บท 91: The Real and the Fake
There was a subtle shift in the atmosphere of LSU's defense, and it wasn't just because of Lance's recent breakthrough.
Clearly, they hadn't expected Lance to push through so forcefully, breaking through layer after layer of defense and gaining eight hard-fought yards in such a brutal and relentless manner.
The players exchanged glances, and it was easy to notice the intensity in Jamal Adams' eyes. Though he didn't say anything, his gaze toward Lance became sharper and more focused. Those who knew Adams well understood that he was serious now. Not only Riley and Beckwith, but the other two linebackers also felt the tension rise, as the entire defensive unit bristled with a murderous edge.
Everyone on the LSU Tigers knew about the Crimson Tide's dominance this season, but they wouldn't back down. Instead, their fighting spirit was ignited, and they were determined to halt the Tide's winning streak. They were ready.
Adams exchanged a glance with Riley—a meeting of the team's spiritual leader and tactical captain. Their eyes locked for a moment, and then both clenched their fists, saying nothing as they prepared to line up again, their resolve growing stronger.
Their focus was locked on Lance.
"Set, hut!" Hurts called the snap, and Riley immediately charged forward, without hesitation, aiming straight for Lance. Beckwith, a beat slower, surveyed the play to assess the situation.
Adams took another beat, reading the Tide's offensive setup carefully.
Lance brushed past Hurts as they executed a perfect fake handoff. Beckwith couldn't see it clearly and instinctively rushed toward Lance, his fear of Lance's threat overpowering his logic. His first reaction was to assist Riley in bringing Lance down.
But Adams wasn't so easily fooled.
Adams remained composed, his mind clearer than ever. Yes, he had most of his attention on Lance, but because of that, he also knew how easy it would be to get tricked by a play-action fake. They needed to shut down the Tide's ground game without giving up a big pass play.
Adams stopped his forward movement and quickly scanned the field.
Wait a minute!
Adams realized it—Lance and Hurts hadn't completed the handoff. This was a pass play, a fake handoff followed by a throw. Just as he suspected.
A moment earlier, Lance had used his raw talent to break through on the ground.
Now, Lance was the decoy, setting up the Tide's passing attack.
Adams wasn't falling for it.
He halted his charge and quickly scanned the field, looking for potential receiving targets. In a split second, he made his judgment and darted toward tight end O.J. Howard.
Adams moved with determination. Every other receiver was well-covered, leaving only the tight end in the short pass zone, standing out like the Hulk. With the Tide needing to gain ten yards, a short pass to the tight end was a classic play-action tactic for them.
Adams' peripheral vision confirmed it—Lance had drawn multiple defenders, leaving the Tigers' pass coverage in one-on-one situations across the board. The whole defense was now on edge, knowing that if the Tide succeeded with this pass, it wouldn't just shake the Tigers' confidence; it would give the Crimson Tide a much-needed morale boost. Adams had to shut down this pass.
He was decisive, firm in his actions.
But then... wait, where was the ball? Why hadn't the pass been thrown yet?
Adams scanned the field in confusion.
Suddenly, he saw it—a flash of white darting from the left side of the offensive line, charging into open space with no purple jerseys in sight. The defense had completely opened up.
What... what was happening?
Who was that?
Real or fake, pass or run—no one could tell. And just like that, in the blink of an eye, the defense was caught completely off guard.
Adams didn't have time to think. He changed direction abruptly and charged forward, desperate to close the gap and make a tackle before it was too late.
It was Hurts!
Hurts?
Yes, it was Hurts!
Adams was stunned. How had the Crimson Tide pulled off a read-option so seamlessly without him noticing?
Damn it!
Just as Adams closed in, Hurts made a swift move, sliding to the ground like a baseball player. Not only did he avoid the tackle, but he also ensured he stayed safe from any potential hit.
Adams missed the tackle entirely.
The Tide had picked up a first down.
In fact, it wasn't just a first down—Hurts had gained 15 yards, bringing Alabama across midfield for the fourth time in the game, deep into LSU territory.
The Tigers were completely caught off guard. They hadn't expected this at all. Neither Hurts nor Lance had even been touched during the play, and they'd managed to gain 15 yards effortlessly.
The momentum of the game had shifted.
Hurts could hardly believe it. The play had worked so smoothly, like stealing candy from a baby. It felt like the Crimson Tide's unstoppable offense had finally returned.
Hurts tried to contain his excitement, but as he turned to face Lance, his mouth stretched wide in a silent scream of joy. He jogged over, giving Lance a celebratory high-five.
Stay calm. They needed to stay calm. Only by keeping their composure could they keep the pressure on.
So, what next?
Pass? Or run again?
Suddenly, the Tide's offense was back in rhythm, moving with ease. The battle between the two teams had reached a new level of intensity.
On the sidelines, both head coaches were busy making adjustments, trying to wrestle back control.
First-and-10 at LSU's 48-yard line.
"Set, hut!" Hurts, now a little more confident, wasted no time calling the snap. He straightened up immediately, preparing to pass, his eyes and target set on tight end O.J. Howard.
It wasn't just a pass—it was a quick, short pass.
This type of short pass focused on efficiency, aiming for just two or three yards in a fast connection. The idea was to get the ball to the tight end before the defense could react, letting Howard use his strength to gain extra yards.
In a way, it was similar to a run play. No fancy tricks—just brute force.
The Crimson Tide aimed to catch the Tigers off guard again, seizing the tactical advantage.
But this time, Orgeron had read the play perfectly.
From Riley to Beckwith to Adams, even though their eyes were still glued to Lance, they were more alert this time. Their steps shifted slightly as they immediately converged on Howard.
Suddenly, the field was alive with movement.
But then—wait!
Adams froze in his tracks. What? What?!
Hurts hadn't thrown the ball.
Though Hurts' throwing motion looked perfect, as if the ball was already in the air, at the last moment, he pulled it back.
In the blink of an eye, Hurts spun and flipped the ball—
To Lance.
It was still Lance!
But the key was that Lance wasn't on the left side of the field; he was still on the right.
Adams' eyes darted back and forth like a puppet on strings. In less than a second, his focus had jumped from Hurts to Howard, back to Hurts, and now to Lance.
The changes were happening so fast that his feet couldn't keep up with his mind. Before he had time to process the Crimson Tide's offensive setup, his entire body tensed up.
Lance had the ball, and he was charging forward.
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Powerstones?
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