Dudley Clarke

Punter / Halfback /Coach

Multnomah Athletic Club / Vancouver Barracks 21st Infantry

When you are already a dominating player on the west coast, you might as well be a coach too.  That is what "Dud" Clarke did during the 1911 season.

Fresh off of a great 1910 season with Multnomah to follow 3 letterwinning years as an Oregon University Duck (1907-1909), Clarke had already secured his position as starting halfback with the Winged M's.  In fact, such a good athlete, back in the spring he was elected captain of the Multnomah baseball team as a big hitting third baseman.  Even then, he went across the river to Vancouver to be the coach of the US 21st Infantry based in the Barracks. 

Averaging nearly 40 yards per punt for the MAAC, on Nov 4th he arranged a game between his Vancouver squad and his own Winged M's, the best team in the region.  Multnomah would prevail, but the soldiers, led by Clarke would make a great showing in an 11-0 loss with Clarke named MVP of the game.

On Nov 30, Clarke not only avearged 45 yards per punt, he also rushed for 45 yards on two fake punts, kicked a field goal and 2-point PAT in a 17-6 win over his alma mater Oregon.  Media writers exclaimed that if not for Clarke, the "webfoots" would have defeated the heavy Portland team.  A month later, Clarke was responsible for 5 of the 9 points scored against the Seattle Athletic Club filled with University of Washington stars like 1907 Player of the Year Dobe Brinker.

Clarke could not only be a pounding halfback on offense, and a saavy defender from the defensive backfield, but his biggest asset was his booming spiral punts that flipped the field against every opponent. Dudley Clarke was the most dangerous man on the field for Multnomah as they went 6-0 againt the Northwest best clubs and universities.