When the Dons' offence returned to the sideline, there was a strange mixture of emotions swirling in the air—euphoria and horror. But Ty felt great respect for what Benny was willing to put himself through. He stood and pushed through the others to meet Benny, offering him a fist bump.
'You're crazy,' Ty said, 'but a real warrior, Benny. This win's for you.'
Benny chuckled and carefully unhooked an arm from Jay's shoulders to fist bump Ty. 'Go do it for the family.'
Respectful applause showered Benny as he sat on the bench, even those who weren't supporting the Dons had been won over by his valiant showing. At least for a moment. Coach Long was one of the only few who showed nothing but concern.
'Tyrese is right, that WAS crazy,' Coach Long said. 'I don't want to see you EVER do something like that again.'
Benny and Jay looked at each other awkwardly. Coach Long hadn't had such heat in his voice since Stephen's fight with Downey.
'It's my fault, Coach,' Benny said. 'It was my idea, but honestly I'm fine. I'm sore but I'll be fine. When we're back out there, I'll be ready.'
'We'll see about that. And even if it was your plan that's no excuse. You should know better, and YOU should definitely know better, Jay.'
Jay lowered his head. It had worked, but what if Benny's ribs were cracked? One touchdown, one game, one win wasn't worth that price. 'Sorry, Coach.'
'It's not me you need to apologise to. Save it for Benjamin. He's the one you failed to protect.'
Jay turned to Benny, who was being looked over by the team doctor. Benny raised a hand, stuffing Jay's apology back down his throat. 'Apology accepted, but it doesn't matter. It worked. We scored, that's the important thing. I'm willing to put my body on the line for my family.'
Coach Long bristled as pride swelled through him, stunning him for a moment. He stepped back, squaring his shoulders and clearing his throat as he gathered himself. 'Yes, I see. That's all well and good, but we're only tied, and there's still plenty of time left. We'll still need your help Benjamin if we want to finish this game strong and …'
He trailed off. Benny winced and pulled away from the doctor's prodding of an especially tender spot. The doc looked up at Coach Long with a worrying frown, shaking his head. Benny wouldn't be making it back that game.
Coach Long took a deep breath, patting Benny on the head before turning away. Jay shifted uncomfortable next to Benny, who looked at the doctor confused; surely there was a mistake.
As Benny argued his case, and was demonstratively refuted, Jay pulled his hat down further; now was no time for tears. They still had a job to do.
Another touchback started the Eagles off at their 25-yard line. When Ty met Fale, he still felt like he was staring up at a great wall. Fale's determination hadn't wavered, if anything it had only strengthened after Benny's touchdown. Ty didn't care, he was gonna scale that wall.
Bella watched the two teams converge, her focus on Ty and Fale. Worry was evident on her face. She trembled, and a deep breath did nothing to calm her nerves. She hadn't noticed any change in Ty, but that didn't matter. Maybe she couldn't see it. Feeling like he was on another world? That was crazy talk, it didn't mean anything. Or maybe he didn't need to change that drastically. He was still Ty, still their supernova. He'd be okay. He'd win, she knew he would.
The first play only exacerbated her fears. A one-step Out for Fale turned into a 7-yard gain as he ran through Ty. Unfortunately, that was only a precursor for the rest of the drive.
Fale's dominance continued, racking up receptions as he pulled the Dons along, dragging them further downfield. The Eagles continued their flight through the air. An early play in the drive showed them how meaningless running would be when the Dons stuffed it for only 2 yards.
Still, they chewed through the clock as they chewed through yards. Each pass was a small but convincing gain that kept the chains moving frequently. Each play was similar, despite whatever route Fale ran. Whether he slashed across the field inside, darted out, or hooked back around for a Curl or Comeback, he caught the ball not far beyond the line of scrimmage, then smashed ahead to pick up more yards after the catch, unhampered by Ty's first contact.
And Ty couldn't stop him. He was still bogged down. Scaling the wall was impossible, but pushing through it seemed just as hopeless. The Eagles glided into field goal range, and Ty was clueless about how to break through Fale and stop them.
