Changing Tide

As the Wildcats took over, the game soon reached the two-minute warning. While the Titans caught their breath, Coach Otsen addressed them.

'There's no need to fret about the missed conversion. We still have the lead. All we need is a stop. We do that, get the ball back, and finish them with another touchdown before the half. It'll knock the wind out of them and we'll win this game right now. Go out and make yourselves proud.'

His eyes lingered on Rudy as the boys left the bench. Whether or not they could stop the Wildcats now—or ever—largely came down to Rudy.

Aaron wasn't about to start letting Rudy win, however.

During the final two minutes of the first half, the Titans switched their defence slightly. Now they focused more on defending the sidelines, and less on the middle of the field. If the Wildcats progressed, they'd at least have to burn clock or timeouts to do so.

The Titans STARTED their defensive effort with this mindset. When Coach Otsen saw how the Wildcats were marching downfield, and draining the clock closer towards zero, he called a timeout. The other coaches looked at him like he was mad, but he had an explanation.

The Titans returned to the bench, thankful for the rest, but frustrated that they couldn't stop the Wildcats.

'Listen up,' Coach Otsen said. 'They're walking all over you, and we're running out of time if we want another chance with the ball. That's why we need to change. We're gonna give them the sideline. I want everyone playing with inside leverage, and Lonnie, you're coming back into the middle, you too, Freddy. Now don't make it obvious what we've changed, line up like you were when you were protecting the outside, we need to catch them off guard with this, we'll have one chance to surprise them, so make it count. Remember, one stop.'

The team put their fists together, and with a cheer of "one stop!" they rushed back onto the field to enact their plan.

The Titans' formation hadn't changed, only after the snap did they shift inward to protect the middle of the field and force the Wildcats away to the outside.

Aaron was caught off guard by the sudden change, and his route sent him barrelling straight into Rudy when he tried to cut inside. He had nowhere to go; he was finally shut down.

The QB looked elsewhere and tried to force a deep pass to a Dig route coming from the other side of the field. When the QB let the ball go, he hadn't realised the ENTIRE defence had shifted to an inside focus. He also didn't realise his target was running right towards Freddy.

Freddy lunged forward, and punched the ball before the Receiver could get their hands on it. The ball popped up into the air, and there was a mad scramble for it.

Rudy and Pete were the first and fastest to react to the deflection. As the ball fell back to earth they both converged on it, both with eyes only for the ball.

'¡Es mío!' Pete shouted.

Rudy said nothing, and didn't take his eyes off the ball. He didn't change course, nor did Pete. Before either of them could lay hands on the ball, they crashed into one another. Both fell to the ground, and the ball fell after them, hitting the grass.

'¡Idiota! Watch where you're fucking going, I had that.'

'I fucking had it. YOU need to watch out,' Rudy snapped.

Both boys got back on their feet and butted heads. 'I called it, burro.'

'I didn't need to call shit because it's obvious it was mine.'

'Guys … come on, it was an accident. … It wasn't anyone's fault.' Lonnie came forward to diffuse the situation. Pete and Rudy soon split from each other and returned to their positions.

Coach Otsen shook his head. He knew they'd missed their one chance.

After the missed interception, it didn't take long for the Wildcats to adjust to the new defence and start targeting the outside of the field. Soon enough, they scored another touchdown, and once again, the Wildcats were lining up for another attempt at a two-point conversion.

'Seriously?' Jackson exclaimed. 'Are they going to do this for the rest of the game?'

'They might, but I doubt it,' Tommy said. 'The reason they're doing it now is because it makes sense. Look at the scores.'

Jackson looked to the scoreboard. The score was 28–27. 'They're winning by a point.'

'What does that mean?'

Jackson didn't have to think about it long. 'A lead of only one or two points doesn't mean much. Both lose the lead if the opponent kicks a field goal, so going for the extra point with a kick doesn't make much difference, even if they fail nothing changes, they'll still have the lead. But, if they're successful on a two-point attempt, then they'll be leading by three, and if we can kick a field goal, the game will be tied instead of losing for the Wildcats.'

'Exactly. It makes the most sense to go for two here because they have nothing to lose if they fail.'

Rudy and Aaron were left on their little island for another duel. 'Man. You guys just keep falling further behind. How's it feel?' Aaron asked.

'You ain't scored yet. One point is nothing. Besides, we're only halfway done. You won't score again in the second half.'

Aaron smiled. 'We'll see won't we?'

