The King Rides Again

As the Dons returned to the field, muted cheers welcomed them. No player heard them, however. The Bears held their full focus.

The Bears were just exiting the field and heading to their locker room. There were roughly 15 yards between the teams, close enough with such intense staring to feel like they were standing face-to-face.

The Dons didn't blink, not this time. They fearlessly eyed their opponents up and down. The Bears sneered back, jeering and taunting, but the Dons were silent.

Denzel ground his teeth together. The fire had spread to every eye in every Don. Infuriating. He looked forward to quenching them all.

As the Dons began their final warm-ups and preparations for the game, time flew by and suddenly the officials were calling for team representatives to participate in the coin toss.

Coach Long looked the team over, then picked out JJ, of course, as well as Chris, and finally…

'Tyrese. You're up.'

Brows raised, but Ty didn't complain. He stood, blank-faced, and joined the two captains as they walked out to the centre of the field.

Denzel—along with his two most aggressive lackeys, Derrick and Zee—met them. Denzel had eyes for JJ only. His backup snickered, looking the Dons over with derision.

'We gonna crush you today,' Denzel said. 'I can promise you that. You ain't even gonna score a point. And YOU'—he pointed at Chris—'you ain't even gonna run for a yard.'

Chris frowned, his attention more on the two behind Denzel. He knew how formidable the Bears' D-Line was. Denzel's threat wasn't even much of an exaggeration, that probably was their goal for today.

JJ stepped in front of Chris, jaw set, eyes locked on Denzel. 'We're not the ones losing today. We CAN'T lose. Not anymore.'

Denzel laughed, the others laughing after him. 'YOU can't lose? That's us. You can't beat us. We ain't losin' EVER. We're runnin' through you, and everyone in our way to the State championship. And after that? I'm takin' this team to the National championship, and we winnin' that too.'

Ty scoffed. Denzel looked at him for the first time. 'That's my line. I'm never losing again. I'm the one who'll drag my team all the way to Nationals. That trophy belongs to the best, so you already know it has my name on it.'

The head official moved between them. 'Leave it for the game, boys. Let's get this over with.' He turned to the Dons. 'Heads or tails?'

'Tails,' Ty answered, not taking his eyes off Denzel.

The coin flipped through the air between them, and landed at their feet; only the official watched it. 'Tails it is,' he said.

Ty spoke first. 'We defer.'

'We'll go that way,' Denzel said, pointing without looking. He went to leave, but Ty spoke again.

'Hey, I got a message you can deliver for me.'

Denzel scowled at him. Who did this bitch think he was treating The King like he was some delivery boy?

'Tell that dumb fuck number fourteen that he'll be targeted a lot today, but he won't catch shit.'

Denzel snarled, but the officials stepped in before anything else could happen. 'I told you to leave it for the game. Get back to your teams.'

Ty turned away from the meeting, leading the Dons back to the bench as both teams were separated.

The game soon began with the Bears receiving the opening kickoff. Sleepy was back there to return it. Ty leaned forward in his seat, watching closely, but even after the ball was kicked, number 14 didn't move a muscle.

The ball bounced through the end-zone and out the back of it for a touchback, and the Bears started the game at their 25-yard line.

The teams lined up opposite one another, the Dons' defence staring down the Bears' offence. Opposing Linemen were close enough that their breath washed over their opponent's face. Already the air was heavy with tension, the expectant, full crowd silent with anticipation.

Sleepy was very relaxed in his "stance", though really he was just standing there, sighing. Ty couldn't relax; it could've just been bait, even if he knew the Bears wouldn't pass first.

Everyone knew a run was coming. The real question was, could the Dons stop it?

The Bears snapped the ball and immediately handed it to Denzel. He headed up the middle, with Derrick leading the charge. The line parted for them.

Donte jumped across from the edge and met Derrick, each of them taking the other out of the equation.

It was only the first actual play of the game, yet already there was a one-on-one confrontation between JJ and Denzel.

Neither man backed down. They lowered their shoulders and rammed into one another, each looking to make a statement, each looking to take control of the game.

JJ lowered his grip, taking Denzel around the waist, clinging to his hips as he tried to lift him and force him back. But it was JJ who slipped back, then fell.

The sky came into view as Denzel ran onwards, hammering through JJ who clung on. He desperately held onto Denzel's drilling legs as they tore through the turf. Denzel dragged him forward a few further yards, but then Zayden speared into Denzel, and the three crashed.

Still, the run was good for 7 yards, and Denzel was the one who came away feeling like he made a statement.

