CAPTAIN CLEO O'DONNELL, left halfback, who makes up for his slight 150 pounds with sheer drive and know-how, was elected captain in 1943 but left for service before he could play in that capacity. The always shifty runner returned this fall to be re-elected to the same post. With an uncanny ability to size up enemy plays before they get under way, he is, in spite of his five-foot eight-inch stature, one of the best pass defenders on the Crimson squad.
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ENDS
WALT COULSON turned in a bang-up job as defensive end for the Crimson eleven until injured in the Rutgers fracas. Although he has been played sparingly in the last two games, he is expected to be back at full strength today. A man who, by sloughing off blockers, seldom lets his end be turned, he has registered more than his share of tackles this season.
JOHN FIORENTINO, freshman right end and brother of Holy Cross's Orange Bowl end, Ed. is a man whose steady play gains few cheers from the grandstand. Last week against Brown he showed he could catch passes when he snagged a flintier-tip aerial from Chip Gannon to open the scoring.
WALLY FLYNN, who was played by Dick Harlow "on a hunch" against Dartmouth two weeks ago, has turned in top-flight performances the last two games to make his bid for starting position against the Eli team. By far the best punter on the Crimson squad, he showed great defensive ability against Brown last week, more than once breaking through to throw Bruin backs for long losses.
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TACKLES
EDDIE DAVIS, all-New England tackle on the Crimson's 1944 informal team, has seen more game-time this year than any other member of the squad. Seldom moved out of his right tackle slot on defense, he is one of the men most responsible for the success of the Crimson's off-tackle smashes this season.
NED DEWEY, was one of the standouts on the 1945 squad. Agile for all of his 200 pounds, he was shifted to running guard when Emil Drvaric was injured but has since returned to his left tackle position. He gets through into the enemy backfield so fast that he is likely to participate in their ball-handling one of these days.
HOWIE HOUSTON, another 200-pounder, has vied with Ned Dewey all season for the starting call at left tackle. He is fast on his feet, last week blocking a Bruin punt for a safety, and will probably see considerable action against the Eli eleven today.
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GUARDS
EMIL DRVARIC, all city guard for two years in Milwaukee, enrolled at Harvard after playing freshman football at the University of Wisconsin. "One of the most outstanding guards I have over coached," according to Dick Harlow, Emil is the most vicious blocker on the Crimson squad. Although injuries have hampered his play all year, he is expected to be in good shape this afternoon.
NICK RODIS, Drvaric's running mate, has come in for special praise from Harlow in three games this season. The six-foot 205-pound left guard has improved steadily all year, consistently making more than his share of the tackles. A former New Hampshire all-state guard, he always tackles for keeps.