CHAPTER 31

THE HUSKIES

Early Friday morning, Caleb put $10,000 in a thick envelope and mailed it to Johnny, making sure to be back well in time for the two-hour flight to Seattle. When the team arrived in Washington, they ate a quick lunch and had a very light workout, mainly just to get a feel for the turf. Around 6, they had supper at the hotel and then loaded into the bus to go see the movie “The Road Warrior.” Movies seemed to be a great way to relax them before a game, and the guys really enjoyed it—the rest of the season, when they played out of town, they called themselves The Road Warriors.

Saturday morning, everyone was at the stadium by 10 to start all their pre-game rituals.

Caleb knew everything there was to know about the Huskies’ defense. The coaches were concerned about their right defensive tackle, Larry Birdshot. He was a big guy—around 6’7”, 280 pounds, and very quick and strong. He was a projected All-American and a first-round draft pick for the NFL. CAU had worked numerous schemes to block him and slow him down, but he would be a hand full to deal with with during the game.

* * *

“This is Joseph Jack from XKRT radio Los Angeles. The #2 rated CAU Panthers are going to have a tough one today. The Washington Huskies are undefeated for the first time in five years and ranked #25 in the country. They have a true first team All-American defensive tackle, Larry Birdshot, who is a force to be reckoned with. True freshman offensive tackle Lavon Jackson will have his hands full trying to stop him. The Huskies have won the toss and deferred to the second half.”

“Here goes the kick; Thad Thompson catches the ball in the end zone and comes out down the left sideline. Makes a sweet move, cuts to the middle of the field and is brought down at the 30. Caleb Lewis huddles up the team.”

“Ok boys, you know the game plan,” Caleb said. “Lavon, just keep hitting that guy until he can’t take it anymore. We’re going to try and rattle him. NO MERCY.”

Joseph Jack continued, “Caleb hands the ball off to Luke, right at Larry Birdshot, Luke goes for 15 yards.1^ST DOWN PANTHERS! Caleb drops back, it looks like a screen to Rory, right over the outreached hands of Larry. Rory makes some moves and gains 20 yards on the play. 1^ST DOWN PANTHERS! CAU is down to the Huskies’ 35, and Lewis huddles up the team. Every play has been right at Larry Birdshot. Caleb makes the handoff to Luke, no… Caleb bootlegs the ball, turns the corner, 30, 25, 20, ain’t nobody going to catch him! HOT DIGITY DOG, Lewis scores on a 35 yard scamper to put CAU up!”

Coach Axom grabbed Caleb on the sideline, yanking him close. “That’a boy, just keep the pressure on them, Caleb. Good job.”

“There goes the kick,” Jack shouted, “and CAU kicks the ball out of the end zone so the Huskies will be starting on their own 20. The Huskies just can’t get their offense on track and have to punt the ball. Lewis is trotting out to gather up the team.”

“Lavon, keep that monster in check and these guys can’t beat us.”

Lavon looks at Caleb with a grin. “I ain’t scared of nobody, Caleb, but this guy is tough. But I promise you I ain’t gonna quit on ya, buddy!”

“Lewis drops back deep for a pass, looking at a streaking Lance Wood. Lewis plants his foot…. OHHHHHH! Larry Birdshot just slammed Lewis in the back for a sack.”

Lying on top of Caleb, Larry said, “You better get used to lying on your back, boy; it’s going to be like this all day long. All day long.”

Caleb was sprawled on the ground with the breath knocked out of him. He got up slowly, thinking, I ain’t ever been hit that hard before.

Caleb stood and told the guys to huddle up. Coach Axom sent in the play, but Caleb was pissed and didn’t like it. It was just running play to Luke, and he wanted revenge for that last play. He ignored the play from the coach and called the exact play as before—the one he got hurt on. Caleb told Lavon in the huddle, “I have faith in you, Lavon. You get that block and we score.” He took the snap, stepped back five yards, turned, set his foot, and threw the ball 60 yards to Lance; nobody was even close to him. CAU 14, Huskies 0.

The next series, CAU had the ball and Caleb tried to run that bootleg again. Larry just blasted him again, hit him square in the chest full speed, and all 280 pounds of Larry came down on Caleb’s chest. He just lay there with Larry looking right in his eyes talking smack. Caleb grimaced and said, “I will get you before this game is over, punk. You better be looking for me.”