The Eagles tried another run. Even trying to trick the Dons with a Counter going away from Fale and Elias didn't work, only picking up 3 yards. If the Eagles wanted to get in the end-zone again, they'd have to do it through the air. Which meant it was up to Ty to prevent that.
The closer the Eagles came to the end-zone the more their supporters' excitement grew. To counter, desperation fuelled the voices of the growing number of Dons fans.
Another snap, and Ryan dropped back to pass. Ty surged forward. The wall was still there, blocking him. He stopped, focusing on nothing but the wall, eliminating the sounds of the crowd, and everything else on the field. Even the sight of everything else. His vision narrowed and darkened until all he could see was that wall. He even forgot he was in the middle of the game as he tried to understand the wall and how it came to be.
That's when he saw it. There was no "wall" just a block a stone. A tall, imposing slab, yes. But not an impenetrable wall towering over everything. The stone was much smaller once you took a step back to observe, but it made sense to him. If you tried to push open a door that was jammed, locked, or blocked, it could feel like trying to push a mountain over, when in reality, all that might be stopping you is a flimsy chair wedged against the door at just the right angle. Maybe even only a plank of wood. But because of leverage, that plank could be as sturdy as a mountain, or a stone as impassable as a mountain.
He'd been so stupid! How had he not seen it? He was so caught up in the moment, in the awe of this imposing persona Fale had built up, that he lost the trees in the forest. Fale held himself as a towering giant, an insurmountable wall. But he was just a stone, tipped at just the right angle to be immovable.
Leverage was the key. It was how Fale kept Ty down, and it was how he remained impenetrable. So Ty would have to attack that leverage.
Fale kept a hand out down low. That was the leverage holding Ty back, the wooden plank jammed against the doorhandle. Ty watched Fale's arm as he crept forward—it found his hip as if magnetised.
Fale held him at bay with that arm, keeping him from closing the distance and impacting the catch. It was covering the top of Ty's thigh more than his hip. The quicksand holding his feet in place. With that, he couldn't sidestep fast enough to get around Fale. And if he tried to twist and twirl around Fale, he couldn't start his motion, and would spin out wildly trying to fight through that brace.
It should've been a flag. Could the officials not see it? It was similar to what Ty did in coverage, a hand on the hip to keep track of his man whilst his eyes scanned for the ball or watched the QB think. But he never held anyone down with it, he tried to keep his touch light enough that the Receiver wouldn't even feel it. But Fale pushed, even if his arm wasn't straight out it was RIGID.
Ty tried the spin anyway. Maybe Fale was holding onto him, maybe he'd get a flag if he drew attention to what was happening. Ty spun out, flailing at the ball which was just out of reach. Fale turned and charged ahead, picking up a first down before he was stopped. No flag came.
Typical. Ty brushed himself off, glaring all around the field. After all that talk about good and evil, saints and sinners, righteous and villainous, and Fale was one of the sneakiest cheaters Ty had faced. Yet the officials weren't calling it. Of course they weren't. A Receiver could murder a DB and get away with it.
Though Ty couldn't help but admit it was clever. Fale wasn't holding onto him, just protecting his space, and using his arm as a lever. It was the leverage created by their own two bodies that kept Ty down. So Ty just had to eliminate that lever.
On the next play, Ryan dropped back to throw again; even on first down the Eagles were passing now. Ty stuck close to Fale, he had to if he wanted to impact the play. The short throws didn't give him enough time to back off and charge.
The pass targeted another Fale Drag across the middle. Ty stepped in, felt the hand, and swatted it aside before lunging forward. He stretched around Fale and found the ball first, poking the ball away, sending it tumbling to the ground.
Fale knocked Ty to the ground as he continued his route, already turning upfield to run after the catch. It took him a couple of steps to realise the ball wasn't in his hands. He stared down at Ty, who grinned, hopping to his feet. It'd been too long since Ty had stopped Fale, but it felt so right.
Fale scowled and stomped back to the Eagles' huddle. It was only second down, and that incompletion was a fluke. They didn't need to change the plan, he'd still run over Ty and the Dons and win. The hero ALWAYS won.
