Gladiators of the Gridiron

Deshaun smashed his fist into the turf, before he picked himself up and cussed himself out. As he made his way towards the sidelines, doing his best to ignore the dejection of the crowd and the celebration of the Vikings, Ty came straight for him.

‘What the fuck was that?! Are you fucking kidding me? You’re killing us, man. Why don’t you just sit on the fucking bench and let us defend with ten players if you’re going to be that useless!’

As they reached the sideline, Deshaun glowered at Ty. ‘Why don’t you shut your fucking mouth, freshy? If you keep getting on my ass about one little play, I might just shut it for you.’

Deshaun turned away. Ty grabbed his arm and spun him back around. ‘That one play cost us a touchdown!’

Deshaun shoved the younger boy back. ‘Don’t you fucking touch me, bitch!’

‘You want me to shut up? Stop letting that feral mutt walk all over you, and then I’ll shut up.’

‘Hey!’ Coach Hoang’s voice cut through the squabble. ‘Samuels, Banks, both of you, step away! Are you children? Is that it? Sit down and don’t say another word to one another.’

Ty and Deshaun sat down on opposite ends of the bench. They saw the extra point sail through successfully, and as time ticked down to zero in the first quarter, the score was once again tied, now at 14–14.

Coach Hoang stared long and hard at both boys. Seeing that neither of them were trying to continue the fight, he relaxed. ‘Banks, how are your ankles?’

‘What? They’re fine.’

‘Knees? Hips? Everything? You didn’t tweak anything, or feel a snap?’

Deshaun grit his teeth. ‘I’m FINE! I just fucking tripped, damn. Cleats got stuck in the fucking grass, that's all… that bitch didn’t make me injure myself.’

Coach Hoang looked him over again but nodded and then moved away.

During the short break, the Dons’ coaches—amongst their many issues—had one problem that they needed to solve quickly.

‘Who’s taking Chris’s spot as our kick returner?’ Coach Norman asked.

An obvious answer could’ve been Cameron, the backup HB and the one who would be taking Chris’s spot in the offence, but speed and elusivity—the key aspects that a great returner needs—weren’t his strong suit; he was more of a power back that relied on strength and determination to shrug off contact and fight through it.

‘I’d say we give it to Cole. He’d be our best option now that Chris is down,’ Coach Long said. The men looked towards Cole. The boy was one of their WRs, similar to Chris in build, if a little taller and with skinnier legs, he was still quick and agile when he got out in the open field.

‘What about Tyrese?’

The coaches turned to Bella, looking down at her and then across to Ty.

‘Tyrese? I think Cole would have him beat when it comes to evading tacklers,’ Coach Long said. Coach Norman nodded in agreement.

‘But shouldn’t we give Tyrese a chance? And let him improve on that? I mean, imagine if he could return every interception for a touchdown, or how good of a returner he’ll be if we give him some practice. Chris is a senior, Cole too. We won’t have them forever, but Ty can fill that role if we give him the chance.’

There was silence as they ruminated over the suggestion, and then Coach Hoang spoke. ‘She’s right. Let’s go with Samuels. The difference will be negligible, and he honestly might surprise us today. But we need to think about the future and the potential he has. He might be an even better option than HAYES in the future if he can commit himself to this role as well.’

‘Alright, I'm not sure if I agree that he could be better than Chris when he's healthy, but we’ll go with Tyrese. Get him out there and ready.’

‘Yes Coach.’ Coach Norman was quick to carry out the order and told Ty of the news.

Ty was surprised, sitting up straighter. ‘What? Why me? Isn’t there anyone else that could do this?’

Coach Norman shook his head. ‘We chose you. We think you’ll be our best bet now Chris is out of the game.’

Ty sighed but didn’t stand up from the bench.

‘Hey. Prime Time returned kicks,’ Coach Hoang said, coming over to see what the hold-up was.

Ty scrunched up his nose. ‘I’m not Prime Time.’

