Homecoming: SJS vs. Jaynestown Hawks - 10/03/08

[Brianna Landers]

PREGAME:

The excitement that filled the Flyer's stands couldn't be matched. Jeff Waters was back and good as new, the minor heart attack served as a wake up call for him to start taking better care of himself. The team had practiced hard on their own until his return, no one wanting to let their Coach down. Stephen Reed and Scott Sanders had made sure the offensive line ran drills all week, and Biff Hannigan made sure defense showed up at least once a day, before or after school to get in practice time.

Coach Waters wiped the smile from his face as he peeked into the locker room, the players were high on endorphins and anticipation for the big game. Biff headbutted the lockers without his helmet, Stephen and Brandon were pouring over playbooks, and Bryan was lacing up one of Sam's cleats. The Coach had been sparse at practices, and had the temperment of a pissed off rattlesnake when he was around. The doctor's had cleared him before the game - he passed his stress test, it no longer felt like an elephant resided on his chest, and his powers were back in full force. Taking a deep breath, he kicked in the swinging door, and thwapped his clipboard against a row of lockers for emphasis.

"Listen up!" He shouted. "Now I know what you're thinking! You're all beaming and proud of yourselves for going out and practicing when you could've been all snug in bed at 5 am instead of hitting the field. You didn't have me to ride you and yet you still worked your asses off. You think that it's going to make a difference, that maybe now you stand a chance against these guys, and you're expecting me to walk in here with tears in my eyes, overwhelmed by how my kids pulled together in a time of crisis. Well you're wrong!" He glared at them, and broke into a smile. "There's no crying in football. The truth is- you should be proud of yourselves. All of you, and win or lose, when you take that field? I'm going to be proud of you. Unless you lose, in which case? I'm just going to go back to being pissed off." Most of the team snickered in response. "But enough of this sappy sentimental bullshit - these guys are a tough team, they were tough last year, and don't think this year will be any easier! The only difference is I think we scared the bird shit out of their mascott, because the damn Hawk stayed home!" Whoops and hollers could be heard from the team at the small victory.

"Now you get out there on the field and you show them exactly what you showed me! You have drive! Dedication! You have the will to win and you WILL win! Who are we?"

"FLYERS!" The team replied.

"That's right! Flyers! Go get 'em!"

On the field, the cheerleaders stood ready, and the crowd, mostly decked in blue and white were on their feet. The stadium was packed, people stomping their feet and screaming at the top of their lungs. One particular section, filled with students decked out in blue and white, yelled the loudest, especially when AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" began to blare from the speakers, special permission for the game given to play what most of the nun's considered to be "the devils' music."

"Ladies and Gentleman!" The voice boomed out from the PA Speakers over the guitar rifts. "Your St. Joseph's Flyers!"

Matthew Lamport and Jade Rooster held the huge paper banner decorated by students in the art club. The words "GO FLYERS!" Were predominantly featured in blue, scrawling the length of the paper surrounded by smaller #1 signs, footballs, goal posts and the like. Forming two lines were the other cheerleaders, Franky, Val, Elly and Yuki on one side, Brianna, Kara, Abby and Trixie on the other, all waving their pom poms and calling to the crowd to make some noise. Thorn Hawk and Dylan Clark held large blue and white flags to represent the school.

"Let's go, boys!" The coach called with a clap of his hands.

"You first!" Someone shouted. The rest of the team agreed, pushing the Coach to the front of the mob to break through first, despite his objections. He blew his whistle, he protested, he shoved Biff Hannigan, pointing to the banner.

"No way, Coach!" Biff called. "You lead us out."

"Yeah!" Briggs added. "C'mon! Coach! Coach! Coach!"

"Coach! Coach! Coach!" The team chanted, the cheerleaders clapping their hands and joining in. Soon the students of St. Joes caught wind of it, and were cheering him on as well.

Coach Waters laughed, shook his head and jogged through the banner, holding up his index finger and was met by a round of thunderous applause. Win or lose? They were the best. All of them, his team, his students, his school.

