Although the University eleven defeated the Massachusetts Agricultural College football team by the decisive score of 47 to 0 in the game played in the Stadium Saturday afternoon, their playing was far below the usual standard, in mid-season games. Fumbling, which should long ago have been eliminated, several times resulting in lost opportunities to score, and lack of team work at critical moments was also apparent. Despite the lack of finished offensive play, however, the University team showed a marked improvement in its defensive work, keeping the Amherst eleven outside the 40-yard zone throughout the entire game.
No period was allowed to pass without adding to the University's score, for one touchdown was made in the first quarter, three in the second, two in the third and one in the last. In this scoring the work of E. L. Casey '19 and W. J. Murray '18, both of whom made sew-
eral sensational runs, was most prominent, but the steady gains through the line which R. Horween '18, S. Burnham '19 and R. H. Hitchcock '19 consistently made, counted heavily in the University's total of yardage gained. In the matter of penalties the two teams were nearly even, the University being penalized 40 yards and the visitors 30. Both teams attempted two forward passes, the University completing one, and the "Aggies" being successful in neither of their attempts.
With the exception of this one completed forward pass, the game was confined to the line-bucking type of play, the University covering 320 yards in 75 plays, with 16 first downs, the Amherst team netting only 50 yards in 33 rushes, and securing only one first down, of which they lost the benefit because of a holding penalty. The failure of the visitors to gain more ground was due in large part to the excellent work of the backs in the secondary defense, T. C. Thacher, Jr., '18 proving to be an especially strong defensive player.
Casey Made First Touchdown.
The first score came near the middle of the first period when, after a fumble by Casey and an exchange of punts, Whittle, the Aggie quarter, fumbled, Thacher recovering on the 24-yard line. From here it took ten plays to put Casey across the line for a touchdown, Horween kicking the goal. W. F. Robinson '18 was sent in for Murray at this juncture, and throughout the rest of the period, punted every time the University secured the ball.
The heaviest scoring came in the second period. Although the Aggies intercepted a forward pass at the opening of the period, they were unable to gain and finally fumbled on their 12-yard line, R. Harte '17 recovering for the University. Horween then made 3 yards through centre and on the next play. Casey again crossed the line for a score. Horween kicked the goal. A few minutes later Thacher scored again for the University, following Murray's clever run-back of a punt, a 15-yard penalty against the Aggies for holding and a series of rushes by Horween, Casey and Thacher. Horween again kicked the goal.
The last score in the first half came only a short time later. The University was penalized after receiving the kick-off and punted. The Aggies tried a forward pass, which Thacher intercepted, reaching the visitors' 24-yard line before he was downed. H. W. Minot '17 and Murray then made 11 yards between them, and on the next play Casey covered the remaining distance to the line for the fourth touchdown. Murray failed to kick the goal.
At the opening of the second half A. W. Gardner '18 had replaced Murray at Quarter, while the backfield was composed of a new set of men, W. Willcox '17, Hitchcock and Burnham filling the running-positions. Fumbling by both sides and an exchange of punts gave the Aggies the ball in the middle of the field, but on the next play they fumbled, V. F. Likins '18 recovering, and, having a clear field, getting away for a touchdown. Gardner failed to kick goal. Toward the end of the period the University secured their next touchdown. The Aggies punted to Willcox, who received on their 44-yard line, where he was downed. But the University started a drive which send Burnham over for the score, Gardner kicking the goal.
In the fourth period S. M. Felton '19 took charge of the team and almost at once attempted an unsuccessful field goal from the 28-yard line. Until nearly the end of the period the play was marked only by fumbles and a blocked punt by P. H. Hartley '18 and Likins, which Likins recovered. At the end of the period, however, the University scored again when Minot, receiving a punt on the visitors' 44-yard mark, ran it back to the 33-yard line. Here a long forward pass, Minot to E. S. Brewer '19 netted 28 yards. Brewer making a very difficult catch. Hitchcock made the score on the second of two line plays and M. Horne '19 kicked the goal. The summary follows:
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