Chapter Three: Ninety-Seven Yards

The returner misjudged it and was tackled at the three. One minute, eight seconds. Ninety-seven yards. No timeouts. “Kneel,” Grant said. “Nobody gets hurt.” Kai entered the huddle. Ten men faced him. Sensible players protected their bodies and accepted a tie. Then their hidden truths rose, one after another. *Let me run one real route,* Eli thought. *The knee hurts, but I have four blocks left,* Mountain thought. *I don't want my kids to watch me kneel on television,* thought the reserve back. No one wanted to admit how badly he desired a meaningless preseason victory. Kai no longer needed the secret. “Coach ordered a kneel,” he said. Silence. “But if we kneel, tomorrow they'll evaluate us as men who belong on their knees.