In addition to fans, A. E. Staley and company superintendent George Chamberlain also traveled with the team. To accommodate the visitors, Hoover Field added 800 seats along the south side, though part of the bleachers collapsed with no injuries. After Taylorville punted, the Staleys struck first on Lanum's touchdown run. Walt Veach intercepted Taylorville's quarterback Jones on the following drive and returned it for a 60-yard touchdown. The rest of the first half and third quarter saw no scoring; although the Independents reached the Staleys' one-yard line, they failed to score. Early in the fourth quarter, Taylorville finally scored with a one-yard touchdown run by halfback Miller, but lost a fumble when they regained possession. In response, Dressen performed a fake throw and end-around, an act that "The Herald" considered "one of the cleanest plays of the day", for the game-clinching touchdown. Switching to a passing-based offense, Taylorville attempted to move downfield but failed to score as the Staleys pulled off the 21–7 upset. A day after the game, team executive Morgan O'Brien announced the Staleys would recognize themselves as the Central Illinois champions, explaining "Taylorville has held the title for several years. The Rock Island team I suppose is also claiming it but we can't get a game with them. Outside of that, I don't suppose any other team will contest our claim. Spring Valley is out of it because Kewanee beat them recently and next Sunday Taylorville plays Kewanee and it is almost a cinch that Taylorville with win." For the game, the Staleys signed Millikin Big Blue back Sid Gepford and guard Roy Adkins, a violation of their college eligibility rules. When Millikin head coach Norman Wann received word of their participation, he arrived in Taylorville to watch the second half. Later in the week, he banned the two from Millikin sports, while the university considered expulsion before letting them stay in school. Wann and university president J. C. Hessler accused Brannan of influencing them into joining, but Wann later recanted his words. The two joined the Staleys permanently for the rest of the year and 1920; Adkins was already working for the company as a part timer to pay for college, while Gepford later also played for the Staley basketball team. The Staley game drew the largest profit for the Independents in 1919 at $500, one of just two games to result in positive finances for them.