The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-01
NAVY EARNS VICTORY
Annapolis Team 0utplayed
the West Pointers.
DESERVED A LARGER SCORE
MiddIes Kept Ball in Army's Terri
tory Most of the Time and Out
cInssed Opponents i'm Punting and
i'm Handling the Pigskin-Capt
DougIas Put Up Remarkable Game.


BY stan Correspondent
| Philadelphia. Nov 3o.-Navy outplayed
Army at practically every point at Frank
lin Field today, and fully deserved to
win
/ Never has the Army mad more con
| hdent team. and seldom have the West
! Pointers suffered such a disappointment
as was their fate when they saw their
/ favorlJes downed by team which II was
expected would have a hard struggle to
escape a humiliating defeat. The defeat
In itself was a bitter pill. but the score
/ of 20 0 hardly shows the relative
/ strength of the two teams, for the ball was
/ in Army's territory during fully two
thirds Of the time, with the surprised
cadets fighting desperately TO avert even
/ a larger score.
To the followers Of the teams the con-
test was little short Of "a revelation. The
despised middies not only succeeded in
! scoring the only touchdown and goal of
4 the day. but time after tine got the bali
well down the field toward their oppo-
nents goal line. only 10 be held when
/ further scoring seemed imminent
Nays Strong Points.
/ There We're two departments in which
/ Army was completely outclassed- hand
/ ling the ball. both on passes ana on
punts and in puntng ON only rare oc-
/ casions did the Annapolis backs let the
/ ball slip from their grasp. and none OF
/ these fumbles proved costly. On the
other hand West Point gave an cXhi-
/ bition of fumblng that was narrowing
/ TO the thousands of sympathizers in the
/ north stands. SO well placed were Nays
/ punts that many OF them bounded before
\ they were reached by the Army backs,
/ but often when they got directly under
the BAH, the West Pointers would allow
/ il TO go through their arms and before
/ they could get after the oval il had been
grabbed by the ever-alert Niddies. The
/ handling OF the BAH in sCrlmmages was
/ also uncertain. but this was not SO costly
/ for it was usually recovered before any
/ further damage had been done.
In nearly every punting duel Capt.
I Douglas. Of Navy. OverShadOwed his rival,
( Beavers. In the matter Of distance there
I was no great difference, but when IL
came 20 placing the ball. there was hardly
any comparison. Beavers would boot the
/ pigsIIin down the grdiron with plenty
Of height and distance. but no better
than Douglas. The Annapolis leader.
however. showed such marked ability in
sending the ball where he wanted il 10
go that it usually struck the ground,
leaving the backs TO take II on an un-
certain bound.
Used Yale system.
Both teams were schooled in the Yale
system of play Their defensive systems
We're practically the same. but Navy
showed a more diversified offerse. \ de-
layed pass with two of the backs pluug-
ing through one side OF the line and the
man with the ball through the other side
was tried many times with no consistent
success. but Navy repeatedly worked a
fake kick for good gains. IN the first
half this resulted in several long runs
but in the closing period Army was more
watchful and finally worked up a defense
20 stop il. The guards and tackles. in
stead Of tearing through TO block the
kicks. would go through on the outside
and be prepared 20 halt the play on either
flank. but in a way this was an advan-
tage to Navy. as It gave Douglas a better
chance 90 get off his punts. and he work
co the advantage 10 the utmost Army
also succeeded I'm getting away with sew
eTal fake kicks, but was not as success
full in this particular play as We're the
Middies.
II IS doubtful II in any Army-Navy
game any individual player ever perform
cd more brilliantly than did Captain
Douglas. Of Navy, this afternoon. Punt
ing in manner which offset every gain
Army could make. Douglas was the
workhorse Of the Annapolis team When
ever distance was needed Douglas was
the man 10 whom the ball was entrusted.
and every trick play found Douglas the
one upon whom success depended. He
gained by plunges and by sprnts, by
line hammering. and by end running
On defense he was equally as valuable
He seemed 10 be under every play. and
whenever there was a tumble Douglas
was generally the man who was nearest
the ball. His work was grand. and he
fully deserved the honor OF being the
captain of the team which establishes a
new record by scoring a victory over
the Army after Navy had won the year
previous.
DaEue n Real star.
Dague. at right end, was another big
factor in Nays victory Last year
Dague was considered the bright individ-
ual star Of the game. but to-day he fairly
eclpsed his 1906 mark. In covering kicks
he was so fast that the other ends looked
like they were anchored, while in defen-
sive play he left nothing TO be desired.
and finally. when he was so exhausted
that he was unable to continue, he re-
ceived a grand ovation as he turned over
his position 10 a substitute.
1t is not often that any Of the three
center men on a football team play in
such a manner that their work is at all
times conspicuous, but such men as Err
win are not often seen. The tall red
headed forward OF the West Point team
was all over the field He was a con-
slant source Of annoyance when Navy
was on the attack. as it seemed to be out
OF the question to stop him. Right guard
was Ike a stone wall so far as ground
gaining was considered, but this did not
stop Erwin from leaving his position every
time the bail was snapped, and either
upsetting interference or actually tackling
the runner on end plays When Army
kicked Erwin was always down the field
with his ends, and to cap it all he was
a most reliable man in opening holss
when the future admirals turned thsir
attack to the line.
Capt Smith played a hard. consistent
game at full back. and even in the second
half. when II was evident that his team
was doomed 10 defeat, his own heroic
efforts to turn the tide was a source of
inspiration to his teammates.
Although footing on the gridiron was
slightly uncertain. the conditions for the
game were almost ideal, and the exhibit
ton aroused unbOunded enthusiasm