It's third and fifteen from their own 15-yard line, right at the front of their end zone.
This is a tricky offensive play, with very few options for the offense. Any small mistake could not only give the ball to the opponent but also put them right in front of their end zone, making it very likely they'll score again. The smartest move is to push forward for a few yards, get a better position to punt, give up this down, let the defense do their job, and try again later.
Especially since the quarterback on the field for the Bruins right now is no Peyton Manning.
The Bruins' offense lined up, with five players on the offensive line. On the left were two wide receivers, and on the right were a wide receiver and a tight end, with a running back behind them. Among these players, John and Logan were the most familiar to Lu Ke, and the running back was Marcus, who scored the only touchdown today.
Lu Ke stood behind the center, his eyes glancing at the clock at the end of the field. It was counting down. "Fifteen, fourteen..." It showed the remaining time they had to start the play. Then he quickly looked at the USC defenders across from them.
He knew them, but they didn't know him. Underestimation was inevitable, but this wasn't a practice game. They were focused and trying to make this stop to maintain their lead.
Lu Ke could choose a long pass, just like in the practice game, to catch them off guard and make a grand entrance.
But the situation was different now. This wasn't the beginning of the game; it was third and fifteen, and the offense was in a bad spot. If he wanted to make a first down, a long pass was indeed the best option, but what about the defenders?
From the defense's perspective, they would primarily be focused on stopping a run, to prevent the offense from getting a better punting position. But they would also be ready for a potential surprise attack, especially a long pass. They might even be hoping for a long pass.
So, Lu Ke couldn't take that risk. From this starting position, any small mistake, and if the opponent made an interception, the situation would become unimaginable. In the practice game, it was the start, and he could afford the consequences of a failed long pass. In this official game, he couldn't, especially since he wanted to win.
"Game missions:
Complete your first pass in an official NCAA game. Mission requirements: None. Mission reward: +1 basic skill point.Complete your first touchdown in an official NCAA game. Mission requirements: None. Mission reward: +1 basic skill point.Complete a touchdown in an official NCAA game. Mission requirements: None. Mission reward: +1 basic skill point per touchdown.Complete passing yards in an official NCAA game. Mission requirements: At least 75 passing yards. Mission reward: +1 basic skill point.Win an official NCAA game. Mission requirements: None. Mission reward: +2 basic skill points."
The system in his mind showed the missions again. They seemed familiar yet different. But time was running out, and Lu Ke didn't have time to read the missions and their requirements carefully. He knew that now that he was on the field, winning was his only goal! So, to win, he had to make the right choice!
Lu Ke slowly bent down, his eyes locked on the opposing defenders. His eyes moved quickly, as if he were analyzing the entire field. He thought he would be nervous, but the opposite was true. He was incredibly calm, as if he had been on this field countless times. His fast-beating heart and slightly warm skin showed his excitement. He liked this feeling.
"Hut!"
Lu Ke shouted, without warning, with eleven seconds left on the clock. He had only been bent down for less than five seconds. Furthermore, he had only been on the field for 35 seconds. This nobody didn't have time to communicate with the team, or the coach. He hadn't even had time to get a feel for the atmosphere in the stadium, and he was already starting the play.
It was so decisive and so quick. Even if it was the coach's strategy, this level of decisiveness and courage was impressive.
Lu Ke took the ball from the center. Without any fancy moves, he moved to the right. The entire offensive line also started to move quickly. The defenders couldn't think and could only react instinctively, following the offensive line and moving to their left. They tried to find a gap in the line, sack the quarterback, and stop any potential plays in the pocket.
But this wasn't easy because the entire offensive line was moving significantly. It was difficult to move horizontally and vertically at the same time, which eliminated the momentum of the rush.
More importantly, Marcus, who had a great game today, was running diagonally to the top right, and it looked like he was about to meet Lu Ke. The handoff seemed imminent. So, they had to be ready for a run. As the defenders were running, they were already out of position, making it even harder to defend against a run.
