Page 157 of Hometown Halftime

“Are you feeling okay? It’s cold out today.”

I nod. “Yeah, I took some ibuprofen on the bus just in case. If it gets to me, I might need to chill during halftime.”

He looks down at me. “Sounds good. Just let me know if you need anything. I brought heat patches if you need them.”

This goddamn man.

“Thank you.”

He smiles, lightening the moment. “No matter what happens, be proud.”

The whistle blows twenty minutes later to start the clock, and the game is brutal from the start.

The first half becomes a war of inches. Mud sprays across the wet field with every collision, while girls scream at each other and parents completely lose their minds in the stands.

By halftime, we’re down by one try.

The girls collapse onto the benches, breathing hard while steam rises from exhausted bodies into the cold air, but nobody panics. That’s the difference now. When the season started, this team would’ve folded under this type of pressure. Tonight they lean forward around Riley while he draws up adjustments in the whiteboard. They’re hungry for it.

I crouch in front of them once Riley finishes talking.

My voice comes out rougher than I intended. “You ladies walked into the playoffs during your very first season and you’re going toe-to-toe with one of the best programs in the state.”

Several girls straighten.

“No matter the outcome, I’m proud of you. Be proud of each other. Now go finish this together.”

The second half gets even harder.

Brooke scores early and the Cedar Falls side of the stands absolutely explodes. Then the other team answers right back. Paige scores next, powering through two defenders near the try line, and they answer again before we even finish celebrating. Every inch of the field feels earned through bruises, exhaustion, and pure determination.

With four minutes left, we’re down by five. One possession could change everything.

The girls know it too.

The last few phases turn messy. Passes wobble through the air while bodies crash hard into the mud and the crowd screams so loudly I can barely hear myself think. Cedar Falls inches closer and closer to the try line with every phase.

My heart begins to sink as Mountain Top controls the last minutes. The girls are tired, and they just can’t catch a break.

Then the whistle blows—game over.

For one horrible second, the girls stay frozen where they are while the other team erupts nearby in celebration, and my heart breaks for them because God, they wanted this so badly.

I walk toward them just as Brooke drops to her knees in the mud.

Then something unexpected happens. The Cedar Falls crowd cheers loud enough to rattle the bleachers and echo across the field.

I stop short in confusion while parents and students suddenly begin pouring out of the stands.

“What the hell?” Riley says beside me, sounding just as stunned.

Then Brynn reaches Paige first, throwing her arms around her hard enough that both of them nearly topple sideways into the mud. Cam starts shaking hands with players while Knox barrels across the field yelling, “THAT’S OUR WILDCATS!” with the gusto of a football dad who’s one inspirational speech away from crying on local television.

And then, against all logic, the entire field is filled with celebrating Cedar Falls fans that don’t even care about our loss.

The girls blink around in shock while people hug them, clap them on the back and tell them how proud they are. Parents take pictures. Even little kids rush across the field high fiving the players.

And slowly, it hits me. They’re celebrating what these girls built together. The team and the family they created out of absolutely nothing.