"We'll win anyhow," he said calmly.
The time was almost up. There had been an exchange of kicks, some fierce line-bucking, and several trick plays tried. Waterside had been forced back until once more the line-up was not far from the fatal white line on which the two posts stood.
"Over she goes now, boys!" called Andy, who was at quarter. This was the prearranged signal for a sequence of plays—that is, several, one after the other, without further instructions being given.
Donald Burgess hurled himself at the line, hoping to get through, but he only made a yard. Then came the turn of Duke Yardly, and he was able only to tear off about four feet.
"Now, Frank, it's up to you!" whispered his brother desperately. Frank set his teeth grimly, and when the pigskin came back to him he threw himself into an opening that was torn for him between tackle and guard on the left. Forward he went, worming his way. He felt hands clutching at him, he felt feet kicking him. His head swam, his eyes saw black. His breath seemed leaving him, and there was a tremendous pressure on his chest, but he got through, and when he found himself flat on his face, with the ball under him, he looked to see that he was beyond the chalk mark. Riverview had made the last touchdown and won the game!
Oh, what a pandemonium broke loose then! How the little contingent of Riverview boys, as compared with the big crowd of their rivals, yelled and shouted.
After the first stupefying knowledge that they had been beaten, and by a despised rival, Waterside remembered her manners and cheered her opponents. And the gridiron was quickly covered with a mass of spectators who insisted on carrying on their shoulders the lads who had won.
"Oh, cut it out!" implored Frank and the others, but it was not to be.
"It was great! Glorious! Fine! Oh, I can't find words enough for it!" cried Gertrude Morton a little later, as she insisted on shaking hands with Frank, even though his palms were covered with mud and grass stains.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've won!" cried Grace Knox, as she approached the blushing Andy.