The big game against Middle Park will most likely be 2 chapters, this one is for the pregame, 1st half and halftime. This is a must win. Middle Park usually gives South Park a hard time, but the Bulls still manage to squeak by with the league title over most of the recent seasons, but this is also for the 1st round bye. Both 8-1 teams going after win #9, the league title and 1st round bye. GO GET 'EM, BULLS! BEAT MIDDLE PARK!
Friday 6:37 PM in the quiet town of South Park, the entire town is completely empty due to the citizens going to the big football game between their South Park Bulls and the Middle Park Colts.
6:45 PM at Peter Charles Stadium on the SPHS campus, the entire stadium is filling up. There's a large number of people dressed in navy blue, white and silver, but a larger number of people dressed in black, dark green and white. Sky is getting darker and the six stadium lights with three on each side are turned on and brightening up slowly
6:55 PM inside the boy's locker room, The entire football team and coaching staff are in a huddle together, people in the center of the circle, including Coach PC, are taking a knee while the others are on their feet. Everyone holding hands and some others having their hands on others shoulders and praying.
Stan is even here for this game too, but to watch from the sidelines with his team though. Still wearing his #4 jersey under his varsity jacket and still in crutches.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive who those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen." The entire team and staff prayed in unison.
After their prayer, PC rises up from his knee and began his prep speech.
"Listen up, people." Coach PC began. "Everything you've all done to this point means nothing. All of them two days in the heat means nothing and all of them games we won mean nothing." He told his players. "If you don't win tonight, no league title, no 1st round bye, no shot at state." He advised.
"This game is 48 minutes, for the next 48 years of your life!" He advised.
"Okay, break it down!" He told his team, making them all pumped up and all ready to go.
All of them raised their hands up to call a break.
"Let's go! Bull pride on three!" Coach PC began. "One, two, three,"
"BULL PRIDE!" The entire team shouted out in unison, as they broke the huddle, headed out the door and walked to the big gate entrance to the stadium, getting ready to run out onto the field.
7:00 PM at Peter Charles Stadium, the crowd cheering as loud as they could as the SPHS varsity football team is about to run onto the field. The entire cheerleadings, with half the squad on each side, holding up a huge white banner that's 16 feet wide and 8 feet tall, with an angry bull charging and with black and dark green wording in front if that says "South Park BULLS". The crowd goes roaring out loud as the team ran onto the field, through the banner as it split in half and ran across the field all fired up and onto the sidelines on their side of the field.
"South Park versus Middle Park for the whole megillah." Frank Hammond spoke through the microphone from the announcer's booth. "This game will decide on who will clinch the Park County league title & 1st round bye, and who will advance to the first round of the playoffs next Friday." He added.
"This is the game. This is what it's all about." Paul Nelson said.
On the track, where the SPHS cheerleaders are at.
"Cocky ass Middle Pussy Cunts ain't gonna fuckin' beat us." Jessica said, with determination.
"Got that right, girl." Nichole said, in agreement.
"Seriously, Heidi?" Wendy asked.
"Eric Cartman asked you to the prom?" Millie asked.
"Yep." Heidi answered, while blushing.
"What did you say?" Bebe asked.
"I said yes." Heidi answered again.
"Wow, what a surprise." Nelly complimented.
"I suppose it won't be so bad this time, since he's changed a bit over the years." Heidi said.
On the field, the three South Park captains of the game, Kenny McCormick (13), Token Black (36) and Trent Boyett (52), the three Middle Park captains, their quarterback (10), wide receiver (2) and running back (31), and the referee doing a coin toss on mid-field.
"Bulls will receive the ball." The referee in the white hate said. "You gentlemen shake hands." He told the three SPHS and three MPHS players. "Let's have a good, hard-hitting, clean football game."
Each of the three players from one team shook hands with each of the three players from the other team.
7:15 PM, kickoff time with the Colts kicking off to the Bulls.
"Bulls have won the toss. Pass out the ammunition, let's go to war!" Frank said, through the microphone, as the MPHS kicker kicked the ball and the game begins.
