After our hyped-up pregame celebration, the team rushes onto the field through the tunnel. We are clearly ready for the game to begin and start the first quarter hot.
It’s already the second quarter, and it’s clear our pregame celebration worked because we came out hot. We’re up by 10 points, which might not sound like much, but for us, it is huge.
Personally, I’ve got 20 rushing yards and 10 receiving yards so far, all from one screen pass from Miller and a few rush plays up the middle. Not bad for just one quarter. I know I can do better, but I’m off to a solid start.
Arizona has the ball to start the second quarter, and they’re driving hard. Our defense can’t seem to stop them. I’m not sureif it’s because they’re exhausted or Arizona’s offense just decided to turn it on, but in under three minutes, our cornerback trips over himself, and the receiver is left wide open in the end zone. A deep 40-yard Hail Mary to their star receiver, and they score.
Miller looks at us and says, “We got this. We’re still up by three.”
After a 30-yard punt return, we start on our own 30-yard line. Good starting position.
On the first play, I rush left and am tackled hard after gaining five yards. I’m a little dazed getting up, but a few seconds later, I’m good to go.
The second play is a perfect 20-yard pass to Jack Sanders, who is becoming Miller’s go-to guy. Jack’s always been the muscle, known more for blocking than catching, but this season, he’s determined to be a receiving threat as well. And it’s evidently working.
The next two plays are runs up the middle, where I grind out a total of seven yards. I catch Coach McCormick waving me off the field and putting in the backup RB for the next snap.
“Take a breather,” Coach says, slapping me lightly on the shoulder. “We need you for the rest of the game.”
I nod, breathing deeply to get some oxygen. The backup, a stocky 250-pound bus, plows forward three years and snags us the first down.
We’re now around the 40-yard line and inching into field goal range. Seven minutes have ticked off the clock. Perfect. This is exactly what we need: control the ball, control the game.
Coach pats me again. “Get back in there.”
Miller locks eyes with me like he knows I’m getting the ball. My chest tightens with nerves, but I shake it off. Thinking about Nate helps me focus. His smile. His body. His warmth. It calms me down instantly.
Miller hikes it. I swing out left, run ten yards, then cut back in, and the ball’s already in my chest. Instinctually, I turn and sprint forward, slipping past defenders for an easy 20-yard gain before running out-of-bounds close to the end zone.
With no huddle, Miller snaps it immediately. I throw a block on the edge while he scrambles right for 20 yards, completely untouched, and crosses into the end zone.
He breaks into his signature shimmy dance in the end zone, and I can’t help but laugh. I jump onto him as the rest of the team joins in.
We’re up 17, with the half nearly over. We’re so going to win this.
We take that high energy into the locker room, all of us jumping up and down. But Coach McCormick raises a hand, his voice cutting through the excitement. “It’s only halftime. Relax. 17 points is nothing; we need more.”
That shuts us up. We glance at each other, nodding, and settle down to listen as Coach lays out the game plan for the second half.
By the end of the third quarter, Arizona creeps back and ties the game.
I don’t blame the defense. I blame us. The offense gets completely stuffed the entire quarter. We end with no points for the entire third quarter.
Now, it’s the start of the fourth. Fifteen minutes left to win this thing.
We open with a three-and-out and barely take three minutes off the clock. I see the stress all over Coach’s face, but I try not to let it get in my head.
I jog over to Marcus and say, “You got this. Go get that interception.”
He doesn’t get the pick, but on second down, he gets a sack, knocking Arizona back a few yards.
On third down, their quarterback throws another Hail Mary. It’s somehow caught again by the same speedy receiver. Their receiver sprints out-of-bounds at our 30-yard line untouched. We cannot guard this guy.
They run it up the middle three times and go nowhere. But they kick the field goal and take the lead, 20–17, with seven minutes remaining.
Before we take the field, I feel a burst of energy and motivation. I start yelling, “We got this! One touchdown! Nothing to lose! Let’s go!” Miller nods, eyes full of fire, and we head back out.
After four plays, we’re already at midfield. Three minutes left. Coach calls a timeout to stop the clock.
