[Incomplete pass by Poly!] Will exclaimed, standing up in the booth with the microphone in hand.
The stadium exploded.
The Monarchs' defense celebrated as if they had just scored a touchdown: helmets clashing, shouting and friendly shoves.
On the sideline, the Mater Dei coaches exchanged high-fives with contained euphoria. Even Bruce Rollinson, always measured, allowed himself a smile and a light tap on the shoulder of his defensive coordinator.
Andrew, Victor, Nick, and the rest of the offensive group applauded from the bench, celebrating the play with energy.
[Third down for the Jackrabbits, and they only have one chance left to advance! If they fail, they will lose possession! A critical situation, right, Dave?]
The fourth quarter had already begun with Poly on offense, and two and a half minutes had passed.
Long Beach Poly had changed their strategy: they abandoned their controlled, slow scheme of five- or six-minute drives. They didn't want to risk Mater Dei having the last offensive drive of the game, because with Andrew on the field and his history of completions and touchdowns, that was practically a death sentence.
At first, the decision seemed to work, but soon the mistakes began to pile up.
Two incomplete passes, a bad read, and Mater Dei's defensive pressure rose like a wave.
[Yes, three disastrous downs, Will. Two incomplete passes and a sack that pushed them back five yards. Now they need fifteen to move the chains or they will give up the ball. Great response from the Mater Dei defense: third sack for Brown, and excellent read by linebacker #56, Walker, who deflected the last pass.]
The Jackrabbits regrouped quickly.
The ball was on the opposing 37-yard line, a distance that made a field goal possible. It was their only sensible option: add three points rather than risk everything on a play that required more than 15 yards, or they would lose the ball.
The kick was clean, the ball traced a perfect arc and went right through the middle of the uprights.
[It's good! Field goal for Long Beach Poly!] Will announced.
Mater Dei 30 – Long Beach Poly 29.
Poly's fans cheered, though not as much as before. Things were becoming increasingly discouraging for the team. Even so, the Jackrabbits' defense entered motivated, they knew everything depended on them. They had to rise to the occasion.
The Monarchs' offense entered the field with the calm of someone who knows they're in control.
Andrew gathered his teammates, gave orders with precision, and the drive began safely: Nick's runs, short passes, controlled tempo, no rushing.
But Poly's defense also knew what was at stake. They played with more aggressiveness, more contact, and more pressure at the line.
For four minutes the advance was steady, but it didn't stall. Until Andrew saw what he was looking for, a mistake, minimal, but exactly what he needed. He rolled out of the pocket chased by two defenders, turned and sprinted to the right, and still on the move, threw a pass of more than thirty yards.
The ball soared high, crossed the air between the stadium lights, and fell right into Sedric's hands, who caught it flawlessly.
A Poly defender tried to reach him, launching himself at full speed, but Sedric accelerated, extending his stride and crossing the goal line untouched.
[Touchdown for Mater Dei! Pritchett-Tucker again! A more-than-thirty-yard pass on the move and his fourth touchdown of the night!] Will shouted, as the Mater Dei stands erupted.
[Wonderful! A perfect pass with two defenders chasing him. And an exceptional catch by Sedric, who didn't allow himself to be tackled,] Dave added, as the replay showed the exact spin of the spiral and the receiver's control before crossing the line.
On the field, Andrew ran toward Sedric with a wide smile, pure adrenaline and satisfaction.
He jumped on him and hugged him in mid-air, as the rest of the Monarchs came running to celebrate, surrounding them with shoves and shouts.
Without hesitation, Rollinson ordered them to go for two points. He knew Andrew's positive conversion percentage, this was no time to be timid. If they made it, they would put Poly in a tight spot.
Andrew lined up under center, received the snap, faked a pass, and ran it himself toward the right side.
He crossed the goal line without being touched.
[Conversion is good! And the lead extends in favor of Mater Dei! 38 to 29.]
"Yes!" Willa and Haley shouted with joy as they hugged each other.
Leonard stood clapping hard, a wide grin across his face. He could finally relax, at least a little. Even Alex and Manny got up from their seats to applaud.
"That's my son!" Cam repeated with euphoria, jumping and hugging Mitch and Lily tightly.
"Easy, Cam, easy," Mitch said, trying to calm him down, although a big smile was on his face.
[This could be checkmate, Will,] Dave said in a serious tone.
[Even if Poly manages a touchdown and the two-point conversion, they would only reach 37 points. That means they need to score quickly, although not as quickly as that eight-second pass Pritchett threw. But a one-minute drive, two at most, and then stop them immediately. With six minutes and forty seconds left, less than half the quarter remains. They're in a very complicated situation.]
Long Beach Poly's offense entered the field facing what seemed like a titanic, almost impossible task.
They needed to score a touchdown, convert the two points as fast as possible, and then hope Mater Dei turned over the ball within minutes. Only then would they have one last chance at a final drive to get close enough to the uprights to win with a field goal.
"It's impossible…" Whitmer, the Jackrabbits' quarterback, muttered as he adjusted his helmet.
Even with the fastest touchdown he had thrown that night, that thirty-yard pass that surprised everyone in the first quarter, the drive had lasted almost three minutes.