#18 for the Bulls catches the ball at his own 1 yard line and runs with it. He picks up a block, cuts to his left, works the Bull sideline and gets hit out of bounds at his own 40 yard line after a 39 yard return.
On the sidelines, Kyle is getting a play from PC. Stan is on his crutches, beside PC on the other side.
"I-right, shift-62. We're a running team." Coach PC told Kyle. "Remember what I said." He reminded him as a part of their talk from yesterday. "Now, go fetch me a championship. Go on!" He said, as Kyle jogged onto the field.
"Let's go, Kyle!" Stan shouted out.
"Get down their throats now!" PC said.
On the field, Kyle in the office settled in to the formation.
"Pink 33! Pink 33! Down! Set! HUT!" Kyle shouted out, as he took the snap.
Kyle gives it to his running back, Token Black, goes left into the gap between the tight end, Bridon Gueermo (86) and left tackle (61), the linebackers (37 & 58) blocked by Bridon and the left guard (71) and the defensive end (97) blocked by the left tackle, Token with a good run to start off the game as the strong safety (16) tackles him at the Colt 47 yard line after a 13 yard run by Token.
Next play, Kyle takes the snap, gives it to Token again, goes right to the outside into the outside gap Bridon, spins a tackle off of the outside linebacker (41), runs for more yardage, and gets tackled by the cornerback (14) at the Colt 29 yard line after a gain of 18 yards.
Next play, Kyle takes a snap, hands it off to Token again for the third consecutive play, goes left into the gap between the left tackle and left guard, breaks a tackle off the middle linebacker (58), gets a block by Kenny McCormick (13), who blocked the free safety (25), the cornerback gets ahold of Token, but Token kept on running as the strong safety tackles him at the Colt 7 yard line after a 22 yard run.
Token with three 1st downs on three straight plays, the crowd is so pumped up, as the cheerleaders are doing their routine.
"What a great drive. Basically going to Black the whole way. "You can stamp "U.S. mail" on his butt." Paul said.
"1st & Goal at the Middle Park 7." Frank said.
"You got to give it to Black and let him take it in." Paul stated.
On the SPHS sidelines, PC is giving his backup fullback, Tommy Turner (47) the next upcoming play.
"Slot right, 36 dive." Coach PC told him, as Tommy jogged onto the field and starting fullback, Craig Tucker (43) is jogging off the field and onto the sidelines. "Move your ass in, let's go!"
On the field, Tommy comes into the huddle and gives the offense the play.
"Here we go. Slot right, 36 dive." Tommy told Kyle.
Token looks upset, as he knows what PC is doing.
"Fucking PC! Shit's fucked up." Token said, all disappointed.
"We'll change that to 26 dive." Kyle told the entire offense.
"What?" The center (65) asked.
"Don't be stupid." Clyde said.
"No way, man." Bridon said.
"Does somebody have a problem with Token putting one in the end zone?"
"No, sir." Cartman (68) answered.
"I don't think so." Kyle said "Slot right, 26 dive, on one. Slot right, 26 dive on one. Ready?" Kyle told his offense
"Break!" The entire team clapped in unison, as they broke the huddle and settled into their formation.
"Let's take it in. Go!" PC shouted out.
"HUT!" Kyle shouted out, as he took the snap.
On the fourth straight play, Kyle gives it to Token again. The offensive line pancake blocked most of their defenders. Token goes to the right and into the gap between the right tackle (78) and Bridon, hurdles over the blocked defenders on the ground, he dives for the goal line and the strong safety hits him again and HE IS IN FOR THE TOUCHDOWN ON A 7 YARD RUN. THE CROWD RISED FROM THEIR FEET AND ROARED OUT IN APPLAUSE! AND JUST LIKE THAT, SOUTH PARK STRIKES FIRST! 6-0 Bulls with 11:18 left in the 1st quarter.
"Yeah!" Kyle shouted out, as he watched Token score the touchdown.
"Yeah! YEAH! YEAH-AH-HA! YEAH, BABY! YEAH!" Token screamed out in excitement, as he celebrated after scoring the game's first touchdown.
