A/N: It's the final quarter it all or nothing now but can Huey's team continue or has fatigue finally got the best of them. Can anyone guess where in this chapter I have placed an homage to Dave Stala of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL. Once again I want to give thanks to DaveTheWordsmith and KODfreak for reviewing and giving great feedback, everyone else please review so I can get your feedback as well. I'd like to hear from a larger variety of people and get their opinions as well as things might get reader interactive in the coming chapters. Tell me what you think of my original characters. Do you like, them hate, or don't really care about them?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Boondocks, Aaron McGruder and Sony Pictures does.
Chapter 11 –Victory or Defeat?
Everyone collapsed on the bench, grabbing greedily for bottles of water. Sweat rolled down their faces as they tried to catch three breathes between giant gulps of water and sports drink.
"We still have seven minutes to win this," Huey said to his tired, demoralised players.
"I'm too tired," Riley complained from his place lying on the ground. "Playin' both sides of da ball is too much for a homie."
"We only have one quarter left. We only need six points. That's one simple touchdown," Huey tried to motivate them but it was not working until Jason stood up.
"He's right," Jason said standing up beside Huey. "We have a single quarter left. We have survived three of them already. I can't feel the left side of my torso, but I am going to go back out there and finish this game as a real superstar would." He looked directly at Riley who was sitting up now.
"Hey I'm a real nigga," Riley shouted jumping to his feet. "If ya playin' den I'm playin'. I can't have ya cracka ass shown up da real show."
"Anyone else? What about you babe?" Jason asked Jazmine. "Didn't you say you would make that next kick? You can't make it sitting on the bench."
Jazmine stood up and joined the trio facing the rest of the team. "They're right. We've come too far to just throw in the towel now."
"We need to dig deep within ourselves and wrench that little bit of energy we need to bring this thing home," Caesar added infected with the determination of his friends. "Cindy are you going to let Mina show you up or are you gonna show all these people you are the best?"
"Hell no, dat hussy ain't better dan the Blonde Bomber," Cindy said spraying her face with the water in her bottle. "I ain't done yet, not until I've buried her."
"Hiro?" Jason asked his friend holding out his hand.
"If ya'll gonna to try and finished this thing then I'd be a real punk ass bitch if I quit," the Asian DJ said grabbing his friends forearm. "Besides I don't want to see what Wuncler has in store for us if we lose. He owns the bank that owns all our houses."
"So we're in agreement then. No one leaves that field until the last whistle is blown with our win," Huey finished off the inspirational speech. "I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, so let's do this."
The team cheered and rushed back onto the field where the music blearing from the speakers set up all around the stadium pumped them up even more. Only Jason and Riley took their time returning to the field, because Jason had stopped midstride to hold his side and Riley had been the only one to notice.
"I think the anaesthesia is wearing off," he said to his rival trying to brush off the pain.
"Ya gonna be okay?" Riley asked with concern. He wanted to show the white boy that he was the true star of the team and his rival needed to be playing for him to do so.
"I'll push through it," Jason said straightening up and putting on a brave face. After making such a speech as he just did he could not show weakness.
"Good, because I ain't no fake nigga and I want to win the right way," Riley gave Jason one of his cocky smirks.
"I'm not going to lose to you," Jason replied with the same smirk. "Just don't cry when you lose."
"Hey ya'll be the one cryin'," Riley countered but Jason just laughed and joined the rest of the team on the field to receive the post-touchdown kickoff. "You ain't gonna beat me."
The Chargers' kicker kicked a hanger at them and by the time the ball was caught by Riley he was swarmed with blue and gold players. The running back went down under a pile of Chargers' but still managed to hold onto the ball; unfortunately they would be starting from their own seven yard line.
So close to his own end zone Huey could not risk a pass being picked off so he was forced to go to the running game that had stalled since the first quarter. Riley lined up behind him and to the side as Caesar snapped the ball back to him and he put it in Riley's hands.
Riley accepted the ball at near full speed and used the speed to break through the line and push into the secondary. He broke the tackle of the corner back who had abandoned covering Hiro and turned her attention to him. His goal was the first down marker and when he passed it he tried to keep going was hauled down when someone grabbed the back of his shoulder pads. A flag went up and they were awarded more yards.