Angry, focused eyes glared at Ty as he and Fale got back into position. 'Surprised I figured out your nasty little trick?' Ty asked. 'You're a pretty disgusting cheater, ain't you?'
Fale's scowl deepened but he kept his mouth shut.
'I can see you gaslighting yourself into thinking you're not doing anything wrong. If you were, the officials would call it, right? Bullshit. The offence is always favoured, and I don't know why you in particular get such a free reign to grab onto me however you want, but I don't give a shit. I'll beat you even with the officials in your pocket.'
When the ball was snapped, Fale barged through Ty's press, shot out, then back down. He didn't wait for Ty, didn't force him out with leverage, but charged the pass and caught it before it could even cross the line of scrimmage.
Ty chased, and ran into an almighty stiff arm as Fale whirled around. Ty was slammed into the ground as Fale surged forward. But Ty wouldn't let go. He couldn't claw onto Fale's arm, so he snatched his leg, clinging to it like a leech.
Fale grunted and pulled through, unable to escape Ty's grip he dragged Ty along. Donte slammed into him first, and even as other Eagles tried to protect Fale and block for him, the Dons swarmed, beating him down into the turf.
The Eagles were on third down, still with 6 yards to go, and it looked like Ty and the Dons finally had Fale back in control. Back in the huddle, the Eagles had a conundrum.
'Give me the ball,' Fale demanded.
Ryan couldn't meet his eyes, blocking the sides of his helmet. 'C-Could you repeat that again, Coach?' The crowd was getting raucous, but it wasn't that loud yet, not for them. He asked so he had more time to understand the decision.
After the orders were repeated to Ryan, he looked up at Fale, shivering. Shouldn't the Dons be afraid of Fale, not his own teammates? So why was Ryan scared?
The Eagles lined up in front of the Dons, and Fale's face was still mostly unreadable. He did a good job of masking his anger and frustration. Ty chuckled at the cracks showing through his mask. Would Fale rage or cry in defeat? Both?
As the humble chants of defence rallied to reach greater peaks, the ball was snapped, and Fale shot to the side. Ty followed before Fale straightened, and flattened him with a heavy block. It was a Draw.
The Dons scrambled down, having backed off for the pass they were slightly out of position. Elias pushed through Donte, but a second effort kept the massive meatball engaged and didn't let him pass on to the secondary. The RB weaved ahead, the gaps wide and plentiful thanks to the pass rush going wide instead of through the middle. He could almost …
JJ crunched his side, wrapping him up. The RB twisted and turned, fighting for every yard he could get, trying to extend the play as he fell forward. He slammed into the turf, landing face first on the spot he had to reach for the first down. But the ball's position was what the official's measured, and it was tight against his chest, inches away from the marker.
The Eagles were short; the Dons had pushed them to fourth down. They rallied around JJ, whooping and hollering, fists raised in the air to mimic the fourth down signal. The Eagles picked themselves up, grumbling, but not defeated. If anything they were confused. They looked to their sideline for guidance.
Coach Lipp had a decision to make. Sure the game was tied, but the Eagles were already so close—within the red-zone and almost at the goal-line—a field goal would be a chip shot. But there were still a few minutes left. Plenty of time. The Dons wouldn't even feel hurried as they marched down for a game-tying field goal of their own … there could even be enough time for them to push further and score a touchdown.
But if the Eagles persevered, if they pushed through and earned another set of downs, then they could put the game out of reach with their own touchdown. Plus they'd have more time to milk the clock. If the Dons had to score a touchdown just to tie, and if the two-minute warning had already passed? They'd fail.
Pushing through and going for it was a risk, however, and not one Coach Lipp felt comfortable taking. The field goal was the easy play. Yet sometimes the easy path was the most dangerous.
He closed his eyes, clasping his hands together, muttering a prayer. The choice wouldn't be his—he'd leave it up to a higher power. From his pocket he took a coin, it wasn't his lucky coin or anything idiotic like that, it was just a coin like any other. You didn't need a fancy coin to hear a message from above.
Coach Lipp flipped the coin through the air and watched it plummet to the ground. Weight and tension melted from his shoulders as the coin came to rest in the grass—they were going for it. It was a message from God, it had to be correct.
