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“Welcome, sports fans, to The Sweetest Place on Earth! This is Johnny May, coming to you live from Hershey, Pennsylvania, for the Pennsylvania High School Football Championships. We have a real David versus Goliath match-up tonight, as we have the Western Champions of Allegheny Prep taking on our very own South Mountain Pioneers.

Allegheny Prep will look to complete an historic season in which they have defeated all of their opponents by double-digit points. On the other side, the underdog Pioneers will look to cap a fairytale season of their own as they play in memory of the late Coach Weston. Our young men were able to right the ship after a rocky start, and they now sit only four quarters away from the ultimate prize: the state championship.

We will be with you the whole way from the press box, so sit tight, grab a tasty treat, and prepare for what should be a classic in Hershey.”

**********

Hailey glared up to the press box, where she could see the radio announcer screaming into his headset.

“Here they come!” Gunner’s mom yelled next to her. The team began to run out from the tunnel beneath them.

I’m so nervous.

The blue jerseys and white pants cascaded across the sideline like a wave hitting the beach. Her father came out last, smiling as he pointed to her and her sister in the bleachers.

He belongs out there.

No matter how much she had hated it, no matter how much she did not understand the sport, she could see it---the way he moved down the line, talking to each player, watching them smile and nod back. The cloud that had been lingering over him the last few years was gone, replaced by a happiness that she had feared she would never see in him again.

You deserve this, Daddy.

“Ms. Summers!” Gunner’s mom shouted.

Hailey turned to see her teacher hustling down the concrete steps.

“Thank you, thank you for saving me a seat! Traffic is incredible out there, and I cannot believe how packed it is!”

It sure is full.

Hailey took in the impressive visual of the stadium. Both sides were full, and banners and streamers hung from the metal railings that ran along the front of each side. As she scanned their section, she could see faces from all over town. Julez and the rest of her castmates were packed alongside other students in the bleachers.

“Jesus, Hails!” Her sister squeezed her arm and pointed to the other side of the stadium. The opposing fans erupted as the other team entered. “Is that…is that the other team?”

Those are not high school boys .

Hailey held her breath as the black and gold uniforms began to dance onto the field. She gripped her sister’s hand tighter and watched the herculean players make their way onto the sideline.

“Those boys are very big.” Ms. Summers said, squinting across the field. An uncomfortable silence fell over their side of the stadium.

“Hailey!” Gunner’s mom grabbed her shoulders. “They made Gunner a captain again!”

Gunner’s mom swelled with pride as she waved to his sister and pointed at her son. Peyton gave them both a thumbs-up, her pom poms swaying by her side in the bitterly cold air.

While Hailey had no idea what that comment meant, she quickly locked arms with the woman by her side. Her warmth was welcomed on the chilly December night. She took a deep breath, the same sense of pride building in her stomach as she watched Gunner walk out onto the field surrounded by his friends.

Taylor, Cortez, Weston, Carter, Green.

She read the backs of the uniforms of the five boys with whom she had become so close.

Oh my.

In an instant, the feeling of joy flipped to unease. The five stopped in the middle of the field and were greeted by the opposing group of players, all of whom towered over them.

“Those don’t even look like high school boys, Hails.” Her sister said what Hailey was thinking. “Those are men.”

Stay safe, boys.

She squeezed both her arms tighter, trying to fight off the anxiety creeping into her stomach .

Stay safe, Gunner.

The referee blew his whistle. The five captains turned and sprinted back to the sideline as the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Well, folks, if you thought the papers were lying about the size of this Allegheny Prep team, then you are in for a surprise. I did not think it was possible, but they seem even more massive in person.

The Pioneers will have the ball to start the game, and Gunner Weston comes to the line of scrimmage. He sets behind Emilio Cortez and calls out the cadence. Weston takes the snap and tosses the ball to Tyquan Carter, who tries to go around the right side. WOW! What a hit by the All-American safety Riley Davis! He hit Carter and knocked him back almost two yards.

