New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-01
|RRAINS TELL TALE
IN GRIDIRON FIGHT

play, and Gllchrist the superior in cover
ing punts.
In the backhed there was little 70
choose. Rodes had the best OF Ii be-
cause he was using his brain all the time.
He was worth watching. because Of the
results he obtained. and he went about
his work calmly and with precision. Sc
lecting the right plays and getting results
by reason of his own individual work.
He jockeyed the attack I'm the best pos
si5le way. and when the rushing attack
showed signs OF failure he always drove
the ball into position before the goal
posts. so that Brown had an opportunity
10 score The other man who struck me
IS fine in bsckheld play was Harrison
Playing directly back OF centre on de-
fence. he met the Army's attack so
strenuously that II told before the game
was ended.
Neither team showed anything new on
attack that gave evidence OF development
over a year ago. except the forward passes
used by the Army toward the close and
one well planned pass by the Navy early
in the game. In this latter play the at
tack started from a running formation
the back who received the pass from
centre ran backward. thus drawing in the
opposing defence and raising the Army
forwards from their low charging posi-
ton This gave Rodes an opportunity to
slip through the line. whereupon the ball
was hurled over centre % him. Rodes
fumbled. but It was a neat play, just the
same
The Army uncovered some splendid long
forward passes at the end. and though
the Navy expected them. they were not
able TO cover Markoe and Merrillat, the
Army ends. I think the failure Of these
passes 10 work was due 10 overeaeerness
on the part OF the ends 10 get going be-
fore they fully caught the ball, or 10 the
fact that the ball was thrown Just over
them. / believe that they would have
proved entirely successful earlier in the
game, when the Navy did not expect them.
The Army used spread formation at
one stage Of the game. with four men on
the scrimmage line, close TO the ball two
other forwards out we'll TO the left ana
the right end far out on his side. The
four backs were spread, two OF them di-
rectly back Of centre, one far out to the
left and the fullbacks ten yards BACK
The idea was to open the Nays deience
and rush the ball between end and tackle.
The play was brought TO earth ere II
got under way.
Both teams thought well enough OF the
other 10 play two backs we'll back TO re-
ceive punts, not caring 70 take the chances
Princeton and Pennsylvania ran In some
OF their big games this fall. when they
played but one back. II is better and
certainly a surer method Of preventing
disaster Unfortunately it did not pre-
vent the Army from getting into trouble
repeatedly. as their backs would continu-
ally catch punts right at their goal line.
when the ball had every intention OF
bounding over for a touchback
The Navy was better drilled in the
finer points OF the kicking game. Gill
christ showed this when he all but sue
ceeded in touching a bounding punt Just
as il was going out OF bounds, so his on
side play would give the Army the ball at
the edge OF the field instead Of fifteen
Yards in, as is the case il It goes out OF
bounds. At the same time. Captain De-
wore used Just as good headwork when he
was going OOWU Oh OHr VI ilNDbS '''N'
punts, which began bounding toward his
own goal lire Quick as fash Devore
grabbed it. and. being offside, this gave
the ball TO the Navy, whereas had IL
gone on bounding backward the Navy
would have been much nearer the coveted
Army line.
All things considered. the Navy deserved
the victory. The team was better round
ed and more finished besides having a
general IN command in the person OF Cap
tain Rodes.
These factors and the truly wonderful
playing OF Brown were too much FOR
team not quite so strong and rather weak
in the finer points of football, especially
the one great point in this years game
the punting department. All honors are
where they belong. first 10 the Navy as
team and first to Brown as a player.