I revived the Demonic Sect in North America

"hiss--"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

This was followed by suppressed low curses and gasps.

"Damn it!"

"Oh, damn it!"

"This is it..."

Although not everyone on the team likes Jack.

Some people were dissatisfied with his domineering style, while others were jealous of his central position.

But everyone knows that Jack is currently the team's best quarterback.

Perhaps he is indeed not as good as Marcus, the star quarterback of Fordham Prep Academy's chaplaincy team.

But with the River Valley Knights, he was the engine of their offense.

He's the one who can read the opponent's defensive changes, pass the ball out under pressure in the pocket, and orchestrate the attacking group's advance.

He is the backbone of the team's tactical system.

Now, that pillar has collapsed.

An atmosphere of near-desperate panic began to permeate the arena.

How can this game be played without a qualified quarterback?

Are we really going to rely on that rookie substitute Jonas Barnes, who was just promoted from the third team to the second team and whose hands tremble when he passes the ball?

Moreover, even if Jonas were forcibly brought in as a substitute, it wouldn't make a difference.

Because one quarterback is simply not enough for one game.

It's important to know that rugby matches are always very intense.

Quarterbacks are also the primary targets of the opposing defense, making them extremely risky for injury.

There must be reliable substitutes ready to step in at any time.

But now, even starting a match has become a big problem.

Not to mention where to find a qualified backup quarterback.

Duke's coach yelled again:

"Listen up, you fucking idiots!"

The volume was used to forcefully suppress the commotion and pessimism on the field.

"Now put away that 'my parents just died' look on your faces!"

Life goes on, and the games must go on!

"Do you really think that putting on that mournful face will make Lincoln Academy go easy on you?!"

After saying that, the Duke coach suddenly turned his head, his gaze locking onto a tall, thin white boy in the crowd who was trying to shrink himself away and avoid being noticed, and shouted:

"Jonas Barnes! Step forward!"

Jonas Barnes, whose name was called, froze, his face turning deathly pale.

He slowly walked out of the team, stood in front of the Duke coach, lowered his head, and dared not look the coach in the eye.

My legs were trembling.

"Starting today, no, starting right now, you will train with the first team and familiarize yourself with their offensive tactics manual."

Duke's coach stated unequivocally:

"You'll be the Cavaliers' starting quarterback this Friday night against Lincoln College."

"Me? The starting quarterback?"

Jonas looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He opened his mouth, then stammered, declining:

"But...but...Coach, I..."

"No buts!"

The Duke coach rudely interrupted him:

"That's an order! Either go in, or get out of the team right now!"

Jonas seemed to have all his strength drained away; his shoulders slumped, and his face turned ashen.

Bruce, who was standing to the side, was taken aback when he saw this.

He was secretly delighted.

Originally, the team had Jack as a regular starter and Jonas as a backup quarterback.

As a newcomer, Li Ang is almost certain to have no chance to play.

But now that Jack is in trouble, Jonas has been forced into the starting lineup.

Wouldn't that leave the backup quarterback position vacant?

This was a godsend; his good brother Li Ang was incredibly lucky.

He just joined the team and was able to take over as the backup quarterback for the second team!

Thinking of this, Bruce became excited.

He stepped out of the line, pointed at Li Ang standing beside him, and shouted in a loud voice:

"Coach! Now that Jonas is in the starting lineup, what about the backup quarterback position? Li Ang is also a quarterback; he can make the roster and be Jonas's backup!"

Coach Duke's gaze swept over them like a cold searchlight.

It lingered on Bruce's face for a moment, then landed on Leon.

There was no warmth in that gaze, only contemptuous scrutiny.

"He can't do it."

Duke's coach's voice was cold and hard:

"He just joined the team yesterday, hasn't played a single official game, and hasn't participated in a single first-team practice. He's not qualified to be a backup quarterback."

Bruce panicked immediately.

Unable to understand the coach's stubbornness, he raised his voice in argument:

"Coach! Why not let Li Ang give it a try? He played very well at his old junior high school in the South District! I followed him and won many games! Trust me, Coach, he's fast and has a high basketball IQ! He definitely has the ability..."

