That was Ben’s favorite play to run He liked taking the ball outside stretching the defensive line and then darting upfield through a hole in the defense Logan took the snap spun to his left and pitched the ball toward Ben who was already running to the outside Ben tucked it close and weaved through two defenders It looked like Ben was going to score Then from nowhere Jacob Fuller smashed into Ben leveling him The ball squirted from Ben’s hands Both Grizzlies and Hornets piled on top of one another as they fought for control of the ball Oh no Gabe said quietly I knew something bad was going to happen The referees blew their whistles quickly diving in to peel apart the two teams Gabe 10
couldn’t see who had the ball He and the other team members on the sidelines stepped forward in anticipation A defensive lineman for the Hornets popped up waving the ball in the air The parents and players for the East Grover Lake team groaned Coach one of the other players shouted Look Gabe peered across the field to the spot where the pile had just been cleared One player still lay in the cold grass rolling back and forth in pain and clutching his leg Gabe gasped It was Ben 11
CHAPTER 2 We’ve got an injured player on the field one of the referees said as he jogged over to the sidelines Coach Roger didn’t hesitate He dropped his clipboard and ran across the field Annie was hot on his heels Gabe helmet in hand followed them Coach Roger knelt before Ben while the refs did their best to hold back the rest of the Grizzlies huddled nearby Gabe stopped next to Logan who had his helmet tucked under his arm Sweat was rolling down Logan’s forehead 12
