Jake Maddox - Football Foul Play

Kenny Hu sprinted up the field toward the end zone. The damp turf sent a spray from his feet. His socks were soaked. The fine rain ran down his face shield.

Kenny easily outran his defender. It was late in the game, and his team, the Bader Ginsburg Middle School Badgers, were already ahead by thirteen points.

They would clinch a spot in the postseason for sure. But Kenny wasnt just interested in winning. He also wanted to set his personal best for scoring in a single game.

At the end zone, he cut to the left. His defender, already five steps behind, slid on the wet grass. At this moment, his teammate Jasper Kane, the quarterback, would be launching a pass to him.

Kenny glanced over his shoulder and found the ball spiraling toward him through the mist.

He smiled as he put out his hands and caught the ball for another six points. That gave him thirty points, or five touchdowns, on the day.

As the game ended, Jasper and Kennys best friend, Romeo Russell, ran through the rain to the end zone. The three of themas quarterback, wide receiver, and center linemanmade a great offensive trio.

I wasnt sure youd grab that one in this rain, Jasper said, patting Kennys helmet.

Kenny gave him a little shove, smiling. And I wasnt sure youd throw a decent pass with wet hands, he said.

I thought youd both slip on the grass and end up in the mud, Romeo said, laughing.

Back in the locker room, Coach Zevrin clapped for the boys as they celebrated. Great game, everyone, he said. The postseason begins next weekend.

Which means we can finally get the Bowl back from Wellstone, Kenny said.

The other boys on the team hooted and cheered.

The Badgers lost the Supreme Bowlthe league championship gameto the Wellstone Middle School Warriors ten years ago.

Since then, the Warriors had won every single Bowl. The Badgers hadnt even made it to the postseason.

Until now.

I knew this would be the squad to get us there, Coach Zevrin said, finally.

The boys cheered again.

This year, well win that trophy, Coach Zevrin said, and hold on to it for fifty years.

Yeah we will! Kenny shouted.

The others laughed and cheered.

And that journey begins next weekend, Coach Zevrin said, trying to get the team to settle down a bit. So while our sights are set on Wellstone, we first have to get past the Lincoln Lakers.

Piece of cake, said Romeo.

He and Kenny high-fived.

All right, go celebrate, the coach said, and Ill see you Monday for practice. Heres where it gets real.

The first week of the postseason, the Badgers faced the Lakers from Lincoln Middle School. The Lakers didnt have a record as strong as the Warriors. It wasnt as strong as the Badgers, either, for that matter.

But it wouldnt be a walk in the park.

The Lakers won the coin toss and chose to receive. The Badgers kicker, a seventh grader named Benny Haas, took the field with the rest of the special team.

Benny was a star soccer player. He hadnt even wanted to play football. But Kenny, Jasper, and Romeo convinced him. They knew hed be a great kicker, and they promised hed never get hurt.

Thats why Romeo, normally the center, volunteered to join the special team too: to protect Benny.

The team lined up. Benny raised his right hand and jogged to the ball. He drew back his leg and, with perfect soccer form, slammed the football.

It soared above the field as the teams charged toward each other, their eyes on the ball.

The ball came down just past the fifty-yard line. The Lakers kick returnera talented running back Kenny recognized from their game during the regular seasoncaught the ball. He took off up the .

Romeo was pretty fast for a big guy. He cut the runner off before the forty-five and easily brought him down.

The Lakers offense took the field. The Badgers defense hustled out to face them.

Not an inch, boys, Kenny said, leading the cheer for the defense.

The Lakers ran three times, but the Badgers defense was as stubborn as their namesake. The Lakers didnt pick up a single yard. They were forced to punt.

Romeo and Kenny took the field as part of the punt-return team.

The Lakers lined up. For a moment, Romeo thought they might fake the kick. At the snap, he slammed into the offensive line as the Lakers kicker drew back and punted.

Kenny caught the punt near the fifteen-yard line. He took off like a shot, dodging to his right and spinning toward the sideline, avoiding three charging Lakers.

Go, Kenny! Jasper yelled from the sideline.

Most of the Lakers offensive line barreled down the sideline toward Kenny. He turned diagonally toward the center of the field and sprinted, forcing the offensive line to cut across too.

Romeo charged with him. He wasnt as fast as Kenny, but he was fast enough to meet a couple of the Lakers tacklers. He grunted as he felt the impact of the two linemen, but he slowed them down enough to let Kenny gain a few more yards.

The Lakers tacklers finally took Kenny down at the fifty. He hurried to the bench for a drink. Jasper jumped to his feet and gave Kennys shoulder a pat.

Nice run, he said.

Romeo joined them and grabbed a cup of water. He pushed up his helmet and drank it down.

Lets not waste it now, he said, breathing heavily.

Thats right, Coach Zevrin said. Get out there and turn that run into a for us, Hu.

The offense took the field for the Badgers. In the huddle, Jasper called for a play-action pass.

Kenny lined up at the right end of the offensive line. Jasper took the snap. He faked a hand-off to the running back, Lucas Fump. Lucas pushed through the middle with Romeo clearing his path.

The defense fell for it. They crushed in on the center, trying to stop Lucas.

Meanwhile, Jasper rolled out to the left and threw a perfect spiral twenty yards to Kenny.

Kenny was wide open. He grabbed the ball and took off along the sideline, sprinting down the empty field and into the end zone for the games first six points.

The Badgers excellent teamwork kept working for them over the rest of the game. When the clock ran out, the Badgers had their first win of the postseason, 24 to 10.

Back in the locker room, after the game and after Coach Zevrins brief speech, Kenny sat with Jasper and Romeo. They were all showered and changed.

The boys were tired after the game but also full of excited energy. Theyd won the first game of the postseason, and theyd won decisively.

The Bowl is as good as ours, Jasper said. He sat on a bench and leaned way back, resting his shoulders on a nearby locker.

Dont get cocky, Kenny said.

Yeah, thats Kennys job, Romeo added. He covered a laugh.

Kenny gave him a playful punch in the arm.

Id better get going, Kenny said, sitting up. My mom hates when I make her wait in the parking lot. He grabbed his bag of dirty football clothes.

Romeo got to his feet too and grabbed his laundry.

Jasper joined them.

Forgetting something, stinky? Romeo said to Jasper as the three boys walked out of the locker room. Wheres your uniform?

Ill wash it on Monday morning when I get to school, Jasper said. There is a washing machine here, you know.

Yeah, but its not free, Kenny pointed out. And the money on my card is for the snack bar in the cafeteria too.

Every kid in the school district carried a plastic card. They used it to pay for lunches, snack bar visits, library holds, and the laundry machines in the locker rooms.