Syracuse and Montana have never played in basketball, but the two sides played once in football — in 1915. Syracuse, while on a three-game West Coast trip to play Montana, Oregon Agricultural College and Occidental College, tied Montana, 6-6. The Orange entered the game as heavy favorites, so it was a shocking result.

This article originally appeared in The Daily Orange on Nov. 29, 1915.

Playing on a field swept by a blasting, swirling whirlwind, the Varsity battled with the Montana eleven to a 6-6 score in a sensational combat at Missoula on Thanksgiving. Unacclimated to the icy weather conditions of the West, the Orange players faced a decided disadvantage in their contest with the hardy Westerners. The Montana men met Syracuse with fierce onslaughts and brought joy to their five thousand supporters who braved the storm to witness the greatest struggle ever contested between Eastern and Western teams.

The Varsity bewildered the Missoulians with cleverly executed forward passes, which enabled Meehan to plunge through the line for a touchdown in the third period. Wilkinson’s punts, one of which went for 85 yards, the longest kick ever made on Montana Field, also amazed the Westerners. Montana, however, gave a fine exhibition of end runs and, aided by the line plunging of Fullback Dreis, the Missoula eleven gained much ground on the Orange in the first quarter. After Montana scored its touchdown on a fluke in the second quarter, Syracuse struck its stride and for the rest of the game had the best of the argument.

Wind Proved Important Factor.

The wind proved the most important factor throughout the game and favored Montana at two important crises. In the second period, Vance fell back to his 40-yard line for a placement kick. The ball went wide of its mark after hitting a Syracuse player, but a strong blast of wind blew it across the goal line. Clark, rushing down the field, fell on the pigskin and gave Montana its six points. The wind again blessed the Westerners when Wilkinson attempted a goal after Meehan’s touchdown in the third quarter. Rafter caught the kick-out directly in front of the goal posts and a one-point lead for Syracuse seemed certain. The howling gale, however, outwitted Wilkinson’s accurate toe and blew the ball to one side, so that it missed the goal by inches. 

Coach O’Neill made the following statement about the game, which reiterates the conditions that confronted the Orange players on Thanksgiving:

“Western football is not so slow by a good deal as Easterners generally imagine it to be. We have no excuses to make regarding the game at Montana on Thanksgiving Day. Montana has a wonderful team and they fought hard. The weather conditions, however, were decidedly against our team.”

Field a Picturesque Sight.

Montana Field presented a picturesque setting for the game between the two representative elevens of the East and West. Deep down in Hellgate Canyon, surrounded by towering snow-clad peaks, the field formed a natural amphitheater. A swirling northwest gale swept the field with howling blasts and held the shivering spectators and players in its icy breath.

The thousands of spectators huddling together for protection from the blinding snowstorm presented an interesting surrounding for the game. Husky cowboys, fresh from the ranches, hardy mountaineers of the mighty Montana ranges, brilliantly clad Indians from the Flathead reservation, swarthy miners in overalls, wealthy business men from the cities, college professors and the spirited, cheering Montana students all made a fascinating scene as they eagerly watched the progress of the battle royal.

Montana Rushes Ball in First Period.

Rose kicked off for Syracuse and Montana brought the ball back to their 30-yard line. A series of end runs and line plunges carried the pigskin into Syracuse territory, but a fumble gave the ball to the Orange. Montana withstood the attack of Coach O’Neill’s players well and held for downs. A shift formation gained much ground for Montana and the Westerners advanced to the Syracuse 25-yard line. Here Blackwell, their swift quarterback, made an end run of 20 yards, but dropped the ball when tackled by Johnson. The swift Syracuse tackle fell on it and Wilkinson soon punted out of danger. The quarter ended with the ball in the middle of the field.

Westerners Score After Attempted Placement Kick.

In the beginning of the second quarter, a battle of line plunging brought the ball to the Syracuse 35-yard line. The line held and Vance dropped back for a placement kick. The attempt failed but the ball, after hitting a Syracuse player, was blown across the goal by the howling wind. Clark ran down the field and gained the pigskin before any of the Syracuse players could cover it, and Montana scored. Vance’s try at goal failed. From this point to the end of the half, the battle waged up and down the field with a slight advantage for Syracuse.

Meehan Ties Score. 

McQuarrie kicked off to Rose, who returned the ball to mid-field. Two long forward passes, Wilkinson to Rafter and Rafter to Travis, netted forty-five yards, placing the ball on Montana’s six-yard line. Wilkinson gained two yards in two attempts and Meehan shot through the line for a touchdown. 

Wilkinson punted out to Rafter, who heeled the catch directly in front of the goal posts. Wilkinson’s kick was caught by the wind’s deadly grip and steered to one side, and a one-point lead for Syracuse was missed by inches. The period ended with the play.

Wilkinson Punts 85 Yards.

Montana kicked off and Rose was tackled in his tracks. Wilkinson then punted for 85 yards, the longest kick ever made on Montana Field. His feat brought a great ovation from the spectators. During the rest of the game, the ball remained mostly in Syracuse territory.

Meehan and Wilkinson were the backfield stars for Syracuse, while Cobb and Johnson played great football on the line. Dreis was the stellar line plunger for Montana. The other backs featured with brilliant end runs.

—Compiled by Mark Cooper, editor in chief, mcooperj@syr.edu

Published on March 21, 2013 at 1:58 am