Buster Major's scrapbook:
CBA football 1923
My father, Stanley "Buster" Major kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings covering the 1923 football season at Syracuse's Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), which usually fielded one of the state's best teams. Where possible I've listed the source of the clipping, though the newspaper name was missing on several of the clippings.

There are four newspaper accounts of the game. The first one may be from the Syracuse Journal.

CBA Wins Sectional Title By Defeat of Oswego, 7 to 6

The Christian Brohers Academy eleven is champion of the Central and Northern New York Football League today for the third consecutive season.

Yesterday, led by Buster Major, husky backfield man and acting captain, CBA fought its way to a 7 to 6 victory over the light but speedy Oswego High School eleven at Star Park, winning the league trophy for the third straight year.

Two long runs, both of which ended in touchdowns, featured the game. Major, playing quarterback in place of Capt. Sam Drais, who is on the injured list, ran 80 yares for a touchdown in the opening period and later kicked the goal after touchdown, which proved to be the margin of victory.

In the fourth period, when the Purple and Gold warriors were forging toward their second touchdown, Captain Bill Hunt of Oswego scooped up Major’s fumble on his own 2-yard line and raced 98 yads for the second score of the game, but later failed in his try for the extra point. The ball sailed wide of the goal posts by four feet.

The going was hard for both teams as the heavy frost of the night before had left the field in a muddy condition.

Oswego used a triple pass throughout the game but gained little ground by it whenever it was successful. The CBA ends generally smeared it.

Following this score the two teams fought on nearly even terms in midfield until Major intercepted a triple pass and downed the ball on Oswego’s 41-yard line. Major made a first down on the 31-yard line aided by Sheedy, Bishop and Shields as the quarter ended.

In the second period CBA made two more first downs which brought the ball to the Oswego 8-yard line and CBA had to give it up on downs on Oswego’s one-yard line.

Leroy carried the ball to his own 21-yard line and in trying another triple pass Oswego lost the ball when Shields intercepted it on the 25-yard mark. A penalty for holding was inflicted on Oswego which gave CBA another opportunity to drive for a score, but another penalty put CBA back on its haunches on the Oswego 25-yard line and the half ended.

The third quarter: Oswego tried another pass and it was intercepted by Eisemann. CBA then by aid of a 20-yard pass and crossbuck play put the ball on the Oswego 10-yard line. Major tried a dropkick over the goal posts but it was wide.

The fourth quarter: CBA started a march from the Oswego 41-yard line after Hunt had kicked out of bounds and put the ball on the Oswego two-yard line when Major fumbled and Hunt scooped it up and traveled 98 yards. His failure at kicking the goal cost Oswego at least a tie score.

CBA got the ball on the kickoff again and were driving the Oswego line hard when the game ended.

By DAVID BRUCE
An eighty-yard run by Major of CBA in the opening minutes of play and a 98-yard run by Hunt of Oswego in the closing moments and attempts at placement kicks after the touchdowns by the same players decided today’s championship game in the CBA-Oswego-Fulton League between Syracuse’s Christian Brothers Academy and Oswego High School. CBA nosed out the Oswego team, 7 to 6. Both of the long runs resulted in touchdowns.

The Oswego High team surprised sports followers by checking the CBA defense. For the most part the play was in midfield. Twice, however, CBA got within a few feet of the Oswego goal line, but failed to score. Marshall and Hunt starred for Oswego. Major was the outstanding star in the CBA lineup and game.

As Referee Storier tooted his whistle, Major of CBA kicked off to Oswego. On the third play Oswego faked a kick and gained enough for a first down. Fighting mad, the CBA line refused to let the Oswego team gain and Hunt, Oswego tackle, punted to Major. Major caught the ball on his own twenty-yard line and ran eighty yards for a touchdown with McDermott at his side forming perfect interference. Major kicked a clean placement kick for the extra point.

Not discouraged, although they were on the short end of the score with the game but a few minutes old, the Oswego team battled the Syracuse lads until their “break” came.

At the start of the second quarter, McDermott of CBA concealed himself on the edge of the field and was the recipient of a pass which advanced the CBA team about 20 yards. In the closing minutes of a second quarter the CBA team was on the three-yard line and had four downs to “use up” the distance, but could not score. The Oswego team made a wonderful stand at this time, the ball being placed within inches of the goal line by CBA.

Major took the ball in the final quarter on the opponents three-yard line. It seem impossible that he would not score – he fumbled and Hunt of Oswego ran ninety-eight yards for a touchdown. His placement kick went wide and the score as it did at the end of the game.

Hunt’s run was most thrilling. When within twenty yards of the CBA goal, Hunt stumbled but managed to stay upon his feet after a bit of effort.