The cadet players themselves were worried.

If the Navy could play like this through the game, it looked as though Annapolis might wipe out, in one grand and big-scored victory, the memory of many past defeats.
"Brace up, Army!" was the word passed through West Point's eleven.
"Good old Darry!" chuckled Wolgast, and, though he did not like to work Darrin too hard at the outset, yet it was also worth while to shake the Army nerve as much as possible.

So Wolgast signaled quarterback to send the ball once more by Midshipman Dave.
Another seven yards was gained by Darrin.

The West Point men were gasping, more from chagrin than from actual physical strain.
Was it going to prove impossible to stop these mad Navy rushes?
Then Wolgast reluctantly as he saw Dave limp slightly, decided upon working Page and Farley a little harder just at present.
So back the ball traveled to the right flank was making, however, the Navy cheermaster started a triumphant yell going, in which nearly eight hundred midshipmen joined with all their lung power.
Of course, the Army cheermaster came back with a stirring West Point yell, but one spectator, behind the side lines, turned and bawled at the Army cheermaster: "That's right, young man! Anything on earth to keep up your crowd's courage!" In the laugh that followed many a gray-clad cadet joined simply because he could not help himself.
"If we don't break at some point it's all ours to-day," Wolgast was informing the players nearest him.

"I've never seen Darry so wildly capable as he is right now.