A chance at a touchdown

The game was a real grind all night, the weather was the main contributor towards this. It poured down with rain for the majority of the match, making for a bleak affair on the fields.

The Wakefield crowd were non-existent. The grand stands were virtually empty, not giving much for the cheerleaders to do other than remain wet and cold on the sidelines.

With just a few minutes left to go in the final quarter, Wakefield Hawks lead the Eagles by just three points, 6-3.

Bryce Walker and the Eagles offence had the ball with 40 yards from the touchdown zone. He had the football as his teammates protected him while he moved back, looking to hit up Marotta as soon as he could get free.

Unfortunately he could barely get himself often, Bryce still moving backwards to protect himself.

Before he knew it, he was crunched from the side. Bang! He was sacked.

“FUCK!!” he yelled on the crowd after being tackled.

Frustrated, the Eagles had just lost almost 10 yards and were now on their second down.

“Fuck it, we’re going back to you, just fucking run with it again,” he told Mark as he moved past him to get back into position.

They had tried this multiple times tonight and Mark could barely get anywhere, the Hawks defence a lot better than they had ever planned for. This didn’t appear to be any different, it seemed like Bryce Walker had just given up, if Mark couldn’t run it far enough, at least 18 yards, he was soon going to have to just launch it long and look for a Hail Mary.

Mark prepared himself.

As he received the ball from Bryce, he felt like he was in slow motion. He couldn’t believe his luck, there was a big enough gap to break through and without thinking, he took his chance.

“COME ON RODGERS! GOO!” he heard a teammate say behind him as he bolted through.

Somehow the Hawks were not set up well on the right side of the field. Mark looked to take advantage of it, sprinting as fast as he could.

It was like he was reliving the day before, with the 100 meter sprint. The only difference was the heavy padding, helmet and the ball he carried in his hands. Mark sprinted faster, his football cleats gripping the wet and slippery turf.

Getting closer, just twenty yards from the end zone, Mark could sense he was home. The one defender on his tail, slipped up, trying to dive to grab him.

Couldn’t wipe Mark’s smile off if you tried.

He was home.

Touchdown Eagles.

9-6.

“FUCK YESSS!” he screamed, ripping his helmet off, his team was in front! For the first time this season, the Eagles were going to finally win a game.

Mark was swamped by his teammates, he would have loved to be in front of his friends and peers right now back at their own campus but this was going to have to do.

A win’s a win, no matter how you look at it. Mark had done it two nights in a row, the hero. Can you believe it? The Hero!