard line in the Maroons possession. Kaley streaked 54 yards for the opening touchdown. Capt. Kaley also drop kicked the extra point. Kaley intercepted a Lion pass on his 19 yard to start the next series of fireworks. Steele picked up a yard and on 3rd down punted. Vic Bennett, husky Lion guard, broke through the Maroon line and blocked the punt. The Lions recovered on the Maroons 10 to give them their first break of the game. The first quarter Summers picked up 4 yards. English added another yard to bring up the fourth down and five yards to a first down. And then the Lions made a mistake by one that they didn’t make again. Summers took the ball on an end sweep but Schneider brought him down for no gain and the loss of the ball for the Lions. The Maroons took over on their 19. Cauley and Steele gave the Maroons a first down and took them out of the hole but the tough Marshall line braced so Kaley took to the air. V. Kaley hit brother Jack with a pass that netted 23 yards. J. Kaley threw to Schneider for an 18 yard gain and another first down on the Lions 24. The Maroons lost five yards on an offside penalty by Capt. Kaley kept calling aerials and Steele took his hand in the game and hit Olds on the 3. Cauley made the touchdown in two plunges. Kaley made the extra point. Steele intercepted a Loin aerial and the Maroons started another drive. The Kaley brothers took the ball to Marshall’s 32. Here the Maroons could go no farther and the half ended with the Maroons trying to score.
The Lions started the second half with blood in their eye and a determination to grab the game from the visiting Maroons. “Hoop” Kaley returned the kick off to the 28. Steele punted to the 44. With Summers and Maurer totin the ball the Lions advanced to Robinson’s 39. Here the Maroons bucked up a little bit and held for downs. A series of passes gave the Maroons their third chucker. Kaley pitching from the 40 hit Steele who carried the ball for 50 yards to score. The play was good for 59 yards. Kaley’s attempted kick for point was blocked. King intercepted another Lion pass to start the Maroons again on the road to paydirt. With little “Hoop” Kaley using his throwing arm and plunging by Don Shears helped to advance the ball to the Marshall one yard time. Were V. Kaley plunged over. Brother Jack kicked the point.
With Summer and Maurer lugging the Lions started their touchdown drive late in the third quarter. Maurer and Summers toted the ball. To the Robinson 35 and with the help of a roughing penalty got the ball to the 20 from where Maurer slanted between left tackle and end to score standing up. The game ended on Marshall’s 38 in the Fighting Maroons possession.
MaroonsWinbyHowardGravesNov1944.doc
