The California sun scorched the Dons’ practice field. Even though it was deep into Autumn, it was still a sweltering afternoon, and a sheen of sweat already coated Coach Long’s forehead as he stood before his team.

‘Alright boys. The final game of the season’s just around the corner.’ Coach Long looked at each young face staring back at him. ‘But we can’t relax. Actually, it’s the opposite; I want us to play our greatest game this weekend. Let’s keep our momentum at an all-time high and go into Regionals on the back of a win. Train like champions, play like champions.’

Ty moved away from the semi-huddle around Coach Long, and over to Coach Hoang. His legs felt strong today. He was ready for these low-stakes games to be done with, ready to get this last one out of the way, and into the coliseum of championship football, where it was win or die.

When the entire defence was accumulated before Coach Hoang, he spoke up. ‘This team we’re facing this weekend, Narbonne Gauchos, they’re a balanced offence, but they’re deceptive. Not through a lot of trick plays, but through their formations. Even with an empty backfield, the play can turn into a run, or with a stacked box without any WRs, they’ll go for a pass instead. Expect the unexpected, and be ready for anything.’

Ty turned his face skyward and closed his eyes. “Expect the unexpected. I just need to keep my man in front of me. He can’t do anything unexpected. Everything’s expected.”

‘Samuels! Stop daydreaming and line up with the others.’

There were a few snickers from the others as Ty took his position.

The day’s training consisted mainly of scrimmaging for the Dons’ defence. The JV squad, simulating the Gauchos’ offence, would line up in one formation, then execute a dozen plays, each different from the last. Half of them were runs, and half were passes.

It was a versatile, expansive offence, but Ty’s focus remained solely on whatever Receiver stood in front of him before the snap. It didn’t matter if his man was blocking, or whatever route he was running, Ty’s sole purpose was to smother him, and he did so.

The rest of the defence didn’t have as much success, and couldn’t be as single-minded. They had to scramble on each play, adjusting to the variety of options the offence had at their fingertips. But, reacting quickly, they shut down most of it.

Then the offence would switch into a different formation and showcase another dozen new plays with half a dozen new routes for each Receiver, and the same amount of new running lanes for the RBs. And that same scramble and adjustment period would begin anew.

If it was seen as a test for how the Dons’ defence would handle the unpredictability of their upcoming opponents, they would’ve passed with flying colours. Of course, it was an unreliable test for two reasons. One, the difference in levels between Varsity and JV made it almost impossible for the JV squad to win in the first place. And two, the JV squad was unfamiliar with the playbook, and in turn, not used to running these plays so they couldn’t execute them with the same expertise as the Gauchos.

However, Coach Hoang was still confident in his defence as practice came to the mid-way break.

During the break, JJ and Deshaun caught up with their friends from the offensive side of the ball. The reunited group of seniors crowded around a small section of the bleachers.

Deshaun and Stephen dapped up. ‘This shit as confusing on your end as it is for us?’ Deshaun asked.

‘Nah, though maybe Jay’s got a different answer.’

The two looked over. Jay was laid out on a nearby bench, a Raiders snapback over his face. He lifted it slightly to peek at the pair. ‘It’s ‘bout as tiring as an exam. … So annoying.’

‘No need to be so dramatic, buddy,’ JJ laughed. A firm slap to Jay’s stomach made him shoot up into a sitting position, doubled over.

‘Eh, it’s not that tough on us so I can’t say, Jay’s the one doing all of the work, we just have to listen to orders,’ Chris said.

‘The main thing is, if these guys look like they’re gonna blitz, they’ll drop back at the last second, but if they look like they’re be conservative with their coverage, then they’ll blitz,’ Cole said, sitting on the outskirts of the group. ‘…But uh, sometimes they do the opposite and actually do what it looks like they’re doing.’

Jay extensively rubbed his temples as he laid back down. ‘Can we not bring that up now? … My head’s going to explode … if I don’t rest.’

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The others laughed, but as Jay settled back into his position with his face covered, they left him out of the conversation and gave him a chance to have his micro-nap.

‘Dee, you got any offers yet?’ Benny asked.

Deshaun sent Benny a look that could’ve knocked him over. ‘I don’t want to talk about that shit.’

‘C’mon, it can’t be THAT bad. You’ll get some offers soon,’ Donte said.

‘Look, I wouldn’t expect no baby-ass sophomore to get it. You ain’t gotta worry about shit. You ain’t got no job, you ain’t gotta worry about no graduation, or no college, or nothing. You a fuckin’ kid, takin’ this shit day by fuckin’ day.’

