Chapter 21

It was only minutes before kickoff. Both teams were in their locker rooms, getting last-minute instructions and pep talks. Petros’ players were antsy, tired of waiting. They wanted to hit somebody wearing blue.

“You’ve gotta keep your head,” Cole advised. “No stupid plays. No personal fouls, late hits or anything like that. The other team might not have any class, but we do. Don’t lower yourself to their level.

“Remember your assignments. I know everybody here wants to win the game by themselves, to make all the tackles and plays, but that’ll get us beat. Do what you’re supposed to do. We’ve had a good week of practice and need to carry that out on the field.”

He was speaking just loud enough for the players to hear him. Cole didn’t want to get loud and hysterical, even if that was how he felt, knowing the players would follow his example. The Panthers needed to calm down, they were too ready to play.

“Be disclipined, especially on defense,” he warned. “If we get out of position from being too aggressive against their offense, we’ll pay the price.”

He dropped down to a knee as did everybody in the room. They prayed before every game, Cole didn’t care what the courts or judges said, his team would pray. If no preachers were available, he let different players lead the prayer.

This week was Gary’s turn.

All the players held a teammate’s hand as Gary began.

“Father, we thank you for this day and for all you have done for us,” he prayed. “Please watch over both teams and the fans tonight, Lord, and let us do our best in a way which is pleasing to you. Let everything be done in good sportsmanship and in a way that is pleasing in your eye. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Other “amens” echoed throughout the small dressing room. One player started clapping, soon joined by another and then another until all the Panthers clapped as they came together. All the players extended one arm out.

“Panthers!” they shouted and then headed for the door, clapping in unison again.

As they made their way outside, they were met with more abuse from Hodgen’s fans. A Petros police officer was stationed outside and this slowed down the barrage of items.

The players jogged to the north end zone where the cheerleaders, band and students formed a spirit line that stretched nearly to midfield.

One side of the stadium was a swarm of black and white, the other a sea of blue. Petros’ players were in a circle, pounding each other’s shoulder pads, shouting encouragement and jumping up and down.

The cheerleaders stretched a banner at the far end of the spirit line, urging the Panthers to pound the Bulldogs.

The players broke apart with the seniors leading the way. They sprinted through the spirit line as the band played the school song. Other members of the spirit line hollered encouragement while Petros’ fans in the stands and standing along the fence joined in.

Derwin burst through the banner and led his team down the sidelines to a roar echoing through the new stadium, one that was built by a bond three years earlier. Hodgen actually needed a new elementary school worse than a new football field since the old school was falling apart. But the people’s priorities were on building a new field, not improving the educational facilities of a bunch of kids. A new building would not help the Bulldogs win football games, after all.

Cole, Stub and Ichabod walked across the field to the sidelines.

“Now this is some nice grass,” commented Stub, who considered himself an expert on lawn care. “I wish our field was this nice.”

“Wouldn’t help us win,” Cole pointed out.

“Just get tore up when it rains,” Ichabod remarked.

“Still die off after the first freeze,” Cole added.

Stub dropped the subject, deciding his fellow coaches just didn’t appreciate the finer things in life, like a well-manicured lawn or field.

At the other end of the field, Hodgen’s players were walking out on the field to a load roar. The Bulldogs’ band started playing its school song, one Petros hated with a passion. It was the same song Notre Dame played.

“I really don’t like that song,” Stub stated.

“I hope we don’t hear it much,” Ichabod added.

The coaches made it to the sidelines just as the players returned from jogging the length of the field and back to loosen up. Looking across the field, Cole saw Hodgen’s coaches trying to get their communication equipment on and started up.

Cole wondered if it helped having coaches in the press box. With only three coaches and all of them preferring to be on the sidelines with the players, there wasn’t any reason to wear headphones. If they wanted to talk to each other, it was easier just to walk a few steps down the field.