OK, it will be second down for the Pioneers as Weston lines up five yards behind Cortez in the shotgun. He takes the snap and is going to hand it to Carter again. Oh no! Carter is immediately tackled in the backfield by Ricardo Sampson and Benjamin Bishop! They were in the backfield as soon as Carter got the ball!

Third down now, and Weston takes the snap. Weston is going to pass and roll to the right side. He is under pressure from Bishop! He gets the pass off but is hit hard! Andy Green makes the catch…NO! Green was hit by Riley Davis when he caught the ball, and he dropped it. It will be fourth down, and the Pioneers will have to punt.”

Get up.

Hailey jumped to her feet, her hands over her mouth.

Please get up, Gunner.

He was lying on the ground, rolling in pain.

“Gunner…” Hailey heard his mom groan as she shot up as well .

Hailey held her breath. Emilio helped Gunner up off the ground, and both Hailey and Mrs. W. gave a small sigh of relief.

That team is so big.

The massive opposing team was celebrating on their sideline. A hush from the students below was encapsulated by a nervous shake of Juliana’s head.

“I think he’s OK,” Melissa said, pointing to the sideline, where Gunner stood talking to their father.

Please be safe.

She grabbed her sister’s hand as the opposing crowd exploded again, black and gold jerseys running down the field before a whistle blew.

“Well, after a fantastic return, the Crusaders will have the ball first and ten from the Pioneer’s thirty-five-yard line. This is not the start that Coach Bianchi would have hoped for.

Tyrell Whitworth stands back in the shotgun. The Pennsylvania Player of the Year looks over the defense and takes the snap. Whitworth hesitates but is now going to run to the left side. Cortez is running after him! Whitworth…runs over Cortez and is into the secondary! He is finally knocked out of bounds by Malcolm Bailey, but only after he picked up twenty yards! Emilio Cortez thought he had the big, six-foot-five, two-hundred-and-fifteen–pound quarterback, but instead he just got run over.

First down again for the Crusaders, who line back up in the shotgun. Whitworth looks over the defense and takes the snap. He rolls to the right side and throws it to the endzone! He has a man and…TOUCHDOWN CRUSADERS! What a pass by Tyrell Whitworth to find his man in the endzone, and in two plays, the Crusaders have taken the lead.”

The wind was immediately knocked out of the entire Pioneer side of the stadium. The student section below Hailey was now quiet and full of shaking heads as the uneasiness quickly shifted to a rising tide of concern. The band across the field was playing some new pop hit from the radio, and the entire side of their field was dancing along.

“It’s OK.” Ms. Summers’ voice did not match her face. “It’s early. We have a lot of time to get that back.”

Maybe.

Hailey nodded, trying to smile, but she could not muster the strength.

She spotted Gunner on the sideline, where he was getting more padding put on his shoulder. He slammed his helmet against the bench after a whisper from the trainer.

This…

Another triumphant scream rose from the opposing side, and when she spun back to the field, she saw Tyquan being helped up by two of the opposing players.

This is unfair.

The godlike Crusaders started to take their positions, waving their arms to the opposing bleachers. Loud shrieks rose into the air.

This is just unfair.

**********

“Well, Pioneer fans, a tough first half has finally come to an end. Our boys have shown a lot of fight against what can only be described as a superhuman Allegheny Prep team, but they still trail 21-0. Coach Bianchi has to be proud of his team’s effort but must wonder if there is anything they can do against what looks like unbeatable opposition.”

“Take it off!” Gunner yelled as he dropped to the floor of the locker room. “I can’t throw with it on. You need to take the padding off now!”

The trainer stared at him, shaking his head.

“Gunner, I can’t take that off. It’s the only thing protecting your shoulder from impact.”

Who cares!

Gunner threw his head against the steel locker in disgust. The rest of the team started to slink in behind them.

“I need some damn room out there, Emilio!” Ty threw his helmet to the ground.

“We’re doing the best we can!” Emilio came nose to nose with the muscular running back. “You see how big and fast these damn dudes are? It’s like there are fifteen of them out on that field.”

