Touchback Page #9

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but they're farm boys.

Lean on them.

They won't break.

Come on.

(cheering)

Yeah, okay.

Let's get it going, son.

- Put Gig in.

- What?

You want me to use my team.

Put Gig in.

You want me to pull out a good receiver

and put in one who can't catch?

No, just add a fourth

and spread them out.

If I put in a fourth

wide out, son,

that's gonna be one less body

protecting you.

Yeah, I know.

Let's go.

(crowd cheering)

Gig.

Get in there.

Get in where, Coach? In the game?

Somebody get hurt?

Nobody.

Get in there.

Commentator:
Gig Bird,

number 2 in for Coldwater.

Not sure what the plan is here

with Bird...

zero career yards,

zero receptions.

- Get open, cowboy.

- What are you talking about, Murph?

- Changing history.

- What did he say?

- On one, on one. Ready?

- Team:
Break.

(crowd cheering)

Lineman:
Hey, back up, back up, G.

What are you doing, man?

Murphy:

Black EG!

Commentator:

Murphy under center, huge play.

Short drop.

Here comes the rush.

He steps up and throws to Bird.

And the pass...

is gonna be dropped. Wow.

Gig has to catch that ball

up at the 27.

- All right, all right.

- What the hell are you doing?

- He was open.

- Yeah, he's always open,

but we never throw it to him

because he can't catch.

How do you know he can't catch

if we never throw it to him?

He's right, man.

I ain't never caught one.

Well, we're about

to change that.

Red 33, Red 33.

On one, on one.

- Ready?

- Break.

Red 33! Red 33!

Hike.

Oh.

Commentator:
Murphy with a perfect

pass to Bird who was wide open.

Just tell me you know

what you're doing here.

Using my team, Coach.

Hand:
You got three other

receivers out there.

Hall:
All right, come on, man.

Amateur night's over.

Just give me the ball

so we can get a first down.

- Yeah, man, don't throw it to me.

- Don't worry, it's not coming near you.

Good. 'Cause I play my best as a decoy.

See, I got them fooled.

I got them right where I want them.

Keep the ball away from me.

Red dog six.

On one, on one.

- Ready?

- Break.

Commentator:
In the shotgun,

third and 10 from their own 20,

four lineups.

Murphy needs a big game here.

The ball is snapped.

Murphy back to throw.

Short drop, looks over the middle.

The pass is gonna be...

caught... by Bird

for a first down

at the 35!

(cheering)

Commentator:

What a catch... by Bird!

And the crowd loves it

here in Coldwater, Ohio.

Look at Gig.

They know how big

- that throw and catch was...

- I caught one! I caught one!

...for Coldwater.

All right,

if Gig can catch one,

we can win this game

and get home in one piece.

Rodriguez, it's your turn.

We're gonna run the reverse with you.

- I want to send you around the corner.

- What? What about Willard?

Don't worry about Willard.

I'll take care of him.

Boys, I want to get as far ahead

of them as possible

- before the fourth quarter.

- Why didn't you say so?

Hell, I thought we were just

trying to eat the clock.

Murphy:
All right, Rodriguez

reversed on one.

Team:

Break!

Willard:

Going down, Backwater.

Murphy:

Blue 38.

Hike.

Commentator:
Murphy to Rodriguez

on the reverse...

the old "dipsy-do."

Rodriguez around the corner.

Murphy lays out Willard.

And Rodriguez scrambles

for another 10.

Coldwater first down.

All right.

Hey, Willard, it's Coldwater...

with a C.

Scott, 27 boot.

All right, 27 boot

on one, on one.

- Ready?

- Break.

Willard:

Let's go, defense.

Red seven.

Hike.

(crowd cheering)

(cheering)

Commentator:

Touchdown, Coldwater!

Yes! That's it.

Attaboy. Attaboy.

Jeez!

We're in this thing.

We're in it.

Commentator:
And the Coldwater

defense coming together

with a big stop

on third down,

forcing the Red Raiders

to settle for a field goal.

And it's blocked!

The field goal is blocked by Moss!

It's blocked by Moss!

Murphy starting things out

here in the second half.

And now Coldwater

has a chance to pull ahead

for the first time

in this ball game.

(screams)

Get your head in the game!

This is a state championship!

Black razor. Black razor.

Down. Set.

Black 16. Black 16.

Hike.

(crowd cheering)

Commentator:

That's gonna be caught!

That's a touchdown, Coldwater!

And this hometown crowd

is going crazy

as Coldwater has taken the lead.

Can you believe it?

Murphy:

We did it. We changed it!

Whoo!

(bell rings)

- (buzzes)

- Thelma, what the hell are you doing?

My job.

What the hell are you doing?

- Your shift is up.

- No, it's not.

- Are you gonna argue with me?

- Yeah. I need the hours.

Okay, you got the hours,

but your shift is done.

Now get out of here.

- Get the hell out of here.

- All right, all right.

(cheering)

Commentator:

First and 10 for Coldwater.

They can smell

a state championship trophy

and a huge parade

in that small village of 2700.

Cuyahoga is out of time outs.

All Murphy needs to do

is get a first down here

to run out the clock

and they will be

the state champions.

Come on, man,

what are we running?

I-right, Z-motion,

- On one, on one. Ready?

- Break.

Murphy drops back.

Here comes the blitz.

Murphy slips the tackle,

rolls left,

scrambles out of the pocket,

looking down the field

like he's gonna throw it.

Hall's double covered.

Rodriguez looks open...

And he's hit.

He fumbles the ball,

picked up by Scotty Hamlin

at the 40,

Do you believe it?

Touchdown, Cuyahoga!

And it looks like Murphy

is down on the turf

back at the 48.

Murph, are you all right?

Commentator:
There is no way

this team comes back

if Murphy can't get up

and back into the ball game.

Hand:
Let's see if we can get him up.

Easy now.

(crowd cheering)

Hand:

Get out of the way.

Commentator:

And the big story for Coldwater

has been quarterback

Scott Murphy.

Raised by a single mother

who works in a factory,

he was recently named

"Mr. Football"

as the outstanding player

in the state.

And the extra point is good.

Cuyahoga now leads by four

at the tail end

of this ball game.

And Coldwater will need

a miracle touchdown to win it.

Are you all right?

Are you good to go?

- I'm okay.

- Are you sure?

Yes.

All right, run the clock.

Work the sidelines.

Commentator:

Cuyahoga heading out to kick.

And it looks like Murphy

is getting into the game

to receive for Coldwater.

This is it, folks.

A Coldwater victory here

would be a fairytale ending

for this hardworking

blue collar community.

just one time out remaining.

Coldwater needs a touchdown

right here

to win the state championship.

Scott Murphy, "Mr. Football,"

deep to return the kick.

And he'll take it

to the 50, to the 45.

Murphy's hit, but he breaks the tackle,

he stays on his feet,

- breaks another tackle...

- Come on, come on!

...inside the 35, inside the 30,

and is knocked down

at the 26.

And he'll quickly call a time out

to talk to Coach Hand.

This has been

one of the great games

in Ohio high school

football history.

here in the fourth quarter.

Third down, 42-38.

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