Page 94 of Brick Wall
Maybe I should start believing it too.
Chapter Forty-Six
Annie
It’s the AFC Championship game, and it’s snowing. Hard. The weather forecast for tonight’s game said there was a chance of light flurries, but you never truly know what the weather in Boston will be until it arrives.
We have a full cheering crew tonight in the stands and we are prepared. It’s not the first time any of us have watched a football game in tough conditions like the freezing cold. Goldie is wearing a full pink snowsuit with matching knitted hat and gloves. She added her own creative touches to make her gear with Revs spirit, though. It’s awfully cute and totally her. I’m in black snow pants and am wearing my Goodick jersey over my winter jacket for good measure.
My brothers are also wearing Goodick jerseys over their coats, although their layers underneath depend on the brother. Let’s just say, the older the man is, the warmer they are.
Scarlett and her mom are also dressed warm and cozy. I’m sure Linda is not used to these super cold games, as it seemslike she usually catches a game in Boston earlier in the season, and games later in the season in warmer climates. I can’t disagree with that logic.
Despite the weather being cold and snowy, we are having fun. My folded seat has so much snow on it, I never have to worry about it folding back down. My chair is in a ready position, just like me.
The Revs are playing Houston in the Conference Championship game to decide who’s moving on to the Super Bowl. It’s going to be well-deserved to whoever wins this one, which might not be the Boston Revolutionaries.
This game has been hard to watch, so far with the snow having a huge impact. The ball is wet and hard to grip, and receivers are dropping more passes than they should.
However, both teams are playing sloppy. It’s a low-scoring game, 3–0 with Houston winning; each team has had one turnover so far.
Houston is struggling a little more than the Revs with the weather conditions, but the Revs are struggling with their run game. Houston’s defense has been number one this year at stopping the run, and today is no exception. The Revs can’t get anything going with the running game, so they need to rely on the passing game, which they normally excel at. However, the conditions are making it difficult to find success through the air. It’s a mess.
Big flakes fall from the sky, making the sky almost fog-like, and the weather doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. The snow has already accumulated a few inches since the start of the game.
There’s not much time left now, and the Revs still haven’t been able to score. Houston was able to get another fieldgoal so we are sitting at 6–0 now with just a few minutes remaining.
The Revs need to make something happen now if they want to move forward.
* * *
Sebastian
We finally made it to the red zone, and it took us all game to get there. We have less than a minute left, but the good news is we only need two more yards to score a touchdown. If so, the game will be tied, and then we can go for the extra point to win it.
However, we need a touchdown first.
It’s third down on the two-yard line, so the defense is expecting a run. I’m expecting a run or a quarterback sneak, to be honest. I run to the huddle and QB looks directly at me.
The play called by our offensive coordinator is one that no one was expecting. It’s not a run, or a sneak, or a throw to our best wide receiver either.
Nope, it’s a thicc six.
The play where the quarterback throws the ball to an offensive lineman in the end zone for a touchdown, resulting in six points from the most unexpected player on the offense.
And the play is a thicc six to me, number sixty-nine. The play call is not common, but it’s every offensive lineman’s dream, nevertheless.
However, sometimes a dream is better than reality. The reality is, I’m going to crap my pants. I’m so nervous. This play can win or cost us the game, and I really don’t enjoy the added pressure.
The last time our offense ran this play was four years ago to a now retired lineman who did not catch the ball. He fumbled the play in the end zone where it was scooped up by a defender. The play ended in the opposite direction—a pick six to win the game—for the other team.
Hence, the nerves.
“Let’s do this. If you’re open, the ball is yours,” Quinn says, patting my back as he lines up on the two-yard line.
I just nod in return and check in with the ref to let him know I am an eligible receiver. I take a deep breath and give myself an internal pep talk.
I keep my head down low and my concentration high as I picture myself with the catch.
