Double Reverse by Fred Bowen Read Free Book Online Page A

rosters.
    ROSTER
8
Joseph
Martinez
PK
5-10
170
Fr.
9
James
Jackson
RB
5-9
195
Jr.
10
Webster
O’Brien
QB
6-0
175
So.
11
Chet
Morton
WR
6-0
180
Jr.
12
Jay
Wagner
DB
6-2
190
Fr.
13
Kirby
Park
P
6-0
185
Sr.
14
Jerome
Cook
QB
6-2
215
Sr.
15
Clayton
Whitmore
WR
6-4
205
Sr.
16
Zach
Friedman
QB
6-1
200
Jr.
    “Here he is. Number 12,” Jesse said. “At least he still has a quarterback’s number.”
    The stands were slowly filling as the Wagners walked up the stone steps and found their seats in a midfield section filled with fans wearing green sweaters, hats, and sweatshirts. Across the sun-splashed field, the fans were mostly in red. The two teams ran out onto the field and the fans on both sides stood and cheered.
    “Go, Dartmouth! Go, Big Green!”
    “Go, Big Red! Go, Cornell!”
    Jesse’s mother pulled at his father’s coat sleeve. “There he is!” she shouted. Jesse could hear the excitement in her voice. “Number 12. Go, Green!”
    Dartmouth jumped out to an early 14–0 lead on a couple of quick touchdowns, including the 65-yard return of a short, low punt.
    “That’s what happens when you don’t have any hang time on your kicks,” Jesse said to his father as the Dartmouth section celebrated. “The other team gets a big return.”
    Cornell scored just before the end of the half to pull closer, 14–7.
    Munching hot dogs in the stands at halftime, the family went over the highlights of the first half.
    “Jay got to play quite a bit,” Jesse’s mother said.
    “That’s because Dartmouth was ahead and Cornell was trying to catch up by throwing passes,” his dad said.
    Jesse wiped some mustard off his cheek. “Jay looks like he knows what he’s doing at safety. I mean, he doesn’t look like he’s in over his head or anything.”
    “So far, so good.” Jesse’s dad finished off his hot dog and settled back for the second half.
    As the teams ran out, his mom stood, bouncing and clapping. “Go, Big Green!”
    Cornell came charging back right away. They tied it up with a long run and then pulled ahead with a 32-yard field goal, pushing the score to 17–14.
    Then Dartmouth rallied. The Big Green drove down the field, eating up yardage andtime on the clock. Dartmouth capped the drive when their quarterback zigzagged his way to the end zone on a 15-yard scamper. Dartmouth had the lead again, 21–17.
    After the kickoff, Jesse’s father studied the scoreboard at the end of Memorial Field. “Less than three minutes to go and Cornell’s got to cover 70 yards for a TD.” He was on his feet. “Hold ’em! Dee-fense! Dee-fense!”
    Jesse looked down at the field. “Jay’s going in!”
    Cornell kept fighting. Two first downs put the ball in Dartmouth territory at the 45-yard line. The cheers from the Big Green fans grew more desperate.
    “Dee-fense!”
    “Dee-fense!”
    “DEEEE-fense!”
    On fourth down with only twenty seconds to go, the Cornell quarterback faded back and lofted a long Hail Mary pass into the end zone. For just a second the Cornell receiver looked open. Jesse watched as his brother rushed over, leaped high into theair, and swatted the ball away. The moment the football hit the turf, Jesse and his parents jumped up and cheered, joining the other overjoyed Dartmouth fans. Thanks to Jay, the Big Green had hung on to win.
    After the game, the fans and players from both teams milled around the field as the sun slipped down behind the White Mountains. The last rays of sunshine bathed the stadium in an orange, reddish glow.
    “Here he comes!” Jesse’s mother shouted over the noise of the crowd.
    Jay emerged, dirty and sweaty but smiling with the Big Green victory. Their mom rushed over and gave him a kiss, avoiding the eye black on his cheek.
    “Great play at the end,” their dad said, giving Jay a playful punch on the shoulder pad.
    Jay laughed. “Oh man, I was so scared. If I had let that guy catch the ball, I don’t think Coach would’ve ever let me play safety again.”
    Jesse