Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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HIGH SCHOOL ENTERPRISE ' 0 7. few minutes later by the Dexter eleven, and a cheer of no less volume than its predecessor greeted them. The toss-up was won by the Wilmot Captain who chose to defend the north goal. The whistle sounded and the teams repaired to their respective positions. The time-honored custom of the Presidents of the rival universities shaking hands in the middle of the field, a pretty and appropriate way of showing the good feeling which existed between the two institutions, was carried out. As soon as these two individuals had hurried off the field Dexter kicked off to Wilmot, and the ball was put in play near the center of the field. The teams “lined up” for the scrimmage and the great game was on in earnest. At first Dexter seemed to have a little the advantage in size and weight at all points on the line except at the right half-back, where Jones, the substitute, was filling Norton ' s place. However, the reverse soon proved to be the case. The Dexter eleven was slowly, but surely, forced back, until the Wilmot quarter-back, calling for an “end over” play, sent the “left half” speeding around right end for the first touchdown of the day. The Wilmot quarter then kicked, but missed his goal. The teams again lined up as be¬ fore, only on opposite sides of the field, and play was resumed. The ball zigzaged back and forth across the field till it came to a stand¬ still ten yards from Dexter’s goal. Frank at this point became so excited that he leaped up and commenced walking up and down the side lines, till he was forced by the doctor to sit down. Would the Wilmot team make the iemaining few yards? A good end run would cover the remaining distance and add more points to the present score. But just as the quarter was call¬ ing off his signals, the whistle blew, announcing the end of the first half. The score stood: Wilmot—5. Dexter—0. As the teams had been rubbing-down in their dressing rooms, during the ten minutes interval between halves, Dr. Thompson had been debating in his mind, whether or not he should allow Frank to go into the game the last half. He at last decided to give him a trial and take the chances. As the Dexter team trotted onto the field, the crowd in the bleachers noticed a new face among the team. And when they saw it was Norton, their star player, the Dexter section could withhold itself no longer, and burst out into a mighty roar. Although Frank was not captain, he had been all along the life and spirit of the team, and from the moment he took his position behind the line, new hope and courage seemed to take hold of his teammates. However, the ball was steadily forced along by continuous “line buck¬ ing” on the part of the Wilmot team, till Dexter finally made a stand fifteen aids from their goal, and there held the opposing team down to a four yard gain in three downs. Dexter was given the ball, and it was promptly “boot- ed” out of danger. Wilmot, after advancing several yards, lost the ball on a fumble. Dex¬ ter gained possession of the ball for the first time in the game without being forced to “punt.” Clear and sharp came the signals from Scott, the little quarter which sent Norton around the end. 9-2-4-6-4-9-2, and away shot Frank with the —16—

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HIGH SCHOOL ENTERPRISE ’0 7. When the “Ends Played In” “No,” said Dr. Thompson, “I am afraid that your ankle will be in no fit condition for you to play in to-morrow’s game.” “But, doctor,” argued Frank, “by careful tight bandaging isn’t there a chance of its strengthening sufficiently for me to play the last ‘half?’ ” “I understand what a dissapointment it is to you, Frank,” replied the kind-hearted old doctor, “but I feel that I am really working to your advan¬ tage in being cautious till your ankle is stronger. However, do not give up all hope. I will do the best I can for you.” For a long time after the doctor had departed Frank lay with his face buried in the pillow, trying nobly to force back the tears which welled to his eyes. It was truly hard luck to be shut out of the last and championship game of the season by such an accident. Two days before, Frank Norton, the heaviest and fastest half-back that ever played on a Dexter eleven, had been carried off the field of practice, suffering with a strained tendon in his ankle. This did not dampen the enthusiasm of his team-mates, as they all thought that he would soon recover, and be able to play in the great game. But when on the eve of the battle, the star player was still confined to his bed, Dexter’s prospects for victory the next day looked dark indeed. Frank