The Dragons Lined Up... Jers was Inside   Emma and Santos   was the outside contain...

 jer's eyes  were   wide   as he  chews on his mouth piece.....Ok Emma?.... we  run past the first line... i get the  guy closet to your  inside shoulder on the second  level... that gives you ..maybe..one guy to beat... if they run away from us... make sure you trail, incase of a cut back..

 Smokey  here the   playclock whistle... and held up a gangly are,..hey! Dudes...and Dudette... you ready for this!

 then he dropped his  arm   ran to the Ball   and got a massive kick... high..and long...

 the return man was  just one  yard in the endzone , waiting for it to come down... Santos  sprinted down the sideline, a Jet veered off  as if to ehad hiom off... jers  and   Emma got  past the first line as they  peeled  back to set a wall... a Linebacker ( by his numer)  came from Emma's left and vanished  as Jers smashed into him...

 in the chaos , Emma was now in the eye of the Hurricane  as the return man started up field  heading  straight up   Emma's hash..the Up man had Veered off to go after Stalls , who was  the  head hunter on the left side... The   runner would be one on one  with Emma for the next second.

Jer got a nod from Emma.  "Got it," the woman said. Then they were off to the races.

Emma was perfectly fine with not having to deal with that linebacker right now, as it would give her a clear shot the return man.  She wanted to make a statement with this hit. Once she got to him, she had no intention of letting him get another inch.  The first priority was to the stop the return man dead, with priority 1A to be to hopefully cause a fumble that she could pick up and steal away to the end zone.

To that end, she kept running at the return man and watched for any sudden moves, ready to react to them. She figured it was fifty-fifty odds that he'd stupidly try to just plow through her this time. If he did that, Emma thought she had a very good shot at causing a fumble because she could focus everything into perfect form and technique without having to deal with any fancy footwork.  But she was ready for footwork if he tried to dodge her.

Emma crashed into the return man, wrapping him up in a solid tackle.  It wasn't anything spectacular, but it certainly would keep him from moving forward.  Unfortunately, he had too good of a hold on the ball for her to punch it out, try as she might, but the return man wasn't getting any further yards on her watch.  Then again, return men were selected because they were good at holding onto the ball, so it was pretty tough to get them to fumble.

But there were worse ways to start one's career than with a solid tackle of the opponent.

  The   crowded  sheered  some for the return some for Emma. then the   announcer said,

  Retrun  by number 29 Messie for  14  yards ..Tackle  By # 20...Reese...

 at the  call of her  name the pockets of Dragon Fans  erupted  in cheers.. The  defesne  took the Field  Worth and Bing ran over to Emma  Pounding on her helmet and Pads,, waitta  go baby!  waitta go!....

 ..good stp !..Good stop!

  the   TV timeout came...it would be  Jets ball 1-10 0n their 17. 10:23 1 Q

The guy was down behind the twenty yard line, so as far as Emma was concerned, she was pleased with the outcome. "Thanks," Emma said as she jogged off to the sidelines unless directed to stay on the field by the coach.  She knew she wasn't starting at Safety, at the very least, so she expected she wouldn't be on the field quite yet.

1-10 J-17 10:23 1Q  D 7  J 0

  Looking over the  Dragon defense , Hollen seemed to be rather Calm, the  first play was to The HB Egan.. he was hit  hard, By Payne in the hole. no gain.

2-10 J-17 9:54r 1Q D 7 J 0

  At the Next snap  Hollern  faked a pitch left  stood  in the Pocket a Crunch barrel through the Line. Jumped and Missed  the ball as it  Arrowed to their TE for a Pick up of 5 yards  before  Wheeler  Brought him down

3-5 J-22 9:30 R 1Q

    Hollen faked  a draw, which  held the LBs  for a heart beat, and snapped off a quick pass to the Outside... Santos  jumped the pass  but Tipped it, the WR Turned  to Pull in the  tip But Bing's helmet and Pads hit him in the chest and sent the ball into the sidelines   where a water  girls  for the Jets caught it.

4-5 J-22 9:20 Stopped. 1 Q

 Klay went on the field to  be the return man.

 The Snap came  back the BAll got  off and hung...  Klay  waved for a FAir Catch settling down at the  Dragon 29.

 1-10  D-29 9:21 1Q  D 7 J o

  Before  they left the sidelines   Duke  gathered them together... at first they lined up as always...

