een them. Mack's heart bounded at the
thought that Coach Edward was recognizing him to this extent. Here
was, at least, a chance to demonstrate what he could do in
practice--much more of a chance than he had been given hitherto.
"I'll try to impersonate Dizzy Fox, Pomeroy's star right half," Mack
told Alf Rigsbee, Second Team quarterback. "He's the man our fellows
will have to look out for!"
"Okay, _Dizzy_!" grinned Alf. "You're going to be in for a busy
afternoon!"
"And listen!" cried Mack, with more spirit than he had felt all season.
"Let's give this Varsity bunch more than just a work-out!... If we all
hang together, I think we can outscore 'em!"
"We can try!" volunteered Bob Hayes, fullback. "Seeing as how we've
got some of you first team subs in here to help us!"
Coach Edward, assuming the role of referee, blew his whistle,
signalling the two teams to take the field. It was to be the Varsity's
kick-off.
Frank Meade, carefully toeing the ball, looked over the boys opposing
him.
"Don't be too hard on us, you guys!" he joshed. "We're just learning
the game!"
"Then we'll teach you a lesson this afternoon!" quarterback Alf Rigsbee
called back to him. "We're out to _get_ you babies and we don't mind
saying so!"
The threat brought howls of good-natured derision from the Varsity team
members but the chiding ceased when, with Franks kicking off over the
goal line and the ball being brought out to the Seconds' twenty yard
line, Mack Carver made fifteen yards on the first play with one of his
brother's clever wing back formations.
"I'll show Coach Edward whether I'm a ball carrier or not!" Mack told
himself, highly flushed with his early success. "Call my number
again!" he begged.
Quarterback Rigsbee shot him the ball a second time and Mack skated
through tackle on a delayed wing back for seven yards.
"This Varsity isn't much!" kidded the Seconds' linesmen, elated at
Mack's gains.
"Wait till we've solved these new plays and we'll stop you cold!"
promised Bert Henley, Varsity quarterback.
But the Seconds were well drilled and Mack Carver, in particular,
functioned remarkably well, skirting the ends and knifing through the
line on plays with which he had long been familiar.
"Wonder what Coach thinks now?" he said to himself as the Seconds
landed on the Varsity's ten yard line for a first down.
Mack found himself regretting that there were no student spectators and
no newspaper r
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