Friday, September 20, 2010
The sun was beginning to set behind the stands of the Monarchs' stadium.
It was Friday night in Santa Ana, and Mater Dei's stadium was at full capacity. Red and white flags waved in every corner, the school band's drums kept a steady rhythm, and the cheerleaders put on their show.
The loudest students filled the north section, painted head to toe in team colors, holding signs that read "In Andrew We Trust", "The drought ends this year", or "Our new Monarch King has arrived."
Although this wasn't Andrew's first game with Mater Dei, he had already played two preseason matches as starter, with a total of 9 touchdowns, over 600 passing yards, and only one interception, tonight was different.
This wasn't a friendly. This was the Trinity League, the toughest competition in all of California high school football. In fact, one of the top three hardest leagues in the entire country.
The atmosphere was electric with anticipation. Not just because it was his official league debut, but because of the legend Andrew had already begun to forge since summer.
Just a few months earlier, he had won the prestigious Dana Hills 7-on-7 summer tournament, leading Mater Dei with 41 touchdowns in 7 games. That performance, combined with his impressive preseason practices, had earned him the starting spot over senior Max Wittek, who already had a verbal commitment from USC.
For some, Coach Bruce Rollinson's decision was a risky gamble; for most, it was the masterstroke of the year.
At Mater Dei, meritocracy was everything. The program's history was full of examples, and everyone remembered Matt Barkley, who had started as QB from his freshman year, proving that age was no excuse when talent was undeniable.
Though Barkley was almost a unique case, very few freshmen ever started at Mater Dei, it was more common for sophomores or juniors to earn starting roles, not freshmen.
That's why most people trusted Bruce, a living legend at the institution. Andrew's summer performances and then the two dominant wins in preseason against strong schools more than justified the change.
Besides, Andrew wasn't an unknown. Many students were already fans of his YouTube channel, with over two million subscribers. Others, even if they weren't fans, had seen his videos at Palisades, where he had won six titles (two triples: league, section, and state) with more than 130 touchdowns.
Expectations couldn't be higher, fueled by the certainty that they were witnessing a special talent.
Of course, there were still some stray whispers in the hallways, some questioning whether it was right to start a junior over a senior who knew the system and was headed to USC. But by now, those voices were few and drowned quickly under the collective euphoria.
Tonight, everyone wanted one thing: for Andrew to prove that Rollinson's gamble wasn't just the right choice, it was inevitable.
In the tunnel leading to the field, Andrew stood at the very front, eyes fixed on the light streaming in from the entrance. Around him, teammates pounded their shoulder pads, clashed helmets, and shouted encouragements, while the roar of the stands rumbled above.
Andrew's brows were furrowed, not from nerves or adrenaline. Hours earlier, his uncle and aunt, Phil and Claire, had insisted on having the talk about the incident from almost a week ago.
Andrew had buried that incident. For him, it never happened, and unlike Haley, Alex, and Luke, who lived with them and had no choice but to endure that awkward talk, he had managed to avoid it.
But apparently, not for Phil and Claire. Worried it might affect his debut, they cornered him that same day.
It was an uncomfortable conversation, half joke, half pseudo-lesson about the "natural" side of sex. Andrew, following the advice he'd given his cousins, simply nodded and smiled to end it quickly.
What they didn't know was that the talk had brought back the image he had almost forgotten, now clearer than ever.
"Whatever…" he muttered to himself, shaking his head to drive the thought away.
"Everything good, man?" asked Nick, the starting running back, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
Andrew turned toward him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about some things."
"Nervous about the first official game?" Nick grinned confidently. "Don't worry, just play like always and we'll destroy them."
Nick usually wasn't so confident talking about the Trinity League. Believing in the team was one thing, but saying they'd "destroy" Orange Lutheran was another. However, ever since practicing and playing alongside Andrew, Nick had felt something new: easy wins against tough rivals. And that had given him blind faith in his quarterback.
A faith he never had when playing with Max last year.
"If you talk like that, it means you don't know Andrew well enough," said Sedric, the wide receiver, also a junior.
Nick gave him a playful look. "Oh yeah? Why's that?"
"Because he doesn't get nervous. What you're seeing is focus," Sedric replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Andrew gave a faint smile and patted Nick on the shoulder. "It's all good. We'll play like always."
He was a little surprised at his teammates' confidence, but it was logical given his performances.
The roar of the crowd swelled into a thunderous boom as the Monarchs stormed onto the field, led by Andrew and Kevin, the defensive leader.
Red fireworks burst across the sky as the band played the Mater Dei fight song.
