The Monday after the loss felt like a funeral. School hallways, usually buzzing with chatter after a big game, were eerily quiet. The students still wore their Coldwater Wildcats gear, but the excitement was gone. Jordan walked through the halls, keeping his head down, trying to block out the sympathetic glances and whispered comments.
"Better luck next time, Rivers," one kid muttered as Jordan passed. His grip on his backpack tightened, knuckles turning white. He didn't respond, just kept walking.
At lunch, the football team gathered at their usual table. Chris was there, but the easy grin he always wore was absent. Malik, sitting at the far end of the table, was silent as ever, his headphones on as he picked at his food. Tony and Brady, the offensive linemen, were talking in low voices, no jokes or banter like usual.
Jordan sat down, his tray untouched in front of him. Chris looked up, meeting his eyes. "You alright, man?"
Jordan shrugged. "Just gotta move on. Focus on the next game."
Chris nodded, but the tension between them was clear. The loss had affected them all, but for Jordan, it felt personal. He was the leader, the one who was supposed to carry the team. And he'd let them down.
As practice approached, Coach McGill's voice echoed in Jordan's head: You're the quarterback. You set the tone. But how was he supposed to lead when he couldn't even shake the feeling of failure?
At practice that afternoon, Coach McGill had no patience for excuses. His whistle cut through the cold air as he barked out drills, pushing the team harder than ever.
"Rivers, I need you to step up!" McGill shouted from the sidelines as Jordan called the next play. "You're still playing like you lost! This ain't Riverside anymore. Focus!"
Jordan gritted his teeth, feeling the eyes of his teammates on him. He called the snap, dropping back and scanning the field. Chris broke free of his defender, and Jordan launched the ball, hitting him perfectly in stride. The pass was clean, the play sharp.
"Good!" McGill yelled. "Now keep doing that!"
For a moment, Jordan felt a flicker of confidence. The play had worked. He could still lead. But deep down, he knew the pressure was only building. There were more games ahead, more teams gunning for them. And the scouts? They hadn't forgotten about Riverside.