FIGHTING SPIRIT
The day of the game dawned with a miserable wet rain falling. The
Canton High team and five hundred raving rooters arrived by special
train at ten in the morning. Nothing seemed to dampen their spirits.
They came with the intention of winning a decisive victory and having a
big time in the doing.
Judd, hollow-eyed from loss of sleep through dread of the approaching
conflict, met with other members of the team at eleven o'clock. Most
of the boys were in good spirits. The coach had insisted that they eat
at a training table and that he supervise the last meal eaten before
the big game. He always got the boys in uniform early and gave them an
opportunity to wear off the first wave of excitement before the game
was called.
Blackwell managed to sit next to Billings. He saw that Judd was almost
beside himself with nervousness, playing with his food and making a
sorry pretense of eating.
"I--I'd give anything if I could get out of this..."
"No you wouldn't," prompted Blackwell, "You'd be ashamed of yourself
for the rest of your life ... and you know it."
Judd hung his head. He had to confess that what Blackwell said was
true. Now that he had waged the fight against himself, there was a
certain growing spirit which refused to let him stop. He had thought
that he would quit on the last night of scrimmage but the next night
found him out taking a light signal practice with the team. It was as
if he had started an automobile and then wished to stop it only to find
that it had gotten beyond his control. The situation was terrifying.
When Judd dressed for the game he took a white slip of paper from his
wallet and folded it inside his head gear. Some of the players saw him
do it and one asked, "What's that for, a shock absorber?" The question
was a harmless thrust but Judd flushed guiltily. They certainly would
kid him if they knew what it really was!
In the distance could be heard the yells of the rival schools and the
blare of the school bands. Overhead, in the lulls, could be heard the
monotonous drip of the rain. What a day for a football game! The
gridiron was water-soaked and soggy. A person would get covered with
dirt and wet to the skin. Nothing inviting about that to Judd.
"Fellows, I've been your coach for seven years. There has never been a
game in all my experience that I have wanted to win more than this one.
We will be outweighed; we will be faced by a team of veterans; but we
will not be outspirited. Trumbull has always possessed the spirit that
never says die. I know that every man on the first team will be out
there ... when his chance comes ... giving everything he has for old
Trumbull...." The coach's eyes passed over every boy in the squad,
pausing just a moment to rest upon Billings, then moving on quickly.
The last pointed words of the coach failed to impress Judd. He seemed
in a daze. Could it be possible that he was actually a sub on the
first team and that he might be called upon to play? The thoughts of
honor had not come to him ... of fighting for his school ... of
fighting for anything in particular. But he did want to fight to live
up to the contract ... to the belief that a few people had in him.
Judd followed the other subs to a bench along the edge of the field.
He sat down with Burton, second team quarterback, beside him. They
watched the Trumbull eleven as it took the field amid a riotous
welcoming from the umbrella packed stands. Judd studied the blue
jerseyed youths of Canton in comparison with the dark red clad boys of
Trumbull. It seemed to him that the Canton team was better drilled,
the players moved with more snap and machine-like precision. Judd felt
nervous and fidgety.
Trumbull won the toss and chose to kick off. There was a tense hum of
sound as Barley, Trumbull quarterback, knelt and pointed the ball on a
wet clod of dirt. Rudolph measured off the distance to kick. The
opposing captains raised their arms, the referee's whistle shrilled,
and the wall of red clad Trumbull warriors moved forward as the ball
spun into the air.
Rudolph's kick carried to the ten yard line where Drake, Canton
fullback, gathered it in and fell behind his quickly formed
interference. He slipped and slid through the mud as he ran. A
Trumbull player, meeting the solid phalanx at the twenty yard line,
plunged low into the interference, being trampled under foot. But he
succeeded in breaking the formation. Fellow team-mates tore into the
advancing runners and the big fullback was downed on the thirty-five
yard line after a brilliant opening run. The stands were in an uproar.
Judd had watched the play, being conscious of a peculiar pulsation in
his throat. The very atmosphere seemed suddenly charged with fighting
spirit ... he saw the Trumbull team ... now transformed into mighty
gladiators ... and he experienced a shocking sensation at the thought
that he was one of them ... in reserve.
