Chapter 4

“Gwen, you only made it to a couple of home games last year. Kate attended as many as she could, and I went to a few with her,” Paula pointed out. “It’s not unusual for Kate and me to hit up a football game. Plus, Lisa was a cheerleader in her senior year, so I get why she wants to go. How come you’re suddenly into going to an away game now?”

“I’m a senior this year, Mother,” Gwen replied somewhat testily. “You’re the one who told me to have more fun in my senior year. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

“Sure. You just want to watch Gifford wipe the floor with us. It has nothing to do with a certain stud football player who’s dazzled by your beauty,” teased Kate.

“I don’t know if I’m cool with you dating this guy, especially under these conditions. No woman should be pushed into something she’s not cool with,” her father reasoned. “Maybe I should have a chat with this Steve guy and nip this situation in the bud?”

“Yeah, Dad! Every girl dreams of her father having a ‘chat’ with her hot date. Haven’t you been paying attention? Steve isn’t taking advantage of Gwen! If anything, Gwen’s messing with him. He’ll chase her until she decides to let him catch her. Protecting Gwen from the best-looking guy in her school isn’t necessary, and definitely not wanted,” Kate replied energetically.

As the teams were warming up, Kate turned to Gwen and said, “Well, at least Dad decided to sit this one out. So, no worries about him giving Steve a talking to. Mom and I won’t embarrass you too much, but you know Lisa. Once she sees Steve, she won’t be thinking about how she’s three years older than him. Don’t let her swoop in and steal him away.”

“Kate, I don’t know where you got such a low opinion of me, but I would never go after any of my sister’s boyfriends, and I expect the same from you. We’re family, and we support each other, and that definitely includes respecting each other’s relationships!” insisted Lisa.

“I overheard Bill Johnson chatting with Ken Bradley at the snack stand a little while ago. Both their sons are on the team, and both dads think this is going to be a killer year for the football team. New coach, new quarterback, and a very fresh offensive scheme, according to those two. They said tonight’s game is going to be unlike any game the team has ever played,” Paula shared. “I asked them why, and they just gave me a grin. They said they were sworn to secrecy, but I should brace myself for a lot of scoring.”

Sparta won the coin toss and chose to defend at the start of the game. After the kickoff, Gifford got the ball on the forty-two-yard line. Their senior halfback, Will Jauron, who had clinched the league rushing title as a junior, picked up right where he left off the previous season.

Sparta’s defense put in work, but Jauron managed to average five yards per carry. Then he punched it in for a score from the fifteen-yard line. They added the extra point, and after five minutes of play, Gifford took a 7-0 lead.

“Uh-oh, Gwen! You might be at home with your novel tomorrow night after all,” Kate worried.

“I just want to know what position your Prince Charming is playing,” Lisa complained. “So far, I’m not very impressed with any of the Spartan players.”

Gifford kicked off, and the jittery sophomore returner fumbled the ball. By the time the dust settled, Gifford had recovered on the five-yard line. Jauron ran it in for the score on the very next play.

With a little over five minutes passed, Gifford was ahead 14-0. Again Gifford kicked off, but this time the guy on the receiving end managed to hang on, although he lost five yards on his attempted run back. Sparta had the ball on the 27-yard line when its offensive unit took the field.

“There’s Steve!” yelled Kate. “He’s number 12. He must be the quarterback! He looks hot even with a football helmet on.”

Paula glanced over at Gwen to catch her reaction. Gwen had her purse straps all twisted up, totally absorbed in the game as she fiddled with her bag. Paula grinned to herself and shifted her focus back to the game. It was pretty clear that Gwen hadn’t been completely honest about her feelings for the guy who invited her to the dance. Just as that thought crossed her mind, a roar erupted from the Sparta section.

Sparta’s running back had a solid season the previous year, ranking third in the league in rushing despite a mediocre team. Everyone expected him to be the workhorse of the Spartan offense. On the first play, Steve took the snap, smoothly tucked the ball into the halfback’s stomach, and caught everyone off guard.

The back hit the line hard, gaining positive yards. That’s when everyone, including the Gifford defense, realized Steve still had the football. He looked left, pulled his arm back, and suddenly turned to his right, launching a pass deep down the right sideline. Billy Harris, at least ten yards beyond the defender, effortlessly caught the ball in full stride at the twenty-yard line and sprinted into the end zone!

The Gifford section fell into stunned silence, but the Spartan side more than compensated for it. High fives, loud cheers, and whistles echoed through the stands. Gwen noticed she was one of the loudest fans, enthusiastically shouting her approval. Her sisters and mother were right beside her, sharing the excitement over the unexpected turn of events.

“Wow, Gwen! He must’ve chucked that ball like fifty yards! Looks like he’s dead set on winning this game and keeping his date,” chuckled Lisa. “Kate, pass me those binoculars. I wanna get a good look at our hero.”

Lisa zeroed in on number twelve as he and his teammates gave each other congratulatory slaps on the back. It didn’t take her long to figure out that Steve was the man of the hour. He stood taller than almost all but a couple of linemen and appeared just as strong. Then she noticed him scanning the Sparta cheering section, clearly on the lookout for someone.