Gunner took a deep breath as the trainer started to reset the pads. A shout from Andy at one of the assistant coaches, who was trying to walk him through release techniques, only added to the noise.

Shit.

It was all moving so fast. JT fell down beside him on the bench.

What are we doing out there?

His eyes began to tear up as the trainer pushed down on his shoulder. His head was spinning, and the shouting match between Emilio and Ty was only making it worse.

“It’s just…it’s just unfair man. They are so goddamn big and fast!”

Emilio pounded his fist against a locker, quieting the room.

It is unfair .

Gunner’s shoulder was starting to spasm. The adrenaline had exhausted his body, and he took a few more deep breaths before trying to stand. His legs shook beneath him.

“Here.” Coach Bianchi extended his hand, pulling him up.

Thanks, Coach.

Gunner nodded, noting that Coach Bianchi’s normally stern and rigid in-game stare was soft and unfocused.

We let him down.

Any strength Gunner had left faded away. He adjusted his shoulder pads and watched his coach walk slowly to the front of the room.

I hate this.

Coach Bianchi took a second to adjust his visor. A deep exhale spun him around to the group.

“You’re probably right, Emilio.” He paused and surveyed the room. “It probably is unfair. I mean, I’ll tell ya, boys, I have coached college teams that didn’t have that type of size and speed.” He lowered his head and propped his leg up on the bench in front of him. “But hell, I think most of us have already realized that life…well, that life really isn’t fair.”

He peeked over at Gunner, who took a step forward.

“Because if it were, you would have a different coach standing in front of you right now. A great man, a great leader, and a great father.”

Dad.

Coach Bianchi dropped his leg and grabbed a football. He remained silent for a few moments, and when he continued, his voice was quiet.

“You know, when I first moved to this town, people kept talking to me about a saying you had. A saying about moments and not letting them slip by.” He tossed the football in the air and caught it. “And for a while, I had a hard time figuring out what it all meant.” He smiled and slapped the pigskin. “Don’t get me wrong. I’ve had moments in my life, gentlemen. I married the woman of my dreams. I watched the two most beautiful little girls be born and grow.” He pointed the football out across the room. “And I won a lot of football games.”

Gunner’s feet continued to inch forward, his coach’s voice drawing him in.

“But I’ve also had a lot of bad moments in my life.” He bowed his head. “I lost the strongest person I had ever known. A woman I loved more than anything in the world. I watched as my own flesh and blood struggled, and lost, and were injured by the world. By people I had believed in.”

Damn.

Gunner took a knee, ignoring the knives digging into his shoulder and chest.

“And I thought to myself, why would anyone want to live or even remember these moments?” He laughed under his breath and looked back up. “But then I met you young men. Young men who know all too well how cruel and unfair life can be.” He took a few steps across the front of the room. “I watched as a town, lost and scared, turned to a bunch of high school students to heal them. Now.” Coach Bianchi chuckled. “Now tell me, how unfair is that?”

He outstretched his arms and shook his head.

“A bunch of grown men and women turning to all of you and asking for help? How the hell would you know what to do?” He was gripping the football tighter as his eyes lowered. “But you know what I found out, gentlemen?”

Gunner’s leg was starting to shake, and his blood was flowing a little faster .

“I found out that even in the darkest moments, the moments when all seemed lost…that you were willing to stand up. You were willing to accept the challenge, even against everything stacked against you.”

Coach Bianchi took a few steps in Gunner’s direction.

“You took a scared town. A town that was lost, and you put it on your back, against all odds. YOU became the leaders. YOU became the ones who showed us how to heal, and YOU did it together!”

Yeah, we did.

Gunner nodded, and his coach’s voice rose a bit more.

“Did you make mistakes? Of course. Did it go the way you planned? No, it never does.” He locked eyes with Gunner. “But that’s just life. It’s unfair. It’s not a fairytale that always has a happy ending.”

Gunner took a deep breath, his blood pounding in his ears.

