A Harvard team never came closer to defeat without actually meeting it than did the University eleven in the game with Dartmouth, Saturday afternoon on Soldiers Field. The score was 16 to 6; but a much smaller margin would have more nearly expressed the very slight superiority of the Harvard team. It was really an unusually close contest and up to the last five minutes of play seemed almost certain to end in a victory for Dartmouth. Each team had scored one touchdown, but Harvard had failed to kick goal, and with the score at 6 to 5 Dartmouth was pushing steadily down the field for what seemed sure to be another touchdown. On the 25-yard line, however, the University eleven finally succeeded in stopping the attack, and with the strength of desperation, pounded through Dartmouth's line until the ball was eventually forced behind the goalposts. Even then victory was not assured; but a moment or two later, several long runs resulted in the final touchdown of the game and wrested a hard-won, though not very creditable, victory from what a minute before had seemed like unavoidable defeat.
For excitement, nothing to equal the game has been seen in Cambridge this year. The rapidity of the Dartmouth eleven's offensive play, the inability of the Harvard line to stop it, and the continual change of advantage from one side to the other combined with the many long runs and stirring tackles to make the game truly remarkable in the extent and variety of its interesting features. Every few moments there would be a run of 30 to 50 or 60 yards in length,-not around the ends, however; the playing of the ends of both teams was with some exceptions almost faultless, and gains of any appreciable distance could be made only through the line, where the high playing of the Harvard men and the light-weight of the Dartmouth players precluded any possibility of preventing them.
The game did what it was expected to do: it tested the Harvard defense and afforded means for comparison between the Harvard elevens of this and last season. But the result was not as satisfactory as had been hoped. Dartmouth found no difficulty in advancing through Harvard's line, and had it not been for the many long runs made by Harvard players, there would be a very different score. But the game showed that during this last week a team must be developed which will have and show fight from beginning to end, will not fumble, will work together as a team, will play low and tackle hard, and will be filled with such determination to win that the least sign of defeat will never appear,-all of which qualities the eleven showed Saturday that it did not have. There is a great lesson to be learned from the losing team; and that is what teamwork and speed will do. A better exhibition of what a team may accomplish by merely playing together has rarely been afforded.
Among the individuals there was much conspicuous work which was not, however, altogether of a praiseworthy nature. Kernan came to the rescue several times when brilliant work was needed, and by his punting and fine running was largely responsible for the successful outcome of the game. His support to Shea, however, was misdirected and accounted partly for the latter's poor showing in stopping Dartmouth's plays. Barnard was far from a tower of strength and except for preventing his opponent from doing much harm, did little that directly influenced the final result. Mills made some much-needed gains, but was slow on the defense. Whitwell played considerably better than he has before, though he allowed far too many advances through his position. Daly ran the team with judgment and made a number of necessary tackles in dangerous situations.
The sensational features of the game appeared at the very start when Putnam ran in Dartmouth's kickoff straight through the midst of both teams and was not brought down until he had passed the center of the field and completed a 53 yards gain to Dartmouth's 42-yard line. There was fumble on the next play, but the ball was recovered by Daly, and Mills then broke through left tackle for a 34 yards run to within 8 yards of the goal. Two short gains brought the ball to the 2-yard line and a touchdown seemed imminent, but Graydon fumbled and Dartmouth secured the ball on the 5-yard line. The tables were then turned and the three Dartmouth backs started their irresistable attack on Harvard's guards and tackles. Play after play was hurled into the line with the result that by gains of from 2 to 10 yards the ball was very soon landed in the opposite end of the field and a score for Dartmouth seemed almost as certain as one had appeared for Harvard a moment before. The 38-yard line had been reached and there seemed no possibility of stopping the attack, when an unexpected fumble gave the ball to Harvard. This time Harvard made no mistake and after advancing to within 5 yards of the center or the field, Mills again broke through the line. He was downed on Dartmouth's 23-yard line after having made a gain of 27 yards. Graydon and Knowlton on formation plays brought the ball to the 1 yard line and the latter went through right tackle for a touchdown. Barnard missed the goal and left the score: Harvard, 5; Dartmouth, 0. The remainder of the half contained many breaches of the rules and, in the penalties that followed, Harvard suffered the more severely. The half ended with an unsuccessful quarterback kick by Dartmouth, which left the ball at the middle of the field.
The beginning of the second half was just as exciting as the first. On Putnam's kickoff, Dillon received the ball and ran straight through the entire Harvard team until he was thrown by Daly at Harvard's 45-yard line. It was a 55 yards run and proved to be the forerunner of what was to put the Harvard eleven in its most uncomfortable situation of the year. Two short gains and a 5 yards penalty for offside brought the ball within 33 yards of the goal. From there Harper walked through Shea for 22 yards to the 11 yard line, and after three more plays plunged through Barnard for a touchdown. Vaughan kicked goal, and the score stood: Dartmouth, 6; Harvard, 5.
The game immediately took on a new aspect, and from being regarded as a sure victory for Harvard it was seen that a defeat would be exceedingly hard to avoid. This impression was strengthened a moment after the next kick-off, when the Dartmouth backs again began their fierce attack. Aided by penalties and a 25 yards run by Vaughan, they carried the ball down to Harvard's 25-yard line before they met with any show of resistance. Bowditch broke up a play around his end and the subsequent loss enabled Harvard to obtain the ball on downs. Kernan fumbled a moment later, but though the ball was regained it was with a loss and Harvard was obliged to punt. Kernan made a beautiful 65 yards kick which on the return that followed resulted in a gain of 30 yards. With the ball at the centre of the field, Harvard started in on a series of short gains that carried the ball, but only with the greatest difficulty, to Dartmouth's 26-yard line. Graydon plunged through left tackle for 14 yards, and after three or four advances on line plays, Knowlton went between left guard and tackle for a touchdown. Barnard narrowly missed a difficult goal. Score: Harvard, 10; Dartmouth, 6.
A degree of confidence seemed to have returned to the team for the men thereafter worked together to some extent, and it took just three plays to score the last touchdown of the game. Knowlton ran in the kick-off 22 yards, and Graydon added 2 yards through right guard. Mills followed with a run of 34 yards through left guard, but failing to use his interference in an intelligent manner was tackled from behind at Dartmouth's 42-yard line. The next play was the last, and Kernan broke clear on a play outside of right tackle and, dodging cleverly, crossed the goal line after a run of over 40 yards. Daly kicked the goal, bringing the score to its final figures. The game ended almost immediately after the next kick-off.
The line-ups:
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