Chapter 55: Chapter 50: Key Player
"Game Missions:
Complete your first pass in the Rose Bowl game. Requirement: None. Reward: +1 Basic Point.
Score your first Touchdown in the Rose Bowl game. Requirement: None. Reward: +1 Basic Point.
Accumulate passing yards in the Rose Bowl game. Requirement: At least fifty passing yards. Reward: +1 Basic Point.
Improve passing completion rate in the Rose Bowl game. Requirement: At least 65% completion rate. Reward: +1 Basic Point.
Avoid being intercepted in the Rose Bowl game. Requirement: Zero interceptions. Reward: +1 Basic Point.
Win the Rose Bowl game. Requirement: None. Reward: +5 Basic Points."
A series of mission prompts appeared in his mind again. The Rose Bowl was different, after all. The reward for victory was a whopping five basic points, and each mission had been slightly altered. With only two minutes left in the game, the tasks had been adjusted accordingly.
But none of that mattered to Lu Ke right now. He had neither the time nor the inclination to read the mission list. This was the most important game of his career—the Rose Bowl, a stage for the entire nation. The game was on the line, with only two minutes left on the clock. And the thunderous roar from the crowd showed no signs of stopping, making the adrenaline in his veins feel like it was about to explode.
Lu Ke needed to focus. One hundred percent.
"Guys!" Lu Ke called for his offensive teammates to gather around. But the roar of the crowd was overwhelming. He shouted at the top of his lungs, yet it felt like trying to stop a chariot with a praying mantis. Lu Ke had no choice but to keep his words brief. "We’re passing! Mid-range and long!"
Lu Ke had been standing on the sidelines watching the entire game, but he wasn’t a spectator. He was a player, and a quarterback at that. So, he had been intently observing the game’s progress, analyzing his team’s offensive tactics and the opponent’s defensive schemes. An onlooker sees the game most clearly; stepping away from the action always reveals different information.
He’d noticed that the Badger Team’s Defense Team wasn’t overwhelmingly strong as a whole. Their cornerbacks and safeties were not exceptional; their field coverage and man-to-man marking were subpar. In contrast, they favored blitzing more often. In the short-pass zone, they used a zone defense, where their interference and control were noticeably more aggressive and dense. Their run defense was also respectable.
Most importantly, the Badger Team had a key player: JJ Watt.
The Badger Team made full use of number ninety-nine’s individual abilities. Whether it was blitzing the Offense Line to pressure the quarterback or tackling receivers to shut down the play before it started, his performance was outstanding. He moved through the Brown Bear Team’s Offense Line as if it wasn’t even there.
The Brown Bear Team had adjusted their tactics in response, but unfortunately, Kevin’s several attempts at long passes had all been ineffective—
Sometimes the Offense Line couldn’t block the defensive players, forcing a hurried throw with terrible accuracy. Sometimes his own passing was off, failing to connect with the receiver. And other times, the play was read, the receivers were all covered with no openings, and he was forced to settle for a mid-range or short pass.
For their two Touchdowns in the first half, the Brown Bear Team had used mid-range passes to open up the field, complemented by running plays for the final blow. But unfortunately, for the rest of the game, Kevin’s on-field judgment was poor and his throws weren’t decisive enough. His completion rate remained low, which was why the Brown Bear Team’s entire offense was stuck in a rut.
If there were enough time, Lu Ke could have gradually opened up the game. But with only two minutes left, every second counted. ’Try not to overcomplicate things,’ he thought. ’Just recall the plays the coach drew up during halftime and execute them quickly!’
"Nelson, Eddie, I need you to lock down their number ninety-nine!" Time was short, but Lu Ke quickly gave his orders. "Remember, your job is to contain number ninety-nine. Don’t worry about the other defensive players. Leave them to us!"
Yesterday, before the Rose Bowl, Lu Ke had completed another fourteen-day basic training mission, earning another basic point. He’d added it to his Observation Field of View without hesitation, bringing that stat up to fifty-five. Combined with his sixty points in Ball-Carrying Run and sixty in evasion, he hoped his legs could create some magic in the next two minutes.
Lu Ke’s gaze was fixed on Nelson Rosario and Eddie Williams, the two players protecting his blind side on the left. He needed them to block JJ Watt’s blitz. Only after confirming their affirmative nods did Lu Ke look away.
"Two minutes. Let’s get some Touchdowns!" Lu Ke used the plural, not the singular. The confident, almost arrogant, statement made everyone break into laughter. They instinctively stacked their hands together, let out a low roar, and broke apart, returning to their positions, ready to get back into the game.