 Then  Duke called a shift... and the players shifted to the new  Formation the wideouts checked with the refs to make sure they were lined up right..   the  LB who was beating On Ben Looked around  at the Coaches, the safety shifted   over a few Yards and   Havers was trying to  scream out a change..Duke didn't give him the chance...

  the Ball was  snapped  < bronk took Off Up filed waving his hand..the CB was caught with his feet still.. the Safety ran over to  cut him off..Leaving   the Deep seam open.. The bother  Safety saw Machins ..who also took off  and waved his hand, causing the CB to turn his back and the  safety to have to Clse ob him.. Ben was running free down the Middle.. as he had done, so many times Before...

 Duke Got the BAll off quickly Evan as the Ball was heading towards   Ben Bronk still waved his hand as If Duke had Not thrown it...But the Jets  sidelines  were screaming  ..BALL...BALL...

Ben, legs pounding, glanced back and saw the ball coming his way. He reached out and snagged it, then tucked it under his arm in a secure 'chicken claw' grasp, put his head down and ran as if the very fiends of hell were snapping around his heels.

Even Bronk's mythical 40 yards record looked in jeopardy the speed Ben was going.

10 yards... 20... 30...

He ran off the frustration at being shut down (and flattened) so many times already this game.

40... 50... 60...

At 68 yards the strong safety, puffing like a steam engine, finally caught up with him with a tackle that was more of a collapse that tangled his legs and brought him down.

As Ben got up and looked for a ref to throw the ball towards, he looked down at the safety.

"Good run, man. But I'll be just that bit faster next time." He grinned as he offered the man a hand up.

  The  Ref  Took the Ball and spotted it at the 3.

1-G J-3   8:55r  1Q D 7 J 0

  The Crowd  was silent, save for a few pockets of Dragon Fans.  Duke and the Oline  were   rushing down filed, there were some Jets  who were passing the dragons as they  ran down field,  while other. bigger  men ran on..

  Duke  waved  His Team Up to the Line Looking around and yelled   "THEIF!...THEIF!.."

  At those words..everyone froze, and The ball was snapped.. Flags  flew all over the field as  a string of  Jets were caught   either..on their way to the ebnch..or on their way down to the  Goal line .

 The clock stopped on the flag.. the Ball was moved to the 1 1/2 yard line

 1-g J-2 8:50 S  !Q D 7 J 0

  Once More the  dragons  set up in the 'old' formations. then shifted out. the Goaline defense was not  set for this...  Pernall called a Time out

   The Jets  came   back out  with 5  line men 4 LBs and  2 DBs...

 Duke  watched the package  come in and  said.. Ok.. Ben and Bronk twins  right... Lucas  and Mackins  twins  Left...Klay in the backfield with me I want the outside men crossing  UNDER  the Inside men...inside  men head to the deep coner.... Klay? Look for the  shovel pass... Lets go...

  the  Dragons  Came out in their line up.. the LBs  were confused.. two of them and to spread out to up cover the twins on each side.

  With the Snap of the BAll  Duke  Looked to  Bronk who  ran Under Ben, Brought his  arm up and Pumped, then turned to  Mackins and Fired...  Both Mackins and the  LB were surprised the Ball came in as Mackins was 1 yard deep.. Mackins went  down..the ref's HAnds  went Up....

 The Pockets of Dragons Fans  went  Nuts as the  Dragonettes  went into their dances... The O  gathered around Mackins who kept the ball   Bronk shouting  something to Him as they ran off the  field.

 Smokey  went out with the  people who were on the  PAT team.. And Fry was shouting  for the   Kick coverage team to get ready.

 Sims  gave  high fives  to the offense as they came off.. the  PAT was shakey , but it was good.

"YES!" shouted Ben, as delighted as if he'd planted the TD himself. He ran off the field with the rest of the O, and went to get himself a drink.

  Smokey waited for the   whistle  and  lopped forward, his style seemed to  be..laid back,..even the swing of his leg seemed..lazy..but the sound of his foot  hitting the ball and the height , Distance and even 'spin' served to make   Return men nervous.

 This time.. the Jets  knew where Emma was... and the  return was set for her side..  Smokey and one other  middle man held up as the rest flew down  field .. Crunch  Got  Splattered from a legal, blidside hit. but his was Middle- left and was scrambling to get up.