The crowd held their breath throughout Coach Lipp's hesitation, and even after he made his decision they were almost silent. Gasps escaped some, but for most, the knife-edge tension was too much to bare. All they could do was watch.
The Eagles' formation shifted. Ty's eyes widened as Fale moved into the backfield, taking up a FB position. Was it a new ploy? A way to get him a head of steam so he could run through Ty before making the catch? Or were they really going to use him as the lead blocker for their run? They needed less than a yard; it made sense to go for it on the ground.
But that left Ty homeless in a way. If Fale wasn't a Receiver, who was he guarding? Now he had to engage with the run. He shifted over before the snap, growling as he took a more central position.
The ball was snapped. Ty had never been so close to the middle of the carnage before, never that deep in the trenches. It was like an explosion went off around him. People slammed into each other, fighting desperately. Holes in the Line opened and shut in the blink of an eye. And beyond that wall of bodies, Fale came charging, the HB just a step or two behind him.
Ty darted in, fearless as he ducked through, sneaking into the gap. Maybe he'd get trampled, but if he stopped them there, it was worth it. He saw Fale. Fale saw him. He ducked low and jammed Fale's legs.
JJ smashed through the gap, closing it. Fale tried to push him off, but with Ty in the way, he hadn't the power necessary to hold JJ off. The HB had nowhere to run, and JJ pounced, bringing him down behind the marker. The Eagles had failed. It was a turnover on downs.
The Dons roared in triumph. Jubilation spread through their ranks as if they'd just won the game. The celebrations had certainly already begun. Ty stood face to face with Fale. Fale was still trying to comprehend what had just happened, rage boiling through his confusion.
Ty laughed and said: 'I win.' JJ pulled him from the confrontation, and the two made their way back to the bench, joining the others in their celebration.
'Alright, calm down, calm down!' Coach Long shouted. Even if he was smiling he took on a stern tone. 'The game's not over. We've still got to actually WIN the game now our defence has given us the chance. You have to go out there and capitalise on this opportunity!'
The offence stormed onto the field, flying on their high spirits. Fale was still out there as the Eagles switched to their defence. His fury had a tangible heat, one that Ty could see in the steam billowing off him. The offence had to use that, had to push him into mistakes if he was that angry. They could do it.
There wasn't a lot of time left, but there was enough, especially now all they had to do was get into field goal range. Still, Benny was relegated to the sidelines, helmet off. Even his pads were already off as he watched on, grimacing. And the Dons still had to contend with a pissed-off Fale.
They'd have little hope of blocking him, especially without Benny, so the Dons went with the best play that didn't involve blocking. Jay caught the snap in shotgun and backed off further as Chris scampered out, dragging most of the O-Line with him to the flat as they set up a Screen.
Fale called it out, but put his head down and charged Jay. Too slow. No-one was fast enough to sack a QB on a screen, and Jay flipped the ball over to Chris who—with his blockers escorting him—raced ahead for 13 yards before falling inbounds.
The Dons weren't too rushed getting back into their huddle then formation. A screen wouldn't work again, so they used Fale's aggression against him in a different way. His all-out blitz against Jay pulled him out of position when the drop back turned into a Draw.
Chris surged ahead again, earning 5 more yards. The Eagles called timeout. Both teams played a precarious game with the clock. The Eagles didn't want to give the Dons too much time, but simultaneously, if the Dons scored, the Eagles needed time to respond. If they could leave even just a minute on the clock, they'd get another chance at redemption.
For the Dons, they had to find the balance between milking just enough time, without pressuring themselves by draining too much too quickly. And now they had some time to think about how else they could lead around this charging bull named Fale. Chris's cardio was to be put to the test.
Soon enough the teams were back out on the field, and play resumed. Fale flew around the edge, closing on Jay rapidly. Chris leaked out to the flat again, and Jay flipped the ball over hurriedly.
Chris raked it in barely, but when he turned upfield Eagles were already swooping in. He darted through them as best he could, but only get 2 more yards before being dragged down. Another Eagles timeout was called.
