LOCKING HORNS WITH HARMONY
Such a crowd had never before been seen in Chester, according to the
opinion of the oldest inhabitant. The fact of its being a holiday had
something to do with it, of course. Then again the recent victory of
the home eleven over Marshall seemed to have electrified the entire
community, which was rapidly becoming "sport mad," as some of the old
fogies complained.
The Harmony Tigers showed up in a big carry-all motor-van about the
time Jack and his followers trooped on the field, and began to pass
the ball around to limber up their muscles for the great test. They
were given a royal reception, for there were many hundreds of Harmony
rooters on hand to help the boys with cheers and the waving of flags
and pennants. Besides, Chester was showing a fine spirit that could
applaud a clever play, even on the part of the enemy team, though
naturally their best yells would be reserved for the home boys.
When the two teams lined up facing each other they stood as follows:
Chester Position Harmony
Jones.............. L.E ...........Osterhide
Jackman............ L.T. ............O'Leary
McGuffey........... L.G. .............Bailey
Griffin........... Center .............Chase
Hemming............ R.G. ..............Boggs
Badger............. R.T. ............Leonard
Douglas............ R.E. ...........Clifford
Hopkins............ Q.B. .....Martin (Capt.)
Mullane........... L.H.B. ............Oliver
Winters (Capt.)... R.H.B. ..........Oldsmith
Jeffries........... F.B. ..........Hutchings
Really it looked as though the Tigers outclassed their opponents at
the ratio of five to six, so far as weight and brawn went. They were
an even heavier aggregation than the Marshall team; which, by the way,
had been snowed under on the preceding Saturday to the tune of 27 to
6, the Harmony boys scoring almost at will; and this sort of
proceeding of course warned the whole Chester team, watching eagerly
from the side lines, what they would be up against when their day
came.
The game was started, and it was a seesaw affair all through the first
period, play being kept near mid-field most of the time, with the
advantage on neither side. Consequently, when after a brief
intermission to allow of any necessary changes in the formation of the
teams, not required as yet, the crowd was unable to decide where the
advantage lay. But Harmony fans kept saying that the time had not yet
come for their favorites to break loose; when it did there would be
"something doing" to make Chester folks "sit up and take notice."
This proved to be poor prediction so far as the second quarter went.
Indeed, the tide started immediately to set in the other direction.
Hopkins, quarterback for Chester, scored a touchdown in this period
that carried the crowd off its feet with excitement, it was so
cleverly done. He took a forward pass from Winters, who shot the ball
from the fourteen-yard line zone.
The defense of Harmony was all set and ready, but the artful Hopkins
must have discovered a small opening through which he managed to dash.
It was, taken altogether, a daring play, and succeeded as much from
that reason as anything else. In football the unexpected counts most,
and Harmony was certainly caught napping.
Winters made his difficult pass as swift and sure as a rifleshot into
Hopkins' arms. In a moment the Harmony backs downed him, but the
tackle came too late to save the score.
This touchdown really had its origin in an error of the Harmony
team--just one of the errors that add thrills to the enjoyment of the
crowd, but which must have doubtless made the respective coaches shudder.
Chester kicked off at the beginning of the second half, and Captain
Martin of Harmony ran the ball back to the 39-yard line, where he was
tackled so hard by Jones that he fumbled, and Badger fell on the ball
for Chester.
The Harmony team was thrown into momentary confusion by this sudden
turn in affairs, and Chester was quick to take advantage of the
opportunity thus thrust upon them. On the very next play Winters
called for an end-over play which left Jackman clear and alone; and
accordingly Badger heaved a pass to Jackman, who dashed to Harmony's
20-yard line before he was dragged down.
A thrust at the line was repelled, but another pass, Winters to
Griffin, gained 5 yards, and the ball rested on Harmony's 5-yard line.
An attack on Harmony's line resulted in a 3-yard loss, and on the last
down Winters resorted to the play that resulted so advantageously for
his side.
The ball traveled through a charmed zone, it seemed, for a dozen
Harmony hands leaped out to bat it as it sped along into the arms of
the Chester quarterback.
Thus at the beginning of play in the third period, after Harmony had
brought two new men into the field, and Douglas, for Chester, who had
been injured, was replaced by Wiggins, the scare stood 6 to 0 in favor
of Chester, for of course it had been easily possible to kick a goal
following the touchdown.
Harmony looked dangerous at once. They started in as though determined
to make amends for that blunder which had cost them so dearly.