   Jers  Emma  and Santos were the Focuc  as Samtos  tried to  lock down the outside lane.. jers and  Emma had to Face  three  men who were closing in..touching hands  to set a small wall.. the return man had came out of the endzone after a bobble..

  His up man had to take on Bright who crashed in from the other side.....leaving it a race  for the return man to reach his  moving wall before jers  and Emma got there.....

Emma came onto the field with the rest of the special teams unit and, when the kick was made, was off running.

This time they were trying a wall formation. She and Jers had a small wall to contend with. They ended up taking on the wall; there wasn't a good route for her to slip around. There was likely going to be a crash of bodies and the return man was going to have to make a choice about where he was going to go.

    Jers   and  Emma  smashed into the slower  moving    big men.. The  Back was surprised  and  tried to cut inside  as  the flash of  white..of  Santos  showed the  outside  contained.

   As he  cut inside, best   Labeled  him  , both men  crashing to the   turf...

   1-10  J-23 8:40s 1 Q  D 14  J 0

   Hollen  and the Jets  came out of the huddle,  they tried a quick snap  with a  quick pitch to  Wheeler's  side. The   big outside  backer  moved  a lot more quickly them  someone would think, and he shed the  WR's  block to meet the Halfback, just as he  turned up field.

 2-9 J-24 8:32 r 1Q

 Hollen   Fakes   a power and rolled to his Left.. this   time Dalton was breaking through  and he fired off a quick pass  his  TE  Killroy who picked up 4 , before  Tibbs Undercut him.

 3-5 J-28 8:05 r 1 Q

   Dropping back on the next play, Hollen had a bit more  time , Until Kane broke  free,  He fired the Ball  down field, were   Killroy  went up, while  Bing and Worth, each hammered him. Pick up of 18

1-10  J-46 7:48 r  1Q

  Bing    waved to the sidelines   and  Hobbled  quickly...

  Cal didn't even wait,..REESE!.. Get out there....

Emma hadn't been on the sidelines for long when Bing signaled that he needed to come out. The woman darted back out to the huddle to take her position and find out the play.

  Bing was hobbled, But, by his actions it didn't seem bad.

  Worth   looked around the huddle as the  injury time out was almost over,..now?.. we have to think like   the other losers think! his face was intencse.. his  teeth  bite the words off   with eyebrows   furrowed in anger.

 ..they are gonna see a brand new number out there, that wasn't on thier  scouting  report until thusday.. they'er gonna go after Reese... bUT..  you all just do your  Job..play the goddam game.. and let them try...

 Payne  nods  with a grunt,..that's right man.... make them work... first guy that says 'i thought i help her out... I'm tell Cal to pull off the field....

 wheeler laughed his   white face not  near as  intimidating as his angry  black brothers..ease up..she's got this... if not? what happens? they get a few yards here or there.. sooner or later, eberves shake of  and the player is free..., just Play like Dragons , amn.. that's all you need to do..


 Kane Grunts... he's right..Cal signaled  Zone Blitz..Wheeler? your  side... I think  he's  given them a chance at Reese...

 Worth Nodded and  Gave   Emma  a whack on the head gear,..Let's play ball then...

"Of course they'll go for me. New player means they have to target me." Emma knew it was coming. When the huddle broke, Emma went to take up her position, watching. She'd paid attention to the way the team tended to do their snap count. She wasn't going to go offsides, but she had a reasonable idea, she hoped, of when they'd make the play and what they were going to call. She hoped that'd give her an advantage in taking out the ball carrier.

1-10 J-46 7:48 s  ! Q D 14 J 0



   With the snap of the ball Wheeler  charged  forward, Beating   down the hands o the TE, and neeting  the BAck on the sweep  1 yard deep..

2-11 J =-45 7:36 r 1 Q

  Hollen  was shouting  as he waved the jets up to the line , trying to  give the Dragons a taste of their own medicine.

   Cal simply rolled his    had  around   to signal  'do it again'

  Hollen   tried to hide  a smile as he saw Wheeler  Inch up.. the play looked the  SAme, except   the TE faked a  Block on wheeler. and the   fake  pitch to the HAlf back brought him out to Bury his  helmet In wheeler's chest..  The wide out slanted  in, Taking Santos with him.

 The  TE angled out  to the Big empty Space in front of Emma.. the BA;; was thrown  Just to the outside...

