With the score now tilted in Seiryuu High's favor, Shinryu High's prized trio—Seiji, Kuuga, and Rensuke—found themselves in an unexpected bind. The cheers from Seiryuu's side of the field surged with confidence, punctuating each second as if counting down to the end of Shinryu's reign as the region's top team. It was a humbling position for players used to standing at the pinnacle of their game.
The trio huddled together, their breaths heavy and fast, expressions steeled but slightly shaken. Seiji, the quarterback, clenched his fists, his gaze trailing from his teammates to the scoreboard that flashed a cold, unrelenting reminder: 20-17. Behind in points and behind in spirit, they had no room for missteps.
"We need to change things up," Seiji murmured, his tone steady despite the challenge they faced. "Their defense is locking us out of our usual game. If we keep going like this, we'll lose any edge we've got."
