In the locker-room at the gymnasium Mr. Robey and the assistant coaches dealt praise and censure and instruction.  Several of the fellows had been pretty well played out at the end of the half.  Claflin had paid a good deal of attention to the centre of Brimfield’s line—­later it transpired that rumours had reached Westplains to the effect that Brimfield’s centre trio were weak on defence—­and both Captain Innes and Hall were rather battered up.  Blaisdell had come out of it with less punishment.  There were no injuries of moment, however, even Roberts, whose shoulder had been bruised, being ready to go back.  As the time to return to the field approached Mr. Robey called for attention.

“I want to tell you fellows,” he said quietly, “that you’ve played well.  You’ve done as much as I’d hoped you’d do.  You’ve held Claflin away from your goal, and in doing that you’ve done a good deal, for you’ve been up against as fine a Blue team as they’ve ever got together.  But from now on you’ve got to have punch, fellows.  You’ve got to play faster and harder.  Claflin will try everything she knows.  She isn’t beaten, not by a whole lot, and she’s going to come back hard.  I want to see improvement in the backfield in this half.  You backs haven’t helped the forwards as you’ve been taught to do and as you can do.  You’ve let the runner have an extra yard or two yards time and again.  Go in hard and stop the man before he gets clear.  You’ve been waiting for him to come to you.  Don’t do that.  Go in and meet him.  Every inch counts.  Now, then, let’s see what you can do for Brimfield this time.  Play hard.  When you tackle, stop your man.  When you block, block hard and long.  Put every ounce of strength into the game from now on and I’ll promise you that you’ll take that football back to Brimfield with you!”

Claflin had made four changes in her line-up when the teams faced each other again, and Brimfield two.  On the latter team Carmine was at quarter and Gafferty had taken Tom Hall’s place at right guard.  Roberts was back in his position at the right end of the line.  Jack Innes settled the ball on the mound of earth, glanced over his team, cried “Ready, sir!” stepped forward and punted obliquely across the field toward the Claflin stand.  The second half was on and the laurel of victory was still to be won.

CHAPTER XXV

VICTORY!

That oblique kick-off had been prearranged and by the time the Claflin right guard had called it his the Maroon-and Grey forwards were down on him.  His frantic attempt to gather the ball into his arms failed and it bounded away toward the side line.  Blaisdell fell on it a foot from the mark and Brimfield shouted joyfully.  From Claflin’s thirty-six yards to her twenty the Brimfield backs carried the pigskin.  There Roberts was caught holding and the Maroon-and-Grey was set back.  Harris fell back as if to kick and threw forward to Roberts on