The Philadelphia Record
October 12, 1903

ATHLETICS BEAT SYRACUSE.

Winning Sunday Football Game by the Score of 6 to 0.

Special to "The Record."

Syracuse, N. Y., Oct. 11. -- The Philadelphia Athletics, a professional team, succeeded in defeating All-Syracuse this afternoon, 6 to 0. The game was played at Athletic Field before a crowd of 2000 people. The field was not in good condition, being covered with mud puddles. It was the first Sunday football game ever played here.

The Philadelphia team was too heavy for the locals. Syracuse had the advantage of superior training and a better knowledge of signals.

Syracuse kicked off, and Philadelphia ran the ball back top the centre of the field. The ball exchanged hands several times. There was much punting, in which Hayden, of the Athletics, gained from 15 to 25 yards on every exchange, being aided to a great extent by the wind.

Philadelphia finally got the ball and began to work it steadily toward the Syracuse goal. At the Syracuse 30-yard line there was but one minute of the first half left to play. Hayden tried to kick a goal from the field, but failed miserably. The ball was wet, and the Athletics' quarter-back was not able to get it off the ground.

In the second half the Athletics kept the ball almost entirely in Syracuse territory. Several times they were approaching the locals' goal with steady gains, when the ball would be lost on a fumble. Then Syracuse would punt, and the Athletics would work the ball down the field again.

Davidson hurt his thumb and Roller was put in at full-back. The latter proved a good ground-gainer, and he was finally pushed over for a touchdown. Hayden kicked the goal.

In the remaining three minutes Philadelphia had the ball in the centre of the field.