CHAPTER 1
It was Thursday afternoon. At Westfield Junior High, the eighth-grade Wildcats football team was having practice.
Carlos Suarez, the star quarterback, crouched five yards behind his center for a shotgun snap. “Hut!” he shouted. “Hut!”
After a pause, the center snapped the ball. Carlos caught it perfectly and turned to his right. The running back came around him for the handoff.
Carlos motioned to the running back, but faked the handoff for a play action. He spun to his left, fooling the defense completely.
Carlos looked up the field for a receiver. His best receiver, Andrew Tucker, darted across the field. The defender stuck with him, though.
Carlos looked around the field, trying to find someone to pass to. The other receivers were also having trouble losing their defenders. No one was open for a pass.
Carlos considered the options. It’s only fifteen yards to the end zone, he thought. I can do it. So he ran the ball himself. Some of the defensive linemen were still distracted by the running back. But one defender recovered quickly. He went after Carlos.
Carlos was only five yards from the end zone when the defender caught him. Carlos felt the tackler’s arms close around his waist.
But Carlos was just as big as the defender, and he didn’t go down. He dragged the tackler right into the end zone with him.
“Touchdown!” Coach French shouted, blowing his whistle. “Nice play, Carlos,” he added.
“Thanks, Coach,” Carlos said. He walked over to the coach and tossed him the football.
The coach turned to the rest of the team. “Did everyone see how Carlos handled that play?” he asked the team as everyone gathered around.
“It was supposed to be a long play,” Andrew said. He pulled off his helmet. Carlos could tell his teammate was angry.
The coach nodded. “Yes, it was,” he said. “But the defense was tight on the receivers upfield. Carlos improvised. It was a smart move, and it worked.”
Carlos smiled. “Right,” he said. “I saw the best move would be to run the ball myself.”
Andrew crossed his arms. “Next time, I’ll get open,” he said. Carlos could tell that Andrew wasn’t happy. Carlos seemed like a champion, while Andrew himself had failed in his role as receiver.
The coach blew his whistle. “Okay, everyone,” he said. “That’s it for practice. We’ve got a big game tomorrow, so go home and rest up.”
“Against the Huskies,” Logan Meltzer said. Logan was new to Westfield. He had just moved from River City. Now he was the Wildcats’ starting middle linebacker.
“They’re pretty tough,” Logan went on. “There are some seriously huge guys on that team.”
A few people laughed. Logan was one of the strongest guys on the Wildcats. It was funny to hear him call anyone else “seriously huge.” Carlos figured the Huskies must be giants if Logan thought they were huge.
“Logan’s right,” Coach French said. “They are tough. But you guys know that Westfield has a history against the Huskies. As some of you know, the eighth-grade Wildcats football team has never defeated the eighth-grade Huskies.”
Carlos smirked. “We can get them this year, Coach,” he said. “I’m the quarterback, so they don’t stand a chance!”
Andrew rolled his eyes, and Logan laughed.
Coach French turned to Carlos. “You’re one of the best QBs we’ve had, Carlos,” he said. “But you’re not invincible.”
“I’m super quick, Coach,” Carlos said. He ran in place and did a few dodges. Some other guys on the team laughed.
The coach shook his head. “These guys are big and fast,” Coach said. “You might find running the ball or relying on the short game will be tougher than normal.”
Carlos waved the coach off. “They won’t be able to catch me,” he said. “This will be a piece of cake.”
Coach French looked at Carlos for a long moment. “I hope you’re right, Carlos,” Coach French said. “You’ll be calling the plays in the game. Remember to keep your options open, just like you did in practice today. Okay?”
Carlos shrugged. “Sure, Coach,” he said.
Coach French shook his head again. Then he looked at the rest of the team. “Okay, boys,” he said. “Hit the showers and then head home to rest up for the big game.”
He clapped once and patted Andrew on the back. Then the team headed to the locker room.