As the Titans enjoyed a short break between the extra point attempt and the following kick-off, Kenny approached Coach Otsen.

‘Coach, we can win this game. Just please let me guard eighteen. I’ll shut him down and—’

‘I know we can win, and we will, but you and Rudy swapping assignments is out of the question. Do you have so little faith in your team?’

‘I…’ Kenny frowned and looked at Rudy. ‘It’s not that.’

‘What else could it be? You’ve got your assignment, Ken. Rudy has his. They’ve been assigned by ME. There’s no discussion to be had.’

‘Yes, sir…’ Kenny moved away and the Titans returned to the field.

Coach Otsen was resolute in his stance. If not for the betterment of this game, but for their chances at winning state.

The kick-off return set the Wildcats up at their 30-yard line. They went to work with a Toss to their HB for the first play of their drive. With Kevin still in as an additional blocker, the wide run carved out 7 yards as Rudy struggled to get around Aaron’s block, and Kevin held off the LBs for an extra second.

The Wildcats followed this up with another run. This time, Kevin was shifted to a position more akin to a FB before the snap. After which, he helped pry open the middle of the field, helping the Wildcats’ Center force aside Vincent and pave the way for the RB to gouge out another 5 yards before Pete stopped the ball.

The Wildcats peppered in Play-Action as well. Aaron punished Rudy’s overaggressiveness to get around the block, by letting him pass before running a one-step Slant for another 7 yards.

Like a well-oiled machine, the Wildcats progressed downfield. There was little the Titans could do to resist them on this drive, but they still tried their damnedest.

With the power of their two TEs, the Wildcats utilised strong runs to the left side, right side, and up the middle to bring them within the red zone.

It looked like the Wildcats would run their way straight into another touchdown and the lead.

The ball was snapped, the QB turned to the RB, he was going to hand it off again. But the RB ran the other way, it was another Play-Action.

Rudy battled with Aaron, pushing and shoving at one another before Aaron slipped by and Rudy settled into position just below his outside hip.

Freddy patrolled the nearside portion of the endzone, just above Rudy and Aaron, Lonnie was opposite him on the far side. Vincent and Owen led the charge of the D-Line, but with Kevin in, the Wildcats had the numbers advantage in the trenches. Isaac and Pete patrolled the middle of the field close to the Line of Scrimmage, with the Wildcats' primary TE squeezed between them. Kenny was caught between two players, another Receiver who he stuck with to shut off their Out route, and the RB who he left open in the flat.

But the QB wasn’t looking at the RB, he had eyes only for Aaron.

Aaron stopped and turned back. The QB flinched, but Rudy stepped in the way of Aaron, shutting off any kind of curl. The curl was just a fake, and Aaron kept running forward after his little stutter. His eyes were on Freddy.

The QB launched the ball high to the back of the endzone. Freddy parked himself under it, finding the best position he could. Aaron raced forward and turned his back to Freddy, locating the ball in the sky as he shielded Freddy away with his larger frame. It was a jump ball, it’d come down to who could reach the highest … and Freddy didn’t stand a chance.

He still gave it his all. He threw himself into the air, pushing against Aaron’s back. His hands stabbed at the sky, thrusting at the ball, but Aaron’s reached further, and he caught the ball inches above Freddy’s reach.

They landed together, and Freddy continued swiping at the ball, but Aaron held it high above his head. Touchdown.

The extra point polished off the touchdown and extended the lead back to 3 points.

With hands on his helmet, Kenny trudged off the field, his eyes on the scoreboard. The score was, 44–41, and there was a little over half the quarter remaining.

Kenny and the Titans weren’t about to give up. On the kick-off return, Kenny darted past one tackler after another. Ducking under outstretched arms and spinning away from grasping hands. He reached the 37-yard line before he was tripped up.

The Wildcats weren’t the only ones who could run the ball, and Isaac showed his might as he slammed through the middle of the defence for a bullish run of 5 yards.

A second run garnered lesser, but still decent results of 3 yards as Isaac stretched to the outside. Tiny stopped him when Tiny slipped around Rudy’s attempted block and tripped Isaac.

On third down, all signs pointed to another run; Rudy was positioned as another TE. Vincent snapped the ball. Pete only took one step back before he fired in a high pass to Lonnie. Lonnie caught the pass and with a spinning lunge dove across the mark required for a first down.

Rudy was spread out again, and the Titans continued to target the air. Kenny burst off his line and Kevin scrambled to keep up with him. A shimmy sent Kevin zagging, then Kenny zigged to the inside and hauled in a reception for 11 yards.

With another first down, Isaac got the call again. He ran behind Lonnie though couldn’t break to the outside, and the inside was slammed shut, and he only gained 2 yards in the end.

The Titans were pushing closer to field goal range as they’d passed half-field, but they wanted more.

On the next pass, Lonnie stretched out to the flat, but was covered the whole way. Kenny’s post route ran him into double coverage, and Tiny stuck with Rudy to the outside. While Rudy still called for the ball, Pete ignored him and instead targeted Freddy’s shallow Cross.

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‘Mierda!’ Pete cussed as the ball slipped from his hand a moment too soon. Freddy twisted round and stretched out to try and recover, but the ball was too far behind him and he couldn’t reel it in.

Back in the huddle, Rudy wasn’t happy. ‘Hey, the hell are you doing?’

‘Yeah, I fucked up, okay?’

‘It’s okay, Petey, mistakes happen,’ Freddy said.

‘Why the fuck are you throwing to him in the first place? They can’t guard me, just throw me the ball.’

‘Alright, alright! Joder. You’re so goddamn needy. You’re like my ex.’

