Evening star., 1954-11-21
Army-Nayy Classic
Saturday VIII Match
Explosive EIeyens
BY The Asscciated Press

Inc Army-NaVy IO0LDaI game,
always a colorful spectacle, re-
turns to Philadelphia next Sat
urday with a pair of swift, ex-
citing teams struggling for the
unofficial championship Of the
East.
Every one of the 98,595 seats
in huge Municipal Stadium has
been sold long ago. That's a
normal situation. But this year
the game has caught on" as no
other has since the days when
the great Glenn Davis and Doc
Blanchard were running wild for
Army. Every one at either serv-
ice academy who might possibly
get his hands on a ticket has
been under terrific pressure and
the answer is the same: Inn
possible.
Most Of the would-be Spec
tators likely will wind up watch
ing the game and the pageantry
that goes with it on teleyision
screens. 1t is the NCAA tele-
vision game of the week" on
the ABC network. In addition,
1t will be broadcast to all COR
ners Of the world for American
servicemen.
55th Came of Series.
It's the 5sth game of a. series
that bcEan in 1890 when Cadet
Dennis Niche organized the first
Army team to play Navy, which
had been playing football for a
dozen years.
Army, after losing it's opening
game of the season to South
Carolina, 1920, has rolled up
seven straight victories, hitting
60-point scores against Dart
mouth and Columbia. Still it's
perfectionist coach, Earl Blaik,
won't admit it lis more than "a
good offensive team"
Navy, tabled by Coach Eddie
Eddelatz and by non-partisan
observers as the 'best team he
has had in five seasons at the
Naval Academy, has a record of
six victories and two defeats. It
suffered a letdoWn against Pitts
burgh and dror:.cd 11-19 de-
cision and it lest, 60, to Notre
Dame.
Against four common oppo-
nentS Dartmouth, luke, Co
lumbia and Penn-Army piled up
100 points to 80 and Navy 185
to 26.
Both Strike Quickly.
That shows the kind of teams
they are, teams that strike with
explosive swiftness and may score
on any play. After eight games,
Army was first among the Ma
tion's major colleges in total
offense and Navy second in the
NCAAs statistics. Navy also led
IN total defense.
They're alike even to having
non-playing captains. Army's
leader. Bob Farris, was bcnched
by the doctors this season after
a delicate eye operation last VIM,
ter. Navy Capt. Phil Monahan
likely will see some action against
Army, but bad legs have kept
him from running much in his
halfback position.
,Army's attack revolvesearound
Pete Valln. one of the Nations
notwithstanding T quarter
backs, who has been compared
favorablly to such former Cadet
stars as Bobby Blaik, Arnold
Galitfa and Arnold Tucker.
Teaming with him to advance
the ball are Tommy Bell, who has
developed into a fine ball carrier
Bob Kyasky, flashy sophomore,
Fullback Pat Uebel and good re-
serve backs like Mike Ziegter,
Joe Cygler and Russ Mericle.
Uebel, then a halfback, scored
three times against Navy last
year.
Numerically, Navy looks
stronger in the backfield with
greatly improved George Welsh
in the quarterback slot. Besides
Monahan, Bob Craig, John
Weaver, Jack GarroW, who made
Navy's only touchdown in last
years game. and Bill Hepwortn
provide the speed, while Dick
Guest and Joe Gattuso are a
pair of rugged fullbacks.
Standouts at Ends.
Each team has real stand
out end to catch passes, throw
blocks and play a strong defense
Ron Beagle of Navy and Don
Holleder of Army. Both are re-
garded as ALL America prospects.
But it is pair of made-over
lines. products of painstaking
work by the coaches in shifting
players from one position to an
other and teaching them new
duties, that open the big holes
for the backs. Guard Ralph
Chesnauskas and Center Billy
Chance stand out in the Army
line and tackle Jim Royer and
Guard Len Benzi in the Navy
wall.
The emphasis on both teams is
in Quickness and cohesion,
rather than power. It remains
to be seen what win happen
when they come against linemen
who can move just as fast.