For once that game, a kickoff resulted in a touchback. People were still finding their seats after the break, so the boos that announced the Dons' offence were the quietest they had been; it was a comfort the boys knew wouldn't last.
'Let's give 'em something to boo about when they get back,' Stephen said as the Dons' huddle dispersed.
The boys lined up, smiling in the face of those hungry Tigers. Jay called for the snap, and handed the ball to Chris, who shot up the middle.
The Tigers' defensive wall bent but didn't break, and Chris fell only a couple of yards forward of the Line. Running was still a struggle despite the break. The Tigers were still stacking the box, playing to stop the run, begging the Dons to go deep over the top.
In the huddle, Cole and Jay shared a look. If the Tigers were so adamant, the Dons would give them what they asked for. Cole kept his jitters inside, invisible, as they lined up.
Wallace wasn't guarding Cole directly, but he was the most dangerous defender on that side of the Tigers' zone. Cole hoped he was still flying under the Tigers' radar. Working alongside Stephen had its benefits.
The ball was snapped. Cole burst forward, Amon snaked out behind him. After a few steps, Cole slanted inward. Across the field, Stephen broke out towards the middle of the field. The Receivers seemed to be converging, and Cole hoped to get lost in the shuffle, just for a second. Eyes shifted to Stephen. Cole cut back outside, fading down the sideline.
The Sluggo route worked perfectly as Cole slipped in behind the defence. Jay lobbed the ball over, dropping it in just where the Safety couldn't reach it. Cole caught the pass, dragged his feet, and was shoved out of bounds and into the Dons' bench, 16 yards downfield.
'Ayyy. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!' Deshaun said, slapping Cole on the back. 'Get that shit, Cole.'
The Dons enthusiastically shoved him back onto the field, giving the nearest Tiger a collective stink-eye. Some even turned to glare at the booing crowd.
After that, Cole definitely had the defence's attention. Amon took advantage of the lack of focus on him during the next play. He slipped in under Cole again, pulling away from the defence for a quick gain of 5 underneath.
The Dons didn't forgo their huddle, but they hurried to the Line afterwards, wanting to keep the Tigers off-balance seeing as they had them on the ropes.
Cole's speed was already a worry for the Tigers—paired alongside Stephen's height it was a lethal combination. The DBs backed off after the snap, watching and waiting, not knowing who the next target could be.
Cole raced ahead, and snapped off a Curl, running back to the ball, and securing the catch. He spun back around, darting ahead for an extra yard or two, keeping the gain at 10, and securing another first down for the Dons, as well as bringing them comfortably across half-field.
The Dons were fighting back, cutting through the wave of noise trying to keep them down, and pushing the Tigers closer towards their end-zone. Despite the early success, things quickly grew tense on the sideline. Could they finally finish the job?
To do so, Coach Long believed they'd need support from EVERYONE, regardless if Cole was the driving force. He called up a Draw for Chris, running him up the middle into the teeth of the Tigers' defence.
The deception worked for a moment—but with the Tigers' aggressive blitzing, a moment was all they needed—giving Chris plenty of space to charge ahead, cutting through the defence for a 6-yard gain.
The Dons rallied around Chris, helping him back to his feet and then the huddle. If he could keep up those strong, determined runs, they'd smash through the Tigers' defence and in for a touchdown eventually. It was just a matter of time.
They wouldn't test their luck by trying to force things on the ground. They just had to pepper a few runs throughout their drive to keep the Tigers' defence honest.
After the boys were lined up, Jay called for the snap, eyes scanning the field. Amon's Out was covered, and Stephen was still drawing a lot of attention. Benny helping the D-Line took away another option. His eyes fell on Cole. Was the defence closing in on him? Frowning, Jay looked away. He couldn't keep forcing it to Cole either, he had to spread the ball around and make the Tigers fear any Receiver. He found Chris on a check-down.
