During the final break, both offences seemed stumped. Even the Eagles—though they still held onto their fragile lead—looked upset with how the third quarter had gone.
Both teams had tried their tricks with using motion pre-snap. But whether it was Shane shifting around, or Joseph, neither defence had been pulled out of position.
It didn't work for the Titans because another LB could swap over to Shane, and there was always that Hawk watching from beyond, keeping him in check. Not like Wesley had any time to throw. With Elias and Joseph wreaking havoc on the Titans' O-Line, he had seconds to find a target, and that just wasn't enough time for any Receiver to break open.
For Joseph and the Eagles, it didn't work because Shane wasn't matching Joseph as a direct opponent. The Titans' had shifted more to a zone, and it didn't matter which side Joseph tried to attack it from, he couldn't find—or create—an opening.
With how much tension the scoreless quarter built, the last quarter was poised to be the most explosive yet. Jackson couldn't help but feel that the next team to score a touchdown would be the eventual winner. 'Please, Titans,' he whispered, fingers crossed.
Jasmine snatched one of his hands. 'They've got this,' she said. 'Please, Titans, you've got this.'
The others watched on wordlessly; even Rudy was on the edge of his seat. Tommy had to scramble to the restroom, the excitement and anxiety too much to handle. Kenny shifted restlessly in his seat.
Going into the break, the Titans had the ball, though they were on the back foot. They'd only reached their 33-yard line, and they were facing third down, with 8 yards to go. Coach Otsen had the boys rallied together on the sideline; an uneasy silence loomed over them. It was so prevalent it muffled the nervous buzz from the crowd.
'We're gonna have to switch some things up,' Coach Otsen said. 'We're lucky they didn't pull away when we couldn't score, but that means nothing if we can't take advantage and break our own drought.' He paused, sighing. 'Which is why you're sitting this drive out, Micky.'
The huddle's attention turned to Micky, all eyes on him as he blinked up at Coach Otsen. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words were swallowed when Coach Knight clapped a hand on his shoulder. 'It's for the best,' was all Coach Knight said, but it was enough to keep Micky silent and compliant.
'Which means Dion's joining the offence,' Coach Otsen said, continuing as if his announcement hadn't been a bombshell. 'We'll have four Wideouts and a Tight End. We're gonna beat them through the air.'
Everyone else took the news with impassive faces, heads bobbing as they accepted the new orders. Grant, Daniel, and Demetrius looked conflicted. On one hand, the Titans were only passing now, which meant more chances for them. Simultaneously, Dion being on the field meant there were more targets, and more people who could steal their glory.
Wesley was the only one who was outright upset by the plan, which was odd seeing as all the focus would be on him and his passes now. … But even Wesley knew that having ALL the spotlight wasn't a completely good thing.
'Hold on,' he said. 'If we're going empty. Who the fuck's protecting me? They gonna kill me out there, Coach. I ain't got two damn seconds to throw the ball.'
'So find a target in under two seconds. Is that a problem for you, Wesley?' Coach Otsen stared him down.
Wesley swallowed his pride—a thick lump in his throat—and his grievances. 'No … Sir.'
The Titans returned to the field, Wesley leading the march, fists clenched tight by his side. Above, Jasmine led the supporters in their chanting.
The new formation surprised the Eagles, but they shifted quickly, matching the extra number of Receivers. Joseph hunched down in front of Shane, though looked beyond him to Wesley; the Titans were throwing him out to be slaughtered.
The ball was snapped. Shane burst inward, causing a hitch in Joseph's stride, though he recovered so fast most missed it. Wesley darted back, eyes shooting across the field from one target to the next. Everyone was covered.
Shane broke free across the field. Wesley held the ball, with Joseph bearing down on him. Other defenders shifted to cover Shane, and that left an opening. Wesley slung the ball towards the opening, and Grant sped into it, catching the ball with perfect timing. He hurried ahead, diving across the first-down marker.
Cheers came from the field and the crowd. The Titans were still alive, but they had to keep the momentum rolling. Their huddle ended quickly, still in the same formation. The Eagles matched them, and Joseph still had eyes for Wesley.
Shane darted out after the snap, Wesley shot through, easily passing by the overworked Tackle. He knew his teammates had his back and Shane would be covered. But with another Receiver on the board, that left room for Dion.
Wesley lobbed the ball over, Dion rose and caught it. Landing, he backed through the defence for extra yardage before they dragged him down. The Titans were rolling; their new formation hadn't been a fluke.
