oal.

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 a