Chris caught the ball, turning upfield. He scampered ahead, earning another chunk of yards. Importantly, the Dons secured another first down, bringing them closer to the end-zone. But the Dons weren't comfortable about the extended range if it came down to a field goal.
Jay was focused on Cole as the huddle formed. Once they were close enough, Jay asked: 'Yo … were they in man…?'
Cole frowned, glancing over to the Tigers' huddle. They were closer, but maybe he'd just run into their zones. Looking back at Jay, he shook his head. 'I don't think so.'
Jay nodded. He listened to and relayed Coach Long's play call, but before breaking the huddle he had his own message. 'We gotta keep calm. … If we keep moving forward … little by little we'll get a … touchdown and show them … the Don way.'
Grins flashed under the nearby helmets. The Dons dispersed from their huddle, taking up their formation. Cole watched the Tigers closely. Had they switched to man but were hiding it?
The ball was snapped. Cole burst forward, shimmied out, and then darted in. Amon was going deep, either one of them should've been distorting the zone for—
#20 surged in front of Cole, blocking off his Slant completely. Jay's eyes widened with alarm. That was definitely man, and they weren't being subtle about it anymore, if they ever had. His eyes searched beyond Cole to Amon, but even his Go route was covered over the top. Across the field, Stephen was still covered, and even Chris had to stay in as extra protection against a heavier blitz.
Jay groaned before hurling the ball far above Stephen's head, sending it out of bounds. First down ticked away and the Dons were exactly where they had been at the start of it, only facing a tougher obstacle. In the huddle, Cole confirmed what he already knew—#20 was definitely in man coverage, even if he was the only one.
Wallace returned to the Tigers' huddle, a slight smile curling one corner of his mouth up. It wasn't much of a gamble, but there was always a hint of danger whenever a defender disregarded their orders. It had taken a moment, but it was clear the Dons had shifted their focus offensively. If he could take out their main target, they'd be suffocated, and the threat would be quelled.
Cole shot ahead on a Stop'n'Go during the next play. Even with Stephen drawing attention in the middle of the field, Wallace was all over Cole, taking care to cut off the deep ball.
Jay found Amon underneath, but the Tigers quickly contained him, keeping the gain to a minimum at 4 yards. A small chunk, but on second down it just wasn't enough.
Tensions spiked as the Dons faced third down, still on the outer edges of field goal range. A familiar position that carried only bad memories that game.
Coach Long paced up and down the sideline. 'Stay calm and think your way through it,' he muttered. His words were both a prayer for Jay, and a reminder to himself. There had to be a weakness to the Tigers' defence, even with the new wrinkle #20 showed.
Jay came up under Center for the snap, breathing deep and calm as he scanned the silent field. It was a heavy, foreboding silence, spelling doom for one team. Gulping, he took the snap.
Cole shot inside, slanting out of the gates for a few steps. Wallace came down quickly, but didn't commit all the way. Cole turned up, and Wallace stayed with him, even when Cole shimmied then veered towards the outside, Wallace was all over him.
Amon underneath wouldn't get enough, they needed more yards. Another strong blitz kept Benny and Chris locked up, meaning Jay's last option was Stephen. He flung the ball over just as Stephen hooked into his Curl. The pass was up high, just where Stephen liked them.
Hands came up to meet the ball. One of the three chopped Stephen's arms away, jarring the ball loose from his grip. It tumbled to the floor, incomplete.
The crowd cheered fanatically, drowning out the Dons disappointment. Jay kept his head up as they trudged off the field. Should he have found a different target? Maybe Amon could've got the first down. Unfortunately, needing more targets altogether seemed the most correct assessment.
As the Dons sat back on the bench, consternation was buffered by focus. They were close to the secret, and just needed another tweak or two before they could break through. Cole was determined to figure it out before they had to go back out on the field.