"LET'S GO FLYERS!"

[Kara]

Kara was starting to learn the rhythm of the games. The cheers were easy for someone who could memorize things quickly, and the movements had not taken her much longer.

The games themselves were hard for her. She had to laugh at herself; when her empathy powers had first manifested, she had wanted nothing more than to be rid of them. But now, when she was around Coach Waters, it felt as if she had gone blind. She had been forced to learn how to read a crowd by their faces and voices, just like everyone else, and it was humbling.

The cheering needed to start early, to get everyone focused on the game. It was hard to quantify, but it seemed that a roaring crowd really DID help the players. It was her school, and she was glad to be here and helping, so she did not mind the short skirt and almost-too-tight top. If it helped the team, then she was willing to go THAT far, anyway. Probably not as far as Luke or Dar would like, but they would just have to get over it.

She jumped around and kicked and cheered with all her heart, working the crowd with her teammates. It was the first time she had been part of a team for an extended period as well, and she found that she was really enjoying the experience.

"Fly-ers! Fly-ers! Fly-ers!" she chanted.

[Sunfire Dervish]

The ruckus in the locker room was nothing compared to the torrent of noise that hit Diyar as he followed the team onto the field. He couldn't help but get caught in the moment; his arms rose, along with most of the rest of the team, waving the fans to get on their feet and make noise, even though only a small minority continued to be seated. It was intoxicating; the noise, the sea of blue and white, the smell of the freshly cut field, the bright lights beginning to flicker on as the sun started it's downward course to the horizon.

Singleton was next to him, waving at the crowd and pointing to someone in the stands. Diyar smacked him on the back of the helmet. The other boy turned, bringing the faceguard of his helmet right to Diyar's. Diyar screamed at him over the cheers.

"SHOW TIME, BABY!"

"TIME FOR SOME PAIN!"

"HELL YEAH!!"

They jumped, chest bumping each other as they kept going to the bench.

[Angavu]

Dar chewed on his mouthpiece, eager to start the game with his blood already boiling and his adrenaline spiking his system. Smiling behind the mask of his helmet, the large boy could feel the energy of the crowd coming off in waves, only enticing him more. The whispers of the spirits were locked away in the back of his mind, made weaker by Coach's presence and to a point where Dar could safely forget them and focus on the game, unlike the past few games he was in. Biff came up to the other linebacker once they had reached the bench, grabbing Dar's mask and pulling the youth into a helmet-to-helmet crash. Dar only smiled and gave back as good as he got it.

"RAAAAGH!" Bill shouted wordlessly from behind the mask, his face mirroring Dar's own.

"LET'S WIPE 'EM ALL OUT!"

"RAAAAGH!"

"KILL!"

The two linebackers continued to smash helmets and shout at each other, revving them both up to a near high of endorphins and excitement. Dar wasn't going to be benched this game. This time, Dar was going to cream the opposition, and it was going to be epic.

[Storm Scream]

Jessiy was on her feet, clapping and screaming as loud as she could as the team took the field. Sure, being on the homecoming court was as good a reason as any to actually GO to the game, but there were other reasons for going to a football game.

I mean, sheesh...it's football! Jessiy grinned; who was she trying to fool? The large white "57" she had painted on each cheek gave her away that she was watching someone.

"Let's go Flyers!!!" The cheerleaders started up their routines, and it was hard not to get involved with the cheers.

She watched as Dar and Biff began to head-butt each other, and she couldn't help but laugh at them. Well...there goes a few more brain cells...

"GO DAR!! GO FLYERS!!! WOOHOOO!!"

[Brianna Landers]

FIRST QUARTER:
Biff Hannigan pumped his fist into the air as the coin landed on heads. "We'll receive!" He yelled as he cleared the field to make way for the offensive line, The Jaynestown section of fans booed and put their thumbs down in a show of disproval, but they were quickly drowned out by the larger, livelier St. Joseph’s crowd.

