Third period. During the intermission, which lasts fifteen minutes, the wind died down appreciably so that when our team, which is again playing against it, kicks off, it is able to send the ball almost to the enemy's goal. On the first play our opponents quite correctly kick, but unfortunately their punter twists his ankle, and is forced to leave the field. His substitute is an inferior kicker, and perceptibly slower in the execution of his kicks. As a result, the enemy find that instead of being able to punt their way out of danger on the exchange of kicks, they are fighting deep in their own territory; and to make things worse the next kick is short, the ball going to us at midfield.

Then ensues the second of those well-directed marches, which a team is sometimes able to make by superhuman effort, when the score is against it. Intermingling change of direction plays and strong line plays, with one forward pass, which started like a rush, our quarterback drives his team to a first down on its nine yard line, second down on their six yard line, third down on the four yard line, fourth down with only three yards to the goal line and only one more try. It is indeed a critical situation. Once again, what would you do were you in the quarterback's shoes? Kick, run, or pass? In making your choice please remember the score as well as other factors. Our quarterback orders a kick formation and so places the rest of his backfield that the best protection is obtained for a drop kick. The defense are determined to block the kick and as the ball is snapped their line converge on the kicker's foot. He makes every pretense of kicking but at the last moment whirls and passes the ball diagonally forward to his end, who is speeding toward the side lines. An enemy halfback has sensed the play and just as the ball is caught by our end he tackles the runner. We fail to make a touchdown by less than a half-yard.

Even now the enemy are not "out of the woods," because should we block their kick we would probably score. But their substitute kicker punts well Our back catches the ball at the thirty-five yard line and starts to run in, but when fiercely tackled he drops the ball and an adversary recovers it. This gives our opponents a first down on their thirty yard line and the mistake constitutes a "break" of the worst sort. The enemy kick at once to our twenty-five yard line so that in two plays they gain seventy-five yards. On this last play, in making his tackle one of their ends is badly shaken up but insists upon resuming play. Still somewhat dazed he is unable on the next play to hold off the interference which is directed against him. The runner, seeing the tackle is well boxed, cuts in. As he is about to be tackled by the secondary defense another interferer comes to his rescue. He then dodges the third line of defense and after a splendid run of thirty-five yards is forced out of bounds by the one remaining defensive player. This gives us first down on the opponents' forty yard line. We now change our tactics and try three long forward passes, each of which is incomplete. On the fourth down the punter, by kicking diagonally across the field, tries to place his kick outside, near the opponents' goal line but the defending back anticipates his move and intercepting the ball runs to his thirty yard line before he is finally tackled. Time is now called, and in the one minute of rest which follows the teams change goals.

Summary. In contrast to the preceding period this quarter was marked by excellent play, especially our offensive march of forty-seven yards ending in a failure to score by an eyelash. To be sure, that fumble of ours was a bad blemish, but the long run directly after, which almost scored, compensated greatly by taking us out of our own territory. Had any of the long forward passes been completed we should have tied the score.

Fourth period. The enemy in possession of the ball on their own thirty yard line try two sweeps from a kick formation, but fail to gain. From the same formation our ends naturally think he is going to punt and so press in on the kicker, who fakes a punt and then starts around the exposed flank. Unfortunately our wing halfback misses his tackle so that the runner continues for a material gain. For some time afterwards, the ball see-saws up and down the field with no particular advantage gained by either side. On one occasion we made a good advance by forward passes from a spread formation which had the desired result of weakening the third line of defense. The enemy avert a sure score by intercepting a pass just as our end is about to catoh the ball. Later on from third down we make a long forward pass which strikes the ground just over the goal line, causing a touchback. Perhaps the reader may criticise the judgment of this play, but keep in mind the score and also the fact that had the ball struck within the field of play it would have been an incomplete forward pass and we should have had another down left. In other words if criticism is to be made, it should be on faulty execution rather than against the play itself.

The enemy meanwhile made several successful gains, mostly through the use of the same fake kick which they employed in the early part of this period. Finally with four down and four yards to go, their center passes so poorly to the kicker that he is forced to forego an attempt to kick, is compelled to run, and is thrown two yards of the required distance. Thus the enemy are held for downs, and we obtain possession of the ball on our own forty-five yard line.

A substitute quarterback for our team is now sent in. He gives a simple sounding signal and a simple plunge follows, without gain. Groans ensue from the spectators, who of course are looking for a desperate trick play, but before they or the enemy realize it, the ball is again put in play without signal, and a sweep around end ensues. The runner is almost free. He swerves near the side line and dodging the last defensive player continues across the enemy's goal line. A touchdown! The referee, however, decides that the runner stepped on the side line at the thirty-five yard line so play is resumed at that point. We are unable to gain, so on fourth down a drop kick is attempted. This is partially blocked by the opponents, thus putting our team "onside," and eligible to recover the ball. The ball, however, continues its flight and rolls over the goal line where one of our players falls on it. Another touchdown! But no, the officials rightly decide that the impetus which caused the ball to roll over the goal line came from the attacking side, which according to the rules makes the play a touchback. Had our player been able to reach the ball within the field of play he could have legally retained it. Such are the breaks of the game.

Our team is naturally almost spent after these disappointments and as the enemy line up on their own twenty yard line our captain asks how much time is left. We can see by the scrutiny with which the field judge looks at his watch that very little time remains. The enemy play three times slowly, then punt. Up to this time our backfield had caught every kick cleanly but on this occasion, because the sun was directly in the eyes of our quarterback, he muffed the ball and an opponent promptly pounced on it. It would seem that "all was over but the cheering."

The enemy are now playing with such deliberation that our captain calls for "time out" and complains to the referee. In preparation for the fourth play the enemy quarterback repeats his signal twice, whereupon the referee penalizes his team two yards for delaying the game, thus making fourth down, six yards to go. An end is now substituted on our team. Very deliberately the enemy assume a kick formation. The signal is called equally deliberately, but the pass to the kicker which is a trifle high unsettles his stance. Our substitute end, with but one object in mind, sweeps in and blocks the ensuing punt. The ball bounces gaily toward the enemy's goal. Their kicker is nearest to it and just as he is preparing to throw himself on it one of our players bumps him and he sprawls short of the ball. Comes another of our men, fumbles the ball momentarily, recovers it and is off. An enemy is two yards from him and as they near the goal line he dives at our player and throws him, but together they slide over the goal line. Touchdown! Pandemonium lets loose, but to tie the score our team has yet to make one more point. We therefore, according to the new rule, line up our opponents' five yard line. The best drop kicker in our squad is sent in. He kicks a perfect drop goal and the game is over. Summary. From the beginning of this period we were determined to upset the enemy's kicking game, which had faltered after their substitute' came in, but when our line committed themselves to blocking opponents' kicks they uncovered their flanks so that on two occasions the enemy turned them for material gains. Nevertheless, by pursuing the same tactics we forced the kicker on fourth down to run, thus gaining possession of the ball. Finally, when all seemed lost, by persisting in these same tactics, we succeeded in gaining our object, blocking a punt and tying the score as the result.

As a whole, this game may appear to have been raggedly played, but an analysis shows that there were fewer errors than usually happen in a well-played game. I have emphasized these mistakes, for few spectators appreciate either the number of errors which occur or how seriously they handicap the offending team. Every coach and player is well aware of the importance of playing correct football, but in spite of their combined efforts mistakes creep into the play, and mar an otherwise perfect performance. So in this case, as each team made approximately the same number of mistakes and showed about equal strength in the various other departments of the game, the result was a tie.