Evening star., 1921-11-27


tied on them in the last few minut
possession near her own goal line, :
down and the punt was partly bloc
on Navy's N-yard line just before II
The only score of the game came
late in the second period. when Navy
carried the ball over for touchdown
after working 1t down the field from
the Navy 42-yard line. 1t was the
only time during the game that NaVy's
Wanted attack was in smooth Work-
ing order, and for moment 1t seemed
that even this effort was destined to
fail in the very shadow of the goal,
when the Army line held like q
stone wall. and after the fourth down
play it was necessary to measure to
determine whether Navy had made
over to the Army. 1t was declared
first down, and Navy easily nego-
tiated the remaining inches and kick
ed goal
Army Starts With Rush.
Aside from Army.s spectacular rally
In the fourth period, when the West
Pointers found a footing and rushed
the ball from their own 40-yard line to
the MiddieS S-yard mark, being halt
ed on an intercepted forward pass, the
Soldiers showed their best attack in
the first five, minutes Of play. They
really surprised the Navy the way
they started off, but, once stopped,
they were never dangerous until near
the finish.
1t is ceratinly a shame that these
big foot ball games which wind
up the season should be be visited
with weather which nullifies half
sas long ACQUIRED skill skill Of the the
been the, fortune Of Pitt and Penn
State to meet under such conditions
and the ArmyNavy games have not
been exempt. This time the weather
was SO bad that it is difficult to put
any measure upon the forward pass
ing ability of the two teams at least
1t was known in advance that the
Navy had the more powerful running
offense. and if the Army were to
answer that, it probably would be
through the medium of the forward
pass and judicious placing OF kicks.
In this latter respect the West Point
team certainly made good in spite of
a slippery ball, for Woods kicks
were long, high and on several occa-
sions beautifully placed. In fact, he
Navy superiority in the running of
Barchet by these timely kicks.
Cadets Shift Successful.
When the game opened the Army
team gave the Navy eleven and all
their partisanS big surprise by rum
ming up with double shift, taking
a leaf right out of Notre Danes book.
And, moro than that, the shift was
successful. The West Pointers car
ried the ball straight up to midfield
and into Navy territory before they
were checked. 1t made the Navy
sympathizers very anxious when they
saw one side of their line practically
snothered with this heavy interfer-
ence and the agile French coming
through for big gains. Finally the
MldShIpmen succeeded IN hating
this rush and then began in earnest
themselves. Barchet then showed his
caliber, both through the line and
out around the fianks, his play just
over tackle proving a big ground
gamer all afternoon.
The West Point tackles played alto
gether too high for Barchet, and time
and again were helpless against his
play while their secondary defense
was obliged to do the lions share OF
stopping it. Outside of French, the
Army team seemed. after the first
five minutes, to have neither plays
nor men for consecutive gains.
In the second period the Annapolis
boys began to gather in the yardaEe
even more consistently. and finally,
ceeded in getting right upon the
Army's goal line. But here they
seemed to lose their punch, or rather
their selection of plays was bad. Be-
sides that the Army line and back
field were fighting desperately, 50
Navy came so near losing the ball
that the final distance had to be
measured, and first down was only
gained by inches. But after the
measurements had given the Navy
four more downs to go the few re-
manning, 1t was all over, for not even
the lighting Army line could stall on
q touchdown.
Navy's Margin Slender.
80 It was that the Navy finally went
into the lead-a lead that. as 1t turned
out, won the game for them. But
how tenuous that lead proved TO DO
only the beating hearts OF the whole
Navy assemblage told in the last few
minutes Of the struggle. when. In the
gathering dusk, the Army team was
right down at the Navy goal, and
again. when the Navy had nnally
themselves were powerless to work
the ball out.
twenty-five mud-begrimed men
fought in that little space line, one
eleven to hold that seven-point lead,
the other to tie the score. And the
Army came mighty near tying 1t. Just
by their attack and the wonderful
run OF French, which carried the ball
down there, by checking all attempts
of the Navy to work out, and finally
when the crowd, nine-tenths Of whom
could sec nothing OF the play IN the
last few minutes on account OF the
mist and the darkness. heard the
sound of that blocked kick those who
were Navy adherents felt their hearts
stop beating, while those who were
roofing hard for the Army rose with
a roar Of delight. But the kick was
only partly blocked, and went far
s..voh o,1f info the field to save the
Navy tied score.
Middies Courted Disaster.
II was a frightfully slender margin
to one on the Navy. Without detract-
ing in any way from the credit due
west Point for their final brace, and
due to French for his great run that
started It. it must be said from q
left themselves terribly open to such
a disaster by taking out a runner
and kicker and leaving themselves
without any weapons OF defense
should q pinch come. And 1t did come,
CARR the bail away from their goal
line and nobody could kick 1t far
enough to relieve the pressure.
The passing of Larsen was excellent
and his defensive work capital For
the most part the Navy line took care
% ed with the exception Of the double
shift and the running OF French be-
hind that play. The Navy's kicking
was only fair in the average. and at
the end was very weak. 1t 10 hard
to criticise the forward passing on
ground gamer, but It had q capable
punfer n Wood. who made himself
Buubles Were Ex0asabls.