The air was electrified with the building excitement from the crowd. They could see the Titans scoring, taking the lead, and running away with the game. They could see the championship coming home with them.
Jackson and company were on their feet—bar Rudy, and Tommy was already on his feet because he was hurrying back up the stairs. However, the feeling was bittersweet for Jackson. He couldn't beat back all his selfish thoughts. Looking at Rudy, he could tell the older boy was feeling a lot more bitter than sweet.
It was good the Titans had found their groove on offence, and it was good they were doing it with passes. If Dion was improving, maybe he could be the key to victory. That would be great for the team … but for the prospective JV Receivers?…
Jackson finally banished that selfish side, sitting back down as the Titans continued rolling over the Eagles. Shane was a huge contributor, even if he didn't start the drive catching the ball. He was a disruptor to begin, creating distractions, making space for his teammates to attack. But if the defence left him alone and tried to cover the others, he was still a threat.
As the Titans passed midfield, Joseph stopped blitzing, deciding instead to cover Shane. It helped the defence stabilise. Everything was covered; Wesley had no-one to pass to, and the pocket collapsed as Elias burst through … however, Wesley still had his legs. He danced away from Elias, scrambling out of the pocket, picking up several yards on the ground as the rest of the defence was too worried about covering the Receivers that were never thrown to.
If one of the Eagles tried to stop Wesley's scramble early, and dropped away from their assignment to chase him, then the Titans would exploit that new opening and Wesley could flip a pass over on the run, showing off the talent that had earned him the starting role, even with the handicap of his poor attitude.
The Titans were in the red-zone soon enough. Too soon for Joseph's liking. He would've preferred if they had never sniffed the red-zone for the rest of the game. But it was his fault they were there, and why they seemed unstoppable. He had to step up and fast if he were to prevent them from scoring a touchdown.
The crowd was feverish, but Joseph blocked them out. Usually, Joseph aimed to control a game with his tackling and blitzing. If the Eagles needed a big-time defensive stop that wouldn't just halt momentum but flip it on its head, he'd go for a strip-sack, ripping the ball from the QB's hands.
But that wouldn't work against Wesley. He was too slippery, and if Joseph had to hold back from spearing him, aiming for the ball instead, a coward like Wesley would go to the ground early. So Joseph had to take a step out of his comfort zone. Shane was his assignment, and he'd smother Shane. That was the key to beating the Titans. He'd change the game with his coverage rather than his blitzes.
Joseph watched Shane closely. He could feel the noise rather than hear it. All he heard was his own breathing, his own heartbeat, and the snap-count of Wesley. But the energy surrounding the field was making the hair along his arms stand up.
'Set-hut!'
Shane leapt forward, Joseph back. Their hands fought, pushing for leverage. Shane angled outside but was running straight. Joseph turned, running with him. Shane snapped inside, a Post route taking him deep. Joseph followed, turning smoothly as his eyes lifted to Wesley.
A Post, with another Vertical outside to drag away any potential help from a Safety. But Joseph saw it coming; he could get ahead of it. This ball was going to be his.
Wesley cocked back, and Joseph undercut Shane's route, smothering Shane and blocking off his angle from the ball. Wesley was already in the motion of throwing, the ball flew free from his hand, Joseph lit up. That light was snuffed out in the next breath.
The ball was on the wrong path. Headed towards their area, but slightly off course, and Wesley hadn't missed. The ball slipped in behind Joseph and Shane, landing straight in Grant's grasp as his Post route starting from the opposite side scissored across Shane's.
Grant caught the pass in stride, weaving through the spread-out defence. He'd snuck through the back door, and right into the end-zone. The Titans had scored a touchdown—the Titans had taken the lead.
The cheers and hollers from the crowd were thunderous. Like a bubble had been burst, the noise was deafening as they leapt to their feet. Even the other Titans sprinkled across the field, or standing along the sideline, were jumping up and down or racing towards Grant. They could do it; they WERE doing it! The Titans were winning.
Jackson saw them spread throughout the crowd. The other JV members were in two clusters. There was Pete, Freddy and Lonnie in one, and Isaac, Vincent, Owen, and the rest of the Linemen in the other. They were cheering as loudly as anyone, jumping about and shaking each other.
"The Titans are gonna do it," Jackson thought. "They're gonna be champions."
But the Eagles weren't gonna go down without a fight. The game wasn't over yet, and after Nick sent the extra point through, the lead was only 3 points at 20–17. There was still plenty of time for the Eagles to retake the lead, and it'd be a LONG night for the Titans to protect their lead.
