The startling way in which the lighter Middlebury forwards maltreated the University's offensive in the 6-6 tie game in the Stadium on Saturday shows clearly what task still remains to be accomplished by Coach Fisher in short order this week before the powerful Holy Cross outfit invades Cambridge.
Time and again on Saturday the Harvard tackle plays were stopped dead at the line due to a lack of anything like a sustained charge on the part of the Crimson forwards, and their extraordinary weigh and size proved only a handicap by blocking rather than opening possible holes among the mass of line men. It is certain that Coach Fisher will devote every possible moment of practice this week toward developing a drive in the line and working for more coordination between the forward and backfield combinations. It is more than likely that not only the second team but the Freshman as well will get their fill of scrimmaging within the Stadium before the week is well over and Captain Hubbard's men are ready to face the Worcester veterans.
Middlebury Was Impressive
Middlebury and not Harvard was on the lips of every spectator as they left the Stadium Saturday. If the statement was properly worded one could almost say that Harvard held Middlebury to a tie for the Crimson reached the visitor's goal as a result of a costly fumble on the invaders' part; whereas in the case of the field goal by Middlebury, the score was earned.
The University finished the first quarter with little worthy of commendation, although the ball was much oftener in Middlebury territory than in the University's. Just before the end of the quarter, Akers ran back a kick of Quackenbush to the University's 42 yard line. After a 14 yard gain by Hammond and yard gains by Cheek and Howe, the horn ended the quarter. A feeble attempt to pass was made, after which Hammond kicked out side at Middlebury's 13 yard line. Holquist fumbled and Eastman recovered the ball on the blue's 20 yard line. The University lost the ball on downs only to regain it when Carleton fumbled and Hammond recovered on Middlebury's 18 yard line. Cheek fore through left guard, eluding Moynihan., centre of Middlebury, and reached his opponents goal for the first score.
Visitors Threaten in Third Quarter
It was not until the end of the third quarter that the invading team threatened. Starting on his 30 yard line, Holquist plunged through the line for 12 yards. The Crimson players were next penalized five yards, after which Holquist gained three yards. With the ball on the University's 49 yard line, Holquist stepped back and hurled the pigskin to Novotny, who was stopped after a 24 yard gain. Papke gained three more and the quarter ended.
Spinning high in the air in the first play of the third quarter the ball sailed neatly between the goal posts after leaving the foot of Klevenov and made the first Middlebury score. While Middlebury rooters cheered, the Crimson stands looked on aghast or good humoredly applauded, but he visitors had not yet finished. A little later Klevenev failed to kick a goal from the University's 48 yard line. Unfortunately, Howe fumbled the ball a few plays later and Klevenev again had his chance. Standing on the Crimson's 29 yard line, he sent the ball over the cross bar for the final score of the day.
Until the closing moments of the game the offensive play of the University was a great disappointment and the backfield never seriously got underway. Hammond, who was overworked, frequently received the ball seven or eight yards behind the line and raced toward an end with an imposing interference before him. But when he got to the line some lone, blue shirt was always waiting,-and another down was gone. Howe usually plunged into the back of one of his own forewards, who had failed to make the called for hole. Cheek, the other half, played hard, but with the single exception of his 18 yard run to a touchdown, made no brilliant gains.
Harvard Attempted Aerial Attack
Following the second Middlebury score, Coach Fisher called for an serial attack and in ten plays, with Spalding at quarterback and Crosby playing a brilliant game on the receiving end of the passes, the ball was advanced from the Crimson's 25 yard line to Middlebury's 23 yard line. Then it was lost on downs after a most spectacular pass from Pfaffman to Hill, on which the latter failed to make the necessary distance.
Browsowsky Plays With Broken Arm
The most glorious individual achievement of the day was Browsowsky's playing the the closing minutes of the game with a broken arm. No one on the sidelines knew of his accident and he succeeded in standing the pain until he reached the locker room where he collapsed.
The summary:
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