Lu Ke chose a long pass, his best and most reliable weapon. With 21 yards to the end zone, Lu Ke aimed for a spot 23 to 24 yards out. As long as Logan could get open, the pass would be completed.
An 80-point long-pass accuracy was something Lu Ke could never have achieved in high school, and it was a crucial, game-winning skill.
This wasn't a 50 or 60-yard rainbow pass but a 24-yard bullet pass. The arc was flat and straight, and the ball shot out like a bullet. It might not have looked as spectacular, but it was still a long pass that required a perfect combination of power, accuracy, control, and arc.
The moment the ball left his hand, the subtle sensation on his fingertips told Lu Ke he had thrown it too far.
In the most tense moment, and in the first official game of his life, a slight change in his touch had an impact. A pass that was supposed to be 23-24 yards long ended up being 27-28 yards. This might not seem like a serious error, but the target was the end zone. That difference of four or five yards could easily lead to an incomplete pass if the ball went out of bounds.
Lu Ke gritted his teeth. Even with 80-point willpower, he still lacked game experience. He stared intently at the ball flying through the air, his peripheral vision scanning the defenders rushing toward him. Logan was trapped in a double team, with a player rushing from both his left and right. But at that moment, Logan found a way to speed up.
Because Logan also realized that the pass was long. To catch the ball, he had to sprint forward two more big steps.
Those two big steps caused a misstep between the defenders and Logan.
Lu Ke could clearly see Logan soaring through the air, extending his left hand to the extreme. His hand, like a palm fan, gently grabbed the football. Logan's body was stretched to its limit, like a bow that could snap at any moment. The brief moment he hung in the air had a heart-stopping beauty. His body then twisted in a way that seemed to defy physics. He landed on one foot, twisted his body, and then landed on both feet, like Michael Jackson's gravity-defying 45-degree lean.
A one-handed catch!
Half a second. For just half a second, time and space seemed to stop. It was a dance, a stunning dance. Logan had pushed his physical and technical skills to the maximum, showcasing the charm of sports and taking everyone's breath away. Even the noise seemed to disappear.
Half a second later, Logan's center of gravity shifted, and he flew toward the sidelines. He stumbled a few steps, desperately trying to control his body, but he still crashed hard into the sideline padding. A sharp pain shot through his shoulder, but Logan didn't care about his body. He just came to his senses and stared at the referee in the end zone, waiting for the call.
Was he out of bounds? Was the catch legal? Did the touchdown count?
The whole stadium was silent. All eyes were on the referees. Three referees stood together. They had seen the catch from different angles. They could confirm that Logan caught the ball in the end zone. The only question was whether his feet were in bounds when he landed and if he had control of the ball when he stepped out of bounds.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
The head referee walked to the front of the end zone, then raised his hands high, signaling, "Touchdown!"
The crowd went wild! The entire Rose Bowl erupted!
Lu Ke clenched his fists tightly, pouring all his strength into his hands. He had succeeded. He had completed another pass, scored another touchdown, and turned the impossible into a possibility again. The excitement in his chest was like a volcano, erupting wildly. Every cell in his body was cheering, shouting, and screaming.
Such joy, such elation, such abandon. He was completely lost in the moment.
"Ahhh!" Everyone was roaring like beasts, celebrating this incredible drive in their own wild way, a drive that ended with a touchdown!
Logan spread his arms and made a gliding motion, running all the way toward Lu Ke, his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth, and his eyes all conveying joy and excitement. "Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!" Logan hugged Lu Ke tightly. "I did it! I did it! You damn bastard! What a beautiful pass! What a beautiful pass!"
The game wasn't over yet, and anything was still possible. But at this moment, at least for this moment, they could release their excitement without restraint.
From 7-28, they had stormed back to tie the score at 28-28 in the final quarter. They had unbelievably scored three touchdowns and tied the score! This was an amazing feat; it was a miracle!
