But there was no time to struggle over the thirty yards that intervened.

A long run might bring a touch-down if Erskine could again get a back around an end, but two minutes was too short a time for line-bucking; and, besides, Reardon had his orders.
On the side-line the timekeeper was keeping a careful eye upon his stop-watch.
A try by Neil outside of right tackle netted but a yard and left him half fainting on the ground.

Pearse set off for the left end of the line on the next play, but never reached it; the Robinson right tackle got through on to him and stopped him well back of his line.
"Third down," called the referee, "five to gain!" The teams were lined up about half-way between the Robinson goal and the south side of the field, the ball just inside the thirty-yard line.
Reardon had been directed to try for a field-goal as soon as he got inside the twenty-five yards.

This was only the thirty yards, and the angle was severe.

There was perhaps one chance in three of making a goal from placement; a drop-kick was out of the question.