The kicking unit took the field, setting up and preparing for the long attempt. Thankfully, the Dons had cut it down to just under 50 yards. It was still a tough kick, but much more manageable. The crowd did their utmost to throw the Kicker off his game; he did his best to block them out.
The ball was snapped, caught, planted, and booted. The motion was smooth, unbroken, without hitches. Everyone held their breath as the ball sailed through the air. The Kicker leaned, watching it curve as it tumbled end over end. It skipped off the right post … it was IN.
A dejected crowd was met by overjoyed cheers from the Dons' bench as their first points of the game ticked onto the scoreboard. 3–13. It was still a two-possession game, but any score was a step in the right direction.
Elliot and the Tigers' offence hoped to widen the lead further with their next drive. First, the kickoff. Coach Long, even whilst celebrations were still ongoing, reminded the Kicker to thump the ball with all he had; they couldn't give up another penalty off a shocking bounce, not when they finally had the momentum.
Despite the effort, the kick didn't clear the back of the end-zone. Wallace, after getting a nod from Elliot, fielded the ball deep in the end-zone and ran out, following Elliot's lead. The Dons swarmed, but the pair of Tigers picked their way through, and a timely block from Elliot kept the path clear for Wallace who was tripped up at 33-yard line.
Wallace picked himself up, strutting to the sideline. He'd never feel the "guidance" Elliot felt, but it was always his gamble to follow the crazed boy's suggestions during the kick returns.
The Tigers' offence joined Elliot on the field. Ty was out of his seat quickly once the dust had settled over the kick return. The Dons' staff watched him saunter on the field, all with varying stages of anxiety from Bella's nail-chewing, to Coach Long's thumping heart, all the way to Coach Hoang's near calm.
'Keep the momentum going, Samuels,' Coach Hoang said, watching the boys filter past.
Ty glanced back over his shoulder, grinning. It was an unnerving grin even towards an ally; Coach Hoang could only imagine how an opponent must feel standing across from that.
Elliot met Ty as both teams took their formations. Elliot's gaze flickered across the Dons, searching for changes. His eyes narrowed as he spotted JJ's marking the TE. 'Logan worries you that much?' Elliot said. 'That'll help his confidence.'
'Why does confidence matter?' Ty asked. 'Isn't it up to your gods? Or do they only shine upon you?'
A dangerous glimmer rippled across Elliot's eyes. He composed himself with a deep breath, and smiled down at Ty. 'They shine upon us all. Some more than others, but They are always present, you just have to be open to Their guidance.'
Ty nodded along as if he was paying attention. 'Uh-huh, yeah. So does this "guidance" stuff or whatever say you won't score again?'
Elliot chuckled. 'It's guidance, not premonition … but if I follow their guidance, I WILL score again.'
'Hm. So those gods of yours can be wrong, huh?'
Elliot glared down at Ty. The gleam had returned, staying rather than vanishing as quickly as a puddle's ripple. At the snap, he surged forward, slamming into Ty. Ty's cleats sticking in the turf was the only thing that saved him from getting thrown on his ass. Instead, he skidded back, tearing up the turf as the Tigers tried another run.
The result was the same as it had usually been in the first half. 1 yard was all they gained on the ground. They didn't seem to care about the result much, it was more about the message, the reminder—the Tigers weren't going away. If the Dons lapsed for a second the Tigers would ram the ball down their throat.
They weren't about to overdo it, however. The next play they went back to the air, and Elliot continued his duel with Ty. He was cautious at first, stuttering forward, watching and observing Ty again.
Ty backed off, flowing with the tentative feints, easily covering Elliot's Post route. It wasn't a satisfying victory. He knew Elliot was holding back. Somehow, when Elliot's eyes were open, he was holding back, and only got serious once they were closed. He was by far the strangest Receiver Ty had ever covered.
Elliot must've been looking for adjustments coming out of the half, but why would he need to see them himself? Couldn't "they" guide him? Ty couldn't get distracted by the strangeness. It didn't matter; his job didn't change.
