Win, or Else Page 7

CHAPTER 6

  SURPRISES IN STORE

  “We are a weak behind in our practice schedule,” complained Coach Andrews in his “Sermon on the Mound” at Monday night’s practice. “We had planned to be far enough along by last week to teach you a new series of plays. Then we wanted to add some special plays for Whitetown. I think we have done well to be as far as we are considering the setback we had. We’ll learn some of the new plays this week, and I think we will have a few surprises for that Whitetown gang.”

  Whitetown was one of the big schools in the conference. They could always be considered in the running for the championship along with Elm Lane and Doorland. Last year Whitetown’s “Vikings” won the league title; and they, too, had many juniors on their team. Most of the sports writers for the area newspapers had picked them to repeat as champions this year, too.

  Most of the conference followers were more certain than ever that the loss by the “Foxes” made it almost automatic for the Whitetown team to win the conference championship. Even most of the local Foxville fans now felt that the “Foxes” were out of the running, and many still blamed it on the coach for purging the team of the rule violators.

  It was to be a very important game on Friday. Mr. Andrews and the team were going to be ready for this game. At least they felt they could win and give the hometown fans a show.

  The coaches had spent most of Sunday afternoon going over the films of the last game and preparing for the next one.

  One of the many items they noted was the one-sided statistics from the game. The Foxville team had ten first downs to their opponents four. Yardage was almost three times that which was given up. All down the line, the “Foxes” had done far better than Ellison. The one thing they hadn’t done better was to score more points.

  “That makes me sick,” said Mr. Miller after going over the results, “Those kids worked so hard and did so well under the conditions. It’s a shame they didn’t win.”

  After looking at the game films several times, the coaches noted many errors made by the team. Most of these were made by the backfield men,

  “Our line is good. They should get better with more games under their belt,” Mr. Andrews told his assistant, “But what can we do to put some punch in our backfield?”

  “You know your backs better than I do,” the assistant replied. “Don’t you have any one who could help?”

  “We could use Bikes at halfback. He’s mean and tough - - that’s why they call him “Tiger” - - but he’s too slow. He couldn’t run away from his shadow in the open field. And, he’s too small to play fullback. No, I don’t think he would be any improvement.”

  “How about Jerry Kenowski?” asked Mr. Miller? “He won’t play much behind Blaine.”

  “No, Jerry is too big for halfback. He’s too slow, too. I think we’ll keep him at fullback.”

  Game films had shown that the weakest spot in the backfield was the halfback. He had been detected in motion on the touchdown play but the film showed that he probably could have been called many more times. He was almost always a little ahead or a little behind the rest. On several occasions he was blocking when he should have been faking. He often missed his blocks because he was slow getting to them. This was why they were looking for a new player to fill the position.”

  “It looks like we’re wasting our time looking for a replacement then. He seems to be the best we have, as poor as he is,” said Miller, ending that phase of the conversation.

  During the afternoon the coaches planned each practice for the week. They went over the scouting report of the “Vikings” and felt that their defense could hold them.

  When the time came to teach the new plays, Mr. Andrews was at his best. At the Monday practice he explained his new series. “This is basically the same play that we run from the conventional ‘T’, but we put one halfback outside of our end, here,” he said, walking Smitty to the new “set” position. He paused a moment here and said a little prayer for the back to at least remember where he should line up. “Now this move alone gives us a better blocking position on the end. Look at how he can come in on the end instead of going around to block him.” Saying this he walked Smitty to the place where the end would be, bent his head down, and said, “Hit him.”

  “We’ll run a silent pass from the same position. Look,” he said lining Smitty up again in his original place, “He runs at the end just as if he would block him, then continues on a slant and receives a pass right over the line.”

  Another play we’ll use this week is a halfback pass. Again we line up the same. The wing-back brushes the end to make it look like a run which will bring up the defense. Then he goes down ten yards, turns out, and gets the pass. The other halfback runs around end, stops and throws. This should be a big surprise for Whitetown.

  “And we have one more we’re going to prepare for them, the reverse from this position,” he continued with mounting excitement. “We run the fullback into the center with a fake to him. Then the left-half into the right tackle hole with a fake to him. Finally the quarterback gives to the ‘set-back’ who goes naked around the other end.”

  When the coach said this, Smitty gaped at him and said, “Me? Nude, Coach?”

  “No, Smitty, I didn’t mean without any clothes on. I mean you’ll run around that end without any blockers. If everyone does their job, the whole defense will be over here and there won’t be anyone to block over there.”