He stood up on his own, shrugging his shoulders like he was shrugging off the Dons' entire defence. He grinned down at JJ, gold gleaming right in the middle of his smile. 'By the end of the game, you'll be kneeling at my feet. Either by choice, or by force after I break your fucking legs.'

Denzel stomped off. JJ wasn't fazed. He stood with the help of his teammates, then checked on Zayden, thanking him for his help. He rallied the team for the next down. It didn't matter they hadn't fully stopped Denzel, they'd try again, as many times as it took.

Of course, the Bears ran again, this time to the outside, away from Ty. Whilst Deshaun got around his block, Derrick was out fast and met him head on, holding him off.

But that left Donte free after he got around his block on the edge and sealed it off. He was the first to meet Denzel this time. And he got crushed.

His arms swiped at the air as Denzel's heavy hand slapped into his helmet and shoved him over, slamming his head to the ground as Denzel turned upfield.

Donte still clawed and grabbed at Denzel, however he could, even as he bounced off the turf. He bought enough time for JJ to rush over before Denzel could fully get around the edge and into the open field.

JJ wrapped up Denzel's legs and wrestled him down. The run only gained 5 yards this time, but it was still too many, and it was more than enough for a first down.

Ty watched warily, his eyes on Denzel even as he lined up directly opposite Sleepy. Ty knew he couldn't over-commit to the run. When it was all the way over on the other side of the field, or even up the middle, he felt useless… but he couldn't leave Sleepy alone, he couldn't get burnt by Play-Action.

Sleepy yawned. 'Ugh… I'm dying of boredom out here … I thought you guys were better. I HOPED you were.'

Ty turned his frustrated, feral sights to Sleepy.

'How'd you beat the Vikings if you're still not strong enough to stop that arrogant asshole over there? I mean, it looks like he'll run you over all by himself, just the way he likes it … and I won't even have to do anything. Watch.'

The Vikings snapped the ball. Sleepy's drawling speech had trapped Ty's attention long enough for him to miss the snap. But the play was another run, of course, and it was heading their way.

Ty burst forward, and Sleepy made no move to block him until he was already away. Even then it was a pitiful attempt, only meant to look like he had tried.

Denzel rounded the edge of the Line, and Ty pounced. A hand like a frying pan smashed into his chest, and even with the protective gear on, it felt like a small car ramming into him.

Jake's words reverberated in Ty's ears, telling him to grab hold of any limb and pull, so that's what he did. He snatched Denzel's arm as he tumbled back, trying to pull the King with him.

Donte was in pursuit from the opposite edge as well, and he lunged at a slowed Denzel as Ty still had a hold of him. He wrapped up Denzel's legs, but still The King charged forward, dragging both boys with him.

He was stopped only when JJ made it past the lead blockers and flattened Denzel, leveling him with a huge but fair hit.

JJ never tried to hurt his opponents, yet this hit would've put a lesser man out for a week or two. Denzel, however, shrugged it off and was the first one back to his feet.

It had taken three Dons to stop him. Still, he'd picked up a yard for each Don.

When Ty lined back up in his usual position, Sleepy wasn't impressed. Number 14 sighed over dramatically. 'OKAY. I guess I'll have to block you, but still, where's the fun in that, huh? Can't you guys stop him?'

'Shut the fuck up,' Ty snapped, still rubbing his chest.

Sleepy smirked, but quieted. Even though the Bears had had diminishing results from their runs so far, they still kept the ball on the ground, going back up the middle.

It went much like the first play, with the Line parting perfectly for Denzel despite the Dons' best efforts, then came the head-on collision with JJ.

And much like the first play, JJ got ran over, though held onto Denzel and dragged him down alone this time. The result was still a gain of 5 yards, but importantly, it had stopped the Bears from picking up the first down.

The teams huddled up. Over with the Bears, the play came in. The QB repeated it. 'We've got RF Big Stick Flick and Go.'

He'd only just finished relaying the orders when Denzel grabbed his shoulder in a painfully tight grip and yanked him forward. 'You're giving me the ball. No one's stopping me. I don't give a shit if those pussies put their whole team at the Line.'

The QB squirmed in Denzel's grip, a bead of sweat running down his face. He was a meek kid named John. He had been ecstatic to learn he earned the starting job in just his sophomore year … but throughout the season he'd realised why the others had quit—being Denzel's QB was being The King's head butler.

'B-But Coach said … he'll be upset if we change it,' John said.

Denzel eased off. He smoothed John's uniform over his shoulder pad and pat it down. A good king needed to know when to rule with kindness, or an iron fist. 'Coach won't be upset because we'll still get the first down. Besides, you'll look like a genius for calling an audible and getting the first down. So give. Me. The. Ball.'

