~ FOOTBALL - 1914 ~
The Team
Left to Right
Top - Unknown - Ralph Delorey - Coach George Hayes - Unknown - Walter Lepper
Middle - Ralph Longley - Harold Morse - Marshall Balfour - Fred Claflin - Unknown - Walter Carroll - Unknown
Bottom - James McDonald - Unknown - Henry LaForme - Orai Peloquin - William Goggon - Deacon Brown - Unknown
Athletic Notes.In previous years, all the athletic teams of the M. H. S. have been loyally supported, not only by the pupils of the school, but by the people of-Marlboro. The state of affairs is much different this year, as especially the management of the football team finds. The team is getting none, or very little support from the members of the school. This condition should not exist, inasmuch as the present team has made as creditable a showing as the teams of previous years. Now, if there is one thing most essential in turning out a winning school team, it's the good, hearty, loyal support of the entire student body. Now, all together, up to Prospect Park on Thanksgiving Day, to show some of that enthusiasm and confidence which has been so greatly lacking since the opening of the present season !
Marlboro 0 Waltham 33
Marlboro's football season opened on the 12th of September with the usual raid into the Waltham territory. Considering the short practice which the team was able to get in, it made a very creditable showing against the strong Waltham eleven. Waltham obtained ,all of their points in the first half, owing to the stiff defense put up by the Marlboro boys in the last two sessions. This was a source of great encouragement to the coach and his team.
Marlboro 0 Everett 59
On the 26th of September. M.H. S. played an exhibition game at Everett. Although Marlboro was badly beaten, still considering how greatly they were outweighed, they put up a pretty good fight. This contest was of advantage for two reasons: It gave the team a good chance to play men heavier than themselves, and showed the points that needed the most attention.
Marlboro 13 St. Mark's 6
Marlboro played a practice game with St. Mark's, September 30th. In the course of the game Marlboro succeeded in getting two touchdowns and try as they might, St. Mark's was unable to overcome the lead. As this was Marlboro's first victory, it did much to encourage the team to keep fighting.
Marlboro 14 Worcester Trade 0
On October 7th Worcester Trade School lined up against Marlboro at Prospect Park. The game was featured by the slashing plunges of D. F, Lyons, a former M. H. S. star. The affair was hotly contested, Marlboro being unable to score in the last half.
Marlboro 20 Hudson 0
The annual Columbus Day game with Hudson saw Marlboro dim the hopes of their old rivals. Crossman, Hudson's quarterback, made the only serious attempt for a touchdown, but was stopped by Brown. In this game, Peloquin and Brown with Balfour, who was tried out at halfback, made a combination that Hudson couldn't stop.
Marlboro 33 Worcester South High 6
On November 4th a team from Worcester South High School invaded Prospect Park. Owing to the heat of the day neither team exerted itself and the game was run off in a rather desultory fashion. The invaders intercepted a forward pass and secured a touchdown. However, this was of small importance as in the course of the game Marlboro secured thirty-three points.
Marlboro 80 Milford 0
The Milford game, the first Midland League contest of the year, was played at Prospect Park, on the 24th of October. From the very first the result was never in doubt, as the light Milford aggregation was utterly unable to stop the line plunges of the heavier Marlboro eleven. In this name M. H. S. repeatedly worked the forward pass to perfection. Although Milford was hopelessly outweighed they put up a fairly good fight, and stuck to it to the end.
Marlboro 6 Clinton 0
Saturday afternoon, October 31, found the crowd at Prospect Park, eagerly waiting for the beginning of the contest which was to take place between Marlboro and Clinton. All previous records of both teams clearly showed that the teams were evenly matched in every department of the game. The game started, and as it progressed it became evident that both elevens were determined to win, for the slashing attack and the obstinate defense put up by both teams spelled "determination" in large letters. The game was waged back and forth in the middle of the field with Marlboro having slightly the better of it. So close was the playing that, at the end of the third period, all indications pointed to a scoreless tie, when suddenly Brown took the ball on an end run and dodging, twisting and turning through the Clinton eleven, carried the ball .thirty yards down the field and over the line for a touchdown.
Marlboro 9 Framingham 0
Saturday, November 7th, the team boarded the train for Framingham to play their second league game.