  “Oh,” replied Smith. “You had me worried.”

  The backs were anxious to try the new plays. They ran through all of the plays in the new series several times. Each time the coach called instructions to help them to do it correctly. Soon the new plays were shown to the line, which had been working separately on the blocking assignments. Then the whole team tried all of the plays several times.

  Boys have a natural optimism. They always seem to find bright lights in the darkness. Anyone watching practice that night would have noticed this. The beginning of practice was dull and routine; much as one might expect from a team which played their hearts out but failed to win. After the new plays were introduced, a new spirit was seen. The old defeat was forgotten, all interest was now centered on winning the next game.

  “This is one of the great rewards of coaching,” Mr. Andrews told his assistant while they relaxed in their office after practice. “It thrills me to see the spirit of boys come back as it did tonight. You can almost see it.”

  “Yes,” added Miller, “they surely had it at the end of practice tonight. Maybe those beatings will work for our good yet.”

  “We’ll have to be up for this one. Coach Williams thinks they are just as good as they were last year. That means we’ll have to be better.”

  Mr. Williams was the “B” squad coach. Part of his job was to scout the other teams and report on their strengths and weaknesses. Last week he had seen them win their first conference game by an impressive score. They had played Wilton, the smallest school in the conference, and it probably wasn’t a real test of their ability. The coaches, at least, were not underestimating their opponent.

  The boys thought highly of their competition, too. At Tuesday night’s practice they counted for their drills by shouting “Beat Whitetown - - Beat Whitetown” rather than by counting “one – two, one – two, etc.”

  The team worked on their drills with more vigor than had the previous night. When they ran their plays, especially the new plays, they tore the second team apart.

  “We had it tonight, didn’t we Coach?” called Captain Cain as he left the practice field heading for a much needed shower. “We’ll have it Friday, too, don’t you worry!”

  Tuesday evening meant another Booster Club meeting for Mr. Andrews to attend. This was one place which he preferred to have stayed far away from. It was traditionally part of his job as coach; therefore, he went.

  Since this was the meeting before the first home game, the club spent som
e time discussing such matters as personnel to work in the concession stand, ordering hot dogs and pop, and how many people to expect at the game. This activity gave the coach time to formulate his strategy.

  Looking around at the people attending the meeting, he was relieved to notice many of the antagonists of last week were not present.

  When he was introduced to the audience he startled them by saying, “we lost again - - if you only count the score.” Then he paused to let the idea sink in. It caused no response.

  “When I came here tonight, I felt much like the players in a game several years ago. A college team was playing against great odds and every play they tried was without success. The score was about 80 to 0 against them. Their backs were taking a terrible pounding every time they carried the ball.

  “The quarterback called a play requiring the fullback to carry the ball, but he said, “Not me. Every time I go into that line, they knock me down, kick me, hit me, twist my neck and pile on me. Don’t ask me to carry it again.”

  “Next he called on a halfback for an end run. ‘No’, said the halfback; my legs ache, both arms feel like they’re falling off, my back pains me and I have a headache. Don’t call my play.”

  The quarterback turned to the other halfback who answered before the play was called, “Don’t look at me. I’m not carrying the ball into that pack of wild animals.”

  “Well, fellows” asked the signal caller, “do you have any suggestions?”

  “An end put an idea out for consideration, He said, ‘let’s call a long, incomplete, forward pass to me.’”

  Laughter greeted the storyteller. Polite giggles and a few hearty laughs came in response to the true story.

  “I felt, tonight, much as those backs must have felt. Don’t call on me again. But now I am here, I’m glad I came. I noticed a better attitude than last week.”

  Films of the game were shown with appropriate comments from Mr. Andrews. He expressed his disappointment for the boys and promised surprises for the visitors on Friday.

  Question period was more pleasant this week, but a few die-hards put in their questions.

  One returnee from last week’s session asked if he had changed his mind about getting the Brown twins back out for the team.

  “No!”

  “Have you started looking for a new job for next year?” asked an elderly man in a tone which obviously was meant to be funny.

  “No!” again said the coach, “Are there any questions about football?” he added, bringing out a few chuckles.

  The questioning changed to questions such as: why the “Foxes” had the second touchdown called back? Why didn’t they try more passes? Why wasn’t the halfback covered on the “Chiefs” touchdown play? And why didn’t Foxville kick for the extra point attempt. These questions were in the spirit of the event, and Mr. Andrews answered them cooperatively.

  Finally, the meeting was over. This time the coach lingered to talk to those present, while enjoying coffee and doughnuts.

