Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-30
HARVARD FIRST, DARTMOUTH
SECOND ON THE GRIDIRON
Ranking of Football Teams Made Difficult Because Al
Best Elevens Do Not Contend Against Each Other.
Comment on 1914 Season.


varied conditions that an attempt to
classify them would lead to all sorts Of
absurdities.
Form triumphed in the Army-Navy
game pretty much as It has been doing
in all the championship games this sea-
son. At the end of the first period, AL
though the Army had then registered
but safety, It was practically certain
that the soldiers would win. This was
because they had superior attack to
the Navy, and were Just as much better
defenslvely. In virtually everything they
attempted the soldiers did 1t better than
the mlddles. This included line plung-
ing, end running, forward passing and
punting.
FORWARD PASS WON FOR ARMY.
The superiority Of the Army with the
forward pass was enough to win tho
game. And Prichard and Merrillat, who
worked the play, did It more skilfully
than any pair the writer has seen this
season. In this respect the game was
almost a duplicate of last years contest
in New York. Then these two men
operated the forward pass so that 1t
scored two touchdowns, and another for
ward pass enabled the soldiers to get the
ball within striking distance for the third
score. The same combination scored two
touchdowns on Franklin Field on Satur-
day. and made the third possible.
The Navy had no adequate defense for
the forward pass Time after time Mer-
rillat was allowed to get down tho field,
and usually when he got tho ball there
was no Navy opponent within five yards
OF him If the Navy had taken the pre-
caution or had the men to whom II could
teach the Harvard forward pass defense
these passes wouldn't have worked once
out OF ten times. II must be said, how
ever, that the Army passes were OF
most deceptive character and were
worked so quickly and the ball thrown
with such accuracy as to greatly increase
the difficulty OF defending against them.
1t must be said that Prlchard threw the
ball and Merrillat caught 1t with more
accuracy than any other pair the writer
has seen this season.
The Navy also tried the forward pass,
but the Army had a defense for It, though
its poor operation had much to do with
its failure. AS a rule, the Navy pass was
a complicated thing in which the ball
was usually passed to the side or back
before the forward pass was made. This
delay in making the throw was more OF
an advantage to the defense than to tho
offense, for It gave the Army backs an
opportunity to cover every loose man who
got through, and also enhanced their
chances of intercepting the throw. II the
Navy coaches had profitsd by tho expert
ence Of other colleges. they would have
learned that speed IN getting the pass on,
and sharp and short pass arc essential
to tho successful operation OF this play.
} With the possible exception OF the work
OF Miles, the NRvy's substitute quarter
back, the Army backs did much the bet
ter work in running the ends and IN line
bucking. This was because the Army had
Interference and the Navy mighty little
Of this sort of protection. The work of
the Navy backs was almost altogether in
dividual, and 1t was very rare that thev
received any protection from their mates.
The Army also had the better line. mar
in making openings for the
backs. This was OF great advantage 10
Hodgson especially, for a number OF
nmes ne cut through an opening 80
quickly that he was free for a GOOD min
the moment he emerged. In the seoond
half Benedict did some great line piunE-
ing.
LITTLE NEW FOOTBALL.
Neither team contributed anything new
to football offenss. All the formatIons
were OF the standard type, and thu orlv
variation was that both sides frequentiy
employed the Michigan plan Of ssndinS
eight men into the line OF serimm.s.
when making line plunEes. II was v,th |
this formation that Maultbetsch diA rno-t |
of his star line piungns AEainst TJar- /
yard and Pennsylvania.
The playing OF both teams was ob.r..-
'erlsncally hard. No college teanaS A. |
.he country tackle with such vioiouSn.ss
Is the Army and Navy, ana 4 is ~
Noneer that a little hard feeling crops
'ut occasionally. But the two Academies
play the game like gentlemen,
The Army has the option OF niclr,,s,
ne site Tor the next game and n ~
West Point authorities maintaIn tbst,
recent attitude they Will seiaaf NJ,
York But II those Of the spsctatora ,vbo
Witnessed the game played on BrSnIrlIn
slela saturday and VINO saw Il In New
I I tofA were 70 vote on the better location
,or Franklin Field Playing eondit,sas
'or the two teams and the eomgoyF -
ne spectators make Franklin Biald AZ
most iosAl Il Is true that the demand
ior seats is very heavy. but hldrin. S-a--
he aotiVity OF the scaipers 4 soo6 ,,s-,-
persons Gos seats who didn't oars ~.
.isiH. 80 that the seating oapasit, ~
sranklin tield must still be ample. Fe,t
( Philadslghia builds : staditan 4, ssSssl -'el
mount PARK, - Il shsuld, Ne csn -.
ARE of an ~ttsndanos Of le8. "a 49, 49,
'teesso- q zeAr would nearly psv
From ~ feotban standDsin. m. -.
ost"een Washington ana J1nerson erS
"nien W. and d wen 81 ~
- q "e4 better same than
Nss sts4esl tn4 Aruy aa1 Nasy.