The interception, having landed in the end-zone, resulted in a touchback, but with the way the crowd celebrated you'd have thought it was a touchdown for the Tigers.
Jay trudged off the field, watching the Tigers' flaunting. #20 was at the heart of it. Both sides exited the field, heads hung on the Dons' side, spirits raised on the Tigers'.
After reaching the bench, Jay contemplated what went wrong. Whereas #20 and the Tigers' celebration found a second wind.
'That was marvellous, spectacular!' The Tigers' Head Coach announced. 'You've done it again, Wallace.'
'Thanks, Coach Barnum,' Wallace said.
Wallace, #20, had a long pasty face, one that would easily redden. His dirty blond hair was messy and long on top, and at the back, but both sides were shaved down with two zig-zagging lines racing through them.
Jay watched him. He should've been covering underneath Amon, in case his Out became a Comeback or some other hooking route. Or even just to watch the flat if Chris or someone else provided a check-down. Instead he'd peeled away from his coverage and raced back to cover Stephen's route. Wasn't that just a gamble? If Jay saw it, Amon would've been open. The Safety could've stopped him, but only after he got the first down.
Tunnel-vision, was that it? Maybe Jay had been staring down Stephen, telegraphing the play. Maybe the Tigers just knew the signs, had been singling it out in their film. He had to keep his eyes open, head on a swivel. Easier said on the bench, than done on the field with a LB about to sack him.
'Keep your heads up, boys,' Coach Long said, patting each member of the offence on the head as they sat down.
'Learn from the mistake and put it behind you, that's how we do.' Coach Norman said.
The game ticked back over to Ty vs Elliot as the Tigers' offence, and Dons' defence made their ways onto the field.
Ty was annoyed with the offence's mistake, but that "three" on the scoreboard for the Tigers held more of his ire. It didn't worry him, of course not, it was a fluke. They only got those points because of their ridiculous starting position. Now that they were starting at the 25, a much more reasonable position, they wouldn't score at all. They never would again, not for the rest of the game.
Electricity was in the air as Ty stood before Elliot, the crowd expecting the lead to grow. Ty was there to ensure it only grew in the opposite direction. 'Enjoy those three points,' he said to Elliot, staring at him blankly, 'they're the last you'll get.'
'From the looks of it,' Elliot said, without even a hint of amusement, 'they're all we'll need.'
The ball was snapped, Elliot pushed forward, but Ty kept his balance and covered the Slant. Travis went the other direction with the ball, hitting another Receiver on a quick Screen. Deshaun and the rest of the Dons were quick to react, bursting around it and stopping the play after only 4 yards.
Ty kept glaring at Elliot as they separated to their teams' huddles. "Last points you'll need. As if we won't score? I'll score more than three points myself!" Even if he had to do it by causing a fumbling and recovering it himself, he'd get a touchdown and would personally outscore the Tigers if that's what it took to beat them.
On second down, the Tigers continued their struggles on the ground with an outside run that only earned a yard before Donte dragged the RB down. They'd have to pick up the first through the air. The exact scenario Ty thrived in.
After the snap, Elliot rushed forward, hands before his chest like two meaty shields to catch a spear Ty never threw. Ty backed further off, watching. Elliot was strong, his hands hit like hammers, and he was good against the press. But Ty didn't need to press him to beat him.
The yards flashed by underfoot as Elliot continued onward. He passed the first-down marker and drifted, almost floating there. The moment stretched on as Ty watched closely. They were both watching each other. Which way would Elliot shoot? Which way would Ty bite? Inside.
Ty followed like a shadow, overlapping Elliot. There was no window available; Travis had to look elsewhere. But there were no easy targets, all he saw was a shot over the top, taking Deshaun deep. Zayden was lurking, and it'd be a tight throw but maybe …
He over shot it, launching the ball into the Tigers' bench. The coverage was too tight, the risk of an interception too great. Fourth down came, and the Tigers would have to punt.
Ty stalked back to the bench, feeling only mild satisfaction whereas the rest of the defence was elated with their stand. Of course it was good, and the first step to keeping the Tigers at three points, Ty just felt as if he could've done more. Plus he didn't like the way Elliot was looking at him, analysing him.
