For the next few minutes the Army eleven indulged in practice plays and kicks.  During this period, the cheer-master cadets and the corps of cadets were busied with the various Army yells and songs that promised victory for the young soldiers.

Nor were the Lehigh “boosters” anything like idle.  Every time an Army cheer ceased, the Lehigh sympathizers cheered their own team.

Then game was called, with kick-off for the Army.

The ball was passed to Lehigh’s right end, who, full of steam, dashed on with it.

Dick and Greg were foremost in the obstruction that met the Lehigh runner.  But the Lehigh man was well supported.  Through Dick, Greg and Ellerson dashed the runner, backed splendidly by his interference.

It took quarterback and one of the halfbacks of the Army to put the runner down some eight yards further on.

“Humph!  I don’t see that Prescott and Holmes are doing so much for us,” muttered Haynes to the sub. at his right, as both watched from the side lines.

“Look at what they have to stop,” returned the other cadet.  “Don’t be sore, Haynes; you couldn’t do any better.

“Humph!” grumbled the turnback.

It soon developed, however, that Lehigh felt especially strong on its right end.  Hence, much of the work seemed to devolve upon Dick and Greg.  For twenty yarns down into Army territory that ball was forced.  Then, after a gain of only two more yards, Lehigh was forced to surrender the ball.  Army boosters stood up and cheered loudly.

“You’ve got a tough crowd to get by, Prescott,” muttered Brayton.  “But look out for signals.”

As Brayton bent over to snap-back, Quarterback Boyle’s cool voice sounded: 

“Fourteen—–­eight—–­nine—–­three!”

In another instant Boyle had made a running pass with the ball to Greg, who passed it on to Dick Prescott.

Now all the Army boosters were up in their seats, eager to see how the much-lauded Prescott would serve with the pigskin.

Ball clasped, head down, Dick settled for a run, his whole gaze on the on-coming Lehigh right line.

They met in a clash.  Dick had planned how to slip out of the impact, but the stronger Lehigh right end had both arms around Prescott, and down went the Army left end.

“Humph!” grunted Haynes, though his tone did not sound displeased

“I hope that isn’t a sample of Prescott’s skill,” muttered one Army captain to another.

“No matter how good a man he is, Prescott should have been in the squad from the outset of the training,” replied the other.

Boyle was calling the signal.  Breathlessly the larger part of the spectators watched to see Dick redeem himself.

But again he failed to make much of an advance with the ball.  After the second “down,” with barely anything gained, Brayton ordered Boyle to throw the ball over to the right of the Army line.