Second Quarter
The whistle blew, and the players returned to the field.
Moose Ridge retained possession. They were on their own 55-yard line, with about 45 yards to go for a touchdown.
And they started moving. Play after play.
The Palisades defense held them back several times, even forcing a third down on two occasions… but it wasn't enough.
With short passes, smart runs, and a very physical game, Moose Ridge managed to push their way into the red zone.
Finally, on a trick play, their quarterback threw a quick pass to the corner of the end zone.
Touchdown.
The visiting players celebrated, but not with the same euphoria as in the first quarter.
There was pressure now.
They knew Andrew, while not at his best, was still throwing and staying accurate, though not with the same dominance they had seen in so many past games.
The team opted for a one-point conversion. They didn't want to risk it, knowing the opposing defense was sharpening with every snap. The kick went up, and just made it through the uprights.
Moose Ridge took the lead.
8 -15
Palisades went back on offense. After the kickoff, they were brought down at the 35-yard line. A great starting position. They needed to cover 65 yards.
Andrew kept leading the offense. Nothing explosive or spectacular, just precise and steady. The minutes and downs ticked away, and Palisades kept advancing.
Kevin and the other linemen protected fiercely, and Andrew kept finding his receivers or handing off to his running backs.
Eventually, they reached the end zone with a powerful 10+ yard run by Archie, a play that lit up the stands.
Touchdown.
The crowd erupted.
And unlike their rivals, Andrew went for the two-point conversion—and it was successful.
16 to 15.
Palisades took the lead for the first time in the game. Just over four minutes remained in the second quarter.
Moose Ridge got the ball and went all out. They wanted to score before halftime.
But this time, the Palisades defense stood tall.
On one play, number 93 sacked the quarterback. On another, a pass was swatted down by the middle linebacker.
And on third and long, the pass was well covered by the cornerback and fell incomplete.
The stadium exploded in cheers and applause. For the first time in the game, the Palisades defense had completely shut Moose Ridge down.
On the bench, the coaches raised their arms in pride.
"Well done, defense!" shouted Liam from the sidelines, clapping with his crutch in hand.
"That's what we needed!" Fred cheered, applauding hard.
Jay nodded with satisfaction. "Now this… this looks like Palisades."
Mitchell, Cam, Claire, and the rest of the family were cheering as if the game had already been won.
With the defense finally asserting dominance and Andrew leading a slow but steady offense, Palisades was beginning to control the rhythm of the game.
Andrew and the offense returned to the field. They had about two and a half minutes left in the second quarter before halftime.
But Moose Ridge wasn't backing down. Their defense came out swinging. Now, every down felt like a final battle.
Andrew stayed calm. He threw safe passes, five or six yards at most. The offense kept moving, but even slower than before.
The whistle blew.
End of the second quarter.
End of the first half.
Palisades still had possession, but they were 45 yards away from the end zone.
The players began walking off the field and toward the locker rooms.
Some exchanged high-fives. Others were breathing heavily. Position coaches were already giving instructions for the second half, applauding the team's effort.
The home crowd saw them off with genuine applause. It hadn't been the usual explosive first half from Palisades, but it was solid and strategic.
Andrew walked with his head slightly lowered, helmet dangling from one hand.
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Andrew," said David, the head coach.
Andrew stopped. "Yes, coach?"
David didn't say anything at first. He just turned his head toward the stands and raised an eyebrow with a smile that was both amused and knowing.
"Your family wants to talk to you."
David pointed toward a section of the stands, not far from the entrance to the locker rooms.
From there, with a perfect view of the field, Andrew saw them for the first time.
His dad, Cam, had his entire face painted, literally, and was still cheering as if the second quarter hadn't just ended.
Mitch was holding Lily, who had a little Palisades flag and an adorable custom baby cap.
Phil was waving a massive flag. Andrew squinted at it, it looked like a lion merged with what was probably his own face, edited with some highly questionable Photoshop effects. He had to hold back a grimace.
Claire, Alex, and Haley were there too, all staring at him.
Claire had her arms crossed like a military general about to launch into a war speech.
Alex wore her usual analytical expression.
And Haley gave him a warm smile and waved him over with a playful gesture.
Jay stood tall and serious, watching him. Gloria as well. Manny was a little off to the side, holding a folded piece of paper, probably a poem.
And there was Pippa.
Oddly enough, she was with his family and not her own. She looked at him seriously, intently.
It felt like each of them had a different motivational or introspective speech ready to give him...
