The players sat around the locker room readying themselves for the odd Saturday night game. The storm driven blackout the night before caused them to play on Saturday. The players each had their individual routines, and waited to take the field. Outside, the cheerleaders revved up the crowd, and the fans waited for the teams to take to the muddy field for the game. The light rain was a break from the storm the night before, and everyone was set to see some football.
Coach Waters sat in his office, thinking about this team. It might well be the most talented he'd coached, but they just weren't putting it together. They needed to click to get on a good roll. He smiled, that was his job, after all, wasn't it. He picked up the clipboard from the nail on the wall, and donned his blue and white Flyers cap before entering the locker room.
With a snap, he turned off the pounding music echoing through the room. "Listen up! You all sit in here listening to the music, and acting like nothing is wrong. We've had our wins handed to us by bad ball bounces, and a bonehead play by an opposing quarterback, who if he were playing for me, wouldn't be playing!" The scowl on his face told the players he meant business, and they all fell silent. "We can't afford to win on luck. What have we really won so far?"
His gaze fell levelly on each player, finally resting on Bryan Baxter
Bryan froze for a moment, wondering if the coach really wanted an answer. "Nothing, we still have six games to win before we've won something." Bryan's conviction startled some of his teamates.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Coach started to work himself up. "Up until this point we've proven NOTHING! You're the best damn team in this state, but you still have to prove it! You still have to earn it! Nobody, and I mean NOBODY is going to give you anything, you have to go out and TAKE IT!!" Coach could tell he had their attention now. "What are we going to do tonight?!!"
"TAKE IT!!" The team yelled with one voice
"What are we leaving for the other team?!"
"NOTHING!!"
"Take it all and leave nothing behind!!" With that last exortation, the coach kicked open the locker room doors. The team was ready, and starting to move. The fans outside were being goaded into a frenzy by the cheer squad, and all eyes turned toward the end zone where a huge poster of a Mustang, snorting fire, had been raised, by the Flyer Cheer Squad to the boos of the crowd, only to have the crowd erupt as the Flyers tore through the poster, charging to the sideline.
Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
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Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness
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Mercy Strike
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Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
Aura sat in the bleachers, clutching the blue and white blanket around her shoulders. Jostled from both sides, she tried really hard not to spill the styrofoam cup of rapidly cooling hot chocolate that she held tightly in one hand.
"Yay!" she yelled as the cheerleaders made their appearance on the field. "Go, Flyers!"
Yeah. Go, Flyers.
"Mercy, you are such a pain. Don't you ever get excited about anything?"
There was silence for a second, then: I get excited about beer. Beer and parties. I think we get a real groove going on with those.
Aura giggled. She needed this, needed desperately to think of something else, anything else after the unsettling, scary conversation with Diego last night. Being mad was so bad for your karma and she hadn't had any time this morning to do any meditating, not with having to beg Kara for the loan of the blanket and then trying to figure out where her favorite kerchief was, although it just turned out to be in the laundry hamper.
"Well, pretend I'm drinking beer, then. Go, everybody!"
Aura cheered and then swayed to the right as somebody nearly caused the chocolate to spill again.
"Yay!" she yelled as the cheerleaders made their appearance on the field. "Go, Flyers!"
Yeah. Go, Flyers.
"Mercy, you are such a pain. Don't you ever get excited about anything?"
There was silence for a second, then: I get excited about beer. Beer and parties. I think we get a real groove going on with those.
Aura giggled. She needed this, needed desperately to think of something else, anything else after the unsettling, scary conversation with Diego last night. Being mad was so bad for your karma and she hadn't had any time this morning to do any meditating, not with having to beg Kara for the loan of the blanket and then trying to figure out where her favorite kerchief was, although it just turned out to be in the laundry hamper.
"Well, pretend I'm drinking beer, then. Go, everybody!"
Aura cheered and then swayed to the right as somebody nearly caused the chocolate to spill again.
Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
Kara watched her breath plume out in front of her. The weather was colder in New England than it was in California, and she still had not adjusted to it. She missed her illusions; with them, she could at least be wearing sweatpants and make it look like she had bare legs. She figured that the flips and kicks would warm her up soon enough, but for right now she was casting envious glances at Aura's hot chocolate.
