In spite of the 48 to 0 victory, which they ran up against Bates, the performance of the Harvard football forces in the Stadium Saturday was unimpressive. The Crimson scored easily, but its ragged play prevented it from piling up an even greater total against the crippled Maine eleven.
The contest revealed that the University squad possessed a fund of power and promising material, but the sustained drive, so essential for success in the series of hard games which concludes, the schedule, was not in evidence. Intensive drill alone can weld this Harvard machine into a well-coordinated unit capable of realizing its full strength. Only occasionally did the eleven click efficiently and only then could those who saw the clash get an idea of the promise which the aggregation holds for the future.
Line Lacks Real Drive
No indication of the team's defensive ability was given in this opening game. Bates never fought its way into enemy territory and lacked the man-power to test the Harvard line to any degree. The three first downs which the opponents were able to pound out, however, were largely the result of sloppy tackling. On the offensive the Crimson line did not show a consistent life. Players frequently cross-charged ineffectively, allowing opposing forwards to sift through and it was only the shifty running of the backs which prevented a resultant loss of ground.
Attack Varied
Coach Horween sent his team into action armed with six plays, a wider assortment than has been shown in previous opening games. These all started from the same formation used last season, the ends wide and a back in motion. Line bucks, off-tackle slants, and end runs were checked by a forward and lateral passing attack. A surprising variation in such an early game was a criss-cross. The backfields, which have been working under the experienced eye of Coach Casey, functioned in good early season order. The timing was off, on occasion, as was shown by the narrow failure of several of the forward passes attempted. Several members of the ball carrying squad exhibited a style of play which should cause trouble to future opponents after more practice.
Backs Show Promise
T. W. Gilligan is a greatly improved runner. Stepping high and shifty, the speedy Junior showed none of his former tendencies to run for the sidelines, but made straight for the holes driven through the opposing forward wall. Once across the line of scrimmage, his weaving tactics stood him in good stead. Charles Devens is a strong runner whose versatility will prove valuable. He can back, the line, run the ends, and fits into the lateral passing game well. Harper backed up the line in the usual efficient manner and seems to have more speed than last season. Mays, Sophomore flash, is an elusive ball carrier who also seems lateral-pass minded.
No trouble will be experienced in filling the quarterback post this season with Putnam and Wood on the squad. Both of these are good tacticians and their all round ability will prove useful. The former's running is good and he has lost none of his dropkicking ability. Wood, too, is a capable dropkicker.
Huguley showed up well in the role of interferer, as did Potter. In fact, the interference by both forwards and backs was superior to any seen in the Stadium at such an early stage. The way for Gilligan's fifty-yard romp to the initial score was opened by good blocking and clearing.
Forty-one players saw service in Saturday's game. No injuries were incurred and Coach Horween plans three hard scrimmages this week in an attempt to from out the flaws brought to light against Bates.
The summary:
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