Chapter 4: Friday Night Showdown

The ball snapped back to Tyler, and the play began in a blur of motion. But as he dropped back to pass, disaster struck. The Pittsburgh defensive line broke through, charging at Tyler with ferocious speed. The linebacker, a hulking beast of a kid, zeroed in on him like a guided missile. Tyler barely had time to react before he was crushed under the weight of the hit, his breath leaving his body in a wheezing gasp. The ball popped loose, bouncing aimlessly on the turf.

Time seemed to slow as Tyler hit the ground, snot bubbles forming at his nostrils from the impact. The crowd gasped, the sound echoing across the stadium as the Pittsburgh linebacker scooped up the fumble and sprinted toward the end zone.

Paul felt his heart drop as he watched the linebacker make his way down the field. “No, no, no!” he shouted, but it was too late. The Pittsburgh player crossed the goal line, spiking the ball with a triumphant roar.

On the sidelines, Adam Greenleaf groaned, shaking his head. “Come on, Tyler! You’ve got to hang on to that ball!” he muttered, taking a frustrated puff from his Lemon Jack Sativa vape. He quickly tried to pocket the pen as a referee glanced in his direction, but his timing was off.

“Greenleaf! What do you think you’re doing?” the ref barked, his eyes narrowing.

Adam scrambled to come up with an excuse. “It’s, uh… it’s cold out! Just steam from my breath!” he stammered, flashing a nervous grin.

The ref arched an eyebrow, pulling out his phone to check the weather. “It’s 65 degrees, Greenleaf. Try again.”

Adam’s face flushed as the players nearby stifled their laughter. “Must be a malfunction,” he mumbled, trying to play it cool as he stuffed the vape pen deeper into his pocket.

The ref just shook his head, muttering something under his breath about “crazy coaches” before turning his attention back to the game.

Back on the field, Paul clapped his hands together, trying to keep his team focused. “Alright, shake it off! We’ve still got a game to win!”

The Youngstown defense dug in, determined to make up for the fumble. On the next series, the Pittsburgh quarterback dropped back for a pass, but he never saw the blitz coming. The Youngstown linebacker crashed through the line, slamming into the quarterback with bone-crunching force. The ball popped loose again, and this time, it was Youngstown who recovered.

The crowd erupted as the Youngstown player scooped up the fumble and charged toward the end zone, leaving the Pittsburgh players in the dust. The tables had turned, and the momentum was now firmly in Youngstown’s favor.

Paul’s heart pounded in his chest as his team lined up for the extra point. He stole a glance at Adam, who was now nervously munching on some Tri-Healthy Xite Delta-9 THC Chocolate Popcorn in the locker room during halftime, his usual solution to a stressful game.

“You’re going to get caught snacking next, Greenleaf,” Paul joked, trying to keep things light.

“Better than getting caught vaping,” Adam shot back with a grin, popping another piece of chocolate popcorn into his mouth. “And hey, this stuff is delicious.”

Paul couldn’t help but laugh. Despite the stress of the game, there was something comforting about the camaraderie they shared—the banter, the jokes, and the way they always had each other’s backs, even in the most intense moments.

As the game wore on, Youngstown began to pull away, capitalizing on Pittsburgh’s mistakes and showcasing their dominance on both sides of the ball. By the time the final whistle blew, Youngstown had secured a decisive victory, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Paul let out a long breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease. The win was just what they needed to build momentum heading into the showdown with Cleveland High.

Later that evening, as the adrenaline of the game began to wear off, Paul could feel the familiar ache returning to his back and shoulders. He reached into his bag and pulled out the bottle of Steel Valley Hemp Full Spectrum Tincture Oil Peppermint 1000mg that Lisa had given him. The cool, minty flavor was refreshing, and within minutes, he felt the tension easing away, replaced by a soothing calm.

“Nice job, Coach,” Adam said, patting Paul on the back as they headed into the locker room. “Looks like Tyler shook off those snot bubbles after all.”

Paul chuckled, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. “Yeah, but we’ve got to stay focused. Cleveland’s not going to be this easy.”

“No kidding,” Adam agreed, already reaching for another handful of popcorn. “But hey, at least we’re on the right track. And you’ve got your girl in Florida to look forward to.”

Paul nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah… I do.”

To be continued…

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Guiding Questions:
How will Paul and his team prepare for the upcoming game against Cleveland High, knowing the stakes are higher than ever?
Will Adam’s vaping antics finally catch up to him, or will he continue to narrowly escape trouble?
How will Paul balance the stress of the big game with his excitement about his upcoming trip to Florida?