"Fans on the left, c'mon yell go, 1, 2, 3 go!” The cheer squad shouted as Stephen Reed and the offensive line took the field.

“GO!” The crowd called back, enthusiastically.
“Fans on the right, c'mon yell fight, 1 2 3 fight!”

“FIGHT!” The team on the sidelines clapped their hands and yelled encouragement at those on the field.
“Fans all together yell go, fight, win, go! fight! win!”

“GO, FIGHT, WIN!”

Jaynestown’s punter set the ball sailing into the air right into the hands of Kasim Moamber at the 30 yard line. With Bryan Baxter and Brandon Jordan blocking for him, Kaz made it back to the fifty before being stopped by cornerback Dave Willet. The cornerback hit hard and low, par for the course for Jaynestown, known for their often overly aggressive defensive line. Brandon gave Kaz a hand up, and Stephen called for the next play.

Sam checked the stands. The SJS crew were there, Stasis, Artie, Ben, Ves even decked herself in blue and white, right down to the face paint. Some of Sam’s other friends showed, making her smile. It wasn’t even that chilly yet, but Vic and Jules came prepared, cuddling under a big yellow blanket with blue trim and a Red V.. Behind them, Nelks and Pyro, two more of her favorite DJ’s stood on the top bleachers holding up a banner saying “SI RADIO – GET LOUD, GET FIELD GOALS! GO FLYERS!” Working at Shenanigans definitely paid off, she thought with a smile. Jake was in the stands, looking uncomfortable as he was stuck next to Sister Mary Thomas. As usual, the cheerful nun was decked out in her booster T-shirt, her pom-pom on a stick waving widely as she continually knocked into Jake. Jessiy and Tam were there with Alex and Jo, there was Mr. Carson with his swooshy hair, and she caught sight of Mal over with the band. Over in the alumni section sat Glace and Eric, the big former linebacker still easy to spot. Tornado Force Mike, Cron and Eshy had returned as well. She hoped to see most of them at the alumni pancake breakfast on Sunday, it was always great catching up with old friends.

Stephen knew that Jaynestown had one of the best defensive lines going. His best bets would be short passes or running plays- keep the ball tight. Right now, the Hawks were leading the league in interceptions.

“Red nineteen!” He called. “Red nineteen!” The ball was snapped back, Bryan Baxter took three steps out then cut towards the inside, and Reed connected. Baxter tucked it in tight, and dropped his head, holding out his arm as Will McCarty blocked Jaynestown Middle linebacker Johnny Crane.

“GO!” The cry rang out. Bryan zigged left and ducked, narrowly avoiding Hawk safety Dave Beake, who was stopped by Antoine DuBois. Trevor Willet, the Hawk’s cornerback was hot on the boys heels, Willet and Stong Safety Mitch Brenner boxed Baxter in, and he was taken down just shy of the thirty.

“Field Goal range!” Ty Cloud called, pounding Sam’s shoulder pads with enthusiasm. She laughed, and shoved the boy back.

“Touchdown range!.” She predicted with confidence.

Reed called for a running play next, faking the ball to Dubois and Aiken before handing it to Luke Bartel. Bartel barely had time to drive a yard before defensemen Dave Beake and Willet brought him to the ground. Figuring they’d anticipate another throwing play, Reed this time handed the ball to Dubois, with the same results.

“Baxter, three and out!” Stephen told Bryan in a lowered voice.

“Green forty two, Green forty two!” he called, and the ball was snapped back. Bryan Baxter took three steps, and then cut away from Stephen, only to have the ball tipped out of his hands by Brenner. Will McCarty made a quick recovery, covering the ball just in case.

“Get us on the board, Sammy.” Coach bellowed, tapping her on the back with his clipboard. She donned her helmet as she ran onto the field, looking for one person in particular. Tony’s blue hair may have gotten lost in the sea of blue and white that filled the stands, but the purple made it easier for him to spot. She smiled and gave a quick wave in his direction. Tony always took the time to acknowledge her on the sides when he skated, and she knew he wasn’t much of a football fan, and she appreciated him showing up. She briefly wondered if there would be another anti-homecoming party this year. Mimi and Rudi had gotten in scads of trouble over that one. Coach left his truck home, just in case.

