Dogfight

Marshall returned the kickoff out to the 27-yard line, where the Vikings would start their first drive.

Isiah and Deshaun marched up to one another as the teams formed their ranks. Isiah grinned widely.

'Another old ass nigga to be put down,' he said.

'Talkin' shit 'cause yo ass just got scored on?'

'Bullshit. That other nigga didn't even get a single catch.'

Deshaun laughed and pointed at the scoreboard. It was all the talking he needed to do.

'Yeah, yeah. Take a long hard look, nigga. Only lead ya gonna have.'

The two sunk into their stances, barely a foot apart. Animosity hung heavy in the air between them.

Ty and Marshall stood together on the opposite side of the field. They both looked much more relaxed than the pair at the other end of the formations, but the same animosity and tension filled the space between them.

'I'm not losing that lead,' Ty said.

'It's not yours until you protect it. But you're too weak to protect anything.'

Ty shook his head. He wasn't weak. Marshall didn't even know what strength was.

The Vikings snapped the ball. Isiah and Deshaun shot forward, smashing into one another, neither giving an inch.

Ty feinted with his right hand, but stayed back. Marshall hesitated before leaning into Ty and engaging him.

It was a run. Even if Nathan had dropped back for a pass at first, the play quickly turned into a run when he handed the ball off to the RB on a Draw.

The Vikings had seen the opening in the Dons' starting formation, which was sagging back too much, focused only on the pass. So the Vikings had to remind them they could still run the ball.

The play earned 7 yards. It took an official getting between Isiah and Deshaun to separate them and send them back to their respective huddles with a warning each.

When the teams lined up again, the Vikings still thought the Dons were too far back, so they ran the Draw again, this time only picking up 5 yards. But that still earned them a first down. Isiah and Deshaun backed off just before the official came forward.

'Are you pussies just gonna keep runnin'?' Deshaun asked, eyes locked on Isiah as they both stalked to their huddles.

'You'll see! Then we'll see who the real pussy is!'

JJ finally came forward before the snap. The Vikings' plan had worked; the Dons respected their run game. Which the Vikings hoped would buy Isiah and Marshall more space to work one-on-one outside.

When Nathan dropped back for the next play, he kept the ball.

Isiah shoved Deshaun back, then shot to the inside. Deshaun skidded slightly before springing after him. Isiah had half a step when he straightened and shot upfield, keeping Deshaun behind him.

As Deshaun chased, Isiah stuttered. Left, right—he burst left towards the middle of the field. Deshaun hesitated for a moment, and that's what cost him.

Isiah broke free, and Nathan whipped the ball over JJ's hand, right to Isiah's chest. Isiah caught the ball in stride, then cut upfield again, running straight into Zayden. He pushed through the tackle, earning another few yards before Zayden dragged him down.

The reception was good for 14 yards. Isiah shoved Zayden back down as he stood. 'Fuck off me, ugly ass, fake ass, nigga.'

Isiah dusted himself off, then pointed towards the end-zone, celebrating his first down. JJ helped Zayden up, both of them scowling at the back of Isiah's helmet, but JJ pulled Zayden away before he could retaliate.

Already the Vikings had passed half-field. When Isiah stood opposite Deshaun next, his flashy grin was back. 'Don't be asking for help now, pussy. You wanted this shit, right?'

Deshaun clapped for him. 'Good one, you got a catch against me. Best thing you ever did in your sorry life?'

'Hahaha, like I wasn't torching your sorry ass last time. How many touchdowns did I get? Shit, too many to keep track of. But I PROMISE you, imma get twice as many today.'

Deshaun set his jaw and hunkered down. Across the field, Ty was watching the interaction. "Deshaun'll get it together. He HAS to. I won't lose because of HIM."

'You got more important shit to be worrying about in front of you,' Marshall said.

'Even if I was sleeping, I could still cover you.'

'True. You could only guard me in your dreams.'

Ty rolled his eyes, head slowly turning back to Marshall.

At the snap, Marshall burst forward and Ty dropped back; it was another pass. Still, the focus was on the other side of the field.

Isiah skipped forward. He stuttered again, right, left, RIGHT! He burst outside. Deshaun swiped at him as Isiah brushed by and raced up the sideline.

