“Yes, I guess that’s so,” he said finally. “Well, that disposes of that as a forward pass. And giving the ball to left end wouldn’t help any, for left half would do better to keep on himself and make the run. It might be worked out in that way, though, a sort of ‘fake forward pass.’ But we haven’t time to learn many new tricks and what we do learn must be worth while. Can’t you think of anything, Vinton?”
Dan was studying the board intently and for a moment he made no reply. Then his hand sought Payson’s and found the chalk and he leaned past him and began to make lines. The others watched with interest. When he finished there were murmurs of approval. “[Double passes] are risky, though,” muttered Colton.
“So are plain, everyday forward passes,” answered Dan as he straightened up. “I don’t know how this would pan out in play, but it looks all right here, doesn’t it?”
“How do you work it?” asked Payson.
“Well, I’ve drawn it for a pass to the left, but of course it could be the other side just as well. On regular kick formation the ball goes to full-back, who runs to the right as though to throw to the ‘bunch.’ Quarter, right half, end and tackle go down as though to receive it, one of them holding up his hand to signal for the ball. Left half keeps his place for a moment and then runs sharply to the left for about five yards. Left end keeps his man from coming through and then goes around him to the left and takes position, say, ten yards beyond the line. Full-back covers about ten yards to the right and then, instead of throwing toward the bunch, turns and passes across the field to left half and left half passes to left end. Full-back has got to watch the opposing left end and make the throw before he reaches him.”
[VINTON’S DOUBLE FORWARD PASS]
“I see,” said Payson thoughtfully. “Now let us see what the enemy would do. First of all, expecting a kick or a forward pass, they’d hold our line at first instead of breaking through. Then they’d see the backfield start to the right and they’d move that way, trying to get through to upset the play. Their backs would probably start that way, too, to break up the ‘bunch.’ Now how about the right side of the opponent’s line? We’d have to hold them pretty steady or they’d break through and spoil left half’s catch.”
“They’d be off to the right—their left—as soon as our full-back started that way,” said Colton.
“That’s right,” said Dickenson and Ridge in chorus.