Harvard defeated Brown on Saturday by a score of 11 to 6. The team played in poorer form than at any time this season, and by inexcusably frequent fumbling and carelessness almost lost the game. In the first half neither team scored, Brown losing the ball on Harvard's twenty yard line and Harvard fumbling it on Brown's five yard line. In the first part of the second half Harvard played a little faster and scored twice, but the men soon became slow and careless again, and Brown made a touchdown on a simple trick play.
Harvard went into the game with only five regular men and a badly matched backfield, but this did not excuse the poor showing. The five regular line men were very slow and listless and usually failed to get the jump on their opponents. The ends were surprisingly ineffective and had little speed. Behind the line several of the men played good individual games, but there was a total lack of co-operation and interference, especially on the line plays, where the runner usually had to shift for himself. The most serious single fault, and one which did most toward making the game so close, was the fumbling. In the receiving of punts and kicks the men were unsteady and muffed the ball in the majority of cases. Next to fumbling, offside play and interference with the centre lost Harvard the greatest amount of ground. These are fundamental faults and are inexcusable at this time of the season.
The individual running of Putnam and Kernan won the game for Harvard. They were the only reliable ground-gainers and were used constantly. Stillman was fairly successful in line plunging, but could not gain very much because he had no support from the rest of the team. Fincke was in poor form and was not as steady as usual. His fumbles were costly and lost a great deal of ground. The playing of the ends was the worst done this year. Ristine, Clark and Bowditch were all easily boxed and were not watchful enough in stopping trick plays. All of the responsibility for Brown's gains does not rest on the ends, however, as the secondary defense of the backs was poor. All of the men in the line, with the possible exception of J. Lawrence, were slow and awkward both in defense and offense. They played high, charged feebly and failed to follow the ball. Lawrence and Sargent were offside a great deal and lost many yards in consequence.
The game was played with a very strong wind blowing along the field from west to east, and in the first half Brown had the advantage of this. Stillman's kick-off was short, and Brown got the ball on her thirty-five yard line. Washburn then circled Ristine's end for twenty-five yards, and a moment later Barry got around Bowditch for twenty-five yards more. This took the ball to the twenty-yard line, but Brown could make no further gain. Bates then tried a place kick from the thirty yard line, but the pass was poor and Harvard got the ball. Then by a series of short line plunges by Kernan, Putnam and Stillman, Harvard slowly carried the ball to Brown's five-yard line. An offside play and two missed signals then gave the ball to Brown. Bates failed three times to punt successfully, because of bad passes and Harvard regained the ball on the twenty yard line. Brown soon got the ball on downs, however, and punted out of danger. After an exchange of punts, the half ended.
Soon after the opening of the second half Harvard got the ball on downs on Brown's thirty yard line, and a short gain by Kernan took it to the twenty-five yard line. Putnam then got around left end and by fast running took the ball over the line. Lawrence kicked a difficult goal. After the kick-off the play was even for several minutes. Finally Harvard got the ball in mid-field on a short punt. On the next play Kernan circled right end and with Stillman's interference ran thirty-five yards to the twenty yard line. Stillman gained ten yards through the centre, but Kernan failed to gain and Brown got the ball on downs on the six yard line. Brown gained fifteen yards by a fumbled punt, but here Harvard held and got the ball on downs. Putnam gained five yards around the end, Kernan three through right tackle and Stillman six through the centre. Two plunges by Putnam for five yards scored the touchdown. Lawrence missed the goal.
Stillman fumbled the kick-off, and Brown secured the ball on Harvard's thirty-five yard line. Washburn made two short gains, and then on a well-played double pass Scudder cleared Clark's end and ran thirty yards for a touchdown. Bates kicked the goal.
On the play after the next kick-off Washburn broke through left tackle, and ran twenty-five yards. Fincke in tackling him injured his head so badly that he had to retire. Time was called after the next play with the ball in Brown's possession in the middle of the field.
The line-up: Score--Harvard, 11; Brown, 6, Touchdowns--Putnam 2, Scudder. Goals from touchdowns--J. Lawrence, Bates. Referee--Crolius of Dartmouth. Umpire--Dadmun. Linesmen--Swain of Harvard and Hopkins of Brown. Timekeeper--F. Wood of B. A. A. Time--20-minute halves.
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