On the opposite side, Orange Lutheran's entrance was far more subdued. Some of their players cast sharp, loaded glances toward Andrew, as if his very presence was a provocation. And, in a way, it was.
Even though he was about to play his very first official game in an elite division, Andrew was already the most famous and talked-about high school player in the country, thanks mostly to his YouTube channel.
He was also a five-star prospect on Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN. He had received over twenty invitations for official tours from Power Five universities. Sports media, from local newspapers to national networks, had dedicated full articles to his story.
The announcer, with a ceremonious tone, began the introductions:
"Wearing number 19… in his first official Trinity League game… Andrew Pritchett-Tucker!"
The ovation was deafening. The crowd chanted his name. Dozens of jerseys with the number 19 waved in the stands as cell phones recorded every moment.
Andrew noticed it all. He also read the banners in the north section declaring their trust in him, that the drought would end this year, and that he was the new Monarch King…
Online, the effect was just as overwhelming. Ever since the official season had kicked off, every Friday night game video on his channel had surpassed the last in views and comments, fans, casual viewers, and haters all glued to each upload.
Between the Mater Dei faithful, college scouts, social media, and his own family, the pressure was enormous. And yet, Andrew didn't feel intimidated.
If anything, this was the highest-pressure stage he had ever stepped onto, even more so than in his past life, when in Texas he had carried his team to the state final as a junior.
"And here our Monarchs!" exclaimed Jake, the lead commentator for the student broadcast.
Beside him at the desk sat Angelica, an 11th-grader at Mater Dei known for her sharp tactical knowledge of football. Shoulder-length blonde hair, red headphones resting over her ears, her eyes focused.
Angelica had a notebook open and a pen in hand, always ready to jot down stats.
"Tell me, Angelica… how many touchdowns do you think our star quarterback will throw today? I'm calling four!" Jake said with a wide smile. "His average is 4.5 in just two games! Unreal! If he keeps this pace, he'll blow Barkley's season out of the water, and if they don't give him the Gatorade State Player of the Year award, I'll personally file a complaint with Gatorade myself," he added, laughing.
Angelica arched an eyebrow.
"Gatorade award? That's a long way off, let the season play out first… And I think four touchdowns is a bit too optimistic, Jake. Sure, Andrew put up four and five scores, but let's not forget those were friendlies. This is an official Trinity League game… Orange Lutheran's defense isn't going to give anything away. For me, if he manages two or three touchdowns, that would already be a very good debut."
Barkley, Wittek, and other Trinity League QBs, even in their best seasons, averaged around 2–3 touchdowns per game. What Andrew was doing was clearly an anomaly, and Angelica didn't believe it could be sustained.
In fact, she was always cautious and realistic, so for her to say Andrew might put up three touchdowns in his debut was already bold, and still a very strong number.
Jake raised a hand in rebuttal, "True, those were friendlies… but the opponents weren't exactly weak. They were Division I programs, and one of them was a two-time section champion."
Angelica nodded slightly, keeping her measured tone, "Yes, but it's still not the same as facing a Trinity League rival. Here, every yard costs double, and the pressure is much greater."
"As calm and cautious as always," Jake muttered with a hint of amusement.
Meanwhile, Andrew moved toward the sideline, taking a moment to spot his family. In one of the best sections of the stands he saw Pippa, waving enthusiastically beside Cam, Mitchell and Lily. Gloria shouted and waved, Manny gave a thumbs-up, and Jay nodded subtly as if to say: It's your moment, kid.
Phil and Claire were there too with Alex and Luke.
But he didn't see Howard, Leonard, Haley, or Willa anywhere.
'Maybe they went to another section of the stands?' Andrew thought, after returning the wave to the rest of his family, scanning the stadium with his eyes.
That's when he spotted Madison, Mater Dei's cheer captain.
She had long, dark brown hair that fell softly over her shoulders, framing a face of delicate features and steady confidence.
She wore the Monarchs' uniform: a red-and-white sleeveless top with the letters MD across the front, a matching skirt, and a crimson bow tied into her high ponytail.
Madison locked eyes with him, offering a slight, confident smile, then raised her hand in greeting.
Andrew made a small grimace internally, but out of courtesy, returned the gesture with a brief nod.
Finally, the referee gave the signal and the game began with the opening kickoff. Andrew watched from the sideline as both special teams lined up for the first play.
Orange Lutheran received the ball, but Mater Dei's defense came out with intensity and precision.
Kevin, leading the defense, made sure Orange's offense never came close to the end zone. In less than five minutes, they lost possession, and now it was time for the home team's offense.
When Andrew stepped onto the field, the roar of the crowd was deafening.
