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bongaboi · 1 year

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Utah: 2022 Pac-12 Football Champions

LAS VEGAS -- The only blemish in USC's 11-win regular season had been a one-point loss to Utah in October. Thanks to the Pac-12's decision to turn its championship game into a matchup between its two best teams instead of division winners, the Trojans had an opportunity to make that loss moot and advance to their first College Football Playoff appearance in Lincoln Riley's first season as head coach.

But one blemish turned into two on Friday night, as No. 11 Utah played spoiler and proved it has USC's number this season.

The Utes scored 24 straight points at one point and went on to dominate No. 4 USC 47-24 to win their second straight Pac-12 title and likely keep the Trojans out of the fourth playoff spot.

"You come as far as this team has come and this program has come in the last 12 months, and obviously to not get it done, it's a tough pill to swallow," Riley said after the game. "They were definitely the better team tonight. They deserved it."

"Our players never stopped believing," Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We had a chip on our shoulder. We got the message loud and clear that people were underestimating us."

In what felt like a tangential version of the matchup between the teams earlier this season, the Utes' slow start did not hold them back. USC dominated the first quarter and raced to a 17-3 lead early thanks to a few more Heisman-worthy plays by quarterback Caleb Williams, who finished the game with 363 passing yards, 21 rushing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

But it all unraveled in a hurry for USC. After pulling off a miraculous 59-yard run that had him gasping for air and walking gingerly, Williams never quite looked the same.

Afterward, Riley said that Williams "popped" his hamstring on that long first-quarter run.

"I asked him at one point, I was like, 'Are you 50 percent?'" Riley said. "And I mean, he was not even close to 50 percent. I definitely thought about taking him out. … He wouldn't have let me. He wouldn't even let me take him out at the end."

Riley called the performance one of the gutsiest he has witnessed. Williams, meanwhile, described the feeling of his injury as that of an old rubber band.

"The rest of the game I felt it," Williams said. "But a person that I admire is Kobe [Bryant], and he always said the game is bigger than what you're feeling."

As Williams was nursing the injury, Utah was settling in. During the second quarter, quarterback Cameron Rising put together two touchdown drives at the end of the half to tie the score at 17.

In the second half, it became clear Williams was hurt. He favored his left side and was visibly limping. He showed some hesitation as he dropped back, and when the USC defense was on the field, he rode the stationary bike on the sideline to stay loose. At one point, backup quarterback Miller Moss grabbed his helmet and appeared to warm up, but Williams remained under center.

Though Williams stayed in the game, he was no longer the player that spearheaded one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Having been unable to establish the run early, a hobbled Williams looked frozen in the pocket, and it all but sapped USC's scoring prowess. Williams was uncharacteristically sacked four times, and his throws lacked the pinpoint accuracy and strength they have had all season.

The Utes took advantage. Whittingham said postgame that Utah "smelled blood in the water" when the team noticed Williams was hurt in the third quarter and made a concerted effort to bring more pressure.

Utah not only pressured Williams plenty, but on offense it went back to its most reliable option against the USC defense: tight ends. Dalton Kincaid and Thomas Yassmin combined for 121 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown pass from Rising to Yassmin that pushed the lead back to 10 after USC had cut it to three in the fourth quarter.

By the time running back Ja'Quinden Jackson broke off a 53-yard touchdown run to put the Utes up by 16, the result was all but set in stone.

"I felt we took it a little personal," Rising said. "We saw all that as disrespect. We wanted to go out and prove a point."

Rising, a senior, finished with 310 yards passing to six receivers and three touchdowns. He continued to have success against USC and was selected the game's most valuable player postgame as the Utes once again did what no other team could all season: outscore and outgain the Trojans. Utah finished with 533 total yards to USC's 411. The Utes also finished with a title that Rising leaned into during the postgame ceremony: "Trojan killers."

The win sends the Utes back to the Rose Bowl. The Trojans, meanwhile, were left with not just two losses to the same team, but a hurt quarterback and no title to show for their turnaround season.

"We're not going to walk around like this is some funeral. We made a lot of progress to get to this point," Riley said. "Part of it is when you get to these moments, these big games, is groups that have been there before. [Utah] certainly have. A lot of our team has not."

The prevailing sentiment from Riley after the game was that the Trojans had run into a team that not only outplayed them, but also had more experience. The Utes indeed provide a stark contrast to USC's roster makeup. The transfer portal has defined Riley's first year at USC, and it's evident that Utah's continuity is its strength.

Yet as Riley debriefed on the loss and talked about preparing for USC's bowl game, he was sure to look ahead toward next season, when the Trojans might have some continuity but won't shy away from using change to gain an edge.

"There's going to be a lot of changes. That's college football in this day and age," Riley said. "We know what our mission is -- to be in that same locker room and feeling a whole helluva lot different than we do right now. We'll bring in a couple pieces who will help us on that journey."

#2022 #utah utes #pac-12 #college football

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thefigureinthecorner · 4 years

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ok but what if caleb and niko were friends

(also: throw mark into the mix and you have an actual human mood ring)

#the bright sessions #caleb michaels #niko #they don't have a last name yet :(#anyway HUMAN MOOD RINGS BABEY #also caleb has hair now but it's not gonna be a constant thing #just a college thing #bc i felt like he'd keep it super short for football #just so it's easier to manage with his helmet #but he's not playing football anymore in college #so he has no reason to #so he can grow it out #i am ignoring every single line about his hair in tin #sorry lauren

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anthonyed · 4 years

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buckytony: teenage dream (highschool au)

He’s bad news as far as all bad news go.

He’s blue eyed, smirk faced, dog-tag wearing rude motherfucker with v-neck tugged down until wiry chest hair peeks out and his lips wrapped snuggly around beer bottle rim- stretched taught.

Sometimes Tony has dreams of him. The bad kinds. The ones which Howard would punch him for and lock him in another closet. As if he doesn’t already feel closeted enough. It’s not like Tony can help it; the way that guy struts down the hallway; leather clad legs and black leather jacket on, his helmet clipped under his arm and he leers at everybody; like the devil himself walked up to earth to summon Armageddon.

He’s wild in his ways, he snarls when he opens his mouth. He has no friends, he wants no friends.

He always has his eyes closed in class, like he’s in some kind of perpetual sleep and when the bell rings, he’s out of the door lightning fast. He’s mould out of mystery and Tony thinks even their Biology teacher – 26, fresh graduate, with bosom that makes all the girls cry and curvy in the way that puts Jessica Rabbit to shame – also crushes after him.

It’s the bad news vibe, the bad boy look. Everything about him screams danger but flames attract moths to them and the general law states that’s precisely how the world acts in reality as well. Mystery and danger drive people in and it’s inevitable; Tony tells himself when he wakes up on yet another morning, sheet stained and smelling, shame grousing at him like vulture claws.

He goes to school with his backpack clutched to his front. The last time he wore it on his back, someone yanked at it until his skull cracked.

It’s militarized zone, is what it is. High school. Where everybody hates on everybody for no reasons. Might as well be strutting down the wall street and Tony doubts he’ll feel as threatened there as he does here.

“Walk along, Stark.” The school jock yells from the other side of the parking lot. It’s not even a threat but knowing what Caleb of the football team is capable of doing to him, Tony flinches, ducks and scurries away. But just like it started, the day proves to be yet another doomsday for him.

In the span of Tony struggling with his car key, dropping it three times before picking it up and finally locking his car and taking one step away from the parking lot, Caleb and his band of goonies corner him and beat him up.

No problem, it’s why he’s always 20 minutes earlier from the bell.

He cleans up, washes away the red, dabs away the bruises, wipes off the painful hiss and he skitters down the path of shadows until he’s alone and he’s in class.

The door slams open barely a minute after and Tony flinches again and instinctually freezes.

It’s the guy. That guy. His blood curdles in his veins and his heart hammers more than it did when Caleb pummelled at his face. He swallows the grating sand lining his throat and forces himself back into motion.

The guilt flares brighter than summer sun as he remembers how it felt when he dreamt of that guy. Hot skin, hotter lips, deft fingers and experiences. He remembers every kiss, every touch and shame, shame, shame.

The chair scrapes on the linoleum beside him and he watches from the corner of his eyes as the guy sits down. No bag, no care; nothing at all and he carries that so well. Tony envies him something different, he wants to feel that carefree too. To give that zero amount of fucks and be so wild the world scares to touch you. He wants to be that guy and yet he also wants that guy.

It’s complicated.

It’s teenage dreams and high school crushes. Neither will mean anything when he’s finally out of this hell hole one day. And Tony, he looks forward to that day.

Something plops onto his table, interrupting his wistful thoughts. A hankie.

Off white, crumpled but clean looking.

A hankie.

He looks at the only other person who’s in the room besides him but that person has his head on the table, arms folded around, hands pillowing and he looks – most likely pretending, but excellently nonetheless – to be asleep.

Tony blinks, picking up the piece of cloth gingerly afraid if he holds it any wrongly, it will lash out and bite him in the nose.

“You got blood down your left ear.” Comes a muffled rasp and Tony beats the odds to keep himself from jumping a foot high from the ground.

Heart pounding, palms clammy, he stutters out meekly; “Doe- Does this belong to you?” And he knows how he sounds like. 15 years old among 17’s and his voice has just started cracking around its seams.

Sometimes he sounds like a man. Other times, he sounds like a girl.

This time, it’s the latter to his utter embarrassment. His company seems to agree to that. Snorting softly as he peeks above his folded arms to regard Tony amusedly; squinting with pressed cheek and ruffled brown hair, and he still looks so dashing, Tony wishes he’s anywhere but here.

“Unless it fell down from above, it’s mine alright.” He drawls out with a devilish smirk, accompanying it with a wink and Tony almost melts in his rickety thirty years old chair.

“Thanks.” He mumbles, twirling the soft fabric around his fingers, with heart a mile per minute, he doesn’t have it in place to use someone’s still clean handkerchief to dab at his dirty blood. Also, there’s the fact that he needs a mirror and there’s none within his reach.

So he fiddles and fiddles, musing about all the above, and at the same time, trying to breathe calmly so he doesn’t faint from merely being in the guy’s presence.

The guy. AKA, James Buchanan Barnes.

Tony knows what his name is. He’s not stupid. In fact he’s a certified genius with IQ border-lining America’s greed to pluck him right off of his father’s palm if not for Howard’s insistence to get Tony educated in the way he wants, where he wants; basically be his goddamn puppet while he yanks the strings whichever way he prefers.

