Page 121 of A Game as Old as Time

What a play by Carter, but he was not able to get out of bounds! The clock continues to run! Weston scrambles his team to the line of scrimmage. He calls out another play, but there is confusion! The clock is at ten and continues to run. Weston calls out the cadence. This will be the last play of regulation. Weston takes the snap and looks to throw. He is going to loft it to the back left of the endzone, looking for Green! Andy Green jumps and…”

Did he catch it?

Gunner froze, and the stadium came to a hush around him.

Come on, AG!

He took a step forward, staring intently at the referee, who was pulling Andy and the defender apart.

TOUCHDOWN!

He saw him raise his hands, followed by an eruption from the stands.

“Hell yeah, AG!” Ty yelled as he ran by him. “What a throw, G! What a damn throw!”

The opposing team was in shock, frozen in place. Ty and the rest of his teammates had run to find Andy.

Wow.

Gunner let out a sigh of relief. His heart was pumping fast, but the knives that had been stabbing him a few minutes earlier were now just a dull prick. He turned his gaze to the sky above and smiled. The sound of the crowd and his teammates overtook him as he let it all soak in.

Live your moment. Take your moment.

His smile widened as he turned to the sideline. He began a jog to his coach while holding up two fingers.

“What are you talking about, Gunner?” Coach Bianchi ran out to meet him. “We kick this extra point, and we can take this game to overtime.”

I hate overtime.

Gunner shook his head.

“No way, Coach!” The rest of his teammates had joined them. “I say we make them earn it!”

“Gunner…” His coach shook his head.

“Coach,” Ty jumped in, “G is right! This is our moment. Let us live it together.”

Coach Bianchi paused. He peered around at the rest of the team, who started to nod their heads in agreement.

“Well then.” A sly smile formed as he ripped the visor off his head. “Go take it, boys!”

Hell yeah!

A surge of energy ran through Gunner. He pumped his fists and turned back to the field.

“Gunner, wait.” Coach Bianchi twisted him so they were eye to eye. “You call the play. You know the offense. This is your team.”

Me!?

“You earned this.” His coach leaned in close, pressing his forehead against Gunner’s helmet. “And I wouldn’t want any other quarterback out on the field for this play.”

Coach…

Everything stuttered around him. While Gunner’s heart was still pumping fast, his arms and legs felt strong. The knives were no longer jabbing at his shoulder, and the smile refused to leave his face.

He trusts me.

As they remained locked, Gunner could see a new look bloom in his coach’s eyes. The agonizing pain was gone, replaced by a warm look of contentment.

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