Junior Year Box Set

Bloomington ended up winning the toss and taking the football. Most teams wanted the ball to start the second half. The reason was that at that point you would know how the game was going and if you were up or down. It also gave your offense a chance to make adjustments at halftime, and that often resulted in a better drive than early in the game.

Our new kicker, Derek Hofmann, put it through the end zone, so there was no return. Bloomington’s game plan became apparent early. They intended to use their size to run the ball down our throats. Our two new defensive tackles, Johan and Milo Bauer, were up to the task. The two big farm boys may have been smaller, but they were as strong as oxen. Coach Stork had worked with the defensive line and taught them to dig in and keep the linemen off of our linebackers, which allowed Tim and Yuri to fly around and make plays.

Bloomington was able to move the football, and I had a bad feeling we would wear down. It was like a prize fight, and early body blows would take their toll in later rounds. Then I watched as Tim got tied up with a lineman, and another hit his legs. I knew as soon as I saw it: Tim was hurt. The Bloomington running back got free and scored, but there was a flag down. They had been caught with the illegal hit on Tim.

Our training staff ran out onto the field, and I watched as they checked his knee. The stadium was quiet as they brought the ambulance right out onto the field. I felt a cold rage start to build within me. Tim had worked so hard, and in an instant, his hopes of playing football in college could be over. Coach Zoon and Diamond pulled me to the sideline.

“David! David!” Coach Zoon yelled to get my attention. “Focus!”

I finally looked at my two coaches who had concern written all over their faces.

“Worry about Tim later. He’d want you to win this game,” Coach Diamond said.

I bent over and felt like I was going to throw up again. Tim and I had become much closer over the summer. The coaches were right, I needed to get my head back into the game, especially if I was going to make them pay.

The fifteen-yard penalty stopped their drive, and they had to punt. Bloomington pinned us inside our 5 yard line at the 3. Coach Diamond gave me the first play, and I smiled. We lined up in our triple-option format with Ty standing next to me in the shotgun, and Wolf and Ed lined up a step back and outside our tackles.

“Down! Set! Hut, Hut!” I called out.

Bloomington was in full run-blitz mode to try and stuff Ty in the end zone so they could get a safety. I pulled the ball from Ty’s stomach and trusted he would pick up anyone that came free. Roc had given a halfhearted break off the ball and sold the run. A lot of receivers give away the run by not acting the same as when they know the ball might come to them. Then Roc took off like a shot. Their safety drifted over to cover him, but I followed through like we were running the option. The safety hesitated, which gave me the window I needed. I planted my feet and threw the football as far as I could with plenty of air under it to let Roc catch up to it. I had learned that from Bill last year. All I needed to do was give my receivers a chance to go get it.

I, like everyone else in the stadium, held my breath as the football seemed to sail forever. Roc reached out and gathered it in stride. The safety didn’t have a chance. The cowbells erupted, and you couldn’t hear yourself think. The whole offense sprinted down the field to congratulate our freshman receiver. I would have to send Bill the video to let him know that, even though we missed him, his replacement was doing just fine.

When I came off the field, I expected Coach Zoon to put me in for Tim. I was surprised when Mike was sent in to replace my friend. On the next drive, Bloomington discovered that Mike liked to hit their running backs. What confused me was last year he had been a beast at running back at times, but this year he had seemed to shy away from contact.

Bloomington’s running game began to work, and they crossed the 50 yard line. On a third and short, Yuri put a tremendous hit on their tailback, and he fumbled. When the pile had been unstacked, Bloomington had recovered, but they had to punt again. Their punter put it out of bounds at the 8 yard line. I started to not like him.

This time we lined up in our normal formation, except Wolf moved out to a wideout, and Ty moved to one of the halfback positions just outside the tackles. Jake was my fullback next to me.

“Down! Set!” I called.

On ‘Set,’ Ty came in motion. His path would put him in front of me.

“Hut, Hut!”