Current NaNo word count: 53038! Done! Woooo!
Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
1st Quarter
Samantha Douglas lined up the ball on the tee, hoping the blowing wind wouldn't knock the ball off, and also hoping that the wet, muddy turf wouldn't cause her to slip. She saw the ref blow the whistle for the start of the game, and all the butterflies that accompanied most players stomachs centered and tightened as Sam put foot to ball. Altai Samulsen took the ball at his 5 yard line, and followed his wedge up the middle of the field. Brandon Jordan came flying through as the "wedge buster", his main job to break up the wedge of players setting up blocks for Samulsen. Brandon did his job with wreckless abandon and drove the head of the wedge back into Altai, sending him sprawling at the 8 yard line.
The Mustang quarterback, Robert Auxois looked to take advantage of the Flyer injury to Ty Cloud, and completed two quick strikes in the direction of Damian Singleton, who had converted from Defensive End after the last game. The Mustangs sustained a drive to the Flyer 30 yard line, chewing up time and keeping the Flyer offense grounded.
"Come on, Defense!"
Biff Hanigan watched the line up, and looked over at Diyar and Darweshi, "Watch the Friggin Bootleg!!" Dar and Diyar nodded, and waited. Auxois faked the handoff to Tori Smith, trying to suck the defense into the fake, but Biff had been right! Diyar took out the guard, who was pulling left to protect the quarterback, running to open field, on a bootleg play, to gain more time for a long pass. Dar sidestepped the pile of Diyar and the guard, and ran full bore, untouched at Auxois. The two crashed together with a crack of shoulderpads that was easily heard up in the stands, and the Mustang Quarterback landed with a splash on the 37 yard line, forcing a forth down, and knocking the Mustangs out of field goal range.
Hannigan grabbed Dar's facemask and greeted him with a headbutt, helmet to helmet. "Yeah!! That's what I'm talking about. TAKE IT!!"
The Flyers got the ball back at the 32 yard line after a good punt return by Bryan Baxter. Reed lined the players up, after getting the play from the Coach. Luke Bartel took the handoff and found a hole good for a 7 yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. The Flyers tried to take to the air on the series but only managed to get out to the 50 yard line before the drive bogged down.
Play started to bog down after that due to the conditions. The rain and mud made passing tricky, as the ball was slick, and neither team seemed to be able to mount much of an aerial attack. Neither quarterback could get much on their throws and receivers had balls slip out of their hands.
The Mustangs went to their ground game with good results, punching in a touchdown, after a long punt return.
Coach Waters brought his offense to the sideline before the kickoff. "Look, the weather sucks, the field is a wreck, don't let it get to you. We're the biggest, meanest bunch around, so here's what we're going to do." He detailed out the plan and sent the team in after a touchback, to take over on their own 20.
The Flyers started to run the ball, using their two tailbacks. Antoine DuBois was a bruising presence running up the middle, breaking a few big runs, while Luke Bartel added elusiveness for an outside change of pace. The gameplan seemed to be working, but only well enough to lead to a Samantha Douglas field goal towards the end of the quarter.
End of first quarter: Mustangs 7 - Flyers 3
Samantha Douglas lined up the ball on the tee, hoping the blowing wind wouldn't knock the ball off, and also hoping that the wet, muddy turf wouldn't cause her to slip. She saw the ref blow the whistle for the start of the game, and all the butterflies that accompanied most players stomachs centered and tightened as Sam put foot to ball. Altai Samulsen took the ball at his 5 yard line, and followed his wedge up the middle of the field. Brandon Jordan came flying through as the "wedge buster", his main job to break up the wedge of players setting up blocks for Samulsen. Brandon did his job with wreckless abandon and drove the head of the wedge back into Altai, sending him sprawling at the 8 yard line.
The Mustang quarterback, Robert Auxois looked to take advantage of the Flyer injury to Ty Cloud, and completed two quick strikes in the direction of Damian Singleton, who had converted from Defensive End after the last game. The Mustangs sustained a drive to the Flyer 30 yard line, chewing up time and keeping the Flyer offense grounded.
"Come on, Defense!"
