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.

Yale, receiving the second half kick-off, took possession on the Harvard 49. The offense stalled on the 43, and the Elis punted to Harvard on the 13.

After Joslin ran the ball to the 18 over tackle, Stahura returned to the game. On the next play he fumbled and Tarasovic recovered. It was his tenth recovery of the season.

Ward and Coker were alternating, carrying the ball downfield, Ward hitting the line twice, to the one, and then across to give Yale its second touchdown. Vern Loucks again converted, to make the score 10 to 0 after 7:12 of the third quarter.

The touchdown was the 11th of the season for Ward, the Ivy League leading scorer, who now is one touchdown short of the modern Yale scoring record. This was set in 1929 by Albie Booth.

Yale kicked off, Oehmler returning to the Harvard 21. Lewis moved the ball to the 31 on an inside reverse, which was followed by a brief scuffle on the field.

Stahura, fading back on a pass option, elected to run--run he did--to the Yale 49, and then cut loose with three completed passes in four plays. The first one to Joe Crehore moved the ball to the 18. The third, a spot pass to Lewis, moved the ball to the nine. A play later, Stahura threw still another pass.

Kennedy Scores

It went into the end zone, intended for Lewis. Lewis bobbled the ball, but before it fell to the soaked turf, Kennedy picked it up for a touchdown. Bing Crosby converted to make the score 14 to 7.

Copeland kicked off for Harvard, to the Yale 13, where McGill ran it back to the 48. Yale's offense stalled on the Harvard 47, then Ward punted to Cros by on the 20. Crosby returned the ball to the 27. Oehmler was hurt on the play, and Hallet replaced him. Joslin ran from the 33 for three to the 30 as the quarter ended.

On the first play of the quarter Stahura spiraled a pass intended for Morrison. It was intercepted on the run by McGill, who sprinted 39 yards down the right sideline for the third Yale touchdown. No Harvard defender had a chance to stop him. Vern Loucks again converted to make it 21 to 7 Yale.

Stahura returned the Yale kickoff to the 36, then passed to Kennedy to the Yale 49 and ran to the 41 himself. After Joslin ran a first down, the offense stalled and he punted.