Sports

Harvard 20, Dartmouth 14

December 1953 Cliff Jordan '45
Sports
Harvard 20, Dartmouth 14
December 1953 Cliff Jordan '45

The Big Green helped Harvard celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the dedication of the Harvard Stadium, but could not duplicate the feat of the Dartmouth 1903 team which stopped the Crimson 11-0. However, with six members of the Dartmouth 1903 team, one member of the Harvard '03 team and 34,000 fans watching, Dartmouth did manage to play good ball, although the Indians were eclipsed by the running and passing of Harvard's Dick Clasby.

The Crimson jumped off to an early lead when it culminated a 33-yard, 10-play drive by having fullback John Culver carry the ball over from the 7-yard line. The Indians came roaring back later in the same period when halfback Lou Turner dashed off tackle for 56 yards to the Harvard 7 and then Beagle passed to McLaughlin in the end zone. Caswell's conversion put Dartmouth ahead 7-6.

In the second period Harvard marched back, going 47 yards in eleven plays to score. A key pass of 21 yards from Clasby to Dexter Lewis took the ball to the 3-yard line and Culver went over to score. In the third period it was Clasby again, this time tossing 54 yards to Lewis for the Crimson's third touchdown.

Late in the fourth quarter Dartmouth began to roll. Beagle passed to McLaughlin, then to Thielscher, then again to Thielscher on the 8-yard line, and then the scoring pass to McLaughlin. Clasby took the kickoff in his own end zone, raced 103 yards to score, but was called back on a clipping penalty, and the clock ran out with Harvard in possession of the ball.