Full Impact

W

ith the score tied and just minutes left on the clock, the Titans began running the ball downfield with a series of laterals.

Fullback Arnie Johnson sprinted toward the end zone. Halfback Norval Lamb saw two Cougar tackles gaining on Arnie and hoped Arnie saw them too.

Arnie pivoted when he noticed the Cougar players within a few feet of him, shifting from foot to foot in a lightning-quick dance.

Will Arnie take the ball out of bounds?
Norval wondered.
Does he have enough time? Or will he get rid of it?

As the Cougars pounced, Arnie released the football. It spiraled toward Norval. Without time to think, Norval leaped into the air, stretching to reach the ball.

He had it!

Ducking and zigzagging through the last line of Cougars, Norval had only one goal—to make it to the end zone.

The Titan fans in the bleachers roared with excitement as Norval pulled off a forward roll and scored the winning touchdown for Southside High.

Grinning widely, Norval pulled off his helmet. He danced a quick salsa step to show his delight. He knew the coaches would frown on too much gloating, but he couldn't resist. It had been a tight game from the start—this win hadn't come easily.

The Southside crowd continued cheering as Norval and his teammates jogged off the field. Arnie came alongside Norval and landed a friendly slap on Norval's back. “Good play, man!”

“Thanks. You too.”

“Nah. It was all you. It was a gamble, but I knew you'd make it.”

“Those tackles took you down hard,” Norval said. “You okay?”

“Dude, please,” Arnie replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “They knock me down, but I bounce back up.”

When they reached the sidelines, their teammates gave them cheers, thumps, and hugs. The Southside cheerleaders sang a victory chant, leaping in the air and shaking their pom-poms.

A girl with silky black hair and large dark eyes wrapped Arnie in a hug. “You were amazing, Arnie!” Lara Velez cried.

Norval and Arnie exchanged smiling glances. Norval knew Arnie liked Lara, even though the guys all agreed she was a big flirt. “Thanks, Lara,” Arnie said. “But Norval's the man today.”

“Norval made the TD, but you're the one who carried the ball most of the way,” Lara said.

“That's the truth!” Norval agreed. He raised his arm and high-fived Arnie.

Norval looked around and found his girlfriend, Sadie Collins, chatting with some of the other cheerleaders. He wanted to be sure she didn't think he was the one flirting with Lara. They had a good thing going—Norval didn't want to mess it up.

Sadie wasn't paying attention, though. Then—almost as if she could feel his eyes on her—she turned toward him and smiled.

Norval smiled back and waved.

“You and Sadie are still going strong, I see,” Lara said.

“A month last week,” Norval confirmed.

“You two make a cute couple,” Lara said. “Poor Sadie. She didn't have a boyfriend for so long. Boys just didn't seem to notice her.”

Norval rolled his eyes. The remark was pure Lara. “Well, she has one now.”

“I'm happy for you guys,” Lara said and then turned her attention to Arnie. “See you at Kadeem's for pizza. You're going, aren't you, Arnie?”

“I'll be there,” Arnie said.

“Cool. I'll see you later, then,” Lara said, flashing him her most flirtatious smile as she danced away.

“Look out, man. Lara's coming for you. She's got you in her sights,” Norval teased.

“I wouldn't mind,” Arnie said, his eyes still on Lara.

Kadeem Jones, Southside's quarterback, stepped between Norval and Arnie and threw his arms over their shoulders. “Way to go!” he shouted. “My place for victory pizza!”

“We heard,” Norval said. “We're in.”

Kadeem jerked his head toward the stands, indicating the cluster of middle-aged men still lingering in the bleachers. “Scouts.”

Norval recognized a few of them: one scout from Miller College, another from State University, and another scout from nearby Wendell College.

“You guys heard anything yet?” Kadeem asked.

Norval shook his head. Kadeem had already been recruited to play college ball for the Peterson Pirates. “Nothing yet for me,” Arnie admitted. “Something better come through. A scholarship is the only way I'm going to college.”

N

orval squeezed his legs together to balance the paper plate holding his pizza. Kadeem's parents had put out a great spread for the team. Norval couldn't imagine how much the tower of pizzas on the table must have cost them. But they'd been right to order so much. This team could
eat
! Especially after a game like the one they had just played.