  On Wednesday the scrimmage was very spirited. Usually more fans attended practice the nights when a scrimmage was scheduled. This night, eyebrows raised as the new plays were tried. The new look lifted the spirit of the fans as it had done for the players. These were some of the surprises the coach had planned for Whitetown.

  While the fans were excited, they were also entertained by the antics of Smitty.

  Timing of the plays was the major goal of the practice. Smitty had trouble starting at the right time on the reverse. He always started too soon or too late, in both cases, spoiling the plays. He knew in his mind, when he should start, but knowing and doing were two different things.

  Mr. Andrews spent a lot of time trying to teach him. Finally, he grabbed the belt of Smitty’s pant and held him until the time to go. At the correct time he gave him a push. When Smitty took the ball, he could really run with it. If only he could remember when to get it!

  Bikes, from his defensive position, called for the coach. When Mr. Andrews went to see what he wanted. Bikes said, “Watch Smitty from this side. He’s pointing.”

  “Sure enough,” said Andrews, after watching for two plays. Smitty was leaning toward the side he was going to run to.

  “Smitty,” called the coach, “you’re pointing the play.”

  “I’m what?”

  “You’re pointing the play! You’re telling the defense which way we are going to go by leaning that way.”

  “I can’t do that, Coach. Unless I carry it, I don’t even know where it is going. How can I tell them?”

  “Oh, God,” said Andrews prayerfully, “they’ll never believe me if I tell them this.”

  “What d’ya say, Coach?”

  “Never mind, just listen. You’re pointing. You’re telling the defense which way you are going to go by - - - - “

  “I never said a word. Honestly, I didn’t. Just ask Joe.”

  “I know you didn’t say anything. I didn’t say you did, but you are leaning in the direction you are going to go. They can tell if you’re going to go this way because you lean this way before you start. They can tell if you’re going to run a reverse because you lean that way.”

  “Boy, they’re a lot smarter than I am!”

  “You can say that again. Never mind. Just stand the same way every time, and they will never be able to tell.” And then, he added for the whole team to hear, “Sometimes a good player will fool you by pointing one way and running another.”

  Practice resumed and a few plays were run without incident. When Dickie called for a reverse, the team took their positions.

  “HOLD IT!” shouted Coach Andrews. Smitty was not in his stance. He was standing straight up and pointing with his arm and forefinger toward the right sidelines. “What do you think you are doing now?”

  Smitty said in a very confident tone, “Well, I’m pointin’ this way, but I’m gonna fool ‘em. I’m gonna go that way.”

  For the first home game of the season a big assembly was planned. The band played and the cheerleaders led the student body in several enthusiastic cheers for Foxville.

  Mr. Hammond, the principal, gave a speech in which he told of the high hopes people held for the “Foxes”. He didn’t sound as though he believed what he was saying when he told them what a fine coach and team they had.

  After the other speakers had finished, Mr. Andrews was called on to introduce the team. The applause for him was noticeably less than the cheers for the principal. “That was quite natural,” thought Mr. Andrews, but he wasn’t prepared for the boos which greeted him. “Had the student body become angry with him too?”

  The coach gave a short talk telling how he expected his players to give a good account of themselves. “With a little luck to go with our ability, we could win the conference championship this year.”

  Introduction of the players was also a traditional part of this assembly. Mr. Andrews named each of the starters as they walked up to the stage amid cheers and applause.

  Captain Cain gave the last speech of the program. “I think we’ve got a real good bunch of fellows out this year. They’ve all been workin’ real hard in practice. We’re gonna do our best out there tonight and we need you all out there to cheer for us. That helps us a lot. I think we’re gonna win tonight.”

  Genuine cheers and applause answered Wayne’s little talk. The boys filed from the stage back to their seats.

  “That speech wouldn’t rate a very good grade in English class, but it certainly went well with the student body,” thought Mr. Andrews to himself. “And the best part of it is the fact that it is true. He believes every word of what he said.”

  “Whitetown certainly must have scouted us last week,” Coach Andrews told his team just before they took the field for the game, so here’s what we will do. We’ll keep all of our new plays until the second half. That way they won’t have the halftime to figure out a defense for us. In the first half we use the
old plays we used last week. All straight “T” formation plays. Smitty, did you get that?”

  “Yeah, Coach, I gotcha.”

  “O.K., then we’ll have plenty of surprises for them. Defense, you have to be tough tonight. Those kids scored 34 points last week.”