The captains were meeting at the center of the field. Gary and Derwin represented the Panthers. They won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Hodgen chose to receive. The Panthers would defend the north end zone.

The captains jogged to the sideline, joining the huge huddle gathered around the coaches for last-minute instructions. Cole gave his final talk and the kickoff team ran out on the field to line up.

There was a feeling of electricity in the stadium. A roar was building from both sides, creating a buzz that echoed throughout the field.

As soon as the official gave the signal, Jeremy got the game started, kicking the ball nearly into the end zone. Hodgen’s returner fielded the ball at the three and sprinted to the right side where the Bulldogs were forming a wall.

It was the first time Hodgen did this on a kick return and it caught the Panthers off-guard. Cole saw it developing and that his players were out of position. He knew this was going to be trouble.

One of the Bulldogs clipped Anthony Hart, but no yellow flag appeared.

The returner made it to the far sideline and sprinted up the field with the wall of blockers protecting him. None of the Panthers ever touched him during the 97-yard kickoff return.

Cole found this hard to stomach. His team practiced so hard on special teams and then had a breakdown on the opening kickoff in the biggest game of the year.

The kick was good and Hodgen led 7-0 with less then twenty seconds gone in the game. They were treated to another rendition of Hodgen’s school song, much quicker than anybody anticipated.

Hodgen’s kicker was the best around, all-state as a junior and expected to play college ball after graduation. He made sure Petros wouldn’t return the favor by kicking the ball into the end zone, well over Skip and D.J.’s heads.

As Hodgen’s defense took the field, Stub looked on in amazement.

“Those guys are huge,” he commented.

“Yeah, but they’re good, too,” Ichabod added.

A little of the spunk left the Panthers after the touchdown. The Panthers tried three running plays, finding little room to run against the huge defensive line.

Jeremy got off a great punt. It sailed way over the returner’s head and he had to sprint back to field the ball. It was the same player who had returned the kickoff for the score.

He finally fielded the ball at Hodgen’s 25. He dodged a couple of players quickly, reversed his field, broke one tackle and was in the open.

Cole saw it developing again and knew what was happening. He shook his head while watching the Hodgen player get behind the wall of blockers and take off up the field. Several Panthers got laid out from blocks they never saw coming. Cole wished the returner would trip or do something, but it was in vain as he completed his return, never allowing any Panther close enough to touch him again as he crossed into the end zone again, leaving Cole with a sick feeling.

It was hard enough playing these guys, even worse when Hodgen scored two touchdowns before the Bulldogs’ offense had barely even taken a snap.

Cole knew it wouldn’t do any good to chew out the players or scream and holler, even if that was what he felt like doing, knowing this wasn’t the time to do anything that lowered their spirits.

The players looked lost. This wasn’t supposed to happen to Petros. Other teams just did not have success against the Panthers’ special teams. But Hodgen had already returned two kicks for touchdowns.

“It’s okay,” Cole hollered. He and the other coaches tried convincing the players of this but they didn’t act like they believed it.

The kickoff sailed into the end zone again, leaving the Panthers starting at their own 20. As the offense broke the huddle and came to the line, Cole saw Hodgen had all eleven defenders stacked close to the line, daring the Panthers to pass.

On first down, Skip made a great run even to pick up four yards. D.J. added a couple on second down, taking a hard shot to his shoulder in the process.

He made it back to the huddle but was hurting. Cole saw this and looked around for Derwin to send in. Cole couldn’t find him, finally deciding to send in Happy since he was standing right beside the coach.

“Go in for D.J.,” Cole ordered.

Happy looked around to see who the coach was talking to.

“I’m talking to you, Happy,” Cole yelled, to be heard above the roar.

Happy sprinted to the huddle and sent D.J. to the sideline.

Cole had sent in a play for Skip to run a sweep. Hodgen’s players expected that play and shifted over to cover it. Gary saw this and audibled. He faked a handoff to Skip, then spun around and handed off to Happy on a trap.

