2
Noah
The crowd is deafening as I take the field. I don’t need to look up at the scoreboard to know that there is under two minutes left and we’re down by seven. Of course, if our last touchdown hadn’t been called back for a bullshit call, we’d be tied, although, my mindset wouldn’t be much different. This is our hurry-up offense that we practice the most. Some teams are better at it then we are, but we’re young and still building the expansion team. Truth be told, no one expects us to win, and when we do, the sports analyst have a field day, jumping on the temporary bandwagon of the Portland Pioneers.
I’m used to the haters and have had to live with them badmouthing my dad for the past fifteen years. Being Liam Page’s son hasn’t been easy. Despite what critics say, everything that I have done, every achievement has been earned. My father was adamant that I make my own path, determine my own future. He didn’t want me doing something I didn’t want to do.
There was a time when I thought baseball was going to be my calling. My coach and somewhat step-dad, Nick, was convinced as well. After we won three consecutive state titles behind my pitching, the colleges were ready for me to commit to them and Major League teams were ready for me to sign my life away on the dotted line.
When I sat my parents down, which included Nick and Aubrey, I told them that I wanted to play football even though our high school team never made it past the first round of playoffs and the colleges weren’t scouting me. I had a few small offers, but nothing that stood out. My parents supported my decision and were the ones to drive me to Notre Dame weeks before school started so I could walk on. It was the best decision I had ever made because within six games I was the starting quarterback and once the season was over I was offered a full-ride in exchange for three years of playing football with them.
After my junior year, I was encouraged by money hungry agents to enter the draft. My coach knew this was happening but never said anything. He didn’t have to. I could see everything he was feeling in his expression. He was sad and worried that his star quarterback was ditching out a year early. It’s not unheard of for an athlete to leave school early, but that wasn’t for me. I made a commitment to the school that took a chance on me and really wanted to lead them to a bowl game. I did, but we didn’t win. Still, it was one of the best decisions of my life.
And now here I am in my fourth year in the National Football League and the starting quarterback of a team that just wants to win. We have the tools in the players that we have. Our coach, Bud Walter, is one of the best but isn’t here for the long haul. He’s had a storied career and will be retiring soon, but until then he demands one hundred percent from us each and every time, and we do everything that we can to give it to him.
I stand behind the center Alex Moore. He’s one of my best friends, not because he’s meant to try and protect my ass from getting tackled or sacked each play, but because he’s a stand-up guy who doesn’t give a shit that my father is famous. I yell out my cadence and tap Alex on his ass in the event that he can’t hear me. Once the pigskin touches my hands, I’m backpedaling with my arm cocked and ready to fire. My targets are the wide receiver, Julius Cunningham, who has been in the league for five years or Chase Montgomery the tight end. Chase is one of the best in the league and asked for a trade once the expansion team was announced. He’s from Portland and wanted to be at home so his ailing mother could come to his games.
A monster of a tackle comes rushing toward me as I release the ball. I’m hit and thrown to the ground before I can see if it lands in Chase’s hands. By the roar of the crowd, it does and I scramble to stand so I can get back to the line of scrimmage only to find Chase dancing in the end zone.
Coach yells that we go for two and I’m contemplating his thought process as I hurry toward my offensive line. Going for two means our opponent has to score. Tying the game means we can go a few more minutes. I have never second-guessed Bud, and I shouldn’t be trying to now. I call out the play and resume my spot behind Alex. Once again my cadence is repeated and the ball is put into play.