Every one of his teammates on the field started giving him hugs and pats on the shoulder and/or back. Coach PC took off his headset, Equally surprised and disappointed that Kyle disobeyed him on that play that was supposed to go to the backup fullback, Tommy Turner. Token now turns to Kyle, Both teammates holding each other by their helmets.
"Thanks, Kyle. Thanks, baby." Token gratefully said to his quarterback. "Yeah! Let's go."
The two jogged back to the sidelines.
"Yeah, keep it up, asshole." Coach PC said to himself at Kyle after that drive, especially that recent play that did not go his way like he thought. "I'll give you that one and that's it!" He thought to himself.
The extra point is made. And later in game, South Park managed to settle for a field goal and hold Middle Park throughout the entire 1st quarter and the first 9 minutes of the 2nd quarter with 2:44 left in the 2nd quarter. Colts offense with the ball at the 50 yard line. Bulls defense, including Trent Boyett, Pete Melman and Kevin Stoley, on the field.
"Bulls leading 10-0. Middle Park with the football just at mid-field." Frank stated, through the microphone.
"HUT!" The Middle Park Colts quarterback shouted out, as he took the snap.
The Colts quarterback pitches it to his running back and he goes left.
"Lucas "Lightning" James gets the pitch. He's at mid-field." Frank said.
Middle Park running back, Lucas James, running a sweep to the outside left, gets a amount of blocks and he could go the distance.
"He's gonna go. The 40, 35, 20, 15, 10, the 5. Touchdown. Good grief!" Frank said, as the SPHS crowd went silent.
James does a cartwheel and then a backflip after finally putting the Colts on the board. Middle Park crowd goes wild, the players and coaches celebrating on the sidelines.
South Park's lead cut down to 3. Later in the game, a couple of South Park's next possessions later, it's 2nd down & 5 at their own 41 yard line with 2:08 left. Kyle getting ready to take the snap.
"Blue 61! Blue 61! Down! SET!" Kyle shouted out, as he took the snap.
Kyle hands it off to Token, goes into the gap between the center and Cartman the right guard. But as Token is running, after passing mid-field, he felt a painful pop in his left hamstring. Started holding it with his left hand and limping on the run. The two safeties both hit Token so hard at the same time at the 45 yard line, they even forced a fumble on him. Token goes down, a group of players from both teams dived for the football and Middle Park's middle linebacker recovers it and it will be 1st & 10 for the Colts at their own 46 yard line. South Park turns the ball over and Token is slow to get up.
"What a hit on Black." Frank stated.
"I tell you, that's about as ferocious a hit I've seen all year." Paul stated. "He's in pain. And the bad thing about it, if he can't come back in and play..."
"What about the Bulls?" Frank asked, as he just cut Paul off.
The Bulls' football team's trainer came onto the field to help take Token off the field along with Kyle and Cartman.
"Get me off the field!" Token demanded, still grunting in pain.
"Lean on him. Lean on him." The trainer said, as Kyle and Cartman started taking Token to the sidelines.
On the Bulls sidelines, the team's offensive coordinator began to tell PC what happened to their running back.
"He pulled something." The offensive coordinator notified the head coach.
"Damn." PC replied. "Can you fix him?" He asked.
"If he'll let us, since Stan didn't let us last time." The offensive coordinator answered.
"Make him understand." PC convinced.
"Yes, sir." The offensive coordinator replied.
"How you feeling, boy?" PC asked.
"Feeling all right, Coach." Token answered, in pain.
"Took a pretty good shot there." PC stated. "Let the old trainer take a look at it." He advised him.
"Yes, sir." Token replied.
On the field, 1st & 10 for the Colts at their own 46 yard with 1:57 left.
"HUT!" Shouted out the Colts quarterback, as he took the snap.
Middle Park O-Line blocking the South Park D-Line good, receivers running their routes as their quarterback (10) drops back to pass.
"Middle Park with the football, Daniel Preston, quarterback, he wants to throw. Throws long," Frank tells, through the microphone.
