The game with Fairport was about to begin. Fardale had won the toss and taken the southern goal to defend. A fluctuating wind was blowing from the northeast, and the day was raw and cold.
The line-up of the teams was as follows:
| Fardale. | Positions. | Fairport. |
| Burrows | Right end | Wade |
| Stanton | Right tackle | Vance |
| Kane | Right guard | Stratton |
| Buckhart | Center | Taylor |
| Cogswell | Left guard | Powers |
| Blair | Left tackle | Holden |
| Kent | Left end | Gilson |
| Shannock | Quarter-back | Coleman |
| Nunn | Right half-back | Marley |
| Merriwell | Left half-back | Ringsdale |
| Singleton | Full-back | Emerson |
Cogswell, the captain of the scrub, was to be given a trial in the place of Gordan, who had not been entirely satisfactory as left guard in the last game, while Kane had replaced Douglass, being quicker than the former right guard. Kane was not new in the line, having been substituted for Douglass on a previous occasion; but these changes led some of the knowing ones to shake their heads and prophesy trouble.
Fairport turned out a stocky-looking set of fellows, most of them having light hair, which led their admiring friends to allude to them as "the Vikings." It was generally admitted that Fairport might give the home team the hottest game of the season, and Fairport was confident it could make a break in the wonderfully victorious career of the cadets.
The Fardale band was out and made things lively before the game. The band could play well for youngsters, and blue noses and stiff fingers did not seem to make any difference to-day.
Wrapped in furs and overcoats, the crowd shivered and watched from the stand, while another gathering lined up at one side of the field, beyond the ropes, to witness the game.
"Where is Hal?" asked Zona Desmond, who, of course, was on hand with Doris Templeton. "I thought they were going to give him a chance to play to-day. They’ve taken another fellow instead. Now, I don’t think that’s just fair, do you, Doris?"
"I don’t know," answered Doris. "Perhaps they think the other fellow better than Hal."
"I believe it’s just as Hal said—I believe they don’t mean to give him a chance."