"He'll be looking for a weakness all game, and he won't find one before those sixty minutes are over. I have no weaknesses." Ty was faster, cleaner, better. Elliot might've been stronger but that strength was negligible, easily nullified compared to someone like Fale. Yet Elliot didn't appear to have any gaps either … still, he didn't have a spark of anything special.
The Tigers' punt was a solid kick, neither booming nor underwhelming, pushing Chris back to his 22-yard line. Chris waited under it as it hung in the air, drifting. It plummeted in front of the lights, he was dazzled for a second. The ball hit his arm and spilled free before he could clasp it. He blinked away dizziness and lunged forward, diving on top of the loose ball as Tigers pounced, thudding into him, but thankfully not capturing the ball.
Chris had recovered, but the muffed punt was just another sign that nothing was going right for the Dons. The game could flip on its head in just one play. Coach Long knew that as much as anyone, and while the fumble could've been a whole lot worse, he knew they were better than such mistakes. He shook his head, keeping his thoughts to himself as the offence stalked onto the field.
'Were we too slack in training after last week?' Coach Norman asked. 'Looks like they're not taking it seriously enough after the shutout.'
'I don't think it's that,' Coach Long said. 'These boys have come too far to take it easy and start underestimating their opponents.'
'Then we need to figure out something.'
'Our luck will turn around. They just have to keep playing how they normally do.'
Coach Hoang looked at his fellow coaches, then back out onto the field—a run was stuffed for minimal gain, the Tigers throwing more numbers into the box, begging the Dons to throw. He hoped the boys hadn't let their success get to their heads. Maybe that would be preferable, however. It was something they could correct during the break. He feared the issue was much more dire; perhaps their luck had simply run out.
On second down, after the failed run, Jay and the Dons looked to pass. He dropped back, eyes swiping across the field, locking onto Cole. He saw Drake coming from the corner of his eye, leaning away, he flung the pass a step early. Even then it was under-thrown, spiking into the turf a few yards before Cole's feet. Rushing could lead to another interception, but at that point it felt like he had to rush or get sacked.
He just had to calm down and take a breath. It was third down, but they needed less than 10 yards, it was manageable. His teammates had his back, Stephen had his back.
The huddle was full of apologies and assurances before the play call came through. The coaches recognised the need for quick plays, and thought speed was the key to breaking through the Tigers consistently. Quick short plays had been successful the first time around.
Jay dropped back again, Chris staying in the backfield as extra protection to buy another second. Jay shifted calmly, scanning the field. He found Stephen, fired the ball over to hit him in stride on a Slant. It wouldn't get them all the yards they needed immediately, but if Stephen could bust through and drag his defender along for a couple of yards they'd have the first.
The ball never reached its target. The pass had been on the money, about to hit Stephen's chest before the defender's arm snaked around and slapped it out of the air. It had been too early. Stephen needed more time to get into a dominant position and seal out his defender completely. Even with the additional blocker, that felt like time Jay didn't have.
Both teams had traded three-and-outs. The Dons' punting unit hurried onto the field as the offence sulked off, frustration evident on their faces. Coach Long hid a frown behind his hand as he welcomed the boys back to the bench, telling them to keep their heads up. It was his fault. He needed a better game plan. It looked like he and Coach Norman would have some time to come up with one, as the first quarter was drawing to a close, and most likely would during the Tigers' next drive.
But that meant there was still time for more misery to come the Dons' way. The punt was shanked, sliding off the side of the Punters' boot barely crossing half-field before it sailed out, once again setting the Tigers up with brilliant starting field position. The crowd made sure to let the Dons know they were revelling in the team's suffering.
'Oh come on,' Bella groaned. 'It's like we forgot how to play football.'
Ty glanced at her. Frustration was spreading throughout the team as mistakes piled on top of each other. For a three-point deficit, the game felt like it was getting out of hand.
He pulled his helmet on as he entered the field. It didn't matter what it felt like. Three points were just three points. All it took to change the outcome was one play. He could and WOULD be the one to change everything.
