American Football: King of the Bay Area

Sitting in the commentary booth, Kirk Charleston was a bit flustered. ”...Wow!” He struggled to find the words, just letting out an instinctive exclamation. ”After number eleven came on the field, there was no hesitation. His release was fast and accurate, the play call was clear and precise. He completed a pass for about nine yards, Logan found an opening, and turned it into a twenty-three-yard gain. This pass not only pulled the Brown Bear Team back from the brink, but it also showed a rarely seen edge...”

Kirk’s mind was racing. He didn’t recognize this number eleven. He had only caught a glimpse—the player looked Asian—but before he could get a good look, number eleven had already put on his helmet and was organizing the offense.

After the game kicked off, the player roster had been set aside. Now, Kirk had to pick it up again, trying to find number eleven’s name. But before he could even scan the list, the next play had already begun. A crisp, clean short pass, and in the blink of an eye, they had moved the chains, securing a fresh set of downs.

Kirk didn’t have a moment to breathe. He couldn’t even spare a glance at the player roster before another exclamation escaped him. ”Number eleven is already directing the next play! He’s clearly hoping to capitalize on the momentum, while their opponent is still reeling, and get the Brown Bear Team’s offense firing again. Kevin Price’s injury threw off the Brown Bear Team’s rhythm, but it also disrupted the Trojans’ defensive tempo. Things on the field can change in an instant, and now it’s all about who can adapt faster. Right now, the Brown Bear Team seems to be a step ahead. Number eleven is getting them set for the next play!”

Kirk clutched the player roster, commentary pouring from his lips almost by instinct. ”Snap! The Brown Bear Team’s Offense Line surges forward, holding off the Trojans Team’s initial rush. Number eleven takes his drop, sets his feet, and throws—amazing! Absolutely amazing! The speed of his release is just unbelievable! Logan catches the pass! Logan Newman has it again! He avoids a direct hit and gets out of bounds, making the catch and stopping the clock.”

When the ball carrier goes out of bounds, the game clock automatically stops. This is a crucial tactic for clock management.

”Let’s look at the replay of that last play!” Kirk said quickly. ”After the snap, Logan just sprinted straight for the right sideline. He ran about five yards, stopped on a dime, turned, and made the catch, easily plucking the ball out of the air between two defenders. For one thing, number eleven’s pass was just too fast; the defenders couldn’t read his intentions. For another, that pass was incredibly accurate, delivered right into Logan’s hands. The rest was all handled by the Brown Bear Team’s talented Tight End!”

”Let’s check that release time! Just 1.78 seconds. Wow. Lightning. That was pure Lightning!” Kirk said, watching the replay again. ”Number eleven gave his opponents absolutely no time to react. Quick release, quick catch, and a quick gain!”

”Brilliant! Just brilliant!” The exclamation burst out of Kirk before he could stop it. ”Another ten-yard gain, and he stops the clock. The Brown Bear Team is already at midfield. Since number eleven came in, the Bear Team’s offense has been smooth as silk—it’s a thing of beauty! Wait, number eleven is already starting the next play, there’s no time to breathe! The Trojans Team’s defenders look dazed, they’ve lost all defensive discipline. Is it a pass? No, no, it’s a run this time! Marcus! Marcus! Marcus delivers again!”

”A clean, decisive fourteen-yard run! That’s also the first time the Brown Bear Team has broken off a run for more than ten yards tonight. Jesus Christ! The Trojans Team doesn’t know what’s hit them.” Kirk couldn’t stop exclaiming. In truth, it wasn’t just the players on the field; he felt the same way up in the booth. It was as if ever since number eleven came in, the game had been kicked into triple speed. It was hard to keep up. ”That run was just outstanding! Marcus’s legs are still on fire tonight!”

Marcus tossed the ball to the ref. No celebrating, no cheering. He just jogged back to the huddle. He didn’t even realize that his own tempo was already syncing up with Lu Ke’s. As Marcus and the others gathered around Lu Ke, they heard his clipped, no-nonsense voice, ”Practice drills! You guys remember the drills? Play number one!”

Lu Ke had never really gotten any reps with the starters.

Sure, all the team’s quarterbacks learn the same playbook. That’s mainly to prevent a situation where a last-minute substitution can’t gel with the rest of the offense. But Lu Ke had never seen game time. The team’s tactical drills naturally centered on the starting quarterback. For the backups, it was mostly theoretical, with very limited on-field practice.

