Catch That Pass! by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [CHRISTOPHER, MATTHEW F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780316095464
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

All week long, except Friday, Coach Doug Nardi drilled his offense on off-tackle, end-around, and pass plays, and Bill Clark drilled the defense.

“C’mon, Ben! Pick up your feet one at a time and move ’em!” Doug would shout to the skinny left end. And to right guard Roger Lacey, “You’re not posing for a picture, Rog! Move at the snap!”

Jim Nardi wasn’t overlooked, either. “You’re looking for daylight, Jim! That’s a fullback’s job! Tear through! Get after the ballcarrier! Bring ’im down!”

They played the Saturns on the North Field on Saturday. A strong west wind swept thick clusters of clouds across the sky, and a threat of rain hung in the air. But it didn’t rain, nor did the threat of rain keep the crowd away.

The Saturns, who wore blue uniforms with white stripes and white numbers, had won a game and lost a game, while the Vulcans had two losses behind them.

The Vulcans won the toss and chose to receive. For most of the first quarter, neither team could get deep into the other’s territory, and the fullback’s kept busy punting. The punts were usually short for the Vulcans, usually long for the Saturns, for the wind was in their favor.

At last the exchange of punts gave the Saturns an edge. They had pushed the Vulcans back to their own six-yard line. Chris faded back to pass and was smeared in the end zone, giving the Saturns a safety. Two points.

In the second quarter, Chris took a poor snap from center Terry Nabors. He fumbled trying to hand it off to Ronnie Holmes. A Saturn picked it up and galloped down an open field for a touchdown. The try for point missed. The half ended with the Saturns leading 8–0.

In the third quarter, the Vulcans’ short passes to the ends picked up three to six yards each time. Then, from the twenty-two, Ronnie bolted through a wide open hole at left tackle and went all the way. He tried for the conversion and made it. Eight to seven.

The teams played a tight game up to within the last minute of the fourth quarter. The Vulcans were facing the wind, just as they had when the game started. The second half had started with the Saturns facing the wind. They. had had their choice of receiving or choosing a goal.

It was Vulcans’ ball on the Saturns’ eighteen. First and ten.

“Take Ken’s place!” Doug ordered Yak Lee. “And tell Chris to keep it on the ground!” Yak ran in, and Ken Morris ran out.

They gained nine yards in three tries.

“Tell Chris to have Ronnie boot one between the uprights!” ordered Doug. Ken raced in as Yak raced out.

And that’s exactly what Ronnie did, kicked one between the uprights. A field goal. The Vulcans won their first game 10–8.

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