The day had arrived.
Jordan woke up to the sound of the wind howling outside his window. A storm was brewing, both literally and figuratively. The cold front sweeping through town mirrored the chill of anticipation that had settled over him.
The entire day felt like one long build-up. Classes dragged on, every conversation centered around the game. Teachers wished him luck, classmates high-fived him in the hallways, and even the principal gave him a pep talk during lunch. It was like the whole school, the whole town, was preparing for war. And Jordan was their general.
After school, the team gathered in the locker room. The atmosphere was electric, but there was an underlying tension. As they suited up, Coach McGill walked in, his expression unreadable. The players fell silent, waiting for his words.
"This is it," McGill said, pacing in front of them. "Everything we've worked for leads to tonight. Riverside's coming in here thinking they've already won. They think they're gonna walk all over us like they did last year. You gonna let them do that?"
"No, Coach!" the team shouted in unison.
McGill nodded. "That's right. We're not just fighting for a win tonight. We're fighting for our pride. Our town. This is our house. And we protect our house."
Jordan felt a surge of adrenaline as McGill's words sank in. This was more than just a game. This was a battle.
The stadium was packed. The lights blazed down on the field, casting long shadows as the Wildcats took their positions. The crowd was roaring, their cheers echoing through the night air. Jordan stood at the fifty-yard line, the weight of the moment settling over him like a cloak.
Across the field, Ryan Carter stood with his helmet under his arm, exuding confidence. The cocky grin on his face made Jordan's blood boil.
As the coin toss finished and Riverside won possession, Jordan jogged to the sideline, his heart pounding in his chest. Malik slapped him on the back, his eyes burning with intensity.
"Let's make them regret coming here," Malik growled.
Jordan nodded, but inside, the nerves twisted tighter.
The game kicked off, and Riverside came out swinging. Carter was every bit as good as the hype suggested, picking apart Coldwater's defense with pinpoint passes. The Raiders marched down the field with ease, scoring a touchdown in the first five minutes.
Jordan swallowed hard as he watched the scoreboard light up. 7-0.