The Brown Bear Team would start their offense from their own twenty-yard line.
"Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!" The shouts inside the Rose Bowl were still deafening, as if each cry could grant them energy and confidence. The unwavering faith was injecting an unimaginable momentum into the stadium.
The shouts in his ears were so loud, so chaotic, but his frantically beating heart gradually calmed. It was as if the cheers were slowly settling and fading away. Lu Ke’s vision grew incredibly focused. He stared intently at the defensive players across the Offense Line, observing their formation and scheme, then called out, "3, 33."
This was college football, not the Professional Alliance; the tactical options were relatively limited. In a two-minute drill, clock management was crucial to scoring a Touchdown.
Although the Brown Bear Team still had two timeouts left, they were at a disadvantage when it came to clock management. This meant the receivers needed to get out of bounds after every catch to stop the clock. Otherwise, with only two timeouts, they would have to run a no-huddle offense for the rest of the drive, pushing the pace as fast as possible and hoping to score a Touchdown.
Two minutes sounds like a long time, but in a football game, it’s incredibly short. This wasn’t basketball, where a game could be turned around in a matter of milliseconds.
The crowd’s roar was so ferocious that Lu Ke had to shout the play call once to his left and again to his right to ensure all his teammates heard it. Only then did he lower his stance, ready for the snap.
The 2011 Rose Bowl. The second official game of Lu Ke’s career. A two-minute stage. He had arrived.
"Hike!"
Lu Ke roared the call, and the football immediately hit his hands. His feet began a quick backpedal to create space, his eyes rapidly scanning the field. He searched for his receivers along their pre-arranged routes, but before he could spot anyone, a black shadow lunged at him from the corner of his eye.
’Run.’
It was the first instinct in Lu Ke’s mind. He immediately took off in the opposite direction. A quarter of a millisecond? Half a millisecond? Urged on by reflex, Lu Ke had reacted as fast as he could, but it wasn’t fast enough. The weakness of his Ball-Carrying Run stat was magnified to the extreme against his opponent’s superior talent. He had barely taken two steps before a wave of pressure surged from behind, tackling him viciously and slamming him to the ground.
The only thing Lu Ke could do was clutch the football tightly to his chest to avoid a fumble. His body hit the turf like a sack of potatoes, and he could even taste the grass in his mouth. His muscles began to scream in pain.
But at that moment, Lu Ke couldn’t care less about the pain. He scrambled to his feet and roared furiously at Nelson and Eddie, "Block! Block! Were you guys fucking invisible?!"
Number ninety-nine. The one who had just rushed him was number ninety-nine, JJ Watt.
This was the first time Lu Ke had seen the star player up so close. His fair, youthful face still had some downy hair, his cheeks were flushed a light pink from the exertion, and even the rims of his eyes were colored. With his square jaw, hard muscles, and powerful build, he was like a beast. His reaction speed was far beyond what Lu Ke had imagined, leaving him no room to maneuver and resulting in a direct sack.
Watt! Watt! Watt! Lu Ke had been aware of his danger before even taking the field, warning his linemen over and over again. And yet, on the very first down, Watt had broken through with ease and gotten the sack! For a rare moment, Lu Ke lost his temper.
Facing Lu Ke’s fury, Nelson and Eddie said nothing. They silently hung their heads, admitting their irrefutable mistake.
But Lu Ke didn’t press the issue. He waved at his other teammates, signaling them to line up. They had no time to waste.
Then Lu Ke realized his backpedal had taken him a full six yards back—and even then, Watt had gotten to him in an instant. The man’s short-range burst was terrifying.
Now, the Brown Bear Team had been pushed back to their own fourteen-yard line. This not only meant they were in a terrible position to start the play, but it also meant they needed to gain sixteen yards on this down. The chances of a failed drive were rising.
There was no time for regret or frustration. Every second was precious. Lu Ke regrouped his teammates and they lined up again. His eyes once more fell on the defensive players before him. However, Lu Ke didn’t deliberately look for Watt. Instead, he pretended as if nothing had happened, calmly and objectively assessing the whole field.
Lu Ke knew Watt would blitz again. He needed to get the ball out quickly. A short pass was the best option, but a short pass...
’Focus.’ Lu Ke’s concentration reached an unprecedented level. An idea flashed in his mind, and he shouted, "Orange Marmalade! 5, 24, Orange Marmalade!" He yelled at the top of his lungs to his teammates on both sides, "Orange Marmalade!"
