"Alright team. As you know we are playing our rivals in the championship game in 1 day. Last time this happened we lost.” Even though the coach's voice clearly traveled through the room, I barely heard him. As soon as he mentioned last year’s game, I was pulled into a memory.
It was the fourth quarter with 3 seconds left. We were tied 35-35 and it was our ball. 3rd down and 3.
Coach called a passing play so I wasn't getting the ball. I heard the center snap the ball and took off, I ran a fake run into a wheel route. It was one of the best fakes I had ever performed. Everything went perfectly, the linebackers took off towards me. Leaving our wide receivers just enough space to run their slant and post routes. Drake, our best wide receiver, was wide open like always, Rex, our quarterback, threw a perfect spiral. But out of nowhere, the opposing team’s safety snatched the ball inches from Drake’s hands.
Interception. I took off towards the safety, but I tripped and fell hard on my shoulder. I watched in disbelief and shock as he ran right past me.
I forced myself to get up, sprinting as fast as I could towards him. But it was futile, he had too much of a head start. I slowed to a stop, refusing to believe what my eyes were telling me.
We lost. Those two words kept resonating in my head. I remember shouting and screaming my anger towards my teammates, my friends, my coach. But most of all I remember the pain I felt after losing.
"Brody!”
"Brody, are you listening?"Drake, my best friend, was shaking me. I flinched and focused on him.
"Sorry, what did you say?"I asked, rubbing the back of my neck in embarrassment.
"Coach told us we’re done and are allowed to leave,"Drake explained to me.
Drake and I both got up, talking as we put away our equipment into our lockers. After leaving the football field Drake and I headed towards home. We were neighbors so we usually rode home together. Today was no different. After arriving home I went to my room to catch up on homework for the day and rest. Later tonight Drake and I were going to practice routes and plays so I needed to be well-rested.
Around 3 hours later Drake and I met up at another field near both our houses and started warming up. Unfortunately around 15 minutes into warming up a group of people started walking towards us. As they got closer we realized it was Calvin and the rest of the people were also part of the Hawks football team. Calvin walked straight towards us with a smirk on his face.
"Yo Brody, are you sure you don’t want to forfeit, I would hate for what happened last year to happen again."Calvin taunted, he knew just how much last year’s loss affected Drake and I.
"We’ll see how confident you are after you lose to us in the championship Calvin, "I growled with my teeth clenched.
"Why wait till tomorrow, why not figure out who’s the best now. Two of us vs you two. Two hand touches, first to 3 touchdowns."
I looked at Drake, and we both smiled before saying simultaneously, "You're on.”
Calvin chose his teammate, and the rest headed off to the sidelines. Since we already had our ball, our team started. I was the better quarterback between Drake and I, so Drake got ready to run his route. Calvin lined up 5 yards in front of Drake and got ready to guard him.
"Set, Hut!"I smacked the ball signaling the start of the play. Drake took off, he ran a perfect route giving himself just enough room to catch the ball I had already thrown. He juked left and sprinted to our touchdown spot. 1-0 us.
Before long we were already tied 2-2. This time Drake was throwing, so I lined up in front of Calvin. Drake snapped the ball and I sprinted, I was running a go route, so I ran straight ahead, passing Calvin. Drake threw the ball into the endzone and I jumped for it.
As soon as I caught the ball, Calvin slammed into me falling on top of me as we fell to the ground in what was supposed to be a 2 hand touch game. I pushed him off of me and tried to stand up, but as soon as I put weight on my foot and ankle I collapsed.
Drake ran towards us screaming, “ What the hell are you doing Calvin. It's two-hand touch.”
As he reached us he pushed Calvin to the side and tried to help me up. But even with his help, I could barely walk. Eventually, we stopped and called Drake’s mom. Drake’s mom ended up calling my mom to take me to the hospital.
“ You're very lucky, it seems that nothing is broken or really injured. I recommend resting for around a day before any physical activity, especially sports, but you should be fine.” The news we received from the doctor was both better than we could have hoped for and worse than I wanted.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
If we followed the suggestion of the doctor I wouldn't be able to play in my game. On the entire ride home I tried my best to convince my mom to let me play in the game. Eventually, she gave in saying, “ Fine, if you can run and walk without any discomfort we will ask your coach if he wants you to play.”
As soon as we got home I rushed to my room and fell asleep in record time. When I woke up it was already 8:00, luckily practice was at 4:00 so I didn’t need to rush. I headed downstairs already able to smell the waffles and pancakes my mother was cooking.
I grabbed a plate quickly filling my plate with a couple of waffles and some eggs and bacon. It was only my mom and me for breakfast today because my dad was at work, and my sister had volleyball practice.
