INDEPENDENTS LOSE; 14 TO 10, AFTER A GREAT SHOW OF FIGHT
Injuries in Last Half Leaves Team Too Weakened to Withstand Staley Assult
By J.L. HUGHES

“Decatur, IL, Oct. 10. – Fighting gamely all the way against almost in insurmountable odds occasioned by injuries, Rock Island’s Independents bowed in defeat before the powerful Staleys here yesterday afternoon, 14 to 10, in what was declared to have been the greatest gridiron spectacle ever witnessed in this city. Five thousand people were thrilled beyond measure as the athletes fought stubbornly, bitterly for every inch of ground, and while the victory of the Starch Makers met with popular acclaim, there were those among the crowd who saw nothing but gold in the team that had lost”

Game Summary by RII.com

It was a Monday afternoon. There was a strong wind blowing from the southwest corner of the field. Staleys Captain Chamberlain won the toss and elected to defend the south goal. Woenig kicked off to Harley and the game was under way. Harley was forced out of bounds at his own 40-yard line. The Staleys were held and punted out of bounds at the Rock Island 20. The Independents lined up to punt. On a fake, Woenig made 8 yards around Chamberlain. Nichols for 7 and then Conzelman for 7 past Halas but the Islanders were called for offside. After another penalty the Independents were forced to punt. The Staleys drove deep into Rock Island territory but Stinchcomb fumbled and Earp recovered. Novak ripped off a 24-yard run and at the 47 fumbled as he was tackled. The referee ruled him down before the fumble. Conzelman fumbled it back to the Staleys on the very next play.

The Second quarter began with Staleys marching into the Islander’s territory once again. With Decatur on the 25-yard line the Independent defense stiffened. Harley tried to run around right end and after stiff arming a couple of defenders was finally brought to the ground by the third for a 6-yard loss. On 4th down Harley was chased down again for a 16-yard loss by Ed Healy. The Independents took over mid-field. Nichols completed a 1-yard pass and the Staleys were called for a 15-yard Roughness penalty.

The Staley's defense held the Independents to a 4th down at the 30-yard line. Jimmy Conzelman lined up to attempt a drop kicked from the 40. He hit a low line drive that only cleared the post by a couple of feet. ROCK ISLAND, 3; STALEYS, 0.

The Staleys started their next drive at the 35. Huffine threw a beautiful pass to Stinchcomb for a 27-yard gain to bring the Staleys to the Independents 39. The Staleys passed again and Sid Nichols intercepted the ball at his own 30. The Independents were held and punted. The half was nearing the end. The staleys took over near the center fo the field. Huffine tossed a deep pass intended for Stinchcomb, it fell incomplete. The half ended.

Second half started with a deep kick by Trafton to the Independents 3. Conzelman was able to break free and get the ball out to the 27-yard line. Trafton blew past Earps and threw Nichols for a loss. Nichols was hurt on the play and was replaced by Brindley at Quarter. After the loss the Independents were forced to punt. Woenig hit a bad punt and the Staleys took over at their own 40. The Staleys could not advance the ball and were held and punted. During the punt Rock Island was called for a penalty and the ball was given back to the Staleys. Taking advantage of the Independents mistake the Staleys drove down to the 19. The Staleys lined up for a place kick and the tie. Sternamans kick was blocked by Smith. Coughlin recovered the kick on the 12-yard line. The Independents had dodged a bullet. Wanting to clear the ball, Woenig lined up for a punt. Instead he tried a fake and failed to gain. The next play Woenig did punt but he kicked it straight up in the air. The Staleys took over at the Independents 18-yard line. Not having much to cheer about and trailing 3 to 0 late in the 3rd quarter the crowd came back to life. The Independents threw the Staleys for a 3 yard loss on second down. It appeared the most the Staleys could hope for was an another attempt at a tie. On 3rd and 12 Harley hit Halas for a 14-yard gain. The Staleys were finally in scoring position. Huffine took the ball up the middle two times and brought the Staleys to the one foot line. Huffine again took the ball and dove over for a touchdown. Sternaman kicked goal.
STALEYS, 7; ROCK ISLAND, 3.