On the Eagles' answering drive, their passion and determination were there … but they still struggled against the Titans' defence. They couldn't even reach half-field, coming up just short, before they were forced into fourth down, and had to punt the ball away.
Joseph stared at Shane as both boys left the field. Shane panted hard, belly and chest rising and falling with the effort of his breathing. He was fading. Joseph still felt as strong as a mountain. He knew Shane was a formidable opponent, but Shane was trying to do everything at once, and it had cost him.
Joseph sat back down on the bench for the brief respite he'd get during the punt. He knew this was Shane's only break as well. Joseph leant back, turning his gaze skyward. "I've failed so far. I've not believed or tried strong enough, but I know YOU still believe in me. Continue to give me strength, and I will bring you the glory that you deserve. I will do what needs to be done."
The Titans took over after the punt resulted in a touchback. Joseph led the Eagles onto the field, walking backwards, facing his teammates. 'Have faith—in me, Coach, each other, and the Lord. We are not beaten, NEVER beaten, until the game is over. Remember the plan; allow me to crush their spirit.'
The Eagles nodded. There were some cries of "I believe" and "win through faith" from the pack before they spread apart, taking up their formation. Elias was still with them, still planted in the centre of their D-Line.
Joseph was, as always, facing off against Shane, and the Titans were still in their five-wide formation with an empty backfield. Wesley stood alone, scanning the defence for holes before calling for the snap.
Joseph stuck with Shane as the Titans rushed forward. Joseph had learnt his lesson; he wouldn't go beyond his means, wouldn't gamble for an interception. He'd have faith in himself, and would inspire faith in his teammates.
Elias had a different objective than last drive. Now instead of busting through the Titans' O-Line, blitzing the QB, he'd hold his line. He wouldn't be completely passive; he'd still push the O-Line back, but his job now was to watch Wesley, so that when there were no open targets—like the first play of the drive—he'd break away from his position and chase Wesley down whenever he tried to scramble.
Wesley learned this was Elias's new "Spy" job the hard way, when the huge mound of man slammed him into the ground. Wesley's scramble had only earned them a yard and had rattled him.
The Titans bounced back, hoisting Wesley to his feet and brushing him off. He cast some glares the O-Line's way, and then at the Receivers too, before stalking back and gathering the huddle again.
The next play, Wesley didn't scramble. He bounced around the pocket, looking back and forth across the field, scanning his targets once, twice. Nobody was open. Joseph was covering Shane fully, and without Shane pulling the defence out of position, no one else could get open either.
Wesley heaved the ball to Demetrius, though there was no opening, and the pass was easily batted down for an incompletion. Wesley held his arms out, exasperated. 'Can't somebody get open? For fuck's sake.'
The Titans were facing a three-and-out, and though they still held the lead, the momentum was shifting once again. This battle was a seesaw. Neither side could stay on top for long, and the fans were well aware. The Titans' cheers were fading, the Eagles' chanting rising to drown them.
If his Receivers couldn't get open, Wesley had to do something himself. With no target finding space on the third play, Wesley scrambled again. He wasted no time tucking the ball under his arm and breaking towards the outside, convinced that the tub of lard had only caught him because he hadn't been expecting it.
But Elias was faster than he looked. It was terrifying seeing him lumber across the field so quickly; someone that size shouldn't move that fast. Wesley cut inside, trying to wrong-foot the larger man, to no avail. Elias wrapped his enormous arms—like steel cables wrapped in blubber—around Wesley. He tore Wesley to the ground and flattened him.
The Titans were shut down and had to punt the ball right back. They still clung to a tiny lead, but the Eagles had plenty of time to punch in a touchdown and retake the lead, or failing that, tie the game with a field goal; Joseph's mind was set on a touchdown.
The teams set up their formations. Joseph stared across the field, locking eyes with Shane briefly. He couldn't let the disrespect continue. If Shane wouldn't guard him one-on-one, he'd rip through the rest of the Titans and force Shane's hand.
The ball was snapped; Joseph rushed to the outside, carving through the defence on an Out route. He turned back to the ball, leaping towards the sideline. There was a defender right in front of him, jumping as well, but Joseph could still reach the ball, and even if they both got hands on it, there was no way the CB could resist Joseph's strength.