With Riley's successful run, Huey decided to give him another shot and once again Riley managed to pick up large yards. This time he cut around the line following Jazmine on her route before he was forced out of bounds after gaining eight yards.
Needing only two yards Huey accepted the snap from Caesar who once again set about stopping Rex. Huey planned to throw the ball, but all his receivers were covered and Riley was engaged with one of the defensive backs. That's when he saw a gap open when Caesar managed for the first time to bring Rex down as the large teen lost his balance when his teammate beside him was brought down by a Black Panther linemen and he clipped Rex's knee causing it to fold. Huey decided it was time for him to advance the ball for once and he shot off for the gap, shifting the ball into a protective hold.
Normally a quarterback would slide when faced with a potential tackle situation, but Huey was not an ordinary quarterback. When the safety made a lunge for him, Huey spun around to the side avoiding the tackle before he continued. He was far beyond the first down marker and far into the Charger's secondary. As the secondary converged on him, his receivers also converged with their shadows. Without having to worry about staying within Huey's throwing range and keeping an eye out for the ball they passed their shadows with ease and threw blocks for Huey.
With no one left to throw a block Huey was in the clear at the Chargers' twenty yard line. The closest Charger was at least five yards away from him in every direction. Without any show boating or fanfare Huey ran the ball in for a touchdown. He did allow himself one moment of celebration when he spiked the ball making the score 28-27.
"Jeez Huey," Jason said as the receivers once again converged on their quarterback this time in celebration. "Where the hell did that come from?"
"I wanted to save it for later games," Huey said. "It's no good showing our entire hand in the first game. If our opponents think I don't run then they won't design their defence to counter my run game."
"So you're saying you have other tricks up your sleeve then," Jason said with his smirk. It was good to know his quarterback could think on his feet and had plays kept hidden for them.
"Den ya should be doin' da runnin' nigga," Riley said. "We alls tired and shit and ya could have been running dis whole time."
"You're the running back Riley," Huey said as they went to line up for Jazmine's attempt at singe point which she made. As they went to line up again for the kickoff the two brothers continued their conversation. "You are expected to run, Riley it's your job, just like Jason and Cindy are expected to catch the ball and Caesar is expected to give me a perfect snap."
"Nigga just run more," Riley said.
"Once again putting this wannabe gangster aside, we need to stop this advance and get some more points," Huey said.
"We've got it covered," Caesar said before they broke up to take their positions for the kickoff. Jazmine mistimed her kick a little this time and the ball rather than getting as far back as Johnny or Mina and fell among the bigger and much slower members of the Chargers' special teams. This time Hiro and Cindy were the first to the ball and against a player who did not normally handle the ball they managed to bring him down before he could go more than five yards, unfortunately that brought him down at the Charger's forty-two yard line.
Kyle returned to the field for the first time in the last quarter and once again ran a quick hike handing the ball off to his running back who managed to skirt around their line and get into the Black Panther secondary before he was dragged down by Hiro and one of the defensive backs who broke away from the line to try and catch him. For his next play Kyle made a short pass to Johnny who had run a shallow route, just enough to get them the first down.
"Riley, Jason stay on Johnny," Huey shouted as Kyle readied for his next play. "Cindy watch Mina and Hiro make sure their running back does not break into our secondary. Caesar we're going to rush the quarterback.
Without a word, Huey's defence shifted to their new assignments before Kyle hiked the ball. Once the ball left the Chargers' centre's hands, Huey and Caesar took off into the line. Adding the momentum of their dash to his strength, Caesar beat his block and created a hole for Huey to follow up behind them. Inside the Chargers' back end they made a rush for Kyle who without anyone to pass to was now moving out of the pocket to avoid the two blitzing players. He was not fast enough and he could not get the ball off fast enough before Huey and Caesar caught up. Before they could hit him, Kyle fell to the ground, his body reacting instinctively to the memory of the last time two players charged him in the game. With Kyle already down, Huey simply touched him for the sack and forced the Chargers' line of scrimmage back almost seven yards. Without the satisfaction of making the tackle he did not celebrate instead he joined his team on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
"He's afraid to get hit," Huey said with a rare smile. "I want to blitz him with at least two guys every play we can and see if we can push them back further."
"I'm up for it," Caesar said. "I'm definitely not the fastest among us but he'll know if I catch him it's gonna hurt a lot more."
