BOOM

You've been beaten like a drum every play today. But we're still in the game. That's because you have teammates who have picked up the slack. All day. You have a chance right now, with ONE PLAY to erase all that. YOU can be a hero. One play. All it takes. Everything you got. One play. You game? Yeah. You sure. Damn sure. No fun getting your ass handed to you all day is it. No. With the entire defense huddled during the time out, Teo, grabbed the freshman by the facemask and pulled him close. You only get this chance. ONCE in your entire life to make this play. Everything rides on this play. Do you understand? Yes. It's fourth and five. Teo glances up at the massive scoreboard. There are four minutes left. The O has put 28 up there. We have given back 24. We stop them here, give the ball back to Jake, and it's ours. This is a fucking war and we can win with one last stand. DO YOU COPY? 10-4. Teo looked at the rest of the D and without saying a word they responded. COPY THAT. Teo knew he was taking a huge risk by calling the play before it was brought in from D cord, but he was the one in the trenches getting doubled all day, and he knew that on this last desperate play, Oregon would triple him with the fullback, leaving the blind side open for a blitz IF the road was paved by the tackle. The freshman. The kid. He was tired and beat, bloody and scarred, but he was talking the talk now and it was their only hope. If it worked, nobody would say a word. If it didn't the flat would be open wider than the Grand Canyon and he would be in deep kimchee. Slant left hard into the guard and push him into the center, I will let them take me right, then DB will crash the gap and when that SOB turns to float the flair all he will see is one snarling fucking husky about to paint a gold dot between his numbers. Got it? Yo. Trent came hustling in from the sidelines and announced the play. Crash right. Send the house. Got it? Yo. Teo again looked at the kid. He was wearing number 90. Lotta history inside that jersey. Make it happen kid. He nodded his head, popped in his mouthpiece and looked behind him at DB. The crowds roar was deafening. The gaze from DB was as intense and fierce as he had even seen in a human being. He was a snarling fucking husky. And I am part of the pack. Oregon broke huddle and came to the line. Autzen stadium was bedlam. Fourth and five. Three fifty-five on the clock. Ball on the Oregon 47. 28-24 UW. A hundred thousand fans from Cottage Grove to Chelan took a deep breath. Don't go on the first count, they'll try to draw us. Teo crabbed left setting the trap. DB stayed five yards back deeking. The kid looked across the line and saw the Duck guards fingers twitch. When they move again the fury of hell will be unleashed. He heard Costa's cadence, and felt his own heart beating like a snarling fucking husky. They will call me Mad Dawg. Teo crabbed right as the ball was snapped. The kid saw the guards movement and pushed off his right leg into the line, catching him off balance as he was standing to block. The impact was so physical that the concussion pushed them into and over the center. Teo was doubled and the hole vacated by the stunt wasn't empty long as DB had timed the snap count like a metronome and was about to make the biggest and loudest hit by a Dawg since Lawyer Milloy. Costa had backpedaled looking right and as he turned left to loft the flair, all he saw was a gold helmet about to make a crash landing on his chin.

BOOM.