If not for Howard, Tony’d be in one of those genius schools.

If not for Howard, Tony wouldn’t have this problem where his attention is periodically robbed off of his homework whenever Barnes crosses his line of sight. And he wouldn’t have hacked the school site, snooped around its students files and found all about who that guy is.

That guy, being James Buchanan Barnes.

Dead mother, drunken father; only child who has to support his ass most days to just get by on this planet.

Tony’s not stupid. He knows the helmet in Barnes’ locker is a second hand he probably swooped from a donation bin.

He knows the bike is not something Barnes’ could afford, so it’s either a gift or he found it and repaired it until it works.

Not stolen.

Never stolen.

Because Barnes may look like it, but he’s far, far away from the bad boy image he portrays for the rest of the world. He may have a dog tag and leather jacket on. A line of studs over his boots where his ankles meet and a dangerous glint to his smirks-not-smiles. But he’s never touched another person the way some of those other students Tony sees do.

He never punched or bullied or talked down to anyone.

He never disrespected his teachers even if he failed his classes sometimes.

He got into detention twice; once for breaking Caleb Dorran’s nose and the second time for coming late to class with a blotched bruise on the left side of his face.

James Buchanan Barnes is all good wrapped in a bad boy package and the hankie wrapped around Tony’s fingers is a testament to that fact.

“Wipe it.” The command startles him to flinch and duck his head, bracing for attack. Fuck his reflexes, evolved to run like the pussy his father tells him he is.

He straightens up as his company tsk, standing up with a loud screech of wood against the floor and Tony watches his genuine fear in his eyes as Barnes approaches him with determination clouding his eyes.

But when he speaks, it’s whisper soft, unlike the harsh yank he gives to the hankie in Tony’s hand. But so much like the dab he gives to Tony’s left ear, gingerly, slowing down when Tony flinches – not from pain but from anticipation. And he’s careful. Extremely careful, in stark contrast to the careless way he’s plopped over Tony’s desk, finishing his task until he hums with satisfaction and tucks the hankie back into Tony’s slack hand.

Tony wonders if he has something else on his face, because Barnes looks at him like he does for a long, long minute that seems to stretch into an uncomfortable eternity.

Then he pulls back so the short distance between them becomes long again – but not too long like when he was at his desk and Tony at his. And he murmurs with a curious tilt to his head – his blue-grey eyes as intense as the day Tony caught their attention in the hallway; “You wash that for me okay?”

And Tony, still flabbergasted by everything that had just happened, nods at him dumbly – unaware his jaw has gone slack and his lips parted open under Barnes’ attention. Until Barnes taps his finger under his chin making him close his mouth and he chuckles when Tony goes brick red with flooding shame.

#cries in every language: writing highschool au is to tough when you can't remember a single shit about highschool anymore. gah!#also: is it toilet? loo? or boys' room? what do you call a bathroom in highschool?? i need help if i'm gonna finish this #winteriron #buckytony #bucky x tony #starkbucks #this will probably make the first chapter of a longer story but i'm determined to finish writin before i start posting this to ao3 #am i procrasting writing a fic by writing other fic? yes. yes i am #mine #and ik 16 is the driving age but i got a good reason for that

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annoyinglyjovialbird · 4 years

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Voltron: Next Generation

First Encounters: III

Word Count: 2822

"Cake!" A chorus of voices yelled. Allie mostly screamed as she flew to the furthest fall, but she would also join in.

"I'm on it!" With nothing but his dad's yellow suit, Cake ejected himself into the darkness. Shiro seriously underestimated how the teens were trained.

On camera feeds, the teens watched the blasts slow and stop at the sight of the yellow-clad teenager. With a few flashes from the Balmeran ship, it went around the Coeus and its sheer size. They were approved for entry. Kova was going to murder someone and it wouldn't be Caleb.

Landing on the Balmera, Cake was the first off the ship, running towards a tall woman. At least, they thought it was a woman.

"Hey, where are you going?" Shiro asked Kova, who was suited up in his old paladin armor. The black and white outfit made her brown eyes impossibly brighter. Her helmet was held like a basketball under her arm.

"I have to ask if the Balmera is willing to give me a crystal." Her eyes met Shiro's for only a moment, then she turned and put on her helmet. Even if the atmosphere on the Balmera was safe for humans to breathe, Kova wasn't risking anything. She was better off safe than sorry.

"Be careful," Shiro called out, but Kova was too out of reach to hear a thing. Allie decided to go along, only because it was her team. Caleb and Liz were helping Kenny with the teleduv, something the Coeus had! Even if some of the lenses were cracked and others were broken, the system itself seemed to be okay. Thank Allura for that, because they couldn't possibly recreate Hunk's lens recipe up here.

"Hey!" Cake called out, his helmet off. The Balmeran he was embracing was only a few inches taller than he was, with rough green and yellow skin and completely yellow eyes.

"Hello." The Balmeran looked up at the pair, who were still wearing helmets.

"The air is safe to breathe."

"Kova's just taking precautions," Cake separated himself from the Balmeran and walked over to the girls. "Cut her some slack."

"Kova!" A shriek pierced the air and Kova had to brace herself, but even the armor didn't protect from Talia's bone-crushing hug. "Are Mom and Uncle Rax giving you a hard time for keeping your helmet on?" Kova was being lifted by Cake's older sister, who was as tall as Cake and looks to match. Her sclera was much brighter than Cake's, with a thin dark slit instead of Cake's round iris and pupil. Built like a body-building ectomorph, Talia was as hard as a rock (pun not intended), much to Kova's dismay. "Oh, I missed you, my strawberry shortcake!" Kova was kicking her legs, but it was useless in Talia's grip.

"Hello, beautiful sister." Cake crossed his arms.

"Issako." Talia stopped shaking Kova from side to side to glare at her younger brother. Her grip loosened enough to let Kova escape. She imagined Caleb was laughing up a storm.

He was, and Liz was sure he had stopped breathing a few minutes ago.

"Talia." The Balmeran from earlier scolded the overexcited half-human. "What brings you back?" The Balmeran, who Allie and Kova had assumed was Cake and Talia's mom, directed her question at Cake.

“It's a long story." Walking alongside his mom, Cake led the way for Kova and Allie. As Allie walked forward, she was pulled back by the collar of her outfit. Looking up, Kova's face was unreadable, even through the helmet.

"I'm sorry to ask this of you," Kova said, earning her more eyes than she could count. There were maybe ten Balmerans on the surface, only three directly interacting with the teenagers. "But I have a few questions and I don't wish to further interfere with your family reunion." Shay met the eyes of another Balmeran, the one who Kova thought was Cake and Talia's uncle. What did she say his name was again?

"I am called Rax." The Balmera approached the teens. "What are your questions?" Kova sighed, letting go of Allie's collar.

"First, I ask for a confirmation. Has the Fire of Purification returned in full force?" Rax nodded his head, solemn. At least Kova had the information to relay it to her dad. "Second, I wish to ask the Balmera for a few crystals. Would it be alright?" The ground shook after Kova's question. Rax stood by unfazed, while Allie hung onto Kova's arm. Behind Rax, a grove of crystals grew from the ground. They all varied in size, some the size of grass blades, and others were the size of small trees.

"The Balmera has answered your question. Any other questions?" Allie wandered past the foreboding Balmeran into the crystals, exploring each crystal. Kova wanted to ask the last question, but she was almost afraid to.

"Do you have any information on the Voltron Lions?" She differed to instead. They were dead, she chided herself. Even if they were alive, at least one more other than Uncle Lance should have made it back. Rax studied the teen, who couldn't be more than ten inches shorter than he. "We found Blue in a trash nebula not far from here." Her voice was low, meeting the Balmeran's eyes. Rax nodded his head, holding his hand out. Kova gave him her left arm, which had a screen on the piece. On the screen, he wrote in a code Kova hadn't seen in years: 010110010100010101010011

Hunk, Cake's dad, must've taught it to them.

Shutting her screen, Rax nodded. Kova responded with a nod of her own and stayed in the same place as Rax turned around to walk towards the stairs that led to the system of tunnels where the Balmerans lived. With steps, so much calmer and steadier than they had ever been, Kova walked towards Allie and pulled out her knife.

Cake was being showered in so many compliments and praises, he didn't notice how far he had traveled. He was told he looked handsome in his father's paladin outfit, to which he looked at his mom for confirmation.

She didn't even look at him.

The deeper they went, the more Balmerans stayed behind, going into their caves as they passed by. When they stopped moving, Cake found himself alone with his mom and Talia. They were staring forward, but Talia stole glances between him and the wall ahead of them.

The cavern was about twice as high as the bay doors and two football fields long. Inside, the Yellow Lion was inside its protective yellow dome, its eyes following Cake around.

He could barely believe the yellow lion's coordinates were here when he saw the map of the Lions' locations, but standing here and looking at the huge metal beast before him, it didn't make any sense. Maybe he passed out at the Garrison and this fever dream was his subconscious giving him a piece of his dad after his absence. He wasn't supposed to return to the Balmera until after he graduated from the Garrison, and the inclusion of his mom and sister are just homesick reminders.

Turning to both of them, he only had to look at Talia's face to realize she wasn't a dream. Talia would've known about this earlier.

Heck, he didn't know Talia's nickname for Kova was strawberry shortcake. Her face was priceless.

With careful steps forward, Cake approached the Lion. It didn't move at all, waiting for Cake to react. With a hand on the shield, Cake looked into Yellow's eyes. The faint roar in the back of his head scared him, but not as much as the shield dissipating in front of his eyes. With careful steps, he approached the base of the Lion, where a hatch door had opened.

Riding the elevator up, he remembered the stories and adventures his dad used to tell as treats for Cake's good behavior. After the cake incident, he wasn't allowed to help at the restaurants. When the elevator doors opened again, he found himself in a back room. Approaching the door at the end of it, he found himself in the Yellow Lion's head. Taking a seat in the chair in the middle of the cockpit, he brought his legs up the chair moved to suit him. Reaching his hands out to hold onto the controls, the panels came to life in front of him in matching yellow colors.

His helmet had rolled onto the floor, and Cake seriously wondered if he should put it on. No one else had a Lion, he thought to himself. Then he remembered what they found in the trash nebula. Suddenly, he couldn't reach his helmet fast enough.