"Alright Caesar and... "Huey looked at his receivers. "...Hiro you guys will blitz him while the rest us cover his passing options.
"You got it boss," Hiro said confidently, but he knew he was picked because he was slowest of the four offensive players and the rest of his counterparts could cover the Chargers' offensive game better.
Kyle hiked the ball again on his second down and once again found all his passing options blocked. With no one to go to he fled the pocket hoping to advance the ball himself, but before he could pass the line of scrimmage, Caesar broke through the line and Kyle quickly back tracked trying to avoid the larger teen. Too focused on Caesar he did not see Hiro until the DJ was gloating over him. Hiro and Caesar high fived and then jumped in the air to shoulder bump in celebration. Hiro's sack drove the Chargers' back another three yards.
Kyle pulled himself off of the ground and joined his team in their huddle. His linemen were too scared to look at his and Mina was embarrassed, but Johnny stared daggers into him. "What the hell was that, brah?" Johnny asked angrily. He had had about enough of the slimy quarterback between his antics on the field when one of the Black Panther players were injured and then in the medical room, and finally by diving for a loss of yards without even trying to throw the ball away.
"They caught me by surprise," Kyle said, but Johnny was not having any of his excuses.
"Brah you basically laid down for them, it was pure cowardice," Johnny shouted angrily. "You're supposed to be the leader of our team and you won't even take a hit to make a play, that's weak brah, real weak."
"Shut up Johnny!" Kyle said in rage, Johnny's words striking home. "You forget your place. This is my team not yours you do as I say or you can sit on the bench."
Johnny said nothing to this; instead he just continued to glare at Kyle as he called their next play. The Hawaiian receiver did note however that the play did involve him have absolutely no chance of getting the ball. It took only that one play call for Johnny to realize that Kyle was not going to bench him that was too easy, instead he would make Johnny stay on the field knowing full well he would not touch the ball for the rest of the game.
As Johnny had predicted even though he gave Riley the slip and was wide open near the first down marker, Kyle choose to try and pass it to the double covered Mina who was only a few yards from the line of scrimmage. She caught the ball but was immediately taken down by Cindy for a gain of five yards. On their fourth down they punted the ball back to the Black Panthers and Johnny was fuming. When Jason who caught the ball came near Johnny who was only half heartedly running, Johnny simply allowed Jason to run right by him not even making the effort to fake effort.
Jason was run out of bounds inside the Charger's forty but if Johnny had been inclined he could have done it back at the Black Panthers' forty. With the change in possession, Johnny stomped off the field and removed himself to the farthest part of their team area, putting as much distance between him and Kyle as possible because he knew he would not be able to control himself.
Back on the field, Huey faked a handoff to Riley who covering up his arms like he was holding the ball ran to the right corner of the line and brought part of the defensive core with him. With a gap created Huey rushed the ball for nearly twelve yards before being hit. He could have slid back at the nine and avoided the hit, but he accepted the punishment to gain the few extra yards needed for the first down.
Watching from the sideline Johnny could only watch the opposing quarterback in admiration. That was what a quarterback was supposed to be like, he led by example and his team followed. How was a quarterback supposed to expect his players to fight for every yard and accept their gruelling bumps for those few precious yards if he was not willing to do so himself. It almost made him wish he had signed up at Wuncler High when the University of Maryland offered to put him up closer to their university when they scouted him. He had chosen to go to George Bush because of their great varsity football program but he quit when he found many of the players using steroids. He then decided to join the mixed gender league so he would not get rusty this year but the club was not what it once was and was just a corrupt as its varsity counterpart.
"Whatcha thinking about?" Mina asked coming to set beside her fellow receiver, blowing a strand of her brown hair out of her eyes.
"Why I joined this stupid school?" Johnny answered as Huey once again rushed the ball and took a hit again to gain the first down. Their defence had no answer for the rushing quarterback since all reports said he never ran the ball.
"You thinking of quitting?" Mina asked a little depressed.
"Maybe," Johnny admitted.
Mina got to her feet and brushed off her pants. "Well then at least wait until this game is over. I want to win this one, for our sake not because Kyle wants us too," Mina said. "If this is going to be our last game together I want to show the world why we are the best receiver duo in the league."