‘Hey, hey, hey. We’re all in the same boat,’ JJ said, getting between the two.

‘We ain’t. I’m in my own boat, remember? And how the fuck you think us winnin’ a couple of regular ass games is gonna help me magically get some new offers. Don’t no damn scouts care ‘bout the regular season. Shit, they barely even care ‘bout Regionals… and I gotta fuckin’ worry ‘bout how two weeks from now I might play my last game … EVER.’

There was a drawn-out silence. Some of the group were looking at Deshaun apologetically, even Jay had lifted his hat to look at Deshaun. Donte was looking at the ground.

‘Sorry, Dee,’ Donte said. ‘I didn’t mean… I just—’

‘Forget about it. It’s all good, man. Let’s just drop it, yeah?’

‘Yeah, all good, man.’ Donte reached across the bench, and Deshaun bumped fists with him before standing up. Deshaun excused himself from the group and the field, saying he had to go piss. On the way, he passed Coach Long. With a quiet word, Deshaun mentioned he wasn’t feeling well. When practice resumed, Deshaun didn’t return.

Elsewhere, surprisingly, Ty had sought out the Dons’ young spy for once. He found Ricky on his lonesome, high up in the bleachers. ‘Brat, who’s the Gauchos’ best Receiver?’

‘Not even a hello? And who are you calling a brat? Hmph, I’m not your damn slave,’ Ricky huffed.

‘If you don’t know who it is, you can just say that.’

Ricky stared daggers up at Ty. ‘Hmm, best Receiver?…’ He looked away, invisible daggers flying off into the distance as Ricky crunched the numbers.

Ty didn’t interrupt as he watched the gears turning in the boy’s head; the numbers fell into place like a slot machine as Ricky found the jackpot.

‘They’re a pretty balanced team, no one really stands out. But, if they had to go to any Receiver when they NEED that touchdown or miraculous play, they usually go for number 80.’

‘Number 80. What’s he like?’

‘I mean, he’s taller than you—but who isn’t—and he’s heavier, probably stronger than you—again, who isn’t—but he doesn’t really excel at anything. He’s your classic all-rounder.’

Ty squinted. ‘Is that all you have? I actually come to YOU for once and this is all you can give me? I thought you were meant to be a proper scout. What about his tendencies? How does he react to presses? How does he set up his moves? What’s his favourite route? Don’t you know anything useful?’

‘I-I don’t know … fuck you! It’s all useful, and if you don’t like it, I don’t have to share ANYTHING with you.’

‘Fine. It’s pointless asking you. I’ll still crush them. Even without your “help”.’ Ty turned away.

‘That shitty attitude of yours is what makes you a loser, you fucking asshole.’

Ty looked back. ‘You’re always so eager to analyse everyone else. Have you ever been critical of yourself? You’re no 99 overall, yourself.’ Ty walked off.

‘Y-Yeah? Well … you’re a … shitty … fucking loser … d-dickhead!’

Ty didn’t respond to the stammering retort, and Ricky stormed off.

“At least this means there isn’t anyone special to worry about in their team,” Ty thought. He wasn’t sure if he was upset by that conclusion.

‘You know, you really are a douchebag, like, ALL the time,’ Bella said as Ty walked past. She stood by the sideline, arms crossed over her chest. Her glimmering eyes always seemed darker—like two thunderstorms—when she glowered at Ty.

He rolled his eyes and gave her a tired look but didn’t bother engaging with her. He was done with his break and was ready to get back to practice.

‘It wouldn’t kill you to be nice for once. Or what, did your mommy not—’

Ty whirled around. ‘DON’T talk about my family.’ He snarled. ‘I’m not the one who’s here because my father is the coach.’

‘Fuck you.’ But Bella left it at that and let Ty skulk away. She’d seen the hurt in his eyes when she mentioned his family. She didn’t mean to cross that line, even if she didn’t know it was that sore of a subject.

The day was only getting more and more frustrating for Ty, and what was supposed to be his only release was just making things worse.

His intensity throughout the rest of practice was matched only by JJ—someone matching JJ’s intensity during practice was an achievement of its own—and when practice was over, his anger hadn’t simmered at all.

You could almost feel sorry for the Gauchos. Unknowingly, they’d been caught right in the crossfire of Ty’s rage, and they’d feel the full brunt of it this weekend.

Who knows if that’d be their downfall, or their key to salvation.