STIFFEST SCRIMMAGE OF YEAR

The football practice on Soldiers Field yesterday was about the stiffest held this year. Though it drizzled steadily, making the ground soft and slippery, the University scrimmaged for a full hour, first against the second team, and then against the Freshmen.

One touchdown was scored against the seconds, and the Freshmen, meeting the University for the first time this season, were defeated by a margin of one dropkick and one touchdown. The impossibility of gaining a firm footing on the soggy turf was undoubtedly the cause of the small amount of scoring. More over, the practice was not held in the Stadium, and the University team could not use any of its new plays, thereby lessening considerably the efficiency of the attack.

The one score against the seconds came when Coolidge blocked a kick, on the 40-yard line, chased the ball to the 5-yard line, and there recovered it. On the next play Hardwick carried it over. The University met the Freshmen with a line-up composed largely of substitutes, so that 1917 was not forced to withstand her full strength. The University took the ball at midfield and carried it over by a long series of plunges, Bettle crossing the line. The drop-kick, which would have gone wide had it not been steered over the goal by bouncing from a Freshman's back, was made by Mahan from about the 20-yard line.

Bettle managed to contract a slightly sprained ankle during the afternoon which will keep him out of the game for a day or two. Brickley did not play yesterday on account of the muscle bruise received in the Williams game. He will be back in the line-up in a day or two, but will miss so much of this week's practice that he may not play in next Saturday's contest. In spite of the hard scrimmage, other injuries were negligible.

Lothrop Withington 11 appeared at left guard in the Freshman line-up, playing there for some time. Though he has not had regular practice since 1910, he managed to hold all the plays directed at him for no gain. Crawford Blagden '02, who recently joined the coaching staff, gave the guards and tackles some valuable hints on the fine points of the game.