“Hey Butch!” Trevor Willet called out while Johnny Crane gave a wolf whistle.

“Going down, Powder puff!” Tyler Hill mocked. She rolled her eyes and concentrated on the ball.

Will McCarty snapped the ball back, and Stephen placed it on the ground – laces out. Sam wound up for the kick, three stepping to it, and watched as the ball sailed towards the crossbars, keeping her arm raised in anticipation of the score. Her foot had already touched the ground when Hill, the Hawks best linebacker hit, careening into the side of the place kicker as the two sprawled to the ground. The ball sailed through the goal, and the crowd cheered – the Flyers drew first blood, 3-0.

“You that hard up to get touched?” Tyler gloated, wiggling his eyebrows from behind the face mask. Sam huffed and pushed him off.

“Jerk.” She muttered, getting to her feet.

“Was good for me, too!” He laughed, jogging back to his side. Bryan gave her a hand up, and she shook it off. The Flyers were in the lead!

“B-E-A-T Beat 'em!
B-U-S-T Bust 'em!
Beat 'em, Bust 'em,
That's our custom
Come on Flyers, let's re-adjust 'em! GO DEFENSE!“

Score at the end of the first quarter: Flyers 3 Hawks 0.

[Shadows' Mirage]

Damian was standing in front of the bench, still pumped from the pre-game helmet crashing, the music blaring through the speakers, and the endless sea of blue and white waving back and forth. The yells and screams shacking the flyer stadium, this was Homecoming baby, and Damian was more than ready to prove that he was ready to hurt some feelings. His fists clinched as he slightly rocked back and forth.

He was entering his zone, he was quiet, the adrenaline pumping, his blood was flowing, and his heart was beating like a stampede of horses. Wordless he stood there, the first person, he thought, the first person I hit...their done.

[Storm Scream]

Jessiy nudged Alex to get Joni standing up as Sam marched onto the field.

"C'mon Sam!!! Kick it like a girl!!"

There was laughter around her, and Sam turned, waving to the stands. The teams lined up, and the crowd started getting quiet until the ball was tossed back. Sam wound up, kicked it...and it was good! Jessiy screamed with the crowd, not caring about hte people that had jumped up and blocked her view of the field. As people began to settle back down, she saw the bench stand up, getting ready to go out onto the field to start the second. She looked over at Alex, grinning wide before unzipping the jacket she was wearing to reveal the blue jersey with the number "57" in white on the front. Alex giggled, rolling her eyes a bit.

"Nice, Jess."

Jessiy grinned, nodding before joining the crowd in the cheers as the cheerleaders chanted on the sideline below.

“B-E-A-T Beat 'em!
B-U-S-T Bust 'em!
Beat 'em, Bust 'em,
That's our custom
Come on Flyers, let's re-adjust 'em! GO DEFENSE!“

[Earth Impact]

Will laughed, clapping Bryan on the shoulder.

"Careful with the butterfingers, man. Ball might not land in my lap next time!"

[Brianna Landers]

SECOND QUARTER:

Biff Hannigan had been making threats throughout the week that anyone on defense who performed less than stellar would find themselves face down in a toilet during half time, but with all the hard work they’d been putting in on their own, they performed like champs, holding off the Jaynestown offense in the first quarter. Reed was unable to make any headway the first play of the quarter, and Bill Harrison was called to the field for the punt.

“Let’s go D!" Oliver Fox called, clapping his hands. Harrison’s kick warbled a little, and was received by Nick Vangas at the Hawks 40 yard line. Cyrus Fairchild and Ty Cloud closed in fast, Ty diving and taking the quick receiver down by the midfield. Cloud stood up, rotating his arm, and grimacing a bit from the impact.

“Gonna cry, little girl?” Vangas asked him with a sneer.