Andrew cleared his throat and began to subtly backpedal.
"Coach... I should head into the locker room with the rest of the team. Go over the plays, you know… the usual."
"Don't worry. Just a few minutes," David said, arms crossed, still smiling. "It'll do you good."
Andrew looked at him.
The coach knew him. Too well.
And he wasn't the only one. Everyone had noticed…
He silently cursed that competitive personality of his, the one that usually made him play like every game was his last. A fire that never burned out...
And when it did, it was painfully obvious.
He sighed in defeat.
"Great," he muttered.
And started walking toward his family. His steps felt heavy, like he was heading into a minefield of advice, emotional hugs, and possibly… a few tears.
As he got closer to the stands, Andrew could feel the eyes locked on him like he had a bullseye painted on his forehead.
The moment he set foot in the area, he was intercepted by a multicolored whirlwind of enthusiasm: Cam.
"My warrior kid!" his dad shouted, his face painted like he was literally going into battle. He lunged at him in a half-hug, half-tackle.
'I'm not a kid…' Andrew thought, but he let Cam hug him anyway.
"They tackled you, son!" Cam shouted with a mix of euphoria and theatrical distress. "For the first time all season… no, in years! You didn't dodge! You didn't pass! You're human!"
"Yeah, well… it had to happen eventually," Andrew said, scratching the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.
"Hey, hey, I didn't mean it as a complaint," Cam replied, placing both hands on his shoulders, almost like Andrew was a little boy again. "That's part of the game too. What matters is that you're out there leading. Holding strong, not just throwing bombs or trying to win it all by yourself."
Andrew nodded faintly, avoiding eye contact.
Mitchell, holding Lily in one arm, looked at Andrew with warm, proud eyes. "I won't give you an embarrassing speech… I just want you to know we've got your back, even if you get tackled. Though that did give me a mini heart attack."
"Thanks, Dad," Andrew said.
"And Lily wants to say something," Mitchell added, bringing the little girl closer.
Lily, wearing her tilted Palisades cap and holding a tiny flag, looked at him with those bright eyes. She waved the flag side to side and murmured in a barely audible voice:
"Andy… boom!"
Andrew felt a warm pang in his chest. He smiled, "Thanks, Lily."
That's when Phil showed up, waving a massive custom flag with a muscular lion and Andrew's poorly cut-out face pasted on it.
"You're playing amazing, champ!" he shouted. "There are always messy, tough games… but that's when true heroes rise!"
Andrew looked at him in barely-contained horror. "Did you… use Photoshop?"
"Yup," Phil said proudly. "And Paint for the finishing touches!"
Claire stepped forward and hugged him, brief but firm. "I was going to give you a full-on motivational speech to crush those preppy Moose Ridge kids," she confessed with a sigh. "But there's no need. You're playing smart. Solid. And that's harder than just showing off. Keep it up. We're with you."
"Thanks, General," Andrew said with a faint smile.
"You know you still look sexy, even when you get tackled, right?" said Haley with a teasing grin.
"Thanks, cousin… that's very comforting," he muttered.
"I'm just saying what all the girls at Palisades are probably thinking," Haley replied, raising her eyebrows.
Alex stepped forward with her usual firm and practical stride. Her voice was direct but softer than usual.
"Your decision-making has been solid. Fewer risks, short passes, clock control. Given your current emotional state, that minimizes the likelihood of critical errors. It's tactically sound."
"Thanks, Alex. That's about as close to a medal of honor as I'll ever get from you."
"That's not all…" Alex said, her tone less analytical and more genuine.
She and Haley exchanged a glance, and nodded in sync.
Then Alex pulled a small, braided fabric bracelet from the inside pocket of her jacket. It had the team colors and was embroidered with thick but neat thread: QB #12.
"It's a gift… from the two of us," she said, holding it out to him.
"Yeah, believe it or not. Feeling honored?" Haley added with a smile.
Andrew took it in both hands. He looked at it like it was a trophy. A smile lit up his face, brighter than at any point during the first half.
"Thank you… really. This is great."
"Are you gonna wear it?" asked Haley.
"After the game, I don't want it to break if I get tackled again…" Andrew replied, clenching the bracelet in his fist. "Hold on to it for me… and don't take it back when I show it off after we win."
Both nodded. Alex seemed to be holding back a smile; Haley didn't even try.
Then Gloria stepped forward with open arms and wrapped him in a warm, tight, motherly hug.