‘Come on. This is still something that a CB can do to affect the outcome of the game. We’re not asking you to play another position, just adding another job onto that position. Besides, if you refuse I’ll sit you out on defence.’

Ty groaned and shot Coach Hoang a dirty look. ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m doing it.’ He stood up and put his helmet back on, heading out when the break was over to line up with the rest of the kick return team.

He focused, watching the ball rocket high into the air off the Kicker’s boot. He never took his eyes off it as he watched it plummet into his waiting arms, then he took off.

He burst forward with great speed, but found himself charging towards a wall of bodies. He stopped and looked for an opening, trying to squeeze by two oncoming Vikings.

He ducked under one sweeping arm, feeling it bounce off his helmet as it went by. But as he tried to get around the second tackler, he was crunched against his body and wrapped up tight, then driven into the ground.

He’d taken the ball out to the 22-yard line before he was stopped. Ty stood up with a snarl, feeling at his side as he hurried off the field. That DEFINITELY wasn’t an enjoyable experience.

As the offence took the field, Chris’s replacement jogged out to line up behind Jay. Cameron was stockier than Chris, only an inch or so taller. He had a rather unassuming face, but one that appeared far older than he actually was.

First up, the Dons decided to go back to the well that had worked greatly for them when Chris was out there on the field, and they tried another run to the outside, this time with Cameron being the ball carrier.

It didn’t go well.

They did hem Mike into the centre of the field and keep him from disrupting the run, but Cameron just didn’t have that same burst of speed Chris did, so when it came to getting to the edge—and more importantly, getting AROUND it—he didn’t have the quickness to get away from the defenders and leave them behind.

He was tackled for no gain at all.

Coach Norman and Coach Long were both concerned with what they saw, but they weren’t about to give up on the run just yet. Next, they’d try one up the middle.

Of course, that meant they were heading straight for the strongest point in the opposition’s defensive line—Mike—but it also meant they were playing to Cameron’s strength. They were willing to bet on Cameron for one play at least.

Again, Jay handed the ball over to Cameron and this time watched him ram the ball up the gut of the defence. He rushed straight into Mike’s grasp, challenging the massive, white bear.

But it was to no avail. Even though Cameron gained a yard—one more than the attempt to the outside—he was still swiftly brought down by Mike in a dominant display of overwhelming power.

The Dons were forced into a long third down situation. They HAD to throw now if they were to have any chance of gaining the required yards and earning themselves another set of downs.

With Stephen ejected from the game, that meant Benny would have to take on more of the responsibility when it came to the passing game; he’d be Jay’s most reliable target out there now. But stepping up to fill Stephen’s shoes in the WR spot specifically, would be Cole.

Cole was the exact opposite of Stephen when it came to who they were as a Receiver. Whilst Stephen relied on his physicality and superior size to dominate through the air, the undersized Cole would have to use his speed and quickness to his advantage if he were to make an impact.

Isiah laughed when he lined up in front of Cole. ‘I can’t believe they’re puttin’ me on a motherfuckin’ white boy. There really ain’t anyone better?’

Cole kept quiet, adjusting his gloves as he did his best to ignore the taunts from his larger opponent.

Jay took a deep breath before snapping the ball and dropping back in the pocket.

He scanned the field calmly, looking side to side as he tried to find any opening within the defence—they were all plugged up tight.

The middle was clogged up with a couple of players closely watching Benny. Cameron had made his way out of the backfield and towards the flat, but Jay ignored that at first; they needed more yards.

He looked to Cole, but Isiah was all over him. He frowned. “That should be holding, ref, what are you looking at?”

Nothing else was open either. He looked back to where Cameron was, but he was covered too now. Then he saw Mike break through the protection of his offensive line and barrel towards him.

It was too late to throw the ball away—he didn’t want to risk being hit in the middle of throwing and turning the ball over somehow—and he couldn’t get away from that massive bear. Jay dropped down, giving himself up and took the sack.

The Dons would have to punt.

“It’s all over,” Jay thought.

Mike helped him back onto his feet, patting him down. ‘I didn’t hurt you, did I?’

