SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (The World)

[gluttoning]

[FOOTBALL NOISES

aka this for IRL football watching or any communications outside Fragment. Yay football. :)]

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SATURDAY 9/9 at Illinois, 11am

[gluttoning]

[Sunny and warm in Champaign, Illinois. 85 Fahrenheit. The first away game of the season.

The first half of the game struggles defensively. While California tries their best, Illinois has a strong defensive line holding their ground that don't allow for many plays to go through and gain momentum. Offense pressures and pushes and sneaks through the opening defensive strategies, and by the time the whistle is blown for halftime, California trails 14 to 9 - a single touchdown and a field goal made out of luck.

Swaps are made. Change the defense. Think more aggressively about offense. Watch their receivers, don't give openings for their passers. #68 is brought out, and this time stays out for the rest of the game. The defensive line stays solid. #68 takes down one attempt at a pass straight through the line, his first sack of the season.

It's a stalemate the entire third quarter. Neither team gets close enough to make a risky play. As players start to tire, space starts to slip in the 4th.

The defense meets, a timeout is called. No more. They have very little time to work with and a touchdown would easily get them their lead. They can try. All they can do is try.

And try they do. Illinois does not allow that touchdown. But they push to range for a field goal. Offensive is blocked for a punt, and they get within range for another field goal.

15 to 14. 2 minutes left.



Illinois's field goal sneaks in at the last moment. There's no time to make a counter play. No way to get 3 points back with barely a minute on the clock and another tradeoff. Though they finish the plays and let the clock run out, it's clear from the rampant and thundering cheers of the crowd that the home team has won. 3pm EST.

The away team takes time to regroup in private - one took a rough hit to the chest, one is having an ankle looked at by the medics. They take their time in the showers, in stripping off each other's uniforms and congratulating each other despite the loss. #68 gets a slap on the back from his defensive coach. Good plays, kid. Keep it up. You'll be on track for first string.

4pm, the California team is ushered into a charter bus, food and well wishes and a few press requests waiting for them. Off they'll be taken to their hotel. Some will spend the night exploring Champaign, driving to Decatur, partying, resting.

#68 isn't with them. #68 is at the Champaign gym doing recovery exercise. His phone stays off - he can't talk while he's focused. He's waved down for dinner with his team. He goes long enough to eat double his weight in food. Not a surprise. He always does this.

7pm. He's back at the gym even though he's exhausted. He stays until one of the wide recievers comes looking for him. Come on, man. You need to get some rest, you're gonna hurt yourself. Save it for later. Go call your family.

It's almost 10pm. But he relents.]