The one good thing the Dons had going for them—which didn't seem to have any hope of changing—was their dominance in stopping the Tigers' run game. As stubborn as the Tigers were, another run was shutdown for only a yard.
Attacking through the air was all the Tigers could do, opening up the risk of a counter-attack from Ty. Elliot was as calm as ever as the teams settled into their formations for the second play of the drive, clock ticking closer towards the end of the quarter.
Ty stared up at him. Both sets of eyes were alert and piercing, even as one blazed with fiery passion, and the other hid behind impassivity.
The ball was snapped, again Ty stayed just out of Elliot's reach, keeping him at a long arms-length. Elliot ran forward, eyes on Ty still as he reached his mark and stuttered, as if waiting for Ty to panic and jump one way or the other. Ty held his ground, and stuck with Elliot who burst forward.
A frown creased Ty's face as they raced along the sideline. Elliot and the Tigers had to know they couldn't threaten Ty deep. So what was the aim? Elliot was certainly covered that play, so Travis had to look elsewhere.
Deshaun duelled with his Receiver, keeping step for step with him as well. But Travis saw the best, if not the only, opening there and took his shot, firing the ball over just as the Receiver cut in.
Deshaun lunged forward, the Receiver did too, and both met the ball at the same time, falling to the ground, each boy with the ball in their grasp. Deshaun had it, trying to wrench it away as they tumbled over. Whistles shrieked just as Deshaun ripped the ball away from the Tiger, hoisting it high like a trophy. But before the Dons could run in and congratulate him, an official awarded the catch to the Receiver.
'That's some bullshit, man,' Deshaun said. 'You know I had that first.' He followed the official across the field, still making his case. 'I got the damn ball right here!'
'The Receiver had control of the ball when you both hit the ground, making him down by contact and ending the play before you ripped it away. It's the Tigers' ball so just leave it at that before you make problems for yourself, young man.'
'Fuck outta here with that noise that's—'
JJ grabbed Deshaun by the shoulders, pulling him away from the official. 'You'll get the next one, hermano.'
'I got that one. You know I did.'
'I know. And that's why I know you'll get the next one too.'
Deshaun bit his tongue, following JJ to the bench. The next one would have to wait for the second quarter; there wouldn't be another play until then.
Ty returned to the bench, grinding his teeth. The decision was bullshit. Everyone knew that should've been Deshaun's ball. The crowd didn't care, they loved the shit the officials served up to them. And the Tigers weren't upset about it either.
Everyone was conspiring against the Dons. Ty thudded into his seat, glaring across the field at the Tigers' bench. It'd make beating them all the sweeter, seeing everyone's heartbreak afterwards.
Coach Hoang sighed. 'Get that scowl off your face, Samuels. I thought you knew better than anyone how much the refs favour offence.'
Ty huffed like a bull, sitting back. His hands, resting in his lap, trembled. Bella couldn't tell if they were shaking with rage or nerves. It didn't look like Ty could either, if he was even aware of the motion.
Coaches Long and Norman put their heads together. The offence needed to work quickly, but without rushing. The Tigers had good pressure, perhaps a new blitzing strategy? Their pass rush hadn't seemed so deadly on film. Then again, it was always different on the field.
'That shouldn't be a problem,' Coach Long said. 'The Eagles gave us a good test against the blitz. We'll have Benny chip in again. That should buy Jay more time to find a target, and more time for the boys to get open.'
'What about the interception?' Coach Norman asked.
'We keep things short. We don't need to take big risks like that.'
'You don't think that'll make our offence too predictable?'
'We'll see how it goes in the next quarter. If Jay has time to see everything, he'll make the right call. We just need to find the sweet spot between rushing and dragging.'
Jay rested his head back, closing his eyes. Being a leader sure did come with a heavy workload. The things he did for family.
Coach Hoang had few notes during the break. As the defence walked back onto the field to start the second quarter, he reminded them to keep calm and play with discipline. They were the better team, they just had to keep playing like it and everything would fall in place.
Ty stalked onto the field, taking his position before Elliot. He was better than the Tigers. He was the best. He just had to remind everyone of that fact. His inactivity during most of the Warriors game had made them forget.