Amid the commentator’s heart-rending roar, East River High’s entire home field erupted completely!
Avery clutched the ball in the end zone, surrounded by teammates who had charged over in excitement, pounding fiercely on his helmet.
But everyone knew the game wasn’t over yet.
“The extra point! They need a two-point conversion to tie the game!” Commentator Green’s voice trembled with excitement.
Coach Bob did not hesitate in the slightest, signaling “two” toward the field.
Mark looked into everyone’s eyes. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally firm. “Brian, in a moment, the ball goes to you.”
After the snap, Brian was like an unsheathed blade, cutting sharply into the middle!
Mark’s heartbeat synchronized perfectly with his steps. His arm whipped out, and the football spun through the air, landing precisely in Brian’s arms!
The two-point conversion was good!
22 : 22!
With seven minutes left in the game, the East River Titans had miraculously tied the score!
Coach Bob gathered all the defensive players around him, not the slightest joy on his face.
“Listen up!” His voice was hoarse. “Right now, the situation is very bad for us! They have a full seven minutes!”
“They’ll use countless short passes to keep the ball inbounds, grind down the clock bit by bit, and then in the final seconds, kick a field goal to kill us off! We can’t let them get away with it!”
Before he even finished speaking, he suddenly turned his head and roared at the offensive unit that had just come off the field.
“Mark! Lin! You two get over here too! I need your eyes!”
The move stunned everyone.
Pulling the core of the offense into the defense’s tactical meeting during a game was completely against common sense.
What’s more, Lin Wansheng could hardly even be considered a core player.
Mark and Lin Wansheng exchanged a glance, then immediately ran over.
“When you were watching the defense from the sideline just now,” Bob’s gaze swept across the two of them, “do you have any suggestions?”
Mark did not hesitate. Pointing toward his own team’s defensive side on the field, he said directly, “There’s a problem with our linebackers.”
“They’re too aggressive. Every time the other side fakes a run and actually passes, they rush forward immediately, leaving huge gaps behind them.”
“If the other side uses short passes to burn time, our linebackers will likely get pulled along by their rhythm and lose position.”
Bob nodded, then turned his gaze to Lin Wansheng.
“Mark is right,” Lin Wansheng said. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear. “They’re definitely going to use short passes to run down the clock. That’s the safest way to play.”
He paused, then his tone shifted, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. “But I’d bet that on the most critical final play, Mike absolutely won’t be able to hold back.”
“Look at the other side.” Lin Wansheng’s gaze locked precisely onto the Cheetahs’ bench.
“Mike’s mentality has already collapsed. Just now, he was roaring at his own offensive line, pushing all the blame for the mistake onto his teammates.”
“Their coach will demand that he play it safe. He’ll have him use short passes to burn time. At first, he might even do as he’s told.”
“But I’d bet that when there’s barely any time left.”
“When he needs one play to decide victory or defeat, he will definitely choose the method that best showcases his own heroism.”
“An earth-shaking deep pass. He needs to use that one throw to reclaim his dignity and shut everyone up.”
“To prove himself and save face.”
“Especially with the injury at the corner of his right eye, he will definitely choose the left side, where his vision is clearest, and make a fatal deep-pass gamble.”
Bob looked at the two young men with gratification. One possessed tactical vision of the big picture; the other had a keen insight into people’s hearts. He patted their shoulder pads hard.
“Good. You already possess the qualities needed to lead this team. Excellent work.”
He turned around and looked at the defensive players, who had also been listening in a daze.
A wild idea began to take shape in his mind.
In the final few seconds before the referee blew the ready whistle, Bob abruptly pulled his two cornerbacks and safeties close, then spoke rapidly into their ears in a voice only a few of them could hear:
“Listen. Forget the run. Leave the short-pass zones open, shift the entire defensive focus to the backfield! Lure him into throwing deep, and then pick it off for me!”
……
……
Sure enough, everything played out exactly as the three of them had predicted.
After the game resumed, the Cheetahs began using a series of precise short passes and runs.
They advanced unhurriedly while simultaneously burning the game clock.
At that moment, in the stadium that could hold ten thousand spectators, nearly ninety percent of the crowd had risen from their seats.
As if by agreement, they raised their right hands and extended four fingers.
That classic gesture symbolizing the decisive moment of the fourth quarter merged into a sea of steadfast support.
“Stop them!!” Coach Bob kept roaring from the sideline. “Don’t let them move any farther forward!”
East River High’s defensive unit seemed like an entirely different team.
On the Cheetahs’ first and second downs, they used two vicious tackles to hold them to a total gain of less than five yards.
At that moment, only the final three minutes remained in the game.
Third down began.
An obvious impatience had already appeared on Mike’s face.
He did not even communicate with his teammates at all, merely barking out a play code.
As expected!
“Mike drops back! He’s going to pass!” Commentator Green’s voice also grew tense.
“He’s chosen to pass toward the front left! His target is wide receiver Koda!”
However, Koda seemed completely unprepared!
“The ball isn’t caught! Incomplete pass!”
“Down!”
The referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the play.
The Cheetahs’ drive had been forcibly stopped at the Titans’ 45-yard line.
Mike took the ball back from the referee and glared fiercely at Koda several times.
He endured it, only barely suppressing his anger.
Fourth down, and also the final play that would decide victory or defeat.
Coach Bob shouted from the sideline, “Remember what I said!!!”
At the very moment the Cheetahs formed their huddle.
The East River Titans’ defensive formation, on the right side where Mike could not see, quietly changed!
The two safeties, like lurking cheetahs, silently moved toward the backfield!
Inside the circle, Mike’s voice was somewhat hoarse with rage.
“Deep pass! All of you, get ready!” He pointed at Koda and said viciously.
“Don’t screw up again! I’m throwing the ball into the end zone! You’d better catch it for me!”
Snap!
Mike quickly dropped back. He did not even make any feint, throwing the ball in a huge arc toward the end zone forty-five yards away!
However, the instant he released it, his pupils suddenly contracted!
“A trap!”
Two East River High safeties appeared on the passing route like ghosts!
They had never intended to defend the short pass at all. From the very beginning, they had been waiting for this fatal deep throw!
One of the safeties leaped high into the air and, a step ahead of Koda, steadily cradled the ball in his arms!
Interception!!!
“My God! An interception!” Commentator Green’s voice completely lost control, turning into a roar.
“Coach Bob’s tactic! This is a perfect defensive trap! The Cheetahs were completely led astray!”
After landing, the safety who had made the interception did not pause in the slightest. He immediately hugged the ball tight.
And began sprinting madly toward the opponent’s half of the field!
“TOUCHDOWN!!!”
“My God! Coach Bob! He has delivered the greatest defensive tactic of the past two years! He is our hero! The East River Titans have won this game!!!”
“The game is over!”