Chapter Three: Ninety-Seven Yards

Kai used film and alignment to form his answer, then listened only for the final danger. He froze a corner with his eyes and scrambled twelve yards through the space behind him. On third-and-long, he ignored a defensive end's threats and checked down for nineteen. With 4:20 remaining, the Storm trailed 24–20 and faced fourth-and-two from the eight. Grant sent in the field-goal unit. Boos filled the stadium. The game did not count, but this might be Kai's only full possession. He stayed on the field. “What are you doing?” Grant shouted through the headset. Mountain asked, “What are the odds?” Kai studied two linebackers crowding the gap. Both were thinking about Eli's inside route.