Forever Dark(7)

It’s not long before game time when Coach approaches, there’s a subtly he holds, a means of calming us all down in ways only he can. He stands there with his hand against the lockers, his eyes low on the ground.

Before speaking, he regards us once again and I see the pride. Every coach has a set of players they will remember. Ones that no matter how many years they coach, they remember those boys. I can say that I know this group is the one for him. He’s spent the last four years working with us, teaching us the fundamentals of the sport and that unity you need. We had it and it was because of him. In turn, we became like his sons. A group of boys he could never forget.

He smiles as he speaks, his eyes on Steven, and then me. “I don’t know what to say to you boys that you haven’t heard me say already this season. You made this happen. You were perfect this season. We’re undefeated and we’ll keep it that way. I know that because when I look to Landon, I know he can run the ball. I look to Griffin and I see his bright eyes and know he’s keeping Cash calm and giving him the confidence he needs. Being perfect isn’t about winning. It’s about you and how you feel about yourself. These relationships that you’ve built over the years, they will last a lifetime. Live in this moment right here, tonight.” His eyes shift and focus on Landon, who’s staring at him. “Don’t ever forget what this gives you, what tonight makes you feel. Think of it because it can last forever.”

What he said really stuck with me. Tonight would stay with me forever because I was changing my life. I was asking a girl to marry me. Not only would my life never be the same, neither would hers based on this decision.

Something told me she would say yes.

A nagging thought weaved its way in… what if she didn’t?





It’s the fourth quarter before we know it, 41 to 34 with two minutes left on the play clock. We may not need this touchdown but we’re damn sure gonna take it. We do a few plays running the clock down and pushing them back into the end zone when we’re within reach of a field goal.

I’m not going for a field goal though.

I’ve been waiting for a chance like this for what feels like forever. It’s not even the game. It’s playing with these boys that I’ll remember. We may never get this again. Who knows what college ball will bring. Who knows what college in general will bring.

For tonight, our town, our boys, have this memory we’re creating.

I can feel sweat running down my face mixing with the light sticky mist of rain falling. The steam rolls from our breath as we huddle up and I give the orders for the last play, the one that should give Landon the ball and the yards he’s looking for. We break huddle, I look to my right and see Madison and the girls, their screams silent from here but I see them cheering us on. I look to coach next, barely breathing. He gives me the nod, the one that says he trusts his quarterback and what I’m about to do.

I clap my hands, the ball snaps and time stands still for me. There’s movement around me, bodies running, others falling. I see Landon held up at the line of scrimmage for a moment and I draw back and throw down field where I know he’s going to be.

And then I breathe.

The clock has five seconds remaining.

Landon reaches out and snags the ball, faking left, then right to ward off the tackle. As I watch the final seconds of the game, I take a knee.

Three seconds. He’s at the ten yard line.

Two seconds. He’s at the five, jumps over a lineman.

One. He’s mid-air hurdling over players, the ball tucked in tightly in his arm.

Zero. He lands with three guys on top of him. In the end zone.

We won. 47-34.

Canby High School is state champions for the first time in twenty-two years.

History played. History made.

Maybe we’ll play together again. Maybe even after college but right now, it’s never going to feel like this again. The field is swarmed but the three of us remain on the field, alone, for about ten seconds. Ten long seconds when we wonder if this is what forever might feel like.





After being interviewed a few times, the team takes the bus back to the high school. It’s important that we go as a team and return as one. It’s loud, really fucking loud and everyone is all smiles and joking without a care in the world. They’re making plans, living it up because they know too, this high, this amazing feeling of being superior, won’t last forever, even if we want to believe it will. We all know that in a few months we will all be going our own ways, so we have to make the most out of every moment that we can.

“I can’t believe you’re going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated!” Landon says over the seat.