Halfback Attack by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [CHRISTOPHER, MATTHEW F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780316095396
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

9

After three plays, the quarter was over. The teams exchanged goals. The ball was on the Sandpipers’ twenty-two-yard line. Last down and two to go.

Dick Connors shook his head sadly as he and his teammates went into a huddle. Every eye was on him, waiting anxiously for him to decide on what play to use next. He named a play, then changed his mind. He suggested punting but changed his mind again.

“No. We’ll give up the ball then,” he said. “We’ve got to hang on to it. Maybe a pass —”

The whistle shrilled. The boys straightened like puppets and stared at the referee.

“Too long in the huddle!” the official said.

He penalized them five yards for delaying the game.

“We’d better get going,” said Stookie, “or penalties will put us in our end zone.”

“All right,” said Dick. “Let’s go with play twenty-three! On the two!”

Twenty-three? Freddie rubbed his palms against his sides. Here was his chance.

The ball was on the Sandpipers’ seventeen-yard line. There were seven yards to go for a first down. Dick called signals.

“Down! One! Two! Hike!”

Stookie snapped the ball. Dick drew back and handed off to Bucky. Bucky raced toward left end. Dave Summers threw a body block on his man, bit Joey’s man brushed by Joey and started to reach for Bucky. Just then Bucky pitched the ball out to Freddie. Freddie pulled it against him and began crossing the white stripes as fast as his legs could carry him. He zipped past the twenty, the thirty, the forty….

Now he was in the Owls’ territory and still going. He heard someone coming up behind him and tried to pick up more speed.

A pair of arms circled his waist. He was brought down. When he got up, he saw that his tackler was Buddy Camp, the fastest man on the Owls’ team.

“Thataway to run, Freddie!” Dick slapped him happily on the back.

Freddie smiled. “Bucky pitched it to me just in time,” he said.

The ball was on the Owls’ twenty-eight. First down and ten.

“Thirteen flare,” said Dick in the huddle.

Thirteen flare was a pass to either right halfback Freddie or left halfback Bucky. It depended on who was in the better position to receive.

The signal. The snap. Dick went back. The Owls’ strong lineman plowed through. Dennis blocked a man charging at Dick, but another man was ready to tackle the quarterback.

Dick yanked his arm back and threw. The ball sailed through the air. It was a poor pass; the ball was wobbling crazily — far short of the man for whom it was intended, Bucky Jensen.

Then — just before the ball was about to hit the ground — Joey Mills caught it! He was off balance and almost stumbled to his knees as he tried to hold the ball in his hands. Then he regained his balance and ran hard down the field. Bucky blocked the man near him, and Joey had the field to himself.

He went over for a touchdown. A few seconds later, the Sandpipers bucked the line for the extra point.

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