Port Huron High School - Student Yearbook (Port Huron, MI)

Page 20 text:

were weakening though it he ever so little. The referee wa lifting the whistle to his lips, when a mighty shout burs: from the sidelines. Tearing across the field in his football attire, head gear in hand, came Dean. The substitute left half, without being told quickly retired to the lines, and Dean ran panting into his place. The feelings of the principal, who was present, were mix- ed. His first impulse was to go and order Dean from the field, but to tell the truth he was overjoyed at seeing him, and knew if the team stood any chance of winnnig, Dean must play. He was decidedly human, and while he hesitated, he was lost, for the whistle to play shrilled over the field. With the sudden appearance of Dean, new courage seem- ed to be instilled into the Court players. Dean was hard work- ed, but fresher than the rest of the team. Again and again he plugged away at the opposing line — first right, then left. Twice in the next five minutes the ball, by the hardest kind of work, was placed in the ten-yard line, and twice it was lost on downs and sent back to mid-field. The time-keepers claimed the game almost done. With only five minutes left to play, it only remained, as it seemed, for Hartford to hold the plunging Crimson line back and keep the game a tie, and so win what would have been as good as a victory. Down came the Crim- son once more to the twenty-yard line, but here they stopped. On a pass from quarter to left halfback, Dean fumbled the ball, dived after it and fell o i a Hartford guard, who had plunged through and lay with the pigskin safe beneath him. Dean’s agony was torturing, as he picked himself up; to do such a thing when he knew they ' depended on him to save the day! He turned away from the almost tearful glance of Hollins, the quarter. In the next few minutes he must make a touchdown, or he felt he could never live it down. Hartford kicked the ball and Dorpe, the Court full, had it, was off, and then tackled. The cheers from the north side were so deafening that Dean could scarcely hear the quarter’s voice giving the signal. The play was one with which he and 18

Page 19 text:

tucked it under his arm and started toward the distant goal. Eight, yards was all he made before a Hartford man crashed down upon him. Then came a quick line up and the ball was put through the line again and again, each time for a good gain.. The Court rooters shouted their triumph. Within the next six minutes the ball was put over the line and a goal kicked. Both teams lined up again for the kick off with Hartford receiving. Through came Smith, the heavy fullback, with the ball stowed safely in his arms. He easily made five yards. Another line up. Again and again the fullback was given the ball, and this time a battle began in which the wearers of the Crimson were pushed back and the Blues pursued. Gains were made everywhere and anywhere. The guards and tack- les yielded time and again as though they were half the size of their opponents. Once Hartford fumbled and lost the ball, but shortly recovered it, and the mass moved back again over the lost ground nearer to the Court goal. The Crimson de- fensive made a desperate stand on her ten-yard line and suc- ceeded in staying her opponent for a short time, but it was only a matter of a few minutes when Hartford hurled her fullback through at last for a touchdown. For several minutes the Hartford rooters went mad. Court made no attempt to drown their cheers, but here and there, crimson flags waved defiantly at the hurling blue. They made their goal easily, and the Crimson line return- ed disheartened again to play. For the rest of the half the players surged up and down the field, neither making more than small gains over the other. When the whistle for the sec- ond half blew each team was fully determined to fight as it had never fought before. So determined were they that they worked up and down, getting dangerously near the enemy’s goal, only to be brought back again. The end of the third quarter came as a distinct relief to players and spectators alike. Surely something must happen either way now. Both teams could not possibly hold out as they were doing. Balmer, though hating to admit it, even to himself, felt that his men 1 7 • ' Sr

Page 21 text:

the rest of the backfield were familiar, and its only chance of success lay in deceiving the opponents. The ball was snapped, the quarter ran back a few steps, made a short pass to Drench, who in turn pased it to Dean, who then sped toward the right end of the line. The Hartford end leaped up at him but was disposed of by Drench. The goal-posts loomed far down the field, and tearing toward him came the heavy fullback Smith. The shouts grew so loud that they drowned all sounds of pursuit. Dean felt his strength giving away, but only ran the faster. W hen it seemed thai he could no longer escape him Dean dived to one side, half fell, recovered himself, and ran on, with the ball still safe. By this time the rest of the pursuers were almost at his side. Every second he imagined he felt a clutch on his arm, and every second he tho’t he must give up. Over the five-yard line he went, and at the same instant a hand tightened on his arm. But four more yards to go and he could feel the arms around his waist. Exerting himself still more, he dragged his tackier a few more strides and then threw himself on the ground, holding his arms out as far as he could, with the ball at the end of his fingers. It was over. The whole crowd seemed to go mad. Dorpe turned som- ersault after somersault, and those less gifted yelled what lit- tle voice they had left hoarse, and pounded each other blue. W hen they would have put Dean on their shoulders and carried him off the field, he broke away from them and ran to the dresing rooms, but soon reappeared. As he suspected Mr. Gavis made his way quickly to him, but before the principal could say anything Dean thrust a note into his hands. Mr. Gavis opened it and read : My dear Mr. Gavis. : Dean reported to me this morning after a three hours ' ride and took his examination, which I so unfortunately forgot to give him. lie surprised me by his sudden knowledge of the subject, and I am pleased to give him a mark of 95. Yours sincerely, F. J. GREEN. —MARY LOHRSTORFER, T6. 19