The Berkeley School team has made considerable progress within the last two weeks. Hasbrouck is putting up a strong game at left end, and is developing a good capacity for breaking into opposing interference. Both he and Boyesen are learning rapidly to get down the field after punts. Hasbrouck runs well with the ball, and is being depended upon a good deal in tricks. He is making an excellent Captain for the team, and although he does not insist quite strongly enough upon his rights against opposing teams sometimes, this is a shortcoming which will promote rather than injure the welfare of amateur sport. Boyesen is a new man to the game, and a trifle light, but he tackles splendidly and has good grit.
Huntington, who has been playing right tackle, is a trifle careless in his work; he is a powerful player, however, and runs well, and can tackle when he sets his mind on it. Granberry and Thomas have been candidates for the tackle positions; Granberry has been doing hard work and has improved steadily, but Thomas has the advantage over him in stature and physical strength. With the exception of Hasbrouck, Gilson, who plays right guard, is probably the best man in the line. He is well-developed, and is as strong a player as any in the New York League. He knows the game well, but unfortunately, owing to his class-room work, he has not been able to devote as much time to field practice as is necessary to keep him in tiptop shape. Irvine, at left guard, has been running considerably with the ball; he is better in this position than he was at tackle, where he played early in the season. One of the weakest men in the line is Walker, at centre; he has the strength, but he is very slow, and does not seem able to catch the knack of putting the ball into play properly.
The backs are putting up a higher quality of football than the line-men. They are natural athletes, and all except Rice were members of last spring's baseball team. Their experience in catching seems to stand them in good stead now. Pell has been making rapid strides in his knowledge of the game. He is a clever dodger when running with the ball, but needs to overcome a slight timidity against being tackled. He punts fairly well, and is the best drop-kicker on the team. On the offensive he plays close up to the line and breaks through well, but his eagerness sometimes leads him to run too far, thus putting himself out of the play.
The best football-player that Berkeley ever boasted is undoubtedly Bien, at full-back. He is as good a man in that position as there is in the New York League this year. He is a first-rate ground-gainer and knows the game thoroughly. He is a strong tackler; and as for kicking goals, it is asserted that he has not missed one this season. Wiley puts up a hard game, but does not use his head enough. He punts pretty well, and may be counted on to catch every ball that comes his way. He is a sandy player, and sometimes plunges too boldly into the scrimmage.
Rice at quarter can hardly be ranked on a par with the other backs. He interferes well at the kick-off, but does not keep up this standard in close plays. He is a sandy tackler, but being a new man at the game frequently wastes his energy. He is badly handicapped by his centre rush.
THE ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL, GARDEN CITY, FOOTBALL SQUAD.
Considerable improvement is to be noticed in the work of the Garden City football-players. Lorraine is doing all that can be required at end. Since my last criticism of his play he has gone into the game with more vim and dash, and is playing good hard football all the time. Symonds, until the Lawrenceville game, was playing a miserable game at tackle; since then, however, he has improved greatly, particularly in defensive play.
Everett Starr is heavier than he was last year, although he is still the lightest man in the line. His experience, however, makes him as reliable a man as there is on the team. Cluett as snap-back and in attacks on the centre is first rate, but he seems to have the idea that his work ends there, as he very seldom breaks through and is slow in following the ball. Kinney is new at the game this year, but nevertheless he is playing as good football as any of the older members on the team. He is strong and exceptionally quick for his size. He makes many tackles and sure ones, is generally to be found where the ball is, and when he runs with the ball is pretty sure of making a gain.
Thus far Brown has not by any means played the game he is capable of. He has met no opponents of his own weight. He is fairly quick, and has a good knowledge of the game. With these conditions his work should be of the brilliant order, but, on the contrary, it has been even at the best mediocre, and at times lamentably weak.