Free Halfback Attack by Matt Christopher Page B

when he’d have to make a tackle, what happened?
     He’d get scared all over and the runner would race right past him!
    If he was going to play defensive linebacker as well as offensive halfback, he’d have to get over that fear — soon.
    The half ended. The Sandpipers went off to one side of the field, and the Catbirds went off to the other.
    Coach Sears talked to the boys awhile, telling them what they had done wrong and what they should have done. Freddie kept
     behind some of thebigger boys — the tackles and the guards — so that Coach Sears wouldn’t notice him and say something about his not tackling.
     He felt sure some of the boys knew, but if Coach Sears broadcast it now — well, he just wouldn’t be able to take it, that’s
     what.
    They returned to the bench and talked to pass the rest of the minutes.
    Freddie was still sitting there when the second half started. Dennis kicked off. It was Ernie Moody again who caught the ball
     on his twenty and ran it back. He got as far as his twenty-eight, where Dick Connors and end Milt Grady smeared him.
    The Catbirds gained a first down in three plays. Freddie began to fidget on the bench. He couldn’t forget that he was to blame
     for the Catbirds’ getting the last touchdown.
    And then — on the Sandpipers’ thirty-three — the Catbirds fumbled the ball and the Sandpipers recovered!
    Freddie leaped off the bench with joy, practically forgetting why he was there.
    “Freddie, get in there,” barked Coach Sears. “Send out Ted.”
    Freddie looked up at the coach. “Did you —”
    “Will you hurry?” said Coach Sears. “We haven’t got all day.”
    “Yes, sir!” replied Freddie. He clipped on his chin strap and raced out onto the field.
    He ordered Ted Butler out and saw the looks that came over the faces of the other players. Especially Dick Connors’s, the
     captain, and fullback Dennis Yates’s.
    “Pass to Milt,” said Dick. “On the two! Let’s go!”
    They broke from the huddle and went quickly into a T-formation. Dick, his hands stretched down close to center Stookie Freese’s
     legs, barked signals.
    “Down! One! Two! Hike!”
    Stookie snapped the ball. Dick took it and went back. He faked a handoff to Dennis, then shot a forward pass across the scrimmage
     line toward the right side of the field. Milt caught it, went five yards, and was tackled.
    “Second and two!” said the referee.
    The Sandpipers’ fans began yelling: “We — want — a touchdown! We — want — a touchdown!”
    Dick tried a crisscross buck, with Bucky carrying. They lost two yards. Third and four.
    “Let me carry it!” said Freddie.
    All eyes swung to him, big and wide and unbelieving.
    “They — they won’t expect it,” said Freddie timidly.
    Ten pairs of eyes kept staring at him.
    Then Dick said, “Okay! It might surprise them! If you don’t make it, we’ll still have another down! Number twelve! Block your
     men, you guys!”
    Dick snapped signals. The ball whipped into his hands. He ran with it toward the right side of the line. A tackle broke through
     and started after him. Dennis blocked him. An end broke through. He reached for Dick. Just then Dick pitched the ball out
     to Freddie, who was running hard alongside him.
    Freddie clamped the ball tightly against his side and raced hard down the field. Coming from his left was the Catbirds’ safety
     man. Freddie tried to pick up more speed. He was on the fifteen, now … the ten … the five….
    The safety man reached him grabbed his shoulders, and pulled him down. Just three yards from the goal line!
    “Beautiful run, Freddie!” praised Dick. “Let’s go for it now. I’ll try the sneak.”
    Dick tried it, and plunged through for the touchdown.
    Dennis bucked from the two. He didn’t make it.
    The score: Catbirds 20; Sandpipers 13.
    The coach sent in substitutes. One was Ted Butler, who came in again to replace Freddie.
    “Nice running, Freddie,” said Coach Sears with a smile. “I