her. He must take the
father's place with Judd. Bob answered back: "Stick to it, Buddy.
Each time you win makes the next victory that much easier. And one of
these days it will take an earthquake to jar you!"

Judd gritted his teeth and went back to practice. He tried to forget
himself--to play with a carefree abandon. He tried not to think of the
consequences in advance. When he could get this attitude he noticed
that he seemed to play better. One instance was particularly striking.
Blackwell, fullback on the regulars for two seasons, had broken through
the line and was away for an open field run. It looked like he was
good for a touchdown. Judd found himself free and in position to give
pursuit. He thought only of downing Blackwell. The fullback had a
five yard lead on him. Judd raced after him and caught up to him after
a twenty yard run. He left the ground in a flying tackle and pinioned
Blackwell from behind, bringing him heavily to earth. When Judd
realized what he had done he was shaky for the remainder of the
practice. He might have been badly hurt!

But such brilliant flashes of playing convinced Coach Little that
Billings had some real football ability in him. Judd had been studying
doggedly to make up his school work. There might be a possibility of
his being used before the year was out. When the coach cut the squad
he placed Billings as a substitute on the second team.

With the first three games on the schedule played, the students and
townspeople awoke to the realization that Trumbull High had the best
football team in years. The football warriors had soundly trimmed
every opponent and had kept their goal line uncrossed, piling up a
total of 117 points!

One night the coach gave the second team some of the plays that were
used by Ashton High, Trumbull's next opponent. He wanted to see what
defense his regulars could offer against them. The Ashton team built
their plays around one player, their fullback. He was a big fellow and
exceptionally fast. Because Billings appeared to be about his physical
equal, Coach Little motioned him to the fullback position. Burton,
second team quarterback, outlined to Billings the plays he was to use.

Judd was excited and a bit confused. This was the first time he had
ever been called upon to run with the ball. He did not relish the
thought of being tackled. It was bad enough to tackle anyone but to be
thrown yourself seemed worse. Sometimes