Eyeshield 21: Queen of the Comeback

Chapter 11: Stand Your Ground (Kuroki Copperheads vs. Hakushu Dinosaurs)

I was in the school gym lifting weights, and keeping up my strength for the game, "You know, you may not get a boyfriend, but at least you got us," Darius joked, leaning against the door, "c'mon Ice, the bus is waiting," Darius informed me. I nodded, wiping the sweat from my forehead, and grabbing my stuff for the game against Hakushu.

"Thanks Darius," I said leaving the gym, and heading to the bus with the guys. I was still thinking about Himuro's words from the other day, 'No I am not quitting on this team, these guys never quit on me and I am not quitting on them,' I thought to myself. Our team has accomplished so much for the right to get back to the Christmas Bowl.

This was our second road game of the season, and to say the first half was not going well was an understatement. They kept tight coverage on the receivers, and Gao Rikiya was putting constant pressure on me. I had to rely on short passes to the halfbacks to get the ball down field. Getting hit by Gao was like getting hit by an eighteen-wheeler.

He looked at me, and I kept getting back up. He snorted a grunt as I huddled up the offense while being down 30 to 3, "Okay boys, we're down but we're not out, Lance I want you to run the fade route again, we will fake like we are setting up a screen, I'll pump fake, then you run the route, that should throw off the cornerback," I instructed.

"What about 70? That guy's putting you on your back every time," said Sammy out of concern. I know how he feels. It is a lineman's job to protect the quarterback, and I have been hit by some of the toughest guys in the league. Still, I get back up, and keep on playing. One thing football and speedskating taught me is playing through pain.

I had something in store for Gao that I have been working on in practice while scrimmaging the defense. I lightly put my hand on his helmet, "Don't worry I'll be fine, on one, on one," I broke the huddle, and went behind the center with Darius and Tre in the backfield, "Blue-38, Blue-38, Blue-38-HUT!" I called out, and took the snap from center.

I pumped-faked like I said I would as Lance was setting up for the screen pass and he ran his route while Gao came rampaging at me as I was setting up the pass. I used my legs to leap backwards with my cleat in his facemask, and my hand on his helmet. I would pull my foot back, and slam him down into the turf with my hand on his helmet.

My teammates call that move 'The Battle Axe', and it works on lineman. I managed to get the ball downfield for a thirty yard touchdown to Lance Woodley. Now it was time for the defense to make a stand against the Dinosaurs. We forced a three-and-out, and made them punt. Devon James got us some good field position out on the thirty-five.

"Alright guys, let's keep the momentum going, we're going to run the halfback razzle-dazzle on three, it's on three," I said to the smirking Darius Smith. It is schoolyard play, but it works when you need it, "Black-39 Dragon, Black-39 Dragon, Black-39 HUT! HUT-HUT!" I called out from under center, and took the snap and handed it off to Darius.

The offensive line was doing their job keeping Gao out of the pass pocket. He broke loose as I got the ball away down field, and planted me on my back. It was seventy-five yard touchdown to Antoine Blades, "You keep getting up even after I hit you? You're not like the other quarterbacks I have faced, and crushed," said Gao as I got back up.

"You know what separates the winners from the others?" I asked him, pulling out my mouthguard and reflecting on the words of wisdom from my coach, "it's getting back up on the horse after getting kicked in the teeth," Gao smiled at the words, and I jogged back to the sidelines for a drink of water, and the punt team kicked off to the Dinosaurs

Quarterback Maruko Reiji was sacked by Lajon Taylor, and he fumbled the ball before it was picked up by Kai Millhouse for his first touchdown as a Kuroki Copperhead. We were down 30 to 24 with under thirty seconds left in the game, and we were at the twenty yard line. What happened next will be on the highlight reels for a long, long time.

I dropped back to pass on first down, and threw Hail Mary pass to Antoine Blades, but it was picked off by the cornerback. He was about ten yards into his run when Lance Woodley stripped him of the ball. The ball bounced on the twenty, and was picked up this time by Gao Rikiya who ran for about a yard before being stripped of the football.

The ball squirted out of his hands with fifteen seconds left on the clock, and bounced into my hands. I decided to run with it, and ran eighty yards untouched into the endzone for the touchdown. Coach Cade was on the sidelines laughing hysterically as I came back to our bench with the ball, "Not the most drawn up way to win a game," she joked,

"A win is a win, Coach," I said with a smile, and hugged our coach in celebration. We were getting closer to achieving our goal. There were still more games to play, and the rematch against Shinryuji. Even though we had won the game, everyone on the team knew what was coming on Monday's practice before we start working on the day's drills

We completed a successful two-point conversion, and won the game, "You're a good quarterback, I hope to meet you on the field of battle again," said Gao. The man towered over me like a mountain, but I had win his respect in the game. I can see why a lot of quarterbacks fear this lineman. This guys hurts when he hits me, but I still get back up.

"You too, Big Guy," I said with a light smile, and headed back to the locker room. Tre Wilkinson was the one who tripped up Gao Rikiya, and forced the ball loose. It is thanks to him that we won the game, and he received his first game ball. I met back up with Himuro dressed in my regular clothes, "see? I don't give up on my team just like that,"

"I know your team has a tough schedule, good luck with the rest of the season," Himuro said waving me good-bye as I got on the bus with the other players. Football is not my life, but it does teach life skills. What is the point of going through life without stepping up to life's challenges. It works the same way as getting out onto the football field.