Marlboro started right in and although held for downs several times, finally brought the ball within striking distance of Framingham's uprights by a cleverly executed forward pass. Framingham fought desperately, but Captain Peloquin, with a supreme effort, pushed the ball over the line and kicked a goal amid the applause of the Marlboro contingent. On the following kick-off Marlboro secured a safety, netting two more points, thus the first quarter ended. This rest of the game was fiercely contested, but Framingham was unable to score.
In the course of the game many punches were exchanged, but of course all in good nature, which only added to the interest, and in this department, Marlboro was not excelled. Although Marlboro got her chestnuts out of the fire all right, a few were a bit scorched.Marlboro 7 Natick 3
The annual melee with Natick took place on the 14th of November. As this was a league game of great importance, the best crowd of the year mounted Prospect Hill to be on hand for the contest of brain and brawn. Natick kicked to Marlboro, who, after making several first downs, were forced to punt. Natick tried several line plunges but to no avail, and they too, were forced to punt. In this manner the first half ended and the score was tie, 0 - 0.
The third period was hotly contested, but no scoring was done. In the eventful fourth, Peloquin dropped back and punted. Natick recovered and ran the ball back for a substantial gain. The visitors executed a series of line plunges and end runs which brought the ball to Marlboro's thirty line. This time Howard booted the pigskin through the uprights for the first score of the game. The ball was given Marlboro on their own twenty yard line and with three minutes to play, the warriors of the Orange and Black, spurred on by the dread of defeat, started on the march to the goal. Time and again the backs hit the line never failing to gain. A thirty yard forward pass sent the Marlboro supporters into ecstasies. Goggin and La Forme were called back from the line and by a succession of desperate rushes, put the ball on the two yard mark. The shouting was so loud that the team could scarcely get the signals, but Brown rose to the occasion and made himself heard above the din. The ball went to LaForme on a direct pass, who plunged over the line and touched the ball down behind the goal. Peloquin capped the climax by booting oval squarely between the posts.
Marlboro 10 Westboro 7
On Saturday, afternoon, the 21st of November, the wearers of the Orange and Black proved their right to the Midland League cup, by defeating the Westboro aggregation in the hardest battle of the year. The game had scarcely been in progress when Lebeau, Westboro's star of hope, skirted Marlboro's end for a touchdown. The rest of the period was spent in hard line plunging and punting, in which Marlboro had slightly the better of it. The second period of the game was all Marlboro, as the ball was in their possession the whole period : in fact, it is almost certain that the visitors would have "pushed it over" had not the timekeepers announced the end of the first half.
Between the halves, Coach Hayes gave the players a talk that set then on edge, and inspired them with a determination to win, or die in the attempt. The evidences of this were immediately to be seen by the manner in which the Marlboroites went after their would-be conquerors in the second half. Westboro received the kick, but was forced to punt after three rushes. Then the Orange and Blacks began their march to victory. A series of line plunges, alternated with forward passes, put the ball on Westboro's 20 yard line. At this time the end of the third period came, and Marlboro had but ten short minutes in which to turn the trick. A few rushes from the tackles' back formation put the ball on the 7 yard line, whence it was pushed over the line by the mighty efforts of Capt. Peloquin. In this play Goggins' ankle was injured and he was forced to retire.
Peloquin then proceeded to take the heart out of the Red and White supporters by kicking a perfect goal and thereby making the score a tie. The ball was again kicked off, and by the use of several forward passes the ball was placed in position for a place kick. A dead hush fell over the field as the Marlboro Captain dropped back to make the kick which was to decide whether the cup would adorn our own school, or pass into the hands of strangers, after a two years' sojourn in the Superintendent's office. The ball came to Brown on a perfect pass from Claflin. Peloquin took one step, put his toe to the ball and sent it whirling through the hostile uprights. The Marlboro crowd went wild with joy, but such was not the case on the other side of the field.The teams lined up for the final kick-off. 'Westboro received the ball, and although they did their best to score, their attack was stopped by the visitors' stubborn defense. Then it was that the referee blew his whistle, announcing the end of the game, and dashing Westboro's pennant hopes to the ground.
Seasons final: W - 9 L - 2
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