Coach Hope decided that we needed to run the ball and get close enough that Derek could kick a game-winning field goal. Mt. Vernon called time-outs to stop the clock, but we were able to get a first down. With twenty seconds to go, Coach Mason directed me to run the ball to the center of the field so that Derek would have an easier kick. We were currently on the right hash mark. I took the snap and got to the center of the field, and I expect Mt. Vernon thought I would just go to one knee. Instead, I cut upfield. If I’d not done that, we would be at the extreme limit of Derek’s range. The extra five yards I gained should make it a surer kick.
Coach Hope let the clock go down to eight seconds. That would give us two chances to get the field goal off if needed. You could see the Mt. Vernon fans were resigned to their fate. All Derek had to do was kick the ball through the uprights. The snap was good, and the holder put the ball down like he’d done a thousand times over the summer and during the season. Derek hooked it. Mt. Vernon took possession at the spot of the kick, but their Hail Mary pass fell incomplete while the clock ran out. We went into overtime.
In overtime, we would each get a chance to score from the 25 yard line. They had a coin toss to determine who got the ball first. We won and decided to play defense. This way, we would know what we had to do to win the game.
We were all confident that we were winning the game. We had the momentum and the superior team. You could tell that Mt. Vernon was completely gassed. They’d given it their all and had faded in the fourth quarter.
We held them and forced them to kick a field goal. Their kicker drilled it to make the score 23–20.
Coach Mason wanted us to run the ball. We ran the motion play, and on first down, I handed the ball to Ty, who gained three yards. On second down, I gave it to Jake, who was dropped for a three-yard loss. Coach Hope called a time-out.
“We need to get a first down. I want to win this game now,” Coach Hope said.
“Let’s run the drag play with a wrinkle.” Coach Mason said. “Ty, I want you to act like you’re staying in to help with protection. Wolf, I also want you to line up in the backfield to help block. If the pocket breaks down, I want Ty to flare out to the weak side. Otherwise, hit Roc when he clears the center of the field,” Coach Mason instructed.
The play went to shit on the snap. Mt. Vernon’s defensive tackle somehow got past our line without being touched. If Coach Mason hadn’t put Wolf in the backfield, I would have been sacked. My instinct told me to run for the strong side of the field. I looked for Roc, but a linebacker had knocked him on his butt. Then I remembered Ty. I mentally kicked myself for forgetting about him, but we’d never run this play before.
I looked back to find a wall of defenders bearing down on me. One of their linemen was in my face, so I gave ground and threw off my back foot. The absolute worst thing a quarterback can do is throw across the field when he’s not prepared to throw. If you’re lucky, it’s an incomplete pass. Over half the time, it ends up in an interception. My only saving grace was that I was strong enough to throw with just my arm. I lofted the ball so that Ty could get to it. He made the adjustment and outran everyone for the score.
Our fans exploded. I think everyone thought we’d lost the game when Mt. Vernon had me cornered. Our bench cleared, and Ty ended up on the bottom of a pile of happy teammates. I didn’t blame Mt. Vernon for not hanging around for the traditional handshake. If I were them, I would have wanted to go home, too.
◊◊◊
Tim, Wolf, and I hurried to take our showers. Chuck picked us up and whisked us off to the local airport. We were taking a small plane to Midway in Chicago, where we were catching a flight to LA.
Poor Bandit had a meltdown when he had to go through the big scanner with me; he clearly didn’t like that machine. I’d bought him his own seat because I’d heard horror stories about what happened to pets when they had to ride in the luggage compartment underneath the plane.
The plane was full of people going with us. Jack and Bev Mass were on board with Caryn and Megan. We also had our parents and Brook. For security, I had Fritz and Chuck. The contingent from Ohio State was sitting behind us. I was glad to see Cindy.
About an hour into the flight, I wished I’d paid for first class. Bandit was making a racket, so I put his leash on him and brought him out to sit on my lap. The leash was in case he decided to escape. I didn’t want to play ‘find the kitty.’ The flight attendant wasn’t happy, but he calmed down and fell asleep. She left me alone when she saw him curled up on my lap.
Even with the time change, it was late when we finally arrived at our hotel. Tomorrow, the Ohio State group would check out my house with Jack Mass while Bev, Caryn, and Megan spent time with Saul, Frank, and Kent. The rest of us would visit USC.
When I landed, I sent texts to Ridge and Bill to let them know we were here. Bill and I talked briefly while we drove to our hotel. I would see my two friends tomorrow.
◊◊◊
Chapter 19 – Another Box Checked Saturday October 8
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
Bandit blinked at me and then stretched. The poor kitty had been tuckered out after his flight yesterday.
“Your mama should be here shortly to pick you up.”
He got up and rubbed himself against me as he purred. He wanted his chest rubbed, which I obliged. For a cat, Bandit was okay. There was a knock at the door, and Bandit’s head cocked as he tried to figure out where the noise came from. Then he bounded off the bed for the door and began to meow and pace. I grabbed my shorts and put them on.
“Yes, I know, I’m hurrying,” I told him as he gave me a baleful look.
I opened the door to find Halle James on the other side with Flo, her security. Halle bent over, and Bandit jumped into her arms. While they were getting reacquainted, I invited Flo in.
“Good to see you,” she said as she checked me out.
I felt a little embarrassed, so I grabbed one of the robes the hotel offers its guests and put it on. I heard the key card reader chirp, and Brook wandered in. An unhappy Bandit was handed to me as Brook and Halle hugged each other. I tossed him on the bed and stepped into the bathroom to get ready, giving the girls time to catch up.
I came out wearing only a towel.
“We’re going to a party tonight,” Brook announced.
“That’s nice,” I offered as I dug in my suitcase for underwear.
I used the trick I’d learned at the beach and put them on under my towel.
“That was disappointing,” Halle complained.
“I’ve been training him,” Brook replied.
She didn’t seem to appreciate the snort I’d made, so I changed the subject.
“Who’s having a party?” I asked.
“Zak Verwood. I ran into him eating lunch at Spago with Tanya Hendricks. I told them you were going to be in town for a recruiting trip, and he decided that he needed to throw you a party,” Halle explained.
Zak and Tanya had both been in our movie The Secret Circle. I was more than a little nervous about taking Brook and Halle to a party Zak threw. The last time I’d been at his house, it had turned into an orgy, and Sage and I’d left early. She’d broken up with Bill because he’d let it slip that he’d been hooking up with girls on game weekends, and it was evident he’d slept with Ridge’s girlfriend, Penny.