Button pounded him on the back. "Wow! They failed to gain!" as the
first onslaught of the Canton line was repulsed for a two yard loss.
Before the game was five minutes old it was sadly evident that
today--of all days--weight was very likely to tell. The wet field was
bound to greatly handicap the work of both teams. There would be
little opportunity for fast, open field work or much passing. The
plays would have to be through the line or around the end--straight
football largely.
As the first quarter drew to a close, Canton had the ball on Trumbull's
thirty yard line, benefiting by a series of punt exchanges. Holding
desperately to prevent Canton gaining another first down, Trumbull was
slowly but surely pushed backward through the mud. With one yard to
go, Drake came crashing through center for three yards, battering his
way with scarcely any interference to help him.
Judd seemed to feel each impact as the opposing lines strained against
each other. He cringed inwardly as he heard the smack of Drake's
collision with Barley, who brought the big fellow to earth. Canton's
first down on Trumbull's eighteen yard line!
The first down seemed to give the heavier Canton team new life. They
went to the attack with a savageness which was not to be denied. Using
the sledge-hammer power of Drake ... the Canton team pounded again and
again at the Trumbull line. The players could scarcely be recognized
for the mud with which they were bespattered.
Judd noticed Blackwell, hobbling up and down in his nervous eagerness,
looking appealingly at the coach. But Coach Little shook his head. He
was taking no chances by putting Blackwell in so long as there was no
opportunity of his doing much good. Blackwell's value, in his present
condition, would lie in his offensive ability--if he could be used at
all. Judd wondered why Blackwell wanted to get into such a combat. He
recoiled at the very thought that he might be called upon.
An excited cry directed Judd's attention back to the play of the
moment. The Trumbull line had faltered and the Canton backfield was
through with Drake again carrying the ball. Judd saw Barley brushed
aside as he dove for the runner. Rudolph, the last line of defense,
came dashing in and threw himself at the Canton fullback as he crossed
the goal line. Drake spun around and fell heavily over the goal,
landing solidly upon his tackler. A mighty cheer went up from the
Canton rooters--a cheer which died out in a sudden hush when it was
seen that the tackler did not rise. Trumbull players gathered about
Rudolph. "Water! Water!" A boy near Judd picked up a pail and went
racing out on the field, dabbing a sponge in it as he ran. Judd stared
dumbly at Burton, who said: "That's tough! ... Looks like Rudie's out!"
They carried Rudolph from the field and Blackwell went limping out to
take his place. The Canton team lined up for the try at goal. Rudolph
was regaining his senses and struggling to be in action again. Judd
leaned over toward him. "You're out of it, old man," he said,
soothingly. Judd thought this remark would be a great relief to one
who had received such a jolt as Rudolph. But Rudolph only glared at
him as another cheer told plainly that Canton had kicked goal. Score
seven to nothing ... favor of Canton. Referee's whistle! First
quarter up.
The teams exchanged goals and Canton kicked off to Trumbull. Barley
caught the ball on his fifteen yard line and ran it back seven yards
before a Canton linesman struck him down on a pretty tackle.
Blackwell, taking the ball on the first play, made a limping plunge
around right end for a three yard gain. He was given a resounding
cheer for his gameness. Two more downs and Trumbull was forced to
punt. Blackwell went back and tested his footing in the mud. He
shifted his weight carefully to his left foot and booted the ball, but
his kick lacked the power it ordinarily contained. The punt carried a
scant thirty yards and the Canton halfback who caught it came charging
toward the Trumbull goal to Trumbull's twenty-eight yard line. Several
attempts to tackle this elusive runner were thwarted by the slippery
condition underfoot.
With the ball in Canton's possession again the relentless pound, pound,
pound against Trumbull's line began anew. Despite heroic attempts of
Trumbull linesmen to stop the advance, the heavier Canton line pushed
and shoved and forced its way through, making a path for the seemingly
tireless Drake who had been nicknamed "Mud Scow" by an ingenious Canton
yell leader.
