FOURTH QUARTER:
The team still waited for word on Shanna, but rumors of a broken collarbone started circulating when Espy returned from checking on her, while briefly having his knee looked at. Most of the team was tired, battered and bruised from the hard-hitting Buccs, and they needed to hold it together for one more quarter.
The first two possessions were more stalemates, each team digging deep to fight off the other, both starting to show signs of wear and tear.
On the third, defense had tried to stave off a Buccs attack, the Cutlass Isles team taking to the air for a series of passes – one deflected by Pierce Drummond, one incomplete, and the third that connected with a receiver who was chased down by Derrick Cork – First down for the team. Keeping the ball on the ground for the next play, the Bucc’s quarterback handed the ball off to his halfback, who side stepped past the Mustang defense and tore off down field, giving the Bucc’s their second touchdown of the game. The extra-point kick was good, bringing the score up to 9-14, in favor of the Bucc’s as once again, the “Fire in the Hole!” cry sounded before the empty cannon was fired in the direction of the Mustang’s sideline.
“Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum,
Go home, Mustangs, you are done!”
“The agony of defeat!” #86 called as he took to the field. “Hey Mustangs, can you taste it?”
Dumarr received the ball on the 35, and Espy kept up with his man, not letting the injury to his knee last quarter slow him down. The Bucc’s cornerback downed Dumarr before the 40 yard line, and head butted one of his teammates to celebrate.
The band started the fight song, and the Westbrook crowd made some noise to support their team as Hawkins called for the play.
"Red-Thirteen! Red-Thirteen! Hut-hut!" He faked a handoff to Jackson, spinning around and handing it to Masters, who high-tailed to the thirty, sliding feet first to get the extra few yards. It put the team in field goal range, but they’d need two at least for the win, and by that time, the clock was hovering dangerously close to the two minute warning. The offensive line scrambled to take their positions, determined to make as many driving plays as they could to get into the end zone before the clock wound down.
“We are not losing this!” Espy called with determination. Chase Masters was quiet. Inside, his blood boiled. This was definitely the wrong team to play, and they were messing with the wrong people. Even with his powers suppressed, he had a hard time keeping hold of the anger swirling around under the surface, threatening to boil over. He no longer cared who won or lost. They were going to hurt.
"Red One-One! Red One-One!" Hawkins called as the Coach stood clenching his clipboard on the sidelines. The play set in motion. Henry faked a handoff to Jackson then took a few steps back, looking for options. A flash of movement caught his eye and he let the ball fly. As it left his fingertips, he was hit by 86, who was crushed seconds later by the charging Masters. The pass fell short, but was grabbed by Espinosa before it hit the ground.
“RUN!” The offensive line shouted! Espy grinned as he tucked the ball in under his arm and trucked down the field. Matt Quest and JD Dumarr kept up with him, taking out anyone who made their way through. Espy was now in the clear, and he high stepped, raising his arms in victory as he crossed into the end zone.
“Espy!” The team called from the sidelines, clapping and cheering.
“Hey, hey! What's that sound?
Mustangs scoring a touchdown!
T-O-U-C-H Say what?
T-O-U-C-H Once again
T-O-U-C-H Touchdown!
Tick Tick Tick Tick Boom Dynamite, Boom Boom Dynamite!” The clock hit two minutes, and the crowd was on their feet.
Diya grabbed her helmet as Henry waved her in.
DeWalt snapped the ball back and fell into #86 as Diya Behari wound up for the kick. Hawkins took the snap, crouched down but didn’t let his knee touch, instead flicking the ball to Chase Masters.
Both Hawkins and Masters knew one point wouldn’t cut it. If the Buccs were able to get in field goal range – the Mustangs would be down by a point. If they scored two and the Buccs were able to get in field goal range- they’d tie it up and go to overtime. Masters tucked the ball in and crouched low, as DeWalt and Espy cleared a path for him. The Bucc’s cornerback came from up over the top, grabbing Masters around the neck, but the halfback managed to hang onto the ball and take the final step into the end zone.
The crowd was thunderous, the cheerleaders held each others arms as the scoreboard showed 17-14 in favor of the Mustangs.
“Thrill of victory tastes much better!” Mike Jackson called, looking at 86 and mocking his “cut throat” gesture.
“Tastes like pirate!” JD added. 86 seethed and said something he couldn’t hear as the band began to play We Will Rock You.
With just under two minutes, Cutlass Isles took the field. The opening drive got them a few yards, but not much past their own 20 yard line.
“C’mon defense…” Coach Armstrong silently prayed.
Two plays later, Hawkin’s prediction came true. The Hawks had managed to get themselves into field goal range at the 24 yard line with fifteen seconds on the clock. Drummond and Cork had managed to keep them from crossing the end zone, and now on the third down, the Buccs they could either go for broke in an attempt for the touch down, or try to go for three and take the game to overtime.
“Defense!” The crowd called, as the cheer squad raised their arms and rallied the crowd to spark some noise. The Buccs called their kicker to the field, and the team huddled, breaking on three. The Mustangs defensive line chewed on their mouth guards and lined up against the Buccs, tension and excitement filling the stadium. Fans were on their feet, hollering for their home teams. The Mustangs on the bench all stood on their feet or on the bench to get a better view, and the cheerleaders did their best to encourage the line.
“Block that kick! Block that kick!” They called.
The Bucc quarterback received the snap and stepped back, they were going for the win. Over on the sidelines, the Bucc’s coach threw his clipboard on the ground, obviously not happy with the quarterback not going for the surer thing like he’d called for. The quarterback wound up for the throw, finding his safety in the end zone, having broken free from Drummond.
“Do or die.” Derrick Cork hissed under his breath, remembering the words of his former coach. The Mustangs defensive end mustered all of his strength, knocking his offensive guard off balance, and barreled into the Bucc quarterback. The quarterback held on with the impact, only to be crushed from the other side by Drummond, and finally taken down by Bobby “Junebug” June. The ball rolled out of the quarterback’s hands, and the clock hit zero.
Final score: MUSTANGS 17 BUCCANEERS 14
