Free Guts vs Glory by Jason B. Osoff Page B

on running up the middle, through our soft defensive
tackles, because that was the weak point of our defensive line.  The new plan
called for switching our defensive ends with our defensive tackles, putting us
across from the quarterback.  By the time the offense realized what we were
doing, they would have to completely change their play calls, and their
assignments, during the game.  The state finals was not a game where a coach would
want to do that.
    We spent the entire week working on
the new plan.  Not only did everyone master it, they loved it.  The new running
back felt comfortable because he had practiced for so long as a starter.  Mike loved
the receiver position because it gave him a new, creative way to score
touchdowns.  We loved it on the defensive line because we kept the initial plan
of tackling the guy with the ball, but it put Trevor and I next to each other
and turned us into an immovable force.  I personally loved the fact that, for
most of the season, I was double teamed and couldn’t get past the line of
scrimmage.  That week in practice, I was the one doing the double teaming, and
was able to get past the line of scrimmage every time.  I was starting to feel
bad for our quarterback getting hit so often.
    Just like with the previous year,
the entire town of East Whitaker was proud of us.  They hung school flags on
most of their businesses, and most of the streets were decorated with our
school colors.  Even though we had already been there once, we were still
representing the county on the state’s biggest stage.  The town was ready to
support us, win or lose, and was proud at the fact that we were in the finals
for the second year in a row; a feat that had never been accomplished at East
Whitaker.  We had higher expectations than the citizens of East Whitaker,
though.  They didn’t know about our team’s secret.  We felt that with our new
game plan, we would be coming home winners, and we would be bringing back with
us the State of Michigan Football Championship Trophy; a trophy that has never
crossed the Becker County line before.

Chapter 32
    What a difference a year made.  The
previous season, we were excited just to make it to the state finals.  We were
overwhelmed by the fact that we were playing where the Michigan Knights played
their games, and had access to a professional football locker room.  We were
overwhelmed by our opponent and how big they were.  One year later, we felt
like we were at home.  That year, we were there, not just to play in the game,
but to win the game.  We already knew who are opponent was, and watching them
run onto the field filled us with hatred rather than fear.  We knew we had
something that they didn’t have.  We knew that our secret weapon was the only
chance we had to win.
    It was almost humorous watching them
on defense.  Their defensive line saw a much bigger running back than they
expected, but no doubt felt relief when they didn’t see one of the state’s best
running backs behind our offensive line.  As they were enjoying what appeared
to be an easy day at the line of scrimmage, the defender covering one of our
newest receivers started panicking.  He began waving his hands in the air and
asked for immediate help.  Due to his reaction, two other defenders came
rushing over and began preparing for a foot chase once they recognized who they
would be defending.  With 11 total players on defense, putting three of them on
one of our players obviously left one of our players open.  That one player ran
out about 40 yards and wasn’t noticed until after he caught the ball and ran it
in for an East Whitaker touchdown.
    It was even more fun when we were on defense.  That’s because what we couldn’t hear from the sidelines, we
could hear on the line of scrimmage.  The center, as well as the two guards on
either side of him, swore.  They knew what we were capable of, and yet never
saw it coming.  Once the ball was snapped, the