To Johnny at that moment, they seemed a crimson tide indeed. Their red jersies flaming in the sun, they were like the onrush of a flaming prairie fire. Johnny’s own heart flamed at sight of them.
Among them all, one figure stood out boldly. A large, heavy boned boy, he moved with the determined gallop of a stubborn two year old colt. He ran just ahead of the ball carrier. When a boy in orange and blue leaped toward the carrier, he was met not by the big full-back but by this other boy. Hillcrest’s left end whose name was Dave Powers. Dave spilled him as easily as he might have a tea-wagon laden with dishes. Two others of the orange and blue went down before him.
“Look at ’em!” Johnny thrilled to the core of his being. “Thirty yard line, forty, forty-five, fifty. Over the center, forty-five! Forty! There! There he’s down on the Cedarville thirty-seven yard line. Yow-ee! What a run-back. It’s a good sign, Jensie! A very good sign!” He slapped his companion on the back as if she were a boy. And she came back with a feigned punch to the jaw.
“But Ballard?” Johnny’s thoughts sobered. Ballard, the slim dark-eyed mountain boy was in there at right half. The coach was giving him his chance.
“Good old Dizney!” Johnny muttered. “Here’s hoping!”
“He’ll make good,” Jensie exclaimed. “Ballard will make good. I’m sure of it.”
“That’s a pal,” Johnny’s heart warmed toward the girl. Once down there in the Cumberlands he had fairly hated her for making him lose a fine black bass. He was all for her now.
Hillcrest had the ball. The run-back had been wonderful, but, after that for a time, things were not so good. Johnny saw at a glance that the Hillcrest team was outweighed fifteen pounds to the man. And, in the beginning games at least, weight does count.
Hillcrest tried a smash through right tackle. No good. They attempted an end run with Ballard carrying the ball. Johnny caught his breath as he saw the mountain boy tuck the ball under his arm. “First blood,” he muttered. Two enemies broke through the line. Ballard dodged one, appeared to offer the ball to the second, then pivoted and faded out to the right.
“Great stuff!” Johnny murmured.