Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-19

/ tDctDCiF vi tWO Va ttS IVSuio bAasthS
whose places were filed by substitutes,
seemed unable TO stop the onward rush.
On he Is yard line the Fairfield
eleven made a desperate rally and
held THE enemy until they secured the
ball ON downs. On two trials they fail
ed to ghin, and the captain fell back for
a kick. The ball was passed to him, and
in mbment more il sailed just over the
heads ,|f the players, and the academy
goal WIS for the time out Of danger.
But only for time. for again the
opposing team used its rushing tao
tics for| good gains. On il came, and
this time there was no stopping it.
On tbe|ten yard line the Fairfield play
ers held them for two downs. Then
there Was terrific struggle, and the
| ball Was carried over the line for n
touchdb bwn. A goal was easily kicked,
| and th1 score stood Hazen institute, D !;
Fairfield academy, 0.
| Wheb the ball was taken back for
the kickoff, it was secured by the Ha-
| zcn institute team, who began by max
ing gbin, then short. sure gains.
| To John Ahl the day seemed black
indeed Though he did not play every
faculty was ccntered on the playing of
his te'm. He hoped against hope that
il would stop the steady advance Of
the pIIosing players. There seemed.no
chance Of doing this. Again the ball
was nehr tho academy's goal line. For
q time they stood firm, but in scrim-
mage GEORGE Green, who was playing
| quarter back for the academy. hurt his
weak a pixie so badly that he could play
no LONGER.
| This was bad indeed, for there was
no one b. put in his place Already two
Substitutes were playing ON the team.
and th,|re was no one left but little John
Ahl, fox the football material had been
very SC krce in the academy that year.
Whal should they do? The captain
knit hi brows in anxious thought. The
game would have 20 60 on. and they
were almost beaten as 10 was. With
John Abl at quarter back there would be
no hop,| Of winning.
"Well, I suppose shall have TO take
him." he muttered TO himself. land
yet il is the same as giving the game
away.' He approached the side lines
abruptly, and in surly voice called,
John Abl "
I'VE are certainly lost now, " one of
the tea|m remarked. and tho faces OF
most X them wore discontented and
hopelesE lock.
Ahl 'Eas by the captains side i'll an
| Instant
"Yo, will play at quarter back. the
captain said.
Agaib the Hazen institute men prepar.
ed for J plunge, but this time they did
not make yard. for ~ their half back
dashed for the line Ahl sprang forward
TO meet him, where, judging from the
plays hE had seen moment or two be-
fore, he would try 10 break through. As
he struJ K the line Ali grasped him with
! a quick low tackle.
Once more the teams lined up, and
again lhe Hazen men tried 10 break
through but again their half back was
met by Ahl. who seemed 10 be every
where
The rowd cheered at the last tackle,
rs il shipped what the Hazen institute
team thought to be sure gain on d
trick play This tackle, owing 10 u
tumble. secured the ball for the Fair
ileld ac |demy team.
The kurprise of the captain Of the
academy team az these tackles was
great. He knew that they could not
have betn done better, and he saw that
through them the advance Of the oppos-
ing Gle Een was for time checked.
Calling IN his backs. the captain pre-
pared p advance the ball As they
leaned over. ready 10 have 1t snapped
back. h,I patted Ahl on the shoulder, and
said. Good work. old man good
work.
The 'kam seemed 10 have gained new
heart, ahd rs the signal was given for
the left half back to try between tackle
and gus rd they held like rock excep:
where The hole was TO be made, and
they en- ply gained five yards. Ali saw
this WIS weak place IN his oppo-
nents' lime, and again he shouted out
the SAN h signal in different numbers.
Slow v bnt surely the Fairfield acad-
emy M, IN began 10 push the ball up the
field ami away from their own goal The
captain who had been directing the sig
mails up 10 this time, now allowed Ali
full swly, az he noticed the steady gains
that calbe as a result Of Ahl's Judgment.
Suddlnly ALL gave the signal for a
run ROUND the end, using the half back
who ha b up TO this time done but little
work. Like flash the team fell into
the combination. The institute team,
having blocked easily, did not expect il,
but wal prepared for another plunge
through the line. The result was gam
Of 90 yiIrds
Again the academy team plowed
through the center for steady gains,
and, iu|t before time was called for the
first half, the captain, who was playing
full batk, carried the ball across the
line for a touchdown, making the score
q tie.
Time over, the teams lined up for
the final struggle of the second half.
The Hazen institute boys We're conf
dent of Euccess, depending on their rush
es though the center. But these plays
did uotIturn ont so successful as in the
first half. Again and again they were
blocked and after the tackle had heen
made iiI almost every case il was John
Ahl VIII b rose from the struggling group.
He was playing superbly. and the crowd,
noticing his remarkable tackles, cheered
him at bvery attempt.
The game was evenly fought, the
PLAYING being near the center of the
field midst of the time, though now and
then it would sway toward one goal or
the, oth'
As ihe went on the excltement grew.
greater and greater until 1t almost
reached fever heat.
For awhile the Hazen institute men
seemed to be getting the best of it; by
short, flose rushes, by comDination
plays, BY runs round the end, they
steadily advanced the ball. Time was
drawin,k to a close, and as the score was
still e they played desperately. They
had advanced some distance into the
territor of the Fairfield academy team
when they lost the ball
The hcademy captain at once made
an after bpt to advance with it, but was
unsucce Esful, and he dropped back for a
kick. The ball was soon flying through