"Allie!" Cake shouted, earning him a yelp from the tween. They had boarded the Coeus, with a makeshift sack filled with the materials Kova was going to make the satellite with when Allie got the terrifying message. "Get to Blue!" Cake was so excited, he was bouncing in his seat with joy.

"Kova said I wasn't supposed to fly it without proper training." Her right eye was shut, trying to comfort her ear on her shoulder through the helmet. It didn't work, but it didn't hurt to try.

"Get to your Lion and when I say go, take off!" Cake was starting the Yellow Lion, getting a feel for the controls. It would be completely different once they were airborne.

"Alright! I'm going, I'm going," Allie muttered as she wandered off to the Bay. Kova had an eyebrow raised, but she had taken off her helmet earlier. She couldn't hear the conversation between the two. "Just stop yelling."

Kova had dragged her bag 'o' parts to the bridge, where they had begun to fall out of holes in the tarp. She didn't mind. Caleb looked at her with an eyebrow raised. Kova shrugged her shoulders, sitting on the floor cross-legged to begin. Caleb and Liz had joined her, sitting in their now completely assigned seats, and Shiro and Kenny trailed Kova and picking up pieces along the way.

Allie was in the cockpit of the Blue Lion, hands on the controls watching everything come to life. Most of it was foreign to her, but she seemed to understand the basics when Cake's enthusiastic voice came over her earpiece.

"GO!" Cake yelled, causing Allie to wince but she pressed her controls forward. Blue stood, roaring to life as he stood on all four legs. With the bay door opening, Allie took off before Kova could stand up and stop her. Truth be told, everyone's eyes opened wide but no one made moves to stop Allie.

The Blue Lion was flying around the windows of the Coeus as the Yellow Lion emerged from a hole in the Balmera's surface. Kova looked on, not sure whether to be jealous that her team had their lions or proud that her team found their lions first. Allie was having a hard time flying the Blue Lion, while Cake took to it like riding a bike. Then again, his dad was the former pilot. Maybe the Lion sensed that.

Now alone, Kova was tacking a few pieces of the scrap metal together. It was harder than she would have hoped, her makeshift arc welder likely not up to any safety code. A few hours ago, she sent Caleb and Liz to check off the list of repairs the ship needed. Caleb glared at Kova, but Liz was happy to do it.

They had managed to properly set and reconfigure the wires that caused the malfunctions at the Garrison, finished the seat covers for the chairs, and were currently in the process of dying them with the help of the Balmerans. Shiro had decided to head down too, leaving Kova and Kenny alone on the ship. Albeit, on different sides and levels, but that was beside the point.

Pushing loose black strands back, she sat down on the floor. She had been hunched over for almost an hour, her back aching.

The Balmerans were kind enough to let the Coeus stay on the Balmera for as long as they needed, Cake's mom and uncle recognizing Shiro almost on the spot.

Kova was nearly done, the dome of the satellite coming along nicely. It would be large enough to transmit the signals necessary, but small enough it shouldn't be noticeable by other ships. When the frame was done, it was only a matter of connecting it to a functioning power source. The crystals from the Balmera should be more than enough.

Blue and Yellow raced past the windows of the Coeus the umpteenth time that day. Allie was getting better with every pass she made, although now it was a matter of beating Cake than it was practicing anymore. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Kova got back to work. If she finished the frame by dinner, she would take a break. Maybe a shower. Maybe both at the same time. She didn't care, as long as her brain had a break from the onslaught of thinking.

"You shouldn't be thinking about the Fire." Shiro stood at the base of the stairs. Whenever Kova was thinking about something, she punished herself for thinking about it and either started a new engineering project or finished a previous one. It almost always got her mind off of it. The more serious issues she had to spar out of her system, but those were extreme.

"There's a reason they demanded a half-galra be on board." Her voice was muffled from the welding helmet, sparks flying as she started her work again. Tacking is only supposed to be a temporary weld, but Kova had to make sure the pieces were in the right place.

"You shouldn't be thinking about it," Shiro repeated. Kova stopped her current bead, tore the helmet off her head, and glared at Shiro. Her black hair was falling around her face in strands besides the braid down her back.

"I'm half-galra. I have the right to be worried."

"You didn't have to say anything."

"And risk everyone dying?"

"No one was going to die, Kova."

"You're right." She stood up, ignoring the stiffness in her knees. "We'd be prisoners."

"Kovalia."

"Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Kovalia, this isn't just on your shoulders." Kova was still glaring with intensity, but Shiro kept his calm. "Patience yields—"

"Don't." Kova raised a hand. "Don't say it."

"I don't want to leave you alone." Kova scoffed.

"Like they did?" Shiro didn't say anything. Instead, he watched Kova lower herself to the floor and put the helmet above her head again. "Just let me work." She bent over the pieces of metal and began tack welding once again. With a sigh, Shiro left Kova to her own devices, knowing that nothing will take her mind off the Fire of the Purification and its new goals.

The Yellow Lion stopped at the base of the Coeus, waiting for Blue to catch up with them. They never came. A deafening roar came from the other side of the Coeus, and Cake jumped in his seat.

Allie was cackling in her seat, tears flowing down her cheeks. She had managed to sneak up behind Yellow and unleashed a roar on the poor boy inside. In their seats, Allie and Cake could barely see Caleb on the ground getting closer to the giant robotic beasts, but they could sure see his sweater.

Caleb had changed into a mess of a black and red tie-dye sweater over gray jeans and matching red sneakers. Either Kova packed for him, or Caleb learned how to match his clothes. Allie and Cake blanked before exploding into fits of laughter at Caleb's horrible sweater.

Caleb, unfortunately, couldn't hear them laughing. Otherwise, he would tell them about the prank Kova made when they were tie-dyeing their clothes. Kova sadly outgrew her shirt (cough boobs cough), but Caleb had grown into the sweater.

Caleb motioned for the gigglers to come down from their cockpits, to which they reluctantly did. Allie and Cake tried so hard to meet Caleb's blue eyes, but their eyes wandered to the horrendous splatters of black and red that made up the entire sweater and could no longer contain their laughter.

"Yuck it up." Caleb rolled his eyes. This was always the reaction he got with the sweater, swearing off casual clothing until he graduated or was in space. Guess which one came first. "Are the bayards in the cockpits?" The two were taking deep breaths, trying to relax their breathing. Allie held up a finger and walked back to Blue.

She was in the cockpit, staring at the blue and white weapon in the dash. She hadn't noticed it before, but before she could grab it a white streak of light flashed in front of her eyes. Looking into the sky, her face blanched. She couldn't get out of the Blue Lion fast enough when the blast struck the Balmera.

#voltron #next generation #shurtis #space dad #shiro #takashi shirogane #Kova worried #worst part about having two blogs?#accidentally posting to the other #i need better control #kova shirogane #or is she #Caleb's sweater is really ugly #should i make a masterlist #this is part 6 of allura knows how many #allura

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tfcrp · 5 years

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CHAMPIONSHIPS 02: PALMETTO STATE FOXES vs. BRECKENRIDGE JACKALS

PRE-GAME

The Foxes arrive at the Foxhole Court court an hour before first serve, donning their white-on-orange home uniforms as a sold-out crowd filters into the stands.

With the Jackals and the Foxes both in the same district, the crowd is a mixed one, with Palmetto orange and Breckenridge tan and black in equal volume in the stands. It makes for a rowdy crowd as the Vixens run through their pre-game routines, even before the game starts. However, in contrast to last week’s football game, when the Foxes and the Vixens were there to cheer their fellow PSU team on, the football team and their cheerleaders are nowhere to be seen, still licking their wounds.

Half an hour before first serve, the Foxes are allowed onto the court for a brief warm-up. They line up in order of position—Strikers, then Dealers, then Backliners, then Goalkeepers, with Grant and Claudia in the front as Captain and Vice-Captain.

Once warm-ups are done, Grant and the Jackals’ captain meet at center court for the coin toss that will determine who gets first serve. The Jackals win, and the starting players enter the court for the start of the game.

Red Cards: N/A

Scratched: N/A

Injuries: N/A

FIRST HALF

STARTING LINEUP:

Goalkeeper: Grant Rollins (Sub: Jasper Lewis)

Dealers: Claudia Jewell (Sub: Sasha Hart-Ashby, Louis Granger)

Strikers: Carter Maddox, Leo Duarte

Backliners: Sydney McCray, Sterling Walsh (Subs: Glory Hoskins, Beau Smith)

The players take their starting positions, and the Jackals serve to start play.

The Jackals are known for their aggressive play: throwing hard hits and racking up yellow cards with little care. They come out of the gate hard, putting the Foxes on defense early.

Sterling and Sydney do their best to hold them off, but an unpredictable deflection off of Sydney’s racquet lands just within the margins of the goal, getting past Grant.

The Jackals serve, and Sydney tangles with a striker along the wall. She gets off a pass to Sterling, but that doesn’t stop the striker from crushing her into the Plexiglass—earning them a yellow card for a late hit.

Claudia serves to Carter, who carries up the court. As both backliners move to cover him, he makes a quick pass to Leo who turns it into a fast shot—and a goal, tying the score.

At the pause in play, Wymack sends in his subs: Jasper for Grant; Sasha for Claudia; and Glory and Beau for Sydney and Sterling.

Sasha serves, but Fox control doesn’t last long: the Jackals goalkeeper blocks a shot from Carter, sending it wild to the ceiling of the court and then crashing back down.

It’s the Jackals that come away with it and, when their striker takes a shot, Beau is just a little too slow with his outstretched stick. It gets past him, and past Jasper as well.

After the goal, a shoving match breaks out, including Glory, Beau, and Sasha and several Jackals. The referees break it up without cards, but tensions are high as the Jackals serve.

It’s Sasha that drops her racquet first, shaking off a glove so her knuckles can meet skin. The Jackals dealer is a ready opponent, though, and it takes numerous referees and the help of Carter and Beau to pull the combatants apart.

Sasha is given a red card, and the Jackals player is given a yellow. The Jackals are given a penalty shot, as Louis replaces Sasha on the court.

Sasha’s opponent leaves the court, bleeding from a split lip, as a striker steps up to take the penalty shot. Jasper dives to make the save, but it trickles in past the tip of his outstretched racquet, and the Jackals pull farther ahead.

The Foxes can’t close the gap as time runs out, and at the buzzer they continue to trail: 3-1.

