several fellows hit you at
once and then more fell on you.

Judd nodded vaguely to Burton's instructions. The first play called
for a cross-buck over left guard. The second team's line opened a
hole; Judd received the ball and followed Burton through. He saw
Burton go down, bumped solidly against some bodies in the line, felt a
grip on one leg, then saw a clear field ahead. Judd ran like a scared
deer. He did not care to be tackled from behind. The only way to
prevent it was to outdistance everyone. But he did not reckon on the
last line of defense. Blackwell, first team fullback, was charging in.
Judd tried to dodge him. It did not occur to him to stiff arm. He
stopped dead in his tracks.

Blackwell's tackle hit Judd with jolting force. It would not have
shaken him up so much if Judd had been running at the instant. Coach
Little, who a moment before had chuckled with glee at the way Judd went
through the line, now turned away with an exclamation of disgust.
Billings was a physical coward. Everyone on both teams knew it now.
Some of the spectators began to jeer. "What d'ya stop for? Afraid he
was gonna hit ya? You oughta get hurt!"

Burton came running up and helped the dazed Billings to his feet.
"What's the matter?" he blazed, "Did you forget something? We had a
chance for a touchdown and we haven't whipped the firsts this year!"

Coach Little called Billings off the field.

The hard games on the schedules were coming up now and every practice
session was vitally important. The team carried its string of
victories to six with three more games to play before the season's end.

Attention was centered on the final contest with Canton High. This
school was the largest in the district. It seemed as if it always
turned out a good football team. And this year was no exception. As
phenomenal as had been Trumbull's season, the Canton High eleven had
won greater laurels. Canton had played some of the best schools in the
state and had emerged victorious. It would be hard to prophesy what
would happen when Canton met Trumbull. State sporting authorities
began to figure the Canton-Trumbull encounter a mythical championship
battle providing both elevens won the remaining games on their
schedules.

Billings' sad showing that one practice session had kept him on the
sidelines every scrimmage thereafter. The players exhibited sullen
contempt for him. And just as Judd had begun to win back some of th