He was getting angry now and maybe a bit out of control. He didn’t really care what play the coaches sent in, he was going after Larry Birdshot. Caleb called a 33 draw left shotgun formation and told Luke, “You just follow me; I’m going to be the lead blocker. Hut, Hut,” Caleb dropped back 6 yards like he was going to pass, then handed the ball to Luke. He was looking right at Larry Birdshot, and Larry was looking at Luke. Caleb hit Larry with everything he had and Larry literally came off his feet, falling backwards and slamming into the turf. He then hit the linebacker, came off of that block, and just destroyed the safety. The corner had a good angle on Luke and tackled him. The next play, Caleb just made up his own play like a sandlot football game. He told the right guard to pull and knock the crap out of Larry. That’s what happened. Lavon just brushed blocked Larry to slow him down and the guard pulled, coming right down the line of scrimmage to just lambast Larry and send him to the turf. Caleb handed the ball to Luke, who went 38 yards before getting tripped up.

Caleb stood over Larry and said, “All day long, punk, all day long.”

The next play was a passing play—a crossing route to Rory, but Caleb had no intention of throwing the ball; he was going to embarrass Larry. They snapped the ball, and he stepped back 3 yards and just waited for Larry to get loose from Lavon. When Larry broke free, he charged like a bull at Caleb, who just circled to the left, put his foot out, and tripped Larry. Larry looked really clumsy on the play, and the officials didn’t notice the trip. Caleb took off around the left defensive end and ran 23 yards to score. CAU 21, Huskies 0.

When Caleb got to the sideline, the players were just looking at him like he was God. Coach Axom walked over and used a firm hand to whirl Caleb toward him. “I don’t remember putting in a couple of those plays. Any ideas where they came from?”

He just looked at Axom and said, “Crazy things can happen in a football game, Coach.” Coach Axom just turned and walked away shaking his head.

* * *

“It’s the middle of the second quarter and Caleb is trotting back on the field,” Joseph Jack said. “He’s huddling up the team and…. What the heck was that! Well folks, I guess if you live long enough you’ll see everything. Larry Birdshot just blindsided Caleb with his back turned in the huddle in between plays! I’ve never seen anything like that before. Larry’s helmet went right to Caleb’s kidney. It’s a flagrant foul, and Caleb Lewis has hit the ground hard. It looks like he’s trying to get his breath back.

“The CAU team is going nuts! The fight is on. Both teams have cleared the benches, and helmets and fists are flying everywhere. Caleb Lewis is still lying on the ground trying to get his breath. Whistles are blowing; yellow flags are flying in every direction. It’s mayhem out there!”

Caleb slowly wobbled to his feet, looked around, and saw three of the Panthers on top of Larry. Larry’s helmet had come off. He went over to them and shouted, “Get off of him!” They slid back to their feet, and Caleb reached down and grabbed Larry’s hand, helping him up. “Good hit, big guy,” Caleb said, and he threw a right hook that would have knocked out Muhammad Ali and totally KO’d Larry Birdshot.

Joseph Jack was screaming in the mic, “The officials have stopped the game! They have ejected Larry and sent everyone in for halftime to cool off a bit. Larry is still unconscious as the teams go into the locker rooms.”

Coach Richert got everyone together and said, “Boys I like your fight in this game, but what I don’t like is the lack of sportsmanship I see on the field. I understand that Caleb took a very cheap shot from Larry, and I’m sure Larry will be suspended for a few games, but I don’t want to ever see our bench clear again! Let the officials handle it. We have to keep our composure and act like somebody, not just a bunch of ruffians. We’re up 21 - 0, now let’s go back out there and add some more, but with more class than we showed in that first half.”

The trainers took Caleb to the medical room and x-rayed him. There was a big bruise on the right side of his chest, but it didn’t look like anything was broken. The trainers put a rib protector on him and told him, “We’ll look at it again after the game.” Caleb wanted to beat these guys so bad. He wanted to embarrass them, and he planned to do just that.

Before kickoff, the officials went to both benches and told them they would be suspending players if this game continued to get out of hand.

CAU kicked off to the Huskies, and the CAU defense was playing great. The Huskies went three and out and punted to CAU. Without Larry Birdshot in the game, it got out of hand quickly. CAU wound up winning 56-0, and Caleb had a spectacular game—he rushed for over 160 yards and threw for 416 yards and five touchdowns.

The next day in the papers, all that was talked about was Caleb Lewis. The press had never, never seen a quarterback like Caleb. He was first in the nation as a rushing QB and third in passing, and CAU had just finished their fourth game. Caleb Lewis was becoming a national sensation.