The Game by Godfrey Logan

 

This match was actually played. Names and location have been changed for dramatic effect.

“Hello and welcome to the frigid confines of the Lakefront Stadium. It is the Championship game between the Chicago Football Club and the visitors. I am Dion Brown, your host for the occasion. Let me tell you there have been a lot of trash talk between the two teams all week. But the Chicago club is a bigger more physical club than the visitors. With the snow and mud expect them to put the ball in the hands of their veteran running back. The Chicago boys are used to the weather and the play of their brash quarterback. Tall and agile. His accuracy and the league’s best defense make them favored.”

 

It’s a noon kick off. A sunny day and the ball is in the air. The visitors get the ball first. There’s play back and forth. Dirty uniforms. Tenuous footing and overexertion. The gun signals the end of the first half. Scoreless. It isn’t without best efforts by both teams. But in a game like this a single mistake can change the outcome. A pass overthrown by inches off the fingers of the receiver. “Fans, this is what to expect in this climate and what’s on the line. I’ve played in a few games like this. The game is physical and the score is tight.” The visibly dirty home whites. The blood and fights. When it gets to the goal line stand both clubs have stood strong if they even cross midfield.

 

“The second half is ready to start and Chicago gets the ball to start.” The crowd is loud but cannot drown out the sound of the bone rattling hits. Chicago moves the ball with their strong armed quarterback. Picking up chunks of yardage. The crowd gets louder. Once across midfield the visitor’s defense made their presence felt with pressure on the star signal caller. But get close enough to the end zone. The time consuming drive ended with an interception at the goal line. The sidelines are stoic and fatigue show on their face. Chicago thinks the game should played out differently. They game-planned to use their size that got them to this game.

 

“I’m your host for this masterpiece of a game, Dion Brown. If you’re not on the edge of your seats then you’re not feeling your extremities.” The visitors are back to the ground game deep in their own side of the field. He’s fumbled once in the game. Chicago was unable to take advantage and the score reflect the frustration. The snow is coming down heavy as the sun is going down. A mixture of runs and short passes move the visitors cross midfield as the game is winding down under two minutes. Shortly they’ll be within field goal range. Under a minute left to go and momentum clearly in their hands. They decide to run a play they hadn’t all game: a deep pass. Chicago had just stuffed two running plays and the decision to throw it deep is made. Comparison of the two quarterbacks should have given Chicago the edge but desperation throws out all the rules with the clock running and it looking like overtime is coming which would have made this game even more epic. The ball is in the air with the heavy wind and snow and debris. The ball is barely visible once it leaves the QB’s hand scrambling towards the right sideline and lands in the hands visitor’s star receiver. Stretched out fully 6 feet and he held on as the gun signaled the end of the game. “This is Dion Brown signing off after one heck of a game. And things I cannot say on the radio.”