John wet his dry lips, then nodded rapidly. As the Bears lined up, the play was switched from the Play-Action pass it was supposed to be to another Dive up the middle.

The Dons expected the run, hinged on it. JJ was positioned more as a DT than a LB, and then Zayden had crept down so much he'd taken JJ's old spot.

Denzel was given the ball once more, and he didn't care who was in his way, he was getting that first down. He bulled his way forward, smashing through whoever was in his path. He and Derrick shoved past JJ, the other two falling to the wayside as Denzel charged onward.

Even Zayden wasn't saved from the King's warpath. He crumbled in his attempt to tackle Denzel. More reinforcements swarmed and eventually brought down Denzel, but he'd easily gained enough to secure the first down.

That was the story of the Bears' first drive. They marched down the field, their run, Denzel, unstoppable. Passing was unnecessary. They reached the goal-line with nothing but rushes, and the first quarter was already halfway over.

Coach Long grumbled on the sideline. 'They sure eat up a lot of clock.'

Coach Hoang sighed. 'Yes, it's another strength of their offence, and another problem we'll have to overcome. Their relentless running assault doesn't just grind the other team down, but the clock, too. Once you fall behind, they don't leave you with much time for a comeback.'

'But the same applies if things go the other way,' Coach Norman interjected. 'It's a double-edged sword. If we take the lead, they'll only be hurting themselves by using so much time.'

'Hah! We'd need to stop them first to get a lead,' Coach Hoang laughed.

Coach Long slapped him on the shoulder, smiling. Reassurance beamed from the Head Coach. 'I know our boys can do it.'

Coach Hoang didn't share the same faith, not as strong anyway. He looked towards the field, watching the teams line up. 'Let's see if they can prove it right here. Even though this is just the first drive, this goal-line stand is so important for the game.'

Behind them, Bella had her hands clasped together as she hunched forward on the bench. She whispered to herself. 'Please. I know you can do it. Stop them here. You HAVE to.'

Those on the field understood the gravity of the situation. Ty, chief among them, could already feel the game slipping away. It was worse than it slipping through his fingers, that made it sound like he had a chance to grab hold and stop it, but so far, he hadn't even had that opportunity.

He looked at JJ. For some reason, it pained him to think that maybe he'd been wrong about JJ, and he couldn't beat Denzel. Ty shook his head and turned back to number 14.

'Are you too pussy to throw? Is that it? You just going to run the whole game?'

Sleepy's shoulders would've slumped further, if that was possible. He looked even more disappointed than Ty, but such petty insults wouldn't garner a rise out of him. 'Of course we will. If you guys can't stop it, why would we stop doing it? This isn't some throwaway game like before; we won't test you guys. This is life or death. We'll do whatever it takes to win, no matter how'—he yawned—'boring that is.'

Ty's teeth ground together like gears in a machine. He looked towards the large clump of bodies around the middle of the field. The Bears were only 5 yards away from the end-zone. JJ was back in his Lineman-like position. Almost everyone, barring Ty himself and Deshaun, were crowding around the Linemen.

'For both our sakes,' Sleepy said, 'I hope you guys stop Denzel. I really might die of boredom if you can't.'

The Bears snapped the ball. Ty rushed from his spot, racing to the middle of the field. Predictably, Denzel took the ball. The run came up the middle. The Don wall held strong for once, leaving no openings as they stood their ground and dug their cleats in. Even JJ blocked Derrick.

Denzel didn't hesitate, didn't change course, and stubbornly bashed his way through, driving forward and pushing the wall of bodies with him. He didn't get far, but he inched forward a few yards. However, the Dons kept him out of the end-zone for one more play.

Despite Ty's efforts, the play was over too quickly for him to do anything, and there were too many bodies around the ball for him to get involved, anyway.

The teams lined up again in identical formations. Everyone knew what the Bears were going to do. Stopping it was still a near-impossible task.

Denzel took the ball and charged forward again. The Dons dug their cleats in again, but they couldn't hold against the repeated barrage. They slipped further back.

JJ shrugged off Derrick and met Denzel, but even he caved and fell back. Denzel swarming over him, stretching out as they fell, and reaching into the end-zone.

Once again, it was over too quick for Ty to do anything from his position. He could only watch as the officials came in and signalled a touchdown.

The Bears opened the scoring, and their cheers were a growling roar that shook the field. Denzel pushed himself up, staring down at JJ as he stood amidst the wave of celebrations.

'I won't tell you again: kneel, or crumble.'