AROUND THE END
November arrived that week with several days of unseasonably warm
weather, and football practice, which had started off on Monday with
much zest, slowed up. More than one of the deposed players lost his
ambition to regain his place as the mercury mounted under the influence
of a sun that shone with the ardor of August; or, if his ambition
remained, his efforts waned perceptibly. Jake decreed a let-up in
the drive and Coach Cade was forced to obey. That was a worrisome
week for the coach. There were several injuries, the players showed
a disposition to lag, the recent changes in the make-up of the team
were not yielding the hoped-for results, criticism was rampant and a
graduate who had agreed to appear that Wednesday and coach the linemen
wrote that he wouldn’t be able to arrive before the week following.
While all the injuries were minor affairs save one, they nevertheless
kept the fellows out of practice for periods varying from one day to
four, and at a time when the services of every member of the squad were
greatly needed. With the Mt. Millard game looming up on Saturday, Coach
Cade found himself far from prepared. The Team was showing a fairly
good brand of defensive playing, but anything like a consistent attack
was still lacking. The punters, at least two of whom had promised
extremely well at the beginning of the season, had not made the
expected progress, and in that feature Alton was deficient. Mt. Millard
invariably gave the Gray-and-Gold a stern battle, and, because she had
won almost as often as she had lost, had come to be regarded as a foe
only second in importance to Kenly Hall. Alton always made earnest
preparation for Mt. Millard and tried mightily to put over a victory.
This fall the game was to be played on the adversary’s own grounds, at
Warren, a circumstance not favoring Alton.
There was a good stiff work-out on Tuesday, with the First battering
the Scrub in an endeavor to build up an attack and not succeeding
especially well. Mr. Cade used two sets of backs and saw them both
subdued by the Second. On Wednesday and Thursday hard work was made
impossible by the heat and the coach counted the days as practically
lost. Friday was more moderate and, despite Jake’s disapproval, he put
the squad through a full session. The Scrub got trounced roundly that
afternoon, the First putting over three touchdowns and kicking goals
after two of them. The First played without the services of Patten,
at center, and Ball, at quarter. Patten was nursing a wrenched knee
sustained on Wednesday, and Ted was favoring an ankle which was causing
Jake much perplexity and some worry. First scored twice on plunges at
the line varied by sweeps and once on a short pass, Couch to Kruger.
The Second never got nearer the opponent’s goal than the twenty-four
yards, from where, after two forward-passes had failed, she attempted
a drop-kick only to have it blocked. Both teams were pretty well
played-out by the end and Jake shook his head dismally over them.
Bert saw his share of work that week, alternating with Keys in the
second set of backs. He did well on several occasions, not so well on
others. Once through the line or around an end, Bert could be counted
on to make good gains, but lack of weight handicapped him frequently
when the play called for beef and brawn. On such occasions Larry Keys
was the better of the two. On defense, however, Bert was showing
himself more than Larry’s equal, for he seemed to have an uncanny
ability to tell where the play was coming through and a speed not
possessed by his rival. He was confident that he had improved in his
playing a good deal in the course of the season, but he was equally
aware of his shortcomings as a line plunger and inclined to believe,
with Chick, that he would have to wait until next year to really make
good.
Chick was maintaining his attitude of wounded dignity, an attitude
which didn’t sit well on him and which his team-mates resented and
ridiculed. Many of them got sorely out of patience with Chick about
this time and perhaps wondered how they had ever come to consider
him for the captaincy. The things which had made for popularity were
conspicuously absent, and he had become what Ted Ball called “snorty.”
Nevertheless Chick managed to play some good football that week and
possibly caused Mr. Cade to wonder whether he had made a mistake in
shifting him out of the first line-up. Off the field he seemed to
Bert about the same old Chick, save that he was a trifle moody and
had periods of testiness during which he was hard to get along with.
He pretended that he didn’t care much whether he or Savell ended the
season in possession of his old position and managed to convey the idea
that he considered it below his dignity to compete for it. Just the
same he did compete, and Fitz was seldom more than a leap ahead in the
race during that week. He still played pool three and sometimes four
evenings out of seven, but he generally managed to get to bed if not
promptly by ten, at worst a few minutes after. Bert gathered that luck
still favored Mr. Devore, although Chick had become close-mouthed on
the subject of his favorite pastime.
All Alton journeyed to Warren on Saturday. The town was a small,
sleepy place, with elm-shaded streets and old white houses at wide
intervals, and when the Gray-and-Gold cohorts descended upon it, as
they did every other fall, it seemed to fairly shiver with outrage.
Mt. Millard School lay on the outskirts of the village, at the end of
a wide and shadowed street from which this afternoon clouds of dust
arose under the tread of the invaders. There was no lofty eminence in
sight to account for the school’s name, but the buildings did occupy
a perceptible rise in the landscape, beyond which, on a level plateau
of still verdant sod, stretched the playing field. As the day, while
not nearly so hot as the middle of the week, was decidedly warm, the
visitors were grateful for the shade supplied by a row of giant elms
that traversed one edge of the field. Scorning the half of a small
grandstand reserved for them, they made themselves comfortable on
the grass, while those of affluence and foresight produced provender
purchased on the way and did their best toward supplying the school
caretakers with a real day’s work for Monday.