Deshaun chased after him, but the gap was widening. Zayden hurried over, but the ball was already in the air.

Isiah twisted, hands raised. Deshaun threw a hand up, using Isiah's hands to guess where the ball was. He felt a rush of air as the ball passed just over his fingertips and into Isiah's clutches.

Isiah tumbled to the ground, landing heavy on his rear, somersaulting backwards. Deshaun rushed by, downing Isiah, head hung back. 'Fuck!'

Isiah laughed, celebrating and posing again after he popped back up. This catch was good for 15 yards, and the Vikings continued their march towards the end-zone.

'You better drag your old ass back to the bench and get someone who ain't slow as shit to guard me,' Isiah said.

Deshaun scoffed, waving him off as he turned away. He had to stop falling for Isiah's bullshit. "I can guard this guy! C'mon, Dee. Lock the fuck in!"

The Vikings mixed in more runs just to keep the defence honest, then used a Screen to Isiah, which brought them to First and Goal, after Zayden knocked Isiah out of bounds at the 8-yard line.

Isiah's grin had only grown. 'Here it comes? You ready for it? My first touchdown. First of… let's say five? I'll be gentle today, hahaha. Don't wanna beat you too badly in your last game ever, right?'

Deshaun scowled, but he didn't respond to Isiah's taunts. He kept his eyes locked on the middle of the field, watching Nathan.

When Mike snapped the ball back to Nathan, Deshaun's eyes snapped to Isiah. Isiah skirted by the outside, rushing towards the back corner of the end-zone. As he crossed the plain, he stuttered again, feet fluttering against the ground.

Deshaun watched him. He was shielding the inside, forcing Isiah out. "He's gonna cut in!" He jumped towards the middle, just as Isiah stopped and spun back, curling to the pylon at the edge of the end-zone.

Deshaun stumbled. He'd guessed wrong. Nathan fired the ball over, and Isiah planted his feet, leaning over as he made the catch right at the pylon, toes just barely within the painted grass of the end-zone as he secured the ball, then slowly fell out of bounds.

Deshaun smacked his helmet, turning to the bench. He waded through the rushing wave of Vikings as they surged past him to congratulate Isiah, who hopped up and launched the ball into the stands.

JJ rushed over and pulled Deshaun close, an arm around his shoulders. 'It's all good, Dee. Don't even worry about it. We'll get the next one.'

Zayden's shoulders sagged as he watched their lead evaporate, and a deficit take its place. Ty appeared beside him. 'I told you, you needed to worry about Deshaun instead of me.'

Zayden shook his head, not deigning to respond as the Dons trudged to the bench. Deshaun kicked the bench, shaking its foundation, then slammed his helmet onto it before he sat down.

He glared out at the field, watching as the Vikings succeed on their extra point. The score stretched out to 3–7. 'Sorry. I let everyone down. I'll do better.'

'Banks. Come with me for a second.'

Coach Hoang rolled past. Deshaun sighed. "So this is how my last game ends? Getting benched after the first drive." He got up and followed Coach Hoang until they were out of earshot to the others.

Ty watched their discussion. Based on Deshaun's reaction, it wasn't a benching, but Ty didn't know what else it could've been. If Deshaun didn't get his shit straight, did they have a chance of winning? "I can't lose."

Their lead was gone, so it was up to the offence to earn it back. Coach Long pulled the boys aside before the kickoff. First, he looked at Stephen.

'That boy, number eighty-eight. He's playing both sides of the ball. He did it last time, too. We can't let him get away with it. If he thinks he can play every snap of the game, we're gonna make him WORK. Run him hard, and he'll run out of gas.'

Stephen frowned, but nodded. He didn't think he needed to wait for Isiah to gas out. He could beat him right now, he just had to work harder himself.

Coach Long turned to Chris, which Chris was dreading would happen. 'Chris. I need you to be more aggressive. I know I told everyone I didn't want you fighting or getting thrown out, but that doesn't mean you can't be aggressive while you play. Just keep it clean, keep it safe, but between those whistles, play HARD. Can you do that for me?'

Chris inhaled deeply. He tried to push those purple eyes from his mind, then nodded. 'I'll do it. Sorry, Coach.'

'It's okay, but you can't be worried about what happened last time.'

'I know. … I know.'