HALFTIME

The Foxes have been down in games and come out ahead. They’ve been down in the Championships and come out ahead. As they retreat to their locker room, halftime is a chance for them to gather themselves and prepare to make a comeback—a fact taht Wymack is sure to remind them of. With an exciting half full of goals and cards, the crowd in the stands is loud and energized for the Vixens’ half time performance. After fifteen minutes, both teams are called back to the court.

SECOND HALF

STARTING LINEUP:

Goalkeeper: Emmett Ashford (Sub: Caleb Fournier)

Dealers: Raphael Peruggia (Subs: Louis Granger, Olivia Finch)

Strikers: Akira Sato, Brayden Sykes

Backliners: Basil Walcott, Grayson Sharpe (Subs: Beretta Lepore, Casey Hendrix)

Players take their positions, and the Jackals dealer serves to start the half.

Early, Raph locks racquets with a striker. The striker goes down, clutching his head. Play is paused, and Raph is given a red card, despite his protests that he didn’t make contact with the striker’s head.

Louis is sent back on to replace Raph as the Jackals striker is helped off the court, another striker stepping up to take a penalty shot.

Emmett is steady in goal, turning the shot away with a swing of his racquet. The Jackals stay in the lead by a two-goal margin.

Remembering his previous red card, the Jackals focus their aggressive play on Grayson, who, uncharacteristically, backs down from it.

The Jackals blow past Grayson for a clear shot on goal, one that Emmett can’t block, and the Jackals pull even further ahead.

At the pause in play, Wymack sends in his subs: Caleb for Emmett; Olivia for Louis; and Beretta and Casey for Basil and Grayson.

The Jackals dealer serves, and Casey is there to try and intercept it.

They lock racquets with a Jackals striker and, whether it’s a mistake or deliberate, the striker’s racquet makes contact not with Casey’s racquet but with the visor of their helmet, earning the Jackals their own red card.

Wymack taps Brayden to take the penalty shot for the Foxes—and he lands it, bringing the Foxes once again within two.

Olivia serves and when Brayden runs out of room, he passes back to her. She flips the ball to Akira, who slips it past the goalkeeper.

The Foxes are now only one point away from tying the game and, once again, taking it to a shootout. Olivia serves, but with Brayden and Akira tiring from being on the court for a full half, the Jackals are able to steal.

But it doesn’t take long before Beretta starts a fight, shaking Olivia off when she tries to intervene—and stop the Foxes from another penalty they can’t afford.

The referees break up the fight, and Beretta gets the Foxes’ third red card of the night, while the Jackals receive a yellow and yet another chance to make an easy point on a penalty shot.

The Jackals striker that Beretta fought, defiant, takes her shot for her team, drawing Caleb out of position with a feint to slam it home, digging the Foxes into a two-goal hole they can’t climb out of.

The clock runs out, and the Foxes fall short, losing 5-3.

POST-GAME

The Jackals are moving on to the death matches. Unable to redeem their regular season performance against the Jackals, or break a seasons-long losing streak against a district rival, the Foxes will have just one more shot. Beat down by a rough game and a rougher loss, the Foxes make their way quickly through the customary postgame handshake line, as a disappointed Fox fans file out of the Court.

The Foxes retreat to their locker room, where the mood is somber. But the press is still waiting, Championships games drawing an even larger crowd of reporters, and Wymack assigns Sydney and Glory to press duty.

The Foxes shower and change out but tonight, unlike so many past nights since they turned their early-season losing streak around, they don’t have much to celebrate. With so many Jackals fans loose in Palmetto to revel in their victory, even their own campus doesn’t feel like theirs.

There’s little effort for a party, even in consolation, most players and cheerleaders going their separate ways at the end of the night, reminding themselves that it isn’t over yet. They still have one more chance.

------

ADMIN NOTE: And there you have it! As a reminder, you’re welcome to set threads during any of the periods listed above—(pre-game, expanding on the events of the game itself, halftime, post-game)—and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

I’ll see you back here on the in-game date of February 15, for the last game of the first round of the Championships, which will be an away game against the UCLA Bruins.

And, as always, please let me know if you have any questions or feedback!

#tfcgames

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ivadeshin · 6 years

Note

High school AU with Molly and Caleb each wishing they had the guts to ask the other to prom

“I talked to Beau. He lives in a foster home,” Nott says, giving Caleb a significant look before stuffing more sandwich into her mouth.

Caleb frowns. “What is ‘foster home’?”

“Like, a group home, for kids who don’t have parents.”

“Ah. Orphanage?”

“Sort of.” Nott grabs her soda and catches Caleb’s concerned glance. “It’s only my third today,” she says quickly. “I’m fine.”

The boy grunts but lets it pass. “Isn’t, um. The big senior girl. She also has no parents, yes?”

“With the dyed hair? Yeah, stay away from her.”

Caleb shudders. “You do not need to say to me. She is … scary.”

Nott draws her shoulders up and shudders too. “Yeah, well, even more to the point. Molly’s almost definitely from the same home. Bad news.”

“Bad news,” Caleb says, trying the English phrase out and rubbing his chin. “We are also, yes? Bad news?”

“I mean, you haven’t done anything wrong, you’re just a recent refugee. Who’s super poor.” Nott shrugs. “No offense.”

Caleb shrugs back. “Poor immigrants. Rough home life, ja? So, same as a fosting home.”

“Foster home.”

“Ja. Danke. Foster home.” He pulls out his notebook, scribbling the phrase in the back with the other phrases. He’ll get these right. He will.

“You’re learning faster,” Nott says, jerking her chin at his notebook. “You’re doing really great.”

Caleb rolls his eyes, pushing his hair out of his eyes. “I have good teacher. She is very patient.”

They sit in silence a while, looking down from the bleachers as the football team runs another drill. Caleb isn’t very knowledgable on American football yet, but he knows it’s unusual to have girls and boys play together.

“That one there is very good,” he says, pointing. “With the horns sticking from helmet. They have knocked down the one with the ball again. Third time.”

Nott looks up and squints. “That’s Jester.”

Caleb thinks back in his mental rolodex. “Blue? She is foreign also, yes? I have heard her talk in the hallway.”

“Dual citizenship. Her mom’s some kind of ambassador.” Nott waves her hand around in the way Caleb’s learned means ‘fancy’ or ‘money’ or both.

“Her clothes look very… teuer. Um.” Caleb snaps several times and frowns.

“Stop being so hard on yourself. You’ve been here less than a month.”

“Yes, but I learned some back home, and I… um. Opposite of ‘cheap’.”

“Expensive. Her clothes look expensive.”

“Yes! Thank you.”

“Eat something.” Nott pushes his bag toward him. “At least the apple.”

“Okay, okay.” He sighs and pushes down the anxiety roiling in his stomach, digging out the fruit and taking a few bites. It’s not as bad as he thought. “There are more signs for, um. Prom. On the walls.”

“I told you, we are not wanted there.” Nott cuts her hand horizontally through the air. “That’s for … for Jesters. And Fjords.”

“Fjord’s family works on boats,” Caleb argues. “They are not rich.”

Nott’s eyes widen. “You talked to someone!”

Caleb shrugs, shy. “Same history class. He is nice. The teacher talks very fast, he lets me peek at his notes.”

“That’s great! I’m so happy for you! You’re getting brave.”

Caleb looks down at his apple, slowly turning into a core. “I am not brave.”

“You are. You’re trying new things. You signed up for that robotics class, you’re taking risks.” Nott rubs his shoulder, and after a moment of hesitation he lets himself lean into it, making her grin. “You’re doing great.”

“Thank you, Nott.”

They look out over the field again as they hear the gym doors opening - a small group of kids jog out, grabbing the old picnic table by the parking lot and pulling out an assortment of phones, lighters, and cigarette packs. Caleb’s face reddens instantly and he turns, chewing his apple in the opposite direction and pretending to take great interest in coach Felid trying to get someone else to stand in for Jester to tackle.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nichts.”

“Not nothing.” Nott peers around, focusing again on the new gaggle of students, and spots a familiar purple tiefling in ripped jeans and multi-color crop top. “Oh. Oh.”

“It is nothing.”

“That’s why you wanted me to find out about him.”

Caleb scrubs his face with his free hand. “I am, um. I am not supposed to… to like…”

“Your parents wouldn’t like it?”

“No. They would not.”

Nott frowns. “They should shove it.”

Caleb barks out a hollow laugh. “I do not know that phrase, but. The way you say it. I know it.”

“They should shove it,” Nott repeats, standing up on a higher bleacher so she’s eye level. “You should be allowed to be happy!”

Caleb cringes. “Nott, you are very-”

“More AP classes! More extracurriculars! All A’s all the time! They should let you have fun!”

“Nott, please.”

“I understand your family’s under a lot of pressure to succeed, but if you want to date a ridiculous drama kid with stupid shit on his horns you should be allowed to!”

Caleb looks like he’s ready to have a breakdown, and that’s when Nott realizes that her voice, which always carries, is the only thing echoing on the football pitch, and the team and the kids at the picnic table have all stopped what they’re doing to stare at her.

“Oh,” she says, staring back. “Oh, fuck.”

#critical role #critical fic #widomauk #caleb widogast #mollymauk tealeaf #nott the brave #Anonymous

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rickhorrow · 3 years

Text

The Key for NFL Draftee Success may Lie In Their Shoes...

by: Tanner Simkins @tannersimkins

In a world where so much data is being tracked and monitored so closely tied to performance, where can athletes get an edge, one that is legal, these days. PED’s still abound and those looking to cheat will always try and game the system, but are there opportunities, especially tied to science, innovation and performance, that still exist in a world where secrets are hard to come by?

More and more the CBD space is mentioned as an area that has grown in acceptance and use, and its medicinal ties to enhanced performance continue to lead to more and more commercial opportunities and business. We have seen the value of sleep measurement become a big part of preparedness, and with it brands have come along to help teams, leagues and athletes better manage the time of rest to maximize output. We also always have better, sleeker, lighter elements of equipment tied to performance that are continually providing, sometimes unintentional, edges for athletes Whether it is concussion absorbing helmets in football and lacrosse, or lighter, more durable pads like those produced in growing numbers by a company like XTECH, the science of equipment keeps moving forward.

There are also items that may not be at one’s fingertips, but they are at the feet, literally, of a growing number of athletes. Orthotics, custom measured for athletes of every size, have been around for several decades, but the insole business that provide not just injury protection, but added performance, is one that is coming more and more on the radar.

