Seeing Melford dig deep and fight back with real grit got the crowd fired up all over again.
People always root for the underdog. There's something about watching a weaker team scratch and claw their way to upsetting a powerhouse that just hits different.
Right now, a ton of neutral fans in the stands were putting themselves in Melford's shoes, hoping they could pull off a miracle.
But as soon as the teams switched possession and Melford went on defense, those same fans got a harsh reminder of just how wild things had gotten.
They watched Austin's quarterback stroll into the end zone untouched—again—for another touchdown.
The fans who'd been cheering for Melford a minute ago couldn't hold back anymore. They started booing and yelling at Mike. After all, as the new starting quarterback, organizing the defense was part of his job.
From the last couple of defensive series, though, Mike wasn't exactly passing that test.
Even Coach George on the sideline was frowning hard at how porous Melford's defense looked.
"This isn't gonna work. No team has ever played like this. Giving up on defense entirely is just asking for trouble…" Coach George muttered under his breath, shifting uncomfortably on the bench.
The "no-defense" strategy was Mike's call—he'd made it on his own—but the fans in the stands had no idea. All they saw was this bizarre game plan, so naturally they blamed the head coach.
If he'd had more than one timeout left, Coach George would've yanked Mike off the field right then and there for a serious lesson on defending.
Seeing how torn up Coach George looked, team captain Aaron tried to calm him down. "We've got no choice but to trust Mike right now. Who knows—his plan might actually work out."
Everyone on Melford knew Mike was a natural on offense.
Completely abandoning the defensive battle to pour everything into scoring? It was a classic case of playing to your strengths and hiding your weaknesses.
Aaron had a gut feeling that Mike's all-out attack strategy might actually pay off big.
"We've just gotta keep believing in him," Coach George sighed. In his head he told himself, The worst that happens is we lose this game. As long as Mike keeps growing, we'll have plenty of shots next year.
This season's success was at least half thanks to Mike. Once he really matures next year, this team is going even further.
Once he thought it through, Coach George felt a lot calmer.
Out on the field, Austin tacked on another eight points with ease, then kicked the ball back to Melford.
Tweet!
The whistle blew for Melford's offense. Mike took the snap, read Austin's defensive alignment in a split second, and exploded off the left edge.
"GO! GO! GO!"
With the whole team blocking like mad, they blew open a lane on the left side.
Mike used his elite jukes and cuts to weave through layer after layer of Austin defenders, charging straight toward their end zone.
"That's it, kid!"
"I knew he had it in him!"
"Keep pushing! Go!"
…
The crowd went nuts watching Mike put on a highlight-reel run. They realized Melford hadn't quit at all.
Fans who'd been ripping the team just moments earlier were now right back to cheering them on.
"That's exactly what I'm talking about!" Coach George jumped up from the bench, pumping his fist as Melford punched it in on one play.
With the crowd roaring, Mike cruised into the end zone untouched. Then he turned around and celebrated with high-fives and chest bumps with the guys who'd helped spring him.
That drive was exactly what Mike had in mind.
He wanted to turn this into a straight-up scoring contest—let's see who can put up more points.
Over the next few possessions, Melford's guys—fired up like never before—didn't let him down.
With Mike leading the charge, Melford's offense in the second quarter was every bit as good as Austin's.
The pace was lightning fast, and the scoreboard was climbing like crazy on both sides.
After watching a few drives, the fans finally figured out what Melford was trying to do.
And once they saw how explosive Melford's offense could be, a lot of them were cool with the defense taking a backseat.
Hey, for an underdog program like Melford to go toe-to-toe offensively with a traditional powerhouse like Austin? That was already impressive.
When the second quarter ended, the score was 40–39.
That kind of point total is something most teams don't even hit in a full game.
Thanks to the breakneck tempo and sheer stubborn fight, Melford actually led by one point at halftime.
Mike's gamble was paying off.
On the sideline, watching his players drenched in sweat but looking more determined than ever, Coach George dropped any thought of pulling Mike aside for a talk.
You could see it plain as day: under Mike's leadership, the whole team's energy had completely changed.
And that's exactly what Coach George had been hoping for.
"Hey Mike, come grab some water and sit for a minute," Captain Aaron said from the bench, handing him a sports drink.
Mike had been running wild the entire quarter—his tank was getting low.
"Thanks, man." Mike pulled off his helmet, wiped the sweat off his forehead, then chugged more than half the 16-ounce bottle in one go.
Man, Mike… you're gonna be one hell of a quarterback someday, Aaron thought to himself.
He'd seen how the mood on the team had flipped since Mike took over at QB. Just by leading by example, Mike had lit a fire under everybody.
That kind of natural leadership charisma was something Aaron wished he had. But he also knew his personality wasn't wired that way—he'd never be able to inspire the guys quite like Mike could.
After handing out water to the rest of the team, Coach George came over and sat next to Mike.
"Mike, your strategy's working great—I can't argue with the results. But I've still gotta say this: football is a team sport…"
Coach George paused, choosing his words carefully.
What Mike was doing—cranking up the offensive tempo—was working right now, but it relied way too much on Mike's individual brilliance.
One guy only has so much gas in the tank. Coach George wasn't sure how long Mike could keep up this insane scoring pace.
Plus, a run-heavy attack might catch the opponent off guard for a little while, but once they adjust, there are plenty of ways to shut it down.
They were only halfway through the game—Austin still had tons of time to figure things out.
"I get it. From here on out, I'll make sure to set up my teammates for some scores too," Mike said after catching his breath. He was already looking a lot more recovered.
"As long as you've got your head on straight…" Coach George gave a small smile, relieved that Mike wasn't getting cocky despite the lead.
Then he added, "You want something to bump your blood sugar? We've got some snacks."
During games, the assistant coach in charge of logistics always had quick-energy stuff ready—little desserts, bananas, things that digest fast—to help players recharge during breaks.