Eleven minutes of the second quarter were gone when "Mud Scow" Drake
went over for the second touchdown. Judd had watched Trumbull for
every foot of the water-soaked territory. He had seen Blackwell, on
three different occasions, stop the slashing, slipping drive of Drake
... had seen these two go down in a sea of mud ... had seen Blackwell
get up each time a little slower ... had seen the undaunted
determination upon his dirt-smeared face. And when the Canton team
lined up joyously for their second try at goal after touchdown, Judd
saw that Blackwell was crying ... crying in unashamed fashion ...
perhaps he wasn't even conscious that he was crying. This was all so
puzzling to Judd. He had thought of himself first in everything. He
could not comprehend exactly why Blackwell should be so concerned ...
unless he were hurt ... and suffering! It did not dawn upon him what
Blackwell was actually thinking ... that Blackwell, in his last year at
school, felt himself unable to do his best ... sensed his inability to
put the punch in the team ... to restore its shattered confidence ...
shattered because of Canton's powerful, battering attack.
The first half ended with the ball on Trumbull's ten yard line and
Canton just that far away from a third touchdown! Score, Canton 14;
Trumbull 0. Drake's well trained toe had added the extra point after
the second touchdown also.
"So far the game looks like a one man offensive and the advantage of
weight," Coach Little told his players between halves. "Stop this
fellow Drake and you'll stop their drive. They're using him because
they have to depend upon straight football and he's the strongest man
in their backfield. The chances are that Canton will play a defensive
game from now on and you must take the offensive in order to win.
You've got everything against you today but one thing ... and that's
spirit. Any team that can put up the fight you have out there every
minute of the half need not be discouraged. Don't think about the
score. Concentrate on every play ... put everything you have in it ...
and the score will take care of itself..."
The coach sent the same lineup back into the game.
Rudolph, swathed in blankets, sat near Judd, who watched him out of the
corner of his eye. He noticed that Rudolph kept his attention centered
on every move of the game. Canton kicked off, and it was Trumbull's
ball on Trumbull's thirty yard line. Rudolph's lips moved at each
calling of the signals. Judd unconsciously got to doing the same
thing. Every time Blackwell's number was called he imagined that he
was Blackwell and followed the play through in his mind. Blackwell was
holding up ... he was good for short gains almost every time he took
the ball. But after each run he dragged himself back into position and
scraped the mud from his feet as though each sticking clod held him
back.
Rudolph nudged Judd after a play in which Blackwell's fatigue was most
evident. "You'll get your chance pretty soon ... he's about all in!"
The blood went racing to Judd's head. The entire game had been thus
far like a disconnected dream to him. It had been difficult to
actually associate himself with it.
"My ... my chance!" he faltered.
Rudolph nodded ... then clutched Judd's sleeve. "See ... Blackwell's
looking this way ... we've got to kick ... and ... he can't!"
The field seemed to blur out of Judd's vision. There was a sickening
buzzing in his head ... he looked at Rudolph with undisguised horror on
his face.
"Me ... me ... go in ... there?"
Rudolph gave him a look of scorn and threw aside his blankets. Coach
Little came up, slapping Judd on the back. "You're taking Blackwell's
place, Billings ..."
"Let me go in!" pleaded Rudolph, "Judd's scared stiff!"
The coach glanced sharply at the shivering substitute. The referee's
whistle was screeching demandingly. Blackwell was being helped off the
field.
"No, Rudie ... you're done for the day. It's up to Billings."
The coach turned to Judd.
"Billings, I'm not putting you in because I want to ... it's because I
have to, understand? And if you show yellow ... everyone in Trumbull
and everyone in the state for that matter ... is going to know it."
Judd ripped off his sweater. He passed Blackwell as he went out to
report to the referee. Blackwell called to him. "I'm counting on you,
Judd ... do it for me, old boy!"
The great Bob's younger brother had a mixture of feelings ... the words
of the coach had aroused him more than he had ever thought he could be
aroused ... and Blackwell's plea had brought to him a flash of what it
really meant to forget self. If Blackwell could play as he had played
with a sprained ankle when every step meant a stab of pain ... if
Rudolph had given his best and was even now, though injured, willing to
get back into the battle ... why couldn't he carry on the good fight?
