FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   >>  
least two thousand people hovered behind the goal posts at the ends of the field and swarms were even accommodated in roped off areas between the foot of the bleachers and the playing lines. Both teams appeared a trifle nervous before the game commenced, undoubtedly caused by the magnitude of the crowd and the importance of winning. McDonald, Thorpe, Preston, McCabe, and Judd, all Bartlett substitutes, swathed in extra sweaters, seated themselves by the sidelines, in an advantageous position, to watch the game. Benz, captain, conferred with Melvin, Pennington captain. The referee tossed a coin. Melvin won the toss and chose to receive the kickoff. Benz selected the north goal for Bartlett to defend. The two teams lined up quickly. An avalanche of sound came from the spectators. "Are you ready?" shrieked the referee to the Pennington captain. Melvin raised his hand in the affirmative. "Ready, Bartlett?" But Benz was crouching, tying up a shoe lace, preparatory to kicking, and trying to overcome his nervousness. This prolonged the tenseness. After an age, it seemed, he straightened up; the referee raised his arm; the Bartlett men leaned forward, expectantly; the whistle screeched; Benz booted the ball; and the great game was on! It was a splendid kickoff. The ball rose, spinning like a top and with enough impetus to send it far down the field. Knapp, Pennington quarterback, captured the pigskin on his fifteen yard line and dodged in behind his quickly formed interference. For five,--ten,--fifteen yards he ran; his advance guard toppling man after man who attempted to reach him! The crowd was on its feet, howling like mad! "Stop him!" shrieked the Bartlett stands. "Go on, Pennington!" bawled the Red and Blue. A lanky individual now loomed up in the path of the oncoming trio. It was Pole! He hurled himself straight at the knees of the interference and the men went down like ten pins. All save Knapp. Small of stature and a veritable rabbit on his feet; his interference now gone, he depended upon his own cleverness to gain more ground. He eluded the too eager arms of Benz who missed his tackle completely and struck face downward on the sod. The spectators were now become fairly wild with excitement. Such a brilliant run at the very outset of the game was entirely unlooked for! "He's got a clear field!" screamed some voice above the din. "A touchdown from kickoff!" cried a P
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   >>  



Top keywords:

Bartlett

 

Pennington

 

captain

 
referee
 
interference
 

kickoff

 
Melvin
 

shrieked

 

raised

 

spectators


quickly
 

fifteen

 

individual

 

playing

 

loomed

 
bawled
 

straight

 

hurled

 

stands

 
oncoming

trifle

 
thousand
 

dodged

 

formed

 

advance

 

howling

 

attempted

 
toppling
 

appeared

 

outset


brilliant

 

fairly

 

excitement

 

unlooked

 

touchdown

 

screamed

 

downward

 

cleverness

 

depended

 

stature


veritable

 

rabbit

 

ground

 

tackle

 

completely

 

struck

 
missed
 

eluded

 

nervous

 

captured