And Santos had bailed out on the blitz. Emma saw the big open space that the TE was angling in for and rushed forward, towards the tight end. The defense's play was broken and now they had to salvage it because of the giant gaping hole in the coverage.

The ball was thrown from the quarterback right where she expected it to be thrown. Emma was approaching faster than the tight end might have expected. Emma got to the tight end right as he wrapped up the ball and she slammed into him. As she did so, her hand took a shot at the pigskin, sending it bouncing out of the tight end's hand and bouncing away as Emma and the tight end went down onto the ground as she finished the tackle.

Emma disengaged to see if she could go after the ball or, if it got picked up by the Jets, to get in on tackling whoever picked it back up.

 The OT  came running up to  flop on the Ball as it bounced  backwards. The 9 yard gain turned into a 5 yard gain.

  The dragons sidelines  were shouting   for   Emma "  Nice Hit".. way to go baby! way to go"

 The refs called a time out to review the play,  In the dragon Huddle. the grils  came out with water  as Cal snapped,..Dammit , Santos?  you know what a Zone Blitz is?... you left that  who  are  open, man!..

 He looked to  Emma,..Nice  hit , Reese... he'll be  thinking  about that one...fumbled the ball on National TV!

 ..how's Bing?

 ..Tweaked  his  ankle.. he went in to get retaped.. should be good to go here.. Resse?  stay out here..

................

 The  Jets were ready

 3-6  D 49 7:03 s 1 Q - 14 J-0

   Worth  Looked at Cal Once more  as he  reached  the sidelines.. he signaled  a play in.

  ok.. Cal is   selling out here..   Dragon Fire Blitz.. every one  , but me and Emma are going in... get to him fast boys.. we're gonna  be stretched  thin!

   Looking over the D.. he saw  Dalton and  wheeler  sneaking up..  he called out   a Hot read  and the ball was snapped..  Wheeler and  Dalton crashed in from their  sides, forcing the backs to stay home Payne charged  up the Middle , Following Kane  through the Hole  between the  center and LG  Both Corners    crashed in  speedy and looking like they might get there.. Both receivers   slanted in when they saw the LBs go.. the TE split the  seem Worth charged Up shouting to  Emma to take the TE.. as  he  went  for the Middle of the field..more  or less  hoping the receivers didn't have time to angle   back out..

 Hollen  couldn't see much.. he knew the Middle was  clogged  and white  streaks out of the corners of his eyes, told him the  corners were coming too!.. He  saw his TE's  Biy hand in the air.. and fired the Ball


  from the  sidelines the dragon's   all yelled   BALLL!!!!

Emma had a taste for the ball now, so to speak. She didn't get there in time to tackle the OT, so to speak, as someone else had gotten there first and downed him.  At the huddle, Emma nodded. "Get in their heads early," she responded to Cal.

---------------------------------------------------

The next play was in. Dragon Fire Blitz. She was to stay back and protect against a deep ball. She noticed the TE's hand go up, apparently not respecting her previous play. Well, that was okay. Emma kept close to her man, turning up her speed another notch since he thought he had the separation. The ball was a bit on the high side and the tight end leapt for it.

What he wasn't expecting for Emma to leap up, surpassing his vertical leap by a few inches to snag the ball from right in front of him and prevent him from trying to grab the ball out from behind her

Both players landed and the tight end tried to wrap her up. She shook him off around the Dragon's 20 yard line and started sprinting towards the end zone.  One of the receivers met her a few yards in. She pretty much ran through him as he couldn't hold onto her and make the tackle.

A few more yards in that tight end had recovered enough to come and get her from behind, likely from being slowed down by the receiver she had to get through. She saw his shadow and shifted a bit, so his tackle wasn't clean and she was able to drag him another few yards or so before she finally went down, protecting the football the whole way down. She ended up down around the 35 yard line.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Thu 14 Sept 2017.

  The  crowd had a mixed  bag of Noise.. Roars starting from one end of the   building to the other,  as they thought Killroy was going  the whole way... Then Groans  followed   by  blasts of cheers  from the dragon Fans..

 The roars  got Louder  as she  caught her self and turned up field  , but was  finally brought  down  by Killroy

  That tackle, was  anything  like , what she got from her teammates   as the   Condensed  around her pounding on her helmet and pads.

