Viewland was determined, but, unfortunately for her, Warwick became too excited in an effort to send Jordan round the end. Warwick saw Kent was going to get past and tackle the runner, and he proceeded to grasp Don and hold him.
Instantly the whistle sounded, and the ball was given to Fardale right there.
"A godsend!" breathed Hal Darrell, with a sigh of genuine relief. "But for that I think those chaps must have made a touch-down. If we can get the ball away from the danger-point now, there is a chance that we may brace up a little. It must be a kick."
But it was not. Fardale simply settled down to an effort to get back at Viewland by a series of rushes and mass-plays. The first rush was a failure, but a mass-play followed that carried the ball forward four yards. Then a surprise was sprung in Frank Merriwell’s line-over play, which had been used with good results in the Hudsonville game, and full five yards were secured.
Viewland was surprised by these gains, for it had seemed that Fardale was weakening, and now the cadets proved strong enough to advance smashingly into the enemy’s line. The line-over formation was a new one on Viewland, but the next attempt to work it was spoiled by the quick charge of the visitors, who seemed to go through Fardale’s line like sand through a sieve.
Fardale was quick to see that the line-over formation could not be worked on Viewland except at unexpected moments.
A revolving wedge was tried, and the swinging mass plowed through the visitors for full seven yards. Once more the Fardale spectators were happy. Again the singing struck up. What if all the playing had been in Fardale’s territory? What if the eagerness of the enemy had prevented them from making a touch-down? No score had been secured, and the cadets showed they were not discouraged, or weakening.
Again came the revolving wedge, but this, like the repeated line-over play, was broken up and the object defeated. A tandem-play was attempted, hitting the right wing of the enemy, but this failed.
"They must kick now!"
The speaker was right, and the full-back of the opposing team was seen running back as fast as he could, to be ready for the expected punt. It came. Singleton booted the ball fair and hard, sending it well over into Viewland’s territory.