Inability to stop a fast, deceptive forward pass caused a Crimson eleven to go down to a 19 to 14 defeat before Holy Cross last Saturday. It was a revitalized, fighting team that took the field for the University on Saturday, however, and only the brilliant Purple passing attack combined with a costly error on the Holy Cross two-yard line prevented the University players from holding a well earned lead.
Crimson Aggressive at Start
The first half was all Harvard. Showing a determination and a spirited ground gaining ability seldom equalled in recent University gridiron history, the renovated eleven Coach Horween sent on the field completely outplayed its opponents and emerged at half time with a 14 point lead. Powerful line bucks by Miller alternated with shifty running by Putnam and French accounted for most of the advances. On the defense the University linemen led by a fast, fighting pivot in the person of Gamache were equally effective. Holy Cross succeeded in penetrating this alert, smashing defense for few gains and were never in a position to threaten the Harvard goal line.
Putnam Flashes in Pilot Berth
Foremost among the factors which seemed to be putting new life in the Crimson clad outfit, was the flashy playing of Putnam who was given the quarterback assignment over Stafford on the eve of the game. Putnam used excellent judgement in handling his assortment of straight bucks, deceptive plays, and short passes, and also proved a big factor in the running strength of the Crimson quartet. Miller also played a bang up game on both offence and defense and it was after his withdrawal in the third quarter on account of injury that the efforts of the University team became ineffectual in stemming the tide of Purple victory.
The Crusaders opened up their aerial attack late in the third period with Wise doing the passing and Healy and Shanahan on the receiving end. Most of the passes were from kick formation with the backs spreading and giving the passer who was back in the kicker's position a number of opportunities to complete the toss. The University secondary was utterly unable to cope with Wise's accurate shots, most of the passes that were grounded being dropped by Crusading receivers who seemed to have them already in their arms.
University Shows Improvement
The Crimson showing was a decided improvement over that against Geneva a week ago, and with the return of Captain Coady and a few other veterans the team ought to be further strengthened. An adequate defense against forward passes should raise it to a rank among the formidable aggregations of the east.
Holy Cross kicked off to open the game and after a couple of rushes by Miller and French, an exchange of punts took place which left the ball in Crimson possession on the 40-yard line. Putnam then pulled the first of his twisting, slippery runs for ten yards, and a pass from French to Putnam added 20 more. Harvard was now on the Crusader's 27-yard line but could get no farther. Wise kicked to Harvard's 40-yard line where the Crimson opened up its first sustained attack. Four yards by Miller and an offside penalty on Holy Cross made it first down at midfield. Putnam took a short pass from French on the next play and picked his way through a broken field for 20 yards. A couple of line smashes followed and then Miller went through the right side for 15 yards. Two more rushes and Miller went over for the first score. Sayles added the extra point. After the kick-off Daly opened up a runing attack for Holy Cross which was gaining consistently through the right side of the University line as the first quarter ended.
Clark Intercepts Pass
At the beginning of the next period Clark, Crimson left halfback, stopped the Purple advance by intercepting a pass. A Crimson offence ended in a fumble, and a few moments later Pratt and Kilgour broke through and blocked a kick which Pratt recovered on the two-yard line. Miller drove with terrific power into the middle of two lines heaped in the mass and succeeded in moving the obstruction enough for the touchdown. Sayles again booted the goal, ending the scoring for the first half.
Purple Opens Aerial Attack
The second half saw Harvard lining up as at the end of the preceeding period with Kilgour in place of Goodwin at guard, Pratt in tackle for Clark, and Saltonstall substituted for Robinson. For several minutes the teams battled back and forth about evenly, with Holy Cross showing signs of a dangerous pass. Ryan finally completed one to Lowery which enabled the latter to weave his way through the field for a touchdown. Another pass added the point. Miller caught the succeeding kick-off and was injured on the play and replaced by French. With Miller gone the Crimson offence had little to show with the exception of a few good runs by French and Putnam.
Score on Long Toss
A 40-yard pass from Ryan to Shanahan accounted for the next Purple score and then Saltonstall blocked the try for point. Early in the third quarter Kittredge dropped a 40-yard punt from the toe of French and Clark, the rangy lineman, fell on the wandering pigskin within the enemy 20-yard line. Successive rushes took the ball to the three-yard line where Sayles fumbled and Daly recovered. A beautiful pass from behind the goal line put the ball in Healv's arms on the 18-yard marker. Another pass from Wise and Healy went to mid-field. Nothing could seem to stop these passes which continued to Harvard's 16-yard line where a 15 yard penalty was administered to the Crimson eleven. Daly then went over for the final and decisive score.
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