Review of the Season

     Of last year's men, but two were left, Kenneth McLuen, tackle of last year's team, and Evald Berglund, end and halfback.  Things looked dark and gloomy, but with the return to the football fold of Ralph McLuen, who played two years ago, but who was compelled to keep out of the game last year on account of sickness; and Addison Birdsall, who had also been compelled to refrain from playing lat year, but who had participated two years ago, the sun broke through the clouds of despair and began to shine on Mr. Heaton's work.  Using these men and some of last year's second team, with some of the material that entered the school in the fall, the coach proceeded to turn out a very successful team.

     The first game at Bayard on September 30th revealed many defects in both offense and defense.  The team was composed of mean, to a great extent, who had never taken part in an interscholastic game.  This, together with the fact that it was the first time the team had played together, and also in view of the knowledge that this was Bayard's fourth game for the season, made the outcome seem very doubtful for Perry.  The score, which was 20 to 0 in favor of Perry, does not indicate the real strength of the team.

     After two week' hard work the team played Adel on the home field.  The weak Adel team was no match for the home team and was defeated by the score of 60 to 0.

     Two weeks later we played Jefferson, and due to overconfidence we barely managed to overcome this team by a score of 2 to 0.

     The coach tried to prepare us as much as possible for the Newton game, but it was of no use.  The less said about this game, the better.  Perry was whipped when she went into this game and came out routed.  Although greatly outweighed and outplayed in every department of the game, the team fought to the last.  The score, which was 72 to 0, does not necessarily mean the team quit, for they didn't.

     Then Coon Rapids came to Perry expecting to put the game away in the first quarter.  But, to the surprise of all, when the smoke of battle had cleared away the score stood 6 to 0 in favor of Perry.  This is first time that a Perry High School team has ever beaten a Coon Rapids team.

     The last game of the season came on Thanksgiving Day.  On that day Perry and Carroll met and the result was a tie, 13 to 13.  Perry played a very loose game until in the last quarter, when they played their opponents off their feet.

     This game ended the season and, taking the season as a whole, it was a very successful one.  The team of the year established three records for the school, namely:  We beat another team by a larger score than a Perry team has ever been able to do, we beat Coon Rapids, and we went through the season with only one defeat.  A great deal of success of the football team this year must be accredited to the alumni and to the other loyal backers of the team.  The faculty aided the members of the team as much as possible and Prof. Mahannah took the second coach and gave a great deal of his time and advice, which helped the team greatly.

     With only five members of the team leaving this year, great deeds are to be expected from the team of next year.

     With four games won, one tied and but one lost, the season is very gratifying.  With several members of the team only Freshmen, and some with one and two years yet to play, a winning team should be turned out next year.

Perry High School All-Time Team

An All-Time Perry High School Football Team

By H. S. Heaton

     In selecting this all-time high school team, I base my decisions on men for the various places by adaptability and aggressiveness in both the old and new style of game.  You will notice I have placed a number of fellows who never played the new open game, but having watched them and knowing their ability, I am sure they would have outclassed all others had they played under the present book of rules.

     Center - First, we take up the center position.  It is not hard to decide on this, as Dune Gardner plainly outclasses all the rest of them.  He was an accurate snapperback, a quick charger, generally getting the jump on his opponent, and on defense, he was likewise clever.  By his aggressive tactics he would often break up plays before they were fairly started.

     Guards - In the selection for the guard positions, I have made a switch, using a former tackle at left and a former end at right.  This is due to the new style of game.  Charles Stoner at left guard would, without question, outshine any

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guard that ever played on a Perry High eleven.  With his weight he was fairly fast, a hard man to get off his feet and on defense would sure be a tower of strength in this position.  Morton Lyons claims the right guard, owing to his weight, speed and quick charging ability.  He was a might good end at the old style of play, but in the new game would a guard hard to equal.

     Tackles - The tackles are a harder proposition to pick, as under the new game very few good ones have been developed at Perry High.  I therefore draw left tackle from a former fullback in the person of the late Henry Schloe.  Under the new rules, where brains are relied on more than mere beef, I do not know how I could make a wiser selection, as Schloe was one of the headiest players Perry High ever turned out.  He was a very quick starter, which would have aided him greatly in this new position, an all-around player.  For right tackle I will select William Murphy.  He was a fighter from start to finish and never let down.  He had the kind of stuff in him that makes football players.

     Ends - At this position four men would qualify, namely, Floyd Peddicord, Eugene Rouse, Eddie Elsasser and William Kerlin.  I am going to give right end to Kerlin instead of Rouse, as I can place the latter in another position.  Kerlin was a wonderful player.  Being tall and rangy, he was a sure receiver of passes and on defense was exceptionally strong, being a sure tackler.  Floyd Peddicord gets the wing and say that he was exceedingly strong in all departments of the game just half tells it.  In 1912 and 1913, when he and Rouse were playing the ends for Perry High, they were the best in the state and if they had been playing on some large city team they would have been selected by the critics.