First offensive drive. They needed to cover 45 yards for a touchdown. Four downs to advance at least 10 yards or they'd lose the ball.
"Set hut!" Andrew shouted as he took the snap.
He dropped back three steps with calm quickness and launched a 25-yard strike to Sedric. The ball sailed perfectly, grazing the fingertips of the cornerback and landing square in Sedric's chest. Sedric managed another 5 yards before being brought down.
The crowd erupted. First drive, and they'd already gained 30 yards in seconds. Just 10 more to go for the first touchdown of the night.
Andrew reset the offense and quickly had the ball back in his hands. Within two seconds, he fired it to Victor, who slipped into the end zone with the ball in hand.
"Touchdown! Second pass, this one for 15 yards! Victor only had to open his hands!" Jake shouted, leaping from his seat.
Mater Dei's cheerleaders exploded with screams, led by Madison, who shook her pom-poms with a wide smile.
In the VIP section, Pippa stood and clapped furiously, while Cam raised his arms and shouted with all his might. Mitchell tried to keep his composure… with little success. Jay and Claire exchanged a proud glance; Phil and Gloria celebrated together, clapping and yelling.
Alex, calmer, sat beside Luke, adjusted her glasses, and remarked, "And here begins the humiliation of a Trinity League team."
Luke bounced in place and exclaimed, "Of course it's Andrew!"
The two-point conversion was good. Orange's offense returned to the field, desperate to strike back—because if they failed here, it could turn into a real blowout.
But Kevin and the rest of the defense were locked in. They stopped Orange's attack cold after four minutes, just 20 yards from the Mater Dei end zone.
Andrew returned to the field. This time, the offense mixed runs and medium passes until they reached the opponent's 40-yard line.
Then, in less than a second, Andrew spotted a gap in the defense and exploited it, firing a 35-yard cross-field pass that Victor caught before sprinting the remaining yards for another touchdown.
Victor celebrated by lifting the ball high into the sky and then pointing at Andrew with a grin, as if to say, "This is more yours than mine."
Andrew's third touchdown came before the end of the second quarter.
At halftime, the scoreboard read:
Mater Dei 24 – Orange Lutheran 10.
Andrew already had 3 touchdowns, over 200 passing yards, and 0 interceptions. The stadium atmosphere was boiling over, the Monarchs smelled victory.
During the break, before the start of the third quarter, the north stands kept roaring as if the game had never stopped. Massive red-and-white flags waved nonstop, chants mixed with drums and whistles.
That was where the most fanatic students gathered: the ones who screamed until they were hoarse, jumped endlessly, and chanted after every play. Among them stood out a tall, broad-shouldered guy with no shirt. Painted across his chest and back in bright red spray paint was the number 19.
It was in that same section where Howard, Leonard, Haley, and Willa were sitting.
Howard, always looking for different angles for Andrew's YouTube video, had wanted to film from a more energetic section of the stands… though he hadn't expected it to be this wild. Every touchdown triggered a human avalanche: hugs, jumps, drinks flying through the air.
For the video, it was pure gold. The camera captured not only the game but the collective madness that had taken over Mater Dei.
Haley and Willa wasted no time joining in, their charisma and beauty drew immediate attention, and they had no shame in jumping, yelling, and singing along with the group. Within minutes they were chanting with the rest, high-fiving, and exchanging knowing smiles with the students around them.
Leonard, more reserved, tried to keep to himself, but the energy was contagious. Between the bouncing and the friendly shoves, he ended up with his hands in the air, shouting Andrew's name with the crowd.
Howard, meanwhile, kept recording every second. At one point, he walked up to the shirtless guy with the painted 19 and stuck a microphone in his face.
"Hey! Can I ask you a few questions?" Howard shouted, raising his voice above the chaos of the stands.
The guy turned around, looked him up and down, and arched a brow. Howard didn't look like a football fanatic at all, with the camera hanging from his neck and that total nerd vibe, he looked more lost than anything. Maybe the guy was judging him too quickly.
"Yeah, what's up, man?" the guy replied, in good spirits, carried away by the beating Mater Dei was handing out on the scoreboard.
"Are you a fan of Mater Dei, or of number 19 in particular?" Howard asked.
"Both! I've been following him on his channel for months. If he wins the section championship and brings it to Mater Dei, I swear I'm going to follow one of his diets and workouts… I'll lose weight just like he teaches!" the guy replied, sweating and smiling.
Howard burst out laughing and turned the camera toward himself, "Well, friend, just so you know, I'm Andrew's cameraman for the channel. So what you just promised… it's on record."