Joseph wrenched the ball away from the Titan, stepping out-of-bounds afterwards. The catch looked risky, but Joseph and the Eagles had had faith in his strength—they didn't see any risk at all, and their reward was moving 11 yards closer to their goal.
'Get it together, Titans!' Jackson yelled, fear reaching the edge of his voice. The others sitting by him were just as tense, eyes darting to the scoreboard and back to the field. 3 points, half the quarter left.
'Hold on, Titans,' Jasmine said, almost like a prayer. Kenny reached over, gripping her hand.
The Titans held strong. The Eagles tested them on the next play. Another run came at them, Rocket following behind Joseph's block. Shane rushed down, meeting Joseph head-on after Joseph had already dispersed another Titan. The two were matched evenly, and Rocket sped by behind Joseph's block. He gained 5 yards. Too many on a run, but not a back-breaking amount. The Titans were holding on.
Another play, another pass. Joseph went outside again, but the target was Rocket again, a screen this time. Joseph led the charge, but kept alert of their surroundings, and when Shane came flying towards them, Joseph dropped back to engage him.
Rocket shot ahead, following the rest of his blockers until they were taken down, and he was forced out after a gain of 19 yards.
When Joseph took his position again, he kept staring down Shane. Shane stood strong, not being pulled over by the taunting.
'C'mon, Shane. Shut that guy down,' Rudy said. His hands tensed around loose folds of his clothes, pulling on the fabric. 'Win this thing, man.'
Thousands of voices became one until there were two giants shouting at one another, one begging for a Titans win, the other demanding an Eagles win. All eyes were on Joseph and Shane. The ball was snapped.
Joseph rushed forward, still staring at Shane as he sprinted ahead, pushing through a flimsy press without slowing. His Vertical gained speed rapidly, and Shane soon followed.
Side by side they ran, almost tangling legs, almost brushing shoulders. Shane was faster in the long run, but he didn't think Joseph was playing to that; Joseph was gonna play to a contest of strength.
Joseph looked over his shoulder just as the ball was launched into the air. He found it, and so did Shane. They pressed together, shoulders grinding as Joseph held his ground, the pass aimed in his favour; he just had to hold his ground.
Shane pushed forward, trying to slip around him, looking for any advantage he could get edge-wise. The ball neared them; he lunged forward, reaching over Joseph's shoulder.
Joseph laid a shoulder into Shane's chest, pushing into him. At the last moment, he dove for the ball, snaring it against his chest. He fell to the turf, and Shane fell on top of him, but the catch had been made, and suddenly, the Eagles were right on the Titans' doorstep.
'Wow,' Tommy said, amazed by the catch. He was the only one in his group who wasn't shocked and dismayed.
Jackson stared, hands on his head, jaw slack.
'That was a fucking push-off,' Kenny grumbled. 'Come on, ref! Do your fucking job!'
'Oh no. No, no no no. No way!' Jasmine yelled, shaking her head. 'That was a foul, right?' She looked around for support.
Rudy sat back, head hanging. The Eagles would tie the game if the Titans couldn't force a turnover … but he knew what was coming next.
Anyone could guess the Eagles would score a touchdown, but the how of it was the unexpected part. Joseph shifted back, going from TE to FB, and when the ball was snapped, it was handed off to Rocket. He followed Joseph's lead, and Joseph followed Elias who bulldozed through the Titans' D-Line, cleaving a path for them. With an extra head of steam, when Joseph met Shane, he ran him right over, and Rocket leapt over the wreckage they made on the field, racing into the end-zone.
The Titans scored, taking back the lead. Dejection and jubilation swirled around the field, flowing equally from the stands as the extra point was successful, and the score ticked over to 20–24.
Coach Otsen met his players on the sideline, glaring at them. 'What's with all the long faces?' he said. 'Stop moping about and looking like a bunch of kicked dogs! The game's not over, so stop acting like you've already lost!'
It was a harsh, gruff pep-talk, but they expected nothing less from the stern man. After a touchback, the Titans' offence walked back onto the field. There were a little over five minutes left for them to work their magic. If the Eagles could comeback, so could the Titans.
They didn't get off to a good start. Joseph was manning Shane closely, holding him in check, and the other Titans still couldn't force an opening. A pass intended for Daniel on a Comeback sailed over his head, starting an argument between him and Wesley about whose fault the failure was. The next play only gained 2 yards when Wesley hit Micky on a check-down, once again failing to find an open Receiver downfield.
Much quicker than they liked, the Titans were facing third down, but a failed drive wasn't all that hinged on that third down. It felt more like the entire game was resting in the balance. If they fell here, would they even have another chance?