     Quarterback- Leonard Lessell was the best quarterback Perry High ever boasted.  He went at football with that never-die spirit and instilled the other members of his team with same fight.  He was a heady player and used good judgment in calling his plays.  It made no difference to "Poodus" whether he had nine or eleven men to work with.  He was in the game to win.  He was a natural born leader, so I gave him the captaincy.

     Halfbacks - Taking everything into consideration, Eugene Rouse was the bet player turned out by the Perry High School.  I therefore gave him the position of left half, where he had a chance to show up in every department of the game.  I cannot think of one place where Eugene was weak in football.  He was a good passer and receiver of passes, a sure tackler, a splendid hole picker, a wonderful open field runner and never gave up until it was all over.  Eddie Elsasser at right half would make an ideal running mate for Rouse.  He was the best open field runner that ever played for Perry High and always played safety on defense, where he handled punts in a wonderful manner and would often run them back for touchdowns through the whole opposing team.  He was a strong, blocky build and this, with his exceptional dodging ability, made him a very hard man to stop.  Elsasser played end most of the time, but at the new game would show up much stronger in a halfback position.

     Fullback - Harry Wyckoff stood head and shoulders above them all in this position, with the exception of Henry Schloe, where he would have a slight advantage owing to the new game.  Wyckoff was a plunging back.  He very seldom failed to gain ground when given the ball, and on defense he backed up the line in perfect fashion.  He was another one of those do-or-die fighters and never gave until the final whistle sounded.

     Now, summing up the whole team, with Stoner and Lyons to back up Gardner in the center of the line, Schloe and Murphy to break up interference and help Stoner and Lyons open holes in the line for the backs, and with Peddicord and Kerlin to get down under punts, receive forward passes and get the man with the ball on defense, I don't know where a better line could be picked than this one.  Then with Rouse and Elsasser to run the ends, Rouse and Wyckoff to hit the line, Rouse and Wyckoff to hurl the passes, the backfield offensive would certainly be well taken care of.  The defense, with Lessell and Rouse to back up the ends and break up forward passes and Wyckoff to back up the center of the line, would be equally strong.

     In selecting the second all-time team, I may have laid myself open to criticism by placing two of this year's team on it.  Nevertheless, in my estimation, I cannot find any two other men who could displace them when taking into consideration all departments of the new game.

     Center - Here is one of the men whom other critics may think lacks experience to make this team.  Here is my argument:  He was the most reliable center I ever saw play.  First, by being a perfect snapperback; second, by knowing his signal at all times; third, by always watching the backfield men he know whether or not they knew their signals and were in position to receive the ball; fourth, he outplayed every center he went up against last fall, being a quick charger and using his head at all times.  On defense he was invariably breaking through the opponents' line and mussing up plays.  Therefore I give Ivyl Cross the center position of the mythical eleven.

     Guards - Ward Pringle, a big rangy fellow, has the call for left guard, his best playing being done on the defensive, where he was in nearly every play.  He tackled a little high, but sure, as he was strong and could hold his man, - a mighty good all-around player and deserves his place.  Orvilled Balsbaugh is placed at the other guard.  He was a tackle with representing Perry High, but in the new game is not quite fast enough to make that place, but too good to leave out.  He would be a world beater of a guard.  He was a player you could always depend on to give all he had and never say quit.

     Tackles - Left tackle, Bobby McCord.  How does that sound?  Outside of the first team picked, this man is best all-around lineman of them all.  He was so big and strong that it didn't make any difference how he got a hold of a man, he held him.  On offensive he was always good for a five-yard gain when called on and opened big for the backs.  Right tackle goes to John Pendy, who was a mighty good fighter and played a well-balanced game.

     Ends - Jerry Deeny claims left end, and a mighty good man it took to get by him.  He was an exceptionally strong defensive player, being a hard, sure tackler, and on offensive was very good at receiving forward passes. Raymond Lutze is placed on the other wing because of his speed and ability to down the man with the ball.  He was fast and got down under punts in a perfect manner.

     Quarterback - Don Hutchinson gets this job because, next to Lessell, he was the best general.  He used his head at all times and was a very good man at running interference, as he was a little more husky than the average quarterback.  He also carried the ball well and was a very good defensive player.

     Halfbacks - Irvin Armour at left half was a whirlwind and deserves this place.  He was a very hard man to stop and could generally be relied on to make needed ground.  He was also good on defensive play, being a hard and sure tackler.  Fletcher Allen at right halfback is a mighty good man, his speed being one of his greatest assets.  He also puts up a splendid interference and much credit received by the opposite back should have gone to him in his last season of play.  His defensive game was also good, especially when playing against a fast backfield where speed was necessary to get the man.

     Fullback - Here again I expect to be criticized for the selection of Evald Berglund for this important position.  But, listen, did you ever see a more accurate heaver of forward passes?  Did you notice the kind of interference he ran for the man with the ball?  He might not have starred so much at carrying the ball, but he was responsible for some great gains made by his teammates.  He also picked holes well and backed up the line in good shape on defensive.  I think he deserves the place given him and I have watched them all.

This was originally 5 pages within the yearbook.