Jersey Eight

Im Josh

"JET SWEEP! RAY! RUN JET SWEEP!" yelled Coach as the time on the clock ran faster and faster.

"Hey, Lynn. What's Jet Sweep?"

"Jet sweep is a play to attack the edge of the defense. One of our quicker athletes, start in full motion before the snap, Ray gets him the ball as he hits top speed and lets him run. Crack/Down blocking on all defenders outside the play side tackle. Since the RB has a full head of steam while receiving the ball from the QB any player inside a 3 technique doesn't need to be blocked since they will never make the play," I explain. Turning around to face the freshman I ask, "Dee, you're on the team how do you not know the plays?"

"Well you see I sorta kinda missed practice the week he was explaining plays and I've been to scared to ask him," he defended.

"Wimp."

"I am not a wimp."

"Sure you aren't." I replied as I walked away handing water-bottles to the boys that just ran off the field. Looking at the clock there's only 9 minutes left in the 4th quarter with us being down by three touchdowns.

"Oh no, it looks like Buccaneer quarterback Ray Taylor just took a major hit and it doesn't look like he's getting up. Sorry to say this but it looks like he's out for the rest of the game, possibly even the season. It's not looking to good for the Buccs," said the announcer as the paramedics helped our QB, our only QB, off the field. I run over to my big brother handing him a water and asking if he's okay.

"What are we going to do? Do we have a second string?" Coached asked as he paced up and down the sideline.

"No Coach. On top of that none of the boys know how to play that position. Ray has never been hurt before so we got around to assigning one," the assistant coach, Coach Turk, explained.

"Hey Coach, put Ashlynn in," Ray groaned as he was being loaded into the ambulance.

"Ray!" I shout hoping Coach wasn't actually thinking about it.

"Trust me just put her in. She's good. She can do it." He promised.

"Have you played before?" Turk turned and asked grabbing me by my shoulders.

"Yeah I played all through elementary and middle I also played freshman year. But Coach you can't be serious here. It's been a year," I pleaded.

"I'm desperate here and I've seen you throw the balls around at practice Ashlynn please we need you we don't have another option." He begs as he hands me the spare helmet in the equipment bag. I look up contemplating whether or not I wanna do this. I look around me, I look at the lights in the sky. I look at the faces in the crowd, the faces of those that have come to see my boys play. I listen to the band as they play our song. I listen to the cheerleaders as they chant our schools name with pride. I look at my boys that worked hard to get here. I look at the clock with only 9 minutes left. I look up once again and take a deep breath in before I open my mouth and say, "Let's do this."

As I walk out onto the field in full gear I hear people laugh, and questioning what's going on.

"You can't be serious," laughed a player from the other team.

"You have a girl for quarterback? Well news flash boys, girls don't play football so you don't have to worry about winning tonight." He said as the other boys on his team laughed. Before I could retaliate the whistle blew, I moved seven yards behind Trey, our snapper, as I looked at Coach for the play and back at the boys, my boys, that are counting on me.

"Hammer! Hammer! Ready. Set. Hike." I yelled out as I caught the ball in my hands setting up for a pass. I launched the ball into the air as I watched it land in the hands of our wide receiver, Wesley. As he ran he made it to the twenty-yard line but was tackled a few seconds later. The ball was tossed back and we went again hoping to score.

"Hike!" I yelled.  Before I threw the ball, I caught a glimpse of a 200 pound man running towards me at full speed. I launched the ball into the air not caring where it goes but before I could react, I was sacked. My mind doesn't process it until it's to late. All of the sudden I'm weightless and can't feel the ground underneath me. Then I feel the sickening crunch as my back hits the grass. I flip over and my shoulder hits the ground with a solid thud.

"Ouch." I whisper to myself as I just lay there on the ground. I just lay there as I try to catch my breath when all of a sudden I hear cheering. I look up to see Ty in the end-zone with the ball in hand doing his stupid victory dance. I laugh as I prop myself up on my elbows looking down at my body to make sure everything is in place. As I stand up the boys run back over waiting for me to tell them the next game play.

As the game continues it's 32-32 with only a minute left on the clock. The boys huddle around as I look towards Coach waiting for a game plan but he signs for me to choose.
"Alright guys I'm going to need my running backs and wide receivers to just pile into the end-zone. Ty and Mikey be ready the balls coming to one of you but Wesley stay on your toes you're my back up, alright?" I say as I look around at the boys covered in blood, sweat, and dirty tears.

"Buccs on three. Buccs on three. One. Two. Three. Buccs!" We chant as we break from the huddle. We get into formation as the clock starts to count down. The balls launched into my hands and out of the corner of my eye I see two linemen running towards me. I bomb the ball straight to Ty right before I dive out of the way. I look up just in time to see Ty fumble the ball and Wesley come in for the catch making the pass complete and scoring us the winning touchdown. I jump up onto my feet, shouting as I rip my helmet off as the boys celebrate with me.

After the teams small celebration, we line up for the good game. I'm walking down the line slapping the hands of the other players as they congratulate me and apologize.

As I'm talking to Breanna, a close,friend of mine, about the after party at one of the players house I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and look up to see a tall guy with blonde curly hair wearing the jersey eight staring at me with his piercing green-brown eyes and dimpled smile.

"Hey, I'm Josh. Josh Edwards, and I was wondering if I could get your number?"

"What makes you think I'm going to give my phone number to a total stranger?" I ask him crossing my arms as if I wasn't impressed.

"Well you see, you know my name and the fact that I play football for Rosewood High. So therefore, we aren't total strangers." He says as he takes a step closer handing me his phone. I snatch his phone from his hands and enter my number while he just stands there smiling down at me.

"Here."

He begins to lean down as he takes his phone out of my hand. Before I had the chance to say anything his lips touch my cheek ever so gently. "Thanks princess," he says as he jogs away back to his team.