“Go to it, old scout,” he said. “This is the third down. For heaven’s sake, make it.”
Fred’s eyes were blazing.
“Watch me,” he said.
Billy made a perfect snap to Melvin, who passed the ball to Fred like a flash. Haley and Ames made a hole between left guard and tackle, and Fred, with lowered head, plunged in like a battering ram. The whole team piled in after him, and when at last he was downed, he had gained six yards of the coveted space.
Dizzy and bruised, he rose to his feet.
“We’ve got ’em going!” yelled Melvin. “One more does it!”
“Hold ’em, boys, hold ’em!” shouted Eggleston. “This is their last down.”
“Rushton! Rushton! Rushton!” the stands were shouting.
“They’re counting on you, you see,” said Melvin.
Fred’s muscles grew taut, and he braced for one final effort.