"I guess," Johnny mumbled, his anger still holding him back. He wanted to play but he did not want to see Kyle win.
"Don't you think you owe that number eighty-eight something? I mean Rex pretty much mangled him and he still came back to prove he is better," Mina tried to ignite the competitive fire she knew Johnny harboured. "Besides I need your help to beat that Cindy McPhearson."
Finally her words got through to Johnny and he stood up as the Black Panthers' fell short of a first down on their third down meaning it was time for him to return to the field to try and block the field goal. "You're right. I can't quit now, I want to win and I want to beat Jason James to prove that I am the best receiver in this league."
"Then get out there and show him," Mina said pushing him onto the field. "Kyle will come around eventually. I mean he can't keep passing to me of the rest of the day and expect to win."
On the field Jazmine lined up for a simple chip shot from only twenty five yards out. She easily made the kick for a 32-27 lead and her team swarmed her to offer their congratulations, but she did not feel like she accomplished much. A twenty five yarder was an easy shot, but she could still not hit that high thirties shot she missed twice earlier in the game. Until she did she would not be satisfied with making routine kicks.
Johnny positioned himself at his twenty waiting for the kickoff, if Kyle was not going to give him the ball then he would have to make good on the few chances he'd get on special teams. Jazmine placed her kick perfectly in the middle of the two Chargers' kick returners. Both Johnny and Mina went for the ball, but as they came under it, Mina flashed him a smile and kept running past as Johnny caught it. She cut back in front of him throwing a block for him on Cindy who was the first Black Panther Gunner to make it down the field.
Johnny dodged Riley at centre field after weaving his way through the sea of battling players from both teams, but he could make it no further as Jason made contact knocking him off balance and to the ground.
"I'm not going to let you pass me," Jason gave him his cocky smirk and offered his opponent a hand. Johnny took the hand and pulled himself to his feet with Jason's help. "I'm glad you came back out here after that. Game recognizes game and you are looking rather familiar."
"Same to you. I mean if someone like you can come back out here then I should definitely be able to, brah," Johnny challenged with a wide smile.
"I'll take that as you want to continue or battle. Only the best will win so you should just accept your defeat now," Jason smirked before jogging off to join his team.
"Have fun watching," Kyle chirped walking behind Johnny to the huddle.
Johnny resisted the urge to slug the slimy quarterback and followed him to the huddle though he was not sure why, he did not need to know about a play that he had no chance of getting the ball on, but he followed anyway resigning himself to helping Mina with her battle if he could not compete in his own.
Kyle let the clock run down a bit even though they were approaching the two minute mark and they were five points behind. They needed a touchdown if they were going to win and with effectively only one good receiver they could not throw long passes. After hiking the ball, Kyle through a quick screen pass to Mina who gained three yards before Cindy brought he down.
He reset again and once again threw a short pass to Mina who barely caught it this time. Next came a run by the running back that broke the first down barrier to keep their drive alive. After that Kyle went back to Mina for another short pass and then back to the running back for a first down. As the clock dwindled down Kyle and the Chargers chipped away at the Black Panther half of the field until they were within fifteen yards of the end zone.
As he set up for a third down thirteen yards from the end zone and seven from a first down, Kyle called a long pass play to Mina in the end zone. When the ball was snapped Mina took off for the end zone with both Cindy and Jason on her now that Huey had realized Kyle was no longer passing to Johnny who remained wide open in the middle of the field for most of the plays. This time Johnny cut away from the middle to meet up with Mina determined to help her get this touchdown and win her battle with Cindy.
Mina swerved in to the middle before cutting back to the outside as she reached the end zone, but her shadows stayed with her. Behind the line of scrimmage, Kyle fled the pocket as Hiro and Caesar once again broke through looking for their second sack. Before either could get him, Kyle threw the ball and fell to the ground to avoid being hit. By falling to the ground he messed up his follow through and the ball came up short.
Seeing the ball was going to fall short, Mina tried to back track but would not be in time, so instead she reached out to redirect the ball toward the middle where Johnny was coming to help. Cindy was too close to Mina to react to the redirection but Jason was not. In midstride he jumped and fell back trying to grab the ball, but it was too high even for him and its end just brushed his finger tips as it went end over end over his head. Now only Johnny was in position to save the play and he did not disappoint. He pulled the ball in for a touchdown much to the dismay of Kyle who fumed from the ground.
