CHAPTER 8

TURNING IT AROUND

There was only one game left in the season. Anton knew he had to do something.

He felt terrible for Malik. If Coach Benson replaced him and got a new quarterback, the Giants probably wouldn’t beat the Dolphins.

Anton also knew that Malik would have to share the ball for the Giants to win.

Anton knew he had to do something.

Anton showed up for the final game of the season ready to have a talk with Malik.

Malik was already at the field. He was standing on the sideline, talking to his uncle.

Anton could hear Biggins talking as he walked up to them.

“The varsity coach is going to be at the game today,” Malik’s uncle said. “You’ve got to play your best, man.”

“Don’t worry, I will,” Malik said.

Now Anton was really worried. He was sure that Malik was going to keep the ball for himself for most of the game.

Then the Giants would have no chance of winning the game, and they wouldn’t make the playoffs.

The Giants got the ball first, and Coach Benson called for an option play right away.

Sure enough, Malik kept the ball, even though it would have been a better choice to pitch it to Anton.

After Anton carried on the next play, the Giants were faced with third down and five yards to go.

Jeff ran onto the field with the play from Coach Benson. He whispered it to Malik, who turned into the huddle.

“Fifty-four option right, on two,” Malik said.

“That’s not what Coach Benson said!” Jeff yelled. “He called for a deep pass.”

“I don’t care,” Malik said, shrugging. “This play will work.”

The team trotted up to the line.

When Coach Benson saw that the players weren’t in the right spots for the play he’d called, he jumped up.

“Time out!” he yelled.

Malik and Anton jogged over to the sideline.

“What’s going on out there?” Coach Benson asked. “I called a pass play.”

He didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m the coach,” he said angrily. “When I call the play, I expect it to be run. Are we clear?”

Malik nodded. He and Anton ran back to the huddle.

This time, Malik called the pass play.

When the ball was snapped, Malik dropped back to pass.

Anton ran around the right end and headed out for a pass. Suddenly, Jeff broke free down the sideline.

Malik spotted him and delivered a long pass.

Jeff ran underneath it. He caught the ball in stride and headed straight for the end zone.

None of the Dolphins players had a chance to catch him.

Jeff raised his arms as he crossed the goal line.

As Malik strolled off the field, he glanced toward the varsity coach, who was standing on the sideline.

The coach was clapping his hands. He looked straight at Malik.

“Nice pass!” the varsity coach called. Malik flashed a little smile.

For the rest of the game, Malik was a different player.

He ignored his uncle’s yelling. He ran the plays that Coach Benson called. He shared the ball.

He was everything a good quarterback should be.

In the final minutes of the game, the Giants and Dolphins were tied.

With the ball on the Dolphins’ 18-yard line, Coach Benson called for the option play.

Malik took the ball down the sideline. He tucked the ball in to draw the linebacker to him, and then pitched the ball to Anton.

The sideline was clear.

Anton cruised in for the winning touchdown.

Anton was thrilled.

The Giants were going to the playoffs!

After the game, Coach Benson gathered the players around him for a talk.

“Congratulations, boys,” he said. “That was a real team win. I’m proud of the way you played. Each of you had great moments, but the victory happened because you were playing as a team.”

Just then, the varsity coach walked over.

“Boys, I want to introduce you to someone,” Coach Benson said. “This is Coach Stevens, the head varsity coach.”

All the boys clapped.

Coach Stevens smiled and said, “Boys, that was a great game. I’m looking forward to having you all try out for the varsity team next year. I love to have a team full of hard-working players who want to be great teammates That’s how you win games. You all proved that today.”

The boys all cheered.

Out of the corner of his eye, Anton noticed that Jerome Biggins was standing alone on the sidelines.

Coach Benson called the boys in closer. “All right, boys,” he said. “Let’s hear it. On three.”

“One, two, three,” the boys yelled in unison. “TEAM!”