Turning Defense to Offense in Known-Unknown Territory.
I didn't go into the game thinking about doing it.
I'm more offensively minded in 8th Grade Football.
However, an assistant coach has a different idea in mind.
2006 ~ 8th Grade ~ 1st Year Back In Private School ~ Game 1 of Football Season
New School, New Me.
I knew what I could do.
My team did too after conditioning.
I don't think they really knew the extent of my talent.
I didn't either.
Who can speak a Pick 6 into existence?
Manifestation is a helluva drug.
An Assistant Coach on our football team had the bright idea to pull me to the side; as I am putting on my helmet, jogging onto the field.
"You're gonna get a pick 6 today."
Me: *Stares Blankly*
Me: "Huh?" (In my head)
"You are gonna get a pick 6; and when you catch that ball, don't stop running. Run as fast as you can, and don't stop. I don't care if you run all the way across the street to QuikTrip; just bring me back a slushie 😏"
Me: "Uhhhh... ok lol"
I slid the helmet over my head and buckle the chinstrap as I jog onto the field, confusingly glancing back at the assistant coach. I was trying to figure out if he was a time traveler or not.
I didn't believe it, even though I knew I could do it. Pick 6's are rare, so I just kept it in the back of my mind.
2 Rushing Touchdowns is a good game, so I was feeling confident.
Coach Dawson puts me in position "in the box".
At Safety, I am in Man Coverage over the TightEnd.
I guessed PlayAction
I have been watching their TE's all game.
They are slow, so I knew I had time on my side.
7 yards off the line-of-scrimmage
Covering the TE from the perspective of the end-zone I was protecting
The ball snaps to the QB in an I-Formation
The TE's head instantly pops up
"High Hat - I'm on that." (In My Head)
I knew he was running a route.
A TE that is slow will only successfully run 3 different routes on me
5 Yard Out - 5 Yard In - 5 Yard Hitch
Anything deep is mine
He don't got the wheels for the journey
Just as the TE takes his first few steps
I see the Quarterback 3/4 turn his body the TE's direction
I know the ball going to my side of the field
The TE plants his left foot to break right for a 5 Yard Out
The Quarterback has been throwing slow all game...
I'll have time to jump the route.
Arm Back
J U M P
Release Ball
S T A R S A L I G N
As the ball meets the middle of its travel path, It also meets my hands.
I don't know of too many footballs that have escaped that grasp.
This football was no different.
C A U G H T I N S T R I D E
I remembered the Assistant Coaches words in that moment, and indeed ran as fast as I could; I didn't go to QuikTrip though.
T O U C H D O W N
With 1 player scoring 3 touchdowns, I am sure you can assume we win Game 1.