WHY COULDN'T HE? The question suddenly became an obsession with him.
And the answer began to rise up within him ... "I can ... I CAN!"
The ball was on Trumbull's thirty-five yard line and last down. Barley
met Billings on his way out to the team. Judd had an odd thought that
Barley reminded him of a man who had stuck his head out of a sewer hole
and looked at him one day. Why should he think of such a curious thing
as that ... at a time like this? But Barley was shouting something at
him ... the stands were on their feet ... shouting ... shouting ...
what were they shouting? ... why! ... it was HIS name!
"Come on, Billings! Get us out of this hole," pleaded Barley.
And when he said this ... the haunting face of the sewer digger came
back to Judd ... came back in such a ludicrous light that Judd looked
at Barley and laughed. Get him out of the hole? Certainly he would!
The other players--grim, tired, water-soaked--saw Judd laugh. His
first time under fire in the biggest game of the year ... and he could
laugh!
To Barley the laugh came as a ray of sunshine. His worries vanished.
Judd had the attitude of a veteran. Barley ran along the line, kicking
each linesman as the referee's whistle put the ball again in play.
"Get in there and hold that line!"
There was the sloppy crunching of body against body as the slippery
ball snapped back to Billings. Judd caught it, juggled it, recovered
and kicked. The ball arched skyward in a twisting spiral. Trumbull
ends, making a quick get away, went stumbling and sliding down the
field.
Drake stood under the punt, waiting to catch it. As he reached up to
grab it a Trumbull end hit him, the slippery ball eluded his wet
fingers and bounced a few feet away. The other end, closing in, dove
for the ball. There was a wet mass of muddy forms disputing
possession. The referee dug down to the bottom of the heap.
Trumbull's ball on Canton's seventeen yard line!
The first real break in the game had favored Trumbull. Barley pounced
upon Judd and hugged him happily. "Good boy, Judd ... we're going to
score!" The team showed new spirit. Every man was on his toes. Only
seventeen yards away from a touchdown! The stands began to come to
life. "Yeah, Trumbull ... Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
Signals! Judd was conscious of them ... but he was also conscious that
the signals had a direct relation to him. He knew, for instance, that
the first play was going through left guard and that he was to form
interference for the right half. The ball was passed back. Judd
automatically crossed in front of the right half and charged toward the
Canton left guard ... but Canton had broken through ... and he found
himself confronted with two determined-looking tacklers. He slipped
and half fell into them and both opponents fell with him. The right
half plunged on over them, Judd feeling a foot on the scruff of his
neck as his face went down in the mud. The play netted a bare yard.
Signals! It seemed that he had scarcely gained his feet before he was
whirled into another play. Barley was pepping up the team ... he was
putting drive into them ... and he was calling Billings' number!
Judd took the ball and fell in behind his interference. He circled the
end, running wide. A tackler attempted to reach him but slipped and
went down in the gummy mire. He stuck out his hand and another tackler
dropped away from him. He was conscious of the rain on his face ...
and it seemed that for every foot he advanced ... he slid two feet
backward. Judd now found himself running alone. He turned in as he
came to a strip of white along the edge of the field, catching a
fleeting glimpse of umbrellas and huddled spectators ... then he saw
the big form of Drake plowing toward him with arms outstretched.
Fear overtook Judd ... a fear which blotted out everything else from
the daze of his thoughts. But in this instance, fear saved him. Judd
made a supreme effort to avoid being tackled, and leaped past Drake
just as Drake left his feet. Drake struck in a shallow puddle and
rolled over and Judd fell across the goal line. He had scored a
touchdown the first time that he was given the ball!
As quick to reclaim him as they had been quick to condemn him, his
team-mates crowded about Judd and for the first time made him feel the
glow of comradeship. Only Judd knew how unworthy of their praise he
was. His touchdown had been a happy accident. His attempt to kick
goal was blocked. Score, Canton 14; Trumbull 6.
Two minutes remained of the third quarter. Trumbull kicked off and the
ball was downed on Canton's twenty-one yard line. Canton tried the
Trumbull line for two downs and found that the line had stiffened.
