The game on Saturday ended in a tie, neither side being able to score. Disappointing and unsatisfactory as the result was from one point of view, it was, for the spectator, the finest football game ever played. Under ideal conditions of weather and grounds with the attendance of the largest crowd ever assembled on Soldiers Field or on any football field, the elevens of the two oldest and best universities in the country, in perfect physical condition, struggled two hours for the collegiate championship, and finally each gave up, without victory and yet unbeaten. The Harvard eleven had fought their way up to Yale's goal-line, and almost where they had been baffled two years before, again could not carry the ball two yards to victory. And Yale, rarely changing her cool, defensive position, kept the ball out of danger by brilliant kicking. That Yale did not play to win was apparent. All during the second half, McBride's one effort was to keep possession of the ball and tie the game. In spite of the hardest kind of football, not a man on either team was forced to retire on account of injuries.
A noticeable fact was that Harvard had developed a perfect defense at the expense of the kicking game; and the rushing, although irresistable at times, was erratic and ineffective in emergencies. This last means very little, however, when compared with Yale's general work. In the first half Harvard equalled Yale in punting, and, in rushing, made over three times as many yards. In the second half Harvard was greatly out-punted, but gained about two and a half times as much distance by rushing as Yale did. The chief reasons why McBride could not outkick Hallowell in the first half were that Sawin and Daly ran back his kicks for ten and fifteen yards and that Campbell tackled brilliantly under Hallowell's punts. Campbell played a perfect game and made up to a great extent for the absence of Hallowell in running down under kicks. Hallowell's kicks were long, as usual, but also erratic, and they often went outside before covering much distance.
The line on the defense was a tribute to the skill of Coach Lewis. Sargent made up for the absence of Boal, and played his position well. Hale handled Burnett remarkably well in spite of his light weight and of his short experience in the position. Brown and Burden were very closely matched and neither had any permanent advantage. Both lines played unostentatiously but effectively as is shown in the fact that there was no scoring.
Daly's work in the back-field was good and perhaps the best part of his game. The Yale team showed so much unexpected strength that his plan of attack required complete and constant changes some of which were open to slight criticism. Sawin was decidedly the best halfback in the game. He played in perfect accord with Daly, and clipped many yards off of McBride's punts by his clever, dodging runs. He made the longest gain of the day by a 33 yard run around Gibson in the first half. The end plays and double passes around the Yale ends were lacking in the exact precision which is necessary to carry them out successfully. Kendall's work was creditable in that it was the best he has done this year. In addition to his steady gains through the line and around the ends, there was a noticeable improvement in his tackling and defensive play.
Ellis as usual hit the line hard and for many gains. When Harvard made her hardest attacks on Yale's line, Ellis gained the ground. In eight successive plays he carried the ball to the three yard line, but on the ninth, when weakened by his exertions, he could not make the requisite two yards. He was much more effective in backing up the centre than ever before. Early in the second half he was replaced by Reid, who punted well, and by his own determined spirit enabled the team to make that last brace that almost won the game. Parker took Sawin's place late in the game but did nothing remarkable.
The game began at 2.05. Francis kicked off for Yale and Daly returned the kick, gaining 10 yards. On the first down, McBride punted to Daly, who then took up the rushing game. Sawin made 30 yards around right end with excellent interference and carried the ball to Yale's 50-yard line. Kendall gained two yards and Sawin four, and then Ellis made two through centre. Harvard's rushing could not be stopped by Yale, but the latter got the ball by offside play, and at once started to punt. Donald blocked the kick and the ball rolled outside with Hallowell after it. He missed, however, and Yale secured the ball. Then followed many kicks on each of which Campbell tackled the Yale backs for losses, and Daly and Sawin ran back McBride's punts several yards. This forced Yale back as long as she continued the kicking game. Once she tried to rush but could not gain, and finally, on Harvard's 47 yard line, Daly began to rush the ball. Three 10 yard rushes,--on two double passes and a mass play,--four five yard rushes, and then Yale made a stand. A final burst by Ellis, however, gave Harvard first down on Yale's eight-yard line. Again Ellis was sent into the line, with Donald pushing him, and finally, on the ninth trial, he failed to gain and Yale got the ball on downs. On McBride's punt out, Daly made a fair catch, and, after taking ten yards for interference, allowed Burnett to try an almost impossible goal instead of rushing. The goal was missed by several yards. The rest of the half was spent in punting, and in a single attack by Yale on the Harvard line, without gains.
During the whole of the second half, Yale played to prevent Harvard from scoring. Burnett kicked off and McBride punted to midfield. Yale gained on the next exchange, and finally secured the ball on Harvard's 40-yard line on a forward pass by Sawin to Kendall. Yale could not gain by rushing, and then the ball was passed back 20 yards to McBride in order to keep possession of it, and obtain first down. Again Yale began to rush the ball and this time with better success. Fresh halfbacks gained through the line at will, until Harvard took a brace, and forced McBride to again pass back 20 yards in order to hold the ball.
More punting followed in Yale's favor. Again she rushed, and, after making 20 yards through the tackles in about ten plays, was held for downs on Harvard's 30-yard line. Harvard kicked, and Hallowell got the ball on a fumble. The eleven now took the aggressive and rushed the ball to Yale's 22-yard line where it was lost on a fumble. McBride punted out of danger and Daly ran it back fifteen yards. Reid punted, and again Fincke fumbled to Hallowell. Time was nearly up, and Harvard was held for two downs on Yale's 15-yard line. Unfortunately, Sawin was out of the game, and Hallowell had to try for the goal. He missed, and the whistle blew for the end of the game.
The line-up follows: Umpire--Paul Dashiel of Lehigh. Referee--Matthew McClung, Jr., of Lehigh. Timekeeper -- Fred Wood, B. A. A. Linesmen--Talbot of Harvard, Schweppe of Yale. Time, 35 minute halves.
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