Coach Long looked at every boy. Most didn't meet his eyes. Some that did weren't really looking at him—they were looking at something only they could see, something that would get them "locked in" as he'd heard them say.
He wished his hand wasn't shaking just as badly under all of theirs. He should've been the pillar that held them strong, the resolute, unshakeable foundation they could lean on. But he was just as nervous as they were.
'It's okay,' he said, as much to himself as to them. 'Nerves are good. It means you're passionate and what you're about to do is important. The one thing it doesn't mean is fear. We've got nothing to fear, because we've all got each other's backs. I know I've said this a lot, but I'll keep saying it because it's true—I'm damn proud of you boys, and no matter what happens when we go out there, that won't ever change. I know we'll win today. I'll do my best to guide you boys to victory, but I know it's in your hands. And that's alright, because I believe you're the best team there is. Why? Because there isn't a more cohesive unit in high school, definitely not that I've seen. Because you're family.'
The boys echoed the word, and Coach Long shut out some tears before continuing.
'And you know what? I want you to make some good out of that stupid brawl we got into at New Year's. I want you to go out there, and remember what it was like when you saw your brothers being attacked. When you're out there, whoever stands in your way on that field, that's what they'll be doing, attacking your brothers. Are you going to let them get away with that?'
'Hell nah!'
Coach Long smiled. 'Because we protect our family. Family on three. One, two, three—'
'FAMILY!'
Fists were thrown into the air, then helmets were slammed onto heads. The Dons marched out of their room, and down the tunnel, accelerating the further they went. They ran into the light and were almost flung back from the noise that hit them.
The stadium was packed; there was hardly a free seat remaining. Ty had never experienced such noise. It was much different from being up there, part of the roar. Down on the field, it was like a solid force pushing you back.
The Dons faltered and froze, staring up at the massive crowd. JJ marched onward, clearly fazed, but still moving forward, fists clenched tight by his side. Ty pushed through, joining him. He soaked in the moment, inhaling deeply. The smell was familiar but different. There was popcorn, hotdogs, beer, sweat, and the artificial scent of the turf, almost like cut grass. But … all of it had a distinct tinge to it, like the bright lights of Allegiant Stadium had given it all a slightly burnt, crispy flavour. Was this what the big leagues felt like? They were in an NFL stadium after all.
JJ pumped a fist in the air, and another blast of noise hit them. He led the surge, and Ty followed right behind him, both boys pulling the rest of their team along as they all found their feet and began running again.
They charged onto the field, with the Eagles waiting for them. The Eagles gave the Dons a passing glance before turning to each other. They were huddled around, but soon knelt, and bowed their heads in prayer.
Ty sneered as the Dons crowded around the centre of the field, staring all around. He spat on the Raiders' logo before the team turned away and started a lap around the field. All the surrounding Dons were star-struck.
Coach Long gathered the team on the sideline again, tried to tell them it was just a game like any other, that they shouldn't worry about the crowd and should just block it out; a message that was hard to take serious when you could barely hear it because of said crowd.
After warmups were completed, the representatives were sent out for the coin toss. Ty didn't get the invite that game, as JJ, Benny, and Jay went to meet Joseph Fale and the Eagles.
Fale was flanked by an even larger Eagle, and a boy that looked like he had a face ripped straight from an eagle. But even they weren't as imposing as the Samoan.
JJ thrust his hand forward first, and Fale grasped it immediately. Each man stood their ground, but the earth seemed to rumble underneath them. Even Jay's drowsy eyes opened wide as he watched the interaction. What shocked him and Benny was that Fale seemed the more impressive of the two. They hoped that was just because they were familiar with and USED to JJ's domineering presence.
The Eagles had the call of the toss, and elected for tails; winning, they chose to defer, and the Dons returned with the unfortunate news.
Ty sat back, sighing. Waiting that extra bit longer was always annoying. It felt like a tease after getting pumped up for the beginning of the game, only having to crash from that high because your game didn't actually start after kickoff.
He sat in silence as the team prepared for kickoff. The crowd chanted and cheered, the voices in favour of the Eagles drowning those in favour of the Dons. How many had come to watch the "Dirty Dons" get their comeuppance after their New Year's antics? Ty did his best to block them out. It was the "calm" before the storm, however, with how much his leg was shaking, he knew he was in for one hell of a storm.
The kickoff ended in a touchback, the first proper touch, the first chance for conflict pushed back another minute; anticipation built upon itself, gorging like Ouroboros.
As the Dons' offence took the field, Coach Long pulled Benny aside. 'Remember to watch the Linebacker, Benjamin. Help your team and chip him when we pass.'
Benny nodded, keeping a calm exterior. He hurried out to join the others on the field, and soon took his position, standing directly opposite Joseph Fale, the man the Dons needed to contain if they wanted any hope on offence.
'Easy, boys, easy,' Jay said. He wasn't sure who heard him; the crowd was deafening. With how heavy the chants of "defence" were, the majority were there to watch the Dons lose. They'd have to disappoint.
'Set… hike!'
Both sides surged forward, the crowd roaring as play got underway. Benny squeezed Fale against the Line as the Dons lunged to the left; it was a run, stretching to the outside, away from Fale.
They hoped to use Chris's speed, and if they could avoid Fale and the big blockage in the middle of the D-Line, yards could flow. Unfortunately, that's not how it worked out.