The huddle broke apart with some snickers. Coach Otsen had called another Fade for Rudy. It’d be a one-on-one with Tiny, the Safety would be too frightened, too scared of another fake and letting up a touchdown to interfere, which meant Rudy would have all the advantage he’d need. The pass just had to be on the mark.

Pete took the snap, and after a couple of seconds, looked Rudy’s way. It was just him and Tiny down the sideline, the Safety was too far away. Pete just had to lob it in juuuust right. Pete let the ball fly.

Rudy looked back for the ball, saw it, and cursed. He twisted around, slowing as he did so. The ball was coming in low. Rudy started to fall back as he reached down, he’d catch it at his knees but he’d still catch it.

Tiny didn’t turn around, but he knew the ball was coming from Rudy’s actions. He thrust a hand out like a shield in front of Rudy’s hands, and the ball smacked into his arm.

The ball bounced to the ground. Rudy tumbled through the grass. When he came to a stop, he punched the ground and pushed himself up, glaring across the field at Pete. Pete’s head hung low. The rest of the Titans were looking to their coaches.

Coach Knight turned to Coach Otsen, raising a bushy brow. Coach Otsen said nothing, He was staring at the scoreboard. There were 5 minutes left. He looked down, eyes focusing on Freddy. He waved him over then turned to Coach Vasquez.

‘Vasquez. Go stand at the Wildcats’ ten. Make sure you stand out.’

‘Sir, yes, sir!’ Coach Vasquez sprinted to his position. He turned and gave a big thumbs-up once he was in place.

‘Y-You wanted to see me, sir?’ Freddy stood before Coach Otsen.

Coach Otsen grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him to Coach Vasquez. Coach Vasquez waved enthusiastically. ‘That’s your target,’ Coach Otsen said. ‘Don’t think about anything else, just think about kicking the ball to Coach Vasquez, nice and simple. That’s all you need to do.’

Freddy nodded.

Coach Otsen pushed him back onto the field and towards the rest of the team. Freddy hurried over and told the others they were punting.

‘We don’t go for it?’ Coach Knight muttered.

‘I trust our defence. Right, Coach Carson?’

‘Absolutely, sir,’ she said.

The Titans lined up, ready to punt. They got the snap off just before the play clock reached zero, and Freddy caught the ball. His heart drummed within his rib cage. He looked downfield and along the sideline. Coach Vasquez was waving his arms about, jumping up and down; his smile could’ve been seen from an aeroplane.

Freddy turned slightly, and punted the ball calmly. It soared through the air, and sailed out of bounds at the Wildcats’ 13-yard line. Coach Vasquez caught it and cheered. Even from so far away, Freddy and the others could hear him clearly.

‘Woo-hoo! Way to go Freddy! That was your best punt ever!’

Freddy was thankful his helmet helped hide his embarrassment.

The Titans prepared for their turn on defence.

‘Watch the run!’ Coach Carson called from the sideline. ‘Spread out!’

As she expected, the Wildcats opened the drive with a run. Though Owen was able to get the better of Kevin, and when the RB came skirting around the outside of the Line, Owen stretched out and unexpectedly yanked him down with one hand after a gain of only 2 yards.

Coach Otsen called an early timeout.

‘Don’t let up, you’re doing great,’ Coach Carson said.

‘Keep on them and don’t give them any room to breathe,’ Coach Otsen added. ‘Watch the run, they’ll want to waste more time. They’ll still throw if we’re not careful so don’t get sucked too far in.’

Kenny and Rudy pressed closer to their Receivers, even Isaac and Pete crept closer. The D-Line stayed spread out. The ball was snapped.

The QB dropped back, looking to throw. Rudy and Aaron butted heads, Rudy forced Aaron to the outside, keeping on top of him. Kenny kept his Receiver at arm’s length, staying in front of them. The RB snatched the ball from the QB; it was a Draw.

Vincent didn’t care. He smashed through the middle of the Wildcats’ O-Line and met the RB head-on, slamming them into the ground. The RB was lucky to get back to the Line of Scrimmage and not lose any yards.

Coach Otsen called another timeout and reinforced his message. They had to play for both scenarios, both a run and a pass were serious threats they had to look out for.

Both teams lined up. Again the Titans were as close as they legally could be before the snap. Aaron smirked. ‘You guys are that desperate, huh? Calling timeouts already?’

‘You scared?’ Rudy said.

‘Why? You’re making it easier to beat you. You guys fucked up bad. You just made it easier to run the game out. Once I get this next catch you’ll see.’

‘You’re not getting this next catch.’

‘Haha, yeah, just like I wasn’t scoring again, right?’

Rudy held himself break from slapping the smug look off Aaron’s face.

The ball was snapped and Rudy slammed into Aaron, jamming him hard and knocking him back a step. Aaron grunted, trying to sweep around Rudy. Rudy didn’t relent, he kept on top of Aaron, hands pressing on Aaron’s chest, right up into his pits.

Aaron had to fight for every yard forward just to get into his route. Finally, Rudy had to break away and give him some room 5 yards past the Line of Scrimmage, lest the shoving became a penalty. Just because Rudy wasn’t bumping Aaron, didn’t mean he wasn’t close. He never gave Aaron space, even when Aaron cut inside.

Aaron slanted across the middle of the field, and as the TE drew Pete further away from the centre, the QB zipped the ball over the middle.

Rudy threw himself around Aaron’s body and lunged for the ball, swatting it out of the air.

Aaron looked to the officials, complaining about the shoving, looking for a penalty, but they weren’t swayed by his bitching. The Wildcats had been completely stuffed.

The Wildcats opted to punt and booted the ball out of bounds, not giving Kenny a chance to return it. But the punt only reached the halfway mark before going out.

The Titans started their comeback drive with excellent field position, and looked to capitalise on it quickly.