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Death of WVU Football Player

Wheeling Register
November 13, 1910


W. V. U. Captures the State Championship

Defeated Bethany College in Decisive Style by the Score of 8 to 0 - Skilfully [sic] Worked Forward Passes Give the Bethany Men Substantial Gains - Munk, Who Was Injured and Died Later, One of the Stars of the Game.

By its clean cut victory over the Bethany team, the West Virginia eleven yesterday afternoon acquired undisputed claim to the state championship. The field was muddy, probably to Bethany's disadvantage, but the 8 to 0 score, made on plays to which there was not the slightest suggestion of a fluke, passes the title to W. V. U., without a shadow of doubt. Bethany at times made good on her offensive play to the extent of keeping the result in doubt until Munk dropped a goal from the field in the last quarter.

Neither team appeared able to gain to any extent through the other's line, although Bachmann did make five yards on occasions. Bishop's inability to go through West Virginia's line was a surprise to those who had seem him tear through Wesleyan. West Virginia made most of their gains around the ends, Bell and Thompkins running the ball for the most gains. Ground was also gained in the punting duels, when both teams were being held for downs, Backman and Munk outkicking Bishop.

Almost all the ground Bethany got was on her skilfully [sic] worked forward passes. McCoy, during the first half, made some long gains for the green and white after receiving the ball from Bishop, and Umbenhower did almost as well. Time and again Bethany worked this play from the same formations and West Virginia could not break them up, although Bell did much better than Munk. Bishop and Umbenhower did the prettiest broken field running of the contest, the former returning punts and the latter on forward passes. Tompkins did much better work than Munk in reteurning [sic] Bishop's books, but this mostly because Umbenhower was miserably poor in getting down the field under them.

The interference furnished their teammates by Bachman and King, the two local boys in the contest, drew attention to them above the other members of their squad. Both were there on the defensive, each having several pretty tackles.

Munk Knocked Out.

One regretable [sic] incident featured the contest, Munk being knocked out during the last quarter. Dr. O. M. Staats was called on the field and after an injection he had the player removed to the City hospital, where he died last night. He stated that he had been struck at the base of the brain and that his breathing was affected.

Takes But Four Plays.

The game opened when Bachman put his toe against the oval and the eight hundred shivering fans present cheered according to their sympathies as Umbenhower caught it and was downed in his tracks on the 25-yard line. Smith lost ground for Bethany and Bishop punted to the 50-yard line. Bell made first down in two attempt and Munk made eleven on the next play. Then Thompkins got away for twenty-five yards, circling left end for a touchdown at the corner of the field. Bachman caught Munk's kick out, but missed a nearly straight shot for the goal from the 80-yard line. Score - W. V. U. 5; Bethany 0.

Bradford booted the oval to the 25-yard line and Thompkins came back eight. Bell made six, Munk first down, and Bachman four, when Bethany held. Bachman rapped the ball down to Bethany's 15-yard line, but Smith came out to the thirty before going down. Smith made ten yards, when West Virginia held and Bishop booted the ball to midfield, Bell coming back five. Munk made fifteen and Bachman five, when the ball was lost on a forward pass on which Bell failed to go out. Bishop made five yards twice, when the gold and blue held, and he punted to midfield. Here time was called for the quarter.

Bethany Looks Strong.

Scrimmage started from midfield, Thompkins making twelve, Bell five and a forward pass, Thompkins to King, twelve. Bethany braced and held and blocked Munk's attempted punt, Watson falling on the ball at the 30-yard line. Bishop kicked to West Virginia's 40-yard line and Bachman kicked the same distance back into Bethany territory. A forward pass, Bishop to McCoy, made eighteen, Bishop made five and a forward pass, Bishop to Umbenhower made seven. Bowers lost six, then forward passes from Bishop to McCoy, Umbenhower, and McCoy again but the ball on West Virginia's 10-yard line. Another forward pass was tried and fumbled, King capturing the oval. Bachman punted to Bethany's 30-yard line, and Bishop, weaving his way back through the broken field was dropped at the 45-yard mark. Bowers made five and two forward passes to McCoy added twenty-eight. West Virginia captured the next pass and Bachman kicked out to the center.

Bishop captured the oval and made another clever run, going down at the 28-yard line. A forward pass was tried and Conoway blocked, securing the ball for a run to the center, where Bishop brought him down from behind. Bowers blocked West Virginia's attempted forward pass and Smith dropped on the leather. Umbenhower made eight yards on a forward pass when time was called for the period. This was Bethany's quarter.

Bell Nearly Makes Good.

Bachman kicked to the 15-yard line and Bishop worked back to the forty. No gains were made and Bishop kicked to Thompkins, who came back to the W. V. U. 40-yard line. Thompkins ran twenty yards, then Bowers grabbed the ball on an attempted forward pass. Bishop punted, and Umbenhower captured the gold and blue fumble on the 30-yard line. West Virginia nabbed the ball on a forward pass, but a moment later was penalied [sic] ten yards and Bachman kicked Shuttleworth brought the ball back to the 50-yard line through the broken field. Bethany was thrown for losses and the ball went to Morgantown. Thompkins made six, when Bell ran thirty to be tackled from behind by Smith five yards from the goal line. Bethany held and West Virginia was unable to take it over. McCoy made eight on a forward pass and Bishop first down. Bishop punted and Thompkins brought the ball back to the 27-yard line. Bethany held and Bachman punted behind the lines, Bishop dropping on the ball for a touchback. The ball was put in play at the 25-yard line and Bishop punted to the 40-yard line. Bell made twenty-six yards before time was called.

Munk Drops a Goal.

Kemp blocked West Virginia's forward pass and Smith fell on the ball. Bishop punted and Bachman returned it, Smith bringing the ball out to the 22-yard line. Bishop punted outside at the 30-yard line and when Bethany was penalized ten yards Munk easily drop-kicked the ball across the bars. Score - W. V. U., 8; Bethany, 0.

Bradford kicked off to Munk, who came out fifteen yards to the 30-yard line. Feller went in for Bachman and made ten yards. A penalty forced West Virginia to kick and Bishop returned the oval. Thompson made nine and Bell first down. At this point the mixup in which Munk was injured occurred. Adams took the captain's place when play was resumed. The Morgantown lads were held for downs and Bishop punted. Thompson came back to the 20-yard line. A lost forward pass gave Bethany the ball on the 6-yard line and Bishop again punted out. Thompkins came back fifteen yards, when time was called with the ball on Bethany's 18-yard line.

Following was the line-up:

W. V. U - 8.............................................................................Bethany - 0
Bachman-Feller...........................L. E...................................Umbenhower
King...........................................L. T...............................................Kemp
Floyd......................................... L. G...........................................Kerfoot
Tyler..............................................C...........................................Bradford
Conoway....................................R. G............................................Watson
Amos..........................................R. T.......................................Sunderman
Spear..........................................R. E............................................McCoy
Karfer...................................................................................Henley (capt.)
Thompkins..................................Q. B....................................Shuttleworth
Bell.............................................R. H............................................Bowers
Munk (capt.)...............................L. H...............................................Smith
Adams.
Taylor..........................................F. B.............................................Bishop

Touchdown - Thompkins.
Touchback - Bishop.
Goal from field - Munk.
Referee - Sugden, of Harvard.
Umpire - Young, of Michigan.
Field judge and timer - Rau. of Pitt.
Head linesman - Wiatt, of West Virginia.
Linesman - Huey, of West Virginia; McLain, of Bethany.
Time of quarters - 12 1/2 minutes each.


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