Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-15
ST. JOHNS POOR SEASON.
REASONS ADVANCED FOR THE
FEW VICTORIES.
Games May Yet Be Played With
Western Maryland College
And Washington
College.

Although very much discouraged
about the defeat OF last Saturday.
nevertheless the football team has not
yet given up in despair. The season.
so far. has undoubtedly been one of
the most unsuccessful seasons st.
Johns has ever had
The inexperience of the PLAYERS is
partially to blame, as only a few of
the men on the team have had auy ex-
perience in football before, and only
two men of last years varsity are
playing on the team this year. In the
first part Of the year, however. they
showed up very we'll and gave promise
60 turn out one of the best teams ST.
john has had for some year.
In the game with Virginia, which
was the first game on the schedule
this year. and which was PLAYED ten
days after the first squad appeared on
the field, St Johns showed up we'll
against the heavy Virginians and held
them down to verv creditable score
OF 80 to 6. In the Navy game, about
two weeks later, the team did not
show up extra we'll. While at times
they played coed football. yet at
very critical times they would tumble
the ball. Fumbling has been one of
the causes for the loss of several close
games this year, anyway. In the V
NJ. l. game the bali was fumbled on
V. M. rs 20-yard line after carrying
it about 80 yards by straight line
bucking. This was the best and only
chance which ST. Johns had in the
second half to score, and if she scored
and this would have won the game
Also in the Franklin and Marshall
game the same thing occurred. Re-
peatedly the ball was fumblei after
carrying it about 80 or 60 yards.
through the line. Another thing which
has greatly handicapped the team is
that in no game since the u. of V.
game has the varsity team been to-
gether. Either one or two substitute
backs have been used in every game
played since then, and all the substi.
tute backs are very light. In the NJ
A j. O. game on Saturday very few
gains were made through the line, bat
repeated runs for 80, 40 and 90 yards
were marie around the ends. usually
by fakes. While st. Johns bad pos
session of the ball at no time did they
have trouble to make their yards, a
great many times taking the ball
straight throgh the NJ. A. g. line for
. and 10 yards at rush. But again,
st. John started fumbling and several
times after the backs had carried the
ball for long gain, they would lose
the pigskin within striking ditsan ce
of the coveted goal
Another thing which also handicap
ped the team last Saturday was a pun
ter. AS Stevens and Duval were both
out Of the game there was no one on
the team who could punt at all and so
when forced to kick, the ball was
rarely advanced over 90 yards by do
ing so. Yet two of the heaviest
games on the schedule has yet to be
played-Johns Hopkins and Pennsyl-
vania Military College. Mr.. Hopkins,
who played end for st. Johns for
three years and who has been under
the Lehigh coaches for six weeks is
helping coach the team for the re-
mainder of the season, and his coach
ing has already done much for the
team. He has taken the dummy out
again and each day he keeps the whole
squad tackling the dummy for about
half hour. He is trying new men
both at end and back of the line aud
has found several men who he thinks
may replace some of the men now on
the varsity.
TIE game on Saturday is with Gal
laudet College of Washington and al
though for the last two or three years
their team has not been very strong.
they haye-a pretty good team this year
and have played several good games,
although they have been lined up
against teams which are not IN their
class at all. The game will likely be
played in the morning, so that the
team can get back in time to see the
Navy Virginia game in the afternoon.
1t is possible games may be arranged
with Western Maryland College and
Washington College for this season, as
ironing of a league and if it should
be formed before the season is over
these two games will have to be play
ed.