"Incredible! Incredible! Incredible!"
Even with three exclamations, Kirk still couldn't fully express his excitement and exhilaration. It was because of the player wearing number eleven on the field and because the suspense of the game had returned. After his repeated exclamations, Kirk continued shaking his head in disbelief; he was completely stunned.
"One hundred and thirteen seconds! Four offensive plays! The UCLA Bruins have just completed their first touchdown pass of the night! In that touchdown play, the Bruins' backup quarterback connected with John Ward on a forty-yard pass to complete the touchdown! An absolutely brilliant offensive drive, an absolutely brilliant debut, an absolutely brilliant touchdown! Wow! Ladies and gentlemen, I think the suspense of tonight's game has just returned to the table!"
He looked down and carefully reviewed the player roster. It was only then that Kirk learned the name of the player wearing number eleven, "Luke Howard, number eleven. Luke, the backup quarterback, stepped in urgently when the starting player got injured and officially announced that the UCLA Bruins are back in contention! I think, by the end of tonight, we will all remember this name!"
The UCLA Bruins' special teams came on and kicked the extra point, bringing the score to "14:28." The gap of three touchdowns suddenly became two, making the previously insurmountable score seem within reach. As Kirk said, the suspense of the game was back!
A single touchdown can create a subtle psychological shift; moreover, this touchdown was completed in less than two minutes. It felt like no time to catch a breath, and with a burst of speed, the psychological advantage between the leader and the chaser had completely changed.
Indeed, as the players from both teams returned to the field, the momentum shifted. The UCLA Bruins' defense was unstoppable, excelling in blitzes, coverage, and tackles. After being dormant for most of the game, they finally showed their fighting spirit and took control of the game. On the other hand, the Trojans seemed disoriented. Matt Barkley, who had been stable and outstanding all night, suddenly lost his form, failing to advance on a run and missing two passes.
In no time, the Trojans squandered three offensive plays without any advancement and had to punt.
But the Trojans' special teams' punt was also of poor quality. The Bruins' returner caught the ball and charged forward, advancing to the Bruins' forty-five-yard line before being tackled, halting the long run.
Luke took the field again, starting the offense from their own forty-five-yard line.
Jeff couldn't help but stand up and shout, "Bruins!" trying to cheer for his team. He pulled Nate up with him, and as they watched the small figure on the field, Jeff's emotions surged with excitement and joy, almost making him feel like he could fly.
He didn't care what others thought or that the stands were half-empty. He only knew that as long as the team didn't give up, he wouldn't either. It was that simple!
Jeff and Nate cheered with all their might, "Bruins!" Fortunately, they weren't the only ones. The cheers around them gradually gathered, forming a unified chant, "Bruins! Bruins! Bruins!"
The synchronized cheers weren't loud, and the large number of empty seats scattered the supporters across the stadium, making the cheers seem sparse. But everyone waved their arms vigorously and shouted hoarsely, cheering for their home team.
On the opposite stands, the USC supporters started booing, with jeers and vulgar curses filling the air. Although they didn't have a unified chant to effectively counter the home crowd, their menacing threats and twisted, terrifying faces had their own intimidating effect.
On his second appearance, Luke was even more nervous than the first. He had regained his senses, had time to observe his surroundings, and felt the psychological burden.
"Bambi, Bambi?" Logan's voice brought Luke back to reality. He patted his friend's shoulder heavily, "Ignore those voices and focus on the game. We need you to concentrate!"
Luke took a deep breath, "Give me a second." Then he exaggeratedly exhaled and said with a smile, "Alright, I'm ready. Now the question is, are you ready?" With that, Luke ran ahead to their starting position.
With twelve minutes and nine seconds left in the game, the UCLA Bruins were still down by two touchdowns. Time was their biggest enemy! So, Luke knew he didn't have much time to catch his breath. He called his teammates over to discuss the next offensive play.
"Alright, guys, listen up. We can't rush this; we gotta play it cool," Luke forced himself to chill out, and his thoughts started to clear up.
During the quick break, he had hashed out some tactics with the offensive coach, Norm, and now it was all coming back to him. The situation was different from the earlier scramble; they couldn't just repeat the same play. Luke began laying out the plan, "Alright! Let's get another touchdown!" He looked at his teammates with confidence, "Game on, boys!"
"Did I mention? I like this kid," Logan said with a chuckle, making everyone laugh. Then he turned around and casually walked to his spot, ready to line up.
Luke didn't step forward but stood shoulder to shoulder with Marcus. He straightened his back, standing tall to survey the field. The Trojans' defense had regained their composure, but Luke could still sense their nerves. The last drive had clearly left a mark.
Luke's gaze swept over each defensive player's face, even locking eyes with them in brief but intense stares. He showed no fear, staring down the defensive lineup with a steely resolve, gradually bending down like a vulture circling its prey: those rotting carcasses.
Malik Jackson stared intently at number eleven, his brows furrowed without a hint of relaxation. But the opponent's strength and confidence left no openings.
As the captain of the Trojans' defense, Malik could clearly feel the powerful aura emanating from number eleven. It seemed like he was ready to replicate the miracle of the last drive, scoring a touchdown in just two minutes; or maybe he was gearing up for another rainbow-like long pass, a deadly strike to capitalize on their momentum. This put immense pressure on the Trojans' defense.
The pressure came from the unknown. They knew nothing about this backup quarterback, and their only encounter had seen them completely dominated in one hundred and thirteen seconds. They couldn't figure out his habits or strategies, and they were unsure whether to stick to their original tactics or put more pressure on the rookie. Or should they start defending against passing plays?
Just as these chaotic thoughts began to swirl, Luke's shout reached Malik's ears. Malik hesitated for a moment, maybe just five milliseconds, but it caused a pause in his actions. His mind quickly made a decision: he would continue the blitz. If he could sack number eleven, all problems would be solved!
Malik charged into the Bruins' offensive line, then used the momentum to step back, bypassing the opposing player and sprinting towards Luke. In his peripheral vision, he saw the entire offensive line breaking apart. They had executed their planned tactic, breaking through the offensive line's blockade. The only thing left was to sack the quarterback!
Malik's eyes were locked onto number eleven, unblinking, with fierce determination. He gritted his teeth and charged forward, tackling number eleven's waist and bringing him down like a mountain.
He succeeded!
But before Malik could fully savor his triumph, his heart sank: number eleven didn't have the football. Where was the football?
Malik quickly lifted his head, and in his peripheral vision, he saw the football landing in Logan's arms. Damn it! They had committed four players to break through the offensive line, leaving the rest of the defense relatively weak, creating an open space for Logan to easily make the catch.
"Damn!" Malik pounded his fist into the ground, a sense of frustration welling up inside him.
It was a short pass, about six yards. When planning the tactics, Luke's goal was clear: don't be greedy, advance steadily, and then strike when the opportunity arises, using medium and long passes to catch the defense off guard.
The advantage of a short pass is its quick release. With precise coordination, accurate routes, and precise throws, the pressure on the offensive line is relatively reduced. Receivers, running backs, and tight ends can cross their routes, confusing the defensive players' strategies and creating more space for the actual receiver to advance.
The key to all this is speed, precision, and coordination.
Logan was very familiar with such catches. Luke knew every route Logan ran like the back of his hand. With just a forward sprint, a left shift, and a turn, the football was comfortably delivered to him without any difficulty. Logan quickly scanned the field; there were three defensive players on the left, meaning the right side was relatively open. He turned, bracing against the incoming tackler, slipped away like an eel, and started running!