The Washington herald., 1921-12-04
BY ROBERT EDGREN.

The greatest Of all football sea-
sons ever. except for occasional
post mortem contracts. has produced
its share of surprises and sharp
reversals of form. Yale figured on
all the dope sheets, a fair favorite
over Harvard, and the foot rule
sharps agree that 80 far as ground
gaining was concerned the Blue
team made good on the dope-but
not in the scoring.
For members of the famous Big
Three. Yale and Harvard surely
played some ragged football at
times, mixing blunders and mis-
takes with magnificent plays in a
under all calculations. But there
were sensational moments, in that
rip-tearing last period, that gave
the spectators thrills never known
where everything runs with ma
chine-like smoothness and accuracy.
The keenest gridiron moment I've
seen this season came in that fourth
period. when Yale's furious fally
carried the ball in redstless plunges
down the field and within easy
ulSldHNc VI Iloi al " .
goal. 1t seemed sure Yale would
score and go back into the lead.
Every, drive into the resisting Grim
son line brought a gain.
But Harvard tightened its grip
on the last bit of Harvard terri
tory and Aldrich essayed a forward
pass. on the third down. There had
been little forward passing. so far.
frvh no
been better done by any high school
team So a forward pass at that
moment was a hazardous thing.
The ball went back to Aldrich
where he stood in position as IL to
kick. He Strengthened up. turned
from side to side, and then hurled
the ball over toward the Harvard
goal posts. 1t was a very neat pass
The only trouble with IT was that
there wasn't a Yale man within ten
yards of its line OF flight. and IT
popped straight into the hands of
Chaplin of Harvard. newly in the
game substituting for Coburn. and
hardly expecting much luck.
But II Chaplin was surprised he
didn't show II. Like a flash he
darted straight down the field to-
WdrQ ale goal lHtTe were no
Blue warriors in his path. and be-
fore any could cut across four Har-
ward men ran into a perfect line OF
Interference, quitting off all attack
as Chaplin edged out toward the
side of the field for more running
room.
1t looked as If Chaplin could jog
along to a touchdown without any
III 4
protected. and he was far out
ahead of every other man on the
field.
The Comeback.
And here came the dramatic
touch. the startling surprise. As
Aldrich threw that pass I saw him
stiffen in his tracks. goggle-eyed as
he realized there was no Yale man
rushing down to take the ball-that
the signals had failed and the end
in whom he depended had gone
headlong into the line instead OF
down the field.
He must have felt. even while the
ball was in the air. that the pass
had thrown away Yale's chance to
win. Next thing his startled eyes
saw Was Chaplin dashing down the
field with the ball tucked under his
arm. And the line of Harvard's s
interference sweeping into place to
cover him.
Two or three blue -jerseyed men
dashed against that interference
and were bowled over.
Harvard stands rose up and
yelled. "Touchdown-touch
touchdown"
Then suddenly there was Aldrich
running straight down the field but
with the interference between him
and Chaplin going like the wind,
straight through the ruck of
Yale's dazed tacklers. His hand
had thrown the ball and his hand
must repair the damage. 1t doesn't
look as though any Duffy. or
Wefers, or Paddock, or Drew ever
went faster. Near midfield Aldrich
passed and turned the point OF the
interference, brushed against 1t,
and flung himself desperately at
the flying Chaplin.
1t was a matter of inches. His
outstretched left hand and wrist
seemed barely to Craze Chapin's
shoulder. but the Harvard runner
went spinning over the line to a
sprawling tumble, while Aldrich
lunged headlong to the ground.
They lay there. ten feet apart, both
knocked silly by the fall. And so
far as that play was concerned
Yale was saved. a wonderful
tackle-as close a thing to a miss
without being one as ever was seen
on any gridiron.
There were more important plays,
ground-gaining plays and scoring
plays. in that last of the big East
ern college games. but none with
more breath taking thrill at the
end OF it.
should Vary Schedule.
Big Bill Edwards, former Prince
ton player and figure in the
game for many yearA has a propo-