a thoroughly
disciplined team in the best of physical condition. Even so, it was a
severe strain on the players' staying powers.

A well-formed wedge is bound to make some gain for the side using it,
but there are many ways of meeting the play. The most simple, and the
one which is probably used more than any other, is that of lying down
before it. There is nothing very scientific about this kind of defense,
but it has the compensating advantage of effectiveness in most cases. It
prevents any further advance of the mass, for the men at the peak are
forced to fall over their prostrate opponents. The danger of using too
many men for this sort of blocking, however, is that should the runner
escape through a hole in the side, or at the opening in the rear, there
are few players left to tackle him.

There are the backs, of course, upon whom this duty of tackling the
runner should devolve, but rapid and judicious interference at the
proper moment may overcome their efforts, and give to the enemy a clear
field. Perhaps the safest way to meet an on-coming wedge is to try to
force the peak--that is, to so concentrate your resistance as to change
the course of the aggressors and drive them across the field. They are
thus exerting just as much of their strength as if they were advancing,
and yet are gaining little or no ground. Some of the other methods I
have seen used are breaking into the peak by main strength (and this is
the method usually adopted against a weaker team); and sending a man
over the heads of the leaders, a kind play of which Heffelfinger of Yale
was the best exponent.

The best team-play to defeat the object of a kick is still a matter of
dispute. There are so many possibilities in the case and so many
different directions for the ball to take that, after all, no method can
be determined upon beforehand as the best defense. But every team should
be provided with several moves for such occasions, and as usual it
devolves upon the captain to decide which play to put in operation.

A very good way is to send one or two extra men up into the forward line
(the quarter-back and a half-back, preferably), and then to attack the
kicking side at any point along which the ball travels in its course. In
other words, put as many men forward as you can with the object of
securing the ball as soon after it is put into play as possible--while
it is being snapped back to the quarter, while it is on its way to the
half, whil