"Mi amor! You're doing amazing. You're playing with your head and your heart. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Gloria," he said, relaxing into the hug.
"And when the game's over, I've got arepas waiting for you. Lots. I know you eat like you're feeding two teams. I don't want to see you hungry for even a second."
Andrew let out a soft laugh, "Now I really have extra motivation to win."
"That's what I want to hear!" Gloria said, giving him a loving pat on the chest before letting go.
Manny, who had been watching quietly with a solemn expression, stepped forward. He held a folded piece of paper in his hand.
"It's a poem," he said, his voice more restrained than usual. "It's called 'The Broken Quarterback Who Never Breaks.' I wrote it knowing you were… going through something. It's motivational. Reflective. Read it when you can. Maybe before the third quarter."
Andrew took it gently, as if the paper were fragile, "Thanks, Manny. I'll read it in the locker room."
Manny nodded, then looked down.and in a rare impulse, quietly murmured, "You're doing a great job. As a player… and as a person."
Andrew looked at him, genuinely surprised, "Thanks… I really didn't see that one coming."
Then his gaze shifted to Jay.
The old man stood with his arms crossed, watching from a few steps away, silent.
Andrew narrowed his eyes slightly, eyeing him with suspicion. Now what? What kind of old-school moral support is this going to be?
Gloria, still smiling warmly, gave Jay a gentle pat on the shoulder.
A clear gesture: Go on. Say something. He's your grandson.
Jay huffed through his nose, like he needed to gather some air before letting anything meaningful out.
"Listen, kid…" he started, without moving. "I don't have a fancy speech. You know how I am. But I've been watching you all game. You're not the same guy I saw in past matches. You looked off, unmotivated...
And yet you're still out there, fighting, adapting. Playing a different kind of game. Not dragging the team down. Well done. That's what a Pritchett does."
And with that, he stepped forward.
Without another word, he hugged him. A rough, firm hug that lasted only a few seconds… but it was enough.
The stadium could've collapsed, and no one would have noticed.
Andrew accepted the hug with mixed emotions, "Thanks… gra... grandpa."
When they pulled apart, everyone fell silent.
Until Phil, waving his humanoid lion flag like a man on a mission, shouted:
"GROUP HUG!"
And, of course, it was inevitable.
They all piled on him at once. Mitchell, Cam, Gloria, Claire, Alex, Haley, even Manny joined in.
Even Lily, from the safety of her dad's arms, stretched out her tiny hands like she wanted to be part of it too.
At the center of it all, Andrew.
Surrounded.
Held.
Feeling the warm push of something simple and powerful. He wasn't alone.
After a few seconds, the group began to break apart, still laughing, wiping away the occasional sneaky tear, adjusting clothes.
And then he saw her.
Pippa.
She had been there the whole time, watching.
But now, the serious look from earlier was gone. She was smiling.
Tiny white and light-blue stars decorated her right cheek, and a streak of sky-blue paint lined each eye.
Her gray Palisades hoodie hung loosely over light-wash jeans, and her fingernails alternated between white and blue, matching the team colors.
She walked toward him with calm, confident steps.
And without a word, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gently rested her forehead against his.
"Haley's right," she whispered softly. "You look sexy even when you get tackled."
Andrew let out a low chuckle, closing his eyes for a moment as he placed his hands on her waist.
"Didn't expect to hear that… but my mood definitely improved."
She kissed him.
When they pulled apart, Pippa looked him straight in the eyes, "You're doing great, Andrew. Keep it up."
No advice, no analysis, no pressure. Just that.
"Thanks…" Andrew said with a nod.
Then he noticed the makeup on her face.
"You've got makeup on," he said, smiling. "Very subtle… but it looks amazing."
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah… want to know why I was late?"
"Why?"
"It was your dad's fault."
"My dad?" Andrew asked, arching a brow.
"Yes, Cam. He kidnapped me. Said he needed help with his face paint. Turned me into his assistant for over an hour while he painted his whole face. And then he insisted on doing mine too, so here I am."
Andrew laughed, "I'm sorry. Seriously. But I've got to admit… the result is incredible."
"Glad you like it. It's for you," Pippa said with a smile.
Then she leaned in, gave him a shorter, softer kiss on the lips, and stepped back.
"Go, quarterback. Your team needs you… and it's been almost five minutes. Plus, you've got a poem to read."
Andrew looked at her a second longer, then nodded.
He clutched his helmet against his chest and stepped back, glancing at his entire family, all watching him.
"Thanks… all of you," he said.