‘Nope. I’m fine. Thanks.’ There was an easygoing smile on Jay’s face as he made his way back to the bench. He wasn’t upset at their struggles, he had accepted it; without Chris and Stephen, there was nothing they could do. It was out of his hands now, and it was up to the defence to keep them in this game.

Cameron came back to the bench, his shoulders slumped as he apologised to his teammates and coaches about letting them down and not getting anywhere on the ground.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Jay said, ‘we can’t score anyway. Without Chris and Stephen, we’re stuck in the mud. Like trying to surf on tiny little ripples.’

‘Hey, don’t give up yet. We can still win this, and the offence can still perform,’ JJ said. There was enough fire in his belly to make up for Jay’s uncaring attitude. ‘I’ll be out there and lead the way for Cameron, that way we should still be able to run the ball.’

‘And I’ll do a better job at holding the edge,’ Benny said, ‘I’ll hold them back for longer and let Cameron get fully clear. Hell, I’ll even do better when it comes to getting open. I won’t let our passing attack die just because Stephen’s not here.’

‘Me too,’ Cole said. ‘That annoying guy is grabbing me like crazy, but if I can be just a little bit faster and get enough separation, the refs will have to see it.’

JJ grinned, smacking them all on the back and rubbing their heads. ‘That’s what I like to hear. We’ve got this, guys.’

‘Jones! Get your butt out on the field with the defence,’ Coach Hoang yelled. JJ was still smiling as he took up his spot in the formation.

As Ty and Deshaun were jogging onto the field, Coach Hoang called out to them as well. ‘Samuels, Banks. You’re swapping places! Banks will cover number 13, and Samuels will take number 80.’

‘What?! Fuck that, I’m not—’

‘Do it or I’m sitting you,’ Coach Hoang cut off Deshaun. Reluctantly, the two swapped matchups, and Ty lined up against Isiah, while Deshaun took his place in front of Marshall.

Marshall laughed. ‘Oh, you really fucked up now, didn’t you? I told that punk ass li’l nigga not to let them put your sorry ass on me.’

‘Shut the fuck up. After I crush you, I’ve got shit to finish with that other lame as freshy.’

Isiah tilted his head as he looked Ty over. ‘What’s the matter? That other pussy get too scared? You need to come over here and try to make up for your boyfriend’s mistakes?’

Ty had eyes only for Marshall and Deshaun. ‘A second-tier DOG like you doesn’t matter to me. You won’t get a single catch with me guarding you. In fact, you better pray they don’t throw the ball to you, or else I’m taking it home the other way.’

‘Ha! Y’all like to talk a whole lotta shit for a bunch of scrubs. We’ll see what happens when they throw it here.’

During that whole drive, the ball would not once be thrown towards Ty and Isiah.

The fact that Isiah was no longer getting open wasn’t even the main factor in Nathan’s decision not to throw it to him, he just never had to. Marshall was ALWAYS getting open.

Every play he’d shake loose from Deshaun one way or the other. He’d perfectly manipulate the older defender right to where he wanted him to go, and then Marshall himself would go the other way.

He’d run forward, staring straight ahead, charging down the field like he was going to go deep, and then at the very MOMENT that Deshaun decided to finally flip his hips and start sprinting instead of backpedalling, that was when Marshall stopped in place and turned back on his curl.

20 yards. 12, 15, 13. Ty and the rest of the Dons could only watch on as the Vikings marched down the field. They were helpless as Deshaun was picked apart over and over by Nathan and Marshall. The two were perfectly in sync, and each pass hit Marshall right in stride, right after he made his true cut.

And then Marshall was into the endzone with one final catch. A fade to the corner, with Marshall catching the ball as it flew right over his shoulder and into his outstretched hands. He dragged his feet to make sure he was inbounds.

He turned around to face Deshaun, grinning widely. ‘You’re just free touchdowns, ain’t you, nigga?’

Deshaun said nothing, staring straight ahead as Marshall laughed and joined his team in celebration.

The Dons had lost their lead.