American winner takes all

Chapter 208: Connecting the ball and pushing people into the formation (12)

"Keep the advantage and don't let your opponent score more points..."

During the gap between the first and second quarters, Eugene said to the players surrounding him.

After a perfect first quarter, Alabama led its opponents with a 17-3 advantage.

Ethan stood in the crowd and saw smiles on his teammates' faces.

Many people think Alabama will have a big win today.

The problem is, Auburn is not as weak as imagined.

Ethan looked across. At the same time, Terry Bowden, like Eugene, was giving lectures to the Auburn University players.

Looking at the angry expressions on the faces of those players, it was obvious that they were not ready to give up.

Don’t forget, this is only the first quarter of the game, and it is an extremely important Iron Bowl for both universities.

In fact, as Ethan expected, the changes in Auburn University's offensive team were particularly obvious in the second quarter. With 8 minutes left in the second quarter, they relied on a long pass to score a touchdown.

Alabama cornerback Deshia Townsend, who was chasing after him, had already dived out, but was still just shy of the opponent. He could only watch helplessly as the opponent's tight end completed the touchdown.

Auburn University's PAT was also successfully achieved, and the score was tied at 17-10 in the middle of the second quarter of the game.

The scene suddenly erupted into thunderous cheers, and the sound was so loud that Ethan couldn't hear clearly what his teammates around him were saying.

Relying on the home court advantage, Auburn University has stabilized its position. Thanks to the key defensive players of the Alabama team, they withstood this wave of offensive and did not allow Auburn University to directly recover the score.

With 3 minutes left before the end of the second quarter, it was Alabama's turn to start the offense. It still relied more on running tactics. On the third gear, Eason saw the gap next to wide receiver Michael Vaughn. , threw a long ball very calmly.

But it did not achieve the expected effect.

Michael Vaughn was even distracted at that moment. At the same time, Auburn University's trailing middle linebacker had already arrived. He jumped high before Michael Vaughn, firmly picked off the ball, and then started to attack back with the ball on the spot. !
"Interception! There was a mistake in the coordination between Michael Vaughn and Ethan!"

With the passionate shouts of live commentator Ron Franklin.The audience at the scene collectively let out a huge roar, and the whole stadium seemed to be boiling at this moment.

Without saying a word, Ethan launched a counterattack. The original striker did not directly provide cover for his teammates, but chose to rush towards Ethan at this time, and the three of them worked together to intercept Ethan.

At the same time, the defensive player who completed the interception also ran the "Z"-shaped route that Ethan had used, avoiding interceptions by multiple Alabama offensive players along the way.

The three people held Ethan, and the next second Ethan pushed forward and broke through the encirclement with brute force. But at this time, it was too late to pursue him, and he could only watch Auburn University complete the counterattack. Array.

Ethan only saw all the Auburn University players rushing forward, hugging and fist-bumping with the "merit" who completed the interception, not to mention the huge roar of the audience.

As Auburn University's PAT was successful again, the scores of both sides came to the same starting line.

"It was the defensive team before, and now it's the offensive team. Now it won't be the special team's turn, right?" Ethan said, looking at the special team on the field.

In the end, he was right. During the kickoff return, the Alabama player who got the ball only ran for five yards. He fell forward uncontrollably, and he was supposed to be firmly locked. The football he was holding in his arms was released from his hands at this time and rolled down on the ground twice. In the end, an Auburn University player got the ball directly.

After getting the ball first and then letting it go, it was considered a dropped ball. Auburn University once again got the ball!
Ethan was standing not far away, watching the Auburn University players cheering as if they were about to win.

As for the special team player who made the mistake, his head was lowered, obviously very downcast, which was in sharp contrast to his opponent.

Fortunately, there was not much game time left in the second quarter, and the kickoff would resume in the second half. It was useless for Auburn to keep the ball, so they directly chose to take a free kick.

At the end of the first half, Alabama fell behind 17-20. If the start of the first quarter was "paradise" for Alabama, then Auburn University's counterattack in the second quarter was a "paradise" for Alabama. It's like hell.

