The Washington times., 1938-10-04
LATERAL CRAZE
seen RISK FOR.
d. C. GRIDDERS.
BY CHICK KENNY

Our colleglanS appear TO nave
gone lateral crazy" At least
that is the opinion Of several who
witnessed the Georgetown rout
of Hampden-Sydney Saturday
afternoon, and according to
the accounts by Catholic Univer-
sity coaches following the tiff
with st. Bonaventure's in Olean,
N. Y, Sunday.
True, both local elevens popped
through with laterals for touch
downs in their inauguralS but then
what if an accident had occurred
the lateral intercepted by an
opponent and the fellow running
for a touchdown.
That very thing happened just
three seasons ago out in Brook
land. Catholic University was
playing West Virginia Wesleyan
at the time. The Cards were
leading the Bobcats, 1913, with
about minute remaining before
the final whistle blew. Charley
Munhall, on a quarterback sneak,
moved out into the open somehow
and skirted down the field. He
would probably have scored but
for one thing. A Cardinal
trailer" on Munhall'S heels yap-
ped out the word nuts" and Mum
hall whipped around to lateral
the bail to his team mate. But
INTERCEPTS PASS
A Wesleyan player scooted
across the gridiron and as Mum
hall lateraled to his trailer" the
West Virginia gridder intercepted
the ball and ran for a touch
down, wining the game.
The word nuts" was the "paSS-
word" among the Cardinals at the
time, and was the signal for the
ball carrier to lateral back the
pigskin to the trailer.
However, Catholic University
did win a ball game in the closing
minute of play three seasons ago,
upsetting Detroit University
through a well-timed lateral. With
a minute to go Bill Adamaitis
whipped a long, desperate pass to
George Mulligan, who lateraled to
Hermie Schmarr just as he was
about to be tackled on the De-
troit eight-yard line. Schmarr
scored the touchdown as the gun
ended the ball game, and the
Cards won the game. 13-7.
PLAYS INFERIOR FOE
All in all, however, these laterals
are ticklish business and, unless
a team is in the arrears with but
moments of play remaining, such
a play shouldn't be made. Al
though C. U. was out in front,
TO, in its game with the Bon
nies Sunday, the lateral was at
tempted, and it worked.
However, what if the backward
pass had been intercepted and a
Bonnie runner had galloped off
for a touchdown? That would
have been embarrassing. In the
same game Sunday, C. U. lost a
25-yard gain and a possible touch
down when a lateral failed to
connect. That's losing vital
groundage in any ball game.
Fortunately for Georgetown last
Saturday it was playing against
an inferior opponent, and thus
successfully maneuvered its later
ais. The plays worked well in a
romp of that kind, but, against
firstclass opposition, such would
hardly be the case.
PREPS FOR TESTS
Meanwhile Georgetown, Cath
olic University, George Washing
ton and Maryland settled down to
the grind of preparing for stern
opposition this coming weekend.
All save the HoyaS are in for
stormy tests. Catholic U. clashes
with Detroit, Friday night at De-
troit, while George Washington
at the same time entertains Butler
University at Griffith Stadium.
Maryland invades Syracuse for a
game with the Orange in Archi-
bald Stadium Saturday, while
Georgetown moves against its Sec
ond "breather," this time, Roa-
noke, who may prove no more a
test than the toothless Tigers of
Hampden-Sydney last week.
The local elevenS will probably
take it out on their respective
freshman teams this week, with
the yearling crews equipped with
opponents plays and formations,
and working extensively.
Coach Dutch Berg g m a n an
nounced his C. U. team will en-
bark for Detroit tomorrow after
noon and will return to Washing
ton Immediately following the
battle, arriving back in Washing
ton Saturday afternoon.