Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-14
INSTALLMENT ".

for the battle with Red Oaks to start
On every hand there were hopeful muir
murs about the new athletic field that
would be theirs if Ferriston only won
this game, and the county championship
with it.
Out on the field the team was grimly
determined as it ran through signal
practice and lined up for the kickoff.
Facing FerrlSton was an undeteated out
f1t-a strong, fast team that was just as
determined to win as were their OPP
ponents.
Capt. Mayner won the toss and de-
cided that Ferriston should receive the
kick Bill caught the ball and was
downed on the 35-yard line. He i'm
mediately called the signal for Porky
to plunge, but Porky was able to gain
scarcely yard
Then Bob took the ball on an Off
tackle play The Red Oaks end broke
through and stopped him before he
had reached the Scrimmage line. Petite,
who was playing the other halfback,
failed to gain on wide end run. and
by that time it was very evident to
Ferriston that the Red Oaks team had
not been overrated. Their defense SEEM
hd impregnable.
Bob dropped back and punted to Red
Oaks 30-yard line, where the quarter
back caught the ball and twisted past
the Ferriston tacklers almost to mid
field Red Oaks failed to gain in three
attempts at Ferriston's line and had to
Kick in its turn.
And that tells the story of the whole
first half. Bob. Bill, Porky and Petite
gave everything they had and could not
pierce the Red Oaks defense enough
to get within striking distance Of the
goal. Red Oaks could gain with no
more regularity than could the home
team. and as the half ended the spec
tators began TO talk of scoreless tie
, and to say that only lucky break could
give either team score. But Coach
Edwards thought differently.
you've got to open up more, Bill,
he told the quarterback during the
dntermission Work passes a lot and
use your trick plays. Their line is
simply too strong to be broken I'm
:just afraid that our boys can't keep on
holding their forwards back as they
have this first half
The coach's words were only too
true. Red Oaks took the ball on the
kickoff and started march from its
own 25-yard line that lasted until 1t
lost the ball or tumble on Ferristons
A0-yard line. A light driZzle had begun
to fall making play still more difficult
on a field that was already a bog. of
mud from the two days of rain.
AS soon as Ferriston had the ball,
Bill sent Bob back as though to kick,
but instead Bob got away long for
ward pass that Hayes right end, shared
for a 20-ya1d gain. The Ferriston stands
rose in a mad shout of Joy. Bill at
once shot a short forward pass over the
, line for another five-yard gain. and then
sent Bob around the end for flrst
down on Red Oaks 28-yard line.
Here was Ferriston's first chance OF
- another
pass. which grounded. A Red Oaks
tackle broke through on the next try
and smeared FerriSton's best trick play
for a nine-yard loss Perky got back
three Of it on mighty buck at center,
but the only thing left to do was to
try field goal.
Bob dropped back. The angle was not
a difficult one, but the ball was heavy
and soggy and the field was treacherous.
AS Bill called the signal. Bob held his
hands high ready for Capt. Mayner's
= mass. Then as the ball reached him he
WINGED with pain. 1t had struck his
sore finger! For a second he hesltated,
and three Red Oaks players came rush
ing in. Then ne dropped the ball quick
" and sent it spinning over the bar Tor
q perfect field goal!
THE Ferriston rooters staged a
miniature riot then and there, with
visions of another county champion
shin in every mind. But their Joy was
short-lived Just after they changed
goals for the final quarter Red Oaks
started another march like the one
the tumble had ended snort tlme pc
fore. and this time they did not stop
until the ball was planted behind Fer
riston's goal line. The extra point was
made and Ferriston was on the small
end of 7-to-3 score.
"All right, boys Let's get that
backr cried Capt. Mayner cheerlly.
Ferriston' took the kickoff. and on
fumbled The stands were suddenly
flushed. and only Bill. who saw the
mark of the cleat on Bob's throbbing,
infected finger. knew the reason for
the Conquerors misplay.
Now Red Oaks had the ball on Fer
ristons 2O-yard line. Three plays at
The line failed to get an inch from the
desperate Ferriston team. The Red
oaks fullback dropped back to kick.
Then Stan Ochs, Boh's rival for the
next years captaincy, covered himself
with glory. He broke through the stout
Red oaks line, blocked the attempted
Kick. picked UP the ball and raced to
nidfield with it before he was downed
Can't. Mayner called time out.
"We've got 2 minutes yet, fellows!"
he cried. We've got to get touch
\ down over Give 'em everything you've
Y got Bill! Now, get in there and fight"
Bill glanced at Bob remembering his
recent tumble.
cry mel" growled Bob, grimly. Bill
did, and Bob putting every ounce he
had into the attempt, twisted and
fought his way around the end Tor 10
yards.
Again the Ferriston stands were wild.
Porky picked up more yards when
he took the ball through the line after
fake. An attempted forward pass
grounded. Petite gained scant yard,
but Bill fooled the defense on the next
one and made another first down on
the 23-yard line.
There was less than a minute left
to play. Bill called for a forward pass,
which was knocked down. Porky was
stopped by the opposing guards with
a yards gain. And then Bill dropped
back and signaled for a long forward
pass.
Bob saw it was their one chance. The
whistle would blow at any instant. AS
the bail was snapped, he raced toward
the goal line. He lodged the defensive
half as Bill, crowded by a tackler,
hurled the ball desperately.
The pass was too long. Bob ran
fnadly along the slippery field trying
to reach II. He was on the very goal
line, with no one near him. Behind
him, the referee, following the play,
slipped and fell on his face in the mud.
At that very instant Bob lunged for
ward and up, caught the ball against
his right hand, and let a smothered
crv escape him as it crashed against
that pain-racked finger The slippery
hall got away slithered through and
fell to the ground with him on top
If il. Like a flash he rolled over and
jumped to his feet, the ball clutched
in his arms.
ITO Be Concluded Next Sunday)