JJ stuck with Logan, on his Drag underneath, covering him and taking away the Tigers' safety valve. He glanced across the field, feeling good about the Dons' position. If the Tigers tried to force it into their star, Ty would eat them alive.
But Travis knew Elliot wasn't running with full effort, knew he wanted the first pass play to ascertain how Tyrese had changed, if he'd changed at all; Travis was looking elsewhere. He launched the ball deep across the field, targeting Deshaun's Receiver.
It was a high jump ball, a fifty-fifty that either Tiger or Don could've come down with, but before either of them could make their leap, they got tangled up, and crashed. The ball fell harmlessly, and the boys hurriedly untangled themselves, shoving and jawing at one another. A flag fluttered through the air. Deshaun stared in disbelief as he was called for DPI.
'Again!?' Deshaun exclaimed. 'Y'all are fuckin' with me at this point.'
JJ moved in swiftly, grabbing Deshaun and dragging him back to the huddle. His jaw was clenched tight. He knew it was a bullshit call—all the Dons thought so—but the fans and Tigers were overjoyed by the decision.
The foul moved the Tigers up 22 yards, pushing them past half-field in one go. Scowls marred every face in the Dons' huddle. Bullshit or no, they weren't about to let the Tigers get another inch.
Ty stomped over to Elliot, scowl cutting deep into his face. 'Why do you need to watch me so closely if those gods of yours give your all the answers?'
Elliot scrunched up his face. Obviously, his faith was a sore spot. He sighed, taking the question in good faith. 'The signs are always different,' he said. 'It takes time to learn what to look for.'
Ty growled. Elliot hadn't taken the bait. Forcing a mistake wouldn't be easy, but he'd get it done whatever it took. He didn't need any tricks.
The ball was snapped. Elliot shot forward, pushing through Ty's press. A stutter bought some space, but he continued onwards on his Stop'n'Go. Ty was all over him again.
Deshaun smothered a Curl. Logan tried to slip in behind it with a Corner, but JJ was there, meeting the ball in the air, slapping it out of Logan's hands as they tumbled over the sideline; there was no flag on the play.
After the whistle, Ty bumped chests with Elliot. 'You can't run from me forever. Your teammates can't carry you. Not even with your bullshit luck. I told you it would run out.'
'Even someone as stubborn as you will learn, Tyrese.'
The two went their separate ways. The Dons were still locked in during the huddle; congratulating JJ was the only chatter they allowed.
Lining up, their formation moved closer in, smothering the Tigers from the snap. Elliot fought through Ty's press again, pushing him off to the outside as Travis slipped the ball to the RB. A Draw.
The deception, even with JJ focused on Logan, didn't work well enough. It earned the Tigers' 3 yards, prolonging their struggles on the ground, pushing them to third down. Ty's down. It was showtime, the first proper duel of the second half, the one that would set the tone for the rest of the game.
Ty said nothing as he and Elliot lined up. Elliot took a deep breath, and finally his eyes fell closed as the ball was snapped. Elliot raced forward, batting aside Ty's spear again.
Ty backed off again, teeth trying to puncture his mouthguard as he watched and followed Elliot. Every other Tiger would be covered, he knew the ball was coming his way, he just had to figure out where Elliot was going.
Elliot cut out, zagging that way for a step before continuing forward. Ty's hips opened to the sideline. Another deep shot was on the way. Elliot's favourite, and something they'd expect him to overlook because of the last feint deep. Elliot stopped on a dime, cutting back to the ball.
The ball landed in Elliot's hands, his eyes opened again, he spun around, but Ty was already upon him, wrapping him up and dragging him down to the turf.
The reception was good for 9 yards and a first down. Elliot stood, dusting himself off with a small smile. 'Their guidance prevails, as always.' He was surprised by Ty's reaction.
Ty stood, not erupting with fury. There was a quiet, unsettling calm to him. He couldn't keep the smile from his face. He turned away from Elliot, glancing back over his shoulder, letting the Tiger see his smile, wonder about its meaning.