In the last ten seconds of the second quarter, Ethan got the ball and found that there was no suitable passing opportunity, so he chose to charge with the ball, but was surrounded by five other players. Ethan, who had not yet fully started, directly Being pushed down.

This seems to be a sign.

I don’t know when, many Alabama fans and even Ethan’s teammates felt that Ethan was “invincible”. In fact, Ethan also seemed helpless when facing an intensive defense with obviously many people. .

Again, this is a university, not a high school, and Ethan is not a real Superman after all.

Looks like more exercise is needed!

Ethan stood up with the help of his teammates. He only felt that he had been a little slack during this period. Apart from spending the night with McKenna, he did not have close contact with other girls.Moreover, she and McKenna hardly spent the night together. Often, McKenna would scream to go home at midnight.

For Ethan now, one or two hours can only be regarded as a "warm-up".

Before the game against Florida, it looks like there will be a "surprise workout."

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"Think about our families, think about our friends, think about the fans who support us, and think about how many opponents we have defeated all the way to this point! Those Auburn University guys feel like they have a winning chance. I don't think so, we But to win this year's championship! We must not fall in the darkness of dawn. There is only the last half hour left before we compete for the championship. We must let the people in Auburn know that we are invincible!" Ethan Roaring at the team members.

The team members roared in response.

When Ethan was in high school, he was a master of "rope twisting". With his performance along the way, he has now become a core figure of the Alabama Crimson Tide team, and he also took the initiative to take on the task of twisting ropes.

Eugene's next speech was more technical.

The game officially resumed in the second half. Compared with the intense first half, both sides played a little tighter in the second half.

However, after Auburn University achieved certain results in the first offensive of the second half and advanced into Alabama's half, they directly called a free kick and extended the lead to six points.

Ethan has been looking for opportunities, but Auburn University's iron barrel formation appears to be very tight, and no gaps have been revealed for the time being.

The score of 17-23 lasted until the end of the fourth quarter. Alabama's previous consecutive attacks did not achieve very good results, and many spectators in the stands had already begun to celebrate the victory at this time.

"Is Alabama going to suffer its first defeat in this focus battle with Auburn University?" Ron Franklin couldn't help but ask.

"There are currently three and a half minutes left before the end of the game. This is Alabama's last offensive opportunity. It depends on whether Ethan can seize it..."

"I think Ethan has been waiting." Mike Gottfrey suddenly said.

His point of view is completely different from Ron Franklin. In his eyes, he can clearly feel that Ethan has been retaining his strength and physical strength. He is waiting for an opportunity... The fact is just as Mike Gottfrey said As expected, with little time left, Alabama's offensive team began to speed up. Ethan used continuous long passes to accurately find various attack points. The front line was advancing little by little, even though Auburn The university additionally marked Ethan, but considering that most of the physical strength of both sides had been consumed, Ethan gradually began to gain the upper hand. He was able to pass the ball many times in the pocket despite being double-teamed by many people. .

In less than 1 minute, the Alabama offense came to Auburn University's half.

At the 39-yard line, Ethan saw the right moment and shook his arm, seemingly to pass the ball to the deep end. The next moment, he twisted around, completed the escape from the two defenders around him, and began to move toward Auburn's end zone ran wild with the ball.

This time, let alone Auburn University, even the Alabama players were a little surprised. In the meeting before the formation, this was not what Ethan told his teammates. It was obvious that Ethan changed the tactics temporarily. , the teammates wanted to cover Ethan at this time but were already a beat too late.

Correspondingly, Auburn's defensive team did not dare to be careless and quickly changed formations to defend against runs. Ethan had also tried to run the ball several times before, but all failed under Auburn's targeted run defense formation. .

But this time it was completely different from the previous times.

"Ethan accelerated completely. He did not choose to turn around, but flipped his opponent over... 5 yards, 10 yards..." Commentator Franklin's speaking speed became faster and faster.

But Mike Gottfrey, who was sitting next to him, discovered the doorway. Ethan did not choose a lighter way to go around to the other side, but chose to charge forward in the middle.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like a good choice, but considering the positioning of the filling defenders, this route has the fewest defenders.

