PENNSYLVANIA 21, DARTMOUTH 0
THE ONLY WAY, it seems, that Dartmouth can remain undefeated longer than the first two hours of every football season is to stop opening against Pennsylvania. Following a script which they have used, with melancholy variations, ever since 1933 (when Dartmouth last defeated Penn), the Green went down to defeat again before the proverbial power of a mighty Penn line. This awesome forward wall so disorganized the famed Dartmouth attack that the highstepping backs of Coach McLaughry were never able to get going. Spending most of the first half deep in their own territory, the Green did not seriously threaten all day and, what with fumbles, penalties, and the Penn power, were never really in the ball game.
The forebodings of the coaches concerning the strength of the Dartmouth line were demonstrated in this gloomy opening performance, but with one ironic twist. The Green forward wall was supposed to be entirely adequate on the offense and was presumed capable of opening up the requisite holes for the fleet array of backs. Only on the defense were the operatives of Line Coach Bell Isola assumed to be somewhat under par for the Ivy League course. Against Penn, however, the line performed prodigies of defensive heroics, especially in the early periods, when they repeatedly held the Red and Blue in the shadow of their (Dartmouth's) goal line. But when the Green had the ball, the boys up front were seemingly incapable of moving the burly Penn performers out of the way so that the backs could start running or the passers start passing. Even in the kicking department, the Dartmouth line was unable to hold out the surging Penn forwards, with the result that most of the Dartmouth punts were either partially or completely blocked. Never was the ancient adage about games being won or lost up front so thoroughly demonstrated as on this sunny afternoon in Franklin Field.
The heralded sparkling Dartmouth offense was thus unable to get started with any consistency. The usually sure-fingered ball-handlers in the backfield added to the general unhappiness by. engaging in an unprecedented epidemic of fumbling. Penn did its share of dropping the ball, but the Green was far ahead in this masochistic form of generosity, with no less than eight fumbles to its credit (or discredit), losing the ball five times in the process. This display of mutual ineptitude reached a climax in the second quarter, with a total of four fumbles in a space of six plays. Neither side, it appeared, wished permanent possession of the ball. The Dartmouth fumhles were more costly, however, not only because there were more of them but because they tended to occur at more crucial moments. Hal Fitkin, for example, blasted through for a first down on several occasions, only to drop the ball as he was tackled. Similar blunders marked the hand-offs to the backs, with responsibility here divided between the quarterbacks and the ballcarriers.
This column does not intend to harry itself or its readers by recounting the play-by-play versions of the opposition's touchdowns. Suffice it to say that the first Penn score came in the second period on straight power plays, after the Green had previously flung back the enemy attack on the 6, 16, and 21-yard lines respectively. The second and third Penn touchdowns came in the two final periods, both on long (approximately 70 yard) runs, the first on a punt return and the second on a wide end sweep. While all this was going on, Dartmouth was trying desperately to get in the game, resorting to 21 passes when their backs were unable to gain through the mighty Penn line. Only five of these aerial efforts succeeded, largely because the passers were so badly maltreated by the same Penn forwards. Dartmouth made only one first down in the entire first half, which gives you a rough idea.
One of the comparatively few happy notes in this epic of futility for the Green was the defensive performance of three sophomore backs. Bucky Linman, erstwhile fourth-string quarterback, was pressed into service as' a safety man in place of the injured Bill Dey, and proceeded to make his varsity debut by intercepting a couple of passes and recovering a Penn fumble. Tom Collins and Charlie Curtis played well at defensive halfback, stepping in on many occasions to pick off the ambitious Penn ball carrier. Outside of that, however, there was not a great deal to cheer about.
Penn made 13 first downs to eight for Dartmouth, with seven of the latter coming in the second half. The Green running attack was unable to negotiate more than 116 yards, compared with 244 for Penn. Neither side set the world on fire through the air, with the Green, as aforementioned, completing only five out of 31 attempts for a meager 76 yards and Penn trying 18 and completing only three, with five interceptions by the alert Green secondary. Dartmouth also had the dubious distinction of leading in penalties, 75 yards to 40, with several of the alleged infractions hitting the Green especially hard and breaking up what might have been promising marches. So once again Dartmouth has to fight its way up from the floor after an opening defeat at the hands of Pennsylvania. It would be nice some time to open against Norwich again.
DARTMOUTH STOPPED THIS PENN SCORING THREAT: Coming up to meet Bob Deuber (40), carrying the ball for the Quakers, is John Chapman (44), defensive right half for the Indians. Paul Staley (55), center, and Captain Herb Carey (33), defensive fullback, are also coming over fast. Deuber is preceded by Ray Dooney (30). Dartmouth players shown are Dave Beeman (85), Stew Young (62), Bill Monahan (73) and Red Bailey (72).
THE DUBUQUE EXPRESS: Bill Roberts, 195-pound speedster from the Tall Corn State, smashes through the Holy Cross defenses for a sizable gain. Romping 311 yards in three games including 195 yards against the Crusaders, the junior fullback was the leading ground gainer in the Ivy League at mid-season.