It was the first time he carried the ball in a varsity game. There was a small hole and Happy barreled through. The weakside linebacker came up to fill the hole but was flattened as Happy lowered his head and ran over him. He broke two more tackles before getting brought down after a gain of five yards, enough to give the Panthers their initial first down.

This provided a spark for a team needing one. Happy got the handoff again on the next play and picked up four more yards, showing power nobody really expected.

The Panthers added two more first downs before a holding penalty stopped the drive.

As Happy came to the sidelines, his teammates and coaches congratulated him for his play. He was still so pumped that Happy continued bouncing around, wanting to hit somebody else.

Cole grabbed Jeremy before he ran out on the field.

“Kick the dang ball out of bounds,” he advised.

Jeremy nodded and trotted out on the field. He did exactly what his coach said. The only problem was the ball only went 10 yards before it crossed the sideline, giving Hodgen good field position.

Petros’ punter jogged to the sideline, trying to avoid his coach. Cole found him, though, and put an arm around him.

“You did a good job kicking the ball out-of-bounds,” Cole commented. “It would’ve been better if you’d kicked it a little farther.”

Hodgen had the ball on its own 32 with the offense finally taking the field.

The Bulldogs came out in their usual Wing-T formation. Petros had faced this offense many times over the years but it didn’t make it any easier. Few teams still used this offense, a shame since it was one of the most difficult offenses to stop.

A defense had to remember their assignments when facing the Wing-T. The Panthers were too aggressive, trying to make the big play, just what Cole feared would happen.

Hodgen ripped down the field, picking up big gains through holes paved by the huge offensive line.

As the first quarter ended, a 24-yard run on third and short gave Hodgen a first down on the Petros 15.

The Panthers finally started listening to the coaches and stiffened, paying attention to their keys and following their assignments.

Petros forced the Bulldogs into a fourth-and-one from the six. The Bulldogs ran a counter to the halfback. There was a small gap he tried to slip through.

Lucky read the play correctly and flew up to fill the hole, meeting the running back head up. The collision was loud enough to be heard in both stands and the coaches on both sides cringed, hoping their player was okay.

It looked like the running back hadn’t made any progress and might have actually been stopped before reaching the line. The officials marked the ball, a bad mark for the Panthers. The officials brought in the chains to measure. It might have only been by an inch, but the nose of the ball edged past the pole.

Petros stiffened again, grudgingly giving up yardage. They forced another fourth down from the one. Hodgen handed off to its fullback, who barely broke the plane of the end zone.

The line judge threw his arms in the air, giving Hodgen another touchdown. After the conversion, the Bulldogs led, 21-0. The Panthers slowly made their way to the sidelines, shoulders sagging and appearing to be stunned.

D.J. had recovered from the bang to his shoulder and was back in the game. He took the kickoff on the one, took off up the middle, cut outside and found some running room before getting knocked down at the 39.

The Panthers’ offense was stuffed on the first two plays. Gary was nearly decapitated on third down, getting caught from behind and then hammered from the front by a blitzing safety.

Jeremy came through with a good punt, putting it out of bounds on Hodgen’s 21.

The Panthers stayed at home and stiffened, giving up only one first down on a wingback reverse on third-and-long. After Petros held on third down and forced a punt, the Panthers’ fans rewarded the effort with a standing ovation.

After getting the ball back, Petros was stuffed again on the first two plays. On third down, Cole sent in a play-action pass. Gary took the snap, faked the handoff to D.J., rolled out, saw Harry was open and started to throw. But just as he released the pass, a blitzing linebacker crashed into him from behind.

The ball fell to the ground as he was driven into the ground, his left shoulder hitting first. Pain shot through his shoulder, feeling like electric jolts were going through him from the tip of his fingers all the way to his neck.

Gary managed to get to his feet with the help of Garrett Long. He knew something wasn’t right with his arm, but didn’t have a clue what it was. This was pain like he had never experienced. His left arm was slumping to the side and he bent over, trying to hold it with his right hand to keep it from bouncing.