“Our life is a story, gentleman, one that we do not read but live. One that is lived in moments that shape us for the rest of our lives. This…this is something that each and every one of you have taught me.”

Coach Bianchi paused briefly and then moved toward the door leading to the tunnel.

“So, maybe it is unfair. Maybe they are bigger, faster, and stronger.”

Gunner stood without realizing that he had moved.

“But maybe, well, just maybe, the next two quarters aren’t set in stone. Maybe the next two quarters are not about how fast someone can run or how much they can bench press. Maybe we make the next two quarters about something else…something like this!” Coach Bianchi pivoted around and pointed to his eyes. “And maybe, just maybe, we make it about this!” He balled up his hand and pounded his chest .

Maybe.

“The eyes tell you everything you need to know about someone, and I can promise you…” He peered across the room, pointing the football at each of them in turn. “I can promise you: That team in the other locker room has never looked into the eyes of anyone like you.”

The assistant coaches propped the door open. The sound of the marching band’s half-time show penetrated the room.

“The next two quarters will be the final moments that you play together as a football team. What happens next is up to you. Don’t let anyone else decide these moments for you. Live it; breathe it.” He stepped through the door. “TAKE IT!”

The two words echoed behind him. The door slammed shut, and the team was alone. Alone and together.

“Well, folks, we are ready for the second half of play, and it looks like Coach Bianchi is going to be pulling out all the stops. Gunner Weston is going to be heading out with the defense to see if he can help slow down the Crusaders’ potent offensive attack.”

“Gunner! What the hell are you doing?” Coach Bianchi had caught him before he could get onto the field. “I can’t let you get on this---”

Gunner tapped his coach’s shoulder just as the referee blew the whistle.

“I’m living my own moment, Coach.”

The tension was palpable as the two stood, staring each other down. The bands dueled in the background. Screams and noise echoed around them, but neither budged.

Please.

Gunner was not about to back down. After their coach left, the team made this decision together .

“Gunner…” Coach Bianchi was clearly fighting himself. “This, I mean, I can’t---”

“I got this, Coach. Trust me.”

He never gave his coach a chance to make the decision. Gunner immediately took off to the huddle and joined Emilio, who was calling out the defensive play.

“Are you sure about this, G?” asked the bulky linebacker.

“If these boys want a fairytale ending, let’s make them earn it.” Gunner slapped Bailey’s helmet. “We know this guy is going to bring the ball right at us. Bailey, take on the blocker. Let me and Emilio clean it up.”

The young cornerback nodded, and in seconds, the whole team had broken into position.

Life is about moments, Gunner.

He took a deep breath and set at the back of the defense, scanning the offense as they aligned.

Perfect.

He smiled and placed his mouthpiece between his teeth.

Let’s see how you like it when someone hits you back.

“It will be first and ten for the Crusaders as they come to the ball. Whitworth looks over the defense and sets in the shotgun. Whitworth takes the snap and hesitates. He is going to run to the left side. He has a blocker, but here comes Gunner Weston…”

The jolt took Gunner’s feet off the ground. The massive quarterback’s heavy exhale filled his ears.

Wait for it.

The turf was unforgiving as he landed on his back. The second hit was a direct impact on his shoulder.

That felt…

He inhaled and peered up into the night sky. The lights above illuminated the black and gold helmets that now looked down at him.

Not bad.

He gathered his strength and pushed up, now noticing that he was surrounded by opposing players on their sideline.

“G!” Emilio pressed through and pulled him out. “You OK?”

The gigantic player that Gunner had just hit got slowly to his feet. He was gripping the ball tight as players from both sides tried to separate the group.

“Nice hit, Weston.” The quarterback cracked a grin and slapped his helmet. Both sets of players dispersed as the referee blew his whistle.

Yeah.

“Second and twelve.” The referee’s announcement was the final push Gunner needed.

It was a good hit.

“Never better, Emilio!” He exploded off the sideline and joined his teammates. “Let’s go, boys!”