The annual Thanksgiving-day game between Berkeley School and St. Paul's, Garden City, resulted in a victory of 24-2 for St. Paul's. The Long-Islanders fairly outclassed the Berkeley players, who have not been quite up to the standard this year. If it had not been for carelessness on the part of Pettit, Berkeley would not have scored. By lack of judgment on the part of this half-back at a critical moment, St. Paul's was forced to make a safety.
The feature of the game was Starr's kicking of goals. He had four chances, and accepted them all, two of them being at good angles. Berkeley had the kick-off, and Bien sent the ball down to St. Paul's twenty-five-yard line, whence Pettit made a run of twenty yards before he was stopped. The ball was kept going by steady advances, until it was carried across the line. S. Starr caught the ball on the next kick-off, and ran thirty-five yards, protected by good interference. When he was downed, the ball was within fifteen yards of the line, and by a couple of plunges through the centre, and Starr around the left end, St. Paul's scored again.
There was no more scoring in the first half, but these figures were duplicated in the early part of the second. It was in the latter part of the second half, too, that Berkeley scored. It was Berkeley's ball on the third down, and a pass was made to Bien for a punt. The leather sailed over into Pettit's territory, and he caught it on St. Paul's ten-yard line, but was so slow in handling it that Berkeley was down on him before he realized what had happened, and they had shoved him across the line for a safety. Apparently the St. Paul's rushers were so anxious to get through and stop the kick that they did not think of protecting their back. It is not fair to place all the responsibility for the misplay upon Pettit.
Another exciting and interesting Thanksgiving-day game was that between Brooklyn High and Poly. Prep., played at Eastern Park, the victory going to the High-School, 6-0. This match developed as good football as has been seen in Brooklyn this fall, and the teams proved to be very evenly matched. In the first half it would have been difficult to decide which was the better eleven, but in the second half the Poly. Prep. line weakened a trifle, and the High-School backs were sent through at centre and tackle for repeated gains. The High-School team was slightly the heavier, and this advantage is accountable for the work of the line-men during the latter part of the game.
The only touch-down of the day was scored almost at the close of the second half. By mass plays the ball had been brought down into Poly. Prep.'s territory, and from the five-yard line Geirasch was shoved over for a touch-down. Some exciting play followed this, Poly. Prep. having secured the ball on the High-School's twenty-five-yard line by a fumble. They took a tremendous brace, and rushed the leather fifteen yards, but the High-School players pulled themselves together at this point, got the ball on downs, and the game closed with neither goal in danger.
The championship of the Long Island League was not affected by the result of this game, inasmuch as St. Paul's had practically secured first place by defeating Brooklyn High, 8-0, on November 12. St. Paul's had no easy time of it with the Brooklyn players, and only managed to score once. This was done in the first half with good centre plays, S. Starr being shoved across the line. The other two points resulted from a safety by the High-School.
The championship of the Cook County High-School Football League has been won by Englewood H.-S., the deciding game being against Hyde Park, 38-6. Both teams played good football, and although Hyde Park was in some respects outclassed, the men nevertheless worked hard, and succeeded in not being shut out altogether.