Chapter 24: First Touchdown
Touchdown!
Touchdown!
Touchdown!
The entire stadium erupted into a frenzy. No one was prepared, but the touchdown had already happened, coming from the substitute team and in such an unexpected way. Yet, it followed the familiar style of the Crimson Tide, delivering a surprise that caught everyone off guard.
The whole stadium was boiling over with excitement.
Lance stood in place, a smile spreading across his face. So, this is what scoring a touchdown feels like—so sudden, so thrilling. He realized he might get addicted to this feeling.
Maybe he should score a few more?
"Lance! Ahhh!"
"Touchdown!"
One by one, the substitute team members, who had just helped block and protect Lance, rushed toward him, surrounding him in celebration. Even Bateman was no exception.
Usually, the quarterback would stay in the pocket and watch the battle unfold, but Bateman couldn't hold back his excitement. He had run all the way down the field with the offensive line.
Lance looked at Bateman's beaming face, so happy he couldn't even speak. Lance gave him a playful shoulder bump. "So, are you ready now?"
Bateman rubbed his helmet, giving a goofy laugh. "I'm ready."
On the sidelines, Burns couldn't help but raise his arms in victory, shouting, "Good job! Well done!" Celebrating with unbridled enthusiasm.
He turned to see Saban standing nearby, smiling but with a hint of helplessness. "Burton, are you sure this is okay? The kids are watching."
Burns shrugged, "A little excitement won't hurt. The Red Team's offense didn't get going—they could learn a thing or two from the White Team's energy."
Saban cast a deep look at the field, where Lance and Allen exchanged a glance. There was no overt gesture, but the tension of a fierce rivalry was unmistakable. "What do you think, who set up that last play for the White Team?"
"Bateman, of course. Who else?" Burns replied confidently.
Saban smiled mysteriously and shook his head. "I think you might have found a hidden gem. I'm starting to feel excited too."
Lance's talent was undeniable—his explosive power and agility were impressive, the foundation of a great running back. But, based on what Saban had seen during the training camp, it was Lance's ability to observe and make judgments that truly set his ceiling high.
Although Lance was still learning, with a somewhat basic understanding of strategies, his ability to read and assess the entire field was incredibly sharp.
That last drive showed it all. The Red Team had focused their defense on stopping the run, but the White Team didn't back down. Instead, they used a play-action fake, throwing off the defense, creating chaos with the offensive line, and then capitalizing on Lance's individual skill to break through.
Even if Lance hadn't pulled off such an impressive run, the White Team would have still secured a first down. But as it happened, Lance had been particularly aggressive, turning that first down into a stunning 75-yard rushing touchdown.
This practice game was getting interesting.
But, the game had only just begun—
Football games are divided into four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes, with a halftime break and three timeouts per team per half. While football's clock management isn't as wild as basketball, where the final second can hold endless possibilities, it's still crucial. How teams use their timeouts, and how they strategically stop the clock, can decide the outcome in the last few moments. It's when coaches really show their ability to adapt and handle pressure.
Today's scrimmage would be played out in full.
Saban believed the White Team had struck first, catching the Red Team off guard. But the Red Team, especially the defense led by Allen, was well-prepared and determined.
If the White Team relied solely on Lance, their surprise tactic would soon be figured out. It might work once or twice, but football is a team sport. You need to activate the entire team to win.
Sure enough, Saban's experienced eye had already picked up on the game's developing dynamics.
The two sides soon fell into a stalemate—
The score stayed at "0:7."
By the time the game had reached halfway through the fourth quarter, the only points on the board were from Lance's spectacular opening touchdown run. That touchdown, which brought six points plus the extra point, had given the substitutes an early lead, and since then, both sides had been bogged down.
The White Team's defense was performing exceptionally well, boosted by Lance's earlier run, with their morale reaching 120%. The Red Team's offense struggled, with Hurts faltering under the pressure. His inexperience showed.
It was hard to believe the Red Team had only crossed midfield once, and they had managed just four first downs. Their offense was completely stifled.
On the flip side, the Red Team's defense also showcased the Crimson Tide's strong tradition of defense, putting relentless pressure on the White Team's offense.
Lance continued to perform well, but relying solely on him wasn't enough. The real problem was Bateman's lack of passing accuracy in key moments, a critical flaw that kept the White Team from opening up the game through the air.
Without an effective passing attack, the team had to rely on the run game over and over again, leading to nothing but dead ends. The defense knew Bateman couldn't make plays through the air, so they stacked the box, crowding the short passing lanes and loading up the front lines.
In football, the sheer number of defenders can create an insurmountable advantage.
Hurts was struggling under pressure, but Bateman was doing even worse.
As for Lance... even with his best efforts, carrying the entire team's offense on his back was just too much. After all, they were facing the starting squad, and starters are starters for a reason. The Red Team's overall strength was still overwhelming for the substitutes.
Even so, Lance had been the standout performer of the game, rushing for 200 yards. Even without his 75-yard touchdown run, he had still broken the 100-yard mark easily. He had single-handedly carried the White Team to nine first downs—an incredible showing.
Unfortunately, both sides were locked in a stalemate.
This is where the limitations of NCAA football showed. The strategies weren't diverse enough. Without coaches to guide them, the players didn't have enough options, leading to repetitive, ineffective plays. They just kept running into the same walls.
And Lance?
As smart as he was, he had only been studying football for three short weeks. Much of his knowledge was still at a beginner's level, so he couldn't come up with a solution either.
During this deadlock, Hurts finally started to show his potential. He kept the ball himself for a few runs and completed a few short passes, finding his rhythm. Slowly but surely, the Red Team pushed past midfield.
In the end, the White Team's defense managed to stop Hurts at the 25-yard line, but the Red Team's special teams easily kicked a field goal, finally putting points on the board for the starters.
"3:7."
They'd broken the goose egg.
The Red Team's spirits soared. With enough time left in the game, if Hurts could maintain his momentum, they still had a chance.
Hurts let out a roar, finally showing the fierce energy of a rookie with something to prove. He demonstrated exactly why he was chosen as the starting quarterback.
The atmosphere heated up.
Lance could immediately feel the shift. Though the Red Team had only scored a field goal, the momentum had shifted. The substitutes had been hitting walls with their offense, and now the Red Team's surge was feeding off the energy of the roaring crowd, a sea of crimson that seemed to fuel them.
Danger was creeping closer.
Weekly Power Status
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