Evening star., 1938-12-01
Pass
Rule Increases
Point-Making
Game Average Best
Since 1873 Sharp
Decrease in Ties
By HERBERT w. BARKER,


NEW YORK, Dec. IA decided
swing toward the offense was re-
vealed today by the Associated Press
17th annual survey of Nationwide
football scoring records.
Thanks mostly to liberalized for
ward passing rules, the 212 teams
included in the 1888 survey COM
piled the highest scoring average
per game since 1881.
These teams scored an average
of 11436 points for the season while
the 1872 games they played pro-
duced an average of 1853 points.
These figures compared with last
years averages of 107.l9 points per
season and 1886 points per game.
The rise in scoring unquestionably
could be attributed mainly to the
1888 rules change which made only
fourth-down passes into the end
zone touchbacks. This liberalized
regulation naturally stimulated more
passing in scoring territory.
Aided by 15-Yard Rule.
Also helpful to the of1ense was
the rules change which provided
that a ball going out of bounds be-
tween the goal lines should be
brought in Is yards instead of TO-
This of course gave the attacking
side more scope.
One of the most striking develop
ments of the season was the sharp
decrease in ties. the games chief
bugbear. The 2l2 teams included in
the compilation figured in only 56
ties. % of them scoreless, COM
pared with the 1887 and 1886 record
of 1874 and 100. respectively.
Although it showed a drop from
1875 dizzy height, the Southwest
once more led all sections in the
scoring averages with 1858 points
per game with the Middle West a
close second at 1917. The South
west year ago hit an average level
of 1858 points per game and the
Middle West 1247.
OF the other sections, only the
Rocky Mountain group showed a de-
crease, but there the drop was ter
riflc-8.77 points per game as against
1851 a'year ago. Adverse weather
conditions were held chiefly respon-
sible. -
San Jose Top Scorer.
Individual leadership on the
offense went to San Jose (CalifD
State. whose unbeaten array rolled
up 80 points. West Tennessee's
Teachers were second at 28l and
Marshall College of West Virginia
and Texas Tech tied for third at
274. Panzer College of New Jer-
sey and the University of Indiana
ran a close race for cellar honors"
in this respect with 20 and 81 points,
respectively
On defense, Dukes unbeaten Blue
Devils stood all alone with an un-
crossed goal line. although Mans
field Pa) Teachers had only a
safety charged against them. Okla
homa and Utah, champions of the
Big Six and Rocky Mountain Big
Seven Conferences, permitted the
opposition only II and l3 points, re-
spectively.
The weakest defense was offered
by Ohio Wesleyan. which permitted
the opposition 282 points Close be-
hind were Oglethorpe with 275. Chi
cago with 241 and Maryland with
235.
Three Tie for Tie Mark.
Georgia Tech, the University of
Pennsylvania and Virginia Military
Institute shared the leadership in
drawn games, each playing three.
Penn and Georgia Tech each figured
in two scorless ties, while v. M. l.,
with its great rival. Virginia Tech,
was credited with one of the oldest
of all football stalemates, % draw
on Thanksgiving day. Another
strange drawn battle was the 1926
deadlock played by Temple and Bos-
ton College.
In the 17-year history of the sur
vey, the season of 1922 ranks at the
top from a scoring standpoint.