Page 100 of Campus Muscle

However, Springfield purposefully confused the read and opted for a running play instead. The hike was a little sketchy, but the quarterback handed off to the running back. They gained 7-yards and at that point, I was starting to get worried. They dominated the ball, and that meant we didn’t have many chances to get gains on our own.

“We need to do something to get that ball back,” I said to Ethan.

“I’m working on it, but these guys are a lot tougher than what I’m used to.”

Springfield went for another passing play, but Malik drove in hard and knocked the ball right out of their grasp. The two-minute warning blasted through the speakers as Springfield reset.

The snap was smooth, and their quarterback threw a long pass to their wide receiver. He caught the ball midair, tucked it in beneath his ribs and bolted for the end zone. Their defenders moved in quickly, stopping our offence before we could consider reaching for him, and a second before the quarter ended, they scored a touchdown. 7-0.

The numbers made me sick to my stomach.

When the second quarter started, I wanted to demolish these guys. I was running on pure rage and the need to carry my team through this game. I wanted to be the one who took away their title. Who taught them the Highlanders were a force to be reckoned with. We made it all the way to the playoffs and deserved to have our time to shine. This was our year.

“Come on, guys,” I said. “Don’t let their reputation scare you off. We know better.”

“We’re good, dude,” Ethan said, slapping me on the back. “Try to calm down.”

The ball snapped, and Ethan passed it to Lucas. He managed to get a clean run most of the way to the end zone, but got taken out before he could score. They tried it again, but the result was even worse, with Lucas getting pummeled halfway down the field. It was so bad he nearly couldn’t get back up.

“Lucas needs a break,” Ethan said.

“I’m ready.”

The hike was effortless, and the ball flew into Ethan’s hands as if it were a cradle. The handoff was just as good, and as soon as I had it, my vision shifted. I used the energy I’d felt at the start of the quarter and pushed myself across the field. The crowd went quiet as yards passed beneath my feet and then, before it fully sank in, the whistle blew and the scoreboard reflected my touchdown.

I only had a split second to look up and see my success before a defender slammed into my side, and he wasn’t alone. There were two more hits before I crashed to the ground and even more knocks after I fell. A pile of bodies lay on top of me, making it impossible to see or breathe. And yet I didn’t care about any of those things because the excruciating pain in my shoulder was powerful enough to drown it all out.

The guys started evacuating, but when the light finally broke through, all I saw was the concerned look in Tara’s eyes, and I knew that something had gone seriously wrong.

“We’re gonna need a stretcher,” she called, but I grabbed onto her arm.

“I’m going to stay until the end.”

“Are you crazy? You can’t play!”

“Then put me on the bench, but there’s no way I’m being carried out of this game.”

Tara shared a look with Coach, and the decision was clear. She pulled my arm over her shoulder and helped me to the sideline.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked as Tara lowered me onto the bench.

“I’m being a team player.”

“You’re being stupid.” He sank down next to me and took a deep breath. “You guys are having an amazing game. Your brand of energy is unlike anything most of these guys have seen before. Look at how Ethan is shining, and don’t brush off the huge impact you’ve made so far. We have points on that board because of you.”

“I know, but what if the sub fucks it up? What if we don’t win? The guys need this, Coach. They deserve a chance.”

He looked at the field as the last of the guys filed into the tunnel, and he had the brightest, proudest smile that I had ever seen. He might’ve been the quiet type who tried to hide what he truly felt, but in that moment I could see it. He started off as a basketball coach, but I don’t think anything meant as much to him as we did.

“I already talked to Dylan,” Coach said, his voice low to carry over the wind. “He’s subbing in for you. Ethan is catching him up on the new sets as we speak. Don’t worry about the huddle, Trace. They’ll be alright.”

“Coach, I can throw.” I tried to shift my arm, and the world tilted. “I just need a minute to—”

“Stop.” He held up a hand, his gaze hard as flint. “Even if we lose today, we aren’t the same scrappy, clueless disaster we were last season. We’re just not at Springfield’s level yet. Not today. And that’s a hard pill to swallow, but we’re going to swallow it together and get better.”

“That’s real comforting,” I spat, my frustration bubbling over. I looked toward the tunnel where my teammates were regrouping. “But if you don’t mind, I’m staying right here until Tara drags me to the med-van. These guys stood by me when I was a pariah. They’re my family. I’m not hiding in the locker room while they’re out there taking hits meant for me.”

Coach’s expression softened, and he reached down, squeezing my forearm. Careful to stay clear of the injury. “If you’d told me you wanted to play, I would’ve thrown you out of this stadium on your ass. But staying for them?” He nodded slowly. “That I can live with. Sit tight, Prescott.”