Case in point this week, when Connecticut based VKTRY Athletics opened up their list of over 100 NFL prospects who will use their carbon fiber insoles during their all important Pro Days as they position themselves for the NFL Draft? Why?

“Most athletes see significant improvements in the broad jump, the vertical jump and their time in the 40,” said VKTRY CEO Steve Wasik. “They really feel the difference and understand how VKTRY Insoles can help them get an edge both at the Combine and on the playing field.” It’s an edge than can mean an extra few inches in a jump, or a few milliseconds in a dash, that could literally be worth millions…and it is all legal. In independent performance testing, athletes wearing VKs increased their broad jump by an average of +4.0”, their vert by +1.6” and improved their 40 times by 0.12 seconds.

Those athletes using VKTRY Insoles for their Pro days are projected first round picks: Alabama Running Back Najee Harris, Florida TE Kyle Pitts, Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, Miami DL Gregory Rosseau, Miami DE Jaelen Phillips, and LSU WR Terrace Marshall. Players from every Power Five Conference will be using VKTRY Gear for the first time during their Pro Days.

During the 2020 NFL season, a record number of over 200 NFL players, from 29 of 32 clubs, wore carbon fiber insoles, a 300% increase from 2019 and included a list of some of the brightest young stars and respected veterans in the NFL, including Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb, LV Raiders RB Josh Jacobs, Washington RB Antonio Gibson, Buffalo Bills RB Devin Singletary, SF 49ers WR “Deebo” Samuel, Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, NY Jets DE Quinnen Williams, Buffalo Bills CB Josh Norman, Chicago Bears WR Anthony Miller, LA Chargers OT Brian Bulaga, Denver Broncos TE Noah Fant, New York Giants TE Evan Engram, Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Devin Bush and many more.

“I have worn VKs since I was a rookie and I love the added burst and explosiveness they give me on the field. I seriously feel 10X faster with VKs,” said Chubb, a two time All Pro selection and the Browns leading rusher each of the past two seasons. That’s a heck of an indorsement from something that you just slip into your shoes.

The business came about for the US Olympic Bobsled Team to improve athletic explosiveness. In 2010, VKTRY helped Team USA win gold in the 4-man bobsled – first time in 62 years. It has grown and expanded ever since.

Is there a worry that governing bodies will take a look and sometime say they are too much enhanced performance? Maybe, but their edge is slight, and who doesn’t like to get that slight edge. Nice to see a little disruptive company find their growing niche, even if you can’t see it outside someone’s kicks. You can see results for sure, just ask those future draftees who will enjoy the bounce, literally, in the coming weeks.

0 notes

techcrunchappcom · 4 years

Photo

New Post has been published on https://techcrunchapp.com/gameday-central-wisconsin-28-illinois-7-end-3rd-quarter-sports/

Gameday Central: Wisconsin 28, Illinois 7; End 3rd quarter | Sports

Beat writer Scott Richey will keep providing updates all night long from Camp Randall Stadium as Illinois takes on Wisconsin in the 2020 Big Ten opener. Follow along right here:

Tweets by srrichey

***

Meanwhile, back in Champaign. The watch party at Memorial Stadium is drawing a pretty good-sized student crowd.

***

Tonight’s Illini starters:

OFFENSE

LT – Vederian Lowe

LG – Kendrick Green

C – Doug Kramer

RG – Verdis Brown

RT – Alex Palczewski

QB – Brandon Peters

RB – Mike Epstein

WR – Josh Imatorbhebhe

WR – Casey Washington

WR – Donny Navarro

TE – Daniel Barker

DEFENSE

DE – Owen Carney Jr.

NT – Roderick Perry II

DT – Jamal Woods

DE – Marc Mondesir

OLB – Khalan Tolson

MLB – Jake Hansen

OLB – Delano Ware

CB – Nate Hobbs

CB – Tony Adams

S – Sydney Brown

S – Derrick Smith

SPECIAL TEAMS

K – James McCourt

P – Blake Hayes

***

We’re about an hour from kickoff in Madison, and there’s already some rather significant news to report. Illinois released its list of unavailable players for tonight’s game, and there are some big names on it.

Out at Wisconsin

DL Isaiah Gay DB Michael Marchese WR Trevon Sidney DB Devon Witherspoon OL Blake Jeresaty (season)

— Illini Stats & Notes (@IlliniStats) October 23, 2020

Defensive line was already a question mark heading into the season, and no Isaiah Gay only exacerbates that. Getting pressure on Wisconsin redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz could be important. Gay’s absence means Illinois will have to put an inexperienced defensive end on the field to start the game.

Devon Witherspoon being unavailable is just as big a blow. You might remember the sophomore cornerback from his game-saving tackle in last year’s upset of Wisconsin. The big question, of course, is if Witherspoon is out does that mean Tony Adams moves back to corner or does Marquez Beason make his Illini debut as a starter?

***

Looking out from the Camp Randal Stadium press box to no one (save for some cardboard cutouts in the seats closest to the field) is a surreal feeling.

The press box itself is pretty empty, too. Wisconsin is taking the social distancing thing seriously. I’m at an end of a row, and I’ve got more than six feet between my seat and where the Chicago Tribune’s Shannon Ryan will sit.

Warmups are underway, but for the moment only the specialists for both teams are on the field.

***

The News-Gazette will be represented at Camp Randall Stadium for tonight’s Big Ten opener between Illinois and Wisconsin. Beat writer Scott Richey (that’s me as I shift to first person) is, in fact, set up in an undisclosed Marriott-brand location in Wisconsin right now prepping for his gameday coverage.

In a typical year I might venture out in Madison. Check out campus (again). In 2020? Hotel. Camp Randall. Nothing in between. Especially in Wisconsin.

The hotel was even a concession to 2020, in a way. The press box at Camp Randall is set to close 30 minutes after the last Zoom interview is complete. That’s not enough time to provide you all with the exhaustive coverage that will wind up right here at IlliniHQ.com in the wee hours Saturday morning. That and much more will grace the pages of Sunday’s News-Gazette.

The strangeness of 2020 aside, the drive from Champaign to Madison was exceedingly normal. I could have done without the rain, but being back on the road for the first time since early March (Illini basketball at Ohio State) was a surreal feeling. Then I hit the construction as soon as I crossed the Illinois-Wisconsin border, and all felt right with the world. It was a sign that at least some things never, ever, ever change.

In our still not-so-normal world, I won’t be joined for tonight’s game by News-Gazette colleague Bob Asmussen. Wisconsin credentialed just six total Illinois media members. It will be nice, though, to see the Decatur Herald & Review’s Joey Wagner, the Chicago Tribune’s Shannon Ryan, 247Sports’ Jeremy Werner, Gatehouse correspondent Gavin Good and Gabby Hajduk from the Daily Illini.

Here we go. I’ll check back in when I can get into Camp Randall at 5:30 p.m.

pic.twitter.com/mHXIAqmxLm

— Kendrick J. Green (@The_fridge53) October 23, 2020

***

Our beat writer caught up with the Illini coach before Friday night’s season opener at Wisconsin

Beat writer Scott Richey breaks down the 2020 season opener

Here’s what you should expect in the Illini’s season opener

Three AP voters give their take on the Illini quarterback ahead of Friday night’s season opener at Wisconsin

‘Last year, when we played Wisconsin, it was an all-around effort by everybody,’ defensive lineman Jamal Woods said

Well, here we go again. The 2020 Illinois football, once thought lost to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, starts tonight in Madison, Wis. The Illini don’t ease into it either, with No. 14 Wisconsin first up in the revised (times two) Big Ten schedule.

No nonconference warmup in 2020. No shot at an Illinois State or UConn or Bowling Green before jumping into Big Ten play. No, it’s a headfirst dive into the deep end immediately instead.

The Illini and Badgers kick of at 7 p.m. at Camp Randal Stadium. Most will be listening (check out Brian Barnhart and Martin O’Donnell on WDWS) or watching from home. The Big Ten has banned fans in 2020, and even the allowance for families of players and coaches has been put on pause in Madison.

While you get ready for the start of the most unique Illinois football season in more than a century, catch up on our exhaustive preseason coverage leading up to today’s game. It was a team effort by the entire N-G sports staff, including long-time beat writer Bob Asmussen, sports editor Matt Daniels, preps writer Colin Likas with a major assist, copy editor Joe Vozzelli and beat writer Scott Richey.

Richey will represent the N-G in Madison as one of just six Illinois media credentialed to make the trip in the new COVID-19 world we’re living in. He’ll provide updates throughout the day and late into the night as befitting a 7 p.m. kickoff. (Don’t ask his opinion on that. Or do. He doesn’t mind sharing).

As always, right here at IlliniHQ.com is where all your gameday needs will be answered, including more from our preseason deep dive on the Illini:

Uniform tweaks further awareness of social justice issues

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois football players have taken an active stance on social justice issues in the last few months, including an athlete-organized march in late August against police violence and racial injustice. Redshirt junior offensive lineman Kendrick Green and senior cornerback Nate Hobbs spearheaded that initiative, and others have been active on social media to promote awareness, too.

The Illini will use Friday’s season opener at No. 14 Wisconsin to further that cause. Illinois will replace its traditional orange and blue Block I helmet decal with a black Block I instead.

“We wanted to show that we are aware of what’s happening in our country right now,” Hobbs said in an official release. “We’re willing to take a stand, not as one, but as a unit.”

To continue reading, click here.

Quarterback Brandon Peters leads a deep and talented senior class for the 2020 Illinois football team, which opens the season at 7 p.m. on Friday at Wisconsin.

David Craan/Illinois athletics

Asmussen | Illini, get ready for a college football season like no other

CHAMPAIGN — It’s 11 a.m. on Dec. 5.

Three inches of snow blanket the Memorial Stadium turf. And the white stuff fills the empty stands.

Well, almost empty … except for the cardboard cutouts of fans ($50 to $99 a pop) and the faux Marching Illini.

In five minutes, Illinois and Iowa will run onto Zuppke Field to no applause, other than what’s generated by the loudspeakers and scoreboards.

No smell of roasting hot dogs or popcorn in the air. No beers being spilled on people in the next row.

Outside beautiful Memorial Stadium, the usual hustle and bustle are absent.

If the Dick Butkus and Red Grange statues could talk, it would be some version of, “What the heck is going on around here?”

To continue reading, click here.

More from the 2020 Illinois football special section:

Meet the seniors

Meet the coaches

Big Ten West preview

Big Ten East preview

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley graduate Bryce Barnes is entering his sophomore season at Illinois.