After breakfast, I decided to call Drake, and see if he was willing to play catch with me. He agreed to meet at the park around 10:00 so I spent some time lounging around and relaxing, every so often testing if my ankle was going to bother me.
When it was around 9:50 I left for the park arriving perfectly at 10:00. I looked around and saw Drake already stretching and warming himself up. I jogged over, secretly relieved that it didn’t bother my leg. Drake and I spent around 3 hours throwing routes and going through our own little game plan for the championship game.
Around 1:00 we both headed out and left for our own respective homes. I fixed a light lunch consisting of a ham and cheese sandwich and some water before heading upstairs to rest my leg. It had started to act up during the last half hour practicing with Drake.
Finally it was time for practice, my mom dropped me off right at 3:45 so I could warm up and talk to the coach. After putting on my pads and practice jersey I headed towards the coach.
“Hey coach, I assume you already know but I got sort of injured yesterday and my mom said if I wanted to play in tomorrow's game you’d have to agree on me being fit to play.”
“ Yes, your mom informed me about what happened. We will see how this practice goes, and if there are no incidents you should be fine playing tomorrow.”
I nodded as I walked back towards the field and the rest of the players, quickly grabbing a ball and tossing it towards Drake. Warm ups went by quickly and before long we were running through our game plan for tomorrow.
We had just started our final play before practice ended, when one of my teammates accidentally tripped me. My ankle twisted, sending burning pain up through my foot and calf. I fell to the ground unable to support my weight.
I rolled up into a ball, grabbing at my ankle refusing to cry out or verbally acknowledge the pain I was in. Everything after that was a blur, I vaguely felt myself get picked up and carried off the field. I kind of remember my mom coming to pick me up and taking me home and helping me to my bed.
I woke up oblivious to the fact that today was the championship game. I went downstairs dimly realizing my ankle felt perfectly fine. I ate breakfast, did a light workout and was about to call Drake to play catch before I remembered the game. I checked my phone and saw that the time was already 10:30.The fourth quarter was starting right about now. I sprinted through the house until I found my mom, and spent the next 3 minutes begging her to take me to the game.
When we arrived my team was down 28-42 and there was only 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter. I ran over to the coach to beg him to let me play.
“Coach, I'm fine, I can play. My leg is perfectly fine. Please, I have my pads and jersey.”
Coach looked over towards my mom, sending her a look that I assumed was asking for permission. Eventually he looked back at me and smiled, saying, “Go get changed, the 3rd quarter is in 2 minutes.”
I ran off getting changed while standing on the sideline with 30 seconds to spare. Coach called a huddle, he quickly called the play and we sped off to our positions. Jayden, our QB caught the snap and handed it off to me. Gain of 23. It took us three plays but eventually we were at the 7 yard line. Coach called a fake run, slant play. It worked perfectly and we scored. 34-42. We got the extra point. 35-42.
30 seconds left. Calvin’s team is at the 7 yard line. 4th down and 6. I watch from the sideline as they hike the ball, Calvin takes off and almost instantly gets past his defender. He’s wide open. I watch horrified as their quarterback throws a perfect spiral. Calvin is in the endzone and the ball hits his hands and slips out. I watched in shock as the ball hit the ground.
Turnover on downs. Our ball. Our defense rushes off the field. I sprint to our huddle and wait impatiently for the play call. It's a run play and I am getting the ball.
I look up at the scoreboard. 35-42. 4th Quarter. 3 seconds left. We line up on the field. Right before the play starts, I take a deep breath and look at my family. They are staring right at me and I smile. The play is called, I take a jab step then turn and sprint towards the ball that my qb is holding for me. I grab it and instantly look upfield. There is a gap between our offensive tackle and our offensive guard. I sprint through the hole and try to get outside.
There are 3 defenders between me and the open field. I sprint towards the closest person at the last second I juke to the left then back to the right, he falls and I sprint past him. The second defender is slow and I continue to sprint knowing he won’t catch me.
Dummy number 3 sprints at me with his arms spread out so I can’t juke around him. I pick up speed, lowering my shoulder and slam into him. I stumble but he falls and I quickly jump out of his reach and spring the remaining yards into the endzone.
The crowd goes wild, my ears are ringing with the sounds of boos and cheering. I look over to the coach and see him holding up 2 fingers. He wants us to go for it.
Coach called a passing play, but I have a chance to get the ball if I'm open. Jayden snaps the ball. I'm running a slant. I get just inside the endzone and see the ball coming towards me. I jump, feel the ball in my hands and tuck it against my chest.
It’s good! We won. In a daze I walk back to the sideline amidst chest bumps, and high fives.
The End!
