Freshman coach Bob Margarita will start the best backfield he's yet nursed varsity-ward this Saturday against the Brown Cubs, but the team will be led by a 212 pound lineman from Alliquippa, Pa.

Yesterday, before the 45 man Yardling squad sloshed out for a rain-soaked scrimmage, it elected left guard Ted Metropoulos '57 captain. Metropoulos is the former room-mate of much-transferred Billy Donlan, the one-time prospective Yardling starter now at Boston College.

Three years a two-way player at Alliquippa High, about 20 miles outside Pittsburgh, lineman Metropoulos bolsters up an unusually weak Yardling line.

Hard Worker

"He's a fine boy, a conscientious worker, and will probably be our outstanding lineman," Margarita said yesterday. "About our line in general, however, I just don't know. It's not up to most freshman lines, but it is improving," man lines, but it is improving."

Against Dartmouth the line was badly outrushed for the first half but stiffened in the third and fourth quarters to stop the Indians on the ground and give the '57 eleven a 13-13 tie.

The '57 backfield, with five possible starters is a different story. Margarita dropped the perennial wrinkle from his forehead long enough to admit, "It's the best bunch of backs I've had since I came to Harvard in 1951."

With the entire varsity backfield graduating this year, it seems very likely that at least one member of the first string unit will be starting for Lloyd Jordan next year. Margarita thinks that with training, the whole '57 backfield may someday be playing for Jordan.

After two games the freshman coach is still unable to decide between Mat Botsford and Jimmy Joslin at tailback. Joslin started the Worcester game two weeks ago, and Botsford against the Dartmouth team last Saturday. It's Joslin's turn again this Saturday.

Good Passing

Against the Indian freshmen both ran well, and had at least 50 percent pass completions. Botsford connected on four out of eight tosses, one good for a touchdown. Joslin, from Minneapolis, completed six out of eight, one also good for a touchdown.

But Botsford and Joslin were not the whole show against the Indians. Former Watertown High star John Simourian averaged 7.3 yards per carry from his wingback spot, and six foot, 190 pound Paul Abrahamian was outstanding a fullback.

Much-sought Tony Gianelly has alternated between quarterback and fullback: he will start at the blocking back slot in the Yardling's single-wing attack against the Bruins. If the freshmen switch to a T, Bob Hastings will go in to replace him at quarterback.

Lineup Change

In the line two now men have pushed up to starting positions since the Worcester game.