So, Lu Ke knew his greatest asset wasn’t his own skill, but the fact that the opposing Defense Team knew nothing about him. To use his strengths to attack their weaknesses—that was Lu Ke’s game plan.

On that second play, the so-called ”Play Number One” wasn’t an official team play, but a secret signal between him and Logan. To keep the defense from keying in on Logan as the receiver, Lu Ke had only exchanged a quick glance with him. ”Play Number One” meant ”Route Number One,” the most basic route Logan had taught Lu Ke in practice.

The entire point of the play was speed—to complete the pass quickly, leaving the defense no time to think. As for his teammates, their job was simply to buy him enough time to throw. Two seconds. That was all he needed. He’d let his 70-point Short Pass Accuracy handle the rest.

For the third play, Lu Ke called an unexpected run, once again catching the defense completely off guard. The success of two consecutive short passes, with the time between plays squeezed to under fifteen seconds, had left the defense breathless and unable to think. It confused them, making them assume the third play would also be a pass. But Lu Ke handed the ball off to Marcus—the very same Marcus who was having a great game.

The surprising play call made the Offense Line’s job incredibly easy. They opened up a massive lane for Marcus, who not only picked up the first down but also gained an extra four yards, bringing the ball right to the opponent’s forty-yard line.

Now, it was time to gamble!

Thanks to the relentless barrage of three straight plays, the defenders’ minds were drawing a blank. They had no time to catch their breath. Their bodies were hitting a point of exhaustion, which dulled their reflexes and made it even harder to think clearly.

This was because it was a low-risk, high-reward situation. Even if this first down attempt failed, he still had more chances. Simply put, he could afford to lose this gamble.

So, Lu Ke called the first play from their practice drills. He knew the risks of a long pass. He knew these opponents weren’t the third-stringers they’d practiced against. He knew that while the defense was reaching its physical limit, his own teammates were in a similar state. But this was the perfect time for a gamble. There would be no better chance.

Marcus’s first reaction was to gape, slightly stunned. But the feeling vanished in an instant. He clenched his fists and called out, ”Left or right?”

Since it was a long pass, the receiving duties would fall to the Tight End and Wide Receivers. That meant the running back’s job was to help the Offense Line with pass protection, blocking defenders to buy more time for the quarterback. Marcus would stay in the backfield with Lu Ke to pick up any defenders who broke through the line, acting as Lu Ke’s last shield.

”Right,” Lu Ke said quickly. His gaze flickered between Logan and John before settling on John, to whom he gave a subtle nod.

Logan was the Tight End, better at shedding tackles but with less explosive speed. John, the Wide Receiver, excelled at speed and acceleration. This was a key factor in Lu Ke’s decision. More importantly, the last two passes had gone to Logan. He would naturally draw more defensive attention, creating a better opportunity for Lu Ke’s long pass.

”Don’t give them any room to breathe!” Lu Ke clenched his fist, his gaze sweeping across his teammates. Without another moment’s pause, he chopped his hand down. ”Let’s go!”

Without another word, without a single objection, everyone turned and jogged to their positions, getting set for the snap. Their actions spoke louder than words, showing their trust in Lu Ke.

Lu Ke didn’t line up under center. Instead, he stood three or four yards behind the Offense Line, basically parallel with the running back but slightly offset—the shotgun formation. He was brazenly telegraphing his intention to pass, creating more space between himself and the defenders. That small change in formation immediately began to sow confusion in the defenders’ minds—

’What’s the read here? Is he really going to pass? Or is it a fake, a quick handoff to Marcus? He was under center for the last few plays, so why the deep drop now? What does it mean? A deep ball? An intermediate pass? Or is this a wildcat formation?’

Their exhausted minds were in a state of panic. Before they could even organize their thoughts to make a read, the call for the snap rang out. ’This fast?’ The thought flashed through every defender’s mind. It was their only thought. They weren’t going to think anymore. They would just rely on instinct and rush the passer. No matter what the play was, if they could just sack the quarterback, the problem would be solved.

’But, what? Why is he running to the right? Is he rolling out of the pocket on purpose? What the hell is going on? Why is the entire Offense Line sliding right? This isn’t a run play, it’s a pass! Should we drop back into coverage on the receivers and the Tight End? No, it’s too late!’

One second. Two. Three. Four. He throws!