Hanover College Triangle on

the 1937 Football Game against Indiana State Teacher's College

October 22, 1937

In 1937, the Indiana State Sycamores, (0-2) at the time, came to Hanover with the intention of winning a football game against the Panthers as they did the only three previous times they played the Panthers. Not many knew at the time, but if the Panthers were to win this game, it would be Hanover College's one-hundredth victory and first win against Indiana State as a football program. Hanover's first full season began in 1886, a year before the tradition-rich Notre Dame began its program, with its first-ever win against Butler that very same year. The one-hundredth win finally came in October of 1937 nearly 50 years since Hanover began its college football program. The article about the game did not even reach the front page on the college's newspaper. -Jon Wheat

N.B. The text below is transcribed verbatim, including the occasional typographical error. William "Bubbles" Hargrave, described below scoring against Indiana State, later joined the Navy and was stationed at Pearl Harbor. For his experiences there, see the 1941 Triangle article, available here.

Wilkinson and Perkins Star as Hanover Downs Sycamores 13-7

On a rain soaked field the Panthers ran over the Statemen to score their third victory of the season 13-6. The locals were out-weighed but not outclassed and the Hanover fighting spirit was shown when the team came from behind to win. The passing of Wilkinson was instrumental in both touchdowns while the ball carrying of Glen Perkins was as brilliant as ever.

Marks returns the kickoff to the 35 yard line. On the first play "Mutt" circled end for a first down and then caught the safety man asleep with a quick kick which was downed on the 15. Indiana State was kept on the defensive until Suttle intercepted a pass and returned it to the Hanover forty three. Leavitt flipped a pass to O'Leary who was downed on he twenty. Two offside penalties mixed in with their running put the ball on the five yard line where Vogel shot a pass to O'Leary for a touchdown. The try for the point failed.

At the beginning of the second quarter Wilkinson put the visitors in the hole with a punt which was downed on the ten. They kicked out to midfield and with W. Hargrave running wide on a flanker, "Mutt" shot him a twenty yard pass which traveled the entire width of the field and "Bubbles" took it on the twenty five, and after reversing his field, he ran the remaining distance to score. The try for point failed and the score was tied

The third quarter resorted in a punting duel with Hanover gaining on the exchange due to fine returns of Perkins. Near the end of the quarter he returned one to midfield and added a first down around end just as the quarter ended. When play was resumed "Mutt" passed to the redhead who was downed on the twenty six. On a quick opening Marks picked up five yards and then Perkins streaked over tackle to score standing up. He was aided by some beautiful interference. L. Hargrave kicked the extra point. The Sycamores tried passes in the waning moments but due to Hassfurder, who broke through time after time to throw he passer for losses, they were unable to connect with them.

The kicking and passing of Vogel and the pass receiving of Oleary stood for Indiana State.