The guy's eyes widened in surprise, as if he had just realized he was talking to a hidden celebrity.
"You're the one who films the highlights?! That's awesome! Am I going to be in the week three video?!" he asked excitedly, while several of his friends crowded around after overhearing the conversation.
Howard smiled faintly, "Yeah, sure… but only if you give me permission to upload it. Keep in mind, if I put it up, your promise is going to be seen by more than a million people. That means, if Andrew wins the championship, you'll have the pressure to actually do it."
The guy threw his arms up as if accepting an epic challenge, "Challenge accepted! Upload it, man, no problem. I'll do it, I promise!"
His friends surrounded him with laughter and pats on the back. Some congratulated him like he had already won something, others joked that now he couldn't back out.
The third quarter began. Andrew didn't slow down.
In a few minutes, he managed another touchdown, this time with a first-down connection to Nick, another to Sedric, and finally a pass of over 20 yards to Victor, who finished the drive with a score.
Though he didn't get another touchdown in that quarter, he still drove the team close enough to set up the kicker, who nailed a field goal to extend the lead.
At the end of the third quarter, the scoreboard was clear:
Mater Dei 35 – Orange Lutheran 17.
Victory seemed only a matter of time. Double the points on the board, the clock ticking away, and Andrew firmly in control of the game.
But Orange wasn't ready to surrender without a fight. They were determined not to let it turn into an even bigger humiliation.
They managed to stop Andrew from throwing his fifth touchdown of the night, forcing Mater Dei to settle for a field goal instead, just 3 points instead of 8, since Andrew always went for the two-point conversion and never missed.
Orange then pushed forward, yard by yard, grinding out plays until they reached the Mater Dei 15-yard line.
That's when the Monarch defense responded. On fourth down, with Orange throwing everything into the attack, the red-clad linemen broke through and stuffed the running back. Turnover on downs. Possession changed hands.
Andrew and the offense entered the field facing a huge challenge: they were starting from their own 15-yard line.
That meant they had to march 85 yards to reach the opponent's end zone, a long, grueling drive, with the whole field ahead.
The clock showed barely two minutes left. The game was already decided on the scoreboard, and most of the crowd assumed the rest would just be routine plays.
Andrew lined up under center, called the snap, and on first down threw a short pass to Nick, who gained 8 yards before being tackled. Thirteen yards in total, a fresh set of downs, but still 72 yards to go.
On the next play, Andrew dropped back. One… two… three seconds. The offensive line was holding, but not for much longer.
At four seconds, Orange defenders broke through. Andrew slid laterally, dodging what looked like a sure sack, and at the last instant, he wound up his arm.
The entire stadium held its breath. Everyone knew what was coming. A deep ball.
The pass exploded out of his hand in a perfect spiral, soaring more than 60 yards through the air with immense power and uncanny precision.
Victor, who had read his quarterback's intent from the snap, was already sprinting full speed. With one eye on the sky and the other on the cornerback chasing him, he launched himself to the exact spot.
He caught the ball in full stride, without losing an ounce of speed. The crowd erupted in a deafening roar.
Only one defender was close, but Victor powered through the last ten yards with determination, accelerating across the goal line. Touchdown Mater Dei, a 60+ yard bomb from Andrew.
The scoreboard lit up again.
Rick, the offensive coach, exhaled in disbelief, "My God…" he muttered, hand on his forehead, shaking it as if trying to brush off the excess brilliance he had just witnessed.
Beside him, Bruce stood with arms crossed, silent. But on his face appeared something rare: the faintest of smiles.
On the field, Andrew raised his right arm from more than sixty yards away, pointing toward Victor.
Victor pointed back, then turned to celebrate with the crowd in the end zone.
The linemen, who just seconds earlier had sweated to give him those extra four seconds of protection, rushed to embrace him. The rest of the offense joined in, Nick was the first to leap on him with a slap to the helmet, followed closely by Sedric.
In the broadcast booth, Jake practically jumped out of his chair.
"Sixty yards through the air, Angelica! SIXTY! And I think it might even be a little more!"
Angelica, whose mouth had been half-open ever since the ball left Andrew's hand, finally caught her breath.
"Yeah… unbelievable. In his first league game, and already with five touchdowns… far beyond both my prediction and yours. I was wrong, but I'm glad I was wrong."
"That's what I like to hear! It's good to admit when you're wrong, and even better when it's like this!" Jake said, slapping the desk with his open palm.
Andrew nailed the two-point conversion, and when Orange returned to the field, they barely had time before the game came to an end.
Final Score: Mater Dei 46 – Orange Lutheran 17
Andrew: 5 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 370 passing yards.
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