Biff Hanigan watched the line up, and looked over at Diyar and Darweshi, "Watch the Friggin Bootleg!!" Dar and Diyar nodded, and waited. Auxois faked the handoff to Tori Smith, trying to suck the defense into the fake, but Biff had been right! Diyar took out the guard, who was pulling left to protect the quarterback, running to open field, on a bootleg play, to gain more time for a long pass. Dar sidestepped the pile of Diyar and the guard, and ran full bore, untouched at Auxois. The two crashed together with a crack of shoulderpads that was easily heard up in the stands, and the Mustang Quarterback landed with a splash on the 37 yard line, forcing a forth down, and knocking the Mustangs out of field goal range.
Hannigan grabbed Dar's facemask and greeted him with a headbutt, helmet to helmet. "Yeah!! That's what I'm talking about. TAKE IT!!"
The Flyers got the ball back at the 32 yard line after a good punt return by Bryan Baxter. Reed lined the players up, after getting the play from the Coach. Luke Bartel took the handoff and found a hole good for a 7 yard gain on the first play from scrimmage. The Flyers tried to take to the air on the series but only managed to get out to the 50 yard line before the drive bogged down.
Play started to bog down after that due to the conditions. The rain and mud made passing tricky, as the ball was slick, and neither team seemed to be able to mount much of an aerial attack. Neither quarterback could get much on their throws and receivers had balls slip out of their hands.
The Mustangs went to their ground game with good results, punching in a touchdown, after a long punt return.
Coach Waters brought his offense to the sideline before the kickoff. "Look, the weather sucks, the field is a wreck, don't let it get to you. We're the biggest, meanest bunch around, so here's what we're going to do." He detailed out the plan and sent the team in after a touchback, to take over on their own 20.
The Flyers started to run the ball, using their two tailbacks. Antoine DuBois was a bruising presence running up the middle, breaking a few big runs, while Luke Bartel added elusiveness for an outside change of pace. The gameplan seemed to be working, but only well enough to lead to a Samantha Douglas field goal towards the end of the quarter.
End of first quarter: Mustangs 7 - Flyers 3
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness
Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
2nd Quarter
The 2nd Quarter started with much the same action as the 1st ended with. Both teams running the ball for the majority of the plays, in a back and forth tilt on the gridiron. The first big break of the game came at the midpoint of the quarter. The Flyers were driving down the field behind the running of both Bartel and DuBois, when the coach decided to mix things up. He sent Bryan Baxter into the huddle with the play, and the Flyers lined up, two recievers to the left and only one running back in the backfield. Reed called off the cadence, and dropped back to pass. The Mustangs blitzed, and Julian Canter was coming for a free shot at Reed. William McCarty made a crushing block, giving Reed time to see Baxter in the open and tossed the ball his way.
Baxter, the ball, and Sorraia Swede all came together at the same time. Baxter had the ball for a moment, reaching high to get to the ball, and Swede caught him unprotected. The breath left Bryan with a whoosh, and the ball tipped up in the air, where Mustang Free Safety, Bryan Salerno grabbed it, and ran the ball back to the Flyer 25 yard line.
Bryan made his way back to the sideline still gasping for breath. "Sorry guys, I should've had that one."
His teamates rallied around him, "Shake it off, Bryan, that was a hell of a hit."
Dar grinned a viscious grin at Bryan. "Paybacks are a bitch. I'll get some for ya."
Payback would have to wait though, as the Mustangs connected 4 plays later for a 10 yard touchdown.
The Flyers tried again to mount an offensive drive, but were ineffective against a tight Mustang defense. They drove the ball down to the 25 yard line of the Mustangs the next possesion, but were stopped on third and short, as Antoine DuBois couldn't find a hole to drive through for the first down.
"What's the matter Flyers, can't get off the ground?" Darren Sokolsky taunted after the tackle, shoving DuBois' facemask into the mud during the pile up. DuBois came up and shoved Sokolsky, but the two were separated before any yellow flags were thrown.
Samantha Douglas kicked the field goal for the Flyers, as they were unable to score a touchdown again.
The Mustangs took advantage of Damian's rusty play at cornerback, connecting on the longest play of the half, a 55 yard strike, which set the Mustangs up for a field goal, after the drive stalled at the 22 yard line.
