New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-28

I
and a misty air would permit 80 hat
the excuse for this story is just PLAN
football.
Army Team More Finished.
The cadets nom West Point had
slightly stronger and far more finished
team. and it is fitting. then. that nc
tory should have crowned their Efforts
but the difference was far from IL
points. If the midshipmen had not
contributed so largely 20 their own de-
feat the game mi.nt we'll have ended
in a scoreless tie.
This statement may be questioned
by Army sympathizers on the GROUND
/ that the wonderful Oliphant jumped
through a hole IN he Navy line, and,
slipping three or four tackles with all
the skill and finish OF an Eddie Mahan
or a Charlie Barrett. ran twenty-five
wards for West Points second touch
down. All credit must be given Tor
this. The speedy and versatile back
might well nave made the same kind
% 49, frcm almost aLv pa. ct the
field. but the fact remains tnaC N.
particular scoring chance came as tn
result of a poorly made forward p "a.
one of many, which was interce,,ed
rear the centre OF the field b. Nc
Evan and carried forward thirtT yards
lust as the second half opened.
As TO the first touchdown early in
the opening period. the Navy was alone
responsible That score was not earned
BY the cadets, except so ga as keen
alertness and dashing end play made
it possible to turn an error by oppo-
nents to their own uses and profit.
Craig, one of the best and most con-
spicuous players on the Navy team,
committed a compound error-One Of
hands. one of judgment. On punt
by Coffin he fumbled bounding ball
deep in his own territory, which. If
he had been quick-witted enough to
let alone. would have rolled over thu
goal line for a touchback.
In a sense his team was justly pun
shed for the touchdown which fol-
lowed. not so much because of the mis-
take of the hands. but because Of tho
mistake Of the head. Redheld. one OF
the Army ends. charging down the field,
was on the ball like a fash. with the
last line Of the Navy defences only five
yards away.
Great Stand by Midshipmen.
20 the credit of the midshipmen. II
should be emphasized that in this per
,lous position they held the Army
backs to three yards in three desper-
ate lunges, but 0liphant on the last
try plunged over between guard and
tackle for six poir Is, while the same
PLAYER added one more with the re-
sultant goal. Just as he did when he
made his second touchdown. SO it was
the Navy was beaten, or better, per
haps, so il was the Army won.
The football on the whole was not OF
the best, but as a muscle-wearin!
struggle it has had few, II any, equals
this year The men played as they al
ways do in this game, with utter aban
don. II was rough. not to the point Of
unfairness. but rough just the same. 4
bit too rough. The condition of the
field and the bail operated against fin
ished football. and onsequently some
excuses may be made for the rather
poor tackling of the midshipmen, par
ticularly in the open, and for the fail
urc of certain running plays TO work
TO saw nothing of the forward passes
But the game must be accepted as II
was played, and, as said before. 1t was
muddy football.
Nothing new was shown IN lorna .
tions by either team. Both were bssei
. largely on the Harvard scheme OF at
tack, but the plays therefrom ola not
work so smoothly or so effectively;
or the two, the Army was peter
equipped. Charley DAILY, the oid MaS
ward quarterback and later a. 10
Point now Captain Charley pay neu
doroIoned a running attack which was
not lacking in power. It's success Seo
,srdav however. depended largely, on
tbc shifty Oliphant for long gain plays
og ,ackIe The offence lacked CONT
Umi,v when aimed directly at the Navy
Inc due largely, perhaps, TO the STURDY
defence of the midshipmen from tackle
~ tackle The interference for this
INNING attack was much better than
the Navy's, and altogether the onence
was better conceived and better exc
cuted. s.
Tn. figures of the game bear this
ont The cadets gained l72 yards by
straight rushing with their running at
tack for seven first downs, while the
+, midshipmen gained only 55 yards for
three first downs in the same way, and
all but two yards of this came in the
first half.
In truth. the Navy attack was inn
potent. II lacked power and drive.
The interference was negligible
Eighteen yards in six plays was the
limit Of any particular advance. As a
rule, il vas punt, punt, punt, after
being held up for short gains on rush
ing plays.
! In the second half. with the score IA
70 against them, the midshipmer
practically discarded the running game
entirely. They made only nine play:
OF this kind for a total gain Of only two
Yards, subtracting the ground lost. lr