CHAPTER 4

LOSING

Toward the end of the first quarter, the score was still 0-0. After a Huskies punt to the forty-five, it took the Wildcats two downs to get the ball to the fifty.

In the huddle before third down, Carlos called the first Wildcats passing play. “Let’s try a screen to Kyle out to the right,” Carlos said. “Play action, I’ll roll left and then throw to you, Kyle. You should be wide open if I can keep them on me.”

“Okay,” Kyle said, but he sounded worried. He hadn’t gotten more than a yard or so against the Huskies yet. They were just too tough.

“Okay, break,” Carlos said. He was starting to sound tired.

Carlos took the snap from shotgun again. He rolled to the left and faked the handoff to Kyle.

The Huskies middle linebacker shouted, “Play action!”

Carlos had been hoping they’d spot the fake, though. He ran to the left sideline and immediately turned and threw the screen pass to Kyle.

But Carlos hadn’t been quick enough. The Huskies defensive line was on Kyle in an instant.

Kyle fell at the scrimmage line for no gain. Carlos hurried to the huddle.

“Are we going for it, Carlos?” Kyle asked when the huddle was together again.

Carlos shook his head. “Nope. It’s way too risky,” he said.

“A quick pass over top and we can get the five we need for first down,” Andrew said.

Carlos thought a second. Then he shook his head. “No, that’s too risky too,” he said. “We’ll punt.”

Carlos waved to the sidelines, and the punting team came in.

It was a good punt, and the Huskies started on the ten-yard line. The Huskies running game was strong, though, and they converted for two first downs.

Soon, they were in range for a touchdown.

“Come on, defense!” Coach French called out. “Force the field goal!”

But the Huskies offense was too tough. Logan did his best to get to their quarterback, but he was too late. The Huskies completed a pass right in the end zone for the touchdown to end the first quarter.

Everyone on the bench moaned.

“That’s okay,” Andrew said. “That was only one quarter. We can easily come back.”

But not one person on the team looked sure.