While walking to the sideline, Gary kept expecting the pain to go away, but it was a stubborn one, refusing to give up.

Stub ran out on the field to meet Gary and help him off the field. Doc Hardy came down from the stands and waited near the bench. They sat him down and the doctor went to work. He put his hand up the jersey and felt the shoulder.

Nothing felt out of place but it was hard to tell how serious the injury was without getting some x-rays. Judging from the pain, something was wrong.

The doctor knew how tough Gary was and because of the amount of pain, they left to go into the locker room for a better examination.

Jeremy punted again, putting the ball out-of-bounds on the 16 this time. There were only a little over two minutes left before halftime.

Harry came in at cornerback with D.J. moving to safety. Hodgen was content with its lead and ran out the clock, picking up one first down before letting the half end.

The fans on both sides gave their team a standing ovation as they left the field, although many wondered why Petros’ fans bothered. The Panthers’ play surely did not warrant it.

When the Panthers got in the locker room, Doc Hardy was still examining Gary. His pads and jersey were off and he was still in a lot of pain, grimacing and jerking whenever the doctor touched his arm.

His teammates filed past, offering their support and patting him on the leg.

Cole had planned to make a change at quarterback and bring in Lucky. He didn’t know when, but knew that decision was made for him. This was going to be a lot of pressure on his son and while Cole didn’t want to put too much on Lucky, it was important for the Panthers to have some success on offense.

He knew the change would improve Petros’ offense, although it still didn’t feel good. Despite the age difference, Lucky was just a better quarterback. He knew the offense better, ran better and passing wasn’t even close.

Lucky hadn’t taken a snap in a varsity game, but his knowledge of the offense would allow him to change to the right play. Lucky knew everybody’s assignments and all the reads and audibles.

Cole pulled Doc Hardy off to the side.

“How is he?” Cole asked.

“Hard to tell,” the doctor replied. “We’re going to need to get some x-rays to find out. I’m afraid his shoulder might be separated and he has some pinched nerves.”

Cole walked over to Gary and gently put his hand on his player’s back. He felt so sorry for his senior, a player who worked so hard all summer and now would miss some games, just hopefully not the rest of the season.

Gary’s eyes were misting over, not from the pain but from the fear of not getting to play again.

“You’ll be fine,” Cole advised.

Gary put his good arm around Cole and hugged his coach. Gary’s father stood in the doorway. Doc Hardy was talking to him as Cole helped Gary down from the table and walk over to his father. They left to go to the hospital with all his teammates and coaches watching him leave.

Cole got everybody’s attention. Injuries were one of the things he hated the most about being involved in athletics. There had only been a few serious injuries over the years and he was grateful for that.

“Okay, things haven’t gone well in the first half,” Cole stated, something his players had already figured out. “We all know that. But right now, we need to forget about the first half and act like the score is tied. Play like this is the start of a new season. We need to win the second half tonight and get some momentum going as we move into district play next week.

“Defense, you played fairly well. We’ve gotta keep that up. On offense, Lucky, you’ll go in at quarterback and we’re going after them. We’re gonna open things up.”

Cole stopped to look over the stat sheet Scoop just gave him. The Panthers really had not played all that bad except for the special teams giving up those two returns.

He looked back at his players, the emotions rising.

“Hodgen expects us to roll over and take this beating and not do anything about it,” Cole continued. “I know you feel the same way I do. I’m tired of getting pounded on and standing there and taking it. I’m ready to fight back. They hit us, we’ll hit them back harder. I know the character of the people in this room and we need to show everybody what we’re made of. We’re not quitters and we’re not losers. We’re winners, by gosh, and it’s time to show everybody that! Go out there this second half and be the one doing some pounding.”

Cole felt the determination building among his players. They felt sick about the way the season was going and how the first half went, just like he and the other coaches did. It was time for a change.

Chapter 22