Prince Amukamara could almost hear his bones cracking. He wasn't thinking; he was just running on instinct, using all his talent and advantages to the max. After repeatedly trying to catch up, he had finally fallen three yards behind Logan Newman during a brief moment when he had to catch his breath.
Though it was only a three-yard gap—it seemed he could reach out and touch him—Amukamara couldn't relax. Before the game, the coaching staff had repeatedly stressed that Lu Ke's passing accuracy was within a two-yard margin of error, and they absolutely couldn't be careless. A small gap was all Lu Ke needed to deliver the ball.
Gritting his teeth, Amukamara pushed his speed to the limit, as if his muscles were about to tear. Just as he was about to catch up to Logan, Logan leaped into the air. The football was descending rapidly, like a comet, right over their heads.
Too late!
Amukamara forgot all about the rules. His first reaction was to grab Logan's jersey collar, pull down hard, and hang his entire body weight on him, using gravity to yank him down. He knew it was a penalty, but if a penalty could stop the drive, it was worth it.
A yellow flag immediately flew onto the field, but the play didn't stop. As long as the offensive player was still advancing, the play would continue. However, after the play ended, the referee would "settle the score," and if the offense had committed a foul, their efforts would be for nothing.
He pulled harder, and harder! Wait, why did his fingers slip? Where's the jersey? Where's the jersey? Dammit! Crap!
Logan was completely focused, his attention reaching a level of concentration he had never experienced before. He completely ignored all the distractions around him. His adrenaline was pumping, and his eyes were fixed on the football. He could even track the ball's spin in the air—a perfect spiral. Only one thought was in his mind: this is mine!
He leaped into the air, pushing off the ground with all the energy in his body. He flew higher and higher. A huge pulling force came from his jersey collar, and the force of gravity slammed into his body. But his initial burst of power was so fierce and quick that he broke free from the pull, and his body continued to rise. In a daze, he heard the wind rushing past his ears, and he felt as if he were truly flying.
Because of the pull, he lost his balance. He was supposed to use both hands, but he ended up with only his left hand. Logan straightened his left fingers and touched the ball. He was very familiar with the speed of Lu Ke's passes. With just a gentle nudge, the ball rolled into his palm like a marble. His fingers immediately closed, gripping the ball tightly, and he used his momentum to slap it firmly against his chest, securing it.
Whoosh! The wind roared in his ears. Logan's feet landed heavily on the ground, and he bent his knees to absorb the impact. Then he lost his balance, stumbled, and turned around, waving his right arm to try to stay upright. In his peripheral vision, he saw Amukamara fall clumsily to the ground. Logan used his toes to dodge and then touched the ground with his right hand, scrambling with all four limbs to keep his balance. He didn't fall to the ground, but his knees felt weak. He could only use the strong pull of gravity and his subconscious need to keep his balance to continue moving forward.
One step, two steps, three steps. He was stable... no, he still wasn't. His right hand touched the ground again, but this time it was more stable. He pushed off the ground with his right hand, straightened his knees, and then, with his back bent, he charged forward.
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!"
Troy Polamalu's voice was changing again, becoming shrill and piercing like a screaming chicken. He couldn't stop yelling. "Logan Newman completes the catch! Number 88 Newman made the catch even with the opponent's tight coverage and intentional foul! My God, it was a one-handed catch in an extreme situation! We've once again witnessed Newman's one-handed catching miracle!"
"He's still advancing! Newman is still advancing! He's stumbling and it's a huge struggle, but he's keeping his balance and continuing to move forward! The ten-yard line is right in front of him, and the end zone is in sight! The New York Giants are in danger!"
"Derrick Martin, number 22 safety for the Giants, is trying to make a tackle! He's speeding up! Martin is at his maximum speed! He's charging forward, hitting Newman like a high-speed train! But... oh! My! God! Newman accelerates! In a crucial moment, Newman powerfully accelerates, and he barely avoids Martin's determined tackle! Newman is still going!"
