Tough to Tackle Read Free Page B

wide gap after the quarterback,
     Ray Shaff. He saw Ray hand off the ball to a halfback running toward his right side of the line. Boots knew he’d never be
     able to get the ball carrier, but he might be able to throw a block on one of the Flyers. He raced after a backfield man who
     was attempting to throw a block on an Apollo guard, reached him, and flung himself against the guy’s legs. The man went down
     like a bale of hay.
    The whistle shrilled as the ball carrier was tackled on the Apollos’ thirty-eight-yardline. A flag was down and Boots saw the referee pointing a finger at him.
    “Clipping!” cried the ref.
    Boots was stunned.
    “You hit the man from behind, kid,” explained the ref. “That’s illegal and a fifteen-yard penalty.”
    The ball carrier had gained six yards on the run, so the Flyers chose to accept the penalty, which gave them nine more yards
     and another first down.
    Two more plays and the Flyers scored a touchdown. A short pass into the end zone gave them a 7 to 0 lead.
    I knew I should’ve stayed home
, thought Boots unhappily.

6
    J ackie Preston ran the Flyers’ kickoff back to the Apollos’ thirty-one. The Apollos moved forward in running plays and the
     quarter ended with the Apollos in possession of the ball.
    Third down, three to go, and the ball was on the Apollos’ forty-six-yard line.
    “Eighteen,” said Bud Davis in the huddle. “Don’t forget to button-hook in, Pete.”
    “Right,” said Pete.
    Eighteen was a pass play from Bud to Pete with the line back-pedaling to screen Bud.
    The men broke out of the huddle and went into their positions.
    “Down!” barked Bud. “Fourteen! Twenty-two! Eight! Hut! Hut! Hut!”
    Bud took the snap from center and faded back, the linemen back-pedaling to screen him, then chucked a short pass over the
     Flyer center’s head. Pete Ellis caught it on the run and barged to the Flyers’ forty-one for a first down.
    “Eighteen flare,” said Bud in the huddle.
    Eighteen flare was a pass to the right end behind the line of scrimmage. The team scrambled into position.
    “Down! Forty-six! Sixteen! Eight! Hut! Hut! Hut!”
    Bud took the snap, faded back … back. Boots had control of his man for a few moments, then suddenly stumbled and the Flyer
     tackle swept past him. Boots was just in time to block the middle linebacker. Bythen Bud had thrown the ball in a beautiful spiral pass to the right side of the field to Pete Ellis. Pete snared the pass
     and galloped for a touchdown, his man never farther than a yard behind him.
    The guys whooped and hollered, and the Apollo fans cheered and whistled.
    “Nice pass, Bud!” a fan shouted.
    “Great run, Pete!” yelled another.
    See who gets the credit? thought Boots. The quarterback and the end. Nobody thinks about the linemen. Bet no one except Mom
     and Dad and Gail knows that I’m out here.
    Leo kicked for the extra point. The kick was good and the score was tied.
    Tony Alo went in with five minutes to go before the half. “Nice work, Boots!” someone yelled from the stands as Boots came
     running to the sideline.
    Someone wants to be nice, thought Boots.Some people are even clapping. Maybe they’re clapping for Tony.
    Boots removed his mouthpiece, scooped up a dipperful of water, rinsed his mouth, then brushed a towel across his hot, sweaty
     face. With one minute left to go Leo kicked a field goal from the eleven-yard line to put the Apollos ahead, 10 to 7.
    The boys sucked on slices of oranges during the fifteen-minute rest period, and Boots wished he had a sandwich too. He was
     famished.
    Coach Higgins had him start the second half. This time the Flyers kicked off. Duck Farrell caught the ball on his side of
     the field, pulled away from two would-be tacklers by some tricky broken-field running, got good blocking from Richie Powell
     and Ralph Patone, and was downed on the forty-eight.
    In two plays they carried the ball to the Flyers’ eighteen.
    “Let’s get it over,” said Bud.