Eyeshield 21: Charge of the Militia

Chapter 4: 'Enemy' (Sevendust) (Cohota Militia vs. Misaki Wolves)

Being a good football player also means being a good student. You have to set an example on and off the field. You keep up your grades, and your GPA then you get to stay on the team. It's not easy. Upon arriving in Japan, we got to work straight away. Since we are a visiting team, we got accommodations from Meiji University for classes and practice

When you get into a routine, things seem to go by faster. It did not take long for the season to start up, and I made it on the team so there was no sad flight back home anyone that came with me to Japan. It was our first game of the year, and here I am around my brothers on the team, "Well, this is it, this is the first step," said Coach Wilkins to us all.

"A season of 16 away games," he joked, we all chuckled back

"Still, we're new to this league, but we are anything but new to this game that we love, this is our time, we set the tone early, and show this league our brand of football," said our coach. We looked to each other, and nodded. We were ready for the season "remember, you guys are Militia, you are the first ones into battle, and the last ones to leave"

"Let's fight like the Militia," he concluded

We all put our hands in "Militia?!" Coach belted

"MOUNT UP!" we all replied in unison for him

These metallic blue pants felt like they were painted onto legs, and showed off my big butt. I put on my helmet, and jogged out onto the field. The stadium was filled with college students, and even some Americans from surrounding schools coming to catch a football game. The sound was really something. It's going out onto the field over at UMass.

I practiced drills with the linebackers and secondary. The 'Oklahoma' is always great. Guys like Delani Townsend and Rashawn Rogers don't mind getting tackled by a girl. They respect one that hits as hard as they do. Just a hand up, and a tap on the side of the helmet or shoulder pads. Sometimes you butt facemasks with Trayvon. He's awesome too

"Way to hit! Let's go, Weapon X!" he praised

The music pumped me up for the game. I was out on the field for the kickoff since we'll be on defense. I jumped up and tucked my knees into my chest. My legs wiggled as as I shook them out to loosen up a bit. Just like that song playing on the speakers, let's to get ready to rumble. I inserted my mouthguard, and was ready to hit anything that moves

'Here we go' I thought, biting down on my mouthguard

Our kicker, Christopher Chen, was a transfer from the soccer team. He is 5'7 and 180lbs of muscle. He also wants to make it onto the New England Revolution after college. I'll give to him. He's got big dreams. His leg is a weapon. With a booming kickoff, the game was underway. The returner was Kamiya Taiga. I laid him out right as he caught the ball

His helmet flew off, and bounced off the back off my cleat. His body seemed to break in half like breaking a toothpick. The ball rolled out, and Kamiya landed on his upper back with his arms splayed out. Delani recovered the ball on the one yard line. I handed him back his helmet, and offered him a hand up "Are you alright?" I asked him in Japanese.

"Tsch," he sniggered and snatched his helmet from me

"Fine be that way," I said with a shrug of the shoulders

"Girl! You just knocked him the fuck out!" Trayvon cheered

"Hey, I just do what I do best" I said getting jumped on and cheered for by the defense. The offense punched it in from the goal line. The next kickoff was a fair catch at the twenty yard line. We kept to our 4-3 defense. I scouted the offense. It looked like a pass play, but they can switch it up. I moved in, and moved back knowing it will be a pass play

"Way to hit, defense, you gotta keep it up out there!" said coach

"C'mon! Stick it to 'em, defense, stick it to 'em!" called out our QB

If the Wolves think they can pick on me because I'm a girl then they got another thing coming. The ball was snapped, and the quarterback dropped back to pass. It was a pass up the middle. That's dangerous for a wide receiver. With a crunch of my shoulder pads into his facemask, the receiver hit the turf hard, and the ball was jarred loose for a fumble

"C'mon Marina, keep pushin', no slowin' down!" said Delani

I went back to the sidelines, and rested my hands on my knees. Watching our offense go up against the Wolves defense was like watching a train wreck. You want to look away, but you can't. Kyle was carving the Wolves defense like a Thanksgiving Turkey. Watching our halfback, Kenyon Taylor, was like watching a runaway truck on the Mass Turnpike

Our 5'11 and 205lbs halfback ran up the middle, and stiff-armed Kamiya Taiga on his way to a 50 yard touchdown. He is a nice guy with neat little dreadlocks that look like little worms coming out of his black durag. He doesn't talk much. He just runs the ball, catches a swing pass, and runs over anyone in his way. He also wears the same helmet as me

"Nice run" I said, holding up my hand and I got a hi-five

Football is not a popularity contest. The ultimate compliment is that your opponents respect you. We went on to skin the Wolves 56 to 3. I even got a couple picks, and a pick-six. My first one in Japan, and it went for 70 yards. This game showed that we are a team, and not one to be underestimated. The same can be said for us for Japan's best teams

There is still a lot of football to be played. I looked forward to the season while looking at the names of the teams. There were teams like the Deimon Devilbats, the Oujou White Knights, the Shinryuuji Naga, and the Seibu Wild Gunmen. I have this one warning to any receiver, tailback, or quarterback. I have one purpose on the field: seek and destroy

(Note: The uniform is modeled after the 1993 New England Patriots)