Now he needed to do it in less time than that. And he wasn't deluding himself: he didn't have the arm, the receiver, nor the timing to replicate something like the ninety-two-yard pass Andrew had completed.
Around him, the rest of the offense shared the same resigned expression.
They knew their slow, control-based style, five- or six-minute drives, was incompatible with the urgency of the clock. And worst of all, even if they managed to score, they would then have to stop the best offense in the country, which had been impossible to contain since the second quarter.
The whistle blew.
Poly started their drive with a much faster rhythm. The ball moved, but not enough. A minute and a half passed, and they still needed forty yards to reach the end zone.
The nervousness was palpable among Poly's fans and players. Whitmer looked at the clock, less than four minutes left. He had to hurry, so he decided to force the throw.
He dropped back, saw a gap in the middle, and threw. A fatal mistake.
The ball was brilliantly anticipated by Mater Dei's cornerback #27, who jumped in front of the receiver and intercepted it cleanly.
#27 began to run with the ball in his hands, followed by a red wall escorting him. He crossed the fifty-yard line, then the forty, until he was finally tackled near the opposing thirty-five, with the entire Poly team trying to catch him.
Mater Dei's fans erupted in a deafening roar.
[Interception for Mater Dei! Cornerback number 27 reads Whitmer perfectly and steals the ball,] Will said with energy.
Dave added, in an analytical yet emotional tone, [A real shame for Whitmer, he was having a great game… but these are the moments that define quarterbacks. If he didn't take the risk, the result was the same: losing. But Mater Dei read him perfectly, and that throw, forced by the pressure, ends up being his sentence.]
The cameras focused on Poly's quarterback, Whitmer, head down, taking off his helmet and sighing in frustration.
Meanwhile, the Mater Dei crowd celebrated on their feet, knowing the title now seemed inevitable.
On the sideline, Andrew put on his helmet, bumped fists with Rick, the offensive coordinator, and entered the field with his teammates. What followed was a controlled, slow drive.
For the first two minutes, Mater Dei advanced patiently, short runs by Nick and lateral passes. Barely fifteen yards gained, but everything under control.
The clock kept ticking: 2:12… 1:58…
Until Andrew saw an opportunity. He dropped back, faked a pass to the left, and instead threw over the middle to his tight end, Thomas, who caught the ball about fifteen yards from the end zone.
Thomas turned, broke a tackle, and ran the remaining yards before diving into the end zone.
[Touchdown for Mater Dei! Pritchett-Tucker again! His fifth touchdown of the night!] Will roared, as the cameras showed Andrew running to Thomas and hugging him, surrounded by teammates piling onto them.
Dave added with an incredulous smile, [Nobody does it better than Andrew Pritchett-Tucker. The best high school quarterback in the country, without debate. Touchdown number 57 this season… and with this, we can officially say: Mater Dei ends a drought of over ten years without a section title.]
Mater Dei opted for the kick this time, and it was successful, raising the final score to an unreachable lead.
Long Beach Poly's offense went back onto the field with no chance at all, less than a minute on the clock and more than a ten-point deficit. Their expressions were resigned, shoulders dropped, and even the green-and-gold crowd understood: the dream was over.
One last symbolic play, a short pass, and then the final whistle.
The referee raised both arms and the clock showed 0:00.
Mater Dei 45 – Long Beach Poly 29.
Andrew spread his arms at the sound of the final whistle, smiling, his face drenched in sweat, and instantly a teammate hugged him from behind.
"Champions, baby! Finally!" Victor shouted euphorically.
Nick, Sedric, the offensive linemen, even Thomas, threw themselves on top of him.
"Hey, are you guys trying to kill me?' Andrew said, laughing as he endured the weight of hundreds of pounds.
Bruce's usually reserved face showed a wide smile. Quickly the other coaches and staff members rushed to hug him, the first being Rick, who kept repeating, "We did it, man! We did it!"
[And finally, Mater Dei returns to glory! The Monarchs are champions of the Southern Section Division I! A decade later, they do it again, and they do it with a historic campaign!] Will said in a solemn, emotional tone.
Dave added, [A perfect redemption story, Will. Mater Dei not only wins the title, but avenges that 2002 final, when they lost to this very same opponent, Long Beach Poly. This time, the story was written differently. A night these players, fans, and coaching staff will never forget.]
A few minutes later, the CIF Commissioner and his team entered the field, accompanied by security staff and logistical assistants.
With great efficiency, a mobile platform was assembled at midfield, in front of the main stands, adorned with the gold and blue banner of the CIF Southern Section. ESPN's spotlights centered on it, while the crowd, except for Poly's fans, watched in anticipation.
First, Long Beach Poly was called up.
The players and coaching staff formed a line, heads down but dignified, receiving their silver medals as the entire stadium applauded. Even the Mater Dei fans joined in, acknowledging the effort of a rival that had fought hard until the third quarter.
When the last Poly player received his medal, the master of ceremonies spoke again, his voice echoing through the stadium speakers:
"And now, the 2010 CIF Southern Section Division I Champions, Mater Dei High School!"
The roar was deafening.
