The University eleven suffered its first defeat of the season last Saturday, losing to the underrated Pennsylvania team by the score of 12 to 6.
Several causes contributed to this defeat. The attack did not come up to expectations and wore itself out in the first half. Other causes were the fumbling at critical times and the weakness of the three centre positions. The play was extremely ragged, each side losing the ball twice on fumbles, one of which was fatal to Harvard. Many other fumbles which were recovered were costly to both elevens. The rules regarding offside play and holding were strictly enforced by the officials, Pennsylvania's penalties aggregating a distance equal to the length of the field, while Harvard was set back 70 yards. The play on the whole was clean and it came as a great surprise when Umpire Edwards sent Parker off the field for unnecessary roughness. late in the game Sheble was put out for using his knees in tackling.
Pennsylvania's first touchdown came at the very beginning of the game as a result of Foster's fumble, and was scored by Lamson in four rushes from the 10-yard line. When Harvard quickly followed with a touchdown in 11 rushes from--the 10-yard line, helped by two 5-yard penalties for Torrey's aggressiveness, and Burr kicked the goal which tied the score, few doubted that the Harvard team had begun to play its game and would keep Pennsylvania on the defense for the rest of the time. During the first half this was true as far as the latter team's ability to gain was concerned, but Harvard's attack was met with such a strong opposition that three times, after rushing well into its opponents' territory, the University team lost the ball twice on downs, and once on a fumble. In this hard rushing, on which Harvard netted nearly 100 yards, the men carrying the ball bore the brunt of Pennsylvania's aggressive defense and were literally worn out. The effect was seen in the second half, when Harvard was so weakened as to be on the defense practically all the time, and was always forced to punt after two or three rushes. The centre of Pennsylvania's line was much stronger than Harvard's and Stevenson varied the players to such an extent that his team was kept in better condition. Every man on the eleven, with the exception of Captain Torrey and the ends, was in turn given the ball and the line men were almost always good for short gains. Finally, after being forcesd to put four times and being held once for downs, Pennsylvania made her second touchdown by straight rushing from midfield, aided by one penalty for offside play.
Both teams were forcesd to punt frequently and although Burr's kicks were about equal to Sheble's in length, the Pennsylvania ends were faster in getting down the field and thus gave their team the advantage on nearly every exchange. As soon as Parker was taken out it became evident that Harvard's weak places were the three centre positions. Captain Torrey played a hard game against White and opened up holes for the tackle and guard-back plays on both sides of centre, besides breaking through and blocking many plays behind the line. Burr's punting hardly compensated for his poor work in the line, but Pinrce who replaced him very late in the game strengthened the defense considerably. Kersburg played a fair game on the offense, but it was through him that Pennsylvania made some of her longest gains. Brill was matched against Lamson and easily held his own. He was used effectively in the tandem formation. The Harvard ends were rather slow in getting down the field and Macdonald missed several tackles. Leary, on the other hand, made some splendid tackles, proving himself at present the most reliable end. Captain Hurley was in the line-up during the whole game and while he was unable to fulfill expectations in offensive work, he played a good steady game. Foster's fumbles were fatal, but he played a strong game and stopped several plays. Near the end of the game he was taken out and replaced by Nichols. Lockwood proved fast on the offense and once outran Stevenson and threw him on an end run. He received a hard blow on the elbow in the second half and Guild, who took his place, proved stronger on the defense. Starr ran the plays off fast, and as usual was a great help to the runner, but his judgment was in two or three cases rather questionable. His work in the backfield was very good, especially as the opposing ends were waiting to down him after nearly every punt.
Pennsylvania's line proved strong, with Torrey and Levine the most brilliant players. Harvard was able to make some gains through Lamson and at times through Rooke. Lamson was the most reliable ground-gainer and made both touchdowns. Sheble, Greene and Folwell made good interference for each other and several times worked the double pass successfully. Stevenson did not run the team as well as usual and was weak in the backfield. His running and tackling, however, were excellent.
Captain Hurley won the toss and chose to receive the kick-off, defending the west goal. A light wind was blowing nearly straight across the field. Sheble kicked off to Lockwood who fumbled. Starr recovered the ball, but owing to the slippery condition of the ground fell on the 9-yard line. On the first rush Foster fumbled and Robinson secured the ball for Pennsylvania on the 10-yard line. In four successive rushes Lamson broke through the Harvard line and carried the ball over through Burr for a touchdown, after it had been in play less than four minutes. Stevenson punted out to Sheble, who kicked the goal from the 15-yard line.