End of 1st Half Mustangs 17 - Flyers 6
The 2nd Quarter started with much the same action as the 1st ended with. Both teams running the ball for the majority of the plays, in a back and forth tilt on the gridiron. The first big break of the game came at the midpoint of the quarter. The Flyers were driving down the field behind the running of both Bartel and DuBois, when the coach decided to mix things up. He sent Bryan Baxter into the huddle with the play, and the Flyers lined up, two recievers to the left and only one running back in the backfield. Reed called off the cadence, and dropped back to pass. The Mustangs blitzed, and Julian Canter was coming for a free shot at Reed. William McCarty made a crushing block, giving Reed time to see Baxter in the open and tossed the ball his way.
Baxter, the ball, and Sorraia Swede all came together at the same time. Baxter had the ball for a moment, reaching high to get to the ball, and Swede caught him unprotected. The breath left Bryan with a whoosh, and the ball tipped up in the air, where Mustang Free Safety, Bryan Salerno grabbed it, and ran the ball back to the Flyer 25 yard line.
Bryan made his way back to the sideline still gasping for breath. "Sorry guys, I should've had that one."
His teamates rallied around him, "Shake it off, Bryan, that was a hell of a hit."
Dar grinned a viscious grin at Bryan. "Paybacks are a bitch. I'll get some for ya."
Payback would have to wait though, as the Mustangs connected 4 plays later for a 10 yard touchdown.
The Flyers tried again to mount an offensive drive, but were ineffective against a tight Mustang defense. They drove the ball down to the 25 yard line of the Mustangs the next possesion, but were stopped on third and short, as Antoine DuBois couldn't find a hole to drive through for the first down.
"What's the matter Flyers, can't get off the ground?" Darren Sokolsky taunted after the tackle, shoving DuBois' facemask into the mud during the pile up. DuBois came up and shoved Sokolsky, but the two were separated before any yellow flags were thrown.
Samantha Douglas kicked the field goal for the Flyers, as they were unable to score a touchdown again.
The Mustangs took advantage of Damian's rusty play at cornerback, connecting on the longest play of the half, a 55 yard strike, which set the Mustangs up for a field goal, after the drive stalled at the 22 yard line.
End of 1st Half Mustangs 17 - Flyers 6
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness
Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
Halftime
The cheer squad put on a performance that outdid the weather. Despite the we conditions, Bree led the squad in an aerobatic show that had most of the crowd forgetting about the soggy conditions
Things in the lockeroom could have used some good will from the squad.
The team tried to dry off as best they could, and the general mood was down.
Coach Waters stormed into the room, slamming his arm through the cups on the table and into the cooler, spraying water and gatorade . "What the HELL do you think you're doing out there?? Should I just go over to the Mustang coach and tell him 'The weather sucks, so we're giving you the game'? Because that's what were doing!! DuBois, if I EVER see you go after another player, you'll ride the pine the rest of the year, clear?" Antoine nodded. "Bartel, the ground's slick? So What?? Put on some better shoes, dig harder. You do whatever it is you need to do to make cuts. Defense?? What the hell game are you playing!!?? The damn scoreboard's looking like a pinball machine!! You get in their faces, hands knocking down passes, and I want to see that Mustang QB on his BUTT!! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
"WHAT??"
"YES COACH!!" The team chorused.
"Then get back out there and TAKE BACK THIS GAME!!!"
The cheer squad put on a performance that outdid the weather. Despite the we conditions, Bree led the squad in an aerobatic show that had most of the crowd forgetting about the soggy conditions
Things in the lockeroom could have used some good will from the squad.
The team tried to dry off as best they could, and the general mood was down.
Coach Waters stormed into the room, slamming his arm through the cups on the table and into the cooler, spraying water and gatorade . "What the HELL do you think you're doing out there?? Should I just go over to the Mustang coach and tell him 'The weather sucks, so we're giving you the game'? Because that's what were doing!! DuBois, if I EVER see you go after another player, you'll ride the pine the rest of the year, clear?" Antoine nodded. "Bartel, the ground's slick? So What?? Put on some better shoes, dig harder. You do whatever it is you need to do to make cuts. Defense?? What the hell game are you playing!!?? The damn scoreboard's looking like a pinball machine!! You get in their faces, hands knocking down passes, and I want to see that Mustang QB on his BUTT!! Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
"WHAT??"
