Eyeshield 21: Hang on Sloopy
Chapter 5: First Impressions (Misaki Wolves vs. Nishimura Griffons)
(As Told By: Kyle Cade)
I was the backup quarterback holding the clipboard on the sidelines for the first two seasons. Going 0-32, it makes you wonder whether or not the losing will stop or if I made the right choice to play on this team. I think the senior team was glad to get off the field after they graduated, now I had my big chance to play as the starting quarterback.
I went to the lockers before the game. I am 5'10 and 163lbs, I was changing into my uniform, and I was thinking to myself that I have sat on the sidelines for too long, and now it was my chance to help this team become a winner. A t-shirt fell onto my shoes as I was tying my shoelaces. I looked up, and I saw pretty blond with bright brown eyes.
"Hi Kyle, ready to kick some butt?" she asked, I nodded to her. If she doesn't play football in the future, she could make a good teacher,
With those Chun-Li thighs and smoothly muscled, curvy figure, there was no way she was a cheerleader. I knew this girl was something special, Molly 'Sloopy' Wright. I went under center and called out signals, "Black-30, Black-30, set...HUT HUT!" I barked out and the ball was snapped into my hands, and I dropped back to pass on first down.
I threw out a screen pass to Kenneth, and I got to see what she can do when she doesn't get the ball. I have to say she is best blocking receiver I had ever seen. Molly seems to have that sense on where to make the key block. In practice, she is a joy to work with. She has a good work ethic, hands like flypaper, and is not afraid to take a shot.
"Good hustle, good hustle, way to block, Molly," said Coach Reed after we got us a first down with a ten yard gain. Simple plays are often the most effective.
"Thanks coach," Molly would say, and take her place on the sidelines waiting for the next play that calls on her, sometimes getting a swat in the butt from coach,
Molly has a great attitude. She has the kind of attitude you can build a winning team around. She doesn't demand to have the ball on every play. I hate those players that think an offense should revolve around them. She makes mistakes too when she knows it is her fault, and doesn't blame anyone else for her screw-ups. I admire that in a player.
Molly came back onto the field into the huddle as we reached midfield, "Alright, let's make something happen, receiver streaks on one, on one," I said to the offense, and broke the huddle, "18! 18! 18-HUT!" I called, and the ball was hiked into my hands. Both my receivers were covered, and the pocket was closing in. Now I had to scramble for my life.
'Sloopy' was right there shedding off a block, improvising on a broken play. I dumped the ball off to her without crossing the line of scrimmage. She was running down the sidelines from the forty to the thirty-five to the thirty, twenty-five and then pushed out of bounds at the twenty. Molly's one of those players I can call on to save my bacon.
A quarterback is not without his receivers. Other than Molly Wright, I have two other speedsters in Davon Riley and Rashad Treadwell. Molly and I are the only white people on this team besides coach. I could not ask for any better teammates. We all look out for each other on and off the field. The only Asian on the team is the kicker, Danny Wu.
Davon got us our first touchdown of the game, and we set up the extra point attempt, "Set!" I called as the placeholder, and the ball was snapped into my hands,
I got the ball down, laces out. Danny booted the ball through the uprights, "Easy as pie," said the kicker as I tapped on the helmet for a good kick,
"Don't let it get to you, Danny, I've seen kickers screw up an extra point attempt," I said as words of advice to him. Danny seemed to understand as I am the captain for the offense. The Wolves turned the ball over, but we were stuck at the two yard line. With short passes and draw plays, we got out of the red zone and moved down the field.
One of the trademarks of Molly is she doesn't listen to what anyone has to say to bring her down. As she went up to the line, I could hear the Wolves taunting her and insulting her. I can't make out half of what they are saying. Molly doesn't say anything back. She lets her skills do all the talking. The catches she makes really do shut people up.
When you play on a team, we are all taught to embrace the team concept. You don't want anyone on the team with an inflated ego. Everyone on this team looks out for each other on and off the field. We don't do TV interviews like some players on other teams do. Honestly, what TV crew is going to want to interview us? Besides I get stage freight.
We went on to beat Misaki 38 to 21. This was fun to watch. The Wolves kicked off after they scored on us. The ball bounces off Molly's pads, and rolls around on the goal line. She turns around makes one guy miss, and jukes her way through the entire Wolves special teams, and runs 100 yards for a touchdown. Do they believe now? We're for real.