And then, with a renewed smile, he turned and headed back through the tunnel to the locker room.
His steps were different now, firmer. Lighter.
As everyone began to settle again after the emotional moment, Claire frowned and glanced around.
"Wait a second…" she said, spinning in place. "Where's Luke?"
"He's not here?" asked Cam.
"No," Claire replied, crossing her arms, clearly annoyed. "How could he miss this? His cousin, his hero, his role model just had a full-on ESPN documentary family moment and he… Where is he?!"
"Maybe he went to the bathroom," Phil suggested, trying to locate his son.
"No. He never takes this long in the bathroom. I've timed him. For hygiene and efficiency."
Claire scanned the stands… until something made her stop.
At the bottom of the field, just beside where the Palisades cheerleaders were performing, was a small group jumping and shaking pom-poms with energy.
And right in the middle of them, as if he'd always been part of the squad… was Luke.
Holding pom-poms.
Smiling.
Surrounded by girls, including Regina George, the star cheerleader, feared by all except Andrew and those who truly knew her. She was looking at Luke like he was the cutest puppy on Earth.
The other cheerleaders were clapping for him, showing him arm moves, while he earnestly tried to copy them.
Claire's jaw dropped.
"Luke Dunphy!"
Luke turned and waved from afar, completely unapologetic, "Mom! I'm helping! And Regina says I've got talent for the show!"
Claire slapped a hand to her forehead, exasperated, "This cannot be happening…"
Jay, standing beside her, muttered without taking his eyes off the scene, "Smart kid."
"Smart?!"
Jay shrugged, "He's surrounded by cheerleaders, doesn't have to run, and they're applauding him."
Claire clicked her tongue, "This is Howard's fault… that boy and his awful influence."
Alex, throwing more fuel on the fire, added, "Yeah… the other day I caught him watching college cheerleader videos with Howard. They called it 'research.' They take everything very seriously."
The whistle blew. The third quarter had begun.
Palisades regained offensive possession on the opponent's 45-yard line.
Just forty-five yards from the promised land.
The score was tight: 16 to 15.
And while Andrew didn't explode right away, something about his posture had changed. He no longer walked like someone carrying invisible weight.
The first two downs were clean, gaining 10 yards. First down.
And then…
It was time to change the tempo.
With thirty yards to go for the touchdown, Andrew dropped back in the pocket, evaded the pressure, and threw a surgical 22-yard pass to Steve, who caught the ball with both hands and dropped to his knees near the sideline.
The stadium erupted in cheers and shouts. Their first big pass of over 20 yards.
After that, another connection between Andrew and Steve. With just 8 yards to go, Andrew threw a 5-yard pass, and Steve ran the rest of the way to reach the touchdown.
The crowd went wild.
Palisades 22 – Moose Ridge 15.
Without taking unnecessary risks, Andrew opted for the one-point conversion, bringing the score to 23.
Moose Ridge returned to the field, now under pressure from the clock. Their offense was methodical, physical, and effective, but slow.
Nearly five minutes passed before they finally reached the red zone and muscled their way in for a touchdown of their own.
They weren't satisfied. They went for two.
And they got it.
23 – 23.
The tension began to rise again.
But Andrew didn't back down. This time, there were no short passes. No hesitation.
He attacked. Twenty yards. Then twenty-five. Then a 15-yard pass for another touchdown just before the third quarter ended.
The two-point conversion was good.
31 – 23. End of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter followed a similar pattern. Moose Ridge kept pushing, but Palisades' defense held strong.
Palisades regained possession with the chance to widen the lead. But at the 25-yard line, they were down to their last chance, it was fourth down, and they needed more than ten yards or they'd lose the ball.
So Andrew went with the field goal.
The team's kicker delivered. They added three more points.
34 – 23.
The clock kept ticking. Moose Ridge had only minutes left and a tough mission ahead: they needed a touchdown and a field goal just to tie the game, with only four minutes on the clock.
Unless they pulled off a miracle, like a 30+ yard pass to shorten the drive—it was nearly impossible.
No miracle came. The final whistle blew. Andrew took off his helmet and smiled.
They had won.
Final score: Palisades 34 – Moose Ridge 23.
The stadium exploded. A unanimous roar, like a wave sweeping through the bleachers and shaking the air.
Parents, students, teachers, everyone on their feet.
Flags waved, drums pounded, the cheerleaders launched into their routines, and the cheers turned into one massive celebration.
They were going to the Los Angeles Division 4 Final.
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