really wanted Jimmy to start that game, I don't know. But if he gives
you any trouble, just remember that it's not
you
he's mad at. It's
me.”
“I wish he'd get over it,” Cap said.
“Well, you just concentrate on doing your job. I'll handle Sable. If we win this game, that'll shut him up.”
Cap put a smile on his face, but to himself he thought, What if we lose?
11
O n the Friday afternoon of the game, the Sandville 'Cudas showed up in a yellow school bus leading a fleet of cars and trucks
full of fans. The bleachers were almost half full of Cowpen fans, including Candy, Bobby Jo, and Gabe Muñoz, along with friends
and family of the other Panthers.
The Cudas got off their bus, already in their black-and-maroon uniforms. From where the Panthers were warming up, Cap took
a look at his opponents. Sandville had
thirteen
players. His mouth felt dry. The 'Cudas ran out to the other end of the field and began doing calisthenics: jumping jacks,
sit-ups, and so on. They looked …
ready.
“They don't look so great,” said Jimmy Cash, coming up behind Cap. “We can beat these guys.”
A few days before, when Tully had told the teamthat Cap would start, Jimmy had made a point of coming over and shaking his hand.
“Good luck. And I just want you to know, I don't believe your grandpa played favorites—whatever Gramps says.”
Cap had been grateful to Jimmy. During the practices before the game, Tully and Sable had not spoken to each other except
when it was necessary. Sable continued to help players and make suggestions, and Tully let him, knowing that Sable's advice
was useful.
The referee for the game was a high school gym teacher from Ausburg, in a real ref's outfit with black-and-white-striped shirt
and bright yellow flag to throw for penalties. A real ref, a real crowd … a
real game.
It was what Cap had wanted to play for years, almost since he could walk.
He felt weird, and couldn't tell whether he was excited, or nervous, or just plain scared. All those people in the bleachers
… when he'd put on the blue-and-gold uniform, it felt funny. He had walked past a mirror and was startled at what he looked
like.
He looked like a football player.
Sandville won the coin toss and chose to receive.Hoot kicked off for the Panthers. His kick was short, but it took a bounce that the 'Cudas had trouble picking up. They wound
up starting from their twenty-yard line. On their first series, they hit a short pass for six yards, but Ben and Mick stopped
a run up the middle for a loss. Ben rushed the passer on third and eight and forced him to release the ball too quickly. The
pass was incomplete and Sandville had to punt. The Cowpen fans cheered.
Hoot fielded the punt at the Cowpen nineteen, got a good block from Fritz, and ran it back to the thirty. The Panthers huddled
and Cap called for a pass over the middle to Mick.
The blockers gave Cap time to set up, but his pass was a bullet and bounced off Mick's fingers, incomplete. On second down,
Cap faked a long pass to Sam and shoveled an underhand throw to Ben, who plunged into the line, caught the 'Cudas by surprise,
and gained nine yards. Cowpen third and six.
Cap called for another pass, sending Sam deep and Mick over the middle. He dropped back, saw that Sam had beaten his defender
by two whole steps, and fired a long pass—
too
long. It sailed over Sam's head.
Cap had to punt. He noticed Sable Cash saying something to Tully, who shook his head and looked annoyed.
Cap's punt was high and forced the 'Cuda receiver back to his seven-yard line. Mick and Hoot dropped him just as he caught
the ball.
This time the 'Cudas managed to gain some yards, but their drive was stopped at midfield when Cap picked off a pass. Cowpen
had the ball on their thirty-five.
Tully sent in Vince to give Hoot a rest. Cap tossed a pitchout to Vince then blocked a 'Cuda defender. Behind Fritz's block,
Vince got loose for ten yards. But another running
you any trouble, just remember that it's not
you
he's mad at. It's
me.”
“I wish he'd get over it,” Cap said.
“Well, you just concentrate on doing your job. I'll handle Sable. If we win this game, that'll shut him up.”
Cap put a smile on his face, but to himself he thought, What if we lose?
11
O n the Friday afternoon of the game, the Sandville 'Cudas showed up in a yellow school bus leading a fleet of cars and trucks
full of fans. The bleachers were almost half full of Cowpen fans, including Candy, Bobby Jo, and Gabe Muñoz, along with friends
and family of the other Panthers.
The Cudas got off their bus, already in their black-and-maroon uniforms. From where the Panthers were warming up, Cap took
a look at his opponents. Sandville had
thirteen
players. His mouth felt dry. The 'Cudas ran out to the other end of the field and began doing calisthenics: jumping jacks,
sit-ups, and so on. They looked …
ready.
“They don't look so great,” said Jimmy Cash, coming up behind Cap. “We can beat these guys.”
A few days before, when Tully had told the teamthat Cap would start, Jimmy had made a point of coming over and shaking his hand.
“Good luck. And I just want you to know, I don't believe your grandpa played favorites—whatever Gramps says.”
Cap had been grateful to Jimmy. During the practices before the game, Tully and Sable had not spoken to each other except
when it was necessary. Sable continued to help players and make suggestions, and Tully let him, knowing that Sable's advice
was useful.
The referee for the game was a high school gym teacher from Ausburg, in a real ref's outfit with black-and-white-striped shirt
and bright yellow flag to throw for penalties. A real ref, a real crowd … a
real game.
It was what Cap had wanted to play for years, almost since he could walk.
He felt weird, and couldn't tell whether he was excited, or nervous, or just plain scared. All those people in the bleachers
… when he'd put on the blue-and-gold uniform, it felt funny. He had walked past a mirror and was startled at what he looked
like.
He looked like a football player.
Sandville won the coin toss and chose to receive.Hoot kicked off for the Panthers. His kick was short, but it took a bounce that the 'Cudas had trouble picking up. They wound
up starting from their twenty-yard line. On their first series, they hit a short pass for six yards, but Ben and Mick stopped
a run up the middle for a loss. Ben rushed the passer on third and eight and forced him to release the ball too quickly. The
pass was incomplete and Sandville had to punt. The Cowpen fans cheered.
Hoot fielded the punt at the Cowpen nineteen, got a good block from Fritz, and ran it back to the thirty. The Panthers huddled
and Cap called for a pass over the middle to Mick.
The blockers gave Cap time to set up, but his pass was a bullet and bounced off Mick's fingers, incomplete. On second down,
Cap faked a long pass to Sam and shoveled an underhand throw to Ben, who plunged into the line, caught the 'Cudas by surprise,
and gained nine yards. Cowpen third and six.
Cap called for another pass, sending Sam deep and Mick over the middle. He dropped back, saw that Sam had beaten his defender
by two whole steps, and fired a long pass—
too
long. It sailed over Sam's head.
Cap had to punt. He noticed Sable Cash saying something to Tully, who shook his head and looked annoyed.
Cap's punt was high and forced the 'Cuda receiver back to his seven-yard line. Mick and Hoot dropped him just as he caught
the ball.
This time the 'Cudas managed to gain some yards, but their drive was stopped at midfield when Cap picked off a pass. Cowpen
had the ball on their thirty-five.
Tully sent in Vince to give Hoot a rest. Cap tossed a pitchout to Vince then blocked a 'Cuda defender. Behind Fritz's block,
Vince got loose for ten yards. But another running
Similar Books
