Twelve Men in the Huddle by Michael Banas

Author:Michael Banas [Banas, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9780989071338
Published: 2016-11-05T04:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

PHILADELPHIA

It was a cold, rainy day in the City of Brotherly Love. Pete was standing next to Dr. Harper, on the thirty-yard line of Franklin Field in West Philadelphia. About three minutes remained in a football game which up until that point had been mighty drab. Despite Coach Hayes’ halftime tirade the visiting team was only up by seven points, even though they controlled all aspects of the game. Both physicians were wearing Tarpon blue raingear, as the remnants of a nor’easter continued to fall from the sky.

“My socks are soaked,” said Pete as he turned around to find his mom and dad in the crowd. They had been looking forward to the “home game” for months and despite the bone chilling weather, had a look of content on their faces. Mom waved again.

“Let’s get the hell out of here,” said Harper. “Before somebody gets hurt.” Up until that point, there were no major injuries.

“I’m glad I’m not kicking today,” said Eugene. He was standing next to Pete, with the assist of crutches. “That turf is too slick.”

The Tarps were moving the ball, thanks to the punishing runs of Connor Kelly. They had just crossed the forty-yard line, bringing the voice of Coach Hayes into range. He was currently chewing on the ear of a referee, having missed an obvious defensive holding call.

“Come on Roger!” screamed Hayes. “That was holding. Open your eyes! For heaven’s sake, even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.”

“Coach is going to have a heart attack,” said Pete. “Look at the vein in his forehead. It’s about to blow.”

“The officiating all game has sucked Roger! Your crew is giving us an old fashioned screwing! City of Brotherly Love my ass!”

“I hope not,” said Harper. “I haven’t done CPR in a while.”

“We’re getting a hosing today boys. A good old fashioned hose job!” shouted the coach. He was yelling directly into the ear of the side judge. “This whole game smells like a shithouse door on a shrimp boat,” howled the coach, the rain pelting off his back.

Just then a sweep play began to develop in the direction of the medical team. Derrick pitched the ball to Connor Kelly who followed an armada of offensive lineman towards the sideline, past Coach Hayes. One by one defenders were bowled over by the blockers, led by Beef Bartley. Yet somehow a dashing defender made his way in oblique fashion towards the ball carrier, only to be tripped up at the last second. His body fell to the turf and slid through the slop, causing him to collide with Beef. The mammoth lineman went down in a heap, causing a domino effect, back to Kelly. The star running back was suddenly upended by his own lineman, his body hydroplaning across the turf, directly towards Pete Wagner.

“Look out,” shouted Eugene as he hustled away from the group.

Pete jumped straight up as the rotating frame of Kelly slid beneath him in counter clockwise fashion, directly into Dr. Harper. The older physician was unable to avoid the contact and was taken down in an instant.

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