Preston throws a deep pass to his left to his main wide receiver (2), who burned the Bulls' main cornerback, Pete Melman, and catches the ball at the South Park 16 yard line.
"and it is caught!" Frank said.
Pete managed to catch up to his guy, dives for the tackle, the receiver jukes the tackle at the 11 yard line, free safety, Kevin Stoley comes in for the tackle, the receiver spins off the tackle at the 6 yard line and gets into the end zone standing up for a 56 yard touchdown reception.
"Touchdown! Middle Park!" Frank said, from the announcer's booth.
Middle Park takes the lead for the first time tonight. 13-10 Colts with 1:48 left. Middle Park wide receiver who just scored the go ahead TD for the Colts began celebrating with a crazy fast spinning dance move in the end zone.
"Hoofed down there by Maxwell "Mad Dog" Logan in the zone, and look at him dance with the football. Get some mustard." Frank said.
"There ain't no room for that hully-gully stuff down there like that." Paul stated.
From the Colts side of the stadium, all the players and coaches are celebrating from the sidelines, their fans are cheering so loud from the stands, as Middle Park just took a 14-10 lead after the PAT has just been made after the touchdown. Even sending middle fingers and dissing the Bulls to the South Park side from all the way across the stadium.
Better stay classy, Middle Park!
After a 48 yard kickoff return that was returned to the Colts 48 yard line, which is where Kyle and the offense will take over with 1:39 left to play and has a shot to retake lead before halftime. But Coach PC rather take no chance, especially after what just happened to Token
"Kneel on it." PC told his quarterback.
"Coach, there's a minute and a half left and we have one timeout! Let me throw something." Kyle convinced.
"I ain't interested in another turnover." PC said, refusing Kyle's option. "Get out there!"
Kyle disappointingly walks onto the field while buckling up his chinstrap.
"Move it!" PC yelled out, causing Kyle to jog into the offensive huddle. "Thinks I'm here for his entertainment." He said to himself in annoyance.
On the field, Kyle and the offense settled into a victory formation to take a knee.
"Set! HUT!" Kyle shouted out, as he took the snap and took a knee.
The referee blows the whistle and the clock starts winding down. Neither any of the two teams bothered taking a timeout. After two more kneel downs.
"Well, the clock winding down, and I can't say that I understand this. Broflovski, kneeling on the football." Frank stated.
"That's gutless football." Paul stated.
"And listen to this crowd." Frank said.
The entire SPHS crowd looked silent in disappointment. Kyle taking a knee instead of taking another shot at the end zone, due to PC's orders. Even Kyle's parents, Bebe and the other cheerleaders too. The teams go to the locker rooms.
"Well, at the end of the first half, Bulls trailing 14-10." Frank stated.
"What was that all about?" Red asked.
"I don't know." Millie answered.
"I thought Kyle would take a shot downfield." Nelly wondered.
"Probably PC." Bebe guessed.
Halftime score: Middle Park 14, South Park 10
Inside the boy's locker room, the team is sitting inside the locker room, while Token, PC and coaching staff are in the medical room that's on the other side of the door inside the locker room. Token is sitting up on the patient's bed with PC beside him, his jersey, shoulder pads, left sock and left cleat off. The staff is about heal his strained hamstring with cortisone injections to get him back on the field.
"You're a gamer, Token. Let's do this, you'll be good to go." On of the assistant coaches convinced him.
Kyle opens the door, stunned and shocked to see what PC is doing to Token.
"What are you doing?" Kyle asked
"He's getting back in the game!" PC answered. "Close the door." He demanded.
"Token, don't do this." Kyle convinced Token to change his mind, as Kenny comes in.
"Hey, Coach, I heard a pop. You know, I think he's hurt pretty bad." Kenny informed PC.
"You get out of here!" PC said, again. "You all wouldn't know anything about dedication, team play."
"But I would." Stan said, as he came into the room on crutches, to stand for the injured running back. "Don't do it, Token. It's not worth it, man." He also convinced him.
"You gonna listen to that from a gimp who's praying that we'll lose, so he can be the missing link?" PC asked out loud.
"Maybe I shouldn't do it." Token said, changing his mind.