  “Don’t worry, Coach,” put in Ken Whisk, “They’ll be lucky to SEE the goal line tonight.”

  The first half was a good contest, evenly fought all the way. The halftime score, however, once again had the opponents leading 6-0. Both teams had put together long marches; but the “Foxes” were not able to score from the 12 yard line, their deepest penetration. The “Vikings” ended their march with a pass play from 16 yards out.

  “Now it’s our turn, Gang.” Coach Andrews said at halftime. We have found how they play. We know our open plays will work. Are there any questions?”

  “Smitty, do you know what to do?”

  “I’ll do my best, Coach.”

  “I guess that’s all we can ask - - but no mistakes.” The coach then said, “We have a few minutes before it’s time to go. Rest up for a couple of minutes and when you’re ready to take the champs come on out.” Having said this Andrews left the boys in the dressing room and walked out.

  Cain was on his feet as soon as the door was closed. This time what he had to say was much more spirited and dramatic. “Do you guys realize we haven’t been ahead all year? Well, I’m getting’ pretty tired of this stuff. I’d like to win one of these games. You backs better get us some scores. We’ll do our part. We’ll hold ‘em, and we’ll get some holes for you. These new plays ain’t no good unless you do ‘em right. We can’t win the championship unless we get some touchdowns.

  “Understand?” he said standing over Smitty who nodded that he understood.

  “Understand?” he asked of Schultz, Blaine and Fry in turn. His words had a favorable effect on the team. The backs felt responsible for other losses and were determined to do better. The lineman felt that they had given the promise themselves. When the official signaled time to go out for the second half, the team was ready. They charged out like wild animals would leave a cage.

  It took the “Foxes” three plays to get the ball back from the “Vikings” who had received the kickoff to start the second half. When Whitetown punted, Torkle returned the punt to the middle of the field and the “Foxes” were ready to go to work.

  The first play surprised the visitors when Smitty took his position outside of the end. They were even more surprised when Smitty cut down the end and Fry scampered for fifteen yards. The same play was equally effective the second time, this time for another twelve yards.

  Dick remembered the coach’s philosophy, “when a play goes well, run it until they prove they can stop it.” He called for the same play for a third time and gained eight more yards with it.

  The ball rested on the 15 yard line. Over it stood the referee who waited for the down marker to change and then called out, “Second and two.” It was doubtful whether anyone heard him though.

  On the visitor’s side went up a frantic cheer, “Hold that line - - Hold that line.”

  The hometown fans were equally loud with their cheers “We want a touchdown - - We want a touchdown!”

  Coach Andrews wondered if Dick was going to keep running the same play. “Les, Les Larson,” he called to the nearest man on the bench who happened to be the second team tackle. “Go in there and tell Dick to try the slant pass from the same formation.”

  Les quickly buckled his helmet and ran out to the huddle. He went straight to Dick, and when Tiny Small saw Les, he headed toward the sideline on the run. Les surprised everyone, however. After delivering his message to the quarterback he jogged back toward the bench, too.

  “Time out,” called Dick in disgust as he saw Les leave the field. Trotting toward the coach he said, “Who’s gonna play tackle?”

  Coach sent Tiny back into the game. Then turned to Les and asked, “What’s the matter, don’t you want to play?”

  “Play?” asked the dumbfounded tackle. “You just said to tell Dick what to call. You didn’t say I should play.”

  “This break gives us more time to get the play straight,” Dick said, back in the huddle. “Smitty, now get this. Slant pass on two. Smitty you line up the same as before but go past the end. I’ll pass to you over the center.”

  “O.K. I’ll be there,” said Smitty.

  He was there, as he said he would be. The defense saw the same formation and the backs called to their team to watch out for the sweep play. After the ball was hiked and the defensive backfield saw Smitty move toward the end, they rushed up quickly to get in on the tackle.

  Smitty caught the pass and was over the goal line before the defense realized the change in plays. The score was tied at 6-6 with a chance for the “Foxes” to take the lead.

  Stan Klingmeier came in to try for the point after touchdown. Stan was a junior, second string end who had been groomed as a placekicker since Tim left the team. This was to be his first attempt in a game. Guts hadn’t mastered the long snap, so he traded places with Don Luke for the attempt.

  “It was just as easy as in practice.” thought Stan as he trotted back to the bench after making a beautiful kick.

  The stands erupted with cheers for the hometown boys who now led the champs by a score of 7-6. The band pounded out the school song. Cheerleaders jumped up and down hugging one another. Stan was greeted by the boys on the bench as he joined them again. No one was happier than the boys themselves, though they were more reserved in their actions. The “Foxes” finally were leading in a ball game.

