Eyeshield 21: Hang on Sloopy

Chapter 3: Born to Run (Nishimura Griffons vs Seibu Wild Gunmen: Part 2)

Being a kick returner is like being at the edge of a diving board at the pool. Everyone, including the lifeguard, is watching you and waiting for that dive. When that time comes, and you dive off, it's the same as getting the ball on the kickoff or a punt. You go with it. I caught the ball, and found a hole in the special teams and went down the sidelines.

I ran as fast as I could. One player managed to pull my hand towel in front, but I shook him off. I scored my first touchdown off a kickoff in Japan. I dived over the goal line holding the ball in front. I felt my thighs quiver as I hit the turf. I butted facemasks, and hugged players on my first touchdown. Hopefully, it will be one of many for the season.

I went back to the sidelines, "Way to bring it home, Wright, that's what I like to see!" praised Coach Reed, hitting me in the butt with her small playbook

I watched from the sidelines as the defense went on after the kickoff. LaShaun Foster is the defensive captain. With his Derrick Brooks style helmet and blacked out eyeshield, this middle linebacker can bring the pain, and trash talk. The thing is, he backs it up on every play, "C'mon over, if yo' puny ass can make it this far!" he taunted to the halfback

You get hit by LaShaun Foster, he will knock you into next week. He is 6'0 and 220lbs, and quite handsome in my opinion with neat cornrows and brown eyes. He has a girlfriend though. He's a nice guy around us, but when he's on the field he has a job to do. His job is to command the defense, and make the opposing quarterbacks and runningbacks cry.

He's also good at the pass defense as he swatted a ball intended for the tight end, "Na-ah-ah, better keep that shit outta here," he said to the quarterback,

He made his presence known on the first play. It was a draw play up the gut. Foster hit the runningback and maybe knocked him back for a three yard loss. Who ever films these games should really put this dude on sound-bytes, "Hey '29', I got yo' mamma on speed-dial!" he taunted, I watched for the entire game as LaShaun Foster shut him down.

"Go get 'em, Sloopy, score us another one," said LaShaun as I went out onto the field with the offense, "c'mon, Blondie!" he cheered, I jogged onto the field, putting on my helmet and buttoning my chinstrap. My thick braid bounced, and hit the back of my shoulder pads. I inserted my clear mouthguard as I took my place inside the offensive huddle

I have practiced with Kyle Cade all summer long. He's got a cannon for an arm, and throws the most beautiful ball I had ever seen. The ball from him comes fast, and it comes hard like a bullet from a rifle. It is always in a tight spiral. It doesn't wobble or flutter in flight. He is accurate too. I haven't dropped a ball since I became a starting wide receiver

"Hey guys," I said to the offense catching my breath, pulling out my clear mouthguard, and putting in the upper notch of my helmet, and listening to the play call,

"Alright guys, let's go I-right, Halfback-Iso to the strong side on one, it's on one," said Kyle and broke the huddle. I jogged up to my place on the line of scrimmage. I know Andre is going to go my way on this play, "Gold-28, Gold-28-HUT!" as the ball was snapped, I blocked out the cornerback and Andre Wilson broke away into the secondary with the ball.

I kept up with Andre giving him an escort, and throwing a key block on the safety. I pounded a fist into the turf as Andre Wilson scored on a seventy yard touchdown. I got up from the turf, and ran to the end zone to hug him, and butt facemasks with him. When the league pegs you to lose, it makes a big impact to win, and win a game in this fashion.

"You got some hustle, Sloopy," said Andre patting the top of my helmet.

We held the Gunmen to a field goal, and kept Riku Kaitani out of the end zone. Not an easy task. We won our first game 28 to 3. The coach on the other side looked ready to have a nervous breakdown as all our players cheered at midfield. All of the student body came out onto the field to celebrate the first win for the Griffons of Nishimura Academy

After the game, I was approached by the Seibu Wild Gunmen's quarterback known as 'The Kid', "-Good game, Sloopy-" he said with somewhat limited English,

I bowed back to the quarterback, "Thanks, you played a good game too," I replied, shaking his hand. I was truthful in my words. He has a cannon for an arm, and really good receivers even if the secondary got the better of him. The point of any game is to win. When you win, it's a great feeling. When you lose, you learn from the mistakes you made.

So playing football can teach you those life skills you will need for the world. You learn to work with, and get along with others on both sides of the ball, and between players from different teams. It's good to be confident on the field, but you need to be able to back up what you say on the field. I'm not a trash-talker like LaShaun. My actions do my talking.