HAWKINS, Left guard.
In the first practice game, two weeks ago, the Shady-Side Academy eleven of Pittsburg played a fast and snappy game, but a few days later the team showed up very poorly, and the work was exceedingly slow. Arundell's work at full-back is not entirely satisfactory; he is not improving in punting, and his general play is poor. In consequence it is probable that McConnell, who was at Cheltenham last year, will play that position. Dravo, at half-back, is a new man, but has been doing unexpectedly good work. He uses his head and does not fumble the ball. T. McConnell, at quarter, is one of the most promising players on the team; he keeps cool, tackles hard, and gets into the interference well.
It is doubtful at present whether Jennings will play centre or guard; if he goes in at guard, Aley will hold down centre. Hawkins and Brainard are the most promising candidates for the other guard's position. The principal thing in Hawkins's favor is that he is a steady man and maintains a good average style. Captain Schildecker is improving rapidly in his position at right tackle, but the same spot on the other side of the line is not so well taken care of by Flinn. The ends are Kirke and Humbird; the former is putting up a hard, fast game, tackles hard, and gets into the interference well; the latter is a new man, but promises to develop well, especially in tackling.
The Kiskiminetas team of the same League will average about 150 pounds this year. McKelvey at full-back is punting well, and has developed into a strong line-backer. Carrol at left half-back is a good ground-gainer, and maintains a steady average of play. Captain Aiken is playing quarter; his strongest point is tackling, and he is thoroughly familiar with the fine points of the sport, and makes a good commander. Herron and Woodbridge, the ends, run and tackle well, and although they are not brilliant players, they are careful and steady in their work. There is room for improvement in Kelso at right tackle and Fisher at centre. Henry and Shaw, the guards, are heavy men, and interfere well, so likewise does Montgomery at right tackle. Although the eleven is not so heavy this year as the team which Kiskiminetas put into the field last season, it is playing a faster and snappier game.
It does not look very much at present as if the Hartford High-School would come out with any very great honors at the close of the football season. At the present date of writing Hartford has not only lost every game played, but her men have not yet succeeded in scoring a single touch-down. This is a very sad state of affairs for such a reliable old-timer as Hartford. H.P.H.-S. lost the Meriden game, 16-0. The play on that occasion was exceedingly ragged, the interference was loose; in centre plays not more than half the men seemed to get into the game; on the defence the ends could not get at their men at all, and on the whole it was a pretty sorry exhibition of football.
Meriden, on the other hand, played a steady game, and although their performance was not brilliant, it was of the kind that insures victory. The best individual work was done by Lane and Hubbard for Meriden, whereas for Hartford Captain Sturtevant was about the only man who deserves mention. In the game against the Yale Freshmen Hartford played a little better, but they were up against heavier men, and were unable to make any points. In the New Britain game Hartford's play was again ragged, there being not even an attempt at team-work, whereas the New Britain players were especially strong in this feature.
As to individual play, McDonald, Brinley, and Meehan of New Britain were the most conspicuous. Of the Hartford players, Sturtevant, Strong, Allen, and Gillette surpassed in individual work the best performances of their opponents, but this was of little avail where team-work lacked. It seems now very probable that New Britain will win the Connecticut championship this year. The team has already defeated Bridgeport, 14-0, Waterbury having defeated Hillhouse, 4-0, on the same day.
There seems to be more activity in football in the South this year than ever before, and it is probable that a number of interscholastic leagues will be organized. At Richmond, Virginia, the High-School is turning out a pretty good team, which promises to be better in every respect than that of 1895. If a league is formed it will probably include the High-Schools of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Danville, Petersburg, and Richmond.
In Washington the Central High-School seems to have the heaviest eleven this year, although all three high-school teams are light. The season is not far enough advanced yet for any detailed criticism of the work done to be justly made, but it is probable that within a few weeks the raw material will have been coached and moulded into fair condition.
It is gratifying to note, in connection with the comments concerning the Milwaukee High-Schools last week, and the rather questionable spirit of sportsmanship which was growing there, that the East Side High-School has taken steps for the purification of athletics that ought to bring up all questionable practices with a sharp turn.