The Wildcats snapped the ball and Rudy jumped back; Aaron didn't move. He looked towards the middle of the field and watched as the RB took the ball and charged ahead. The Titans had been expecting a pass like the previous attempt, so the run ploughed right through them and in for the score.

Aaron looked at the scoreboard. 'Three points. Like I said. Soon you'll be so deep in your hole, you'll never get out.' He walked off to the bench, leaving Rudy and the Titans to ruminate over their failure.

The Wildcats sent the kick-off out the back of the endzone for a touchback, and the Titans started their next drive with less than a minute to go. The Wildcats had scored in just over a minute, maybe they could be a bit faster … but the Wildcats had timeouts when they started their two-minute drill, and the Titans had used theirs up to keep even THIS minuscule amount of time on the clock.

Coach Otsen had simple words of advice for his boys before they started their efforts. 'Forget about the sideline. They'll be watching that, wanting you to go up the middle, so go for it. Deep passes only. Catch the ball, get as many yards as you can, then get down, then run like your bloody life depends on it so we can spike the ball and stop the clock.'

(In American football, spiking the ball is a play in which the Quarterback intentionally throws a live ball at the ground.)

Executing Coach Otsen's advice was easier said than done. Whilst the Wildcats WERE focused on protecting the sideline and keeping the clock running, defenders were sprinkled throughout the middle of the field like mines waiting for the Titans to misstep.

That said, it only took them a few tries before they passed half-field with big catches from both Rudy and Kenny. Time still slipped away and drew ever closer to zero, even with their haste to spike the ball and stop the clock after both catches.

Half a minute had been erased from the clock, and they were only just beyond half-field. Pete looked Rudy's way again as he'd gotten the better of Kevin for the umpteenth time.

Rudy slid into the catch over the middle, and before he could scramble ahead for any extra yards, Kevin downed him at the 30-yard line. Rudy flipped the ball to the official that ran over, and hurried back to his spot.

The rest of the Titans sprinted up to the mark and got into formation. The Wildcats scrambled into position as well, and the Titans spiked the ball with 10 seconds left in the half.

They only had one shot left, maybe two if they were fast, but the chances of a touchdown were slim.

The instructions were clear: Rudy and Lonnie would sprint to the endzone. If either of them were open or left in a one-on-one, Pete would take the shot. If there wasn't an opening, he would throw the ball away and stop the clock.

The Titans set up, and after the snap Lonnie and Rudy raced to the endzone. They weren't alone. Half a dozen Wildcats were either waiting for or running with them. There was no hope for a touchdown.

Pete threw the ball into the turf at Isaac's feet, and the clock was stopped with 3 seconds left. It was time for a field goal.

The kick would need to travel over 47 yards to make it through the goalposts, a daunting task for any Kicker, let alone an emergency replacement.

The boys got around Freddy before the kick. They each slapped him on the helmet to psyche him up. As Freddy's head bounced around, he never took his eyes off the spot on the grass where the ball would be placed for his attempt.

The field rumbled as the Wildcats' supporters stamped their feet. The Titans got in formation and Freddy signalled he was ready.

Pete caught the snap. Freddy stepped forward, his eyes never left the ball. He swung gallantly and thumped the ball. It flew through the air, spinning end over end. Time ran out as the ball was flying. It was on target, it was going through, Freddy's heart soared … then was shot from the sky. The ball plummeted a yard short of the crossbar. The kick was no good.

The half was over, and the Titans still trailed by 3 points, 30–27.

However, with the failed field goal closing the half, the Titans entered their locker room like a team that was trailing by 30.

This didn't escape Coach Otsen's notice. After everyone entered the locker room, he slammed his fist against one of the lockers by the door. 'Who fucking died? Why do you look like you're headed for a funeral instead of the second half of a game where there's only a field goal between both teams!?'

Silence hung in the air before Freddy finally responded. 'It's my fault, sir. If I kicked that field goal … if Nick was here—'

'He ain't! Don't even think about Nick right now, he's got nothing to do with this game. And it ain't YOUR fault, Frederick, EVERYBODY is at fault. We lead as a team, we trail as a team, but so what? We've been in worse situations at half time, it's just three fucking points! Stop feeling sorry for yourselves.'

'But we've—' Rudy started.

'But nothing! No matter how good you think you've played, I know you can do better, and you WILL do better in the next half. We're going to win this game because you're the better team, start playing like it.'

Coach Otsen gathered the team together, and whilst the offence didn't need many adjustments, he and Coach Carson had to overhaul the defence entirely.

'Rudy. So help me, boy, you better start shutting down that number eighteen or you'll be running for the rest of the year.'

