"How can he be so strong…?"
Coach Cotton, in the St. Mary's High resting area, nearly dropped his jaw when he saw Michael get knocked flying.
As the head coach, he was very clear about Michael's strength; his robust physique almost surpassed that of an average professional athlete.
It was hard to imagine that such a player would one day be overpowered by someone else's physical strength in a high school game.
Moreover, Coach Cotton clearly remembered that the opponent's number twenty-three wasn't that strong last year.
Last year, Mike's physique hadn't fully developed, and in order to defeat St. Mary's High in the Summer League, he had suffered quite a bit at Michael's hands.
Although Medford ultimately won, Mike, who had essentially fought Michael to a mutual defeat, could only be said to have won a bitter victory.
Yet, only half a year had passed, and Mike's strength had surpassed Michael's by so much.
Anyone with eyes could see that the two were no longer on the same level.
Though unwilling to admit it, Coach Cotton's expression showed that he was now very envious of the Medford Team's head coach.
But then again, what coach wouldn't want a player like Mike, whose strength was boundless, under his command?
However, after the envy, Coach Cotton still didn't forget his job, loudly reminding his dazed players on the field.
"Pay attention to defense! The game isn't over yet…"
Currently, St. Mary's High on the field still held the advantage in points.
And years of coaching experience told Cotton that Mike's powerful offensive ability definitely couldn't last for many rounds.
Therefore, St. Mary's High still had hope of winning.
...
After another round of possession exchange, St. Mary's High also maintained a significant lead in points, thanks to Michael's powerful blocking ability.
"Listen, I want you to use your numerical advantage to lock down the opponent's dual cores…"
When Medford's offense took the field again, Coach Cotton issued his latest directive for the dual-core strategy.
Localized containment tactics are best at splitting formations, so this strategy had a high chance of breaking the Medford Team's dual-core linkage.
However, Coach Cotton didn't expect that George had already thought of a way to counter localized containment in advance.
After the kickoff, Aaron, without a second thought, used a high-arcing long pass to throw the football into St. Mary's High's backfield.
Mike, who was supporting nearby, instantly activated, crossing the midfield with wind-like speed, catching the football before it hit the ground.
Then, before the opponents could react, he rushed into the end zone in a blitz.
Under such absolute speed, St. Mary's High's splitting formation tactic simply had no time to be executed.
"The opponent's number twenty-three is too strong; he must be contained…" Coach Cotton was once again stunned by Mike's performance.
Allowing the opponent to score so easily and continuously was too demoralizing for his own team.
Perhaps before Mike tired out, St. Mary's itself would be defeated first.
Coach Cotton, thinking more long-term, seemed to make a firm decision: no matter the cost, Mike could not be allowed to continue performing like this.
So, in the next round of defense, Coach Cotton instructed his players: "No matter what method you use, I want you to stop the opponent's number twenty-three…"
However, an even more astonishing scene occurred next.
Mike didn't care what his opponents thought; with the ball, in order to help his team quickly catch up in points, he consecutively knocked down Michael and several other defensive players blocking his way, once again forcefully entering the opponent's end zone.
"Mike… Mike…"
"Mike… Mike…"
Seeing such an exhilarating offensive style, the audience outside the field was also infected by the atmosphere.
Unconsciously, a synchronized chant began to echo from outside the field.
This was a privilege only VIP players could enjoy.
And Sam, who had once again vented his frustration on the sidelines, spontaneously joined in the cheering.
"So this kid was hiding such a trick; no wonder…" After this offensive round, George updated his understanding of Mike's strength.
He also understood why Mike had performed so strangely in previous training games.
However, unlike George's somewhat surprised expression, Coach Cotton, in the St. Mary's High resting area across from him, had turned into a dazed state.
He had already tried his best to overestimate Mike, but who knew the opponent was far stronger than he had imagined.
It could be said that at this moment, Coach Cotton had lost his previous confidence in winning the game.
And as Mike continued to exert his power, by the end of the third quarter, Medford had successfully overtaken the score.
...
"Cheer up, kids. We haven't reached the point of giving up the game yet…"
Although he knew victory was hopeless, during the third quarter break, seeing his players dejected, Coach Cotton still decided to try one more time.
St. Mary's High, as a long-established powerhouse, could lose, but it couldn't lose in a truly pathetic way.
Considering Mike's powerful stamina, the head coach of St. Mary's High turned his attention to the other player in the Medford Team's dual core.
"Next, we need to slightly change our defensive approach. In the fourth quarter, I want you to shift your defensive focus to the opponent's quarterback…"
On St. Mary's High's offensive end, because Michael couldn't carry the ball, there was nothing left to change in terms of offensive tactical choices.
Therefore, to win the game, the St. Mary's Team could only work on its defense.
From this perspective, Coach Cotton's latest defensive strategy had no problems.
Unlike the somber atmosphere on St. Mary's High's side, the Medford Team, whose situation was excellent, had players who were all in a state of excitement.
After witnessing Mike's powerful abilities in actual combat, the entire Medford Team's morale had become much steadier.
This subtle and profound state was precisely the mark of a team's transformation into a powerhouse.
"Alright, everyone, quiet down and listen to me…"
After the players had their fun, George said with a smile, "In the fourth quarter, we'll switch to the star player strategy. Everyone, play freely…"
"Mike, are you good to go?"
"No problem, Coach. I've been ready for a while." Mike replied confidently.
Due to his strength, Mike had actually gradually taken the dominant position in the dual-core play style.
But to cooperate with Aaron, he often had to hold back.
Now it was good; the Medford Team's star player strategy was completely tailored for Mike, and he no longer needed to consider anything else.
Two minutes later, both teams' players re-entered the field for the final decisive match.
Beep—
Medford Team kicked off.
Aaron, as a supporting player, received the kickoff and immediately handed the ball off to Mike at close range.
Then, as Mike rapidly advanced, the other Medford Team players also moved around him, providing blocks.
Just as Mike led his team into the opponent's end zone, bursts of laughter suddenly erupted from outside the field.
"What is St. Mary's High School doing…?"
"Are they crazy…?"
"This is too funny…"
...
Due to the defensive focus, the St. Mary's High players in this defensive round simultaneously and unanimously chose to mark Aaron.
Thus, a comical scene unfolded.
All the St. Mary's High players surrounded Aaron, the passing utility player, in the midfield.
Meanwhile, Mike, the true core, entered the St. Mary's Team's backfield end zone unhindered, swaggering in with a large group of teammates.
The two teams faced each other across the field, clearly separated.
This way of conceding points made St. Mary's High look very much like clowns.
No doubt, this was a major tactical error.
Of course, the audience wouldn't think that much; they only knew that the St. Mary's High players seemed to have given up the game as if they had lost their minds.
Then, the restless audience outside the field split into two groups: one cheering for Mike's score, and the other laughing at the St. Mary's High players.
Beep—
The whistle blew, and Coach Cotton, who had made a major decision error, quickly called a timeout.