Page 95 of A Game as Old as Time

They’re succeeding.

“Gunner.” He kept his head down. “Gunner, I need you to look at me.” His coach’s voice was stern but encouraging enough to bring his head up. “Son, can you make the throw?”

Maybe.

The sharp bursts of pain in his shoulder with each breath said otherwise.

“G!” Ty grabbed his facemask. “G, I know you can make the throw! I know you can make it, G.”

Gunner inhaled, staring directly at Ty, who nodded at him.

I can make the throw.

He shifted to each player in the huddle, all of them nodding to him in agreement.

I can.

“I can make the throw.”

Andy slapped Gunner on the helmet as the team started to shout.

“OK!” Coach Bianchi’s voice brought everyone closer. The crowd erupted at the referee’s whistle, and the whole stadium shook. “We need to get the ball to the sideline so---”

“Coach!” Gunner jumped forward. “They’re going to expect us to throw something short, to try and get the first down and stop the clock!”

He was acting on sheer adrenaline and instinct. Gunner got down on a knee, staring up at the rest of his teammates.

“I think we play to that and run JT straight down the middle. It will pull the defense, and we can sneak Andy out toward the sideline.” He threw his helmet over his head, feeling the steam roll up around him. “JT has been killing them all night, and that safety doesn’t want to let him get behind him. AG, run right to the pylon, and I’ll put it on you. Just remember, if you’re not in the endzone, get out of bounds!” Gunner pushed his helmet back on and pointed at Andy, who nodded at him. “Coach, what do you think?”

Coach Bianchi had moved away, allowing Gunner to go over the play.

“Sounds like you know what’s going on. Make it happen, Gunner.” He adjusted his visor one more time.

I got it, Coach.

Emilio’s yell pulled everyone in, and as they broke the huddle, Gunner grabbed Andy, who was buckling his chinstrap.

“AG!” His yell echoed over the frenzied screaming of the crowd. “I’ve been high all day with my throws. I don’t know---”

“You just throw it.” Andy slapped the side of his helmet. “I’ll go get it.”

The referee blew his whistle again, and Gunner peeked up to the scoreboard.

Just throw it.

“Here we go, folks, fourth down on the Eagle Rock thirty-yard line. Gunner Weston gets behind Emilio Cortez, who bends down, grabbing the football. Weston calls out the cadence and surveys the defense. He takes the snap! Weston drops back to pass and immediately has pressure from an Eagle Rock defender off the left side! Weston moves to the right, and what a block from Tyquan Carter! Weston now has some time and is going to throw deep down the right side. He is looking for Andy Green and…OH MY! WHAT A CATCH! Andy Green went up and got it! He was able to get his feet down before getting shoved out of bounds at the two-yard line. What a spectacular throw and catch by Gunner Weston and Andy Green!”

Finally!

“Yeah, G!” Emilio sprinted with Gunner down the field. “Nice throw!”

Not really.

He shook his head and watched as JT and Andy celebrated ahead. Ty quickly joined Gunner as they drew near.

“Hell of a block, Ty. Thanks for giving me time.”

“I told Coach you could make the throw,” he smirked. “I had to at least give you the chance to throw it.”

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