Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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was to carry them to play the championship game, Jimmy walked into the coach's office. Coach, began Jimmy in a calm voice, I'm going to check in my uniform. Coach Wallace looked up as if he had been expecting this. Sit down, son, and tell me all about it. You know all there is to tell, Coach, said Jimmy. Steve was hurt, and I was blamed for it. But how could I help it? I Wasn't even in the game, and anyway I wouldn't injure any teammate on purpose. You know that, don't you, Coach ? Yes, Jimmy, I know you wouldn't. But it would be silly for you to hand in your suit now, because we need you badly. I just learned from Doctor Greenfield that Steve will be able to start, but if he gets a hard blow on his knee, he will be finished for the remander of the game. So, if he should get hurt and you quit, whom would I use? Why not Max Green? suggested Jimmy. Max is a good player, but he hasn't had enough experience. If the team got into a tight place, he might pull the Wrong play and lose the game. Now if I had you in there, you are cool in a pinch and would know what play to use. You know Jimmy, you've been a great help to me the past three years, even though you haven't been a hero in the eyes of the football public. I know you've been an understudy to Steve, but without you act- ing as the other team's main threat in practice scrimmage, I don't think we would have had such good teams in the past three years. I think I should have tried you in some other position, because, son, you can really carry the mail when the time comes. If you still want to check in, it's all right, but you will be helping me, the school, and yourself as well if you will stick. O. K., Coachg if you put it that way, I'll stick. That's the way to talk, Jimmy. Be at the station at nine-thirty to catch the train. All right, Coach, and thanks for what you've told me. The day of the game dawned cold with low-hanging clouds which in- dicated that it might rain before game time. Coach Wallace had given the team a last minute pep talk in the locker room and sent his charges on the field when he grabbed Steve's arm and told him to remain there a moment. T H E M I S S I L E Page twenty-nine

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was able to play in this game, it would probably cinch his berth on the All- American team. V As the day of the game drew near, the students on the campus be- came more downcast. They seemed to take out their misfortune on Jimmy Wilson, because he was the second-string quarterback and would get the call if Steve couldn't play. Some went so far as to be rude to him, While others avoided him. Jimmy became worried about it and was on the verge of turning in his uniform when one night his room-mate, Ted Wil- liams, closed the books he was studying and started talking. Jimmy, he said, it would be silly for you to quit the team when it needs you as it does now. But, Ted, can't you see how the boys are avoiding me? Even the team is beginning to give me the cold shoulder, and the trouble of it is I haven't done anything. Did I hurt Steve ? No, said Ted. Could I help it if he got injured? No, repeated Ted. Well, what can I do? I've tried to make up to the boys, but they don't seem to want me. U You can't blame them, Jimmy. Steve is the only player in the his- tory of Weeler College ever to be recognized as a possible All-American candidate, and now, if he doesn't play in the game with Washington U., he hasn't a chance to be on the team, which is the ambition of all football players. But, Ted, why do they blame me? I don't know, Jimmy. You know how people are. As long as you are a hero you are the tops with them, but when you are not on the top of the ladder, you are just another ball player with them. You don't expect me to stay on the team while they are treating me as they are now, do you? Well, said Ted, let's turn in now and talk about it tomorrow. O. K., Ted. Good night. Good night, Jimmy, and don't you Worry. Everything will turn out for the best. The next week was uneventful for Jimmy Wilson. He practised with the team but lacked his usual pep and vigor. After practice, on the day before the team was to board a train that Page twenty-eight T H E M I S S I L E

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After the last player had closed the door, Coach Wallace said, Steve, you know what to do. There is one more thing, Steve, don't take any chances with that bad knee of yours, as we will need you every minute of the game. Don't worry, Coachg if I get injured you will still have the All- American flop, Jimmy Wilson, sneered Steve. With that he followed his teammates on the field to warm up. The first half ended with Washington University leading 13 to 0. Steve was hurt late in the second quarter when he slipped and wrenched his knee, and had to leave the game. During the intermission at half time in the locker room, Coach Wal- lace called Jimmy into a corner and said, Jimmy, we need this game, and we want Steve to be chosen on the All-American team. I see but one way to do all of this. Will you take a chance? What is it, Coach? Steve will be unable to return to the game. It has started to rain and it is misty on the field now, which will make it almost impossible to distinguish the players. He stopped there a moment as if he hated to go on. What I want you to do is to put on Steve's jersey and pretend to be him. You can act as a decoy to draw Washington U's attention from the rest of the team. Will you do it, Jimmy? Jimmy was fighting with himself to hold the tears back. His big chance had come at last, and he couldn't be himself while doing it. Yes, he said in a strange voice. Thunderous applause arose from the fans in the stadium as they saw number 63, whom they believed to be Steve Rogers. Neither team scored during the third quarter, and when the fourth quarter opened Washington U. was in possession of the ball. They were confident of victory and decided to take a chance on throwing a pass with the slippery ball. As they came out of their huddle, they figured that no one would guess the play. However, Jimmy Wilson saw the ends spread out a little and had diagnosed the play. As the ball began to drop towards the outstretched hands of the end, Jimmy leaped into the air, grabbed the ball, and started for the goal of Washington University. The people in the stadium were on their feet yelling and pounding each other on the back. The radio announcer's speech went like this: It was one of Weeler's secondary men who intercepted that pass and ran for the side lines. Just a minute folks, and I'll get his name. It's Steve Rogers. Yes, that's Pagethirty THE MISSILE