"Get the hell out of here!" PC demanded again in anger.
"Don't do it." Stan encouraged Token again.
"Before I lose my temper! GET OUT!" PC barked in outrage to his injured QB.
"Don't do it, Token." Kevin Stoley said, in the background as Cartman came up to PC's face.
"If that needle goes anywhere near Token's leg, I swear to God on my mother's grave I will rip your arms off and beat you to death with them!" Cartman threatened with anger.
"You stay the hell out of this, Cartman. This has nothing to do with you." PC told his big offensive guard.
"This has to do with all of us." Kyle began, as he started standing up to and mouthing off to his head coach. "We kill ourselves for you. Year round, we play hurt, we play sick, and we spend most of that time scared that we're gonna screw up" PC carelessly walks back to the medical room, ignoring Kyle's statement while Kyle follows him and holds the door open. "and you're going to kick our ass, BECAUSE YOU DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT US!" Kyle yelled. "All you care about is your next league title." He finished.
"Give him the shot!" PC advised the other coaches, as they began to prepare to do it.
"You give him that shot, you find yourself another fucking quarterback." Kyle threatened.
"You about ready to lose that scholarship, boy?" PC asked.
"If it keeps that needle out of his leg, absolutely." Kyle answered.
"Good." PC replied.
"Fuck it, I'm out." Kyle said, as he walked out into the locker room with the other players waiting.
"Oh, that's good! That's good! Finally!" PC ranted. "McCormick, you take the snaps." He told his wide receiver.
"No, I won't." Kenny denied. "No, I'm out, Coach."
"What'd you say?" PC asked.
"I said, I'm out." Kenny answered again.
"I'm with them." Cartman agreed.
"The only way we're going back on that field is without you." Kyle told PC, as he then turned his back on him.
Coach PC, now filled with fury and outrage at what his temporary starting quarterback just said, bursted out of the medical room and grabbed Kyle by shoulder. Everybody
"I'm gonna pull the shit out of you!" PC threatened as he started strangling Kyle, #15 and #89 of the team started pulling him off of Kyle. #20 and #70 also restraining Kyle.
Everybody yelling and ranting "Get him off! Get him off!". As PC calmed down, everyone looked at him with horror and shock. Token coming out, also with a pair of crutches.
"All right, get your helmet on, and let's take the field. Let's go, let's go!" PC told his entire team.
Everybody refused and just stood there in denial, anger and ignorance.
"Let's go now! LET'S GO, GOD DAMN IT!" He yelled out again in encouragement, trying to fire up his team. "I'm walking out that door. I want you want to trust me and follow me out there." He said in emotional convincing, as he started walking out the door.
"Come on, let's go. Let's go after that title now." He said, as he opened the door and went out waiting for his team to come out. "Let's go, let's go! Let's go." He encouraged again while clapping his hands.
Each and every player on the team, even the assistant coaches, stood there in silence, disappointment and failure in the locker room, ignoring PC's inspiration, which isn't working. PC for a several seconds, and it finally came to him that his players and the other coaches are serious they're not coming out. He then walked to his office with sadness in his eyes.
To be continued...
End of chapter 15...
Well that's just great! :( Right when they're just about to have starting star quarterback, Stan Marsh, back in another week or two, star running back, Token Black, goes down with a grade I left hamstring strain. It's not that serious and there's no tear, but he's gonna be out for the next 2 to 3 weeks at least. Token could be back in time for the semifinals or the Colorado class 3A state championship, if South Park ever makes it that far. And now down by 4 at the half and after standing before their carefree head coach, this could be PC's final game as the South Park High School Bulls varsity football team's head coach. Could this time come back and win this game without him? Who will take over for PC as head coach in the 2nd half? And what a surprise that Heidi Turner said yes on going to prom with Eric Cartman. And that night Stan got hurt and got sent to the hospital after that weekend, Coach PC offered to put cortisone injections in Stan's knee to get him back early, but Stan was smart enough that it would make his injury more worse, which is why he denied it. But the PC and the other coaches convinced Token to take it during halftime, but good thing he didn't either.