Push harder, run faster. Faster!

I couldn’t feel my legs. I’ve been giving it my all since the start of the match and now was my chance to win the game.MY CHANCE. My team was weak. If I wasn’t their quarterback, they never would have made it to the playoffs. I made plays no one would have thought off. Screw the coaches outdated playbook this was the finals and we were losing 3-0 with 10 seconds on the board and 60 yards between us and victory. give or take eleven overgrown men who are barely passable as high school students.

We have had no luck with offence this match. Especially because I was tired since I had to play defense as well to make sure we don’t concede. Usually I made sure we score so many touchdowns that the opposition has no chance at a comeback but not tonight, they had our wide receiver in their pocket. And it looks like they know all my custom plays.

I just want to rest. Every breath I made was labored. My inner vest stuck to my skin with sweat. I had taken so many hits that I doubt I could count to ten right now. But I can’t rest. I can’t. Mom is somewhere in the stands tonight watching this. I have a chance to show her my hard work, my blood sweat and tears. It’s my time.

“okay team huddle up. We only have 5 on the clock so this is the last play of the game”. As I spoke I took note of the dejected looks on my teammates faces.

“come on guys. you all look like Captain America shoved a shield up your asses.”

A few of the guys chuckled at my comment.

Murray our wide receiver commented “more like hulk shoved captain America up our asses. now that’s a real war crime” now everyone laughed. Good I need them to feel anything other than hopeless.

“okay enough jokes, coach Wilson doesn’t even know the first thing about football-”

“Hey” Coach protested “how was I supposed to know that our school which only every exceeds academically would make it to the national super finals or whatever. We’re the team which other teams play their 5th string against. No offence”

Thanks for killing my momentum. “anyway. Like I was saying the coach knows jack shit about football which means we got here by ourselves. WE DID.I think that as a team WE can win”

“how?” this time it was Jim who spoke

“I just need an opening. I want you to throw yourself at them with all you’ve got. I’ll look for the opening.” I could see the doubt in everyone’s eyes. Shit I’m losing them; I’ve got to say something quick.

“if we win you all know that rich dork Flash Thompson would throw us a winner’s party at his daddy’s house. The amount of pussaayyyy you’ll be getting would make Thor blush.”

“YYYYYYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” this time even the subs on the bench went wild. I should have known only one thing motivates these idiots. the whole team averages a D- and that’s because all my grades are A+.

“OK OK CALM DOWN! Now let’s do this”. We got into formation as our last time-out finished. “HUT…HUT…HIKE!”

And just like that the most important event of the year entered its final stages. Time slowed down. Everything felt so clear, the pain in my muscles disappeared. This was it. My teammates advanced with reckless abandon. They exerted themselves to the limit. Maybe I was bragging a little bit too much, if I didn’t have these meat shields I wouldn’t be here. It is a team sport after all.

Why am I thinking so much, I should be looking for an opening. Fuck it there’s no time. I’m gonna jump them. As I ran towards Jim’s back I shouted “JIM PULL HIM DOWN!” luckily he actually listened.as he pulled down on the shoulders of the player in front of him I jumped.

Adrenaline is an amazing hormone your body produces. Right now I can feel its effect working at 100%. I hit the ground running and my vision tunneled. Anyone in front of me was an obstacle I had to avoid. The next few moments where hard to explain. The best way I could put it was that I was in THE ZONE. No one could touch me I sidestepped pivoted and spun around every player which came at me. It was a real out of body experience.

As I made my way past the last of the defensive line my vision tunneled and I ran.

Push harder, run faster. Faster!

I kept going as fast as I could. One by one my senses shut down. Fuck have I been holding my breath this whole time. I just need to keep running and that’s what I did. I kept running and running. I couldn’t even see or feel any more.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WAKE UP RICHARD FUCKING RIDER!”

“ARGH! Right in my ear” I opened my eyes and saw my teammates standing around me helmets off and grinning ear to ear

“I take it we won” I couldn’t stop the tears from my eyes, my voice even cracked when I said ‘won’.

“That’s a given, now stop crying you big fucking baby. TIME TO GET LAID!” to our surprise it was coach Wilson who spoke “HAH! Did I just kill the mood? Now get your friend to the medic for a concussion test he ran full speed into the opponents post and you idiots are carrying him towards the carpark for a party.

“wait how long was I out, isn’t there a ceremony and cup lifting, did I miss it.” I began to panic, was I still dreaming so many things didn’t make sense.

“no kid your gorilla squad just couldn’t wait for the party. They scooped you up and ran of shouting Pussy at the top of their lungs. you’ve only been out for about 12 minutes. Now can you idiots return to the field” couch was holding back a laugh the whole time he explained what happened.

oh so my teammates where driven to the brink of madness thanks to their ‘thirst’. fucking horny idiots. “let’s go back guys” hopefully we won’t get punished for my teammates idiocy.

“YEAH. THEN WE PAAAAAARTAAAAAY!” “YEEEEEAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!” the group of idiots shouted and carried me towards the stadium entrance.

“as we reentered the field through the tunnel the crown cheered.” maybe they thought I was seriously injured. Luckily the ref believed coaches lie that my teammates where so concerned with my health that they tried to take me to the hospital directly. Why the ref believed that no one could explain. Maybe he pitied us.

All I know is that I finally feel like I’ve accomplished something of value. I had my first real victory.