VARSITY FOOTBALL

Developing a defensive strength and a slashing offensive attack which was unlooked for by even the most conservative followers of the Green's opponent, Georgetown defeated Dartmouth 10-0 in Haverhill, October 21, in a game in which the varsity was outplayed in every department. The single" touchdown came in the first period when after placing the ball on Dartmouth's five yard line by a series of line rushes and forwards, Gilroy threw a beautiful pass to Wall behind the goal posts. The field goal was scored in the last period when Maloney lifted the ball over the cross bar from Dartmouth's 27 yard line, making the total of 10 points for the Washington team.

The Hanoverians had two excellent chances to score, once in the second period when, after a fumble by Georgetown which was recovered by Gile, and several subsequent gains. Captain Gerrish dropped the ball in a run that would have resulted in a score, and again in the fourth period when Thielscher's forward pass was intercepted on the Georgetown goal line and on the next play, punted out of danger in midfield. For Dartmouth, the work of Cannell was about the only redeeming feature of the game. Although confronted by the best line the Green had opposed this season, the Everett star broke away for several substantial gains, and was about the only man who could elude the Georgetown tacklers. The Southern team possessed an unusual backfield in McQuade, Maloney, Wall and Gilroy, and with the exception of occasional stiffening of the Green defense, these men broke through for long gains almost at will.

The effect upon the undergraduate body was entirely gratifying. In no way was the defeat interpreted as disastrous, because although it was generally regretted, it had served the purpose of testing the strength of the varsity and of showing up the chief remediable faults before the Princeton game. The general atmosphere was one of optimistic prophesies regarding the showing the team would probably make against Princeton the following week.

This feeling was justified October 28, when Princeton was decively outrushed and out punted in the Palmer Stadium and only won by turning a fortunately deflected forward pass into a spectacular run for a touchdown, bringing the score up to 7-3 and scoring a victory for the Tigers. Dartmouth's tally came at the end of the second period when, after blocking Tibbott's punt, Dartmouth succeeded in placing the ball on the Princeton 20 yard line, and Captain Gerrish kicked a goal from placement.

Throughout the game the Dartmouth backfield composed of Gerrish, Duhamel and Thielscher, under the cool generalship of Cannell, made frequent gains through the Orange and Black line, and ably seconded the strong defensive play of the varsity line. The individual stars for Princeton were Driggs, who was the mainstay of the backfield, Eddy who proved himself an able field general and clever ground gainer, and Highley who played an exceptional game at end. For Dartmouth, Cannell, playing in his first big game as quarter was the driving force that sent the backs through the weak points in the Princeton defense and on the offense was as cool as a seasoned veteran in handling Drigg's punts.

The game brought out two stars who had been previously untried:—Cannell at quarter and Youngstrom at guard. The latter frequently broke through and spoiled Princeton plays before they had fairly gotten under way, and could always be depended upon to open large holes for his backs when the ball was in Dartmouth's possession. And the consistent playing of the team as a whole clearly brought out the advantage of meeting an adversary as strong as Georgetown proved to be, prior to the annual contest with the Tigers.

In one of the most thrilling games of the season, but one in which the standard of football displayed was appreciably inferior to that shown against Princeton the week before, the Green defeated Syracuse 15-10 the following Saturday in Springfield. Both elevens played ragged football a large part of the time, but the breaks were all with the Hanoverians, and when the whistle blew they had chalked up their fifth and last victory of the season.

Just before the close of the first quarter Dartmouth took the lead when Cannell's 55 yard run through the entire Syracuse team netted six points, although Syracuse saved the extra point from a goal from touchdown by blocking the kickout. Shortly after M. Brown was sent into the Syracuse backfield and after tearing through the Green line for several short gains, brought the oval behind the goal posts and Wright kicked the goal, putting the New Yorkers in the lead. At the beginning of the third period, Cogswell and Cotton broke through and blocked a Syracuse kick, Cogswell throwing Brown behind the Syracuse goal line for a safety which put the Green one point in the lead. Dartmouth outplayed their heavier opponents for the rest of the game, adding seven points on a 45 yard run by Edwards and an easy goal by Captain Gerrish. Meehan, Syracuse's flashy quarterback completed the scoring a few minutes later from Dartmouth's 20 yard line.

