Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
M|DD|ES BLANK
THE CADETS FROM
WEST POINT
Army's Team Fails to Cross the
Goal Line of the
Navy.
Twenty-Five Thousand Persons
See Annapolis Win by
Ten to Nothing.

IcIl " NUlIllIlY.
PHILADELPHIA, December lin a
game replete with brilliancy the midship-
men from the Annapolis Naval Academy
today on Franklin Field defeated the cadets
from West Point in their annual football
game by the score of 10 to o, goal from
placement and a touchdown and goal. 1t
was the fifth victory for the middies in the
history of football contests between the
two fighting branches of the United States
government. and the second time that
the boys from the banks of the Hudson
had failed to cross the goal line of the
lads whose temporary homes are ON the
banks of the Severn river.
Probably not in the history of the two
institutions has there been a more spec
tacular game than that which today electri-
fed the $4,000 spectators, and surely none
was more uncertain to the final out
come until the linesman's whistle put an
end to hostilities.
Most Remarkable Climax.
The climax was most remarkable For
fully half an hour after the close of the
contest the spectators sat almost motion
less, as the Annapolis lads delirious with
joy marched around Franklin Field, way
ing flags, casting hats canes, miniature
megaphones and nearly everything they
could lay their hands on, into the air. 1t
a sight long to be remembered by
those whose good fortune it was to wit
the game. Finally, after being al
most tagged out by their Civilizations, the
Annapolis boys slowly wendell their way
to the special trains awaiting nearby and
were soon whisked off toward the academy,
there to rehearSe the game wildly as
possible to their less fortunate schoolmates
who could not attend
Should the fortunes carry into battle the
young men who today valiantly fought
for the honor and glory of their respective
academies, and they perform with like de-
termination. there be little doubt as 10
the outcome. The contest was fierce from
necessary roughness. The Navy boys,
handicapped by a stiff wind in the opening
half, played with remarkable fierceness.
Nearly the entire first half they were
forced to the utmost to prevent the West
Point eleven from crossing the coveted goal
line. Time and again they were driven
back to within few feet of their goal
but there the line would hold and Douglass
would boot the ball out of immediate dan
ger.
Spencer's Catch.
For the first thirty minutes the Navy
was on the defensive. But when the sec
end half opened there was an entirely diff
ferent proposition. The West Point eleven
pushed back foot by foot, yard by
yard. until the Navy had the ball within
striking distance of the Armys goal, Beav-
e;rS for West Point sent high spiral from
his ten-yard mark to Spencer on the Nays
forty-yard line. Spencer, quickly grasping
the situation heeled the catch, emitting
the Navy to free kick. The bail was
wi;hin ten yards of the line on the south
SIDE of the field and at a remarkably d f.
ficult angle, but Northcroft was called
upon to make the attempt for score.
Goal From Placement.
Scarcely sound could be heard in either
stand as the big right tackle calmly di-
rected Norton how to hold the ball. With
eye riveted upon the goal posts and another
the ball, Northcroft gave the pigskin a
terrible boose and the ball went straight
as an arrow between the posts. This was
the signal for a tremendous outburst from
the middles, who occupied their usual sec
ton in the north stand The spirits of the
West Fcint lads. who occupied a section
directly opposite in the south stand were
sI"ndingly depressed.
Scarcely had the iubiation of the An
Hap1ls rooters ceased when there was
cause for another explosion of ecstatic JOY
The Navy had, on exchanges of punts,
worked the bali well into the Army's terri
tory. With the lh'rd down and four yards
- gain, Norton dropped back as though
done this once or twice during the half and
the West Point eleven was apparently not
anticipating the play that was to develop.
Ingram full back, had been drawn close
Uut the instant that Slingluff snapped the
ball I1gruui was off like a shot He
grasped Norion'e beautiful forward pass
and dashed for the Army's goal
Touchdown Scored
one West Point man got within striking
distance but no was warded off and a
Touchdown vas the result. The deirium
OF the Anna OILS boys began all over
again and never ceased until the game was
over and with rhrching threats and lost
voices they danceG their way to the special
TRANS cor Aruapcrs. The West Point
cadets SCucd n the spirit of rivalry good
uatUredly. The two elevens were evenly
matched. but the Army failed to take ad-
N2utdge 9: the wind to such an appre-
liable extent TN the opening half did
the Navy eleven in the closing period.
Norton ran the Annapolis eleven brilliant
ly. and the handling OF kicks by himself
ana Spencer was atm Ost perfect. On the
other hand, both Johnson and Mountford
who came on late in the game the latter
as the formers substitute We're weak. and
fumbled Douglass high twis;ers time and
again.
If any one man deserves more than anoth-
er niche in the foot ball hall at Annapolis
1t is Dague the right end of the Navy tea m
lie lc-!tNtN the Dali beautifully,
Johnson every time he caught punt and
broke up interference in remarkable style.
Spencer, Douglass and Piersol also played
brilliantly tor Tie navy, while Ill., Beavers
Stearns ard Weeks did good work for the
army.
Tn. drizzc. which began few minutes
afte: o'clock, continued until a few min
utes after he game had started. 1t was not
enough. however, 10 mar the brilliancy OF
the great social foot ball founction. which
IS ,okei upon by society the even. par
excellence Ct the season.
Every Seat Taken.
Every seat in the great amphitheater was
Gi!ei, and there were hundreds standing
around the railing which circles the grid
iron. Everybody was decorated with the old
gold and blue CT the navy or the black. gold
and gray of the army and the stands were
a myriad OF bri'ii5nt colors. 49,
The spcidi side g: The match. always a
great featWc or ttt occasion, was as bril-