especially seemed to have “hard luck.” He was a Senior in college, con¬ sequently this was his last foot-ball game, and ne had practiced and worked hard all the season, looking forward to this Jreat day. Now all his work would count for nothing, and he would have to sit by and see a “sub” fill his hard-earned position. The day of the great game dawned sharp and clear, an ideal day for a game of any kind. Frank was allowed to sit up in a reclining chair, wrap¬ ped in blankets till he looked much more like an Indian squaw than a burly foot-ball player. When his lunch was brought in to him he had no desire to taste the tempting meal, but was ordered by the doctor to eat something and thus keep up his strength. The visitors arrived shortly after noon and proceeded at once to the gridiron and commenced to liven things up with their college yells and songs. The Wilmot eleven, for such was the name of the opposing school, arrived soon after in a bus, being conveyed in that manner in order to escape the noise and excitement of the crowd. Frank, assisted by the doctor, hast¬ ened to dress in his foot-ball uniform, for he had begged hard to be at least allowed to don his suit and sit along the side lines. The Wilmot eleven im¬ mediately on their arrival repaired to their dressing rooms, and soon after, accompanied by a ringing cheer from the bleachers, trotted onto the field and began to run through light, snappy signal practice. These were followed a —15—

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HIGH SCHOOL ENTERPRISE ’0 7. ball tightly wedged under his arm. He wiggled through the arms of the op¬ posing end, but was downed by the big full-back. Again he was given the ball but this time barely made a gain. Then came the signal 8-8-2—4-5, and Chambers, the burly full-back, went crashing through left guard for a good substantial gain. Again and again the giant “full” gained his yards, till the “ends” of the opposing team began to play close to center. This was just the move that Scott had long been waiting for. He paused a moment to give his men time to breathe. McDonald, the captain, called to ascertain how much time was left. The time-keeper shook his head indicating that less than five minutes remained, and he could not tell the exact time. From far across the field came the yell, “Hip ray! Hip ray! Hip ray! Norton-Norton.” While, “Hold ’em, Wilmot! Hold ’em, Wilmot! Don’t let ’em thru,” came from the Wilmot rooters. The entire Dexter team realized that with them it was now or never. Scott trotted into place, calling out in a ringing tone, 9-2-3—1-2-3, and as Norton rushed past him, Scott shoved the ball under his arm, and away shot Frank, as though hurled from a cannon’s mouth, with excellent interference and with no one opposing him except the full and quarter-backs. As he sped on down the field he heard nothing, saw nothing but the little quarter-back, who, alone stood between him and victory. On he ran, his speed increasing, till as he neared his rival, he lifted his head, and, as his opponent crouched to tackle him, Frank with one bound leaped high and far, completely hurdling the other man. As he again touch¬ ed the ground, his ankle turned, nearly throwing him down, but, limping, he ran on as best he could. But this wrench to his injured member materially lessened his speed, and gave the other men an opportunity to gain on him, and when he was almost to the line, he was grasped about the waist in a grip like a vice. Little by little he drew nearer the coveted white line, till his opponent, shifting his grasp from waist to knees, downed the runner, but as Frank fell, he stretched the ball out as far as he could reach, and the next moment the entire team rushed down upon the two. The touchdown had been made for the ball lay just beyond the line. The score was tied. Now if they could kick the goal—well! there would be more than one happy heart in Dexter. Amid a breathless hush, Chambers stepped back several steps, and again stepped forward. The ball sailed high into the air, on, on, over the bar, amid a crashing yell. Frank sank down exhausted, his ankle throbbing and paining. The next moment the whistle blew announcing that time was up and the game was over. Dexter had won by the narrow margin of one point, the final score being 6—5. In a moment the field swarmed with the Dexter and Wilmot rooters who lifted the members of their respective teams onto their shoulders, and the column of Dexter rooters, with Frank on the shoulders of the President and Doctor of the college, leading the line, commenced its triumphant march around the field of victory, while the college t»and struck up the well known air, “Hail to the Chief Who in Triumph Advances.” J. R. B. ’OS.