LIGHT FRESHMAN TEAM LOST BUT ONE CONTEST THIS FALL

With the loss of but one game, the Freshman team last Saturday brought its season to a successful conclusion by its 10 to 7 victory over the Yale yearlings at New Haven. Far lighter than the usual Freshman team and greatly handicapped by a series of injuries, 1923 has had an uphill struggle during the entire season. Every team the Freshmen faced out-weighed them with the exception of Groton, yet they managed to roll up 91 points to their opponents' 51.

The season started on September 22 when 55 men reported for practice to Dr. Paul Withington '09, who was at the head of the Freshman coaching staff. Associated with him were G. L. Batchelder '19, who was given charge of the ends, and F. C. Fishback '19, who directed the linemen. Thirty-two manager candidates also reported at this time. More men came out for the team in the next few days, and the squad was divided into six elevens.

Worcester Beaten in Opening Game.

The first real test of the season came on October 11 in a game with the heavy Worcester Academy team, where the Freshmen showed their power and aggressiveness in a 27-10 victory. Toward the end of the game, with the entrance of many substitutes, the yearlings' attack gradually weakened, allowing Worcester to score twice. Far too many fumbles were made in this game and the Freshmen were unable to complete a single really successful pass. W. H. Churchill starred for the Crimson team and gave an indication of what might be expected of him later.

After a week of hard scrimmages, with particular concentration on the fumbling displayed in the Worcester game, the Freshmen easily rolled up a 26 to 0 score against Groton. Neither team displayed any too great energy and there was still a tendency to fumble. Churchill was again the individual star, but in this game C. C. Buell and G. Owen ran him a close race for first honors.

Exeter Proves Dangerous.

In the game with Exeter on the following Saturday, the Freshmen won through the failure of Exeter to kick two goals from touchdowns. In the first half the Crimson team completely outclassed the visitors, who lost the ball on downs time and again. The second half proved the exact opposite of the first, and, aided by a strong aerial and open field attack, Exeter twice scored but their inability to kick the goals lost them an opportunity to tie the game.

The careless play of the earlier games was almost completely corrected, but in the last half the Freshmen were unable to stop the long Exeter passes, a fault which was still prominent in the game with Princeton two weeks later. Churchill and Owen again did excellent work in the back-field, each of them making a touchdown in the first quarter.

On November 1, C. C. Buell, of Hartford, Conn., was elected to captain the team for the rest of the season. Buell, who received his football training at Pomfret, played quarterback throughout the fall and in every game distinguished himself by his cool headwork.

In the Andover game on November 1, the Freshmen again were forced to the limit to win a 14-9 victory. The yearlings made their winning touchdown in the last three minutes of play after a 30-yard pass from Owen to H. L. Hartley. By their consistent gaining ability, Churchill, Owen and Buell again came to the fore.

The lone defeat of the season was administered by the strong Princeton freshmen who won by a score of 13 to 0. The Crimson team was dazzled by the speed and cleverness of the Tigers but nevertheless put up a good defensive fight and in the last quarter twice threatened the Princeton goal. Twice also they held the Orange and Black for downs within their five-yard line. Churchill, Buell, Owen, and H. W. Clark, the Crimson centre, were the bulwark of a defense that kept down what might have been a larger score.

Yale Defeated in Final Game.

The finest exhibition of the aggressiveness of the 1923 team came, however, in the annual struggle with Yale last Saturday, when the Crimson team, out-weighed 25 pounds to a man, fought through for a 10 to 7 victory. Owen, Churchill, and Buell were the individual stars of the game. The former gathered in a fumble in the last quarter for a 50-yard gain. In two more plunges he carried the ball across the line for the Freshmen's only touchdown.

A 40-yard run by Churchill on the second play of the game prepared the way for Buell's field goal from the 36-yard line. Throughout the game Churchill proved a consistent ground gainer and in the end of the third period he got away for a 50-yard run. Buell, from start to finish, showed his ability to pick out the plays that were going to gain, and to diagnose the enemy tactics.