"Yo Jace!"
"Earth to Jace,"
"Wake up damit!" A bald-headed man exclaimed waking me up from my dream of college life. The parties, the alcohol and most importantly the women I could practically taste it, but you had to wake me.
"They killing us out there we need some of that killer instinct if we gone lift that state trophy by the end of the game," he shouted once again getting right in my face his voice sounding over my chill-out playlist playing over my earbuds.
"Y'know what coach," I started off, as I removed my earbuds placing them back in their case. "We wouldn't be trailing 21:7 if you would have played me from the get." I retorted directly standing up to face him at eye level both of standing at a height of 6,2.
"I already got mine regardless of how this ends, I built my legacy's carrying this team on my back since freshman year. That's all me, you've yet to get yours coach and you decided to bench me for your son in the finals. That's crazy" I told the man as we faced each other but my hands didn't stop as I fastened my glove on my left hand.
I'm not a bad guy, don't mean I'm a hero either but I know how to play my role in life. God made me fast, strong and smart but also black in America. So, I either become the definition of black excellence or they put me in chains like they did Superman.
Lucky me though, the day I picked up a ball and threw my first spiral I became the man. Something about the game of modern-day gladiators makes you a hero in the eyes of this messed-up country. Not that it mattered to me as long as it showed me a path out of the hood for me and my family, at least the ones I care about.
"You brave I give you that, but can't nobody walk a day in my boots let alone little Mr Beverly over there. Now watch how I put you on my back and get you that chip," I stated turning my attention back towards the man in front of me who fancies himself the real-life coach baker. Well, he miscalculated bad cause I ain't need no dad, let alone a coach messing with what was already working with some Uncle Sam's ideas.
They should keep football what it is, a battlefield of teenagers hoping for that 1 in a million shot to the NFL. Ignoring the glare, he was giving me I strapped my helmet on as I sidestepped him. Jogging onto the field as one of the assistant coaches called for a sub.
Not minding the low mood from our home side, I joined my offensive team on the 20-yard line. "Yall, miss me fam?" I asked as I joined the huddle drawing their attention." Why yall mad it's just a game, heard they started giving out participation trophies so yall be aight.
"Thank god coach finally saw the light, another fumble from David and I would have been on his ass," Tariq my team's 3-star running back comment with clear annoyance.
"Yah that boy is softer than the white boys on the block," TJ a dark-skinned junior stated causing quite a few of the guys to burst into laughter. With Crenshaw being where it is, it remains the hood despite white ladies' efforts to gentrify us.
"Haha, don't worry boys Crenshaws very own Batman is here to save you," I told them with a light chuckle as I started rolling my shoulders to get them warm. "And it looks like them rich boys at Sierra are finally ready to join the party."
"Let's see what you got, them scouts gon think you weak if you don't win that chip back to back," Tariq stated with an eager grin as he lightly jabbed my shoulder trying to pump me up but I was already in go mode the moment I put on my cleats.
"Aight let's run something simple then, go with Green Micky 22, but J-Street you gone need to turn that corner into a post option. You pick whatever and the balls gone be there the moment you beat your man." I told the group with a wide grin as I looked to see if they got the play.
"You sure bro we could start with a run we're only on second down plenty for you to work with," one of them tried to persuade but I quickly shot him down with a shake of the head. "They gone be expecting me to do something big, and who am I to disappoint them."
"Bro you the QB1 you can just play it safe," one of them tried to persuade but I had already made my mind up. "Coach wants us to play it safe but I only play to win boys so let's put on a show."
With my final words, the huddle broke off with 15 seconds to go for the second down snap. My O line quickly got into the pistol formation in front of me facing the four royal blue defensive line from Sierra. Looking at them they got into a man-to-man formation looking to stop any runners with their talent alone.
Not caring in the slightest as I perfectly knew how to break down a 4-3 formation. It uses four defensive linemen, three linebackers, two cornerbacks, and two safeties. As long as my two wide receivers get free this will be checkmate.
"Blue Eagle 15, Green Micky 22," I called out over the loud voices in the stadium and the opposing Linebackers shouted to their defensive teammates. The first part of my sentence was for Tariq to take out Sierra's number 15 as I would be spinning to the left and if he got past the O line, he'd pack me up like a fresh pack of Zah.
Getting a he'd nod from Tariq on the right side of the O line I proceeded. "Set, set, Hit!" I exclaimed and pandemonium ensued instantly whipping the smile from my face.
In the first second, the O line exploded forward as Jack my Centre snapped the ball backwards. The next second the ball was in my hands, and I was already springing backwards. On the third second, I turned to my right where Tariq came racing towards me, faking an obviously fake handoff as he sped past me.
The fourth second was me taking a large step to my right before abruptly spinning backwards as one of the line-backers got past the o line. I could already see his huge grin as he locked onto me probably already thinking of the highlight reel not realizing it was a trap. Fifth second I completely my turn rounding my Tight end who exploded forward right into number 8 who was gunning for me.
Ignoring the clash of bodies, I spun back to the left taking large measure steps. Sixth second the second major clash ensued as Tariq rammed into the number 15. Unlike BigBoy Billy he didn't lay him out but was pushed back slightly even though he came from a blind spot.
'Guess carrying the team all first half was catching up to him' That thought quickly passed through my mind but quickly disappeared in the next second. In the 8th second, I was finally able to look up to see if my Receivers moves matched the unfolding image in my head.
'Not perfect but it will have to do,' I thought as I raised my right hand ready to unleash a bomb, but the corner of my eye caught 15 sloping past Tariq. "Shit," I exclaimed as I turned my throw into a pump fake baiting one five to lung across my body in an effort to swat the ball.
Side-stepping to the left in a sequence of rapid steps I looked beyond Max who was cutting an in-route along the 35-yard line on the right side. My smile widened as I watched not the right corner and safety follow after him. Max wasn't some superstar who could make this play happen with two defenders on him, but he was solid.
That is why despite the facts he drew attention allowing for J-Street to sneak under the reader as he entered his second gear. The white boy is kinda funny with the fact he can explode with 50% speed, then use 70% to beat his marker and then dig deeper into max speed. That's why he is called street because just like a car barreling down the road, he is able to go up and down gears at will.
No longer hesitating I took a large step forward the moment I saw him opt for a post route instead of a corner on the 40-yard line. His change of speed left his marker lagging behind as he went up a gear forcing the safety just five yards behind to step up but that was a mistake. Swinging my arm forward I let loose a high arching lob throw letting the ball loose with power and a perfect spiral aiming for the 55-yard line.
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To Be Continued...