“I’ll use you for my tissue!” Cloud shot back, trotting towards the line of scrimmage.

Darweishi Brown was ready. He stood with his hands on his knees, facing off against receiver Sonny Henerey. Henerey mouthed off to him a couple of times, but the bigger outside linebacker managed to maintain his cool. He focused on the ball, and evaded the scrimmage with Henerey, breaking to the left and closing in on the quarterback. Mike Falken released the ball, and Brown ceased the charge, his eyes following as it headed towards it’s mark, Tight End Tim Duncan. But Brown wasn’t the only one ready. Cyrus Fairchild kept his eye on the ball, and managed to tip it from the fingertips of Duncan, right into the hands of Diyar Delevar. Darweishi Brown blocked the onslaught from Pete Cook and Wade Starling, but caught off guard by the shift in play, Delevar was tripped up by offensive guard Josh “Tipper” Hedren at the Hawk’s 45.

“Great play! Great play!” Coach called, clapping his hands. “Offense! Let’s move that ball!”

“Up...up...
Down...down...
We don't get pushed around,
Go Flyers, go! Go Flyers, Go!
Go, Flyers, go! Go Flyers, Go!”

But even with the cheers and trying their hardest, the Hawk’s defense was just too intense. Two failed pass attempts lead Reed to try keeping the ball on the ground, only to be blitzed by Tyler Hill. Hill and Crane chest-bumped to celebrate, and Hill made an over-exaggerated gesture of notching his belt to the unhappy crowd.

Falken called for passing play, attempt, stepping back and connecting this time with Tim Duncan as Wade Starling kept Cyrus busy. The offensive line boxed in the smaller, faster defensive players while Duncan snaked through the line, Damian Singleton on his tail. The wiry Jaynestown tight end was fast, one of the fastest the Hawks had to offer, and Damian made a last ditch diving attempt to keep the boy out of the end zone. The crowd stood on their feet as he connected, holding their breath waiting for the call. Damian knew it before they had, Duncan’s knee went down across the goal line. He’d made it in. The Hawks held their hands up victoriously as the ref made the call, some flipping off the St. Joes crowd, others high-fiving and over-celebrating. Kicker Andrew Accipiter took the field, and despite being pressured by Darweishi Brown managed to make the extra kick good.

SCORE at the half: Flyers 3, Hawks 7

[Sunfire Dervish]

It's up...he's gonna catch it...no way I can catch HIM...

Diyar blinked, and the world changed completely. Cyrus came out of nowhere it seemed, tipping the ball enough. It bounced...

Back in the air...coming...

Barely aware of the scene unfolding around him, the ball landed in his arms. He turned as fast as he could, and stared at the back of Darweshi as he started fending off the Hawks, running as fast as he could down the line.

Go, go go...no! Diyar felt someone running into him. His tempo was lost; his right foot smacked into the back of his left leg, and he fell forward, gripping the ball as tightly as he could.

Whistles blew, and Diyar sat up, pounding the ball onto the ground in frustration. Damien came over, offering him a hand up off the ground.

"Dammit dammit dammit!"

"Hey, no sweat bud...we got the ball from them. Nice run; get focused."

Diyar nodded, running off the field and unsnapping his helmet.

[Brandon]

Brandon slammed his helmet into the wall on the way into the locker room. He was upset with himself...if he'd played better, they might have a better score.

Just as he was really starting to lay into himself, something strange happened.

He was still telling himself that he could have done better, but somehow the admonitions lost their strength. He suddenly thought, "You know what? I DID play my hardest. I didn't do too badly."

He stood still in amazement, not noticing the others as they shouldered by. What the hell was this? Where did this come from?

One face jumped out all of a sudden. Del's face. The girl who called him a hero. Maybe SHE was the source of this...unaccustomed support. He grinned and sat, waiting for the coach to go into his speech.

[Shadows' Mirage]

Damian kicked his locker, then followed slamming his helmet into it. Turning his back into the locker, he held his head low. The sweat dripping off; His heart was in his stomach at that moment.

