Morton, the assistant manager, who was keeping the record, called as Clint trotted past him, “Hi!  What’s the name?”

“Thayer,” answered Clint.

“Left tackle,” instructed Captain Turner.  “Know the signals?”

“Yes,” Clint replied, jumping into place.  Kingston, a heavily-built, shock-headed youth whom Clint knew well enough to nod to, played left guard.  “Hi!” he said as Clint poised himself in the line.  “Use your arms and turn him in, boy!”

“Help your guard,” instructed Turner, at left end, “and watch for an inside run.”

It was the ’varsity’s ball near the second’s twenty-five-yard line, and Carmine, who had taken Marvin’s place at quarter, sent Still plunging at the left of the second’s line on the first play.  Roberts, who played opposite Clint, was a big, heavy chap, and when he threw himself forward Clint, who had been playing too high, was hurled aside like a chip and Still went through for three yards before the secondary defence brought him down.  Turner thumped Clint on the back.

“Watch for that, left tackle!  Play lower!  Get the jump!”

The next play struck the centre and piled through Peters for the distance.  An end run, with Carmine carrying the ball, was spoiled by Turner.  Then came another attack on the left.  Clint, playing a half-yard outside the opposing end, watched the ball snapped and sensed the play.

“Left!” he shouted.  “Left!” He heard Kingston grunt as he plunged into his opponent.  Then he was holding Roberts off as best he could, neck and hip, and Kendall, the ’varsity right half, was cutting in.  With a lunge, Clint pivoted around Roberts and tackled hard and firm as the half-back came through.  He was dragged a foot or two before his secondary defence hurled itself against the runner, but the gain was less than a yard and Turner thumped him ecstatically as he pulled himself out of the pile.

“That’s the ticket, feller!  Run him out and get him!  Third down, second!  Stop ’em now!”

The second didn’t stop them, but it made them resort to a fake-kick to get their distance on fourth down.  From the fifteen yards Kendall tried a field-goal and missed narrowly and the second put the ball in play on the twenty yards.

The first play went through for two yards on the other side of the line.  Then came a criss-cross, with the runner plunging at right guard.  Clint started with the ball and had his man out instantly.  The play followed through for three yards.  Again the quarter chose that point and again the second’s left side made the opening.  But, with three to go on fourth down, a punt was imperative and Martin, the full-back, was called on.  As Martin was a right-foot punter Clint had little to do save get through and down the field, and the instant the ball was snapped he dashed into his opponent, beating him by a fraction of a second and upsetting his balance beautifully.  When the sound of boot and leather came Clint was past the ’varsity’s backfield and, with Turner but a yard or two in advance, was sprinting fast.  Carmine was playing back in centre, with Kendall across the field, and it was into Carmine’s territory that the ball was going.  Suddenly Clint saw Carmine start quickly up the field toward them and guessed that the kick was short.  Kendall was heading across to interfere for the catcher.