"Ahhh!" Jeff screamed in disbelief, waving his hands in the air uncontrollably and shouting to his heart's content. He and Nate hugged each other tightly. Even after seeing the referee's signal again, Jeff couldn't believe it had actually happened. "Ahhh!" He had a million thoughts in his mind, but he couldn't articulate any of them. He could only shout, expressing himself in this primitive, simple way.
Jeff and Nate were just two ordinary fans. The few remaining Bruins fans were now lost in a sea of joy. Their screams and shouts merged into one. A frenzied happiness rushed through their chests. They had to let it out; they wanted to let it out. The entire stadium was like a tsunami, echoing and re-echoing through the Rose Bowl in waves.
This was the charm of sports. Everyone thought the game was lost, but a glimmer of hope appeared in the despair, and the heart that had fallen to the bottom was launched into the clouds!
The Trojans fans on the other side of the field had fallen into hell. Just ten minutes ago, they had victory firmly in their hands. But now, their opponents had tied the score.
The speed of the free fall was so fierce that they were all filled with rage. Boos, curses, and shouts rained down on the field like a storm. Some were cursing the Bruins, some were blaming the Trojans, and some were holding their heads in despair.
Some even threw things onto the field: Trojans' scarves, Trojans' caps, Trojans' jerseys. The entire Rose Bowl looked like a constantly erupting volcano. Rocks, lava, dust, and smoke fell down like a downpour, and the world became a wasteland.
"What are we witnessing! Jesus Christ! What are we witnessing! 79 seconds! Just 79 seconds!" Kirk held himself back from banging on the table. The overwhelming emotions inside him were fully released through his commentary. "After the Bruins crossed midfield, it took them only 79 seconds and six plays to score a touchdown! A touchdown, another touchdown, and another deadly blow to the Trojans!"
"The entire drive was like a relentless attack, leaving no time to breathe and no room for a buffer. Number 11, Lu Ke, used a fast-paced combination of punches to completely defeat the Trojans' defense, taking the third touchdown of the fourth quarter with force," Kirk said, his words spraying. He didn't even notice that he had stood up slightly. The reason a comeback is so great is because of the heart-stopping nature of it and its unbelievable quality. Tonight, he was witnessing the birth of a miracle in the Rose Bowl!
Kirk felt a rush of emotions, and words poured out of him endlessly. "Undoubtedly, this no-huddle offense once again showed people the great potential of the Bruins' offense. Kevin Craft's excellent performance last year wasn't just luck. Now, under the leadership of Lu Ke, the Bruins have successfully completed their comeback. After the special teams scored the extra point, the two teams are now tied. The initiative is back in the Trojans' hands..."
"Listeners, all you listeners who are tuned into this game." Kirk had to emphasize again. "The final game of the 2011 NCAA football season between the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins. With two minutes and 58 seconds left in the game, the Bruins have tied the score, now at 28-28. The Trojans will now start their drive. The game is about to begin!"
Two minutes and 58 seconds left meant the initiative for victory was in the Trojans' hands. As long as they crossed midfield and got into field-goal range, they could win the game with a field goal. But what if they couldn't reach that goal? They only needed to run down the remaining time and go into overtime to start fresh.
But for the Bruins, all the pressure was now on the defense. They had to give it their all to stop the Trojans' offense. The best-case scenario was a turnover, allowing their offense to get back on the field, with Lu Ke holding the final key to victory!
"God, God, God! What am I seeing?" Kirk's voice was distorted from being so excited that it had become a roar. "A turnover! The ball has been turned over! The quarterback Matt Barkley, who had been excellent all game, made a passing mistake at a crucial moment. Bruins' number 3, Rahim Moore, has made a heroic play! Rahim has an interception, Rahim has an interception! A turnover, a turnover has just happened, and the Bruins are about to come back on the field! God, God, this is definitely one of the most exciting games in the history of the Los Angeles Derby!"
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