Randolph High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Randolph, NE)

Page 22 text:

They arrived about noon, the game being called at 2:30. Our first sub had been appointed chairman of a committee to see about the Dansville team. He met them, and we thought seemed especially glad to see the captain. Forest Twogood or Toogic,” as he was called by his friends. Twogood was a big, black-haired fellow. whom our coach said was mean and treacherous—our coach had coached them the previous year. While the Dansville team ate dinner, Harry, our sub, sat and visited very earnestly with their captain. They seemed to have a little trouble but we supposed it was over the game and just laughed. They arose, finally, to all appearances the best of friends. We all went to the game that afternoon. It was the most excited crowd I ever saw. We cheered Hartford while the Dansville rooters cheered their team. Then the whistle blew. The teams lined up. Dansville had the kick-off. Our boys got the ball and carried it back to the twenty yard line. I auric gave the signal for a live smach: ‘‘6-19-24-113-22-9-13. “All right, fellows, watch their line. It was Dansville’s captain who spoke. We gained no ground. What ailed our bovs? Vet we hardly believed it was possible to gain much by force as Dansville was much heavier. Again I aurie signalled: Watch their ends. from their captain. We gained five yards. Signal followed signal until the last down with twelve yards to go. Our team failed and Dansville got the ball. Forward they marched. It seemed our boys put up no fight, and at the end of the first five minutes of play Dansville went over for a touchdown. The two teams seesawed back and forth, back and forth. Kvery time Laurie gave a signal his plans were frustrated by their captain. It seemed he knew where to direct his defense, no matter what strategy Laurie used. Suddenly my chum nudged me: “Say. I’ve had an idea. I’ll bet that big stiff of a captain of theirs knows those signals. I’ve heard of such things I thought alxnit that while Dansville went over for another touchdown and kicked goal. Score 13-0 in their favor. We were so downhearted we forgot to cheer until Paul tried to wake us up. We did yell but it was weak compared to the Dansville cheers.

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“SIGNALS REVERSED” Come on there! Get some pep! Wake up? Fifteen Kalis for Team! Everybody. Our cheer leader stood on a desk in the Hartford High School Assembly Room with the rest of us grouped around him. It was November 26, 1919. Next day was Thanksgiving and the championship of half the state was to be decided on the Hartford gridiron. Every one of those eighty high school students wore a tag which read: Heat Dansville November 27, 1919. So our yell leader was sure there would be a crowd there to cheer our team on to victory. Our team consisted of eleven huskies. Jack at center. Don and Frank tacklers. Ray and Les guards, and I.ill and Mike, ends. Those seven fellows made up our line, and no school team which they had met that season had broken it. Our back field was Laurie at quarter, Tubby and Jim halves and Gene full back. e had never seen Dansville play but it was reported that their team was much heavier than ours. Nevertheless we were so confident of victory that some of us had as high as five pounds of home-made candy bet on 1 lartford. Have you ever been to High School the day before a championship is decided? If not, you have missed half your life. I have been to school lx fore the championship in debating was decided, before basketball. lxith boys and girls, before baseball, before a track meet, and before football, but never did I see a school in such riot as Hartford was that morning. 1’aul our cheer leader was forced to do most of the cheering until he got mad enough to call us down, just before lie called for the final cheer for the team. Did we yell? You ought to ask Paul, lie was so surprised, he had us give them again to cheer him up. Dansville was at alxmt forty miles from Hartford and about seventy-five rooters journeyed over in autos to see that game.

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The half ended with no change in the score. My chum and 1 immediately hiked for the gym. W e cornered the coach and told him our idea. The coach thought a minute and then announced it to the team. Everyone looked at the others to see who was guilty and then they got mad. “Let me tell you what.” cried our captain, “if they win this game by any sneaking deal like- that, they ought to be killed. I propose you give those signals backwards. Laurie, and muddle up these most honorable opponents of ours. Let's try it. up: “Three cheers for Ray!” “You had a bright idea, boys!” “Let’s go out on the held and try it!” And away they “Let’s try it! “Get a move on. Laurie! “Step went. They lined up. and Laurie gave the signals backwards. He sometimes had to figure, but he did it and everything moved off fine. Our subs went over and laid down bv the Dansville fellows. Our coach watched them until lie saw Harry single out their captain. They walked aside and seemed in earnest conversation. The coach walked up to them and slapping 1 larry on the back. said. “Come on, old fellow. I want to see you subs a minute.” Just a minute. exclaimed Harry. Oh. come on! So Harry went. Just then the whistle blew and the teams lined up. Our fellows had the kick-off and stopped Dansville on the thirty yard line. We held them and got the ball. Laurie gave his signal backwards. The Dansville captain looked at him blankly a moment, then cried. Everybody on the job! That captain was a halfback and when Jim got that ball Toogie started right toward him. Jim sidestepped and had a clear field. He kicked goal and the score was 13 to 7. We nearly went frantic; our boys were waking up. If they could just keep on. Before the quarter was up our boys had made another touchdown and the score was 13 to 13. Then Laurie made a mistake in his signals and Dansville gained twenty yards. Laurie gave the signal for a punt and Gene surely punted. Dansville was stopped thirty yards from their goal. Score 13 to 13 and three minutes to play. Laurie's signal called for an end run and over the line went Mike. After he had kicked goal, there were only thirty seconds left to play and the game was won by Hartford 20-13.