The chief features of the game were the spectacular runs made by Cannell and Edwards and the ability shown by Dusossoit in breaking through the line and breaking up Syracuse plays. The defense, although somewhat ragged, stiffened perceptibly when the ball approached the Dartmouth goal line, but even then Syracuse would have had another touchdown had not one of her players dropped the ball just as he crossed the line.

In the last out of town game of the season Dartmouth and Pennsylvania struggled desperately through four periods and emerged with seven points to the credit of each. Throughout the first half of the game, the teams were evenly matched, the defense of each tightening whenever the play reached the proximity of their goal posts, and the half ended without either eleven having scored. Dartmouth made her touchdown in the third quarter when Gerrish recovered a fumble by Light and ran to the Pennsylvania four yard line and Cannell shot through center and over the line on the next play. Penn's score came in the last period when Berry, who had just entered the game, plunged through the Green line for substantial gains until the ball was within striking distance, and then skirted left end, eluded all Dartmouth tacklers and fell across the goal line.

Captain Gerrish was the individual Dartmouth star of the game, constituting the Green's chief power in rushing the ball and throwing three forward passes which netted a gain of 74 yards. On the defensive he was even stronger, cutting off Pennsylvania gains time and again after their runners had broken through the Dartmouth line. Thielscher outpunted Bryant in every case, and Bevan, Neely, Youngstrom and Edwards also played a good game. The undoing of the team was its forward passes as in previous instances, several of them being moderately successful, but the majority being grounded or intercepted. Berry was the one big factor for the Red and Blue, while Miller at end and Bryant at quarter also acquitted themselves creditably.

For the first time in 29 years the Dartmouth eleven closed its season with a game in Hanover which was played against West Virginia on a field which was a mixture of mud, snow and ice, and resulted in another 7-7 draw. Beyond question the Southerners came to Hanover with one of the strongest teams that has ever appeared on Alumni Oval, the particular star being Rodgers, playing fullback, who tore through the Green line whenever he was given the ball. Dartmouth's score came in the third period when, after a series of line plunges, Cannell tossed a forward pass into Dusossoit's arms behind the West Virginia line. The Southern team secured its score after a 25 yard pass had placed the ball on Dartmouth's 16 yard line, and a series of plunges by Rodgers placed the ball over the line. The kickout was high and could have been blocked by several Dartmouth players, but they stood still and watched the successful completion of the play which netted West Virginia the point necessary to tie the score and prevent a Green victory.

Trier's recovery of a West Virginia fumble probably saved a second touchdown and that, together with Gerrish's well timed and well placed punts and Cannell's perfect pass to Dusossoit which resulted in a touchdown were the chief features of the game from the Hanover viewpoint. For West Virginia, Rodgers was easily the star, appearing to be troubled very little by the condition of the field and making gain after gain, shaking off or carrying Dartmouth tacklers along with him. Cannell used good judgment in running the team, but was prevented from making any of his usual long runs because of the slippery ground.

One of the chief problems which faces Coach Cavanaugh now is the material he will have for next year. Dartmouth loses by graduation Emery, one of the best ends since Hoggsett and Loudon, Trier and Cotton, two veteran and effective tackles, Merrill, one of the most dependable guards on the team and Baxter and Gile who have played consistent games at center.

In the backfield comes the greatest loss, however, by the graduation of Gerrish, Duhamel and Thielscher,—a combination which has played together since their freshman year and have developed a game combining co-operative interference, hard line plunging and effective secondary defense which has been the cause of more than one Green victory. Among the substitutes who are seniors and whose absence will undoubtedly be felt next fall are Tyler, R. Holbrook, Switzer and White.

On the whole the season has not been up to the standard of the last three in matter of games actually won. It has been successful in many other ways, however, and has definitely brought out the need felt for exceptional individual stars, and plays other than the forward pass' which can be used when Dartmouth has the ball on her opponents 10 or 15 yard line. For the defeats and unsatisfactory draws nothing but the schedule can be blamed and that could not well be helped.

As The Dartmouth sums it up in the editorial of November 20: "In passing judgment on this year's football season the undergraduates, alumni, faculty and friends of the College would do well to remember that the cause for any dissatisfaction cannot be laid at the door of one of the best captains the Green has ever boasted, nor can it be attributed to one of the best teams in the history of the College. The schedule is largely to blame—not on account of the shortcomings of the Athletic Council, but because of existing conditions which are a temporary handicap, but which can be remedied only by constant efforts for improvement by the responsible authorities, and unswerving loyalty and tolerant, patience by the undergraduates."