Short Story Challenge

The Game Noah Branham sat with his parents in the stands on a warm evening watching his older brother Jeff. Jeff's team, the Mustangs, trailed the visiting Knights 4-3 in the bottom of the 6th.. In the top of the seventh, the final inning, Jeff caught a popup. The next batter drew a walk. The third hitter sent a sharp grounder between 1st and 2nd. Jeff scooped up the ball and side-armed it to the shortstop covering 2nd. Jeff quickly sprinted back to the bag, and caught a perfectly delivered laser while stepping on the bag for the double play. With 2 out in the bottom of the 7th Jeff stepped to the plate. Pitcher Donny Lawson worked the count full. The catcher, Raul Hernandez, looked up at the umpire, "Time blue." Raul trotted out to the mound to plan the next pitch. Hernandez squatted behind the plate and seemed to be arrogantly smiling at Jeff. "You're gonna choke hero." Jeff glared back with a face of stone, "Bring it." The umpire pointed at the pitcher, "Play!" As pitcher Donny Lawson reared back, Jeff saw it, the way he was holding the ball, even if but for an instant he saw it! In 0.3 seconds it would be here! The wind-up, the release, the trigger, the swing…CRACK! "It's a long fly to right center field! It's back, way back, it's deep, it's.GONE! Home run! Jeff Branham delivers on 3-2 fastball, and the Mustangs have won the game!" As Jeff trotted around the bases, Noah felt a sense of happiness, and a sense of jealousness. Noah was proud of his brother, and happy for him, yet wishing that some day he too would get the chance to be the hero. As July turned into August, Noah was even further disappointed that he was cut from the soccer team after try-outs. He could kick well, but he just wasn't fast enough. Opportunity knocked! Panther's kicker, Lyle Sparks rolled his four wheeler. It was a clean break, but a break nonetheless. The doctor said he would be in a cast for up to 7 weeks, and would need time to rehab after that. Soccer coach Dom Ruteglia recommended Noah to the football special teams coach for a look. After some nervous jitters were worked out, Noah became the starting kicker. When offered number 7, his brother's baseball number, he declined. "I want something different." A search through the remaining unassigned numbers paired Noah up with number 18. He loved it! Noah finally had something to call his own. Fast forward to the last game of the season. Though not perfect, Noah had enjoyed lots of success, and had earned the respect and confidence of his team-mates. In one game Noah connected on a 49 yard field goal. This game coming up against Wheeler was huge. If the Panthers won, they were in the playoffs, if they lost, their season was over. The situation was playing out almost exactly as Noah hoped. The Panthers were trailing 16-14 with just over 5 minutes to play. After an outstanding defensive effort, the Wheeler Wildcats were forced to punt. Panther wide receiver Ren Jones took the punt at the Panther's 11 and headed upfield. He was brought down near the right hash at the 28. The Panthers took over 1st & 10 with 4:56 to play. Tailback Mike Brown took the ball off tackle for 12 yards and a first down to the 40. On the next play, quarterback Spencer Landis hit tight end Cody Rutland over the middle for another gain of 8 yards. Tailback Mike Brown took the ball up the gut over mid-field for a gain of 4 and another first down. The clock stopped momentarily as the chains were reset. A quick whistle and the clock began to tick, 3:18 and counting. Quarterback Spencer Landis connected with receiver Wes Cheek over the middle for a gain of 9. The ball was spotted at the Wildcat 40 yard line with 2:55 to play. Noah, began to get excited! He slowly walked toward the kicking net to warm up. On the next play, tailback Mike Brown burst up thru the middle for a 12 yard gain. The ball was spotted at the Wildcat 28. Next play, fullback Todd Ham carried the ball straight ahead to the 24 bringing up a 2 down and 6. With 2:38 to play, center Moose Prater accidentally stepped on Spencer Landis' foot. The play was meant to be a pitch out to the right. Landis stumbled, but still tried to make the pitch to Mike Brown. The ball tumbled behind Brown and bounced awkwardly. A blitzing Wildcat player saw the mishap and pounced on the ball. An excited and electrified stadium was suddenly hushed. The only sounds, beyond sad exhales, was the now excited Wildcat players jumping and whooping. The Wildcat offense took the field with 2:21 to play. There was too much time to take a knee, but one first down and it was all over. The first play was a hand-off up the middle for no gain. The Panthers quickly burnt their second timeout. 1:59 to play. On 2nd & ten, Wildcat tailback Tyree Washington broke for a 12 yard run, but was shoved out of bounds by Red Vinson at the Wildcat 42. "1:28 to play, hand off goes to Washington, he finds a hole, he's across mid-field, and crushed by Red Vinson! The ball is loose! The ball is loose! It's scooped up by Neilson who is heading the other way! He's brought down by a host of Wildcat players." "The Panthers will take possession with 39 seconds to play at the Wildcat 47." "Landis, from the shot gun, sets, looks, fires to the tight end Rutland and out of bounds at the Wildcat 38, first down." "Landis, back in the shot gun, looks, no one is open, he's hit in the back field and dropped for a loss." "Panthers use their final timeout with 12 seconds to play. The ball is spotted at the Wildcat 46." "The Panther's are gonna have time for 1, maybe 2 more plays." "Landis sets ‘em down, moves back into the shotgun. Clean snap, looks, Wes Cheek has a step on his man down the right side!" "Landis lets it fly." "It's CAUGHT, it is caught! Hauled in by Wes Cheek at the 12 yard line! Hold on, there's a flag, there's a flag on the play, there's some pushing and shoving going on down there, and here come more flags." "Oh boy let's hope this one doesn't come back. There is no time on the game clock, let's see how this sorts out. (LONG PAUSE) "We have 3 infractions on the play. Late hit out of bounds, number 23 on the defense, unsportsmanlike conduct, number 88 on the offense, penalties offset. We have unsportsmanlike conduct on number 84 of the offense, 15 yards from the spot of the foul. Spot the ball at the 26 yard line. Reset the game clock to 2.6 seconds, first down!" Excitement filled the air, Noah was finally going to get the opportunity to do what he had always wanted to do. Noah paced off his steps, turned and waited. "Okay, here we go Panther fans, this is for the money." "Clean snap, the ball is down, the kick is up, it's on the way, it's long enough, and it is…"