Illinois athletics

GCMS grad Barnes aiming for bigger special teams presence

CHAMPAIGN — Bryce Barnes is readily visible for about 2 seconds.

His nameplate and number 48, in dark blue print on a gray uniform backdrop, are seen bouncing around before being sucked into a sea of humanity.

The then-Illinois football freshman turns into one small piece of a massive celebration, set off by James McCourt’s 39-yard field goal that allowed the Illini to upset No. 6 Wisconsin 24-23 at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 19, 2019.

It’s all archived in a YouTube video on the Illinois athletics website.

Of course, Barnes lived the moment. And the 2019 Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley graduate can provide a slightly different perspective from it.

“I ended up at the bottom of the pile, and (McCourt and I) were face to face underneath everybody,” said Barnes, who was blocking on the line as McCourt booted the ball through the uprights in front of the Illini band and student section. “It was an honor for me to be out there in such a big win for this program. I wanted to start crying just because of how happy I was.”

To continue reading, click here.

More from Scott Richey

Lovie: ‘We’re going to see exciting football’

Starters have Smith comfortable with cornerbacks

#central #gameday #illinois #quarter #wisconsin #Sports

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littlej097 · 6 years

Text

Klaine Advent - Key

Summary: Handing the car key over to your teenager is never an easy thing to do and it was something that Kurt and Blaine definitely weren’t ready for.

“Guys, I’m fine. I really am.” Kurt told his family. “You can stop fussing over me.” Blaine had just gotten his husband situated on the couch. During a wild family dance party, Kurt had jumped off the couch, landed wrong on his right ankle and had promptly broken it. After a trip to the nearest emergent care center, an x-ray and a big bulky cast placement, the family was finally home.

“Kurt, can you just let us take care of you for once?” Blaine asked.

“It barely hurts.” Kurt told them. “Plus, I have things I need to get done. It’s a school night. Lunches have to be packed. Lucy needs to get a bath. Andrew needs help with his english homework…” he continued to ramble off stuff. It would have been a little easier to handle, but Penny was off at college and couldn’t lend a hand.

“I can make lunches.” Charlie offered.

“Yeah and I can help Andrew with english.” Caleb added.

“I suppose I can give this one a bath.” Blaine replied as he picked Lucy up by her belly and flipped her upside down. She giggled and kicked her feet.

“Daddy! Put me down!” she screech through giggles.

“That takes care of tonight, but who is going to drive the kids to school tomorrow? Blaine, you have an meeting at the theater tomorrow.”

“I can do it!” Charlie immediately exclaimed. Instantly, Kurt and Blaine watched their other three children groan in protest. “What? I have my license. I can do it.”

“Papa, if you value any of our lives, you will not let her drive us.” Andrew pleaded. Kurt looked over at Blaine. They were kind of out of options. Caleb didn’t yet have his license. He wasn’t in a hurry to flee the nest, like his sister was. He took a little longer to practice and hadn’t taken his official drivers test yet.

“We kind of don’t have any other option.” Kurt told his children. “Charlie, my car key is on the counter in the kitchen.”

“Yes! Thanks Papa!” Charlie said before racing off into the kitchen. She came back a few seconds later with the key in her hand a huge smile on her face. “Charlotte Rose, I want you to look at me.” Charlie looked at her father. “You are carrying the most precious cargo in both mine and your father’s life. Do not do anything to damage it.”

“And by that, he means don’t scratch his car.” Blaine replied sarcastically.

“Blaine! I meant the children.” Kurt retorted.

“And now I take my leave. I shall also take this one.” he added before picking Lucy up and then running her towards the bathroom.

“Well, we should go do that english homework.” Caleb said as he put a hand on his brother’s back.

“Why? We’re gonna die before we even get to the school tomorrow.” Andrew said.

“Just in case there’s a miracle.” Caleb laughed.

“This is ridiculous! I’m a good driver!” Charlie exclaimed. “I’m the one who actually passed my test.”

“And I’m sure the crying that you did when you hit a cone parallel parking didn’t have anything to do with that.” Caleb retorted.

“Shut up! It was a stressful time!” Charlie yelled at her brother before storming off to her room. Then, Kurt was left on his own. Surprisingly, it was almost peaceful. It was quiet and he had total control over the tv remote. He didn’t have to make lunches or run bath water. He turned on the tv and found an episode of Project Runway. Maybe this broken ankle wouldn’t be that bad....

The next morning, Blaine helped Kurt hobble back into the living room and got him set up with the tv remote, his sketchbooks, a drink and his laptop. “If you need anything, feel free to call me.”

“Blaine, I have a broken ankle. I’m not crippled.” Kurt replied. “It’s not like I’ve never been on crutches before.”

“I know. I just want to make sure you’re okay.” Blaine replied.

“And that is why I love you so much.” Kurt replied as he motioned for his husband to come over. He grabbed Blaine’s bowtie and pulled him close enough to press a quick peck to his lips. “Now get going! Jerry at the theater isn’t going to wait all day.” he added with a quick slap to Blaine’s butt.

“Geez, those painkillers are making you a little frisky.” Blaine replied. Kurt gave him a wink and Blaine laughed before he left. Soon enough all four of the remaining Anderson-Hummel children filtered into the kitchen to eat breakfast before school. Caleb came in first and grabbed a pack of poptarts.

“Glad to see your picking something healthy for breakfast Caleb.” Kurt said from the living room.

“Oh, you know me Papa. Always the health nut.” he replied as he took another bite of his smores poptarts. Lucy came in next. She had her favorite stuffed lamb in her arms.

“Here Papa, you can have lamby for the day. She can keep you company.” Lucy told him as she extended the white stuffed lamb to her father.

“Oh honey, that’s so thoughtful.” Kurt said as he pulled his daughter in for a kiss. “Now go in the kitchen and Caleb will help you get some cereal before school.” The little girl nodded and skipped into the kitchen, her blonde ponytails swaying as she walked. Charlie came in next. She looked excited, no doubt it was about driving to school today. Last but not least was Andrew who walked down the hallway with a football helmet on his head. Kurt had to stifle a laugh when he saw him.

“Andrew bud, what are you wearing?”

“Trying not to get a brain injury when Charlie undoubtedly crashes the car today.” he replied. “The helmet should help reduce the impact and prevent me from getting any internal bleeding in my brain.” Kurt laughed. Andrew was such a smart 10 year old and recently he was very into medicine. He was telling anyone and everyone that one day he was going to be a doctor. Charlie however did not consider her brother as charming as Kurt did.

“You’re such a booger! Take it off.”

“No! I’m just trying not to die.” Andrew retorted.

“You are not wearing it in the car when I’m driving.”

“Guess I’m not going to school then.” the boy replied.

“Not an option.” Kurt said jumping in. “Honey, our car is pretty safe so I think you’ll be okay without the helmet.”

“You can never be too careful Papa.” Andrew replied. Charlie gave her father an exasperated look and threw her hands out in frustration.

“Let it go.” Kurt to his daughter. Charlie rolled her eyes and then grabbed the lunches that she had made the night before and put them on the counter.

“Okay, we’re leaving in 10 minutes.” Charlie told the rest of her siblings. They all looked at her with blank expressions on their faces. They were clearly so excited about their ride to school. When 10 minutes was up, each kid walked over to Kurt to say goodbye.

“Bye Papa.” Caleb and Charlie both said as they grabbed their backpacks.

“Bye Papa, I love you. I hope your ankle feels better.” Lucy replied sweetly. “Bye lamby!” she added giving her stuffed animal a kiss as well. Andrew was last. He walked over and gave Kurt a full on hug.

“Bye Papa, If is the last time we see each other, I want you to know, you were a great father.” he said.

“No one is dying. Get going before your sister leaves your butt behind.” Andrew sent his father a smile and then went out to the car.

“Please, don’t let anything happen to them...or to the car.” Kurt said to no one before he started working on some things for Vogue. When the kids got home later that afternoon, Kurt was sprawled out on the couch taking a nap. He heard whispers as all four kids came home, but kept his eyes clothed.

“No one better say anything. Got it?” Charlie hissed in a hushed tone.

“Do you honestly think Dad and Papa won’t notice?” Caleb replied.

“I’m going to tell them.” Charlie told her brother. “It was an accident.”

“It wouldn’t have been if you knew how to parallel park better…”

“Like you can do better!” Kurt decided that was the moment that he would let his children know he could hear everything they were saying.

“Who would like to tell me what happened?” he said, startling all four children.

“I’m not a part of this.” Andrew said. “Come on Luc.” The little girl followed her older brother down the hallway to their rooms.

“And then there were two. Spill. How bad is the damage?”

“So…” Charlie began. “When we got to school, there weren’t any spots in the parking lot. So I had to find street parking and parallel park…”

“And…” Kurt replied.

“When I went to pull in, I may have tapped the back bumper a little bit and there may be a dent.”

“Is is a big dent?” Kurt replied with a groan.

“It’s a medium sized dent.” Charlie confessed.

“That’s not all.” Caleb said quietly to which his sister sent him a death glare.

“What else?”

“Okay, well this part was not really my fault.” Charlie began. “Some asshole-”

“Language.” Kurt reprimanded.

“Some annoying person parked so close to me - both in the front and the back so when I tried to pull out, I had to wiggle out of the spot and I pulled forward a little too fast and dented the front too.”

“Give me the car key.” Kurt said immediately. Charlie walked up hesitantly and placed the key in her father’s hand.

“Are you gonna yell?”

“I’m trying to be calm. I suggest you go and think about what you’re going to tell your father when he gets home. I’d also think about ways to make up the money to pair for the damage to be repaired. It was a mistake, but you need to take responsibility for your actions.” Caleb sent his sister a smirk.

“Fair enough.”

“Oh and Caleb, don’t laugh just yet. Until your sister can prove that she can parallel park without denting the car, you get to drive her where she has to go. Once you pass your test of course. I happen to know that you are a great parallel parker so it shouldn't be a problem.”

“Papa! That’s not fair.”

“Life’s not fair kid.” Kurt shot back. Both teenagers went off to their bedrooms and Kurt let out a sigh. If he hadn’t broken his stupid ankle, their car wouldn’t be dented in both the front and the back. He knew for sure that he wouldn’t be handing the car key to either one of his teenagers anytime soon, even if that meant that he had to learn to drive with his left foot until his right was healed.

