Chapter 42
But the Tigers offense sputters and stalls. Ethan watches from the sideline, itching to get back in the game.
"Come on, guys"
he mutters.
"Let's work as a team."
However his pleas fall on deaf ears. The Knights score again. And again. It's 42-12, and without being told Ethan could tell the game is slipping away.
And if he doesn't do anything, they are going to lose the game.
At that moment Ethan couldn't take it anymore.
On the kickoff, he fields the ball in his own end zone. And he's off.
"I've got to do something"
he said, racing upfield.
"I can not let us lose like this."
At that moment he started breaking tackle after tackle, the crowd couldn't help but roar with every move he made. But at the last second of the attack, he stumbles, brought down just short of the goal line.
Ethan couldn't help but punch the ground in frustration.
"Dam, I was so close."
The Tigers at that moment hurry back to position. In the huddle, Damien was fuming.
"Ethan, what are you doing? Stick to the play call."
Ethan wasn't listening to him, he had had enough.
"The play call isn't working, all of you decided to cut me off from the game! I want to fight for the team, none of you want to!"
On the next play, Ethan breaks open deep, but the pass is off target. On third down, he's stuffed in the backfield.
Fourth and long. One last chance. Ethan lines up wide, looks back at his quarterback.
"Come on"
he said.
"Find me. Trust me."
The ball is snapped. Ethan beats his man, streaks down the sideline. The pass is in the air. Ethan leaps... and pulls it in.
"Touchdown Tigers!"
In the end zone, Ethan spikes the ball, screams in joy.
"That's how we do it, teamwork!"
He yells in damien direction.
"That's how you win games!"
At that moment Some of the Tigers rally around Ethan, and the stadium starts rocking again.
They recover an onside kick, and Ethan goes back to work.
"We can do this"
He said , driving his team downfield.
"We can come back. We just need to believe."
Into the red zone, Ethan takes a handoff. He cuts back, lunges for the end zone.
"Touchdown!"
Now it's 42-24!
On the sideline, Coach Johnson was becoming ecstatic.
"That's what I'm talking about, Ethan! That's the Tigers football!"
He said to himself.
Damien at that moment was sulking, his arms crossed as he gazed at Ethan with dead eyes.
Then he faced his team mates.
"He got lucky"
He mutters.
"Ethan's not that good."
The game continued and the score was almost equal; it's now 42–41 after a fantastic display from Ethan and the Knights recover the next onside kick, trying to run out the clock. But Ethan won't quit.
"One more stop"
He said, lining up on defense.
"One more chance."
immediately he fights through blockers, making tackle after tackle. Forces a punt.
The Tigers get the ball back with minutes to go.
In the huddle, Ethan looks around at his teammates.
"This is it"
He Said.
"One play. We can do this. Just give me a chance please guys."
Damien at that moment rolls his eyes. He couldn't believe everyone was actually listening to Ethan instead of him, he's the captain and they should be listening to him, but him keeping quiet is bad.
He wanted to say something when the rest of the players nodded to Ethan, and with the look on their face, one could tell they were fully ready to do what Ethan just said.
He couldn't help but keep quiet.
Ethan lines up in the Wildcat, takes the snap. He drops back, surveys the field.
"Come on"
He said again.
"Somebody get open."
He pumps once, twice. The defenders bite. And there, streaking down the middle, is Jeff, the receiver who wanted Ethan to get the ball all along.
Ethan sets, throws a perfect spiral. Jeff immediately leaps, makes the catch! But he's hit, the ball comes loose!.
However at that last second Mike was able to recover the ball and throw it to Ethan who was already sprinting, and the ball was caught so cleanly, and without thinking twice he started diving for the end zone... and he's in!
"Touchdown!"
"Tigers won!"
"42–47!"
The stadium erupts hearing the final whistle.
Ethan is mobbed by his teammates, hoisted onto their shoulders. Even Damien didn't get close ; he was angry that no one listened to him.
however the Commentator where are shocked in astonishment.
"They won, the tigers won"
The Coach was happy that they won, but he needs to say what was on his mind to show to them they acted childish in the field today, and it took the boldness of a newbie to fire them up.
"All of you played like little kids today"
The coach said to the team.
"Only Ethan played like a real football player. He showed you all how to be brave, a newbie!!."
All of the players bow their heads, they dare not look at the coach in the face.
The coach deadly gaze faced Damien knowing was the cause of everything.
"Damien, you were a bad captain today. You did not act like a leader, you acted childish and unprofessional."
Then the coach said loudly.
"As of today Damien, you are not the captain anymore. Mike will be the new captain now."
Everyone at that moment was quiet. No one said a word they all messed up.
The coach looked at Damien again. "If you don't like my decision, you can quit the team. It is your choice if you want to stay or go, just know the door is open"
He then faced the rest of the players.
"Same goes for everyone, if you feel you're bigger then the team, and you can't be a team player the door is open"
Damien at that moment couldn't say anything he looked down at his shoes.
But deep down, he knew he was wrong. He was just jealous of Ethan for being so good and he didn't expect the numbers he was pulling and his jealousy overshadowed him.
Damien felt bad for dragging his teammates into this and they almost lost the match because of him.
Coach Johnson was done addressing the team then he faced Ethan.
"Ethan!"
He says, his voice thick with emotion.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
"I've never seen a performance like that. You put this team on your back and carried us to victory, all I can say is Weldon."
Upon hearing the coach's words Ethan shakes his head.
"No, Coach. We did this together. As a team. That was how we won the match, it's with the help of everyone."
He looks around at his teammates. He doesn't want to take any glory, not after what Mike did, he made eye contact with each one.
"I couldn't have done it without you guys. Every block, every tackle, every play we made. We did this together."
Damien, who was in the back, managed to clear his throat and said with a low voice.
"Ethan... I was wrong about you. You're a hell of a player. And a real teammate, sorry for my childish behavior today"
Damien said with his jaw tightened, But deep down he wasn't sorry, he knows in football only the strong Survive, for some hours ago he could Guaranteed if any Professional clubs was going to sign any players from the team, it would be him.
But now he's not sure again, which is a big deal to him.
Hearing Damien words Ethan couldn't help but smiled, he nodded.
"Thanks, Damien. That means a lot."
Coach Johnson holds up the game ball.
"There's only one person who deserves this"
He says.
"Ethan, this is yours."
Ethan's teammate cheers, then he takes the ball, and holds it high.
"This is for all of us."
he says, his voice ringing out.
"The Tigers. The best university team in the country!"
The players started jumping and hugging each other, chanting Ethan's name.
At that moment, Ethan knows. he's now part of the team.
The big screen flashed, displaying Ethan's name as the MVP for the match.