ering lustily again. Across the faded green, at
the end of the newly-brushed white lines, nearly a hundred Claflin
youths were waving their banners and cheering back confidently.

"Claflin kicks off," sang Captain Edwards. "We take the west goal. Come
on, fellows! Everyone on the jump now!"

A long-legged Claflin guard piled the dirt up into a six-inch cone, laid
the ball tenderly upon it, viewed the result, altered it, backed off and
waited.

"All ready, Claflin? All ready, Brimfield?"

The whistle blew.

CHAPTER XXV

TIM GOES OVER

COACH ROBEY put his best foot forward when the first period started by
presenting the strongest line-up he had. Fortunately, Brimfield had
reached the Claflin game with every first-string man in top shape,
something that doesn't often happen with a team. There was Captain
Edwards at left end, Thayer at left tackle, Gilbert at left guard,
Thursby at centre, Hall at right guard, Crewe at right tackle, Holt at
right end, Carmine at quarter, St. Clair at left half, Otis at right
half and Rollins at full.

Opposed to them was a team fully their equal in age, weight and
experience. The Claflin forwards were a bit taller and rangier, and
their centre, unlike Thursby, was below rather than above average size.
Behind their line, the four players were, with the exception of Grady,
full-back, small and light. But they were known to be fast and heady and
Claflin didn't make the mistake of underestimating their ability. The
left half, Cox, was a broken-field runner of renown as well as
Claflin's best goal-kicker. Perhaps it would have been difficult that
fall to have picked two teams to oppose each other that were more evenly
matched than those representing the Maroon-and-Grey and the Blue.

For the first few minutes of play each eleven seemed to be feeling out
its opponent. Two exchanges of punts gained ground for neither side.
Brimfield got her backfield working then on her twenty yards and St.
Clair and Tim tried each side of the blue line and in two downs gained a
scant six yards. Rollins punted out at Claflin's forty-seven. The Blue
got past Hall for two and slid off Holt for three more. The next rush
failed and Claflin punted to Carmine on the fifteen. The Blue's ends
were down on Carmine and he was stopped for a five-yard gain. Rollins
tried a forward pass to Edwards, but threw short and the ball grounded.
Tim Otis ran the left end for four and, on a delayed pass, Rollins
heav