#klaine advent 2017 #klaine advent: key #littlej097 #daddy klaine

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junker-town · 5 years

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How ‘Little Giants’ resonates with kids today

The 1994 film “Little Giants” is all about teamwork. | Warner Brothers production / SB Nation illustration

A small-town high school football team watches the 25-year-old movie for the first time and finds its message still rings true.

Superior Central Cougars senior and two-year varsity football captain Jack Rondeau leans back and shakes his head, laughing at the screen as a small football player has his entire helmet torn off. Left behind is nothing but air, the kid having turtled his head down into his oversized football pads.

No, it wasn’t some horrific replay during a film session for Rondeau and his teammates in tiny Eben Junction, Michigan. Instead, it was the first time most of the 24 boys, ranging from ninth to 12th grade on the varsity football team, had ever watched the 1994 movie Little Giants. The player having his head ripped off by angry opponent Spike is none other than snot-nosed, fan favorite character Jake Berman, played by actor Todd Bosley.

”Can we try that?” asks one of the boys as the movie plays in the classroom of former head coach and current assistant coach Brenton Fitzpatrick.

Everyone laughs in response, envisioning the shock such a scene would cause.

”We should have Wyatt do it,” someone jokes, calling out freshman Wyatt Kulik. The other players in the room laugh, including Kulik. As the smallest player on the team at 5’0 and just shy of 100 pounds, he’s used to the friendly teasing.

Members of the Superior Central Cougars football team gather in a classroom to watch “Little Giants”

But the movie on the screen was showing you didn’t have to be the best or biggest athlete on the field to make a difference in the final outcome. Maybe it would prove inspirational. After all, his brothers, Ben and Josh, both started as players of similar build in their freshman seasons and went on to be starters on both sides of the ball as upperclassmen.

Other players saw the upstart Giants as a team that seemed familiar in some ways, despite the 25-year gap between then and now.

”I’m a huge movie buff and it was a cool movie to watch, especially with our small team from the Upper Peninsula,” says junior captain Caleb Nimee, who plays on the defensive line and special teams.

Nimee’s favorite part was pretty easy to identify. “(It) was when they had to play at the end and showed how they could defeat the team with their dedication and skill, even though they were severely undermatched to the winning and well-equipped team.”

For the Cougars, it’s a scene that plays out every week. The team is in its ninth year of existence, having been born in the district at the dawn of 8-player high school football in Michigan. With 120 students in the entire high school, Superior Central is the perfect home for 8-player football. Their team isn’t big enough for a JV program, so players in ninth through 12th grades all suit up for varsity games. The Cougars often play teams approximately the same size, like Rapid River (an enrollment of 131) and Forest Park (121), as well as schools with even fewer students, like Carney-Nadeau (87) and North Dickinson (86).

”It stands up pretty well after 25 years as we see many teams in the same circumstances play their heart out over and over again,” Nimee says. “That’s the true spirit of football, playing with your all and giving it your best shot because you truly do it for the love of the sport and the brotherhood of your team.”

Other players on the team also say the movie has aged well. Some, like senior defensive lineman Wyatt Fink, think the message the movie portrays still comes through loud and clear decades later.

”Although it’s primarily a comedy, I think the message — about that even if you are inferior at something, you can pull it off at least once — was potent and still a strong idea that can be used today,” he says.

For current high school students, born in 2001 or later, Little Giants is a virtually unknown movie. Only one player in the room, senior Zach Englund, had previously watched it and understood some of the references his coaches had made leading up to the screening. For the team’s coaches, it is a childhood classic — although now, they identify with very different characters than they did in their younger days.

”Unfortunately, I do identify with Rick Moranis in this film,” Coach Fitzpatrick says, referencing the coach of the Giants. “Not as experienced as my opposing coaches, less than ideal equipment and facilities, and trying to teach the basics of the game to some very green players. I had the privilege of being the second head football coach in my school’s short history of fielding a team, which often felt like I was trying to start from scratch.”

And like Moranis, Fitzpatrick found ways to win during his two-year tenure. He helped motivate his Cougars no matter the odds before them.

Everyone dreams of being on the team that upsets the perennial powerhouse. Some dream of stopping their opponents on the 1-yard line to win the game. Some just want to have a moment of personal glory. In the movie, that comes on the final play of the game — “the Annexation of Puerto Rico.”

The gentle ribbing throughout the movie culminates as the entire room fills with chants of “Joe! Joe! Joe! Joe!” as Little Giant Rudy Zolteck, played by Michael Zwiener, scoots as fast as a big lineman can run down the field in the famous final seconds of the game. They were really cheering for Cougars senior Joe McNally, who, like Zolteck, was also living a lineman’s dream. He had caught his first high school pass just about a week before after being thrust unexpectedly into the role of tight end following an injury to the team’s quarterback and some shuffling on the depth chart.

That catch, it just so happened, was a touchdown. His smile is wide as his teammates chant his name. A lineman’s dream indeed.

The boys erupt in more cheers as, on the screen, little Jake Berman crosses the goal line for the score to win the game and the movie comes to an end.

The lights come on. The coaches start picking up the empty pizza boxes.

For a minute, the talk from the players as they gather up their belongings changes to Superior Central’s early-season win over Carney-Nadeau. Junior quarterback Kyle Frusti scrambled 20 yards off a broken pass play on fourth down as time expired. He was hit at the 5-yard line, spun off one defender and pushed into another, and stretched his arm out to break the plane of the goal to tie the game, 42-42. On the conversion, Frusti hit Rondeau with a quick pass to score two points and secure the win in the final seconds — the only time they led during the game. It seemed like an improbable task at the time, having trailed 30-14 at halftime.

It was clear why the movie had the boys remembering their last-minute victory.

”Well, wait a second, guys,” Coach Danny O’Shea says in Little Giants. “Who said you had to be good to play football? You play football because you want to. You play football because it’s fun. You play football so you could pretend you’re — Joe Montana throwing a touchdown pass, or Emmitt Smith going for a long run. And even if those Cowboys are better than you guys, even if they beat you 99 times out of 100, that still leaves …”

”One time,” Tad Pritchett says.

Twenty-five years later, that message still rings true.

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bongaboi · 2 years

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Oklahoma: 2021 Alamo Bowl Champions

SAN ANTONIO — About an hour before the Alamo Bowl kicked off, Bob Stoops came strolling out of the tunnel and the ovation rose.

The cheers quickly evolved into a long, drawn-out “Stoooooooops” chant, and OU’s legendary coach acknowledged the ovation with a wave to all sides of the stadium.

The cheering from the Sooners’ side kept right on going through much of the first half before things tightened up after the break, as OU beat a depleted Ducks squad 47-32 in the Alamodome on Wednesday night.

Here are five takeaways from the Sooners’ win.

Father-son moment

The “Stoooooooops” chant returned in the second quarter, but this time it was for Bob’s son, redshirt junior receiver Drake Stoops.

On third-and-goal from the 6, Caleb Williams found Drake Stoops on a fade route, and he went up and hauled in the touchdown pass over Oregon cornerback Trikweze Bridges.

As Drake came off the field, he was met by his father, who gave him a bear hug and several pats on the helmet.

The touchdown, the first of three by the Sooners in the second quarter, put OU ahead 16-3.

It was Stoops’ second touchdown catch of the season. He also had one against Texas Tech on Oct. 30.

Defense: The good and the bad

The Sooners struggled to contain Oregon’s 5-foot-10 running back Travis Dye much in the first quarter.

Dye’s speed helped him gain 66 yards in the first quarter alone.

In the second quarter, though, OU’s defense bowed up. In the second quarter. Oregon had 102 yards — just one fewer than it had in the first quarter — but only 17 of those came on the ground. The Ducks didn’t have a drive longer than 39 yards in the second.

But Oregon opened things up, especially through the air, in the second half, scoring touchdowns on each of its first four second-half drives.

Those included touchdown passes of 66, 34 and 30 yards.

Oregon finished with 497 yards, 306 through the air.

Dye finished with 153 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Brooks and done

It’s no surprise the Sooners leaned heavily on running back Kennedy Brooks in the Alamo Bowl.

Brooks has been the Sooners’ offensive workhorse and was again Wednesday, with 14 carries for 142 yards and three touchdowns.

At one point early in the game, Brooks touched the ball on six consecutive plays.

During that stretch, he picked up seven yards on a third-and-6 after Caleb Williams checked down to find his running back open. Then he had a 10-yard run on the next play, followed by a 16-yard touchdown run.

In the second quarter, Brooks had a 40-yard carry to set up Drake Stoops’ touchdown catch three plays later.

Brooks rushed for 127 yards in the first half, setting a first-half bowl record for the Sooners, breaking Rodney Anderson’s 125 yards in the first half against Georgia in the 2017 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl.

Brooks moved into ninth place on OU’s career rushing list, passing Stanley Wilson.

Williams’ TD wiped out

Mario Williams broke free and the crowd roared.

Just moments after Jeremiah Hall converted a third-and-1 on a direct snap on the first play of the second quarter, Caleb Williams hit Williams for an apparent 51-yard touchdown.

But Ducks’ cornerback Avante Dickerson, trying to bring Williams down, instead ripped Williams’ helmet off his head with a facemask, immediately drawing a flag.

But it also drew a whistle.

The rules call for a stoppage of play once the ball carrier’s helmet comes off, regardless of the other circumstances of the play.

Williams wound up with an 18-yard gain and the Sooners ultimately settled for a 40-yard field goal by Gabe Brkic.

Turk comes up just short

Michael Turk had the record sealed up, it appeared.

But when OU’s fourth-quarter drive stalled, Turk was forced into action once again and his record chances came up just short.

Before the fourth-quarter punt, Turk’s season average was 51.29 yards, which would’ve broken an NCAA record set just recently when San Diego State’s Matt Araiza finished his season with a 51.19-yard average.

Turk needed a 48-yard punt to stay ahead of Araiza for the record, but his final punt went 47, pinning the Ducks at their own 7 but coming up just one yard short — not just on that punt but any this season — of breaking the mark.

