...The day of the game soon arrived, with the Tigers doing triple practices each day. Frank didn't really want to get up that morning, maybe because he was nervous, or maybe that it was his lat game, he didn't know.
The game was played at a neutral site, so there were equal parts Green-and-Gold, and Blue-and-White. Still, Frank was intimidated. It was not shocking to hear that Peanut would play; nevertheless, Frank was disappointed.
* * *
At the start of the game, after numerous pep talks, the Tigers won the coin toss and chose to receive. So, again, Wags, Peanut, Allen & co. took to the field. Frank was already crossing his fingers and praying all would be fine.
On the first play, Queen plowed straight through the line, and sacked Wags for a loss of 9 (Coach Jones yelled in frustration). Next, Queen again sacked Wags, this time for a loss of 6 (more swearing). It was 3rd and 25, and Coach Jones called a timeout. After alot of raised voices, the Tigers took to the field. The blitz package came in, Queen flew at Wags...and dumped him down. But first, Wags managed to get the pass off. Allen was streaking down the field, about to catch the ball, he was now in the end zone, he was falling onto the muddy grass...
"TOUCHDOWN!" screamed the announcer, "94 yards! Like a rainbow in the sky! The Tigers lead 6-0!"
Of course, as the players on the sideline weren't watching it on TV, they didn't hear the announcer, but Coach Jones was at least 5 times crazier, shouting himself hoarse. Frank was bouncing up and down.
The conversion kick was good and it was a 7-0 Tigers lead.
Queen only played defense, but Golden Wave QB Jerome James, and RB Lamaal Squalor did. Quieting the Tigers, they embarked on a 7-play, 77-yard scoring drive, capped off by a Squalor 28-yard dash to the end zone, making it 7-7.
Coach Jones noticed that, as Peanut was their best player, with the possible exception of Wags, he should be switched to the left side, to block Queen. But the Golden Wave coach knew what the Tigers were up to, and Queen was switched to the right side. Wags was dumped for a loss of 7, and landed roughly on his shoulder. He wasn't renowned for his toughness, and this was no exception, as he was carried off with a dislocated shoulder.
"McCarter!" barked Coach Jones, "Get onto the field!"
McCarter obeyed, but he wasn't as good a passer as Wags. The next pass bounced off Peanut's helmet...and into the onrushing Queen's arms. He pushed McCarter out of the way, and somersaulted into the end zone.
Frank thought he chanced half a glance at the Tiger bench to rub it in. He knew he would hear yelling if he wasn't so mad at Queen. He was beginning to think that the touchdown was a fluke. Still, the winners of this game would win the League championship.
* * *
But the momentum turned again, as Peanut was switched to the Right side. It worked, and Peanut was able to throw a pancake block on Queen, as Allen skated 57 yards. Queen, frustrated, punched McCarter, breaking his nose. Queen was ejected for the remainder of the half, and McCarter had to beg to play.
"If you wanna play that much," thundered Coach Jones, "Get onto that--," he was cut short as McCarter dashed into the huddle.
McCarter managed to edge into the end zone from 6 yards out, and the score stood at 14-14.
But, Momentum Changer #3 came quickly at the end of the half, in the weirdest form possible. Squalor fumbled and a Tiger scooped it up and started running. But soon James hit him hard enough that he fumbled again. James took it 88 yards to the end zone, and at the half , it was 21-14.
* * *
The Golden Wave started on offense at the start of the half. James and Squalor were zipping all over the field, and James burst out 51 yards. The momentum clearly belonged to the Golden Wave, as the score was 28-14. Queen kept looking across the field making faces.
The Golden Wave then started a frustrating trick by punting it over to the Tigers, sometimes on first down. They wanted to see the Tigers struggle on offense, and struggle they did, amassing -4 yards in the 3rd quarter, and 12 yards in the 4th quarter, when there was a minute left.
But those 12 yards were touchdowns. A kick was returned to the 3 (Kick returns don't count for yardage statistics), and Allen caught a pass in the end zone, bringing the game to 21-28. Then, James fumbled on the Wave's 9-yard line, and McCarter scored a decisive 1-yard touchdown on 4th and Goal.
But... the Tiger's spirits broke, when Squalor and James engineered a 91-yard, 16-play drive ending in a 4-yard James run. Only 31 ticks were left on the clock, and the score stood at 35-28.
* * *
Frank, Coach Jones, McCarter, Peanut, even the most crazy Tiger fan were all down.
"But, we're still in this game" reminded Coach Jones. "We've got 31 seconds of football left. we're not lost. We still have a chance. I need you all to work your best. This will be your best 31 seconds of football you could ever imagine. McCarter, I want to see your best you've ever done. Same for you Allen. And Peanut. And everybody. We will win this game. We will win the League cup for all our fans. And for us, the team. We will all try our best, and put in out best effort. Now let's start!"
