Junior Year Box Set

He was standing near where the Unity player was lying on the ground.

“Think he’ll try another cheap shot?” I asked loudly enough for most of the Unity players to hear.

Yuri started to tell me that wasn’t his intention, so I grabbed him and pulled him to our sideline.

“I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” Yuri told me.

“I know, but I wanted them to know that if they wanted to play dirty, there would be consequences, even if they were unintended.”

Coach Hope and Coach Stevens found me.

“If this weren’t the last game of the year, I’d bench you,” Coach Hope said.

“Why don’t you wait until I put three more scores on them?” I suggested.

Coach Hope laughed at me and walked away. I had to look around because I wasn’t sure if I’d just been punked. He was getting soft in his old age.

Unity hadn’t made it to the State Championship game without reason. Their offense took possession and began to move the ball on us. Yuri was like the Tasmanian Devil as he flew all over the field, making play after play. He finally stopped their drive when he tipped a pass and Jake intercepted it.

We took the ball back and put together another time-eating drive where Ty ran the ball behind our improved offensive line, with Wolf acting like a battering ram. We kicked a field goal as time ran out in the half to make it 20–0.

At halftime, Coach Hope reminded us that this game wasn’t over and that Unity got the ball to start the second half. The game was on Fox Sports, who was broadcasting all the games from yesterday and today. Coach Mason was able to get a feed of the game and kept Coach Diamond on the phone all through halftime.

Coach Hope’s words seemed to be prophetic as Unity took the ball in the second half and began to drive the ball downfield. When they got inside the 20 yard line, Coach Zoon let Yuri and Jake blitz. Their quarterback saw Yuri and spun away right into Jake, who knocked the ball loose. Yuri fell on the ball to stop their drive.

Coach Diamond had us run the dive play, and we began to move down the field again. He then signaled in the play-action pass. Finally! I hid the ball on my hip as I faked the handoff to Ty. Their linebacker must have thought he finally had stopped Ty because he was able to get past Wolf to make the tackle. As soon as Wolf cleared the pile in the center of the field, I hit him with the pass. He stiff-armed their safety and wasn’t touched from there to make it 27–0.

After that, Unity wasn’t the same team. Coach Hope let me play for two more scores, both on passes. Coach Diamond decided to spread the wealth and get everyone involved. Ty ended up gaining 212 yards and scored one touchdown. I ended up with 198 yards passing, scoring one touchdown on special teams and passing for three more. On defense, Yuri had accounted for fifteen tackles. The final score was 41–0.

On the front page of the Sunday paper would be a picture of Yuri, Ty, and me, holding up the trophy.

◊◊◊

We just climbed on the buses and rode back to the high school to take our showers and change. Our fans were waiting for us, and Coach Hope put together a quick impromptu pep rally in the Lincoln Field House. The local TV station showed up and interviewed everyone. I was glad to see they didn’t just want to talk to me. While I didn’t mind being the center of attention, I was happy that I wasn’t always the focus.

◊◊◊

Mona volunteered her house for our victory party. Coach Hope hadn’t bothered to warn us about drinking. I was confident that I might imbibe, so I talked my dad into giving me a ride. Mona met me at the front door with a shot of Southern Comfort. I slammed it back, and she handed me a beer.

“Welcome to the off-season,” I said with a smile.

Jim walked up and handed me another shot, which I threw back.

“Look out, boys! Our fearless leader is doing shots tonight!”

I knew that my tolerance for alcohol wasn’t high since I hadn’t gotten drunk in a long time. More than anything, I just wanted to cut loose and have a good time, so I slowed down on the shots and stuck to beer. I found a Barcalounger and kicked back, listening to music and sipping my beer, when Tracy parked her butt in my lap.

“I hear you’ve been saying goodbye to everyone. Did you forget about me?” she asked.

“I haven’t said goodbye to Mona or Kim either,” I said as I spotted the two of them talking across the room.

She grabbed my chin and turned my face so I was looking at her.

“How about we grab a room for old times’ sake?” Tracy suggested.

I couldn’t imagine any reason why not. Tracy had always been one of my favorite sex partners. I might as well complete my freshman-year homecoming set and spend some quality time with Tracy. It had been a blast from the past to spend time with Cindy, Suzanne, Beth, and now Tracy.

Tracy and I had always been a good match, sexually. I think a little crazy makes sex fun, and Tracy was more than a little crazy. She’d actually been diagnosed. I joke, but her crazy wasn’t really the fun kind.