For the first time Johnny indulged in some simple showboating, but it was not directed at the Black Panthers. He turned to Kyle waved the ball toward him before spinning it in the air and kicking it back to the quarterback where the ball landed right in front the fallen quarterback and bounced over him. With his touchdown it was now 33-32for the Chargers.
Rather than go for the single point kick Kyle decided to risk the guaranteed point to try and get two and point his team's lead beyond a field goal. Kyle lined his offence up at the Black Panther three yard line for the two-point conversion. He hiked the ball and handed it off to his running back that drove into the end zone for two point putting the score at 35-32.
Huey huddled his team while the Chargers' regrouped for the kick off. "We need a couple of really big plays here, I'm counting on you guys to deliver or Wuncler will make us pay," Huey said looking directly at Jason and Riley. "The two of you claim to be the superstars of the team and superstars pull off the big play when it is needed most, it's time to put up or shut up."
"No sweat, nigga, Riley Esco neva disappoints his fans," Riley said confidently. "Just give me da ball."
"What he said," Jason smirked. Breaking from the huddle his smirked dropped into a wince. The anaesthesia was wearing off and his side was on fire, but he was determined to play out the last forty seconds of play.
The George Bush Chargers kicked the ball off getting amazing range. The ball arched past the ten yard line where Riley caught the ball and shot down the field trying to recreate his first kick return. Johnny was the first gunner down the field, but before he could get to Riley he was blocked by Caesar, but Johnny was only a distraction as Mina came around the two locked teens getting to Riley before he passed his sixteen yard line.
"Shit nigga," Riley shouted in frustration. After running his mouth in the huddle he had failed to come through and now Jason would be given the chance to up show him.
Huey set up at his fifteen ignoring his brother's shouting. With thirty eight second left and three downs he could take a few chanced to get further down the field. He called an audible for a simple double hook play with Jason and Riley crisscrossing five yards beyond the line of scrimmage but that was not the real goal, this play was going to be for revenge. Caesar created a gap in the line and Huey rushed through, his eyes locked on Rex who was playing safety. It was time for the white giant to be cut down to size.
"I'm going to squish you rat," Rex smiled. With Huey beyond the line of scrimmage he was free game.
"Not this time," Huey smiled to Rex's confusion and he pulled up as his receiver's came in for their crisscross. They guessed that because of Rex's strength and size he never had to worry about the defensive side of battle and were about to take advantage of that.
It was almost like their play on Kyle earlier in the game as they came full speed into the secondary running near identical routes. Riley dipped again taking Rex at his weakest point, his knees while Jason went high at his ribs. Both superstars hit the giant like bullets and Rex was nearly ripped in two. The giant collapsed in heap groaning in pain.
"I told you, you would not win," Jason gloated with his cocky smirk over the fallen giant like Rex had done earlier in the game to him.
"We're just too fast for ya nigga," Riley added mirroring the smirk.
Almost at once the officials threw up their orange flags for the penalty. They called it an unnecessary roughness on Riley and the ball was moved back fifteen yards to the one yard line while Rex was carried off the field on a stretcher by his offensive line.
Without huddling Huey set up his defence calling an audible for a Hail Mary and his receivers shifted to their new routes before he hiked the ball. Huey dropped back into his end zone, his eyes locked solely on Jason who was being double covered by two cornerbacks.
Huey spared one last look at the clock that was down to thirteen seconds. In his mind he counted down with it before he heaved the ball down the field toward Jason.
In front of him Caesar with the help of Riley who was trying to redeem himself after his horrible return led the offensive line in holding back the Chargers to buy Huey the time needed to complete the play. Without Rex on the field and the help of Riley their large offensive line was able to hold the line of scrimmage and even break the defensive line apart.
Jason was also counting down in his mind with the clock. He knew at the thirteen second mark Huey would throw the ball so when he got to thirteen he picked up his pace and broke away from his shadows. Stealing a look back he saw the perfectly spiralling ball cutting the air toward him, he need to cover five more yards before the ball caught up with him if he was going to catch it smoothly enough to keep running without breaking his stride.
His mind counted down to ten seconds. He now had to catch the ball and keep running. There would not be enough time to set up for another play.
