Page 1 of A Game as Old as Time

Chapter 1

“Happy Thursday to all of our rush hour listeners on this hot and sticky August afternoon. This is Johnny May for WRXT radio, here to discuss another year of South Mountain Pioneer Football! A bit of a somber broadcast as we go through our preseason preview without our beloved Coach Weston for the first time in almost 15 years. The devastating car accident back in April stunned us all, and the aftershock is still rippling through the community. Local Boosters and the School Board have pushed full support behind playing the season, but one must wonder how this team will respond.

New Head Coach Mike Bianchi hopes to bring stability to this program after such a tragic event. He comes to us with an impressive college football coaching resume; however, his abrupt resignation from his last job in California has some around town concerned about the hire. Luckily for Coach Bianchi, he will be returning five key starters from a district championship team. This includes All-State running back Tyquan Carter, whose explosiveness will be paired with one of the top senior receiving duos in the district in Jefferson Taylor and Andy Green. The defense will be in good hands with senior Emilio Cortez, who not only excels at linebacker but also anchors the offensive line.

The big question mark, though, will be the quarterback position.Returning starter Gunner Weston will be expected to lead this group of players after an impressive junior season. But, after his father’s sudden passing this spring, many are wondering if Weston will be able to live up to expectations.”

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Gunner felt like he was in a tunnel by the time Ty finally switched off the radio.

“Man, screw that guy!” Ty exclaimed. “He just loves to hear himself talk.”

So true.

The old Sentra, a gift when Gunner first got his license, inched forward as he relaxed his foot against the pedal. He gripped the steering wheel tight as his mind raced while waiting for the red light.

“Yeah, G,” Andy shouted from the back, “that guy is so full of shit!”

A slap on the back from his friend was enough to rock Gunner out of his trance---a state that had unfortunately become a common occurrence. He merely nodded and switched to the Bluetooth music on his phone.

“We know what we have, so screw that guy!” Andy was smiling in the rearview mirror, obviously expecting Gunner to engage and agree. However, Gunner’s chest was so tight that he thought it would explode if he opened his mouth.

Just breathe.

He repeated it to himself as the light finally turned green. His eyes remained forward, his glare intensifying as he took a quick turn into the sprawling neighborhood he had grown up in.

He used to love this drive. The peacefulness of the fresh-cut lawns and hemlock trees spreading by the sidewalks was always a comfortingreturn from practice. The waves of neighbors as he passed and the smiles on everyone’s faces were always welcomed after a hot day in pads. But now, after what had happened, the rows of split-level and colonial-style houses were just another depressing backdrop. A cold reminder of the life he’d once had.

“What do we have, AG?” Ty leaned back against his seat and rubbed his buzzed black hair.

“We have us.” Andy was peering out the window now. “We have JT, who is as fast as a damn gazelle, Cortez, who is batshit crazy on the field, and, well, us.”

Gunner could not help but crack a thin smile as he glanced at Andy in the rearview mirror. Even after a long, hot day of two practices, his voice still carried the upbeat, energetic tone that made him a captain.

“You mean you have me.” Ty punched Gunner in the shoulder, almost turning them off the road.

“Careful---you trying to kill us?” Gunner snapped, unable to hide the annoyance in his voice as he steadied the wheel.

“Right. Sorry, G. Not trying to hurt the arm that is going to take us to a state championship.”

Gunner shook his head, smiling slightly.

“Yeah, right,” he said, flashing the blinker and turning down Andy’s street. “If it’s up to Coach, we’ll never throw the ball.”

Ty chuckled, and he slapped his large hands together.

“I mean, can you blame him? He does have the best damn running back in the state on his team.”

Typical Ty.

Gunner shot an annoyed look at Andy, who merely rolled his eyes. Hisfriend’s messy blond hair, which covered his forehead and reached past his nose when it was soaked with sweat, did not hide his irritation at the comment.

It was not that Gunner’s best friend was wrong. Ty had just been named to the watch list for the Pennsylvania Player of the Year and was a sure bet to be playing Division One college football next year. However, his egocentric personality had lately seemed especially grating. The boisterous tone that normally accompanied it was also wearing thin on Gunner as he pulled up in front of Andy’s house.

“Well, boys, this is my stop.” The young wide receiver tapped Gunner on the shoulder before getting out. “But like I said, man, we know what we have.”

Right…

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