Frank watched as the offense stormed onto the field. He wished he could be playing his last 31 seconds of football then. He saw Queen, in his muddy, green, #30 jersey lined up in front of Peanut, #62. McCarter called out "HIKE!", and the play begun. Queen smashed through Peanut, and Frank heard an ominous cracking sound. McCarter tossed the ball away a nanosecond before Queen hit him. The ball soared away, up, up, into the end zone, Allen was waiting there for a...
"TOUCHDOWN!" cried Coach Jones, "TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN!"
But Frank was worried. He saw Peanut laying on the ground clutching his leg in pain. A couple of medical assistants went over, and helped him to the sideline.
"Shattered both his legs" grumbled one, as the other, went to fetch some water.
Frank was just plain mad at Queen, just mad. Queen had dislocated Wags's shoulder, Queen had punched McCarter, and it was Queen who shattered Peanut's legs. He wondered if he could ever get Queen back.
"Van Horn!"
Frank was brought back to earth. "What's the matter?" he inquired.
"Git onto the field!"
He had completely forgotten, and now he would be able to play, at least on the conversion kick. He was thrilled.
He managed to block Queen somehow during the kick, which tied the game at 35-35.
There were 22 seconds left, and The Golden Wave, with James and Squalor, almost scored, before time ran out, but it was much too close for comfort, as their 44-yard Field Goal into a stiff wind went wide left as time expired.
The Golden Wave and the Tigers were plunged into overtime.
* * *
In professional football, overtime is sudden-death, meaning that they play regularly, until one team scores.
Frank was in heaven; it was great to be playing football again. The Tigers, in their muddy Blue uniforms, were going first.
"All Right," barked McCarter in the huddle, "Coach told me that this'll be a pass to #18 (Allen) around the right end." Frank's end was the right end.
But McCarter, who wasn't the best passer, misjudged it, and a Golden Wave defender caught it. It was on the right side of the field, and Frank knew it was up to him to tackle the defender, or else he would score, and the Tigers would lose. Frank sprinted to the sidelines and dove; he missed. Undaunted, he got up and resumed his pursuit. He was the nearest Tiger, it was up to him to bring him to the ground. He put all the energy he could into his forty-six-year-old legs, to catch up. The defender passed the ten, and Frank dove once more... CRUNCH, he slammed him to the muddy earth at the 3-yard-line.
The good news was, the runner didn't score. The bad news was, the Wave was within easy Field Goal range, a 20-yarder, with the wind at their backs.
On 1st and goal, the Wave went for it.
"So like the Wave" muttered Coach Jones from behind Frank.
Squalor dove into the end zone. As the crowd started to roar, they noticed the ball was not in his arms. Where was it? It was a fumble and the Tigers recovered it.
Frank took to the field, knowing he would have to block Queen somehow or other. He was hearing taunts, undoubtedly by Queen, but ignored them. The ball was snapped, and Queen plowed past Frank. He hit McCarter from behind, sending the ball flying...to Allen.
"RUN!" boomed Coach Jones, "RUN LIKE YOU'VE NEVER BEFORE!"
But it was too late, and Allen was tripped up around the 20. Still, they were in Field Goal range, 37 yards, and Coach Jones sent in the kicking squad.
The kicker swung his foot like a pendulum. A brown blur, the ball, went soaring up into the air. A Green and Gold shape jumped up. Number 30. Queen. Frank saw Queen extend an arm, and the brown blur hit it. Queen had blocked the kick. Queen had blocked the kick. Queen had blocked the kick.
* * *
Frank was almost in shock. He could almost hear Coach Jones swearing. He could almost hear Queen's taunts. He could almost see Queen next door, teasing him about it. The Golden Wave would win the cup for the sixth straight year.
But...The brown blur was coming to him. It was impossible. He caught it out of the air. And he began to run. And he ran. And he ran. He thought his legs would burst. He could feel Queen behind him. He tried to concentrate on the end zone, 10 yards away. He was at the 5. He could feel Queen's breath on his neck. Everything was in slow motion. He was a the 4. The 3. The 2. The 1. He was hit by Queen. He was sent flying into the end zone.
"WE DID IT! YES! YES! TOUCHDOWN! YES!" Coach Jones was crazy.
Frank was so happy, he could not describe it. First Coach Jones, McCarter, Allen, and the rest of the offense were running towards him. The fans were storming the field. He was in the center of a many-armed hug.
An official-looking man with a moustache came, and presented a trophy, the league cup, to Coach Jones, who passed it all around with the players. When Frank took it, he saw the beauty of it all. He looked at the way bottom, and read the plaque. It showed the Tigers.
Frank smiles and lifted the cup.
That was so exciting! I felt like I was there live watching the game
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