Public Ledger, Philadelphia
November 9, 1902

Athletics Administer the First Defeat to Pittsburg A. C. Team

The heretofore invincible Pittsburg A. C. football team was given its first defeat of the season yesterday by Connie Mack's Athletics, at Columbia Ball Park, before a crowd of enthusiasts that numbered fully 4000, by the score of 11 to 10.

The victory was, in great measure, due to the fine playing of Cure, the locals' new recruit, who dropped a beautiful field goal from placement from the 22 yard line in the first half, just after Pittsburg had scored a touchdown.

All through the game cure was on hand with long punts, which time and again sent the ball well up the field, when the locals failed to gain the necessary yards on downs. Wallace and Davidson were also a tower of strength to the locals, and the former's touchdown in the second half was made after a most desperate struggle., in which the big right tackle carried the ball over the line with half the Pittsburg team hanging to him.

On the kick-off, Davidson advanced the ball to the 20 yard line, but the Athletic were held close, and Cure was forced to punt. Pittsburg then made large gains, Pittsburg the was forced to punt, Cure fumbled and Pittsburg got the ball, and McChesney went over the line for the first touchdown; the Trial for goal failed. The ball when put in play changed hands often, as both sides made fumbles, neither gaining much until Cure kicked a field goal from the 22 yard line, tying the score. Both teams adopted kicking tactics, and the ball was finally carried to the local's 25 yard line, where Kirkhoff, by great work, carried the ball over for a touchdown. Richardson failed to kick a goal. Score -- Pittsburg, 10; Athletics, 5. When time was called for the first half the Athletics had the ball on Pittsburg's [sic] 25 yard line.

The second half was one of the greatest struggles ever witnessed on the local gridiron, and the locals finally carried the ball over for a touchdown. Wallace doing the trick by main strength, with half the Westerners hanging to him like leaches, Davidson kicking the goal, making the score -- Athletics, 11; Pittsburg 10. This ended the scoring, as it was impossible for Pittsburg to make any material gains against the great defense of the locals, who not only took no chances, but kept punting whenever the ball got too close to the danger lines.

Special interest was added to the game by the displaying on the score board of the Pennsylvania-Harvard game, which kept the spectators in good humor, and when Penn held Harvard for downs with the ball on her 5 yard line, the crowd broke loose, and were joined by both the Athletics and Pittsburg in cheering.

The line-up: