Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-10-25
The 20-TO-O VICTORY
OF MIDOIES VS.. POLYS
Does This Score Mark Big Turn
in for Better of Navy Team?
THAT is THE QUESTION.
Substantial Improvement Noticeable in
Every Player Behind the Line Do
Effective Work.

Effective W0Tk.
Does the 20-to-1 victory which the
Midshipmen scored over Virginia Poly
teehnic on Saturday mark the big turn
for the better in the affairs of the
Academy team? That is the question
that its friends and other interested
parties are asking at this time
The discussion involves the point Of
whether the victory was simply what
might have been expected of any aggre
cation having the material and advant-
ages of the Navy. team or was the re-
suit of real and definite Improvement
along the lines in which the Navy team
has been weak and which il must
strengthen if it is to be worthy oppo-
uent of the Soldiers on November 81.
The truth Of the matter seems to be
that there was substantial improve
ment along some lines, but distinct
weaknesses in other particulars, and
the hardest kind of work must be done
and done continually and with no
letup, if a real Navy team is to be de
veloped by the close Of the season.
For one thing there can be no doubt
that the line has improved in agrees
siveness, head work and general fight
ing qualities
For another. there can be no question
that the backs are showing greater in
dividual ability and team play. Credit
must be given along both these lines.
but the weak points were poor work
on the part of the ends. failure to stop
forward pass plays, and inability of
making effective use of these PLAYS
themselves. It was noticeable that
nearly every player that the Navy
had behind the line was used effective
ly to carry the ball, but in most cases
the plays hit the tackle. and the supe-
rior weight and strength of the Navy
linemen. together with the excellent
instruction they have received in order
to use these qualities. helped the run
ner to gain substantially
Practically the only exception TO this
style of play were the two good gains
on end runs made by Captain Miles. 1t
is gratifying to all that this sterling
player seems TO be rounding into form
that won his place for him in the clos-
ing portion of last season. Martin. the
fourth class find, made the most regular
gains from his position. and it would
seem his speed would make possible
his use in plays which takes a wider
course and lead to longer gains. West
phal used his weight and strength to
good advantage in similar plays, as did
Dashiells, who succeeded him Won
Heimburg punted well throughout and
made a few short gains. Luth, Craig
and Vail were in the hand for short
periods and had little opportunity OF
showing their value.
1t must be noted that the Navy team
is still weak along the lines which are
accountable for the defeats by the
Army team for the last three seasons
namely that style of play known as
modern football. So far. they have
proved ready victims to the variations
of the forward pass plays which its
different opponents have brought to the
Academy. The Virginia Polys made az
least 75 per cent. of these plays effect
i've and they were nearly always for
substantial gains. Moreover. every
team that has played here this year
has brought back who could find his
way around the Academy ends for
large gains. These defects on the de-
Tense must, of course, be remedied. Or
the final game this season is not likely
to break the chain of Navy defeats.
On the attack the Navy team shows
improvement only along the lines upon
which it has depended for the last
thre seasons, and which have proved
insufficient to defeat West Point. It's
backs make considerable gains through
the line regularly against teams except
those of unusual strength, but are gen
orally not able TO circle the ends Of
well coached teams. AS 10 the for
ward pass, the Navy team has not been
able to do much with it except for the
two years directly after the play was
permitted. In all the Army games
since, the Soldiers have been able to
put these over on the Sailors and pro
tect themselves against them.
Honors in taking the ball was easily
taken by Dixon, captain and quarter
hack of the Polytechnic team. Behind
good interference he circled the Nayy's
ends frequently, one of his runs being
for sixty yards. Also. he was generally
the receiver of the ball on the forward
pass plays, with which Polytechnic
made effective gains. The percentage
OF these plays which were successful
was probably larger for POLYTECHNIC
than with any eleven seen here this
season. The midshipmen tried vari-
ations of the same play six times.
They were, however, successful bui
once-the last play in the game, when
a pas from Miles to jackson netted 81
yards and nearly brought about +
touchdown. There was no scoring and
no distinct advantage in the first half
The visitors rather had the better of the
first quarter. and the second was !,
standoff. Dixon circled the ends con
tinually and successful forward passes
with some gains by Denny, kept the
ball in Navy's territory much of the
time. A tumble enabled Martin to re-
cover the ball on virginia's 2O-yard