 Hollen   unsnapped his hemlet in frustration as he looked up at the  Scoreboard  replay... one more step?...6 inches higher?..who knows...

Emma found herself mobbed by her teammates. She could only jump a bit with them, given she was busy being mobbed, but she was quite pleased. Getting that first interception out of the way was always a big deal. For it to happen on the first sequence she played defense on was just icing on the cake.

Once the defense started making its way off the field, she handed the ball to the ref (though it might end up in the Dragon's possession if they did the whole first ever interception souvenir thing) and made her way to the sideline with the rest of the team to let the offense have their shot with the ball.

"Great work, Emma!" called Ben as he ran onto the field past her.

1-10  D-35 6:40 s 1 Q  D14 J 0

  Standing in the Huddle  MAckins says,..it's  starting over there.....

  Klay looks over to the Jets  Sidelines  then Back,..what's starting ?

  ..I call it   'the Cracks "...

 ..if you have something to  say..say it..Duke's on his  way over... Miles   sail as he Pulled his helmet down and buckled up.

 ...well..everyone  thinks  were nothing, his  brown skin glistened with sweat, but  he didn't look tired,..they all think the other teams  suck that bad.. so they  game plan for us Thinking we're scared of what they do best... bur what they don't know?... we're like a sledge Hammer...Sims is like some laborer... He swings  us and we hit  the Rock..and we   keep hitting the rock until the cracks show....then? every big   play we make, on offense...or defesne.. the cracks  grow longer and  wider...and soon?  chunks  fall off  and the rocks  splits....But..that don't stop Sims  from swinging us until that rock is gravel, cause he don't want to be tripping over some leftover stones...

 Sloan Looked at Mackins... Adam stood there with his mouth open...Sloan said,..wow man... that's deep.....

 Mackins Grinned.. ..you really think so?

 Lucas spoke up,..Naw.. just  shut the hell up and break some more  rocks...

 The Huddle was laughing  when  Duke got there,..alright..shut the Hell up and get your heads in the game... the damn first quarter isn't  even over..

 He looked  Over at Ben and   Bronk as he half-bent over.. but didn't turn his ehad, his eyes  just Shifted...

 ..me and coach talked  about this.. its a 'send the message  play'.. Adam... you'er throwing a screen double pass....make damn sure you get behind  me..... KLay is going to shoot out  and try to Block yout Man... Ben.. angle in-angle out  to Bronks  side  Under the safety, behind the  DB.. Lucas?..yuou'er  Going to have to  slide ..real fast to my left to  Pick up the DE...

 ..Mackins.. Deep post. make the Cut at about  10-15  yards.... you'll be secondary...

 There is the whistle to start the Huddle clock....30 seconds  Duke... the ref  said..

 ..look? this is  schoolyard  as it gets... and we'll go right back to the game play, no matter how this shakes out... Sims  said he wants to show them, they..'caan't take  away my tools'...

 Adam nodded and said, ..Klay... Lucas?  I'lls  roll a bit towards  Duke  to try and set up your blocks..maybe draw the safety over...

 ..just?  take  care of my football?..ok...

 they brock the Huddle..Duke called some fake signs and the ball came  Back.. Adam   took to running steps Back  and the   Ball was sent  backwards to him across the field.. Jets  bench was yelling    SCREEN....SCREEN! and the  CB and  ROLB charged forwards..   Klay , Nicked the CB.. and  was swearing at himself  and   Hooked up for  a safety valve.. Lucas hit the    LB and they Both went  down.. Duke ran towards the   dragon's  sidelines Looking Back across the field.. The Safety  bit on the 'screen and roll' and came Charging Up up  Adam looked down Filed , took one Look at  Ben and let the Ball go..

  The Safety saw  Adam set up to throw, and tried to Lock up..the free safety   who was  waiting on Mackins, started to  dig..hard, to the sidelines...to  try and cut Ben off , if he caught it...Adam won't see the Ball  complete, as the  DB Smashed into him, Just as he let it go..

Ben listened and nodded.

"Got it!" he said, and trotted off to take his position.

At the 'Hut' he was off as if it were the Olympic 100m finals, running the route as directed for all his worth, as the ball hurtled in his direction and was gathered safely in.

His legs pounded out the yards, a full 35 of them before he was taken down - still clutching the ball securely. He got up from the tangle and threw it to the nearest ref before trotting back downfield with a big grin on his face.