Alton took the field at three with the same line-up used last week with
the exception of Lovell for Ball at quarter-back. Ted’s ankle was still
“backward in coming forward” and, although Jake had consented to his
playing if necessity required, he had resigned himself to an afternoon
of idleness. Mt. Millard had requested shortened periods in deference
to the warmth and thirteen- and twelve-minute quarters had been decided
on. Alton won the toss and chose to receive the kick-off and the
contest started.
Nip Storer caught near his fifteen yards and found the enemy presenting
a tough resistance to his advance and was satisfied with reaching
the twenty-two. A wide sweep, with Jim Galvin carrying the ball from
kicking position netted all but one yard of the required ten, and after
Nip had failed to get the distance on a plunge at guard he punted to
Mt. Millard’s thirty-three. Dutch Kruger was on hand when the local
quarter-back got the ball and stopped the latter for a two-yard gain.
Mt. Millard tried out Thomas and made two and swung around Savell’s end
for three more. A heave over the center grounded and the ball sailed
back to Alton’s twenty where Lovell caught, fumbled and recovered on
the twenty-seven. The Gray-and-Gold used the sweep play and crossed the
middle of the field in six downs. There, however, Lovell again fumbled
and Mt. Millard got the pigskin. A thrust at Meecham yielded a couple
of yards and the quarter skimmed Savell for three more. On third down
a double pass, with the ball finally going off toward the side line to
a waiting end, almost succeeded, but Kruger leaped into the air at the
last possible instant and knocked the oval down. Mt. Millard faked
a punt and made it first down with a six yard run by full-back. Two
slams at the left of the line netted five yards and a criss-cross sent
a back grinding off Haines for three more. Again a punt was faked and
Mt. Millard threw straight over center and well down the field for a
sixteen-yard advance that put the ball on Alton’s twenty-four. There
Alton braced and on two plunges the opponent lost three yards. A fake
forward-pass became a wide sprint by left half, but he was tumbled by
Thomas and it was fourth down with nine to go and the pigskin close
to a side-line. It was then that the home team won the visitor’s vast
respect.
The angle was too sharp to allow of a field-goal attempt with any hope
of success. Nine yards had to be gained if possession of the ball
was to be retained. Alton’s line had so far proved too strong for
assaults between tackles. Consequently there remained, apparently at
least, three courses for Mt. Millard. She could try a forward-pass,
an off-tackle play or an end run. To Alton the forward-pass seemed
the likeliest, since Mt. Millard had shown herself able to gain in
that manner. Consequently when the home team sent her kicker back to
position well over the thirty-yard line the adversary was sure that
a heave across the line would follow, and her backs formed to cover.
That the Mt. Millard quarter patted the ground smooth and knelt to
receive the pass from center failed to alter the enemy’s mind. All that
elaborate preparatory stuff was as old as the hills! The ball would
shoot straight to the full-back, who had been on the forwarding end of
two of Mt. Millard’s heaves, and he would throw. But Alton was due to
see a play new in her experience.
While it is an extremely difficult feat to kick the ball over the
bar and between the uprights from a position on the thirty-yard line
close to the boundary, it is not particularly difficult to accomplish
the same thing from a position in front of the goal. And, of course,
the difficulty decreases as the center of the line is approached.
Doubtless this thought occurred to the Mt. Millard quarter, for when
the ball left the hands of the center it didn’t go to the kneeling
quarter but to the left half, standing some four yards back of the
left guard-tackle hole. At the signal the full-back started across
the field, followed, when the ball went into play, by the right half
and quarter. Left half turned with the ball and, just as the defense
yielded behind him, threw it across to the full-back. The pass was
lateral and a good fifteen yards in length. Full-back made a clean
catch of it, continued for another three or four strides and stopped
abruptly. Right half-back and quarter met the first of the enemy, and
at that moment the full-back’s leg swung, the ball rebounded from the
sod, was met by a capable foot and went upwards and away just as Alton
reënforcements came up. The drop-kick was made from a point some eight
yards short of the middle of the field and close to the twenty-eight
yards, and the ball sailed squarely over the center of the bar!
Of course it was an absolutely impossible sort of play. It just
couldn’t be done! Alton blankly assured herself of that. But the
assurance brought no consolation since, you see, it had been done! Mt.
Millard’s supporters went quite crazy with delight and the full-back
was pummeled by his enthusiastic team-mates. Alton recovering from
her surprise, congregated about the officials and protested the play.
Captain Jonas declared, doubtfully though, that a drop-kick following
a side pass was illegal, but, when instructed to point to the rule
covering the point, he could only shake his head.
Mt. Millard’s name on the small score-board above the stand was graced
by an excited youth with a large figure 3 and the game proceeded. That
lone tally was unchanged when the half ended.
