The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
One Touchdown and Con-
quest, z to 0, of the Army
Eleven.
A CRUNCHING BATTLE
West Pointers Hold Their Own
for Three Periods, Then
Outplayed.
BY WILLIAM b. HANNA.

"dy dlteilOOl dt the Iolo bIOuilus
and tied the long series Of annual en-
counters between the two, eleven
games to eleven. The midshipmen,
fine physical specimens that they were,
ardor and relentless purpose through
TO the referees last whistle and with
a tough endurance with which they
outfought the Army in the fourth
made their and the games only touch
down.
They outfought but didn't outgame
the Army. If accomplishment was an
indication, they were stronger and had
more fire in the final quarter. when
they unleashed the drive which took
them ripping and shooting to the goal
line. the first and only time they could
20 through the Army like that. The
West Pointers by that time. bit
more worn by the eXacting demands
OF as hard fought a game as ever was
put up on a gridiron, yielded, but even
then rallied before the game was over
and played it out with their last
ounce Of muscle.
Anybody's game for three periods
and with stubborn, grinding surging
back and forth, there was nothing to
indicate when they went into the
fourth period that they wouldn't con-
tinue to hammer each other to a
standstill as they had been doing. The
midshipmen, however. in the fourth
period summoned whatever reserve
attacking form for the coup de grace.
Helped by Army Punts.
To that end they were helped by two
punts on the Army side which carried
but short distances and went out Of
bounds. The advantages the Navy OBJ
tanned from these two kicks were i'm
portant in the victory, shortening by
valuable yards the distance they had to
cover to the goal line. but wher their
opportunity did come to put on a they
had in offence they were equal to it,
There was no other offence streak the
both previously was for short and inter-
mittent gains, and the game was singu-
larry free of long runs Defence of
hawklike vigilance and of viGor which
had the assemblage on its toes all the
time made offence spasmodic in yield
and with prevailing short yardage.
When the Navy did strike r stride it
was stride the Army couldn't combat.
Substitutes were sent in and they curbed
the Navy offence considerably. but be-
fore the substitutions the Navy had
made progress goalward which they had
the power and team work to bring to a
successful completion. They we're aflsme
with determination as they drove to the
Army's goal in that final period and did
a fine bit OF timing for their supreme
effort.
Sharps along the side lines said after
tho game that the Navy was two touch
downs b,tt?r The Annapolis players
were pilirg ahead for another touchdown
when they wore checked by tumble.
but IL was questionable whether they
would have arrived. for the Army's
morale was mistaken and it's defence
grew sitter after being scored on.
The Navy to whatever extent II may
have been the better team was the bet
ter by a cleancut, II small. margin.
though for three-fourths OF the time 1t
had TO take as good as II sent. Penal
ties for unnecessary roughness set the
Navy back more than once. as penalties
are intended to do when a teams zeal
leads TO an excess Of hard playing. One
Army player. catching a punt in the la "
quarter, was no roughly handled that the
fifteen yard penalty imposed on the en-
trgetic sailors was mild punishment
Army Plays Cleaner Game
The Army played the cleaner game
e;hically. and it's penalties were few.
Not often does team lose after having
the ball in the other sides territory so
much. The Army. however. lacked any
thing like a consistent offence and never
was able to get loose its fast halfback.
French, who was watched and covered
by the Navy players so that his effec-
tiveness was destroyed. The Navy team
as splendidly coached and had an able
grasp OF football and OF the aspects of
the battle as they unfolded.
As a punter French was poor, but as
runner he did all that he could or any
body else could have done under the cir
cumstances. The circumstances were a
powerful and active Navy line of for
wards. who crowded the Army opera
tons so closely and increasingly that the
Army didn't have time to swing into
position TO give French the assistance
all backs must have.
AZ the start of the game the Navy
was somewhat taken aback by the vigor
and confidence of the Army's playing.
The latter evidently considered itself an
good as It's opponents and for large
part of the game was. The Navy was
defending n good deal In the first half.
rushing briefly when In Possession OF the
ball and content not TO make any her
culean efforts until the game was older
and the opportunity ripper.
IL was hammer and tongs work. no
flares of individual lustre. but twenty
two lads fighting for all they knew and
keeping opponents a long way from goal
lines. IL wasn't until the end Of the
first period that the fighting was taken
into Army territory, and with the leather
on the Army's 35 yard limo short punt
by French was the start Of trend In
that direction which helped the Navy for
the rest Of the game.
The Navy was in danger In the sec
ond period. when tumble gave the ball
10 the soldiers on the formers 20 yard
line. The danger was brief. The Navy
defence arose like a blight. and the
Armys only chance for a SCORE was a
field GOAL French tried one from the
-
Continued on Second raoa