  Shock gripped the “Vikings” enough that they were unable to get their offense rolling again. They tried three plays and were forced to punt again.

  Dick had talked to the coach and now was ready with a variety of plays from both the old and new formations. All of the plays did better now. The march toward the goal line saw the team pile up four first downs in a row.

  From the 40 yard line a reverse surprised all but the safety who dropped Fry on the 22 yard line.

  Dick called a “sweep right”, and Fry gained another 6 yards.

  “Time for another surprise,” coach told the bench as he sent Russ Bikes into the game for Smitty.

  “Halfback pass right,” Bikes told Schultz who repeated it in the huddle.

  “Right in the corner,” Bikes said to Fry.

  The play looked like another sweep as they lined up, but the defense was fooled once before and were now slow to react. Watching the set man gave the defensive back his signal to act. When he saw Bikes block the end, the defensive back was certain it would be a running play, so he moved up quickly. Bikes had only brushed the end, however, and was running out for a pass. Gene ran toward the sidelines trying to turn up field. This brought the would-be-tacklers to him. Then he stopped and threw an easy pass to Bikes who caught it and stepped into the end zone for another touchdown.

  With the score 13-6 in favor of the home team, the bank of fans went wild yelling themselves hoarse for their team. Fans in cars around the field added their car horns to the noise which could be heard for blocks.

  Stan confidently jogged out to do the kicking again. This time he topped the ball slightly and it fell short of the crossbar. Even without the extra point the “Foxes” received a standing cheer from their fans as they returned up field.

  Whitetown had the ball as the teams changed goals to begin the last quarter. Again they were stopped by the stubborn Foxville team and forced to give up the ball without gaining a first down.

  Dick Schultz was calling a successful game, marching his team down the field toward the opponent’s goal line again. Just after they had crossed the midfield stripe, Dick called for a reverse. He faked a handoff to Blaine, then Fry, and then - - but where was Smitty? Dick stood there momentarily looking for the halfback who was supposed to get the ball, but was nowhere in sight.

&
nbsp; There was not much he could do after the play went wrong except to carry the ball and gain whatever he could. Trying to get to the sideline and around traffic, Dick was hit by a big tackle and a fast halfback at the same time. The ball squirted out of his hands as he hit the ground, but it went out of bounds.

  “At least we still have the ball,” coach said to himself. Then he yelled, ”Smitty,” He probably would have said more but he was stopped short at the sight of his quarterback rolling on the ground obviously in great pain.

  Pain went through Dick’s leg as Mr. Andrews touched it. The coach knew his signal caller was through for the night. After making him lie still Mr. Miller and the managers, with the help of some players, moved him carefully to a stretcher and then to the sidelines.

  “Is there a doctor in the stands?” asked the P.A. announcer. No one appeared to help Dick but his father, realizing that it must be serious from the pain his son suffered, took charge of getting him to the hospital. Several men loaded the stretcher into the back of a station wagon for the short ride.

  Meanwhile, Mr. Andrews sent in another fullback and moved Blaine to quarterback.

  That was all the scoring that was done that evening. The new combination didn’t work very effectively, and the “Foxes” were kept from scoring again. The defense was equal to the task and they prevented the visitors from scoring too. The game ended with the Foxville team leading 13-6. The best part of it all was that they had whipped the team which had been picked to win the conference championship.

  Meanwhile in the hospital Dick received a lot of attention. His football pants were cut off and his leg was examined. It only took a few moments for the doctor to reach his decision.

  “It is probably broken. We’ll keep him here overnight, and then take some x-rays tomorrow,” said the doctor. “Sorry, son, I guess you won’t be playing anymore this year.”

  Mr. Andrews had waited long enough to congratulate his team members and to share part of the celebration. The victory was not only the first for the “Foxes” but marked the end of a 12 game winning streak for Whitetown. When he left the dressing room Coach Andrews headed straight for the hospital to see how Dick was doing.

  “How’d we do, Coach?” asked Dick when Mr. Andrews entered his room.

  “How are you, Dick?” asked the coach at the same time.

  Both laughed briefly and awkwardly and then gave their news.

  “Oh, we won,” the coach bragged. “You didn’t think the boys would let this one get away, did you? Now, how about you? What did the doctor say?”

  “Probably broken,” said Dick, again taking on a pained look. “I’ll bet it’s broken in a dozen places by the way it hurts.”