The Dons staggered back to the bench, each boy looking more tense than the previous. Jay was statuesque. Chris couldn't do it on his own.
Coach Long's eyes passed across the bench, and fell on JJ. When in need, always trust your stars. 'Julian. Feel like playing some Tight End?'
JJ stood, jaw set. 'I don't know if I'll be able to catch, but I'll do anything for you and mi hermanos, Coach.'
'I won't ask you to catch anything … yet. Just keep Fale back for a second.'
JJ nodded, leading the offence back out after the timeout. He lined up opposite Fale, causing a reaction from the boy as if he'd just seen a fallen foe pick their decapitated head up and continue fighting.
But he'd beaten JJ already, he wasn't about to be intimidated by him. He'd put that zombie back in the dirt where it belonged.
The ball was snapped and Fale shot forward, angled low to get around JJ. A heavy hand got under his arm and stood him up, JJ's strength putting a stop to his charge for a moment. Fale's eyes widened but he didn't let the shock stop him. He batted away JJ's hands and shoved past him.
However, JJ had done his job. He wasn't supposed to stop Fale, only delay him, and with that extra second Jay found Stephen on a Slant. The giant WR caught the ball high, and brought it to his chest, lumbering forward, dragging his defender with him before falling across the marker and picking up the first down.
They'd made it, and their drive continued, but the Eagles were fired up. It was a fight for every yard now, trench warfare even if they were fighting through the air rather than the ground.
Stephen's reception brought the game to the two-minute warning, and the Dons hadn't crossed half-field. Still, with two minutes to go, they were in fine position for their game-winning drive. They were in control, it was the Eagles who were panicked and scrambling.
Ty watched them scurry about on the other sideline, crowding around their coach. Fale was animated, pointing at the whiteboard, even snatching it at one moment. They were scheming something, and Ty didn't like it. Nor did he like the fact that he couldn't stop shaking.
He'd won. But he was still as nervous as ever. The team hadn't won yet, and if they didn't, his win was meaningless. "You didn't win ENOUGH. You failed when you let them score. This game would be over already if not for YOUR mistake." He trembled as a feeling reminiscent of insects skittering across skin spread through his body.
The game resumed after the break, and the Eagles returned to the field. Ty couldn't read their body language as they took up their formation. They were disciplined, rarely ever letting their emotions show through. Hawk had crept closer, but the entire formation was bunched together and had been for the drive; each play was over too quickly for anything deep.
At the snap, Fale passed JJ much faster, knowing what to expect, he spun back to the inside, blowing by him. Jay looked at Chris, but danger flashed in the corner of his eye. He purposefully threw the ball over Chris's head and to the Eagles' bench instead, still getting knocked down by Fale for his troubles.
Chris's frustration turned to concern. He jogged over and shoved Fale away before helping Jay up. 'The Safety?' Chris asked.
Jay groaned but nodded in response. Hawk was looming. He would've picked it off if Jay threw it to Chris. That would've been the game. Maybe it still was. If Chris was covered, even with JJ buying them more time, they'd have to find another way to beat the Eagles.
The crowd was going crazy' the Eagles' supporters made so much noise that even the Dons fans were starting to cheer. If it was already loud enough where you couldn't hear yourself think, then at least you'd hear some positive messages, too.
Jay kept his fists clenched tight until he called for the snap, otherwise they'd shake too much. On the next play, JJ held his ground better, shuffling his feet faster to stay in front of Fale longer. Jay was calm in the pocket, even if he sped through his reads. Overlooking Chris and Stephen, he hit Cole in stride on a shallow Drag.
The play was a success, but it didn't earn many yards, and brought the Dons to third down. They were only just at half-field. They couldn't fall yet.
The Eagles used their last timeout, ready for the kill. The Dons retreated to the sideline, and as they did so, JJ pulled Jay aside.
'I got an idea, capitán.'
'That's one more than me,' Jay said, laughing.
'If they're playing so close, we have to go over the top with Stephen. I'll hold Fale up, I promise.'
'I believe you, dude. … If anyone can stop him, it's you.'