It can be said that Ethan made a judgment in a very short period of time.

This kind of quick thinking and decisive reaction can often only be seen in experienced professional quarterbacks.

During the game, Ethan quickly passed the first line of defense. The second line of defense was double-teamed by linebackers and cornerbacks. Ethan still did not choose to switch to other routes this time, but continued to break through.

The two defenders on the opposite side noticed Ethan's intention immediately. They showed their shoulders and made a defensive posture, hoping to force Ethan to change his route or slow down. But at this moment, Ethan showed He was moving forward with great momentum, but at the moment when he was about to make contact, he stopped suddenly, and then raised his hand like lightning.

The tens of thousands of spectators at the scene could clearly see that Ethan made a very common "pushing" action.But just such a movement made the tall defensive player take two steps back. Then he failed to grasp his center of gravity and fell directly on his back.

And Ethan also took advantage of the opportunity to break through the gap created by the opponent's retreat and passed the second line of defense.

At this time, the eyes were wide open. As he was rushing forward, a defender made a leap, and his body came into contact with Ethan, trying to knock Ethan down directly through brute force.

But Ethan only slowed down a little. He was like a [-]-ton ship sailing in the rough sea. No matter how the group of Auburn University defenders collided, Ethan remained as still as a mountain.

In contrast, this kind of flying collision caused Auburn University's defensive players to fall to the ground continuously, and they could only watch Ethan getting closer and closer to the formation area.

The last safety guard did not choose to wait passively, but actively rushed towards Ethan.

Ethan did not make any move to change the route, and still made the same pushing action at the last moment.

In addition to his rich experience, this safety guard is also very physically strong, and his weight is not much different from that of today's Ethan. At the moment of contact, he was even ready to secretly compete with Ethan, but the next second he could He felt an unprecedented force coming towards him, forcing him to step back subconsciously.

The safety guard took two steps back, struggling to maintain his balance. Ethan increased his strength, and he could only keep retreating.

In this way, Ethan pushed while the safety guard retreated, and finally Ethan pushed him directly into the zone.

The audience suddenly fell silent.

"As expected of Ethan O'Connor, he used his trump card at the last moment and relied on his strong power to directly push his opponent into the formation." Franklin couldn't help but marvel.

He had never seen such a "straightforward" touchdown before.

It seems like a very simple action, but it can show Ethan's terrifying physical fitness.

This scene also made Auburn head coach Terry Bowden, who was standing on the sidelines, shake his head helplessly.

Auburn has done the best it can on defense, but if it really can't defend it, what can it do?

This time, not only the Auburn players at the scene were confused, but also the tens of thousands of spectators in the audience. No one expected that Ethan would score a touchdown in this way.There was no longer the same cheering as before.

Ethan did not relax at this time, but looked at the kicker Brock who was waiting on the sidelines not far away.

The score is now tied at 23. As long as this ball can be scored, Alabama will win by one point in the end.

Considering that Bullock had missed a critical moment PAT before, Ethan was worried about him.

As Bullock walked onto the court, Ethan couldn't help but ask a few more questions.

"I'm confident this time!" Bullock said very confidently.

And when Ethan saw the light in his eyes, he knew that the ball was secured.

It can be said that the opportunity given to him by Eugene in the first quarter allowed Bullock to regain his confidence.

Run-up, leg lift, hard shot...

Ethan saw the football fly into the goal!
There are only two seconds left in the game at this time.

And Auburn’s final drive.

Although the clock board has reached zero, the game is not over. This is a special rule of football that gives the offense one last pass.

Theoretically, there is no team that relies on this last chance to come back and win. For example, when Ethan debuted as a quarterback for the first time, he once threw a Hail Mary pass.

But this time, Lady Victory didn't favor Auburn.

The game officially ended as the Auburn quarterback's pass was caught by Alabama's players.

Compared with the previous aftermath, Ethan didn't find it so thrilling this time.The outcome of the second half has actually been determined, and it can happen at any time.

Such ease began to remind Ethan of his last opponent this season - the University of Florida.

(End of this chapter)