Brindley fumbled the kickoff on the goal line but Conzelman was there to pick it up and take the ball out to the 15. After exchanging punts the quarter ended with the Independents having possession.

The Forth quarter started with 4 more Independents needing to be replaced. Conzelman threw the ball and Trafton intercepted it at the Independents 20 and returned it to the Rock Island 15. The Staleys knew this was another golden opportunity. Not wanting to waste the chance to score a touchdown, on 4th down Harley shot the ball over the line to Halas for another touchdown. Sternaman kicked goal.
STALEYS, 14; ROCK ISLAND 3.

Jimmy Conzelman; future NFL Hall of Famer took over for the Independents.
Conzelman returned the kick 15 yards to 30. Down 11 points in the 4th quarter the Independents needed to move the ball quickly. Conzelman hit Woenig for 20. Conzelman hit Woenig for another 20. The Independents were down to the Staley’s 20. Conzelman made a first down and then another 5 yards. Conzelman hit Hayes and he carried it in for a short touchdown. On the drive Conzelman had accounted for 15 return yards, 40 passing yards, 15 rush yards and thrown for the touchdown.
Rock Island was back in the game.
STALEYS, 14; ROCK ISLAND 10.

The Staleys returned the kick to the 25-yard line. The Staleys ate some clock and drove the ball across midfield. The Independents held the Staleys to 4th down. Harley drop kicked the ball out of bounds at the Independents 13. Conzelman and the Independents took over with 87 yards to go for the win. Conzelman shot a pass to Woenig for a 15-yard gain. With 2 minutes to go the Independents were driving. The Independents lined up in punt formation, possibly to indicate an onside kick. Conzelman kept the ball and ran for another 6.  Conzelman hit Woenig for another 13 yard gain. Conzelman was tackled for a 4 yard loss but gained it back on the next play with a pass to Hayes. The ball sat near mid field. With only seconds to go Conzelman attempted a pass, it failed. One last play, Conzelman hit Woenig again but he was brought down at the Staley 40-yard line. The game ended on that play.
STALEYS, 14; ROCK ISLAND 10.

Quotes From The Article

“After being held to practically even terms in the first half, the effects of numerous injuries and substitutions began to assert themselves against the Independents, psychologically as well as physically in the third quarter”
“In the final quarter the Staleys appeared content to play a defensive game while the Islanders opened up with an aerial attack that had been kept under cover as long as the early lead was maintained.”
“Goaded to desperation by the turn of the fortunes, the Independents displayed a remarkable comeback in the last few minutes that netted a touchdown and had them on the way to a victory score when the final whistle halted them in Staley territory.”
“Jimmie Conzelman kept Rock Island in the game almost from the first whistle to the last. Of eight passes out of ten completed, he was on the throwing end seven times.”
“Among the other Islander casualties were Walter Buland, giant tackle, another victim of an injured leg. Earps, former Monmouth college center, who was more than holding his own with Trafton in the first half, went out from a cut over one eye in the third quarter, making four Independents who had to be carried off the field. Rock Island took 20 players on the trop and 20 were used by necessity.”
“Without Sternaman, former Illinois halfback, it is doubtful if the Staleys could have made even a good showing against the Independents under any circumstances. This brilliant player alone covered 143 yards by his great open field running.” “The celebrated Harley-Stinchcomb combination failed to materialize to advantage for the Staleys, at least so far as Stinchcomb, all American of last year, was concerned. Pete was relieved from the quarterback duties at the end of the first half. His showing had been disappointing. Harley failed to gain any substantial distance against the Independents at any stage of the game. In fact, he was thrown for losses a number of time in attempting to circle the ends. In his accurate passing, however, the Staleys enjoyed an asset that told heavily against the Independents.”

Source -Rock Island Argus October 11, 1921