"I can't believe that I let that happen, I let dude get away from me."

[Brianna Landers]

HALF TIME (ON THE FIELD):
Half-time. The moment everyone had been waiting for. As the cheerleaders took to the field, shouting and whooping, they divided quickly into two groups; Franky on the left, Brianna on the right. Behind Franky, in a diamond formation stood Val, Elly, Yuki and Thorn Hawk. Bri and her group were in the same formation, with Kara, Abby, Trixie and Dylan forming the diamond. Towards the back and in the center stood Jade Rooster and Matthew Lamport - each holding giant blue and white banners sporting the school logo and a cross. Bri nodded her head.

"Hey Cheerleaders!" the captains called in sing-song voices.
"Hey what?" The squad returned, exaggerating choreographed movements to go with the words.
"Show me how we get down!"
"No way!"
"Show me how we get down!" They repeated.
"O-K!"

The PA blared the upbeat music and the two formations began their routine. They moved perfectly in sync as Matt and Roo ran through the center, then criss-crossed back through the group before dropping their flags and falling in step. Kara Evans counted out the movements; hand grasp, hand grasp, T, low V, high V, shimmy on seven, split jump on nine and crouch, Franky's group would jump on twelve, everyone up at sixteen. Thumbs in, wrists straight, lunge right, clap, clap. For Bri, these movements seemed almost second nature, with a fluidity born of practice and concentration. Franky, for her part, was keeping up surprisingly well if not for the sternly determined look on her face. The music changed up and the girls hoisted each other into arabesques. Thorn and Dylan followed in, easily lifting their girls into liberty tick-tocking and then into a heel stretch. Matt and Roo, not to be forgotten, performed energetic back handsprings through the center of the groups and the squad all hit the ground, together, some on one knee, some in lunges, some in splits making an impressive display as the music came to an abrupt end. On the count of eight, they all jumped up and marched with a series of hand clasps back into place.

Behind them, the marching band burst onto the field, Malcolm Eades and the others double stepping into place. The alma mata music began to play and the students and alumni swayed back and forth, joining in the song.

"Hail to thee, our Alma Mater
May your spirit always fly
To the navy blue and white
We will lift our voices high.
As with Joseph, let our faith
Lead us on to victory
We will pledge our hearts forever
Flyers we shall always be.”

There followed another silent eight count before the band broke into the livelier fight song, the cheer squad leading the crowd.

"Standing straight and standing tall we show our loyalty!
SJS has heard the call, we'll fight for victory!
RAH! RAH!
Come on and fight, we'll win this game, we know this to be true,
We'll sing our song both loud and strong
GO FIGHT! GO WHITE! GO BLUE!
GO FLYERS!"

At the very end, they attempted "the pyramid." Alumni and seniors cringed with anticipation to see what, if anything would go wrong.

HALF TIME: (IN THE LOCKER ROOM)

Back in the locker room, the team re-hydrated and licked their wounds.

“You knew this would be a rough go!” Coach Waters reminded them. “The Hawks are relentless. They’re an aggressive team, but they’re also impatient. You’re letting them pressure you. We don’t get pressured! You get out there and you press back, and I guarandamntee you they’ll crumble like a house of cards on a windy day. No excuses! This is OUR game, OURS!”

“Our game!” Biff repeated.

“Our home!” From Linebacker Bill.
“That’s right! Are you going to let these arrogant little SOB’s come into your house and mop the floor with you?”

“Hell no!”

“Then you get back out there, and you make them slink home with their tail feathers tucked between their legs! This is our game! When you retake that field, you tell them so for me!”

[Vesper Fiend]

Ves had cheered madly in the last quarter as Bryan drove the ball down the field. She cheered just as hard as the defense managed to snag the ball away from Jaynestown.

“GO, DIYAR!”

She jumped. She stomped. She yelled at the top of her lungs. Despite the way the second quarter ended, she refused to give up hope.

“YOU CAN DO IT!” she yelled to the team as they left the field. “WAY TO GO, FLYERS!”