"YES COACH!!" The team chorused.
"Then get back out there and TAKE BACK THIS GAME!!!"
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness
Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
3rd Quarter
After the kickoff, the Flyers took the ball on their own 35 yard line. After short runs and a few short passes, they moved the ball up to the Mustang 42 yard line.
Reed huddled them up and got the signals for the next play from the Coach. "Okay, Tail 2, tackle dive, on two." The team broke the huddle and Antoine looked at Bartel.
"Running a Sokolsky? I'll clear him."
Reed got the hike and dropped back, handing off to Bartel who made a sharp cut at the line, only to see Darren Sokolsky bearing down on him. Just as quickly, the gap opened up again as DuBois landed a thunderous blind side block, that flattened the Mustang Linebacker. Bartel darted through the opening and spun off two more tackles running for open ground and the end zone.
DuBois looked back at Sokolsky, before taking off to the end zone to celebrate, "What's the matter horseface, couldn't stay on your feet, while the Flyer buzzed past you?"
The game went back and forth with no score for the next three possesions, till the Mustangs had the ball again after a good punt pinned them back at their 3 yard line. Two runs had gotten them no yardage, which put them in a sure passing situation. Darweshi lined up for the next play, watching the running back's eyes. Just before the ball was snapped Dar watched him look left. Dar broke left as the ball was being snapped and came full on toward Auxois. He saw the running back move to block him and knew that he always chop blocked at the knees. Dar jumped, hurtling over the running back, "PAYBACK!!" he yelled as he sailed into the quarterback, driving him to the turf, behind the goal line. The defense all started putting their hands together over their heads, showing the signal for safety, while the referees moved the pile. The head linesman signalled the same.
Coach Waters gathered his offense around him. "Okay, they're getting sucked in by our run game, and stacking up all their players. Reed, first play, I want a play action fake to DuBois, receivers run flares to the end zone."
The safety meant the Mustangs had to kick the ball back to the Flyers, and the offense got the ball at their 38 yard line. Reed lined them up for the play, and McCarty hiked the ball. Reed faked the handoff to DuBois who plowed into the middle of the Mustang defense. Bryan Baxter watched the safety bite on the fake and put on a burst of speed. The safety watched Bryan race by him before he could change direction, and Reed let the ball fly. Bryan made a fingertip grab on the ball at the Mustang 42 yard line, without a defender near him, and ran to the end zone for the touchdown.
After the successful point after, the Mustangs still had 3 minutes left to work with on the 3rd quarter, and drove to the Flyer 46 yard line. Auxois lined them up to try to take advantage of Damian Singleton again, with a screen pass to his side. Damian was rusty at the cornerback position, true, but he still knew how to read the play. He watched as the tailback went out towards the sideline and waited for the quarterback. Auxois did what you're supposed to on a screen. Let the defensive line, and linebackers get close, throw the ball over their heads to the tailback, who then should only have a few people to beat, and some blocking ahead of his. Unfortunately for him, Dozer knew that too. He waited and watched Auxois' eyes. They held center...held center, then flicked left, and Damian broke towards the tailback. He snagged the ball in stride, and had nobody in front of him. He outran the running back to the end zone for the touchdown.
End of the 3rd Mustangs 17 - Flyers 29
After the kickoff, the Flyers took the ball on their own 35 yard line. After short runs and a few short passes, they moved the ball up to the Mustang 42 yard line.
Reed huddled them up and got the signals for the next play from the Coach. "Okay, Tail 2, tackle dive, on two." The team broke the huddle and Antoine looked at Bartel.
"Running a Sokolsky? I'll clear him."
Reed got the hike and dropped back, handing off to Bartel who made a sharp cut at the line, only to see Darren Sokolsky bearing down on him. Just as quickly, the gap opened up again as DuBois landed a thunderous blind side block, that flattened the Mustang Linebacker. Bartel darted through the opening and spun off two more tackles running for open ground and the end zone.
DuBois looked back at Sokolsky, before taking off to the end zone to celebrate, "What's the matter horseface, couldn't stay on your feet, while the Flyer buzzed past you?"
