"Go, go, go…"
"Mark that big guy… Don't be afraid of contact…"
After the timeout ended, St. Patrick's High's head coach paced the sideline, loudly reminding his players to focus on defense.
Sam, after half a year of growth, had gained a few more centimeters in height, and his physique seemed even stronger.
It was clear that this kid truly had some talent for football.
However, as the game continued, just as he was preparing to advance with the ball, he was suddenly double-teamed by several St. Patrick's High players in front of midfield.
In this situation, Sam, who was outnumbered, found it very difficult to advance.
Then, under the frantic interference of the opposing defensive tackles and cornerbacks, he nearly fumbled the ball. To protect possession, he could only tuck the football and dive to the ground.
Beep—
Blocked on offense, Medford lost an offensive opportunity.
In football, an offensive team has four opportunities to organize an attack without losing possession, known as four downs.
If a team is intercepted and stopped four times in a row on offense, and the football does not advance ten yards, they must turn over possession and become the defensive side.
At this point, the Medford Team had only lost one down, so the situation was not yet that bad.
"Are you okay, Sam?"
Aaron, the captain, who was at the center line, came to the right half of the field and helped Sam up.
Seeing Sam's somewhat disheveled appearance, he continued, "It looks like they've got their eyes on you. If you get a chance later, pass the ball to me…"
The opponent's intention was very clear, and as the team's quarterback, Aaron had also guessed the opponent's strategy.
On the field, there is no such thing as an unbeatable tactic.
If St. Patrick's High focused its defense on Sam, the defensive intensity on other Medford Team players would naturally decrease.
Aaron had considered this point, and thus intended to lead his team to break open the game while Sam attracted the opponent's defensive attention.
After all, football is never a one-person game.
"Understood." Sam glared at the opponent who had just tackled him, and replied in a muffled voice.
Being simple-minded and strong-bodied, he knew he wasn't suited to considering overly complex tactics, so he immediately agreed to the captain's arrangement.
As for what he was truly thinking, only he himself probably knew.
"Keep it up!" After encouraging Sam again, Aaron returned to his original position at the center line.
The game restarted, with Sam carrying the ball for the second down.
"Engage and block him… Don't let him have a chance to pass…"
From the sideline, St. Patrick's High's head coach again loudly reminded his players.
Evidently, this head coach had also, in a very short time, seen through Aaron's intention.
Immediately, as St. Patrick's High once again intensified its defensive efforts, all of Sam's passing lanes were sealed off.
Sam, who was squeezed in the middle with no way to advance and no opportunity to get the ball out, grew frustrated as the ten-second holding penalty time was about to expire.
Finally, at the moment the holding penalty time arrived, he clutched the football and fiercely charged into the opposing defenders in front of him.
He actively adopted a mutually destructive approach.
The sudden, fierce collision on the field also drew gasps and cheers from the spectators outside the stadium.
In this collision, although Sam fell, he also used his strong body to knock down two of the opponent's defensive tackles.
From the appearance alone, the Medford Team did not lose in terms of momentum.
This was also the reason for the cheers from the spectators outside the stadium.
However, those who truly understood the game, with a little attention, could see that the Medford Team's situation was not looking good.
Being blocked twice in a row on offense clearly disrupted the Medford Team's offensive rhythm.
"Georgie, they need to change their tactics, otherwise they might lose…" Paige, who was watching the game with Mike on the sidelines, shared her opinion.
Although Paige usually didn't pay much attention to football games, her sharp mind allowed her to easily analyze the situation on the field.
The Medford players, on their side, clearly had the upper hand in individual skill. However, with the team lacking the ability to adapt in real-time, the players looked like a disorganized mess.
Compared to St. Patrick's High, which was slightly inferior in overall strength but was gradually becoming cohesive, the Medford Team actually did not have an advantage.
Now, to break this predicament, the coach's adaptability would be tested.
Mike turned his head again to look at Coach Wayne, who was in the team's rest area, head bowed, seemingly lost in thought, and shook his head helplessly.
If the Medford Team truly lost this invitational match, then this inactive head coach would undoubtedly bear a large part of the responsibility.
On the field, Aaron once again helped the fallen Sam up, patted his arm and encouraged him with a few words, and then the game resumed.
Next, during the Medford Team's third down, Sam finally managed to throw the football from the high zone.
Aaron, who successfully received the ball, also lived up to expectations, and then powerfully broke through the double defensive line of the opponent's linebackers and safeties, rushing into the opponent's end zone.
The Medford Team scored another 6 points.
14 to 3.
The large lead also caused waves of cheers from the Medford students supporting their school team outside the stadium.
However, amidst these cheers, a few individuals had already noticed that the Medford Team's offensive strategy this time was quite unreasonable.
They seemed to have put all their hopes of victory on the team's dual cores.
This situation was very dangerous, as people's performance always fluctuates.
And the Medford Team's scoring method just now seemed more like taking advantage of the opponent's carelessness to score, containing a certain degree of randomness.
"Don't rush, kids…"
Despite St. Patrick's High having conceded another six points, their head coach did not look discouraged.
Along the sideline, the coach continued to loudly remind his players: "Linebackers and strong safeties, pay attention to your positioning. I need you to mark the opponent's quarterback…"
Through a series of observations, St. Patrick's High's head coach had also formulated his defensive strategy specifically for the Medford Team's dual-core tactic.
This involved dividing his team's defensive focus into two parts: the first line of defense, composed of defensive tackles, aimed to intercept Sam near midfield.
The second line of defense, composed of linebackers, strong safeties, and free safeties, aimed to stop the opposing quarterback in the backfield.
Then, through round after round of offense and defense, the St. Patrick's High players, through coordination, gradually became familiar with their head coach's strategy.
Before the end of the second quarter, the St. Patrick's High players, with tenacious execution, successfully limited the Medford Team's dual cores.
…
Coming into halftime, although the Medford Team was still leading in score, more spectators had already noticed that their situation was not good.
The stagnation of the dual-core offense caused the Medford Team to be suppressed in both overall momentum and spirit.
To change this unfavorable situation, the Medford Team needed to quickly find a new tactic that was more suitable for dealing with the current dire situation.
However, Coach Wayne, whom the Medford Team could rely on, was still in his usual detached state, unable to provide any help to the team.
Therefore, during halftime in the Medford Team's rest area, the players, without the help of a coach, looked somewhat confused in the face of the current unfavorable situation.
And in the second quarter, Aaron, who had also been heavily marked, was constantly wiping sweat from his forehead due to excessive physical exertion.
His expression was both tired and bewildered.
At the same time, in the St. Patrick's High rest area on the other side, the head coach was emphasizing tactics to his players.
Compared to their initial disadvantaged start, the St. Patrick's High players, now with hope of victory, all looked very excited.