So far the playing had all been done in her territory and her coaches were looking anxious.  Erskine’s defense was totally unlooked for, both as regarded style and effectiveness, and the problem that confronted them was serious.  Their team had been perfected in the tackle-tandem play to the neglecting of almost all else.  Their backs were heavy and consequently slow when compared with their opponents.  To be sure, thus far runs outside of tackle and end had been successful, but the coaches well knew that as soon as Erskine found that such plays were to be expected she would promptly spoil them.  Kicking was not a strong point with Robinson this year; at that game her enemy could undoubtedly beat her.  Therefore, if the tackle-back play didn’t work what was to be done?  There was only one answer:  Make it!  There was no time or opportunity now to teach new tricks; Robinson must stand or fall by tackle-tandem.  And while the coaches were arriving at this conclusion, White, their captain and quarter-back, had already reached it.

He placed the head of the tandem nearer the line, put the tackle at the head of it, and hammered away again.  Mills, seeing the move, silently applauded.  It was the one way to strengthen the tandem play, for by starting nearer the line the tandem could possibly reach it before the charging opponents got into the play.  Momentum was sacrificed and an instant of time gained, and, as it proved, that instant of time meant a difference of fully a yard on each play.  Had the two Erskine warriors whose duty it was to hurl themselves against the tandem been of heavier weight it is doubtful if the change made would have greatly benefited their opponents; but, as it was, the two forces met about on Robinson’s line, and after the first recoil the Brown was able to gain, sometimes a bare eighteen inches, sometimes a yard, once or twice three or four.

And now Robinson took up her march steadily toward the Purple’s goal.  The backs plowed through for short distances; Gillam and Paul bore the brunt of the terrific assaults heroically; the Erskine line fell back foot by foot, yard by yard; and presently Robinson crossed the fifty-five-yard line and emerged into Erskine territory.  Here there was a momentary pause in her conquering invasion.  A fumble by the full-back allowed Devoe to get through and fall on the ball.

Erskine now knifed the Brown’s line here and there and shot Gillam and Paul through for short gains and made her distance.  Then, with the pigskin back in Robinson territory, Erskine was caught holding and Robinson once more took up her advance.  Carey at right tackle weakened and the Brown piled her backs through him.  On Erskine’s thirty-two yards he gave place to Jewell and the tandem moved its attack to the other side of the line.  Paul and Gillam, both pretty well punished, still held out stubbornly.  Yard by yard the remaining distance was covered.  On her fifteen yards, almost under the shadow of her goal-posts, Erskine was given ten yards for off-side play, and the waning hopes of the breathless watchers on the north stand revived.