#2021 #oklahoma sooners #college football #bowl season #alamo bowl

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kobe19891202-blog · 4 years

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firstconclusions · 6 years

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Black Hole Drop

With so many cave systems in the Belizian foothills, I suppose it’s just a matter of time until a ceiling collapses here or there. Which happened deep in the jungles several century ago leaving an enormous sinkhole 300feet deep and the diameter of a football field. It’s huge. And the sheer white limestone cliff faces that were left exposes from the cave collapse make for a perfect spot for repelling. Or so we were told. The adventure is called “the black hole drop” for reasons that quickly become obvious...you repeal 15-20 feet on a vertical wall then free drop the remaining several hundred feet to the bottom of the pit. As you begin the free repelling part of the descent, the sides of the basin have massive cave openings with stalactites still hanging from the ceilings. Over the centuries, the jungle has reclaimed the floor of the pit, and tall trees have growth at the bottom, masking the real length of the drop.

The actual drop is amazing, especially the first 20-30 seconds as you back your way over the cliff-face with 300 feet of nothingness over the edge. Caleb was the brave leader of the family and opted to go first. And Abby quickly and eagerly followed. Elise had a few more reservations (heights aren’t her thing), but she did it, and even greeted me at the bottom with pleas to “do it again.”

Our guides prepared a white tablecloth picnic on the floor of the pit. Elise did some cheerleading. We all did some singing, as it was hard to imagine a more beautifully acoustic place. We had another couple on our hike and drop, Mike & Emily from California. You can always learn so much from meeting strangers on foreign trips, and in this case, our kids learned that you should never ride a motorcycle in flip-flops without a helmet. Mike’s story of his surgically re-constructed foot was unforgettable, as was the fact that he was vacationing in Belize less than a year later.

As nervy as the drop was into the pit, the hike back was probably the most dangerous. It took almost an hour to get to the black hole, through steep technical jungle paths in a steady warm rain. The rain made the pathways slick with reddish mud so every step had to be carefully measured, especially on the delicate decent back to the trailhead. There were a few slips and falls, and we were definitely dirtier at the end of this adventure than we had been all trip.

#belize

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tfcrp · 5 years

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GAME 06: PALMETTO STATE FOXES vs. WILKES-MEYERS HORNETS

PRE-GAME

The Foxes arrive at the court an hour before first serve, donning their white-on-orange home uniforms before meeting in the lounge to talk last-minute strategy.

With the football team in town for a game the following night, the Foxhole Court is packed—and predominantly with orange, pockets of Hornets fans few and far between. And with prime seats near the Fox bench are the football players themselves, with their cheerleading squad accompanying them. And though the Foxes are used to a fickle fanbase that wants to see them lose as much or more than they want to see them win, their laughter stands out as the Vixens run through their pre-game routines.

Half an hour before first serve, the Foxes are allowed onto the court for a brief warm-up. They line up in order of position: Strikers, then Dealers, then Backliners, then Goalkeepers, with Grant and Claudia in the front as Captain and Vice-Captain.

Once warm-ups are done, Grant and the Hornets’ captain meet at center court for the coin toss that will determine who gets first serve. The Hornets win, and the starting players enter the court for the start of the game.

Red Cards: Sasha Hart-Ashby; Raphael Peruggia (suspension)

Injuries: Leo Duarte (hand)

FIRST HALF

STARTING LINEUP:

Goalkeeper: Emmett Ashford (Sub: Alis Tan)

Dealer: Claudia Jewell (Subs: Marley Reid)

Strikers: Arlo Booth, Brayden Sykes (Sub: Akira Sato)

Backliners: Casey Hendrix, Glory Hoskins (Sub: Grayson Sharpe)

Though it isn’t Emmett’s first meeting with his old team, Wymack gives him the nod to start, and he takes his position with the rest of the starting players for the Hornets’ serve.

Fast off their serve, the Hornets get an early goal against Emmett, pushing up against the Fox goal and sneaking it past the screen of players.

At the pause in play after the goal, a Hornets striker pushes Glory behind the goal line and into Emmett, sending them both to the ground.

Glory comes back up swinging, and when they’re pulled apart she has a cut on her cheek from her helmet visor.

Glory is given a yellow card for her participation in the fight, but since she’s bleeding, she’s escorted off the court anyway to where Abby is waiting.

The Hornets striker is given a red card, and the Foxes are given a penalty shot, which Arlo sets up to take—and misses, to the audible groaning of the crowd.

With play paused, Wymack sends in his subs: Alis for Emmett; Marley for Claudia; Grayson for Glory; and Akira for Arlo.

Back for his first game since his shoulder injury, Akira is an easy target. Wymack sends Grayson on the court with him for a purpose: to make the Hornets think twice about hitting him.

Marley serves to restart play, and after a blocked shot on goal from Akira the Hornets are able to turn play back up the court, getting a shot past Alis to extend their lead.

Akira is able to steal possession off of the Hornets serve and, with a quick pivot, he manages to avoid a check from a Hornets backliner.

Akira passes to Brayden at the end of his steps, and Brayden whips off a shot that gets past the Hornets goalkeeper for the Foxes’ first point of the night.

Marley serves, and as Akira and a Hornets backliner battle along the wall for possession, Grayson jumps in, leveling the backliner with a hard hit against the Plexiglass and clearing the ball back out to center.

With Grayson covering Akira, Casey has a more difficult defensive workload than usual, and they fumble an attempt to clear the ball up court, a turnover that leads to a late Hornets goal against Alis.

The buzzer sounds to signal the end of the half with the Foxes trailing: 3-1.

HALFTIME

The Foxes retreat to their locker room and the Vixens remain on the court for their half time routine, ignoring the mass of football players and cheerleaders in the crowd. After fifteen minutes, both teams are called back to the court.

SECOND HALF

STARTING LINEUP:

Goalkeeper: Caleb Fournier (Sub: Grant Rollins)

Dealer: Olivia Finch

Strikers: Carter Maddox, Octavia Dawson (Sub: Neel Avery)

Backliners: Sterling Walsh, Elior Lowell (Sub: Sydney McCray)

Players take their positions for the start of play, and the Hornets serve to start the half.

The Hornets are denied a potential goal when a stick check from Elior knocks their striker’s shot just wide.

Sterling clears the ball up court, and Octavia earns herself an early yellow card for a trip on a Hornets player as they both scramble for the ball—and, by the way she laughs, it doesn’t look like an accident.

The Hornets are given possession, but Olivia beats a Hornets striker in a footrace off the Hornets’ serve, and whips the ball off the court before taking a heavy hit into the Plexiglass.

Octavia fakes out the Hornets goalkeeper, who thinks she’s going to take the shot. When she passes to Carter instead, the goalkeeper can’t get back in position fast enough to block his shot, cutting the Hornets’ lead in half.

The Hornets answer quickly: muscling Octavia off of the ball after Olivia’s serve and turning play back up the court, getting off a fast shot that just barely gets past Caleb.

At the pause in play, Wymack sends in his subs: Grant for Caleb; Neel for Octavia; and Sydney for Elior.

The Hornets serve to restart play, and soon after Grant makes a diving play to deny the Hornets what could have been a back-breaking goal.

Sterling crushes the Hornets striker in pursuit of the rebound into the wall, and Sydney swoops in the clear the ball up the court, making a clean pass up to Neel.

With a burst of speed, Neel gets around the Hornets backliner covering him for a rapid-fire shot that lands in the top corner of the goal.

With the Foxes within one, tempers run high, and when the backliner Neel left in the dust shoves at him with the shaft of his racquet as the players reset, Carter is there in a flash, pushing the Hornets player back and putting himself in between.

At the prospect of picking a fight with an angry Carter instead, the backliner backs off, and Olivia serves to restart play.

Carter makes a shot that the Hornets goalkeeper dives to save—but he collects his own rebound and scores on his second attempt with the goalkeeper out of position.

After trailing for the entire game, a fast offensive flurry allows the Foxes to tie the game 4-4, sending it into overtime.

OVERTIME

STARTING LINEUP:

Goalkeeper: Emmett Ashford

Dealer: Claudia Jewell

Strikers: Arlo Booth, Brayden Sykes

Backliners: Grayson Sharpe, Sydney McCray

Overtime begins after only a brief time-out for both coaches to decide on their lineup, and is sudden death: the first team to score wins. If no one scores after fifteen minutes, it goes to a shootout.

Claudia serves to start, and the Foxes get the first shot on goal, but Arlo is robbed by the Hornets goalkeeper, who makes a spectacular diving save to knock his shot aside with the very tip of his racquet.

The Foxes fight to get control of the rebound, but Sydney is checked hard along the wall and loses the fight for the ball.

Play moves up the court but, behind it, Claudia is tangled up with a Hornets backliner, both of them pushing at each other. The referees don’t intervene, however, letting them play it out, and with a parting jab with the butt of her racquet, Claudia pulls free and rejoins play.

Emmett comes out past the goal-line to block a shot, with a heavy swing of his racquet that launches it all the way up the court, forcing the players on the court to sprint for it.

As overtime drags on, everyone on the court is tiring, playing for more minutes that usual. Brayden digs deep for a burst of speed and gets to the loose ball first.

As a Hornets player comes barrelling towards him at full speed, Brayden drops down, and the player goes overtop of him instead, his own momentum carrying him to the floor, where he’s slow to get up.

In a fast passing sequence, Brayden whips the ball back to Claudia, who passes it just as quickly back to Arlo. Arlo gets off another shot—this one too fast to block.

The goal lights up red with barely a minute to spare, and the Foxes have pulled out a win: 5-4.

POST-GAME

With a hard-fought comeback completed, the Foxes line up by their bench to shake hands with the Hornets players, tired but in good spirits and in front of a packed home crowd that, for tonight at least, they’ve won over to their side—minus the football team and cheerleaders, who left quickly at the end of the game.

Back in the locker room, Wymack spares the Foxes some gruff words of praise for their hard work and focused play, before he assigns Grayson and Sasha to press duty—even though she didn’t play in the game—in a move that seems designed to make her think twice about any future red cards.

Once the Foxes have showered and changed out, with Grayson and Sasha joining them in lounge after they’re done with press duty, the Foxes are free for the night—and despite a tiring overtime game, to rally for a victory party in the Vixen Den, even if it’s more low-key than their Halloween blowout. Their slow climb up the standings, and their second game won in a row, deserve some kind of recognition.

ADMIN NOTE: And there you have it! You’re welcome to set threads during any of the periods listed above—(pre-game, expanding on the events of the game itself, halftime, post-game)—and I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Our next game will be an away game against the Georgia Southern Eagles on the in-game date of November 16—the last game before the Foxes’ Thanksgiving/Fall break!

And, as always, please let me know if you have any questions or feedback!

#tfcgames

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sienna35t627-blog · 6 years

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