The Eagles stacked the Line opposite Fale's side, matching the Dons' blockers and holding them in place. Reinforcements plunged down, plugging the hole before Chris could reach it. Chris slammed into the wall just as it collapsed on him, and the Dons' first play resulted in no yards.
The crowd was more excited than the Eagles themselves. They picked each other up, patted their teammates on the back, and hustled back to their huddle without an extra word or glance at the Dons.
Chris was helped to his feet, apologies were shouted under the whirlwind of noise, and the Dons reset. If a run wouldn't work, they'd just have to pass it. Coach Long's warning rang like a bell in Benny's head.
Fale didn't look at Benny; he had eyes only for Jay. He was hunched in a three-point stance—one hand against the ground—and had one clutching his chest. He looked simultaneously sombre and intense, and when the ball was snapped, he exploded forward.
Benny lunged inward, trying to block Fale off and pincer him against the Tackle. However, Fale wasn't going inside. He started that way, yes, but with a step as fast as a RB's cut, he lurched outside and was around a stumbling Benny, untouched.
Chris—set up on the other side of Jay—was in no position to stop Fale. Jay was unguarded, and there was a hundred kilo missile headed right for him.
With no time to throw the ball away, Jay curled around it, bracing himself for the hit as best he could. Getting hit by Fale was like having your world suddenly stop. Jay flew back and crunched into the ground. Fale damn near snapped him in half. And when Jay crashed, the ball wasn't in his hands anymore.
'FUMBLE!'
So many voices shouted the word at once that it lost meaning and became indecipherable. There was a mad stampede as everyone in the vicinity scrambled for the loose ball. Boys dove with no regard for their own bodies, only thinking about the game and recovering the ball for their team. When the officials finally excavated the five high stack, the Eagles had possession.
The Dons' first drive was cut short after just two plays, and with the recovered fumble, the Eagles started their drive already in the red-zone.
'Get out there and get the ball right back!' Coach Hoang yelled as the defence hurriedly pulled helmets on. 'Show them we can make turnovers too.'
As Ty and the defence ran onto the field, Jay was helped to the sidelines, though was trying to shrug off that help. 'I'm fine, dude. … Damn … ain't the first time I've been hit.'
Ty couldn't waste time worrying whether Jay was really fine or just soldiering on. The crowd was so loud it was hard to hear JJ recite the formation they were going with. They lined up man-to-man, stacking the box against the run.
'LET'S GO EAGLES! … LET'S GO EAGLES! … LET'S GO EAGLES!'
So they were cheering for the Eagles. That was fine; Ty didn't mind playing the villain. He hunched into his stance, matching up with his opponent. The Eagles Receiver before him, wearing number eighty-seven, was nothing to write home about. He was kinda lengthy, with a long nose behind his helmet, and a narrow face, almost like a snout. Even so, he didn't look down at Ty. He wasn't looking at Ty at all. Those dull eyes never acknowledged him. Ty would MAKE 87 look at him and FEAR him.
The crowd was silent as the Eagles prepared for their first play. A cry of "HUT!" pierced the air like a gunshot, and the teams shot forward. Ty slapped aside long arms. The Receiver was trying to block him—it was a run.
The Eagles bulldozed across the right side, their meatball RT—Elias—leading the charge, and Fale cut across to help. JJ slowed them, and the rest of the Dons reinforced the wall he made, but they could only stop the Eagles' RB after he'd gained 5 yards.
The Eagles weren't in any hurry to get back in their huddle, but they weren't lackadaisical either. They gave the Dons just enough time to soak in the crowd's cheers, to let them understand who those tens of thousands were there to see win.
The Dons reformed their ranks, and Ty took his position. Again he wasn't given a chance to prove himself against 87, as the Eagles battered through the Dons' line once more, picking up a first down on the ground, and bringing them within First & Goal.
'We gotta squeeze them,' JJ said in the Dons' huddle. 'Can't let them run all over us.'
Coach Hoang thought so too as the team moved even closer to the line. Zayden positioned more like a MLB, as if stepping in to JJ's usual spot whilst JJ marked Fale close.
The battle didn't seem overly one sided after those first two runs, but it was the RT who really swung the scale on the ground. If the Dons were to stop the Eagles' run game, JJ would need support.
Minimal chants for the defence fell to the field, almost fading before they could even reach any Dons' ears. The ball was snapped, and 87 finally jumped forward for a route.
Ty smothered him at the line of scrimmage. Holding him in check, Ty looked towards the QB and the ball; all eyes were on Fale.
Fale pushed through JJ's press, chopping away JJ's leverage and forcing him back with a shoulder as he barged inside. He curved as if going for a Drag or shallow In, then whirled around, as graceful as a ballerina. JJ scrambled after him as the In turned to an Out in the blink of an eye.
So close to the goal-line, a Receiver only needed a step of separation, and Fale had that. The ball was flung over. JJ dove, and Fale stretched, extended one stride with a perfectly timed leap. He dragged the ball in with a single hand and kept churning forward even as JJ hung from his hips. Deshaun rushed over, colliding with Fale, but he bounced off the massive TE.
Fale fell into the end-zone, and just like that, with hardly three minutes taken off the clock, the Eagles had taken the lead with a touchdown.