"Nobody is left! There are no defenders left in front of him! Newman has regained his balance, and he's heading into the end zone. Oh, wait, no, Newman pulls off a high front flip, landing firmly on both feet in the end zone, while Martin is sliding on the grass behind him! Wow, my God!"
"It's a touchdown! Listeners, it's a touchdown! Facing a third and five situation, Lu Ke connected with his number one receiver, Logan Newman, for a thirty-five-yard gain, a touchdown! My God, it's beautiful, it's truly beautiful!"
Troy pounded the table. He couldn't help but jump up. With such a brilliant touchdown, all his adrenaline rushed to his brain and exploded. The exhilaration and excitement were so wonderful they were intoxicating.
Leaping high into the air, Logan executed a flashy and provocative front flip into the end zone. He landed perfectly on both feet on the turf and then raised his hands high, like a gymnast completing a routine, cheering to the crowd: the performance is complete.
"Ahhh!" Jiang Youning hadn't expected it, but the scream burst from her throat immediately. Then she jumped up and down, her vision blurred by tears of excitement. She couldn't say a word, but she kept pointing at Logan Newman in the end zone, as if she were saying: That's Logan! That's the kid who lives across the street! I know him! I know that guy!
In the vast sea of red, Jiang Youning was just a small drop of water, and the five hundred Chinese fans were just a small ripple. The entire Candlestick Park roared and surged with a tidal wave of sound. The ground began to subtly shake, as if they were shaking the entire world.
Ryan Baldwin watched the scene in disbelief. He instinctively raised his hands and clenched his fists. He was shaking all over from the excitement but couldn't make a sound. He just sat there, quietly feeling the thunderous roar of Candlestick Park and the fierce pounding of his heart against his chest. Seventy thousand fans, all seventy thousand fans in the stadium, were cheering and celebrating, lost in the moment. The endless roar completely drowned out all the voices at the commentary table.
Tears welled up in Logan's eyes as he looked at the sea of red in front of him. Excitement and emotion were rushing through his veins. This wasn't his first touchdown, and it wouldn't be his last, but today was special. This touchdown was the first time this season that he had fought a black cornerback in a physical confrontation and won the battle like a tiger snatching prey from its mouth. He had not only broken free from Amukamara's pull but had also dodged Martin's tackle. The sparks of physical confrontation and the exhilaration of a powerful touchdown that he felt in high school and college were finally back in his blood.
It was all because of those cornerbacks, because of those talented black players. For the past month, Logan had been more focused and dedicated than ever. Training every day with that psycho Lu Ke was a terrifying thought. Just thinking about it made him want to shed tears. But now, the reward had finally come. Finally!
"Ahhhh! Who's that man? Who's that man!" Logan slammed the football on the turf and roared. His roar was like a giant wave crashing against a cliff, echoing throughout the stadium amidst the thunderous cheers.
"Unbelievable, unbelievable." In the broadcast booth, Kirk repeated the word several times. After a pause, he turned to Teddy and smiled again. "Unbelievable!"
That was the most accurate word. All other words were too weak. "This drive once again shows why the San Francisco 49ers are one of the most outstanding offenses in the league right now. From the defensive read and play design, Lu Ke made accurate judgments and adjustments and, through the diversity of the receivers' routes, cleverly diverted the focus, creating a one-on-one situation."
As the replay began to play on the screen, Kirk quickly explained the play: Why did the Giants' defense look so clumsy?
"It's worth noting that with a superior play design, Lu Ke's release time was only 2.11 seconds. He accurately seized the gap and the timing. He wasn't too slow and wasn't too rushed. His calm performance in the pocket resulted in an accurate pass of about twenty-five yards."
"Of course, the pass was beautiful, but the catch was even more so. No words are needed; just watching this replay is enough. In the end, as he entered the end zone, Logan Newman even showed off his physical talent to the crowd with a front flip. That was definitely a taunt to the New York Giants."
Kirk couldn't help but chuckle at the end, then looked at Teddy. Teddy immediately took over, nodding in agreement. "Yes, the San Francisco 49ers completed a brilliant touchdown after a bumpy start. Now the New York Giants' offense is about to take the field, and Eli Manning's performance is highly anticipated."
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