Remember

Chapter 34

"Okay look! We're gonna make some changes in defense!" Boone says, standing in the middle of the defensive huddle.

"I want Sunshine! Alan! Glascow! Davis! I want you going both ways of the game. I don't want any receiver to get past that line of scrimmage! Coach Yoast and Caroline will tell you where you're playing. Let's go! It's our time. Everybody in!"

We all stack up our hands.

"Titans on three. One two three!" Boone says

"Titans!" We all yell.

I'm walking to go sit on the bench when I hear Alan."Sir, I can play with Roosevelt, but I cannot play with these guys."

I turn and watch. Yoast gives him a long, hard, look.

"Look, I didn't warn the bench all year so that I can watch us go down on my account. Put Petey in. He's better." Alan says to him

Coach looks down at Petey. "You want him to take your spot? You go give it to him."

Alan pats coach on the shoulder and walks right up to Petey.

I watch him say something quietly to Petey. Petey's eyes light up, and he gives Alan a big hug. Petey runs out, and Alan notices me watching. I hope that he can see how proud I am. He gives me an "I'm cool and I know it" nod, and sits down on the bench.

We start our first play, and Sunshine throws the ball. An opposing teammate goes to catch it, but Petey slams him to the ground.

We all stand up and cheer. We're going to win.

Now that we have the ball more often, Boone's offense really has he chance to open up. Julius and Sunshine take down guy after guy, and we gain more and more yards.

We finally get to kick, and the ball goes straight through the field goal. Now we're only trailing Marshall by four points.

We get down to only a minute and a half left, and it gets really intense. All Marshall has to do is hold onto the ball and they win.

I watch as our play starts. We pass, but someone intercepts and runs off with the ball. Julius chases after them, and eventually catches them. The player fumbles the ball, and Petey grabs it up. He sprints down the field, ball in hand.

"Hold onto that ball, Petey!" Yoast and I scream simultaneously, sprinting to follow Petey down the field.

Eventually, someone takes him down, and we all watch in anticipation. If Petey fumbled the ball, then we're done.

The tackler gets up off of him, and Petey stands up slowly. He lifts the ball up in the air, still in his hand.

Now, there are only seventeen seconds left. We need to get a touchdown in the next seventeen seconds, or we lose. But I have an idea.

I squeeze into the huddle and make my way over to Boone.

"Coach Boone, he's onto you." I say. "He's sliding to the strong side, every time."

Boone thinks for a while.

"I have an idea." I tell him. He looks up at me, and I realize the whole team is listening. "You have to throw something at him that he's not ready for." I continue.

"Are you one hundred percent sure that it's the right decision?" He asks me

"Coach, I am one hundred and ten percent sure." I say confidently.

"Then these are your seventeen seconds of fame. Go." Boone says.

I turn around. "Rev!"

Rev runs over. "Yes coach?"

"All right. You ready to run?" I ask

"Yes ma'am" he says

"Fake twenty three blast, with a backside George reverse. You got that? Fake twenty three blast, with a backside George reverse like your life depended on it. Let's go!" I pay him on the back, and he runs out into the field.

"You know that trick plays aren't my thing." Boone says doubtfully

"But they are so mine" I assure him

"The Titans take the field with time to run one last play for the state championship. They have 75 yards to get to the end zone."

I shake in anticipation as they all line up on the field. Alan walks up behind me and takes my hands, trying to rub some warmth into them. I can't even feel the cold, I'm so nervous.

The play starts, and everything goes into slow motion. Rev is handed the ball, Julius and Sunshine take down everyone who tries to get him. But the team isn't expecting what happens. They're all covering deep, waiting for a throw, while Rev runs down the edge of the field, with Petey and Sunshibe for support. He runs, down, down, closer, and closer. I feel like I'm in a bubble, where time is normal, and all around me, everyone is slow. The cheering in the crowds, Boone yelling encouragement, Rev's footsteps in the ground. I watch him, take the slowest step of all, over the touchdown line.