12 Sports Aces, January 1943 — page 95: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

PIGSKIN PAY DIR: HE Tarleton attack stalled deep in their own territory and the score was unchanged at the half. The team went in the locker room and Pop Benson came in and looked them over. He said, “Wishocki, you feeling all right?” The tackle said surlily, “Yeah. Why?” Benson said, “And you, Novak? Dono- van? Montana? I watched you play last year. You were All-American timber. You were sandlotters this first half. I _ know how you feel. You had your team drop out from under you. Some of the boys you’re playing with today are green. But they’ll come through if you’ll lead them. You can do it. You can win this game today.” They went out again. Tech was content to play for a one-touchdown win. They had a fast charging line and they bottled up Tarleton. Montana was sluggish as he hit the line, his old power was gone. Hastings, the sophomore, was just an- other runner, He didn’t have enough, With five minutes of the fourth quar- ter gone, Tarleton was on its own four- teen, first down, Lennox said, “We gam- ble. We pull a Frank Merriwell.” His erooked grin flashed and then he snapped the numbers. _The ball came baek into Kirk’s hands. He faded, watching the ends come rac- ing in at him. He had no protection. The last two years they had guarded him like the gold at Fort Knox, but this was an- other line. He hunted vainly for a re- ceiver and then tried to run. His feet went out from under him and he landed on his face on the five-yard line. A tackle got up grinning, He said, “Glamour boy, this purity game has sure showed you up,” Lennox drawled, “When I call a pass, you’re supposed to pass, Kirk. Try it again.” Again Kirk had the ball. He ran across toward the sidelines. An end charged him and Lennox blocked him out. Kirk sighted his receiver across the field and let the ball ride like a bullet. The end eaught it on the twenty-five, he got to the thirty-two before they nailed him. Hastings made two, Kirk took the ball again, cut back as though to pass, then 93 slammed through tackle for five yards. “Your specialty number coming wp, Montana,” Lennox murmured. The fullback made just two ya.ds, one less than they needed. He got up looking fresh as a daisy and he did not seem per- turbed. Lennox called the numbers. Hastings was back to kick on fourth down but the ball went to Lennox. The quarterback drove straight through the center, and when they pried him off the turf he had gained just one yard. Blood dripped from his nose, He said pleasantly to no one in par- ticular, “Rough game this football, isn’t ie Kirk went back and took the ball. He had lost the heavy feeling that had numbed him all afternoon. The team was not much but they were moving. Tacklers came toward him and he sighted between them and fired the ball. He went flat on his back and Lennox pulled him up. “We're at midfield,” Lennox said. “You’re the boy to win this one, Kirk.” Kirk had the ball again. He faded back and then instead of passing, he lateraled to Lennox. The quarter streaked down- field to the forty. The minutes were tick- ing off. They got to the thirty-two and time was running out. Lennox called the signals and the pig- skin socked into Roger Kirk’s hands. This was the ball game, riding on this pass. He angled back, giving his man plenty of time, letting him get to the fifteen. Then he threw it, and the end started running. He got beyond the safety. He hit the ten and the ball was in his arms, a clear field ahead to a touchdown. He raised his hands and the ball went right through them. He came back shaking. He said, “Kirk, I was too sure of it.” Lennox said, “Play ball.”’ Hastings kicked out on the seven-yard line. Tech ran three plays into the middle of the line. Kirk went back as safety and there was a minute and a half to go. He stood there thinking that they were be- ing beaten by a team that they could have trounced a year ago. The Tech punter booted the ball and #t comichbook (C@