Rudy opened his mouth to respond.

'Shut up and listen. I don't want to hear anything from you. You're gonna play underneath. Don't get suckered into anything deep. Underneath and outside, that's where I want you.'

He turned away from Rudy. 'Freddy, you'll be over the top, anything deep down Rudy's sideline is your responsibility.'

'Y-Yes, sir.'

Coach Otsen turned to Isaac, and one of the Linemen. 'Isaac, you and Owen here are going to switch around every other play. Stay in your positions, but when I signal you, you'll swap assignments. Owen, I want you to forget about blitzing the Quarterback, you'll drop out into a low zone in the middle, more towards Rudy's side. If Eighteen cuts in, it's your job to make him hurt. And Isaac, you'll be taking Owen's job and blitzing on the outside.'

'Sir!' Isaac pushed his shoulders back, sitting tall, determined to fulfil his new assignment to the best of his abilities.

'You got it, Coach.' Owen on the other hand—a blond boy who was a large mound of mass, deceptively muscular, and with a surprisingly skinny face—wasn't as thrilled to be given a new order. Playing coverage was never his favourite part of the game, it required too much running.

Coach Otsen moved on. 'Vincent!'

'Yes, sir!' Vincent's chubby cheeks pulled into a grin, he was the only Titan whose spirits hadn't been dampened by the missed field goal.

'You and the boys need to crash down on their Line. Don't give them any room to breathe, and no matter what, you gotta pressure the Quarterback! Don't give him time to think, and don't give them time to develop any long plays.'

'Phew. That sounds like a lot of work. You sure I can't just hold the line?'

'No.'

Vincent kept grinning. 'You can count on me, sir!'

'Alright. You all know what you need to do. Get out there and get it done.'

'Let's go boys! Titans never fall!' Vincent cheered as he led the team out of the locker room and into the second half.

The Wildcats started with the ball, and after another short kick-off—though this time the fired-up Titans swarmed the return man and stopped them short—they opened the second half at their 28-yard line.

Aaron was happy to see Rudy still matching him. 'So you guys are trying to lose, right?' Aaron said.

'Do you ever stop talking?'

'Hahaha. I will when you stop me. But seriously, they've still got you guarding me? I guess you guys don't care if I put up seventy points on your head.'

'I already told you, you're not scoring again in this half.'

'Prove it, bitch.'

Both Aaron and Rudy would have to wait to "prove it" as the Wildcats' first play was a run. A Power run to the outside, however, Isaac came down early and met the RB head-on, stopping them for a short gain of only 2 yards.

After that, the Wildcats decided to go back to the Receiver that had brought them so much success in the first half.

Aaron was surprised that Rudy so easily gave up the middle of the field, nor was Rudy's press too oppressive. Aaron gladly swerved to the inside. The pass was on time, it looked like any other play from the first half. Aaron was just about to catch the ball … then he ran into a brick wall.

Owen levelled him and the ball spiralled into the grass.

Rudy laughed, jogging over to fist-bump Owen. 'Nice hit!'

'Heh, was like swatting a fly.' Owen smirked down at Aaron.

With a heavy groan, Aaron dragged himself away from the gloating pair before standing and retreating to his huddle, rubbing his tender ribs. His teammates expressed concern but he snapped that he was fine. He glared back at Owen and Rudy. He'd make them pay on the next play.

On third down, the Wildcats wanted to go deep. They still trusted in Aaron.

Aaron's fury only grew as he stood in front of Rudy again. 'Had to get someone else to fight for you, huh? You too much of a pussy to handle me yourself?'

'I don't give a shit. Whatever puts you flat on your back, at my feet, where you belong. I told you, you're not scoring, so shut the fuck up already.'

After the snap, Aaron charged ahead furiously. Still, Rudy didn't pressure him. He kept low and to Aaron's outside hip.

Aaron raced forward and the gap between him and Rudy only widened. He looked back, calling for the ball. The QB threw it his way in a tight spiral. Aaron's eyes lit up.

He jumped. The moment his feet left the ground, he slammed into someone. Freddy had leapt first and higher, smashing into Aaron and stalling his momentum. One instant later Freddy smacked the ball out of bounds.

There was no flag on the play, even if Aaron sprung back to his feet complaining for one.

Rudy quickly reached Freddy's side and helped him to his feet. 'That's my boy!'

'Th-Thanks.' Freddy looked up at him strangely, like he was a different person.

The Wildcats had failed. Aaron had failed. For the first time that day, a team would punt.