The Big Time

CHAPTER NINETEEN

SETH CALLED COACH MORA'S defenses from that point on, that much was certain. But because of his injured knees and lack of speed, his ability to make the plays a middle linebacker has to make just wasn't there. Once, Seth burst through the line and barreled into the Packers' running back behind the line of scrimmage, but the runner simply stiff-armed him, knocking Seth to the ground. The running back kept going for a twelve-yard gain. Another time, Seth shot untouched around the end of the line on a blitz only to have the quarterback outrun him to the sideline and complete a touchdown pass.

Coach Mora's face darkened from red to purple, and early in the fourth quarter Troy heard him mutter and saw him signal Seth to the sideline.

"That's it," Mora said, meeting Seth as he came off the field. "Your knees are killing you, Seth. I have to make a change."

"Change?"

"Lengyel!" Mora said, barking over his shoulder. "Halloway's down."

"I'm not down," Seth said, whipping off his helmet, his words garbled by the mouthpiece he then spit out into his hand. "I can go."

"Not in this game, you can't," Mora said. "We're down by ten. Look at the clock."

Troy glanced up. Only eleven minutes remained in the fourth quarter. Enough time to pull out a win, but not if the Falcons' defense couldn't hold on the next series.

"I can do this," Seth said, sticking out his chin.

"Seth, you know the plays," Mora said, sad and quiet, "and you still can't do it."

"You're better off with me in there and knowing the plays than having Lengyel in there not knowing," Seth said.

"Who says Lengyel won't know?" Mora said. "He's been studying my signals. He can handle it."

"Handle what?" Seth said.

"Me, signaling in the defense and the play they're going to run," Mora said.

The crowded sideline was what Troy imagined a battlefield was like: players rushing back and forth, in and out of the battle depending on its needs. The PAT block team ran out but failed. The kickoff return team surged on, then off the field after a successful return. Then the offense gave a war cry and flooded out. The other Falcons players around them gathered like a silent forest, surrounding Seth, Troy, and Mora, intent on seeing how the conflict would play out.

"If I'm not in there," Seth said, growling through a tight smile and pointing out at the field, "you're not going to know what plays they're running."

"Why?" Mora asked, his face crumpling in confusion.

"Because," Seth said, directing a taped and bloody finger at Troy, "if I'm not in, Troy's not in either."

"Troy?" Mora said. "He works for the team, not you."

"I found Troy," Seth said, nodding to himself. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have him here. We wouldn't be making this run at the playoffs. The whole staff would probably have been fired by now, including you, so don't tell me about Troy working for you."

Coach McFadden, the head coach, pushed his way through the forest of players and into the opening where the action was. Mora explained the situation, and McFadden turned to Troy.

"Well, Troy?" McFadden asked. "Is that true? Are you and Seth a package deal?"