It was a sprint, now! For an instant the field close to Stearns
was clear of opposition.
Wild cheering broke loose. Dick Prescott fairly danced for joy.
Ah! Here came some of the belated Cobber men, supporting their
fullback.
There was a heavy crash. Stearns, caught in the midst of the
mixup, went down, but he covered the pigskin!
Then the linesman hurried up. The news was so good that it flew
from mouth to mouth along the east side boards:
"Forty-two yards!"
Cobber's captain gasped. It had been close playing all afternoon.
He had looked for nothing like this. Clearly, Gridley's fake
kick tactics were all of the real thing.
For the first time Halsey and his best men felt much of their
confidence ooze.
Down almost over the line, Gridley soon had the ball, while the
home fans were again standing up and cheering. Then a penalty
set the ball back. But Gridley soon had the ball again.
In two plays the doughty High School boys carried the pigskin
eight yards. Only nine to go!
As Badger's signals rang out for the third pass, Badger's men
were seen to spread. Another fake kick?
Then the ball went backward. Winters, of course, took it. Like
magic, while watchful Cobber stood opened up, the Gridley line
closed in again. Artful Dodger Winters still had the ball. Thompson,
Edgeworth, Badger and Beck butted in solidly behind the lithe
quarter-back. The rest of Gridley followed.
Cheek of cheek! The out-weighed High School boys were giving
Cobber a dose of Cobber medicine.
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