Hope of Future Varsity Grid Teams Meets Test as Yardlings Face Exeter

An important part of Harvard's football destiny will be in the making in the New Hampshire hills tomorrow afternoon when the Yardling football team travels to Exeter to open its season, and if the results of the fracas are encouraging, it bodes well for future Varsity elevens.

After the drouth of material in '36 and '37, it seems as if the Crimson's only hope of maintaining itself on even terms with its opponents is to turn up some good new men this year. Not that Yardlings of the last two years have contributed nothing to the present Varsity, but Dick Harlow is in real need of additional material.

1942 Material Good

That material appears to have arrived in the 1942 crop. It is doubtful if there are any future All-Americans under Skip Stahley's wing, but the A squad is showing remarkable ability as a whole in practice sessions so far.

The linemen are heavy, and several have had experience playing at prep and high schools, where they were individual standouts. Notable examples are Tommy Johnson, rangy end, who played at Andover for two years; Endicott Peabody, who was captain of last year's Groton eleven; and Vern Miller, tackle from Milwaukee.

Tackles Big, Rangy

Miller's running mate at tackle will probably be Tom O'Loughlin, a Loomis boy whose 194 pounds don't look quite so imposing alongside of Miller's 260. Another line stalwart who will see plenty of action is Dick Row, husky 188 pound guard from Cambridge.

George Kuhn will occupy the other end post. A smart defensive player, he should be in to break Exonian plays frequently. The center question is uncertain at the present, due to a bad leg injury to Ed Ready, who has been holding down the A team pivot position. His place may be taken by either Jack McNeil or Art Lyman, who has been switched around from center to the backfield and back again.

Hodder Coaches B Team

Since Tuesday the squad has been divided in order to speed up preparations for the season opener. Clark Hodder, Varsity hockey coach, is in charge of the B group which will probably play some games of its own during the fall.

Husky Line Reserves

Stahley has several other linemen who have been shaping up well in scrimmage. Tom Gardiner, a weighty six-footer, will see play Saturday. Along with Tom Broderick, he has been frequently used in the A lineup. Broderick, by the way, is the only squad member who can stand up to Miller as an equal. Broderick is a 217-pounder himself.

Behind a line of such high specific gravity, there is a backfield which will make them run hard and fast, to keep out of the way at least. Standouts are Al Vander Eb, Frank Lee, George Heiden, and Fred Spreyer. Vander Eb is a husky, hard-hitting tailback from Loomis who may do the kicking Saturday.

Choate Stars in Backfield

Lee and Spreyer, both Choate products, are both fine runners, and Lee combines an ability to knife through a hole with an uncanny ability to throw blocks in the secondary. Heiden, also a good blocker, will probably start at the bucking position.

Pressing these backs for their posts are Harry Tine, an Andover back who ran 60 yards through the entire Yale Freshman team last year for a touchdown; Eddie Buckley, a hard-hitting tailback; Tom Cook a good blocker; and stock Lothrop Withington.

The Yardlings on the basis of weight and experience should have the edge over Exeter, but the Academy team has already played one game with Tilton, having beaten them 6-0, so the outcome of the encounter remains a hard one to predict.