Today in Johnson City History, Monday, October 14, 2024
An exciting football game!
Saturday, October 14, 1939: Eighty-five years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported news about an exciting football game the night before. “Gallantly fighting off Kingsport’s scoring threats in the first half and thoroughly out-playing (sic) the big Indians in the second half, Johnson City’s Hilltoppers protected their perfect defensive record by gaining a scoreless tie before 6,500 in Roosevelt stadium last night.
“Most of the second half was played in Kingsport’s end of the field and a large part of it in the shadow of the Indians’ goal. The ball game ended with the ball in the Toppers’ possession on the Tribe’s 3 and two plays to carry it over.
“The ball-tottin’ of Darden and Osborne, the master-minding of Tipton, and the great all-around play of everybody else featured the Hilltoppers’ fight in their ‘moral victory’ over the vaunted Tribe charge.
“Bobby Cifers, the nation-wide sensation a year ago, was the ‘goal’ on more than one occasion last night as he fumbled numerously and was almost completely bottled up in rushing plays, he partly made up for his miscues, however, with thrilling spurts now and then.
“Statistics favored Johnson City, although the tabulation was close. The Hilltoppers gained 169 yards rushing to 182 for the visitors. Johnson City gained 25 yards in completing two out of ten passes, while the Indians were picking up 18 yards in completing two out of 11. The ‘Toppers showed a total net gain of 185 yards to 158 for the foes.
“Much credit must go to one of the greatest Hilltopper defensives in history. The charging forwards did not make the mistake of ‘playing Cifers’ but kept their eyes upon the ball.
“The game opened much like Cifers and his mates might get an early jump. Johnson City, held on two running plays, attempted to put and the ball was blocked on the Hilltopper 37 and recovered by Mitchell of the Indians.
“Two quick first downs put the ball on Johnson City’s 15, but Kingsport’s efforts to score from that point were futile, the Indians finally surrendering the oval on the 24.
“Osborne punted and this time the fall evaded would-be blockers to soar up the field to Kingsport’s 46. Kingsport was forced to punt back a moment later and Johnson City took the ball on her own 15.
“Darden boke (sic) loose for a 15-yard gain but further attempts up the field were throttled, and Osborne punted all the way to the Tribe’s 13.
“Kingsport then broke loose in a series of long and short gains and carried the ball back into Johnson City’s end of the field, finally ending up on the Toppers’ 17, from where, after being held for no gain in three straight tries, Cifers attempted a field goal. The placement was partially blocked, and Tipton took the ball on Johnson City’s 5 and dashed back up to the 20.
“Failing to gain in a couple of tries, Osborne leveled a punt up to Kingsport’s 34. Cifers broke loose for 16 yards, but the Johnson City defensive again tightened and the Indians had to punt, Cifers sending the ball out of bounds on the Science Hill 10.
“Osborne punted right back, Cifers taking the ball on Johnson City’s 47 and charging ten yards before Topper tacklers sarmed (sic) all over him. A pass was good for 15 yards and Whittaker picked up another 9, taking the ball deep before Topper tacklers swarmed all pealed, Johnson City, holding the Indians to downs and taking the ball on their own 20.
“After Osborne punted to Kingsport’s 54 and Johnson City accepted the offensive gain a short while later when Cifers punted to the 25, Darden dashed around end for 20, a pass was incomplete, Darden picked up another 11, another pass was futile, and the first half ended.
“The Hilltoppers came back onto the field to start the second half Kingsport accepted the kickoff, fresh as when the game started, but could do little through a fighting J. C. line, Cifers punting out to Johnson City’s 25.
“A series of short dashes featuring Darden and Osborne brought the ball up to the 50, where Dulaney fumbled and saw Kingsport recover.
“The Indians made their biggest threat of the second half at this point. After a couple of short gains, Cifers picked up 19. Then Cifers threw a ‘touchdown pass’ which evaded its motive when Tipton intercepted the leather as Johnson City 8 and streaked up the sidelines to the J. C. 45.
“A pass from Darden to Osborne netted 13 yards, but the Toppers had to punt, Cifers taking the kick, reversing his field and starting up the sidelines. He ran head-on into a flock of Topper tacklers and the impact jolted the ball from his grasp, Peoples pouncing on the ball for the recovery on Kingsport’s 32.
“The third quarter opened with Johnson City in possession of the ball on the Tribe 37. Osborne picked up 13, then 3 and Dulaney charged through the line toward the double stripes, fumbling when hit hard by two Tribesmen. The ball bounced out of bounds on the Kingsport 3, but an Indian was last to touch it, and Kingsport took the ball at that point.
“Cifers punted 45 yards, and a Johnson City quick-kick sent the ball out of bounds on Kingsport’s 9. Held to four yards in two funning plays, Cifers punted to the J. C. 38.
“A ten-yard gain by Osborne, a 13-yard pass from Osborne to Darden and a couple of short gains put the ball on the Kingsport 9, but Johnson City surrendered the offensive on downs, regaining same on Kingsport’s first play when Cifers fumbled and the Toppers recovered on the Tribe 22. Short gains by Osborne, Darden and Dulaney and a nine-yard gallop by Osborne put the ball within six yards of pay dirt. Two more tries placed it on the J, where it rested when the timer’s toot ended one of the most thrill-packed gridiron tussles in Roosevelt stadium’s history.”
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