Trumbull was holding desperately. Then Drake dropped back as if to
kick. Barley called to Billings. "Get back. Watch out for a fake
punt!"
Judd had hardly gotten back when the play started. Drake was a triple
threat man. He made as if to pass to the left end, then plunged
through the right side of the line. Barley tackled Drake but the big
fullback shook him off and started into an open field with only
Billings between him and the Trumbull goal, seventy some yards away.
Judd had been living in dread of such a moment. There flashed through
his mind the temptation to make a seeming effort to tackle Drake and
fail. It would be easy to let on that he had slipped in the mud. And
there would be no danger of his getting hurt. He saw Drake preparing
to straight arm. Then Judd saw a mental picture of Blackwell with his
lame ankle, running toward the self-same Drake unflinchingly and
bringing him to the ground. A sudden blast of courage came over him.
He ran at Drake swiftly and knocked Drake's arm aside; his arms closed
about Drake's knees; the big fullback lurched to free himself, twisted
his body in an adroit manner and managed to swing Judd about so that
the weight of his body landed on his tackler's head. Judd experienced
the same sensation that had come to Rudolph.
Barley, the first to his side ... spoke harshly to Drake. "Trumbull
men always play fair ... this is the second man you've put out of the
game!"
Drake laughed and denied the accusation.
A water boy came running up and dashed a pail of water on Judd's face.
The Trumbull players crowded about, crestfallen. Judd came to ... with
an expression of pain on his face. He moved his left shoulder
cautiously and winced as he did so. "Oh ... take me out ... take me
out..." he whispered ... "My shoulder!"
Barley picked up Billings' head gear which had been knocked off in the
tackle. The stands were cheering his name. But Judd was conscious
only of pain. As they helped him to his feet ... he saw the coach on
the field.
"I--I can't go on, sir," he said. "I--I'm hurt."
The coach examined Judd's shoulder. "It's just a wrench ... you're our
only hope ... can't you stick?"
As the coach asked the question he took the head gear from Barley's
hands and went to place it back on Billings' head. A piece of white
paper fell out. The coach picked it up curiously. There was some
writing on it.
"Here, sir! Give that to me! That's mine!" Judd's eyes flashed. It
would not do for anyone to see what was written on it. If they did he
would be humiliated forever.
"Please, sir!" as the coach began to unfold the paper. "If you'll give
it back to me ... I'll stick in the game!"
Coach Little shook his head perplexedly and handed him back the paper.
Judd took it shame-facedly and tucked it quickly in his cap, turning
away. His team-mates stared at him in incomprehensive amazement.
"He's gone nutty!" said Barley.
The players had no sooner lined up to resume play than the whistle blew
for the end of the third quarter. The ball was on Canton's thirty-nine
yard line and Canton's first down. Score--Canton 14; Trumbull 6.
On the sidelines a small commotion was evident. The great Bob Billings
had arrived! He'd intended to see the entire game but had missed train
connections at the junction. It had been his desire, however, to keep
Judd from knowing of his contemplated presence. The substitutes
crowded around the former Trumbull star in eager admiration. Bob
sought out Coach Little.
"Mister Little ... my name's Bob Billings ... how's the game going?"
"Too much beef for us in weather like this ... the boys are putting up
a great fight though!"
"How ... how's my kid brother doing?"
Coach Little looked out upon the field. The teams were changing ends
and getting in position to take up play in the last quarter.
"I can't understand him. He scored our only touchdown on a great
fifteen yard sprint. Then he stopped that big bull ... Drake ... just
as it looked like Drake had a clear field. Drake fell on Judd after
the tackle and hurt him ... He'd have quit the game then and there if
it hadn't been for a piece of paper."
"A piece of paper?"
Coach Little laughed. "Yes ... I found it in his cap and gave it back
to him without reading it on his promise to stay in the game. I
suppose the kid's sweet on some girl and was more afraid of being
embarrassed than he was of being hurt!"
The great Bob's eyes clouded over, and his jaws tightened. "Poor
Buddy!" he said, softly.