Clemson Tigers defensive tackle Watkins focused intensely. In the fourth quarter, his confidence had reached new heights—
He had already tackled Josh and forced a fumble that turned the game around once. He believed he could do it again with Lance, forcing a fumble to end the game.
Thud. Thud.
His right foot stomped the ground like a bull, fueling himself with energy.
"Attack!"
The moment Hurts shouted the snap count, Watkins surged forward. With a loud "bang", his shoulder collided with a massive wall of players, his peripheral vision scanning the field rapidly.
Everything happened in an instant.
Five seconds left in the game.
Hurts handed the football to Lance, and Watkins' heart clenched as adrenaline surged through him. Energy exploded from deep within, ready to break through the pocket's protection. Then, he noticed movement within the pocket.
Four seconds.
Hurts and Clarke, who had spread left and right moments before, now doubled back behind the offensive line, forming a battering ram formation.
"Damn, a goal-line push."
Watkins' heart sank—
In football, situations of third-and-one or fourth-and-one often call for one of the oldest, most straightforward strategies: bunching up the offensive players and bulldozing forward for that yard, like a pig pushing through cabbage.
It might look inelegant, but it was effective. If the defense miscalculated and didn't pile enough force at the line of scrimmage, that yard was easily gained.
This season, the Crimson Tide's running backs had favored agility over sheer power, making brute-force plays rare.
But now?
No one expected it at this moment.
Although they needed two yards—a harder feat—the surprise caught Clemson completely off guard. The offense held the advantage.
The Crimson Tide had first spread out the defense to mislead them, then Hurts and Clarke drew their attention, creating a split-second window for a power play. By the time the Tigers realized what was happening, the two-point conversion would be complete.
Damn it!
Watkins realized his miscalculation in that flash of insight.
Lance was indeed carrying the ball, but if Watkins stepped forward to tackle, it would dilute the defensive line's strength and play right into the Crimson Tide's hands.
Damn!
Three seconds.
Watkins reacted instantly, bending at the knees and lowering his center of gravity, merging with his defensive teammates to form an unyielding wall of flesh and bone.
"Ah, ahhh!"
One by one, from the defensive line to the linebackers, they surged forward. The clash between offense and defense thickened the air with tension as the lines collided.
The defensive backs scattered throughout the end zone finally saw the mass at the line but were too late to react—
What now?
Watkins noticed Lance charging directly into the wall of defenders. Energy surged from deep within him.
In a battle of raw power, Lance had no chance. The Tigers would crush him like an ant, snapping his efforts like twigs.
"Power vs. power!"
The Clemson Tigers were poised for battle.
"Ahhh!"
Wait… Watkins couldn't believe his eyes.
What was he seeing?
…
Lance was calm and composed. With deliberate steps, he powered forward after taking the ball, accelerating within a few strides. But instead of stopping, he used the final three yards to propel himself fully.
Pushing off the ground, stepping hard, building speed and power like an athlete's sprint for a long jump.
Then—
The tangled iron-clad line of offensive and defensive players dipped, their balance shifting downward. The end zone, like a mythical Atlantis, surfaced as defenders bent their knees, anticipating a collision and lowering their bodies, creating a gap above.
Opportunity.
Launch, push, jump.
Two seconds.
Lance leaped, turning the frontal battle of strength into a high hurdle.
His knees ached, and his legs felt heavy after the game-long effort. Yet he ignored it all, drawing from the deepest reserves of strength in his core and soul to spring forward, holding his breath.
Whoosh.
The wind roared past.
Lance soared over the barrier, crossing the defenders below.
Time stopped.
Everyone's mouths fell open, frozen mid-cheer or scream, arms halted in midair.
Watkins, stunned, tilted his head skyward. All he saw was a sky tinged red, with a streak of wind surging past like a whale breaching the water, splashes of bright light raining down.
It stung his eyes, forcing them shut.
The world went dark.
One second.
Lance crossed over the defenders, catching sight of a white-jerseyed Muse attempting to block him.
But Lance didn't dodge; instead, he tucked in, using his shoulder as a landing cushion and aimed for Muse's chest. The impact roared in his ears.
Thud, crack.
A shattering sound echoed.
Then, Lance rolled forward.
Tumbling, shaking, the dazzling lights transformed into a rainstorm of summer thunder, roaring in his ears.
Protect the ball, protect the ball!
This was the only thought in Lance's mind. Spinning in the chaos, he gripped the ball tightly until he rolled to a stop and pushed up with momentum.
Huff, huff.
His chest heaved; his breaths burned.
Lance stood tall, right arm gripping the football, surrounded by disarray. The entire stadium's focus was on him, ablaze with a warrior's spirit like a reborn hero. Richmond-James Stadium seemed to bow before him in awe and reverence.
Until—
The whistle blew.
The head referee confirmed the play: the two-point conversion was successful.
Zero seconds. Time expired. The game was over.
"Oh my God, oh my God!"
"The Alabama Crimson Tide's two-point conversion is successful! Lance, number 23, crosses the end zone with a flying leap and seals the win with an incredible play."
"Victory belongs to the Crimson Tide."
"In the fourth quarter, Clemson led by 14 points with two touchdowns, but the Alabama Crimson Tide showed their resilience, producing an epic comeback on both sides of the ball and finishing with a buzzer-beating two-point conversion to win."
"Incredible! Unbelievable!"
"Final score: 52-51. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeats Clemson to defend their title in a game for the ages. We have witnessed history here at Richmond-James Stadium."
"The Alabama Crimson Tide, champions!"
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates