"Logan! It's Logan again! The Bruins' top tight end!" Kirk quickly announced. "A quick short pass, a six-yard pass that Logan easily tucked into his arms. He broke a tackle with a quick move! What a play! He's running! Logan is sprinting down the right side of the field. Jesus Christ, what are the Trojans' defenders doing? What are they doing? There are four players chasing Logan, but no one can keep up with his speed. Wait, wait..."
Kirk felt like he was out of breath. "Logan is in the middle of a Trojans' defensive trap. He makes a quick stop, lets two players run past him due to momentum, and then escapes through the narrow gap. To the front left, my God! What is happening? What is happening? Touchdown, touchdown! The Bruins have scored another touchdown! God, oh God, God, what are we witnessing! Let's watch the replay!"
After Logan caught the ball, three defenders closed in on him from the left, and another was right behind him. But he used his momentum to break the tackle and sprinted down the right side of the field.
Because it was a short pass, Logan became the target as soon as he caught the ball. The defenders swarmed him, with four players forming a trap. The circle closed in around the opponent's 30-yard line.
No one expected Logan to be so bold as to make a sudden stop, like an offside trap in soccer, letting the defenders run past him. He then escaped through the gap and sprinted all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.
"I know I've already used this word, but now, I have to admit, my vocabulary is too small." Kirk's eyes were wide, and his words got stuck in his chest. Then, with a smile, he finally found his voice again. "Unbelievable! The Bruins came back on the field, and less than thirty seconds later, they scored another touchdown! Yes, you heard that right, led by... by Lu." Kirk had to look at the name again. This number 11 was truly magical. "A short pass, a six-yard short pass, and in the end, Logan sprinted for a sixty-yard touchdown pass! Wow!"
Not to mention Kirk, even the Bruins players themselves were stunned.
Lu Ke stared blankly at Logan, who was in the end zone. Logan had his feet apart like a Super Saiyan, his fists clenched, parallel to his legs, showing off as if to say, "I'm awesome, aren't I? I'm freaking awesome, aren't I?" But Lu Ke's first thought was, "Did that goofball really score a touchdown?"
Things seemed to be happening too quickly, catching everyone off guard.
Lu Ke turned to his teammates and saw that everyone was equally shocked. Although a touchdown was their ultimate goal, doing it so easily, so quickly, and so simply was beyond everyone's expectations. To be more precise, the original plan for this play wasn't a touchdown at all; it was just a six-yard short pass!
Being caught off guard was exactly what led to the Trojans' defense's downfall. Panic, panic, more panic. One mistake, like a domino, caused a series of mistakes. The defense, which had been performing so well today, suddenly didn't know how to set up a play. The entire defensive line was in shambles and fell apart completely.
Even Lu Ke and Logan themselves couldn't have predicted this outcome. Opportunity, fleeting as it was, was seized by Lu Ke, and also by Logan, and thus—
Touchdown! The referee raised his hands high, signaling a valid touchdown! The Bruins had once again delivered a killing blow, a "bloody case caused by a short pass."
"Bambi!" Marcus was the first to wave his fists and cheer. They didn't know what had happened. It seemed like everything was the same, and yet everything was different. The most important and obvious change was—"Bambi! Bambi!" Marcus shouted loudly, then looked at his teammates. John was the first to join Marcus, happily shouting, "Bambi!"
One person, two people, and then everyone joined in. They all waved their fists, celebrating wildly and frantically. "Bambi!" Their smiles came out on their own. In this moment, it was as if they had won the game. They cheered, jumped, and shouted with joy.
Lu Ke was stunned for a moment, then a smile slowly crept onto his face, and he finally laughed out loud. "Okay, okay, I know I'm charming. You don't have to show your love." Lu Ke raised his hand and waved it down. Facing his laughing teammates, he called everyone over. "Let's go. We have to get ready for the next play. The game isn't over yet!"
Lu Ke was very excited, but now was not the time to show it. Victory, that was the only goal!
Back on the sidelines, Logan ran back alone, a brilliant smile on his face, and complained loudly, "Hey, you guys, is this how you treat a touchdown hero? I was standing there all by myself like an idiot. Did no one see how awesome my run was? How flashy and sharp!"
John walked up, put his arm around Logan's neck, and pulled him down. "We know you're the hero. But can you cut the crap now? We're winning right now, but we haven't won the game yet. They're not pushovers." "They" referred to the Trojans. It was important to despise the enemy strategically but respect them tactically.
USC was no easy opponent. If they recovered, and there was still so much time left in the fourth quarter, they could score another touchdown, or even a field goal, or just run down the clock. If they could barely manage a 10-yard gain on every play, keeping the Bruins' offense on the bench, then they would still be the winners.
The atmosphere in the Rose Bowl became subtly tense. With the Bruins' special teams scoring another extra point, the score was now a close 21-28, only one touchdown behind. After the kickoff, there were 10 minutes and three seconds left in the game, entering the final, high-stakes phase.
Anything was possible.
When the Trojans' offense came back on the field, they finally got their act together. Led by Matt, they showed their original strength. They had both passes and runs, and their plays were clear again. The Bruins' defense also responded with a strong defense, slowing down the opponent's advance.
Both sides went back and forth, but the Trojans were always able to convert on third downs, advancing while also running down the clock, firmly keeping the initiative in their hands.
Lu Ke and the offensive teammates could only sit on the sidelines, half-heartedly studying the plays. They all knew they should be focused on the plays right now. Otherwise, if they got a chance to play, they wouldn't be ready and would have to leave the field quickly. But watching the intense battle on the field, it was hard to concentrate.
If the Trojans scored this time, whether it was a seven-point touchdown or a three-point field goal, it would mean the Bruins would need at least two scoring drives to avoid losing the game. But with so little time left, the difficulty would increase exponentially. Time was always the biggest enemy of a comeback, or at least one of them!
So, the defense's efforts were more important than the offense's at this moment.
This was the charm of football—you couldn't win the game with just one hero. The offense, defense, special teams, and coaching staff were all essential!
The Trojans' offense was finally stopped at the Bruins' 40-yard line. This was a very awkward position. A field goal was too far and too risky. A punt was a waste and a shame.
But the Bruins knew this. To win, they had to stop the opponent right there. And they did it, holding the Trojans at the 41-yard line. The Trojans had used up all three of their plays and didn't dare to risk a fourth-down play. They reluctantly chose to punt.
This punt wasn't a mistake. It went out of bounds, and the Bruins would start their drive from their own 20-yard line.
Lu Ke looked at the game clock. There were only five minutes and seventeen seconds left. Although the Trojans didn't score, they had used up a lot of time. The window for a Bruins' comeback was getting smaller and smaller. From a strategic point of view, the Trojans still had the upper hand, and the key to victory was still in their hands.
There was no time to feel sad or hesitate. Lu Ke called his teammates over, ready to go back into the game!
But when he got back on the field, Lu Ke's offense faced unprecedented pressure. After the offense, the Trojans' defense had also finally gotten their act together. On the first play, Lu Ke's intention to pass was sniffed out. The opposing number 97, Malik Jackson, quickly broke through and hit him hard.
In a rush, Lu Ke hastily threw the ball. It made an erratic arc, and the Bruins' receivers fumbled and couldn't catch it. It almost got intercepted by a Trojans' defender. Luckily, John tackled the player at the last second, preventing the tragic scenario of the Bruins' offense getting on the field and then immediately leaving.
After two consecutive smooth drives, Lu Ke was now facing a real test!
But this was a challenge every quarterback had to face, and Lu Ke didn't waver. On the next play, he handed the ball to Marcus. The run after multiple passes was once again unexpected. Marcus gained six yards, leaving four more to go.
On the third play, Lu Ke faked a run and passed the ball, fooling the defenders. He connected with John, gaining five yards and completing the drive. He got another chance to continue the offense.
The toughest moment of the game had arrived!
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