"That's enough, Bruce!"

The Duke coach turned around abruptly and interrupted him sharply.

"I told you, he's no good! Yes, these Chinese-American kids are all good at running away, maybe he's fast, maybe he's a little clever. But Bruce, listen to me, this is the college league! It's a real, head-to-head competition, not some fucking middle school play!"

"How many collisions can his small frame withstand? Can his passing hold up under pressure? Lincoln Academy's defensive forwards are wild dogs! They're beasts!"

"He'll be torn to shreds like paper! Are you trying to kill him, and the whole team, by putting him on the field?!"

Bruce was stunned by the scolding from the Duke coach.

Seeing that Bruce had stopped arguing, the Duke coach took a deep breath, turned directly to a relatively short and stocky wide receiver on the sidelines, and gave the order:

"Mike! Starting today, in addition to wide receiver practice, you will practice quarterback basics every day."

"Your task this week is to familiarize yourself with the quarterback position as soon as possible and prepare to be Jonas's backup."

Wide receiver Mike Rodriguez, who was singled out, was also stunned.

He opened his mouth wide, pointed to his nose, and stammered:

"Me? Quarterback? Coach, I... I've never played this position before!"

Duke coach yelled in anger:

"That's an order!"

"Coach! This isn't fair!"

Bruce got angry, his neck stiffened, and he said indignantly:

"Mike's a wide receiver! He has no idea how to be a quarterback! Leon, on the other hand, plays quarterback! He understands the position! Why not let someone who really knows the game play instead of having a wide receiver fill in?!"

"Bruce Keaton!"

The Duke coach's voice suddenly rose and became extremely stern.

"I'm in charge here! I'm not holding a democratic election! Look at this guy you're so desperately recommending, ask him yourself! Does he even deserve to be the backup quarterback?"

Before Bruce could speak, the Duke coach suddenly raised his hand, pointing his index finger straight at Li Ang, and roared:

"Chinese kid! Look me in the eye and tell Bruce, and everyone here!"

"With your current skill level, and as a rookie who hasn't even attended a single tactical meeting, how dare you stand here and presumptuously claim you can be the backup quarterback?!"

brush!

All eyes were focused on Li Ang.

The pressure gathered around him as if it were a tangible force.

Li Ang met the Duke coach's aggressive gaze.

He glanced at Bruce, who was standing next to him, his fists clenched in anxiety.

Then he glanced at his teammates around him, each with a different expression.

He took a small step forward and calmly began to speak:

"Coach, I think..."

"I can't be the backup quarterback."

"Li Ang!!"

Bruce screamed in utter disappointment.

He could hardly believe his ears and roared in disbelief:

"What nonsense are you spouting! Have some backbone, will you? If you can't play in the starting lineup, I understand! But what are you afraid to fight for as a substitute?"

"With your basketball IQ and your speed, even if you can't keep up physically right now, you're perfectly capable of stepping up as a substitute in crucial moments and using your brain to control the game's tempo!"

Coach Duke let out a short, sarcastic snort.

He waved impatiently at Bruce, as if shooing away an annoying fly, and said:

"Stop messing around, Bruce, did you hear that? He's already backed down! Put away your childish brotherhood! Face reality! The team needs someone who can step up immediately, not rookies we have to coach from scratch!"

"Alright! Now, everyone, get warmed up! Immediately! Anyone who utters another word, get out there and run twenty laps!"

Li Ang suddenly called out to the Duke coach:

"Please wait a moment, Coach!"

Coach Duke had already turned around, ready to urge everyone to begin training.

Hearing the sound, he abruptly stopped, impatiently turning his head to look at Li Ang and said:

"What are you up to now?"

Li Ang raised his head and said firmly:

"I said, I can't be the backup quarterback."

He paused, and amidst the surprised and puzzled gazes of everyone, continued:

"But Coach, I feel I can handle it..."

"Starting quarterback!"