Shane needed to do something. The game wasn't yet out of reach, but if he didn't step up—if he allowed Joseph to continue walking all over him and the Titans—they'd fall short, and the championship would elude them for another year.
He had time to work, both in the grand scheme of the game—there was still plenty of time for multiple scoring drives—and play-by-play—Micky was back in, providing extra protection for Wesley, and a check-down target if worst came to worst. Shane didn't need to rush.
The ball was snapped. Shane hopped forward; for a moment, it looked like he was floating. He jabbed outside then rushed by on the inside. Joseph pushed against him then backed off, slowing him down enough so he could run side by side with Shane as they straightened. A shimmy inside bought Shane enough space to cut back out. Joseph was with him, just a step behind.
Wesley lobbed the ball over, targeting the sideline. Dion had been the distraction this time, drawing away any help from that side with his Go route.
Shane stretched out, looking back over his shoulder. Joseph lunged, and both men caught the ball at the same time. They clung to it, muscles straining, even the football strained as they squeezed the firm leather into their arms, fighting over ownership. They tumbled towards the sideline, and Shane wrenched the ball away from Joseph a moment before they crashed out-of-bounds.
It was a catch, and most importantly, a first down with a gain of 16. If the struggle had lasted another second, it would've been an incompletion. It could've been worse. If Shane lost his grip, or if Joseph won the tug of war… An interception could've spelt the end for the Titans.
He just couldn't shake Joseph. Those passes were only risky because he couldn't free himself. But that risk seemed necessary—seemed like the only way they could win. Shane would just have to trust in his own strength, and Wesley's arm, and the Titans could win. Wesley didn't feel as confident about such a plan; the tug-of-war had been much too close for his liking. An interception next to his name was the only thing that came close to the disgust that came with losing.
But Shane had faith, too. He pulled the huddle close, smiling at his teammates. 'We can do this,' he said, 'if we trust one another, and give our all for each other. They won't expect us to go deep, so let's make them pay.' He grinned at Wesley.
'Get some space. I'll find anyone who does,' Wesley said.
Shane thrust his hand into the middle of the huddle. More joined his. With a cry of "Titans", the huddle broke apart and everyone took their positions.
Shane stared into Joseph's eyes. They were evenly matched, two sides of the same coin, perhaps. Offensively, Shane couldn't remember anyone else being so similar to him. But that meant they each had an edge over the other. Neither of them were coverage experts; that's not where their skills lay on the defensive side of the ball. Shane had to exploit that. He was the better Receiver. He just had to do something.
The ball was snapped. Shane batted away Joseph's hands, but they still crashed into one another, shoulder to shoulder. Shane scraped by, pushing past, but Joseph was light on his feet, scrambling back. They raced up the field before Shane jutted outside. Joseph followed, and hesitated as Shane feinted back, faking a Curl, before he darted back up, continuing on a Vertical. Joseph was right there with him, but Shane was pulling away; he just needed more time.
Wesley needed time too. The Eagles were aggressive. Even if Joseph wasn't blitzing with them, the others were still smashing through the O-Line. Wesley darted out of the pocket, eyes focused downfield. He just had to wait for Shane to get past the final Safety—Wesley hadn't seen the first. Just one more second. He scrambled out of the pocket to buy as much time as he could, and then he saw the Hawk.
As Wesley cocked back to throw, the Hawk swooped in for the kill. Wesley tried to curl up and protect the ball, but it was too late. He was crushed in the high-speed tackle, and the ball fell loose from his grip, tumbling across the turf.
Micky rushed towards the ball, diving. But Elias was there, diving too. He landed on top of Micky, crushing him, ripping the ball from his flimsy grasp, and rolling along the grass.
The Eagles recovered the fumble. The Titans had failed. Jackson slumped back in his seat, the life sucked out of one half of the stands, whilst the other was full of fireworks. The noise was so loud, even if it was only half of the crowd cheering. They were losing their minds. They knew what had just happened … the Eagles had won.
This fact was cemented when the Eagles took advantage of the shortened field from the interception and quickly scored another touchdown, pushing the lead out to 11 points at 20–31.
With the two-minute warning just around the corner, and the lead now stretched to two possessions, the Titans' hope quickly faded, and another failed drive brought them to a crushing defeat.
The clock hit zero, and the Eagles were declared the victors. The Titans had lost, and the weight of defeat slowly took hold of the Titans.