Burr kicked off to Sheble who was checked by Macdonald and fumbled just as he was tackled by Kersburg, the latter falling on the ball. Lockwood, Foster and Brill were unable to gain the required distance and the ball went to Pennsylvania on downs on the 10-yard line. Sheble immediately punted to Starr who fell on Harvard's 40-yard line. Brill fumbled, but recovered the ball and Lockwood went through Rooke for three yards. Brill added a yard and, on a divided play without interference, Foster gained four more. Pennsylvania was twice penalized for offside play and three rushes by Brill brought the ball to the 6-yard line. Lock-wood went through Rooke for a yard, and Brill put the ball on the 2-yard line. On the next rush Lockwood made a slight gain and then Brill went over for a touchdown. Starr punted out to Hurley on the 16-yard line and Burr kicked the goal.
Sheble kicked off to Hurley, who received the ball on the 5-yard line and ran back around right end 37 yards. Aided by an offside play Harvard carried the ball to the 52-yard line. Lockwood went through centre for seven yards with Squires back, and the latter added five more. On a split play Hurley gained four yards and Squires followed with an equal distance through Hobson. Harvard then lost 15 yards for Brill's holding and on a fake formation with Burr back, Hurley was thrown by Folwell for a two-yard loss. He fumbled when tackled and the ball went to Pennsylvania in mid-field. Parker was ruled out here for unnecessary roughness and was replaced by White. After a penalty Sheble punted to Foster on the 35-yard line. Harvard rushed the ball back 30 yards, but Pennsylvania braced and on the third down with four yards to gain Starr tried a quarter-back run. He had a clear field except for Stevenson, who by hard running caught him for a loss of three yards, the ball going to Pennsylvania on downs on Harvard's 45-yard line. As a result of two penalties for holding Harvard was forced back to the 20-yard line where Foster punted. Stevenson fumbled the kick, but recovered and was downed on the 48-yard line by Macdonald. The latter held Greene for no gain on an end run. After losing four yards by a delayed pass. Sheble punted to Starr who was downed by Levene on the 30-yard Line. Torrey was offside, and in 11 rushes Harvard carried the ball to Pennsylvania's 17-yard line, only to lose it there, however, on downs. Stevenson took the ball for a run around right end, but after gaining 15 yards was caught by Lockwood, who was downed by Levene. The first half ended with Harvard in Possession of the ball on her own 47-yard line.
Burr opened the second half with a kick-off to Robinson, who received the ball on the 15-yard line an dran it back 25-yards. After Pennsylvania had been Penalized 15 yards for holding Greene went through Squires on a fake play and carried the ball to mid-field, where he was downed by Foster. Folwell gained five yards on a delayed pass, Foster again stopping the play. Leary held Stevenenson on a quarterback run for no gain, and Pennsylvania was penalized for holding. Greene tried to gain on a double pass, but Macdonald stopped him, and Sheble punted. Foster fumbled the kick on the 26-yard line and Rooke, getting the ball after it had rolled back four yards, had a clear field for a touchdown, with two men helping him on. Leary followed and by a splendid dive tackle threw him on the 13-yard line. Harvard was offside, but after carrying the ball to the 1-yard line Pennsylvania was called back and penalized 15 yards. On a double pass Sheble gained 10 yards around Macdonald. Stevenson tried a quarterback kick, which went over the goal line. Burr punted to Greene who misjudged the kick, and, running back after the ball, was downed by Leary on the 34-yard line. Folwell broke through Kersburg for 20 yards, Leary again stopping the play. As Lockwood was injured in this play Guild replaced him. An exchange of punts gave Pennsylvania the ball at the centre of the field. The ball was rushed to the 26-yard line, where Harvard's held for downs. Sheble was put out of the game for rough play and Bennies took his place. Two exchanges of punts set Harvard back to the 15-yard line. Foster kicked from a close formation to Stevenson, who was missed by Macdonald, but downed by Leary on the 45-yard line. Aided by Squires' offside play Pennsylvania rushed the balls traight down the field and, in spite of Harvard's splendid stand on the 1-yard line, Lamson went between White and Kersburg for the deciding score of the game. Stevenson punted out to Bennis and Torrey kicked the goal. Shortly before the touchdown Peirce replaced Burr.
At the kickoff Knowlton and Snyder went in for Squires and Macdonald. Brill kicked to Greene who ran in to the 28-yard line. Folwell and Rooke netted eight yards in four rushes. Nichols here replaced Foster, who was hurt. Stevenson punted to Starr on the 35-yard line. Hurley gained five yards through Lamson and, after Harvard had lost 15 yards for holding, he was again given the ball, but failed to gain. Nichols punted to Stevenson who fumbled, and Leary secured the ball on the 50-yard line. Nichols on an end play made 12 yards, but on the next play was thrown back four yards by Torrey. Although Nichols almost gained first down on a fake kick, the ball went to Pennsylvania on downs on its owns 37-yard line. Pennsylvania was set back 15 yards and time was called with the ball on the 24-yard line.
The summary:
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