'I know you guys can do this. Go out there and get a touchdown this time.'

Chris headed onto the field for the kickoff, though still needed more time to steel himself, and took another touchback.

The Dons' offence came out for their second drive, their backs against the wall. A field goal wouldn't cut it this time, they'd only take the lead with a touchdown, nothing else would suffice.

They started with Play-Action. Chris ambled to the edge of the line, and of course Myles was there to meet him, but Myles's grin vanished when he saw Chris's hands were empty.

'Next time,' he muttered before running off. Benny caught the pass out in the flat, but Isiah spun around Stephen's block and forced Benny out after a 6-yard gain.

Stephen helped Benny up and back to the huddle, apologising for his poor block. Benny didn't blame him, and apologised for not getting past Isiah. He wasn't used to a DB being as large as him and actually being able to push him around.

Chris actually got the ball on the next play. He rushed outside and was ready when Myles came around the corner. He tried a spin move, but Myles lunged out and got a hand on him.

That hand was like a claw stabbing into Chris. It was unshakeable, and while Chris stretched out, he wasn't going much further. He fell down, but had just reached the first down marker.

He breathed a sigh of relief. He laughed at himself as his teammates helped him up. After all that worrying, the first Myles tackle wasn't even that bad. "Of course he didn't hurt me. Last game was a freak accident. It can happen to anyone on any play."

He told himself he'd been overreacting, but even with his worries eased, they weren't completely gone.

The next run was only half as successful. Myles went lower, wrapping Chris's legs up and stopping him for only 2 yards.

A pass came next. Stephen rushed forward, and again Isiah backed away. Stephen thought he could use that. He sprinted hard, then dug his feet into the turf, and cut back and to the inside on a Curl.

He stretched out for the ball, but as it reached his hands, Isiah slammed into him and chopped his wrists. The ball bounced off Stephen's chest and to the ground.

'You ain't catchin' shit. I told you.' Isiah pushed Stephen away, snickering as he ran back to his huddle.

Stephen clenched his fists. Isiah sure was a little shit, but he couldn't worry about that. Beating him would be the best way to wipe the smirk off his face. But how did he go about beating him? Isiah's defence was a puzzle Stephen just couldn't figure out. It was like he was missing half the pieces.

Benny caught another pass on a Cross, and earned another first down for the Dons, but the drive didn't get much further.

They only reached half-field before stalling out this time. On Third and Two, they tried another run.

Chris scrambled to the outside on a Counter this time, hoping to surprise the defence and earn just enough space for the first down with it, but Myles wasn't fooled.

Both rushed towards one another. Chris couldn't run away to the outside. He knew he couldn't get around Myles like that, and they NEEDED that first down. They needed to score and keep up with the Vikings.

He cut to the inside instead, but Myles followed. He lunged forward and speared right into Chris, taking him off his feet and slamming him down into the grass. The ball popped free after the impact, but Chris was already downed and the officials quickly whistled the play dead.

Myles laughed hysterically as he bounced back to his feet. 'Caught you that time!' His grin wavered as Chris picked himself up, wincing, but standing strong. Then Myles's grin returned in full force. If he hadn't broken Chris yet, he could keep playing with him.

But, for now, playtime was over. The Dons' offence walked off the field like dogs with their tails between their legs. They'd failed to retake the lead, and now it came down to the defence to get a stop just to keep the game close.

Ty rose from the bench, shaking his arms and legs, loosening up as the punting team took the field, knowing he'd be back out there in less than a minute.

He looked across to Deshaun, who was still sitting on the bench. Deshaun had taken his seat after his talk with Coach Hoang, and he hadn't moved since.

He didn't look checked out of the game. He still seemed focused at least, but other than that, Ty couldn't read his expression at all.

"If you can't stop your man, I'm useless. So wake up and stop that fucking bitch already."

He kept his thoughts to himself, knowing Deshaun was too fragile to hear such a truth. He hoped Coach Hoang had delivered the message with kinder words.

Ty felt as if this next drive controlled the game. If the Dons couldn't keep it within one score, how could they win? He didn't think he was likely to get TWO pick-sixes in this game, and with the offence's early failures, he couldn't rely on them to get the job done either.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, the game rested on Deshaun's shoulders.