Those in the grand-stand who knew the signs best settled back with the
comfortable feeling that Harmony had at last awakened to the fact that
with half the game over they were in peril of being beaten, which
would cover them with shame. It was bad enough to have lost to Chester
in baseball, but to have to yield the supremacy of the gridiron to the
same town would be a calamity indeed.
So they just tore their way down the field, and soon had Chester
fighting madly to keep them from a touchdown. There was some really
brilliant play shown here, on both sides, that called forth frenzied
cheers. But the applause died away like magic almost as quickly as it
started; for everybody knew how essential it was in a grim struggle
like this that the players should be allowed to hear the signals
called out by their leaders.
The hilarity of the Harmony rooters increased when Oldsmith, right
halfback, crashed through left tackle for a gain of 8 yards, dragging
a couple of Chester tacklers with him. Hutchings plunged straight
ahead for 6 yards more, and the ball was then on Chester's 8-yard
line.
There began to arise a howl for a touchdown as the Chester players
braced themselves for the shock. The Harmony line shifted quickly and
a double pass was tried. Martin tossed the ball to Hutchings, who shot
it toward Oldsmith for a dash upon Chester's 6-yard line. Oldsmith
reached the ball, but it slipped through his eager fingers, and was
buried under a swirl of Chester fellows.
After that the Harmony team waxed anxious again. They had learned that
this Chester aggregation was all that Marshall had found it to be, if
not more so. Their line tightened up at the critical places, and their
right halfback, Oldsmith, proved himself to be a very dangerous
person, likely to circle the ends, and break up the game at any stage.
Soon another drive was started on the part of Harmony, seemingly
determined not to be denied the touchdown so urgently needed. Sheer
weight carried Chester back, as it seemed, helplessly. Plainly the
only way to counteract this advantage on the part of Harmony was
through cleverness and swiftness. Captain Winters unbottled another of
the tricks which old Joe Hooker had taught them, and the crowd gasped
in wonder as they saw the tide again turn in Chester's favor, since
they had possession of the ball.
Back and forth the battle raged. It was furious while it lasted, and
kept everybody keyed up to top-notch excitement. Most of the fighting
in this period was done on Chester territory, however, for despite
their utmost endeavors Jack and his boys seemed unable to carry the
war into the enemy's country.
With but a short two minutes to cover Harmony finally took a mad pace
and managed to get the touchdown so ardently desired, as well as a
subsequent goal, making the score a tie, just as it had been at the
end of the third period when Chester and Marshall locked horns.
The mighty Harmony machine-roller seemed at fault when trying to crush
all opposition on the part of Chester. Something seemed to have
happened--either Harmony was weaker than when playing last with
Marshall, or else they found the defensive tactics of their latest
enemy more stubborn and resourceful.
The last quarter opened, and again the fight raged bitterly. Jack
uncorked more of the contents of the trick bottle, and as a result the
ball was over on Harmony territory from the start. Captain Winters had
figured it all out, and knowing what slight chances they had of
securing another touchdown against those stalwart fellows, he had
determined to risk everything on a kick from placement.
Somehow he seemed to feel this was Big Bob's special day, and that
some of the glory ought to be given to him in order to prove that
happiness can work wonders, even on the gridiron. So with an eye on
the chances, also observing the slant of the wind, and such minor yet
important things, Jack tried his best to work matters that the ball
would still be in their possession when on Harmony's 30-yard line.
At last he gave the signal. The crowd stood up to see better when it
was realized that a kick from field was going to be resorted to. Jack
himself sprawled there on the ground to grip the ball, while Jeffries
poised himself to deliver the boot that might settle the whole game.
Such a play is a spectacular thing when done properly, and
particularly when attended by success. With the halfback down flat and
holding the oval, and the kicker with one eye on the ball and the
other on the tacklers just breaking through it is not the easiest
thing in the world to do. There was intense silence, so that the sound
of the blow was plainly heard, even in the grandstand. Up rose the
ball, describing a graceful arch. Would it fall between the goal-
posts, or, carried by the wind, drop far to one side? Everybody was
doubtless asking himself or herself that question.
Then it was seen to drop exactly between the posts and well beyond,
really one of the most beautiful kicks ever seen. A mighty roar from
the crowd attested to the admiration felt for Jeffries, the fellow
capable of doing such a fine piece of work.
With the score 9 to 6 and against them Harmony now started in to make
a last game fight to carry the ball across into hostile territory; but
there were only four minutes left in which to do or die.