The game went back and forth with no score for the next three possesions, till the Mustangs had the ball again after a good punt pinned them back at their 3 yard line. Two runs had gotten them no yardage, which put them in a sure passing situation. Darweshi lined up for the next play, watching the running back's eyes. Just before the ball was snapped Dar watched him look left. Dar broke left as the ball was being snapped and came full on toward Auxois. He saw the running back move to block him and knew that he always chop blocked at the knees. Dar jumped, hurtling over the running back, "PAYBACK!!" he yelled as he sailed into the quarterback, driving him to the turf, behind the goal line. The defense all started putting their hands together over their heads, showing the signal for safety, while the referees moved the pile. The head linesman signalled the same.
Coach Waters gathered his offense around him. "Okay, they're getting sucked in by our run game, and stacking up all their players. Reed, first play, I want a play action fake to DuBois, receivers run flares to the end zone."
The safety meant the Mustangs had to kick the ball back to the Flyers, and the offense got the ball at their 38 yard line. Reed lined them up for the play, and McCarty hiked the ball. Reed faked the handoff to DuBois who plowed into the middle of the Mustang defense. Bryan Baxter watched the safety bite on the fake and put on a burst of speed. The safety watched Bryan race by him before he could change direction, and Reed let the ball fly. Bryan made a fingertip grab on the ball at the Mustang 42 yard line, without a defender near him, and ran to the end zone for the touchdown.
After the successful point after, the Mustangs still had 3 minutes left to work with on the 3rd quarter, and drove to the Flyer 46 yard line. Auxois lined them up to try to take advantage of Damian Singleton again, with a screen pass to his side. Damian was rusty at the cornerback position, true, but he still knew how to read the play. He watched as the tailback went out towards the sideline and waited for the quarterback. Auxois did what you're supposed to on a screen. Let the defensive line, and linebackers get close, throw the ball over their heads to the tailback, who then should only have a few people to beat, and some blocking ahead of his. Unfortunately for him, Dozer knew that too. He waited and watched Auxois' eyes. They held center...held center, then flicked left, and Damian broke towards the tailback. He snagged the ball in stride, and had nobody in front of him. He outran the running back to the end zone for the touchdown.
End of the 3rd Mustangs 17 - Flyers 29
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness
Re: Mustangs vs. Flyers Sat. Oct 25
4th Quarter
"De-Fense DE-FENSE!" The cowd yelled, at the urging of the Cheer Squad as the Mustangs got the ball back in the fourth quarter.
The defense was giving ground to the Mustang offense, who'd managed a long, sustained drive to the Flyer 18 yard line. Hannigan huddled them up. "All right, it's time we take any hope in this game from these losers. It's third and long, and there's no way we're giving up another first down. Anyone let's me down gets to eat a locker, get it?"
They lined up, and Lucas Alexander watched the play as the ball was snapped. He saw the hole open up, and the Mustang running back gallop towards it. Hannigan moved to plug the hole and the running back side stepped him, and ran right into Alexander, who closed quickly. Lucas' shoulderpads stuck the back in the chest and he wrapped his arms around the back driving him backwards, clean off his feet. A tackle that announcers refer to as a "decleater". The Mustangs had to settle for a field goal.
The Flyer offense started chewing up time off the clock with a steady running game, and short passing game, driving down to the 24 yard line, where Samantha Douglas kicked a field goal.
The Mustang offense again moved the ball well, until they got past the 50 yard line, where they ran into trouble. The Flyer defense had stopped two running plays at their own 46, and lined up with an extra defensive back, expecting a pass. Auxois lined up and got the snap, dropping back to pass, but then handed the ball to the Mustang running back, late. A draw play! The back took off past the defensive line and linebackers, with only one man to beat before there was nothing but open field in front of him. Damian "Dozer" Singleton knew that, the fans knew that, everyone watching knew that. The back juked one way and cut back the other. Damian did what any defender is supposed to, aim for the midsection or legs of the back. As the back cut back, Dozer drilled him in thighs with his shoulderpads, wrapping his arms around the back's midsection. His helmet made contact with the football, as Dozer drove the back backwards. He heard another player yell "BALL, Ball Ball!" and felt the mad scramble of people around him. He scrambled up off the downed back and saw the mass of players flailing about, and then saw the ball squirt free from the pack. He dove towards the ball, and in a spray of water and mud slid, wrapping his arms around the football, pulling it safely to his midsection as the pile landed on him and hands clawed at the ball. When the refs pulled the pile apart, an eternity later, so it seemed, Damian came out from the pile and held the ball up over his head, to the roaring approval of the crowd.