Mater Dei's players and coaches advanced in a line, receiving their gold medals engraved with Southern Section Champion, while shaking hands with CIF officials.
Then, before presenting the main trophy, the same announcer declared:
"And now, the CIF Southern Section Division I Championship Most Valuable Player… From Mater Dei High School, quarterback Andrew Pritchett-Tucker!"
'Wow, that really is a long name for a trophy,' Andrew thought as he walked to the center of the stage amid applause, cheers, flashes, and pats on the back from his teammates.
A bald man in a dark suit, one of the high-ranking CIF representatives, handed him with a smile a transparent acrylic plaque with a wooden base. Engraved in gold letters, it read:
CIF Southern Section Division I Championship
Player of the Game
Presented by ESPN & CIF
"Great game, son. And great season," the man said as he gave him a firm handshake.
"Thank you, sir," Andrew said, taking the award. Then he raised the plaque toward the stands, and another wave of applause broke out.
This award was the game's MVP, but not the most important one. In the following days, there would be awards for Offensive and Defensive MVP of the Southern Section Division I, considering every game up to this point.
That award is voted on by coaches, local journalists, and accredited media outlets.
[And he's the best! I think there's no doubt,] Will exclaimed enthusiastically.
[Exactly. Five touchdowns, zero interceptions, and every one of his drives ended in points. That's how you play a final. A flawless performance,] Dave commented.
Then came the most anticipated moment. Bruce was handed the championship trophy, a wooden base with the golden silhouette of California and the CIF plaque on the front.
Bruce took it with both hands and lifted it into the sky, surrounded by his team. At his side stood Andrew, and to his left Kevin, both raising their helmets high as fireworks exploded over the stadium.
Mater Dei was back on top. Eleven years later, the throne of Southern California was red once again.
After the main celebration, photographers quickly organized the official champions' photo. Players, coaches, and staff posed with the trophy up front, all their medals shining under the stadium lights.
As soon as the session ended, the players rushed toward the stands closest to the field, where their families were waiting for them.
Andrew, however, couldn't join his family and friends yet. He had the mandatory postgame interview as MVP and standout of the match.
In front of ESPN's cameras, he answered like he had in previous games, though this time without throwing any barbed comments at another player.
The interview was longer than usual due to it being the final: they congratulated him on the title, his performance, and the historic season he had just completed. Fifty-seven touchdowns.
They also asked him about his immediate future.
The break would be minimal, in just one week, Mater Dei would begin its path toward the California State Championship, composed of three phases: quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
As champions of the Southern Section, their qualification was already secured, and they would once again be under the eyes of the entire country.
This time, Andrew didn't talk about the next objective, he simply said it was time to celebrate a title that had slipped away from the school for eleven years. Monday would be the moment to think again about training and competing.
When the interview ended, he stepped away from the cameras. Bruce stayed behind for a special segment as the head coach who, eleven years later, finally led Mater Dei to another section title.
Andrew was alone for a moment, standing in the middle of the field covered in confetti. He looked around: more than thirty thousand people still in the stands. Several Mater Dei student sections were still jumping, shouting, waving flags. The Long Beach Poly section was beginning to leave with their heads down.
'More than thirty thousand people…' Andrew thought, with a mixture of amazement and nostalgia.
He remembered his previous life in Texas, that state final he had also played. The stadium was big, yes, even with similar capacity, but it had never sold thirty-five thousand tickets.
And of course, there hadn't been ESPN cameras or a national audience following him.
He remembered the section final in Texas that he had managed to play until the end, win it, and celebrate the title, also in a stadium with more than twenty thousand people, but it still didn't reach the magnitude of tonight.
But above all, that time, when the final whistle sounded and the initial celebration with teammates and staff ended, there was no one waiting for him in the stands.
His grandfather had died when he was ten, and his parents long before. While his teammates went off with their families, he had no one.
But now things were different. He looked around and didn't take long to find them.
In one of the stands close to the field, his father, Cam, was waving his arms enthusiastically, face painted red, completely hoarse. His other dad, Mitch, held Lily in his arms while pointing toward the field.
Right nearby were Phil and Claire, cheering excitedly along with Haley, Alex, and Luke. All smiling, clapping, even jumping.
And off to the side, Jay with his classic calm smile, applauding firmly but nothing more, as if the emotion embarrassed him a little, while Gloria screamed without restraint and Manny waved a small red flag with a smile.
Of course, he had had all their support for years now, ever since he first began playing football in this new life.
But finals, with their celebrations, family photos, and shared hugs, always had a particular way of reminding him of what he once lacked.
For a long time now, that memory didn't hurt, it only served as a reminder of how important it is to value his new life. Now he did have a family waiting for him, who had watched him grow, and who looked at him with pride.
When they all noticed he was looking their way, they began signaling for him to come over.
Haley, impatient, waved her hands frantically and shouted something he couldn't hear over the crowd's deafening noise. Lily, in Mitch's arms, had also seen him and stretched out her tiny hand toward him as if she wanted to reach him.
Andrew smiled, adjusted the gold medal hanging around his neck, held his MVP trophy securely, and began jogging toward them.
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