Chapter 19: The First Battle of Nationals

Chapter 19: The First Battle of Nationals

The air at Nationals buzzed with electricity.

The stadium was packed—fans waving banners, scouts lining the sidelines, and cameras ready to capture every moment.

For most players, this was the biggest stage they'd ever set foot on.

For Tom Bradfield?

It was just the beginning.

Pregame – The Calm Before the Storm

As Jefferson High jogged onto the field, Tom scanned the competition.

Their first opponent: Lakeshore Academy.

Known for their aggressive defense and fast secondary, they'd dominated their region with a reputation for shutting down quarterbacks.

But Tom wasn't worried.

His Visionary skill hummed at the edge of his consciousness, sharpening his awareness with every glance.

He could already see their weaknesses:

• The middle linebacker hesitated on pass reads.

• The safeties were aggressive but left gaps in deep coverage.

• The defensive line could pressure the pocket, but their stamina wouldn't last.

Tom took a slow breath.

This game wasn't about winning.

It was about sending a message.

Kickoff – The Pressure Builds

Lakeshore started with the ball, driving quickly downfield with short, controlled passes.

But Jefferson's defense stiffened near the red zone, forcing a field goal.

3-0, Lakeshore.

Tom jogged onto the field as Jefferson's offense took over.

The crowd's noise faded into the background as he surveyed the defense.

The linebacker's stance was too narrow—blitz coming.

The corners were pressing—expecting a short pass.

Tom adjusted the play with a quick hand signal.

"Set… HUT!"

The ball snapped.

The blitz came exactly as expected, but Tom had already stepped up into the pocket.

His eyes locked onto Speedy Martinez, who was streaking past the corner—one step ahead.

Tom launched the ball with a perfect spiral—

Speedy caught it in stride.

40 yards. First down.

The crowd erupted.

But Tom wasn't done.

Exploiting Weaknesses – The GOAT in Action

The next few plays were textbook:

• Quick slant for 8 yards.

• Play-action pass over the middle for 15 yards.

• Option read—Tom kept it himself, diving for a first down.

Lakeshore's defense scrambled to adjust.

But Tom's Visionary skill made it impossible.

He saw their movements before they happened.

On the next play, he noticed the safeties creeping up—expecting a run.

"Set… HUT!"

Tom faked the handoff, stepped back, and fired a deep pass to the corner of the end zone.

TOUCHDOWN.

7-3, Jefferson.

The crowd exploded as Tom jogged off the field, calm and composed.

But deep inside, he felt it—

The GOAT was fully awake.

Meanwhile: Tyler Vaughn Watches

Far across the stadium, hidden from the public eye, Tyler Vaughn sat in the stands.

His hoodie was pulled low, shielding his face.

But his eyes never left Tom.

Every throw.

Every read.

Every touchdown.

And with each perfect pass, the knot in Tyler's chest tightened.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

"Why is he still getting better?" Tyler whispered under his breath.

The coach beside him leaned in. "You can still beat him. But you have to push harder. You haven't reached your limit yet."

Tyler swallowed hard. His hands trembled as sweat soaked his palms.

"What if my limit is already too far?"

The coach's smile was cold. "Then you break through it. No matter the cost."

Tyler stared back at the field, watching as Tom led another perfect drive.

And something deep inside him snapped.

The Turning Point – Lakeshore Fights Back

Back on the field, Lakeshore adjusted their defense, focusing on pressuring Tom from every angle.

The next drive wasn't easy.

• First play: A blitz forced Tom to throw the ball away.

• Second play: A linebacker broke through, sacking him for a loss.

• Third play: A deep pass was tipped and nearly intercepted.

The crowd's energy shifted as Lakeshore's defense began to find its rhythm.

On the sideline, Coach Donahue pulled Tom aside.

"Stay calm. They're testing you now. Let the game come to you."

Tom nodded, but his pulse was racing.

This wasn't just about winning—

This was the first step to facing Tyler Vaughn again.

And he couldn't afford to fail.

The Final Quarter – Clutch Time

With only six minutes left in the game, the scoreboard was locked:

Jefferson: 14

Lakeshore: 13

Tom stood in the huddle, his teammates looking to him for direction.

"We finish this right here," Tom said, his voice steady. "Drive down the field, control the clock, and put the game away. No mistakes. Let's go."

The offense lined up.

Tom scanned the defense, feeling the Visionary skill surge through him.

"Set… HUT!"

The ball snapped—

• Quick pass for 9 yards.

• Hand-off to the running back for a first down.

• Play-action pass for 12 yards.

Lakeshore's defense scrambled, desperate to slow Jefferson down.

But Tom was locked in.

Nothing could stop him.

Finally, with less than a minute left, Jefferson reached the 10-yard line.

Tom glanced at Speedy.

The two shared a nod—no words needed.

"Set… HUT!"

The defense swarmed.

Tom stepped up into the collapsing pocket, feeling the pressure close around him—

But he never broke stride.

He rolled out to the right, defenders chasing at his heels—

And as Speedy cut toward the corner of the end zone—

Tom fired.

The ball cut through the air, perfectly timed—

Speedy caught it just as his toes tapped inside the boundary line.

TOUCHDOWN.

The crowd erupted.

Jefferson: 21

Lakeshore: 13

Game. Over.

Postgame: The Rising Star

As Tom jogged off the field, the energy in the air had shifted.

Reporters crowded the sidelines.

"Tommy Bradfield leads Jefferson to victory in the first round of Nationals!"

"Is Bradfield the next high school legend?"

"How far can Jefferson go with the GOAT under center?"

But Tom barely noticed the noise.

Because as he reached the tunnel, his phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

Unknown:

"I'm still watching. And I'm not done yet."

Tom's pulse quickened.

Tyler Vaughn.

The real battle was still ahead.

And next time?

It wouldn't just be about winning.

It would be about survival.

[GOAT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

Mission Complete: Win First Nationals Game

• Reward: +5 to all stats

• Skill Progress: Visionary (Level 1) now at 50% toward Level 2

New Rival Update:

• Tyler Vaughn's condition deteriorating. Performance unpredictable. Be prepared for extreme behavior.