"Can you tell I've figured you out? Your mine."
Ty took the blame without pause in the Dons' huddle. 'It's my fault,' he said, 'but it won't happen again. I've got him.'
His voice was missing its usual bravado when he declared he'd lock his opponent up, and they'd never sniff the ball again, let alone touch it. He was serious. The next play was the test for if he was deluded or not.
Ty enjoyed the hesitant fear he saw in Elliot's eyes the next time they stood before one another. When Elliot shut his eyes, it was like he was cowering at Ty's mere presence.
Ty shot back at the snap, following Elliot's charge again. Elliot raced out of the gates. Again everyone would be covered, the ball HAD to go their way. He danced 10 yards out, feet tapping frantically along the ground. He hitched forward, and to the outside, Ty backed off a step, then Elliot shot in, all tension leaving his body. Ty jumped ahead. Elliot's eyes shot open with alarm.
Travis shot the ball over, trying to pull it back at the last moment. It threw his aim off, perhaps another piece of luck as the ball trailed behind Elliot. He twisted, reaching for it. Ty, out of position, dove across him, stretching out. It was all he could do to bat the ball down. Another chance had gone begging through no fault of his own. The one time the QB threw a duck, Ty was counting on precision.
Raising to his knees, he exhaled, expelling his frustration. It didn't matter. He'd found the secret. Another chance would come, and he'd get the interception.
The ball was snapped again. Ty's spear slanted off Elliot's shoulder as he surged outside, staggering him. That was another hint Ty tucked away in his mind; Elliot was rattled. He recovered quickly, however, and raced down the sideline 10 yards before twisting back. Ty slowed but didn't jump the gun. Not yet. Elliot turned back around, continuing his vertical route, his body slackening for a moment. But as soon as he felt Ty's presence still right on his hip, he went taut, and his eyes opened.
Travis lobbed the ball over, still trusting in Elliot to win the fifty-fifty, not knowing it wasn't a fifty-fifty at all. Ty turned as Elliot did, hands raised. Elliot stretched over, arm blocking Ty's vision for a moment. The ball spiked into Ty's hand and bounced off before he could clamp around it. His spear thrust out again, knocking the ball away from Elliot after it'd almost fallen straight into the Tiger's lap. Another incompletion that should've been an interception, which luck had tried to turn into a completion.
The Tigers were on third down again, though Ty had doubts if they'd come his way again. Perhaps their trust in Elliot was already shaken, perhaps they thought they'd be more "lucky" elsewhere. All he could do was dominate Elliot and watch how the ball fell.
Elliot's eyes were already closed by the time Ty returned from the Dons' huddle. Ty didn't need to see his eyes to know the fear was growing. Elliot's breathing was shakier. He was ripe for the picking.
The crowd was desperate, though could only watch in silence so as not to disrupt the Tigers' snap count. Travis took the ball, instantly looking away from Elliot. Once again Elliot pushed to the first-down marker then made his cut. He stuttered left and right—Ty mirrored—then zigged out before zagging back in, unable to shake Ty.
Travis was searching for a different target, aiming beyond Elliot. He stepped forward and hurled the ball out, targeting Logan on a deep Post. A hand shot up from the D-Line, batting the ball early, sending it far off course as it wobbled through the air.
Elliot shot towards the falling ball as if caught in a tractor beam. It fell as if in slow-motion. Ty followed Elliot's lead, sprinting ahead. Just as Elliot lunged out for the ball, Ty slammed into his side, knocking him off course. Ty dove at the last moment, hands tucked under the ball. His fingers were ice, and the ball stuck to them like a tongue to frozen metal.
He slid along the turf, curling around the ball. Before he could scramble up, another Tiger fell atop him. It didn't matter. The ball was his. He had his interception. Elliot—and the Tigers with him—were finished.