The Washington times., 1908-10-29
Hatchetites Rejoice Over
Magnificent Showing of
Team Against Middies.
VIRTUAL VICTORY
FOR WASHINGTON
Play Mastery Game Against
Heavier Squad on Rain
Soaked Field.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.

classrooms this morning at George
Washington University 500 or more loyal
Hatchetites are sounding the praises of
the best football team the school has
had since back in the niueties
The occasion Of this new outburst
OF enthusiasm was the grand showing
made by the squad at Annapolis yes
terday, when II held the L. s. Naval
Academy 70 II 10 Q. and was within
twelve yards OF the Aiddies' goal when
time was called in the second half
A driving rain, a sloppy field, and an
elusive pigsktn necessarily made the
game slow. but at no stage did it lack
in snap and vim.
The Hatchetites started out braveIy.
and made a grand finish. For the trst
few minutes Of play their ro0ters shout
tonians came dangerously near chalk
ing up touchdown against its heavy
opponents.
Experiment a Failure.
The AIiddies opened hostiIities by en-
ploying the open game, and three times
took chances on punting. The expert
ment proved that ThralPs chances Of
fumbling were mighty slim. After each
punt the hefty HatchetiteS, aided by
magnificent interference, carried the
ball back into the enemy's territory
for from ten TO twenty yards.
Navy showed its CalibeT by entirely
changing It's tactics, q step which sec
Ond-class aggregatiOns are generally
lOath TO take, and employed line plung
ing. II proved wise move. @. W. T.
was Outweighed, man for man, and the
Hatchetites had only the slimmest kind
of a chance 10 hold the Sailors under
these conditions. Again and again the
Middies were favored by the wet field,
and time after time the Middies came
plOughlng through the Washington line
by simply sweeping the players of their
feet through the mud by virtue of sheer
strength.
Forward passes, fake kicks, and every
manner or trick play In George Wash
ington's repertoire was brought into
play. The team realized that its only
salvation lay in strategy, rather than
in strength, and, with commmendabie
consistency, pursued this policy I'M
daUnted until the finish,
Use Straight Football
Navy was equally willy. Though 1t
abandoned all but straight football for
the rest of the first half after pulling
out of danger early in the game, the
HatchetiJes We're compelled TO play
back 70 ward of danger from the for
ward pass When this happened the
Middies craftily plunged through the
weakened line, and nearly always
made large gains The efficacy OF
these tactics was REINFORCED by a sOlW-
ness OF the Washington backs, due
largely TO the wet field. Navy used
the forward pass twice, and but once
for a gain. George Washington. on
the other hand, made most OF It's gains
around the ends. the point where the
attack was least expected, in view Of
the inability Of Nays other oppOn-
ents 10 gain any ground in that man
neF.
sommers, at right tackle, lined up
mighty Northcroft, added another
chapter TO his sterling work for the
present season. HOnOrs were about
even between the opposing leaders. but
u a.
Navy veteran, NOrthcTOft carried of
all the honOrs. on defense, ne was
one Of the few men on the HdIChetites
line who seldom had to lower his col
Ors. When il came 20 getting down tine
field on punts, and in tackling he was
IN the mont row with bells on.
Afraid of ThraH
While Thrau was not so much in the
limelight after the frst half. his pres
ence had the best kind OF a moral ef-
feet, as shown by Nays failure to
punt after the eaIgv SAD attempts.
Standing out as the premier among
the backs was Crafts His sINty-yard
run IN the second half was slightly out
Of bounds, but Il was q classy bit OF
work, and had he not deVidJed shade
too much from The narrow path would
have been hero OF the nOur. The most
spectacular features were two long
runs, for thirty and forty-five yards,
respectively, made by Quarterback
DgIus near the END OF the second LalL.
Navy had every reason 70 remember
him from his magnificent work last
season on the Maryland Agricultural (
College team when the Agglcs held
Navy 10 two tOuChdOWns but his ner-
Torrance yesterday wast If possible, +
even more brilliant. He led his team /
in mastery style. It was by the aid /
Of these Two runs and smaller gains
by Hart and SOmmers that the ball 4
was carried TO Nays I2-yard line be- /
fore time was called.
Centralites' Star.
Two former Central High school play /
ers, MaNey. mainStay of the team year /
before last, and Hamilton. last seasons |
captain, did themselves proud. While 4
the work OF MaNey was not spectacular !
he was on the Job in every play. HGmiI- /
ton relieved Crafts in the second half
and finished the game with Colors aying 4
Jones was the particular star Tor the /
Midutes. The work of Lenge, who play /
cd 50 brilliantly last Saturday against /
Harvard, was a disappointment.
The Lineup: