Chapter 11

END OF A LONG SEASON

Things didn’t get better for the Lions. The tie in the first game of the season was the best they had done. With only one game left, their record was zero wins, eight losses, one tie. Worse yet, the Lions were losing by two or three touchdowns every game.

Robby started working harder on defense. As defensive tackle, he was usually lined up against the other team’s center.

Since he had played center before, he knew what the other player was thinking.

He got better as the season went on. He just didn’t feel like a part of the team.

Finally, the last game arrived. The Saints were sitting in fourth place. They knew that one more win would put them in the playoffs. That made Robby worry. Since the Saints had good reason to play hard, and the Lions didn’t, Robby thought his team might get beat badly.

Before the opening kickoff, Coach Parker gathered the players around him. “We can still do something with this season,” he said. “We might not win the championship, but we can still end our season with a win!”

Robby was pumped up. But he was a little shocked by how excited everyone else was to play.

The game got off to a great start. James made a long run on the first play. Andy had a couple of good runs too. Finally, they got the ball down inside the Saints’ ten-yard line.

On first down, Andy plowed through the middle but only gained one yard. There was a big pile of players in the middle of the field. As they got up, one player stayed on the ground.

It was David Brownfield. He was holding his ankle. Robby popped up. He knew what this might mean — a chance to play center again. Coach Parker helped David off the field.

“Okay, Samuels, you’re in,” Coach Parker said.

Robby charged out onto the field. “Oh, great,” Andy said. “Here comes trouble.”

“Shut up, Andy,” Robby said. The whole team shot a glance at Robby. Even Robby was surprised it came out of him. “Do you want to win or not?”

No one said a word, not even James. Robby looked at the ball. It was on the three-yard line. “Let’s run that twenty-two power drive play,” Robby said. James looked at him. “Andy, we’ll get the hole open. You push it through. Okay?”

“Um, okay,” Andy said.

“On two,” James said. A confident smile crossed his face. “Twenty-two power drive on two.”

The team broke the huddle and charged to the line. Robby was about to burst. He couldn’t wait to snap that ball and hit the defensive tackle. He didn’t know what was making him so confident, but he liked it.

James called out the signals. “Hut! Hut!” Robby snapped the ball straight into James’s hands. James spun and shoved the ball into Andy’s belly. Robby drove straight ahead and plowed the defensive tackle aside. The hole opened, and Andy went straight through it, into the end zone.

The Lions had the lead! Robby traded highfives with the other linemen. Andy and James jumped up and bumped chests.

When they got to the sideline after the extra point, Robby smacked Andy on the back. “Nice run,” Robby said. Andy looked back. “Yeah,” he said, turning away.

The Saints weren’t going to let the game slip away, however. They tied the game with a touchdown. Then the Saints took a 14–7 lead into halftime.

“Samuels,” Coach Parker said, “You’re the man in the second half. You showed some good leadership out there. Keep it up.”

“Thanks,” Robby said, smiling.