play was stopped for no gain, and Cap's third-down pass, intended for Sam,
was overthrown again.
The game was scoreless until the middle of the second quarter, when the 'Cudas tried a trick play. They completed a short
pass to an end, and as the Panthers converged to bring him down, the end flipped the ball back to a trailing runner, who outran
everyone into the end zone.
A placekick after the touchdown was perfect, and Sandville led, 8-0.
With three minutes left in the first half, Tully sent Jimmy in for Cap.
“About time,” growled Sable. Cap figured Sable hadn't meant for him to hear, but he had. But he remembered what Tully had
said and tried to concentrate on the game, shouting encouragement to Jimmy and his teammates.
Jimmy started off with an end-around, pitching to Sam as he circled around from his right-end position before racing downfield
behind blocks from Ben, Steve, and Jimmy himself. Before the 'Cudas could run Sam down, he had gained twenty-four yards, and
the ball was on the Sandville twenty-one. Two short passes brought them to the seven-yard line, and the Cowpen fans were all
standing and yelling. On first and goal, Jimmy flipped the ball back to Fritz, but Fritz didn't run; he stepped back and threw
into the end zone, where Sam pulled it in for six points.
Hoot kicked it through the uprights and the game was tied at eight apiece when the first half ended.
The teams headed for the gym locker rooms for the fifteen-minute halftime break. Most of the Pantherswere excited and chattering to one another, although Cap had to force himself to join in. He slapped Jimmy on the back.
“Good job! You got us back in the game!” Jimmy smiled happily.
Hoot came over to Cap and spoke quietly. “You were a little nervous, that's all. You'll get 'em in the second half.”
Cap hoped that he would have the chance to show what he could do in the second half but wondered if he would.
“All right, attention over here,” Tully called out, and the Panthers settled down. “You did all right out there, and we can
beat these guys if we play our game and keep our heads.”
He tapped his clipboard. “Jimmy, good job mixing up the plays just then. You unsettled their defense. You'll start the second
half. The other starters will be Ben, Hoot, Mick, Fritz, and Sam.”
Cap hoped his disappointment didn't show, but he had to admit that he deserved to stay on the bench. He had done a pretty
bad job.
Tully and Sable each gave short pep talks, tellingthe Panthers to stay alert on defense and to remember the trick play that had got the 'Cudas their touchdown.
“It's important to see everything,” Sable pointed out. “You see a running back trailing a receiver after a pass, think about
what he's doing there. Don't commit to a tackle too soon!”
“Okay, we receive to start the second half,” Tully said. “Let's get some more points on the board. Jimmy, the shovel pass
to Ben might work again, so look for a place to use it. The main thing is to give it your best shot. Okay, Panthers. Ready
to play ball?”
“Yeah!”
they shouted and ran out of the locker room, fired up.
Hoot took the opening kickoff, and with the help of a few good blocks and one fine cutback, got all the way to the Panther
thirty-eight before the 'Cudas stopped him. Jimmy gained six yards on a short pass to Mick and five more on a lateral to Fritz,
who cut upfield and plowed over two tacklers. With third and four from the 'Cuda thirty-one, he tried a pass to Sam going
deep, but his throw was high and short and a 'Cuda defender intercepted it.
Sandville struck quickly, gaining fifteen yards on a pass when Jimmy couldn't stay with his receiver. It was clear to Cap,
watching from the sidelines, that the 'Cuda quarterback figured that Jimmy was a weak defensive link. He threw another pass
good for twelve yards, once again taking advantage of Jimmy's not being able to cover his man tightly enough.
Sandville was
was overthrown again.
The game was scoreless until the middle of the second quarter, when the 'Cudas tried a trick play. They completed a short
pass to an end, and as the Panthers converged to bring him down, the end flipped the ball back to a trailing runner, who outran
everyone into the end zone.
A placekick after the touchdown was perfect, and Sandville led, 8-0.
With three minutes left in the first half, Tully sent Jimmy in for Cap.
“About time,” growled Sable. Cap figured Sable hadn't meant for him to hear, but he had. But he remembered what Tully had
said and tried to concentrate on the game, shouting encouragement to Jimmy and his teammates.
Jimmy started off with an end-around, pitching to Sam as he circled around from his right-end position before racing downfield
behind blocks from Ben, Steve, and Jimmy himself. Before the 'Cudas could run Sam down, he had gained twenty-four yards, and
the ball was on the Sandville twenty-one. Two short passes brought them to the seven-yard line, and the Cowpen fans were all
standing and yelling. On first and goal, Jimmy flipped the ball back to Fritz, but Fritz didn't run; he stepped back and threw
into the end zone, where Sam pulled it in for six points.
Hoot kicked it through the uprights and the game was tied at eight apiece when the first half ended.
The teams headed for the gym locker rooms for the fifteen-minute halftime break. Most of the Pantherswere excited and chattering to one another, although Cap had to force himself to join in. He slapped Jimmy on the back.
“Good job! You got us back in the game!” Jimmy smiled happily.
Hoot came over to Cap and spoke quietly. “You were a little nervous, that's all. You'll get 'em in the second half.”
Cap hoped that he would have the chance to show what he could do in the second half but wondered if he would.
“All right, attention over here,” Tully called out, and the Panthers settled down. “You did all right out there, and we can
beat these guys if we play our game and keep our heads.”
He tapped his clipboard. “Jimmy, good job mixing up the plays just then. You unsettled their defense. You'll start the second
half. The other starters will be Ben, Hoot, Mick, Fritz, and Sam.”
Cap hoped his disappointment didn't show, but he had to admit that he deserved to stay on the bench. He had done a pretty
bad job.
Tully and Sable each gave short pep talks, tellingthe Panthers to stay alert on defense and to remember the trick play that had got the 'Cudas their touchdown.
“It's important to see everything,” Sable pointed out. “You see a running back trailing a receiver after a pass, think about
what he's doing there. Don't commit to a tackle too soon!”
“Okay, we receive to start the second half,” Tully said. “Let's get some more points on the board. Jimmy, the shovel pass
to Ben might work again, so look for a place to use it. The main thing is to give it your best shot. Okay, Panthers. Ready
to play ball?”
“Yeah!”
they shouted and ran out of the locker room, fired up.
Hoot took the opening kickoff, and with the help of a few good blocks and one fine cutback, got all the way to the Panther
thirty-eight before the 'Cudas stopped him. Jimmy gained six yards on a short pass to Mick and five more on a lateral to Fritz,
who cut upfield and plowed over two tacklers. With third and four from the 'Cuda thirty-one, he tried a pass to Sam going
deep, but his throw was high and short and a 'Cuda defender intercepted it.
Sandville struck quickly, gaining fifteen yards on a pass when Jimmy couldn't stay with his receiver. It was clear to Cap,
watching from the sidelines, that the 'Cuda quarterback figured that Jimmy was a weak defensive link. He threw another pass
good for twelve yards, once again taking advantage of Jimmy's not being able to cover his man tightly enough.
Sandville was
Similar Books
