Sooner by Brandon Sneed

Author:Brandon Sneed
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

10

Magic

SHANE CARDEN, NOW A redshirt sophomore, narrowly lost a quarterback competition in the 2012 preseason, edged out by redshirt junior Rio Johnson, who performed respectably in East Carolina’s first game of the season, a 35–13 win over Appalachian State. But then the Pirates went to Charlotte, where, in front of seventy-seven thousand fans, they faced No. 9 South Carolina in the Carolina Panthers’ stadium, and things did not get off to a good start. Through the first half, the formidable South Carolina defense, led by superstar defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, made easy work of the Pirate offense—Johnson threw two interceptions, and the Pirates failed to score a point, entering halftime trailing 21–0.

Shane, who had filled out to become a six-foot-two, 215-pound gunslinger, was coming off the bench.

The Pirates had possession to start the second half, and Shane was fired up. “I came running out of the tunnel real excited,” he said.

Then, on the second play of the half, on his first pass, he threw an interception.

For the Pirates’ next possession, Johnson was back in the game, and Shane was back on the bench.

That might be my only pass this season, he thought. This can’t really happen this way.

Johnson promptly threw another interception, which was returned for a touchdown. With the Pirates trailing 28–0, with little to lose and curious what the promising gunslinger could do, Lincoln put Shane in once again.

On the next series, Shane threw just one pass, and it was incomplete, and the Pirates punted the ball away after just five plays, but it was, technically, progress.

After the Pirates’ defense forced the Gamecocks to punt, Shane took the field, and this time, on the first play, he completed his first pass, a fourteen-yarder to Jabril Solomon. He completed six more passes on the drive, including one on fourth down with six yards to go, and the Pirates were able to kick a field goal.

On the Pirates’ next possession, Shane completed four out of five passes as he led the Pirates eighty-two yards down the field, including two passes to his former scout team buddy Justin Hardy, one for twelve yards and the other for thirty-four—and a touchdown.

The game ultimately ended in a 48–10 defeat, but it marked the beginning of what would become a fantastic era of East Carolina football.

After that game, Lincoln went to Ruffin to discuss starting Shane for their next game, against Southern Mississippi.

“It took about ten seconds,” Lincoln said later.

Shane Carden was in.

The Pirates won the Southern Miss game by a score of 24–14. They weren’t playing well, and their offense wasn’t clicking the way Lincoln wanted, but Shane did his job, passing for 171 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. His touchdown pass was once again to Justin, with whom he connected five times for ninety-two yards. Lincoln was pleased with the way Shane handled himself and the team throughout, later describing his performance as “really impressive.”

“We played poorly offensively,” Lincoln said, “but he had a good feel for We’re not that great offensively right now.

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