Evening star., 1915-11-28
OL|PHANT MAKES
VICTORY POSSIBLE
West Points Star Player
Breaks Through Navy's Less
Formidable Line.
GAME PLAYED IN DRlZZLE
ON MUDDY POLO GROUNDS
Without Army's Halfhaok in Line
Up Navy Might Have Won-Big
Crowd OH Hand.

NEW YORK, November H.
The Arrny foot ball eleven, show
ing better state of preparedness
than the Navy team, triunphed
over its annapolis rivals here
today by score OF II to 0. Twice
during the sixty-miilute battle
between the competing academies
the soldiers hurled a forty-two-
ccntimeter shell, in the person OF
Elmer Q. Oliphant, through the
protective armor OF the sailors
battleship, and in the gray dusk
OF drizzling afternoon the mid
sllipn1en craft sank. with every
gun working desperately. but
futilely, against the superior
equipment OF the army.
Although the MILDLY team
fought with unhinching courage
from the opening shot until the
Naval Academy pennant sank
from sight, the struggle availed
it nothing against the over
wheirning power of the cadets
attack. The irresistible charges
OF the former Purdue University
star could not be stopped by the
sailors. and the West Pointers
time and again pierced the first
and second lines of defense, un-
Ill the Navy was bent and ex-
llausted by its efforts 10 check de-
feat.
oliphant Was Real Star.
Had oiiphant been injured in the
opening minutes of the conflict the
nidshipnen might have had a chance,
but the middle western foot ball bat
tering ram refused to heed the savage
tackling that scarcely halted his mao
rushes. Through the line and around
the ends he crashed or sprinted, nurl-
ing of taclSler after tackler, until the
lniddies found that it required the en-
tire eleven to stop him at times. Since
IL was not always possible 10 concen-
trate the whole squad in his flying
path. his gains constituted about 40
per cent of the distance covered by
the Army charges.
Enormous Crowd There.
President Wilson and some $4,000
between the rival arms of the service,
forgetting in their enthusiasm the
clanmy, gray mist and the occasional
drizzie of rain which marred an other
wise perfect eridiron classic fought
out ii setting never surpa ssed in
fae history of the Army-Savy foot ball
series. The improvised gridiron was
surrounded by permanent and tempo
rary stands. which housed, for Il few
hours. distinguished host OF govern
ment, army and navy officers, as vcl
AS prominent society Representatives
from almost every c!ty in tho country.
In the MIDST % tae gay}y Iolored
fhron2 two spots Of unusually brilliant
hues stood cut whore the two battaf-
tons from the academies we-e oaay-
red In tho slde-line stands. From
Iese points OF vantage INC cadets and
the middies hurled songs ana cheers
across ti:c seid. led D" the blare Of the
rival institution bands.
UDroar Was Terrific.
The vocal uproar YVES terrific and
eustafued. There was not moment
os waiting on tire rart OF either The
Soldiers or the Sailors. From the m;a-
ute Ike Two -elevens went into action
the sound waves rolled 10 midaelG
where Shey c=ashed over the heads Of
the s,ears!ng. struggling players. who
. fouSat on, apparently obiivious 20 Tie
hurricanes o. sound.
The break o. the game came almost
Immediately after the Kickoff and II
was the West Point tea n that p-ofced.
After the opening play there was an
exchange OF punts. inrerspersed with q
Few drives at the line, but neither
team appeared TO have marked ad-
vantage until Craig mufed a high
twisting kick from the toe OF the Army
fulIbacl, Coffin.
Right End Neylsnd was following the
ball, and when Craig dropped the pig
siiin he dtved through the mud and
ciutched The spheroid on the NSvy's TO-
yard line. Coffin and Ford both hurled
themselves into the 3Iidd;es' line, only
10 be repulsed without gaia.
Hung on oliphant.
Then Quarterback; Ge-hardt uncov-
cred his masSed battery and AIRED OIL
VhdHt 4ttO t44S SdlIoTs tett side OF the
scrimmage line. The player from pur-
due ripped everything out OF his course
and slid across the goal line with three
Mitd'es clinsing 10 his pistoniihe legs
70 complete the task ne kicked ,ba
goal and the Navy foot bah craft began
10 founder.
The Sailors stuck 10 their guns
throughout the remainder OF lie drsi
and second periods without further
damss se. but with the beginning, OF the
third quarter Ohphaa. Vas again
turned loose on The Navy. as,d .or the
second tine found = vulnerable poiat ia
the AanaDolls defense. As sn :ic ms
1.ai score. the touchdown c2r.le or:ci.f,-
and uH%%pectediy. The soia:ers l.it::ctt
OF ard Cra.G, tie 3iiGtics' quartegI.ls.i,
ran tie ball we'll 5acs: hefore he was
tiowned On the second Tipe-gp he az
tstnpted q torWa-d pass. hut Ceute:. Ne
Evan o. she Amy reached I'D 10 the
fU's extent OF MS six feet two inches
and spcarad ;ae '1ali ii nida3r. de- i'm
{CpUstpSed on Second