After the "Hut!" was shouted, John and Logan ignored the offensive line behind them and started running forward.
John ran in the opposite direction, to the left, making a diagonal line with a 60-degree angle, cutting through the Trojans' defense like a knife and rushing forward. The cornerbacks in the backfield started to watch carefully. Was this a run or a pass? In a flash, two defenders rushed toward John, trying to double-team him. This was because John's route was very aggressive. If the pass was completed, it wouldn't just be 15 yards; it could be 20 to 25 yards! They couldn't be careless.
At the same time, Logan ran to the right. When he got close to the sideline, he stopped and turned back, running backward for three steps, then stopped and turned 90 degrees. He ran in a straight line, but he didn't run all out. After running for about eight or nine yards, there was an open space around him, and the closest cornerback was more than 20 yards away. Logan adjusted his steps a little, not stopping but slowing down slightly, and turned his upper body, raising his right hand high.
An open space.
Lu Ke's eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced at John and then at the defenders who had broken through the line. He paused for a moment, letting Marcus run past him toward the defenders to block them. Then he quickly moved his arm, a simple and decisive motion with no winding up. The football made a small arc, just enough to fly over the defenders' heads. If anyone had raised their hands, they might have had a chance to knock the ball away—but no one did.
The football was flying fast, spinning rapidly, and shooting toward Logan with a "swoosh." All Logan had to do was raise his hands and easily catch the ball, holding it tight. Then, like a tank, he rumbled forward.
The moment Lu Ke threw the ball, the defenders realized their mistake and rushed toward Logan like hungry wolves. But the open space was a little big, and they couldn't close the gap in just two seconds. They could only watch as Logan completed the catch. The defenders rushed forward, one after another, trying to stop Logan.
But Logan was already in motion.
As a tight end, Logan was already a big guy, with a strong impact. Now, with the momentum of his run, he showed an unstoppable drive with no turns or stops. The first defender got into position but couldn't make the tackle. The second defender hit Logan hard, but Logan used the momentum to continue moving forward. The third defender finally made the tackle and ended the play.
Unbelievably bold! Unbelievably bold! Truly unbelievably bold!
Jay and Nate, sitting in the stands, were completely stunned. Their shock was even greater than the Trojans'. The new number 11 not only didn't give up and didn't choose a safe option but was also so bold and meticulous in choosing a short pass and using a play to make a series of advances.
Fifteen yards! Logan didn't just get the required 15 yards. He advanced a full 23 yards, taking the Bruins to their own 36-yard line, not far from the midfield.
"Shit! Shit!" Jay cursed one after another, unable to stop. This was his only reaction. It wasn't until the rival fans started booing, trying to pressure the new rookie, that Jay snapped out of it. He jumped up, waving his arms, and shouted, "Bruins! Bruins! Bruins!"
Then, Nate also snapped out of it. He stood up and joined Jay, cheering loudly, with excitement and shock in his eyes. It wasn't because they were winning but because of hope. In that instant, they saw hope!
Lu Ke didn't celebrate. He quickly motioned for his teammates to come back. "Get up! Hurry, get up!" There was only one quarter left, and they were three touchdowns behind. They couldn't afford to waste any time. To win, every second counted.
Logan ran back, ready to high-five Lu Ke, but he only saw a "move forward" signal. Lu Ke led the way and ran out, leaving the other players looking at each other.
Everyone looked at Logan. It was well known that Logan and Lu Ke were the best friends on the team, but Logan just shrugged. "You heard what the quarterback said, keep going. We don't have much time!" Then, Logan ran ahead, and the other players exchanged glances. Before they realized it, a smile appeared on their faces. Without saying anything, they rushed forward and surrounded Lu Ke again, ready to listen to the next play.
But this time, Lu Ke didn't say anything. He just shook his head, signaling for them to line up. Everyone was confused and didn't know what to do. They only heard Lu Ke repeatedly giving the command, "Play one, play one, play one!"
Play one?
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