Read Online Top Wing by Matt Christopher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Matt Christopher
Tags: General Fiction
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foot. He kept it under control until he saw an opening. Here
was his chance to set up a goal.
Eye on the ball, he booted a long pass downfield toward Lance. The Anchors’ left halfback was all by himself. But he stumbled
when the ball came to him. He just managed to trap the ball before the Rams’ defense bore down on him.
Lance had to get rid of the ball. Dana, who had sped up along the right wing slot, was the only player in the clear. It was
lose the ball or pass to him.
Before Lance had a chance to do either, one ofthe Rams tacklers stole the ball away. He dribbled it to one side of the field, then booted it toward the Anchors’ goal.
But his own teammate got in the way. The ball bounced off the leg of the other tackler and over to Dana.
The rest of the Rams were moving toward Anchors territory. Dana had plenty of time to set up a good kick.
He sent the ball rocketing toward the Rams’ goal.
For a moment, he thought the kick would be good. But their goalie caught it about a yard in front of the goal. He wasted no
time sending it back downfield.
Dana recovered and turned in that direction. He found himself racing side by side with Benton. They went after the ball, each
one trying to get there first.
They both reached it pretty much at the same time.
“Get out of here!” Benton snapped. “I’ll take it!”
Dana stared at him. Why should he give up the ball to Benton? Who said Benton could decide?
Benton struggled to control the ball. His breath was coming in gasps. The ball wiggled free, and Dana took it away.
By now a bunch of Rams were bearing down on the two of them. Dana tried to set up a breakaway. He booted the ball way down
the field, in the direction of the Rams’ goal. With any luck, Abe or Steve would get to it in time for a goal attempt.
Steve almost had it, but there were too many Rams crowding around him. He struggled for control, but finally lost the ball
to a Rams tackler. The ball went back upfield as play shifted once again.
The Anchors’ defense did their best to hold them. They might have succeeded if Tucker hadn’t fallen. The Anchors’ fullback
had charged into a crowd of Rams trying to snag the ball. He almost had it when he slipped on the grass and fell on his butt.
The rest of the Anchors had held back, waiting to take over the ball from Tucker. Now there was no one in the way. The Rams’
right wing took his shot. He sent the ball flying to the left side of the goal area, just beyond Jazz’s reach. The ball went
in for the game’s first score.
The goal brought out the Rams’ supporters in full force. Dana couldn’t help but hear their cheers ring out.
Rams, yell ‘Red’!
Red!
Rams, yell ‘White’!
White!
Rams, yell ‘Win’!
Win!
Rams, what do you say?
Red! White! Win!
A blur of red-and-white ribbons waved in the air.
The Anchors’ cheerleaders weren’t about to take that sitting down. They rallied the crowd in their section of the stands.
Brickety-axe, co-axe, co-axe,
Hullabaloo, baloo
,
Anchors fight with all your might
,
Hurrah, for the red and blue!
Anchors, Anchors, rah, rah, rah!
Dana smiled. Too bad the team on the field wasn’t as feisty. Too bad they couldn’t seem to get their act together. Too bad
they weren’t playing as a team.
11
T here were only seven minutes left in the first half, with the Rams still leading, 1–0.
“How are you doing?” Steve asked.
Dana shrugged. “Okay.”
“You sure?”
Dana shrugged again, but this time kept silent.
They jogged side by side down the field.
“I had a little talk with Benton,” Steve said.
“You did? About what?”
“I told him to knock off those stories about the fire and about your father.”
“You heard what he said about my dad’s work?” Dana almost stopped in his tracks.
“You bet I did,” Steve said. “So I asked my dad about your father. He told me there isn’t a betterelectrician anywhere. Your dad did some work for him on a real
was his chance to set up a goal.
Eye on the ball, he booted a long pass downfield toward Lance. The Anchors’ left halfback was all by himself. But he stumbled
when the ball came to him. He just managed to trap the ball before the Rams’ defense bore down on him.
Lance had to get rid of the ball. Dana, who had sped up along the right wing slot, was the only player in the clear. It was
lose the ball or pass to him.
Before Lance had a chance to do either, one ofthe Rams tacklers stole the ball away. He dribbled it to one side of the field, then booted it toward the Anchors’ goal.
But his own teammate got in the way. The ball bounced off the leg of the other tackler and over to Dana.
The rest of the Rams were moving toward Anchors territory. Dana had plenty of time to set up a good kick.
He sent the ball rocketing toward the Rams’ goal.
For a moment, he thought the kick would be good. But their goalie caught it about a yard in front of the goal. He wasted no
time sending it back downfield.
Dana recovered and turned in that direction. He found himself racing side by side with Benton. They went after the ball, each
one trying to get there first.
They both reached it pretty much at the same time.
“Get out of here!” Benton snapped. “I’ll take it!”
Dana stared at him. Why should he give up the ball to Benton? Who said Benton could decide?
Benton struggled to control the ball. His breath was coming in gasps. The ball wiggled free, and Dana took it away.
By now a bunch of Rams were bearing down on the two of them. Dana tried to set up a breakaway. He booted the ball way down
the field, in the direction of the Rams’ goal. With any luck, Abe or Steve would get to it in time for a goal attempt.
Steve almost had it, but there were too many Rams crowding around him. He struggled for control, but finally lost the ball
to a Rams tackler. The ball went back upfield as play shifted once again.
The Anchors’ defense did their best to hold them. They might have succeeded if Tucker hadn’t fallen. The Anchors’ fullback
had charged into a crowd of Rams trying to snag the ball. He almost had it when he slipped on the grass and fell on his butt.
The rest of the Anchors had held back, waiting to take over the ball from Tucker. Now there was no one in the way. The Rams’
right wing took his shot. He sent the ball flying to the left side of the goal area, just beyond Jazz’s reach. The ball went
in for the game’s first score.
The goal brought out the Rams’ supporters in full force. Dana couldn’t help but hear their cheers ring out.
Rams, yell ‘Red’!
Red!
Rams, yell ‘White’!
White!
Rams, yell ‘Win’!
Win!
Rams, what do you say?
Red! White! Win!
A blur of red-and-white ribbons waved in the air.
The Anchors’ cheerleaders weren’t about to take that sitting down. They rallied the crowd in their section of the stands.
Brickety-axe, co-axe, co-axe,
Hullabaloo, baloo
,
Anchors fight with all your might
,
Hurrah, for the red and blue!
Anchors, Anchors, rah, rah, rah!
Dana smiled. Too bad the team on the field wasn’t as feisty. Too bad they couldn’t seem to get their act together. Too bad
they weren’t playing as a team.
11
T here were only seven minutes left in the first half, with the Rams still leading, 1–0.
“How are you doing?” Steve asked.
Dana shrugged. “Okay.”
“You sure?”
Dana shrugged again, but this time kept silent.
They jogged side by side down the field.
“I had a little talk with Benton,” Steve said.
“You did? About what?”
“I told him to knock off those stories about the fire and about your father.”
“You heard what he said about my dad’s work?” Dana almost stopped in his tracks.
“You bet I did,” Steve said. “So I asked my dad about your father. He told me there isn’t a betterelectrician anywhere. Your dad did some work for him on a real
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