The latter started off with a savage rush that almost swept the scrubs off their feet. Evidently Wynn's exhortations had had their effect. Knapp went through for seven yards on the first down. Dittler tried next but was thrown back for a loss of two. Knapp was called on again to carry the ball, and justified the choice by getting through for three more with the whole of the scrub team on his back. With only two to go Wynn made a gain of four, the regulars thus holding possession of the ball on the scrubs' eight-yard line. Garry called on his team mates desperately to brace. But the regulars were too close now to be denied. Dittler plunged through for three, added two more on the second try, and on the third Payne crossed the coveted line for a touchdown. Thomas was called on to kick the goal, but the ball hit one of the posts and was deflected. But the regulars had added six points to their score and were only one behind the total of the scrubs. For the rest of the period the fighting was fast and furious. At one time the scrubs came dangerously near scoring when Rooster, who was carrying the ball, was downed within ten yards of the regulars' goal. But Payne kicked the ball out of danger, and the period ended without further scoring, with the pigskin in the middle of the field. The twelve minutes of rest between the second and the third periods was welcomed by both teams. They had been playing at the top of their speed and were thoroughly winded. On the whole, honors had been even. Both teams had played good ball considering that it was the first real game of the season. Fumbles had been few and only two of them had been costly. Coach Garwin was secretly elated, though his sleepy-lidded eyes betrayed little of his real emotions. The scrubs sprawled out on the gymnasium floor, more exhausted perhaps than the bigger and older boys on the regulars. But what they lacked in breath they made up in exultation. They had held the regulars down! They were a point ahead! "How dared we do it?" grinned Ted. "Mighty impudent of us, if you ask me," replied Rooster. "Did you see Sandy Podder biting his nails?" asked Nick. "Gee, I'd like to win if for nothing else than to make that boob sore." "Lent Stewart seemed just about as grouchy," added Bill. "Let's make them grouchier yet," urged Garry. "Let's go in and lick the tar out of the regulars. All we've got to do is to hold them safe and the game is ours. That one little point we have looks to me as big as a house." It looked that big to the regulars, too, though from a different angle, and they started to wipe it out from the very beginning of the third period.