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For the first time in seven long years Yale is rejoicing in a victory over the University. The Blue scored its first touchdown against the Crimson since 1907 when Legore carried the ball across in the second period of Saturday's game. It was by this narrow margin, 6 points to 3, that Yale was able to pull through with its long awaited victory.
The Yale team outplayed the University in the second half when the Crimson was making, a vain attempt to score, but in the first half both teams played equally well--or poorly--with the breaks going to Yale. The Blue eleven was the more consistently powerful organization throughout the game, but the Crimson was strong enough to hold its opponents at all times, had not luck occasionally interfered. The winning touchdown was due to a Yale fumble recovered by a Yale player, Gates, but the ability of the Blue team to force the ball over the goal line after this fumble was a demonstration of its slight superiority. The University line put up a magnificent defence in the shadow of their goal posts, for it took Yale eight downs to make the 12 yards. It was fourth down and one yard to go when Legore hurled himself and the ball six inches across the line.
The University made the first score of the game toward the end of the initial period, when W. F. Robinson '18, standing on the 30-yard line, put a drop-kick squarely between the uprights. This was the only field goal the University attempted, but Neville, Comerford and Legore each tried one unsuccessfully for Yale. All three were from beyond the 40-yard line and the only one that approached success was Comerford's placement kick from the 42-yard line, which hit the upright almost on a level with the cross-bar.
Even from a Yale standpoint the game was marred by frequent fumbling, Yale offending five times to the University's three, the Blue recovering all but one of its own fumbles. E. L. Casey '19 made all three fumbles for the Crimson, two being on kick-offs and the third when a hard tackle by Moseley made him drop a forward pass he had barely received. LaRoche and Jacques were responsible for Yale's fumbles, especially the former, who, although he played a good offensive game, was unable to judge the University's punts accurately.
Horween's Punting Feature.
The feature of the game was the punting, especially that of R. Horween '18, for the University kicker averaged 37 yards to 31 for Legore. His second punt of the game carried a total distance of 80 yards including the roll, and it was this kick which put the ball in Yale's territory for the greater part of the first period. Horween also prevented a possible touchdown, or at least a safety, when Robinson, misjudging one of Legore's punts, was hit by the bounding ball. Horween dove under Moseley and recovered the ball just as it was about to roll across the Crimson goal line. Legore's punting was decidedly off form for twice he kicked straight up into the air. The University failed to take advantage of these breaks, however, losing the first opportunity on a penalty and the second on an intercepted forward pass.
Penalties played a large part in the game, and in fact prevented a victory for the University, for toward the beginning of the second period Casey broke loose for a 71-yard run for a touchdown through the entire Yale team, but some Crimson player had been seen to trip a Yale man, and the play was called back, the University losing not only its touchdown but 15 yards besides. Casey was never able to break through again; the golden opportunity was lost.
The University was kept so constantly in its own half of the gridiron that there was little chance for developing a forward passing game. All told, the Crimson tried 12 passes, but of these nine were in the fourth quarter. Two were successful, four intercepted and the remainder incompleted. In the final period C. A. Coolidge '17 caught a 31-yard pass from H. C. Flower '19, which put the ball on Yale's 35-yard line, but evidently it was decided to try for a touchdown and victory rather than for a probable field goal and a tie score, so the forward passing game was continued to a fatal end when Neville caught one of W. J. Murray '18's passes.
University Tackling Poor.
The greatest disappointment in the showing of the University eleven was in the poor quality of the tackling. The men seemed unable to hold the Yale players securely and often two or more men were necessary to bring down Legore or LaRoche. This weakness, however, did not do any serious harm for Yale earned but five first downs by rushing to three for the University.
The first period was the University's quarter for the Crimson forced the play gaining 22 yards by rushing to the Blue's 15 and pushing Yale back by outpunting her on an average of 26 to 40 yards. A fifteen-yard penalty for holding broke up this advance, but when R. Harto '17 recovered LaRoche's fumble of Horween's punt, the University had a chance to score. Only seven yards could be made in three downs, however, and Robinson dropped back for his successful field goal.
Casey's brilliant run at the beginning of the second period was all in vain, and from that time on Yale was the agressor. The quarter was featured by two unsuccessful Yale field goals, the first first down of the game, made by Horween, and finally by the touchdown which gave the game to the Blue. Comerford, from a difficult angle, failed to kick the goal.
The opening of the second half saw a punting contest between Horween and Legore with the honors about equally divided, and finally a second Yale rush to the Crimson goal. Legore made 25 yards around right end, the University was penalized five yards for being off-side, and a pass, Legore to Gates, netted 14 more, placing the ball on the University's seven-yard line. Yale could not advance, however, and before Legore could throw an attempted pass on fourth down, G. C. Caner '17 broke through and ran him back ten yards, giving the University the ball.
Yale Played Waiting Game.
Yale took no chances in the final period and played a waiting game, letting the University spend all its energies on an attempt to advance by forward passing, all to no avail. The game ended with the ball in Yale's possession on her own 47-yard line.
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