Varsity Given 6-Point Edge Over Dartmouth In Key Ivy League Contest for Both Squads

A badly-battered relic of last year's Ivy League football champions will be out for blood at Soldiers Field this afternoon when winless Dartmouth tries to avenge last season's 16-8 victory.

It was only a year ago that the confident Indians breezed into Cambridge expecting to stay undefeated in Ivy play, only to limp away following the League's upset of the year. The Crimson, beset by early season quarterbacking problems, had found its answer in Charlie Ravenel, who led the varsity to its moment of glory.

This year the situation is reversed. The Indians, with only limited service from captain and star signal-caller Bill Gundy and all-Ivy halfback Jake Crouthamel, have been virtually impotent in losing to three strong opponents and tying hapless Brown.

The varsity, on the other hand, walks onto the field as John Yovicsin's most successful and most promising outfit. With the Crimson rated a six-point favorite, it is Dartmouth who will be primed for an upset.

Hampered by a slew of early season injuries, the Indians had their first string backfield complement intact for the first time this year against Boston College last week. With Gundy and Crouthamel in action, the Big Green scored more points then than it had managed in its three previous games.

Indian Offense Meager

Still, Dartmouth's offensive statistics are hardly frightening. The Indians' total offense has averaged 150 yards a game, compared to the Crimson's 315. Their best ground performance, against Penn, netted 79 yards, about the same as the game average of Chet Boulris alone.

The Green has picked up more than two-thirds of its yardage and all three of its touchdowns through the air. Passing, from Gundy and his understudies Jack Kinderdine and Seth Moger, obviously plays a key role in the Indian's V-formation offense. Halfback Al Rozycki has grabbed fourteen aerials, while Crouthamel has caught six, including two for touchdowns. Dartmouth may well be the best passing team the Crimson has faced this year.

Against this attack, the varsity pits a spotty pass defense, which, though shining on occasion, has faded in the later stages of each game.

Harvard pass defense may get the boost it needs today with the return of Jim Nelson, defensive hero of the Bucknell game, and Albie Cullen, a good runner but an even better defenseman.

In any event, the Dartmouth offense will be up for this game, and the varsity's line must be at its best. A hard-charging Crimson line would probably be an even bigger help to the pass defense than the revamped backfield. The varsity forward will should be able to give the Crimson backs plenty of running room against an Indian line whose performance to date has been undistinguished.

Harvard's running attack has been outstanding all season, with Boulris the consistent pace-setter. The Jet has finally matured as an outstanding runner, and if his play today measures up to the standard he has set so far this year, Dartmouth will have its hands full.

When it has taken to the air, however, the varsity has not been as impressive. Ravenel's passing has certainly improved, but he has not yet shown the ability to connect for the long gain in crucial situations. He has completed 37.5 per cent for 219, and he is still always a double threat on options.

Sam Halaby, who has returned to the wars with a vengance, and Larry Repsher, the Crimson's main breakaway threat, also brighten the offensive picture. Repsher will probably start today if the Crimson receives.

Glen Haughie, Bruce McIntyre, Chuck Reed, Roy Williams, and John Shipman will probably see a good deal of backfield action, as Yovicsin continues his practice of substituting freely.

A crowd of 25,000 is expected.

Probable Starting LineupDARTMOUTH    HARVARDPersels  LE  KeohaneBowlby  LT  PillsburyBoye  LG  LenznerDeHaven  C  ChristensenGerfen  RG  WeidlerHorschman  RT  E. NelsonUsher  RE  CappielloGundy  QB  RavenelCrouthamel  LH  BoulrisRozycki  RH  RepsherHibbs  FB  S. Halaby