Chapter 6-Sasuke's first football game
For almost a month after Sasuke made the football team he had practiced over and over again. The game was practically drilled into his mind. Now it was time for their first game. Time to see if all that training had paid off.
Close Up With Sasuke
"Today is the day of the Hunnington Wildcats first football game and even though I'm probably not going to get to play since I'm one of the back ups I think I'll enjoy the game anyway," he said.
He slipped on his quarterback pads and his jersey along with his pants, socks, and cleats. After getting ready he got on his motorcycle and took off down towards the school from which he walked into the locker room. "Hey coach Patelli," Sasuke said.
"Hey Sasuke," Patelli said. "Didn't think you would come."
"Team's more important then if I play coach," Sasuke said. "Someone important to me told me that."
"Get on in the locker room," Coach said. He walked in and saw Coach Maller getting the team ready.
"What are we going to do tonight," Maller yelled.
"Win," the team yelled.
"I cannot hear you," Maller yelled. "Again what are we going to do?"
"Win," the team said.
"That's right," Maller said. "Nothing less. Now everyone hands in." They put their hands on top of another. "On three Wildcats. "
"One two three Wildcats."
"Now go go go," Maller yelled. He was surprised to see Sasuke there. "Uchiha," he said. "Didn't think you'd show up?"
"Coach the team is just as important to me even if I'm not playing," Sasuke told him.
"We'll get you in at the next game ok," Coach Maller said. "Next to Conti you are the finest quarterback I've ever seen."
"Conti's better then me," Sasuke said walking out towards the door.
Close up with Coach Maller
"To think that he'd show up and that he's a backup player astounds me. He probably won't play much but his devotion to it is intense," the coach said. "I've never seen someone so devoted to something as much as Sasuke Uchiha."
"Good evening fans and welcome to the season opener of another great season of football at Hunnington high," Mark Heidrich said. "I'm Mark Heidrick here with Hinata Hyuga Hinata how are you tonight?"
"Good Mark," Hinata said. "Great to be here."
"Now I understand a friend of yours is down there," she said.
"Yes that's right a backup player backup quarterback Sasuke Uchiha is a friend of mine and the guitarist in our band," Hinata told Mark.
"I heard their performance two weeks ago at the Halloween Havok thon was impressive," he said.
"Yes it was now let's get back to the game," Hinata said. "The two teams are going in for the coin toss."
The Wildcats went on one side of the field facing their rivals, the El Segundo Rattlers. "Heads," Chris Conti the quarterback said. The ref flipped the quarter and it was heads. "We go that way," Chris said pointing in front of him.
"Sure," the ref said. Both teams came out and took positions on the field. The Rattlers kicked off and one of the players caught it.
"And Jack Yarrow has the ball," Mark said. Jack began to run with it and then passed it to Chris. "And now to Chris Conti." But Conti was tackled at El Segundo's thirty yard line.
"And he's stopped at the thirty line," Hinata said. "Nice dash."
For the rest of the first time the Wildcats had the ball the Rattlers simply wouldn't allow them to get a touchdown. After four downs they kicked it off to the Rattlers, who they stopped easily. Then the same process repeated again. "The seconds are counting down for this window of opportunity," Hinata said. "Chris Conti hikes the ball. He throws it to Mike Cantella and runs into the innzone and Cantella throws. Chris is in position and it's going to be close." Chris caught the ball but at the last second was tackled.
"Touchdown," the ref said. The crowd went wild.
"A touchdown for Chris Conti," Hinata yelled. "Great catch." But something was wrong. Chris was writhing in pain. Patelli and Maller went up to him.
"You ok Chris," Coach Maller said helping him up.
"Yeah I'm fine," Chris said getting his footing.
"That's good," Patelli said. Chris put back on his helmet and then started heading back towards the field. The Rattlers kicked it off and they got it. Chris tried to stop them but it he was hurt and limped the whole way. They got a touchdown and the quarter ended.
"No," Patelli said. Conti came back. "Chris you ok?"
"I can play Coach," Chris said trying to walk. He took one step the fell over. "Gnnha," he screamed holding his legs.
"Christ," Maller said. "Get him to a doctor."
"What are we going to do," Patelli said.
"You are forgetting someone," Maller said. A grin appeared on Patelli's face.
"Sasuke," he said. Sasuke ran up to him.
"Yes sir," Sasuke said.
"Get up there its your turn," he said. Sasuke closed his eyes. "Ha," he said. The two coaches watched his eyes shift from their normal onyx to red with black lines and three dots. They had seen this before but never knew why Sasuke did it. But every time he did he did great. "Go come on."
"Sure coach," Sasuke said running out onto the field.
"It seems Sasuke Uchiha is taking the field," Hinata said.
"Uchiha who's new here has proved himself in practice but let's how well he does on the field," Mark said. Sasuke went up and the Rattlers kicked the ball off. Jack caught it and ran with it. He threw it to Sasuke and Sasuke ran, and he ran, faster then anyone had ever seen and got a touchdown.
"Alright," Mark said. "Now let's see how he can kick a goal." He went up and kicked the ball and got a field goal. "Your friend is great Hinata."
"Thanks," she said.
Sasuke kept on wowing the crowd with more great plays. But the Rattlers kept getting touchdowns on them. The score was tied 43 to 43 when the last few seconds came up.
"It's real close," Mark said. "Can Sasuke pull through and win us our first game." Sasuke stood on the field. His sharingan began to spin and he saw the plan Coach Maller had made was flawed. If he threw it to Mike Cantella the ball would be intercepted or fumbled. But he got an idea.
"Twenty two, twenty three, twenty four," Sasuke said. "Hut hut hike." The player in front of him hiked the ball and everyone split up. "Cantella on you," Sasuke said throwing the ball towards Mike. Like Sasuke had predicted someone stepped in front of Cantella. But Sasuke did something more. He shot up and tackled the guy in front of Cantella, so fast no one really saw it.
"What just happened," Mark said.
"It seems Sasuke almost came out of nowhere," Hinata said. Mike caught the ball and ran towards the in zone where he got a touchdown. A few seconds later the clock stopped. The Wildcats had won.
In the locker room the team was raving over Sasuke. "Great work man," Jack Yarrow said tapping Sasuke on the back.
"Thanks Yarrow," Sasuke said to the black kid his age.
"Best quarterback I ever seen," Mike said giving him a high five.
"No problem Cantella," Sasuke said.
"Hey Sasuke," Coach Maller said. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure," he said walking up to the coach. "Something wrong?"
"No you had a great game," Maller said. "Thanks."
"How's Conti," he said
"He didn't where leg guards and now he has multiple shin fractures," Maller told him. "He's out for the season."
"Great," Sasuke said.
"I want you to fill his place," Maller said.
"Really," Sasuke said.
"Yep," he said. "Congrats Sasuke you are our new starting quarterback." Sasuke reached over and hugged the coach.
"Thanks Coach," he said.
"You just keep up your game," Maller said. "Now get on home and have a good weekend."
"Thanks sir," Sasuke said walking out of the locker room and out to the parking lot. He drove his bike home and everyone cheered.
"We saw the game on channel 22," she said. "On the school's channel."
"You did great," Neji said.
"Thanks Neji," Sasuke said. "I'm staring quarterback now."
"That's awesome man," Gaara said hitting him on the back.
"Thanks Gaara," Sasuke said.
Close up with Sasuke
"To be the new starting quarter back is a real big thing for me," Sasuke said. "I feel like I really accomplished something tonight and I feel sorry for Chris Conti and I really hope he gets better."
After that Sasuke closed his eyes. He had enough for one day.