He made the five yards on pace with the ball and it came over his shoulder where he made a basket catch. Once he had secured the ball firmly, Jason put on the speed, completely breaking away from the cornerbacks. His side screamed in pain along with the rest of his body which fought to find the energy to keep up his speed.
The anaesthesia had completely worn off now and each step he took, every breath, every pump of his arm send crippling shockwaves of pain from his side to the rest of his body. Though there were no players near him, he still had to fight for every yard, fight against himself. His body wanted to collapse right there, but his heart kept on pushing. The clock on the scoreboard and in his head read 00:00 there would be no second chance. If he faltered here it would be over. He would be deported by Mr. Wuncler and separated from his new friends who would have to stay and suffer the wrath of the bulbous sweaty billionaire.
The end zone was in sight now and he could hear both teams chasing after him, but no one was going to catch him and he ran into the end zone alone. Completely exhausted he had enough energy for one last celebration. Dropping the ball he kicked it up with his heels like a soccer ball and kicked it up with his foot, before knocking it with his knee, and then keeping it up with another kick. As the ball came down again he kicked it back up the field before collapsing in a heap of pain.
It took only seconds for his team to surround him, lifting him off the ground. Behind them a series of fireworks went off and music bleared throughout the stadium nearly being drowned out by the cheers of Black Panther supports. Up in his box Wuncler had a wide smile on his face as he watched his hastily assembled team celebrate.
In the stands were four teens wearing green and silver jackets with a bull on the back with frowns on their faces.
"I didn't think they could do it," one of the teens said.
"That was smashing. They handled that without crashing. They won't be easy. But then again we aren't sleazy," a second teen rhymed before they departed under the stadium and headed for the exit.
On the sidelines Kyle threw a fit, throwing his helmet against the barrier separating the stands from the field and hurling the near empty sports drink jug onto the field. "They'll pay for this. I will not allow anyone to humiliate me like this."
On the field the Black Panthers were still celebrating their hard fought victory. Everyone was completely exhausted and was using the rest of their team to keep them from collapsing like Jason had.
"See I told you we could win this," Huey said voluntarily supporting his star receiver whose face was screwed up in elation and severe pain. "You just had to fight it out."
"Good job team," Caesar added his heart swelling with pride from the determination, effort, and sacrifice shown by his team. "We've got our first win and whatever Wuncler has as a reward."
In the midst of their celebration Johnny and Mina walked over their helmets forgotten on the sidelines. "You guys played an amazing game. It was the best I've played in, in a long time," Johnny said offering his hand first to Huey who reluctantly shook it and finally to Jason. "You in particular stretched my talent to its limits and I'm a big enough man to admit when I've been beaten. You truly are a monster, Mahalo and Aloha. I hope the next time we both step on the gridiron it can be as teammates.
"Me too," Jason smirked his cocky smirked through the pain while grabbing Johnny's forearm. "Me too."
"You put up one hell of a battle and I can also accept defeat against a superior talent, but I will be back for a rematch one day," Mina said to Cindy.
"Ya welcome to try any time," Cindy laughed.
Having said their piece Johnny and Mina took their leave heading for their locker room. On their way across the field Johnny tore off his George Bush Chargers jersey and threw it in the garbage container meant for plastic cups.
"We have to get J to a hospital," Jazmine said when Jason groaned in pain again. How could she celebrate when someone was in such obvious pain before her? She would celebrate once they found out how bad the damage was.
"She's right, JJ needs to go to da hospital," Cindy agreed bringing their celebration back down to reality.
"Thanks babes," Jason whispered through the pain as Huey and Hiro helped him back to the tunnel where Ed and Rummy took the injured player from them and took him to their Yukon Denali XL. They laid him down in the back seat and hopped in the front seats. Before they could start the engine the trunk hatch opened and Cindy and Riley without their shoulder pads and helmet climbed in, hopping into the very back seats.
"Can't let my nigga go to da hospital by himself. What kind of nigga would I be to do dat," Riley explained.
"Everyone else will be followin' us shortly in Tom's whip," Cindy added and Ed started the engine peeling out of the parking lot and speeding to Wuncler Hospital.
With their first game finally over and a win under their belts what will happen next? Will Kyle follow through with his sworn vengeance? How bad is Jason's injury? Who are the teens dressed in green and silver? With his falling out with Kyle was this Johnny's last game?