“All right,” said the referee and Dan stepped over to Colton.
“Look out for a fake kick with a plunge at center, Colton,” he whispered. “That’s what they’re up to.”
“I don’t think so,” Colton answered doubtfully.
“That’s their game, though,” answered Dan. “Payson sent me in and—”
“All right. Yes, you’re off, Minturn. No, no, run along like a good chap.”
Minturn, scowling and resentful, took his departure.
“All ready now, Yardley?” asked the referee.
“All ready,” answered Colton. He gave a meaning glance at Hadlock. The whistle blew. Dan passed the word to Capes as he went to his place at left-end. There was a moment of indecision on the part of the Brewer quarter. Then came the signals. Brewer was formed as for a drop-kick at goal, the left-half standing back with outstretched hands and the other backs ranged on either side as though to guard him. Back flew the ball from center but it went on a side pass to right-half. Full plunged forward and right half thrust the ball into his arms as he went by and shot into the center of Yardley’s line. But Yardley had closed up even as the ball was put in play, and instead of the open formation usually found opposing a try at goal, with the forwards standing up ready to break through and block, the Brewer full-back smashed into a stone-wall, Berwick, Colton and Hadlock playing low and shutting the line tight at the center. Although Brewer’s backs and tackles hurled themselves behind their full-back and although presently the Yardley line wavered under the attack and gave ground, two yards was the extent of Brewer’s gain and the ball went to the Blue.
Kapenhysen fell back under his goal-posts and punted to the forty yard-line. Once more Brewer started her march down the field, but this time the advance was notably slower and more uncertain. Her players were beginning to feel the pace and were longing for the sound of the whistle. Two tries at the left of the opponents’ line netted her six yards. Then a quarter-back kick was tried and Dan spoiled it by piling the opposing end onto the turf. Connor captured the ball. Clapp sent Capes around his own end for two yards, around the other end for six and hurled Kapenhysen into the line for three more. Brewer was weakening and her line gave time and again for short gains. Yardley began a triumphal march up the field, tearing off five and once fifteen yards around the ends and getting gains of two and three yards through the left side of the red-and-white line. But there was a long way to go and while the ball was still thirty yards from the goal line the whistle blew and the half was over.