There had by that time been three changes in Alton’s line-up, all
in the second quarter. Cahill had gone in at center for Lum Patten,
whose game knee had received a further indignity, Ness had superseded
Storer and Keys had taken Walsh’s place at right half. Walsh had
shown up rather poorly on defense. Nip had been retired that he might
be returned later in fresh condition. In the draped-off corner of the
gymnasium floor during the fifteen minutes between the halves Coach
Cade talked very quietly and convincingly. They had, he told them,
shown themselves able to stop Mt. Millard’s line attack. Consequently,
the adversary would undoubtedly rely more strongly than before on her
aerial game. And she would get away with it unless Alton watched more
closely and covered the opposing eligibles. “You must stop trying to
guess the play, fellows. You can’t do it against a team like the one
you’re up against to-day. The only way to find what the play is going
to be is to use your eyes and your brains and, above all, watch the
ball! Don’t think that the enemy is going to do a certain thing just
because it’s what you’d do in her case. She’s got a clever quarter
in there and he has caught you napping twice already. Watch the ball
every minute and follow it close. That’s the only way you’ll stop Mt.
Millard.”
The third quarter was Mt. Millard’s, although there was no scoring. A
forlorn attempt from Alton’s thirty-seven yards to put the ball over
from a placement kick failed badly some five minutes after the start.
Still later, after Alton had made a fine but futile drive down the
field from her own thirty-eight to Mt. Millard’s thirty-six, the home
team took possession of the ball and by plays off the tackles, two
forward passes that netted but twelve yards and a twenty-odd-yard dash
by the left half worked the pigskin back to the visitor’s twenty-eight.
There it was when the third quarter ended.
Nip Storer had already returned to his position at left half and Patten
was back at center. Nat Wick, hurt in a savage attack at his position,
had yielded to Hop Meecham. Now another change was made, for Ted Ball
hobbled on and relieved Bus Lovell. Not that Bus appeared to view it
as a relief, however! With two downs remaining, Mt. Millard tried
her familiar trick of faking a kick and threw forward. Dutch Kruger,
though, had his man covered well and the ball grounded. The Mt. Millard
full-back strode off to the thirty-seven yards and held out his arms.
But before his foot reached the ball Billy Haines was on top of him
and the kick only sent the pigskin bounding back from Billy’s body.
Followed a wild and frantic pursuit that was finally ended when Fitz
Savell fell on the ball close to the forty-five-yard line.
Alton now brought her heavy artillery into play, hurling Jim Galvin
and Storer at the wings on short plunges that twice won first downs
and took the ball to Mt. Millard’s thirty-three. There, however, the
enemy closed up, and after a sweep to the right, with Keys carrying,
had failed of more than a yard Galvin tossed across the center to
Savell who was downed where he caught for a six-yard gain. Jim smashed
out two more at center with Number 14. (The delayed pass play had
been used but twice before that afternoon and had failed each time,
seeming to prove Chick’s contention that it wouldn’t fool a wide-awake
opponent.) But this time it succeeded, if not greatly, and left the
pigskin less than a yard short of the distance. Ted Ball asked for time
and conferred with Captain Jonas. Ted favored a field-goal and a tied
score, for, with Storer drop-kicking from the thirty-three yards and
almost in front of goal, the chance was excellent. But Captain Lowe
held other views. The game was close to its end and in his judgment a
tied score was tantamount to defeat, and Jonas wanted a victory. While
they were still talking, two substitutes ran on. These were Tyron and
Hollins, relieving Nip Storer and Larry Keys. Nip raged and Ted Ball
protested, but rage and protest carried no weight with the official.
Nip went off, plainly incensed, followed more mildly by Keys, and Ted
knew that Captain Jonas had won the argument. With Storer out of the
backfield there was no one remaining who could be relied on for a
field-goal. Of course Coach Cade had sided with Jonas and this was his
way of announcing the fact. Johnny, too, chose to gain all or lose
all, and Ted studied the situation. Tyron was a heavy back who had
remained a third choice all season. Hollins was a light, fast player
who must be provided with safe conduct through the enemy lines before
he could prove his value. But Hollins too had more than once completed
a forward-pass for a good gain. Ted’s brows wrinkled while he used up
every second of the two minutes he had demanded. When the whistle blew
he had made his decision.
Of course he must set the stage for a field-goal first, and that he
did. But when he called his signals Tyron shouted “Over! Over!” That,
Ted reflected bitterly, was like the dumb-bell! Tyron could carry a
ball and batter a line, but his was no agile brain! Ted called the play
again, changing the first signals, and waited until a show of relief on
Tyron’s countenance indicated that the idea had percolated to the seat
of reason. Then he repeated and the ball went back.
But not to Galvin, back in kicker’s place. It went to Ted, and Ted
swung around with it and, after a tick of time, tossed it toward a
speeding form. The whole Alton backfield was moving to the left now,
and not only the backfield but Captain Jonas and Hop Meecham and, last
of all, Fitz Savell, following around as rear guard. Tyron headed the
interference, Bert carried, Galvin ran beside the latter. It was Jim
who met the enemy right end and heaved him aside. Bert found himself
slowed by Tyron and swung outside as the defensive end went down. Then
he wheeled sharply and cut in. A back lunged toward him out of the
mêlée, but Savell charged between, and Bert, his head up and eyes busy,
saw the open road ahead.