When the rest of the team heard the idea, they agreed. JJ could do it. Even Benny agreed, looking regretful that JJ had to step in and fulfil what should've been his role.
JJ touched his helmet to Benny's forehead. 'Remember hermano, this one's for you.'
Stephen leaned over to Jay and said: 'He's been squeezing me against the sideline all game. Hit me on a Corner and I'll jump over that small fry to get it.'
'Gotcha.' The two bumped fists.
After getting Coach Long's approval with the plan, the team returned to the field. The game hung in the air, up for grabs. Whichever team benefited most from the next play, would be the team who won. That's what it felt like for everyone in the stadium. No-one felt the weight of the pressure greater than JJ. He met Fale's eyes and set himself in his stance, staring down his destiny.
The ball was snapped and two gladiators clashed at the edge of the Line. It was a struggle, but JJ got his hands under Fale's shoulders, digging his cleats into the ground. He held his place, and could only hope he'd held Fale back enough before he inevitably spun away from his grip.
Jay stood in the pocket. To the untrained eye he appeared as a deer in the headlights, but really he was a stone-cold killer staring down death's barrel. He waited until the last possible second before letting the ball fly. The moment it left his last fingertip, Fale slammed into him and crushed him against the ground.
The pass arched high through the air. Stephen jumped, stretching to his full height, he met the ball at his apex, and came down with it, both feet tapping the ground inbound before he fell out. The pass had been perfect.
'NOOOO!'
A cry of anguish from the crowd. The Dons were in field goal range. The eagles were out of timeouts. All the Dons needed to do was get the best position possible, set up for their kick, and send everyone home.
Bella thudded back into her seat, slumping next to Ty as she clutched her racing heart. Their whole season had been up for grabs whilst the ball was flying through the air. And even though Stephen came down with it, they still weren't in the clear. She felt as if she'd faint if it continued much longer. Seeking comfort, her other hand found Ty's. Surprisingly, he gripped hers just as tightly. He had been shaking as hard as her, but they both calmed as they held onto each other.
The Dons handed the ball over next, sending Chris up the middle, as he burrowed ahead and to the left. It turned into a bit of a scrum as the Eagles stood him up, clawing at the ball. The Dons pushed back, helping Chris trudge forward until Fale got a hand in, almost ripping the ball away. Chris fell on top of it, and the play ended after the Dons got another 4 yards closer.
That was too close for comfort, however. So Jay kept the ball on the next play, shuffling along behind his Line, who did a better job of forming around him, protecting him. Even JJ and Chris came up, keeping the Eagles off him as they drained more clock and adjusted the spot of the ball within the hashes to give their Kicker a better angle.
They lost a yard on the play, but had done their job. Again they let the clock tick and waited til there were only six seconds left before calling timeout.
The crowd had deflated, all hope lost as the Dons waited out the break, kicking team prepped and ready. Interestingly, Fale didn't leave the field for the timeout. He stood there, staring at nothing. Even when the Eagles' special teams unit emerged he stayed there, forcing one of their number back to the sideline.
JJ rushed out alongside the kicking team, sending one of the usual blockers back to the sideline as well. If Fale was going to block the kick, it was his job to stop him. But Fale wasn't the only one trying to block the kick, there were more rushers than blockers as was the case with every attempt. That's what happened when you needed someone to catch the ball and another to kick it. So JJ had to take out Fale AND another Eagle at once.
His heartbeat rung in his ears like a bell as he squatted low, preparing himself. The universe held its breath. Then the ball was snapped.
JJ lunged outside, sending the slimmer Eagle far around the edge before he dove back in and slammed against Fale, slowing his breakthrough. Fale pushed on, shoving JJ back. He lunged, raising a hand, and JJ shoved with all his might. He could feel Benny and the rest of the Dons pushing with him. Their strength swelled in him. He roared, knocking Fale aside and sending him crashing.
The kick passed over them, flying above outstretched hands unabated. End over end it rolled through the air. The only thing in the universe to everyone who could see it.
It drifted, leaning right. Flying, drifting, wobbling … and it skirted past the inside of the goalpost.
Whistles shrieked, people screamed and cried. The Dons won. 24–21.