The Lineups:

Rock Island.........vs.............St. Paul Freeman Fitzgerald. C.............Ziegler Guido Wyland..... LG.............Sharrow Polly Koch...........RG..............Hanley Dewey Lyle..........LT................. Parr Walt Buland..........RT..........Glonning Oak Smith.............LE...........Pavoleck Ruby Marshall......RE.............Wiecher Rube Ursella...(C).QB....(C).....L. Pahl Fred Chicken.........RH.............O'Brien Ed Novak..............LH.............Mikesh Jerry Mansfield....FB................Kosar

EVERY PLAY OF THE GAME SHOWING CONSISTENCY OF BEST PRO TEAM IN WORLD

Everything was set, the Independents were to play their first game on Sunday September 26th vs the Ideal A.C. team out of St. Paul Minnesota. Dating back to 1907 local players had gathered each fall in Douglas Park to play the game they loved. Many players had come and gone. Walter Flanigan recognized the sacrifices he and others had made, he was aware of the importance of their first game in the new league. The Independents needed to come out and show that they were ready for any challenge.

Not taking any chances Flanigan wired Fred Chicken, Bobby Marshall and Freeman Fitzgerald to be present for the first game. This would allow for the main players from the nearly undefeated 1919 team to be present if needed. It is worth the time to mention that the game that took place may have actually been the first ever game to be played by a team in the newly formed laegue. For this reason the lineup of L.E.- Oak Smith, L.T.- Dewey Lyle, L.G. - Guido Wyland, C - Freeman Fitzgerald, R.G.- Polly Koch, R.T. - Walt Buland, R.E. - Ruby Marshall, R.H. - Fred Chicken, L.H. - Ed Novak, F.B. - Jerry Mansfield, and Q.B. - Rube Ursella. Since the league formed September 17th though, it is likely that other teams may have played on the 19th and more likely that other games were played on the 26th.

The scheduled game start time was 3P.M. local time. Douglas Park was given the final touches and the field was placed in excellent shape.

The Independents came out and dominated the Ideal A.C. team by a score of 48-0. Eddie Novak opened the scoring with a 14 yard run. The game was never in doubt. Late in the 3rd quarter local star Ray Kuehl intercepted an Ideal pass at his own 20 yard-line. Kuehl darted through the defense and found himself in the endzone 80 yards later. The Independents won the game 48-0.