Yale halfbacks Dennis McGill and Al Ward were as slippery as the Yale Bowl field Saturday. Their elusive running led a powerful Yale eleven to victory over Harvard in the 72nd renewal of this oldest college rivalry.
The final score was 21 to 7.
Throughout the game the two halfbacks ran the ends, slithered through the line, and added a touchdown on a pass interception. They were assisted greatly in proving the power of Yale's ground attack by sophomore fullback Gene Coker, who since the start of the season has been filling in for injured Steve Ackerman.
Ward and McGill each scored one but the actual scoring was only part of their value. Each scored one touchdown, McGill on a sensational pass interception, combined with that scored by Vern Loucks on a pass in the second quarter, were nough to give Yale its convincing victory.
Yale gained consistently on the ground through the running of its two speedy halfbacks. Al Ward and Dennis McGill. The Harvard offense, hampered very seriously by the first period injury to Tony Gianelly, moved the best it could through the air.
Harvard won the toss, and elected to receive. Cavallon kicked off to the 15, and Gianelly returned it to the 32. Gianelly was injured on the play and Oehmler came in to replace him and helped the Crimson to a first down, alternating with Botsford on plays through the line.
Botsford was stopped by Tarasovic, however, and was forced to punt on the next play. He booted it 43 yards to the Yale 12, where Ward fell on his own fumble.
Yale Used Two Also
Yale also utilized two ball carriers, but with much greater success. Coker and Ward moved the ball to the Harvard 48 on four first downs, before punting. Joslin ran the punt back to the 8. Harvard was stymied by the Yale line as well as a penalty, and punted out, Joslin kicking 54 yards to the Eli 43.
The Elis could not be stopped the second time they had possession, however. Coker alternated carrying with the other speedy Eli halfback McGill, and racked up three more first downs, between them moving the ball to the Harvard 13 before the period ended.
McGill and Coker continued to monopolize the ball handling as they moved to the Harvard 8. Then, Dean Loucks faded back for an incredible pass.
Incredible first of all because of the weather. Incredible because, Meigs, back to defend, deflected the ball. Most incredible because Vern Loucks, just behind Meigs, grabbed the deflected ball nevertheless for six points. Vern Loucks also converted on the score, which came at 3:40, to give the Elis a 7-0 lead.
The Crimson stalled in its following offensive attempt, but also halted the Blue as the teams exchanged punts. Stahura plowed through Tarasovic at tackle for four yards, then lofted a soft pass to Dailey, good for a first down on the Yale 33. After an incomplete pass, Joslin came in, and two plays later he passed to Simourian in the end zone, but Simourian dropped the ball, and the Elis took possession on downs.
But not for long. Quarterback Dean Loucks fumbled on Yale's second down, and Maher recovered for Harvard on the 24.
This time the Crimson began to move. Joslin carried to the 20. One pass failed, but then Botsford fired to the ten to Lewis, who fought for two more yards to the eight. Another pass to Dailey moved the ball to the one, but the Crimson could not score on its next three attempts. Then Yale took possession with about a minute to go, leading 7 to 0. The Elis made one first down and ran out the half.
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