Dave needed the work badly, for the Navy team was now on the eve of the first game of the season.
Jetson, with no hope now of making the eleven this year, avoided the field for a few days.
The first game of the season took place on a Saturday afternoon.

The opponent was Hanniston College.

Ordinarily, in the past, Hanniston had been an easy enough opponent, though there had been years in which Hanniston had carried the score away from the field.
"How many of the regular team do you want to throw into the game against Hanniston, Mr.Hepson ?" inquired Lieutenant-Commander Havens the night before the game.
"Every one of them, sir," Hepson answered the head coach.

"Until we get into a real game, we can't be sure that we've the strongest eleven.
To-morrow's game will show us if we have made any mistakes in our selections." Even though Hanniston was considered one of the lesser opponents, every man in the brigade speculated with great interest, that night, on the probable outcome of the morrow.
"Darrin will have a good chance to prove himself, a dub to-morrow," thought Midshipman Jetson darkly.

"I hate to wish against the Navy, but I'll cheer if Darrin, individually, ties himself up in foozle knots!".