With only 4 minutes left on the clock, the Flyers once again drove down the field, chewing away at the time. Reed got the signals from the coach, and called the play. A simple run up the middle. He got the snap, and handed off to DuBois who ran up to the line, slowing and waiting for the hole to open. Brandon Jordan came over from the tight end and lowered a block that opened a slight hole and DuBois darted to it, lowering his shoulders, seeing the middle linebacker bearing down, and preparing for the hit...which never happened. Will McCarty got off his block and levelled the middle linebacker, freeing DuBois for a twenty yard touchdown run, leaving only 1:15 on the clock.
The Mustangs again tested Singleton's side of the field, only to be stopped by some solid defense by the cornerback, who was starting to feel at home at the position again. After the fourth down play fell short, the Flyers took the ball back, and ran out the clock.
Final Score
Mustangs 20 - Flyers 39
"De-Fense DE-FENSE!" The cowd yelled, at the urging of the Cheer Squad as the Mustangs got the ball back in the fourth quarter.
The defense was giving ground to the Mustang offense, who'd managed a long, sustained drive to the Flyer 18 yard line. Hannigan huddled them up. "All right, it's time we take any hope in this game from these losers. It's third and long, and there's no way we're giving up another first down. Anyone let's me down gets to eat a locker, get it?"
They lined up, and Lucas Alexander watched the play as the ball was snapped. He saw the hole open up, and the Mustang running back gallop towards it. Hannigan moved to plug the hole and the running back side stepped him, and ran right into Alexander, who closed quickly. Lucas' shoulderpads stuck the back in the chest and he wrapped his arms around the back driving him backwards, clean off his feet. A tackle that announcers refer to as a "decleater". The Mustangs had to settle for a field goal.
The Flyer offense started chewing up time off the clock with a steady running game, and short passing game, driving down to the 24 yard line, where Samantha Douglas kicked a field goal.
The Mustang offense again moved the ball well, until they got past the 50 yard line, where they ran into trouble. The Flyer defense had stopped two running plays at their own 46, and lined up with an extra defensive back, expecting a pass. Auxois lined up and got the snap, dropping back to pass, but then handed the ball to the Mustang running back, late. A draw play! The back took off past the defensive line and linebackers, with only one man to beat before there was nothing but open field in front of him. Damian "Dozer" Singleton knew that, the fans knew that, everyone watching knew that. The back juked one way and cut back the other. Damian did what any defender is supposed to, aim for the midsection or legs of the back. As the back cut back, Dozer drilled him in thighs with his shoulderpads, wrapping his arms around the back's midsection. His helmet made contact with the football, as Dozer drove the back backwards. He heard another player yell "BALL, Ball Ball!" and felt the mad scramble of people around him. He scrambled up off the downed back and saw the mass of players flailing about, and then saw the ball squirt free from the pack. He dove towards the ball, and in a spray of water and mud slid, wrapping his arms around the football, pulling it safely to his midsection as the pile landed on him and hands clawed at the ball. When the refs pulled the pile apart, an eternity later, so it seemed, Damian came out from the pile and held the ball up over his head, to the roaring approval of the crowd.
With only 4 minutes left on the clock, the Flyers once again drove down the field, chewing away at the time. Reed got the signals from the coach, and called the play. A simple run up the middle. He got the snap, and handed off to DuBois who ran up to the line, slowing and waiting for the hole to open. Brandon Jordan came over from the tight end and lowered a block that opened a slight hole and DuBois darted to it, lowering his shoulders, seeing the middle linebacker bearing down, and preparing for the hit...which never happened. Will McCarty got off his block and levelled the middle linebacker, freeing DuBois for a twenty yard touchdown run, leaving only 1:15 on the clock.
The Mustangs again tested Singleton's side of the field, only to be stopped by some solid defense by the cornerback, who was starting to feel at home at the position again. After the fourth down play fell short, the Flyers took the ball back, and ran out the clock.
Final Score
Mustangs 20 - Flyers 39
Sometimes the only way to see the light, is a journey through darkness