QB Sneak

Chapter 2: Enter Channing

Out stepped Connor Channing. It was a long story, but he was the man responsible for my move to Meadow Ridge. He was a dapper looking fellow with faded blonde hair, and the slightest hint of a stubble lining his chin. Straightening out his red jacket, he walked over to the visitor's locker room. I walked away, not needing to see any more of him or his ripped buddies. The fans were beginning to file in as the speaker blared some 2000's rap hits. As the coach drummed his fingers on the desk, he called for Alex and I to come over. We strolled over. 

"So, you guys. I came up with this play. Darius runs a deep post and runs off the safety. DeeDee takes a goalpost fade, and Knox runs a bubble to the right for the safety valve." Coach showed us his paper.

"Coach," Alex interjected. "We gotta quit centering our entire offense around me and DeeDee. You both know we're both gonna be gone next year." 

"So's Darius!" I piped up. 

"Right." Alex suppressed me. "Maybe, coach, we take one of the tight ends, and have him run a curl on the far hash." 

Coach beamed. "Good idea, Alex." Coach took the circle that had a number 80 on it and drew an arrow. Then, he took the paper, and strolled outside. Knowing what was going to happen, we sat down. Coach called everyone to the front bench. 

"OK, team. We're learning another play. Get the offense over here!" The offensive line, Knox, Deedee, Darius, and a few tight ends that were sophmores came over and sat down next to me and Alex. Coach began burning up the chalkboard with assorted X's, O's, and lines.

"Butler, you're gonna run a 3-step slant towards the safety. Brazen, run a goalpost fade. Ellis, run a curl to the opposite hash. O-line, pass block left. Got that? Also, McCourty, run your valve to the right. Ok? Let's go run it tonight and tear West Bridge up." 

We all let out a raspy yell. The special teams unit, consisting of me, the holder, Miles, the kicker, Evan Chandler, the punter, Knox, the long snapper, and Darius, the returner, grouped up. "Alright boys, are we gonna give all we got tonight?" Darius hyped us up, as we all cheered a hearty yes. "Then we'll get all we need. Another Friday, another opportunity, so let's go get em! ST on 3!" We all cheered. "1, 2,3, ST!" After we broke the huddle, we joined the group. The team held hands in lines of fours. I was in the front row, holding hands with DeeDee and Alex. We halted directly in front of the banner. From the back, the American flag was passed forward. Alex gripped it in his hands as DeeDee and Knox hyped up the team. 

"Hey, we worked way too hard in practice this week to not come out with a win tonight. Steroids are coursing through Knox's blood vessels right now. I know he's ready- WHO'S GOT MY BACK?"

"I GOT YOUR BACK!" Everyone screamed. That was a tradition of ours, randomly interrupting your own speech to question your teammates' loyalty.

"If nobody else ready, I know Knox ready. I know Alex ready. I know big Poo Poo ready. I know big 91 ready. I know big 99 ready. I know Blake's ready. If nobody else, I know those guys ready. Show me you ready! Ravens on me, Meadows Ridge on three."

"ONE, TWO, THREE, MEADOWS RIDGE!"

We all sprinted through the banner. Alex was the first out, proudly waving the American flag. Knox flexed as he ran out, and DeeDee waved his arms upward to indicate for the crowd to get loud, which they did. Everyone else poured out of the banner, even Evan and Miles, if just jogging. The one person that stayed behind was DeeDee. His brother, a standout in 7th grade, had stage 2 liver cancer, and he dedicated every game this year to him. He and I prayed on the goal line for his brother, DeMarcus. After that finished, we bumped helmets and trotted to the sideline. 

I sat on the bench as Alex, DeeDee, Miles, and Bryce Ennis walked to midfield for the cointoss. The four West Bridge captains, including Channing, walked over as well. After a short discussion, we won the coin toss, and our kickoff team came out onto the field. There was an undeniable atmosphere circulating the field. It was almost like God himself had come down and said "This is about to be a show."