Chapter 415: The Flip Stunt

Prince Amukamara could almost hear the sound of his own bones CRACKING. No thought, only instinct. He pushed his natural talent to the absolute limit, surging ahead multiple times, yet in the single instant it took to catch his breath, Logan Newman had pulled away by three yards.

It was only a three-yard gap, a distance that seemed close enough to touch if he just stretched out his arm, but Amukamara didn’t dare relax. Before the game, the coaching staff had stressed time and again that Lu Ke’s passes were accurate to within two yards. They could not afford to be careless; with even the smallest opening, Lu Ke could deliver the ball.

Gritting his teeth, Amukamara pushed his speed to the limit once more, his muscles feeling like they were about to burst. He was closing in on Logan, but Logan had already leaped high into the air. The football was right over their heads, plummeting like Halley’s Comet.

‘It’s too late!’

Amukamara no longer cared about committing a foul. His first instinct was to grab Logan’s collar. He latched on, yanking down with all his might, even hanging his entire body weight off of him and using gravity to pull him down hard. He knew it was a penalty, but if it could stop the drive, it would be worth it.

As expected, a yellow flag flew onto the field. The referee threw it immediately but didn’t stop the play—

As long as an offensive player was still making a play on the ball, the play would continue under the advantage rule. After the play was over, the referee would sort out the penalty. If the foul was on the offense, their effort would be all for nothing.

‘Harder, pull harder! Wait, why did my fingers slip? The jersey? Where’s the jersey?! Dammit! Fuck!’

…

Logan was completely focused, his concentration reaching an unprecedented peak. He ignored all outside distractions as adrenaline surged through him. Staring intently at the football, he could even trace its spinning trajectory through the air—a perfect spiral. Only a single thought remained in his mind:

‘This one’s mine!’

He launched himself into the air. The force from his legs was so immense it felt as though he had channeled every ounce of his energy into the jump, soaring higher and higher. A powerful tug pulled at his collar, gravity and inertia slamming against his body, but his explosive burst was so fierce and fast that he instantly shook off the hold and continued to ascend.

In that moment, with the WHOOSH of wind rushing past his ears, it felt as if he were truly flying.

The tug threw him off balance. He had been going for a two-handed catch, but that plan went out the window in an instant. All he had left was his left hand.

Logan stretched out the fingers of his left hand and made contact with the ball. He was all too familiar with the force of Lu Ke’s throws. With just a slight nudge, the football rolled into his palm like a marble. His fingers immediately closed around it, gripping it tight. He then used its momentum to pull it into his chest, securing it firmly.

WHOOSH. The wind roared in his ears as Logan’s feet slammed back onto the ground. His knees bent to absorb the impact, but he lost his balance completely. He stumbled around, his right arm windmilling as he fought to stay upright.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Amukamara landing in a heap. Logan dug his toes into the turf, dodged, and touched his right hand to the grass. In a frantic, doggy-paddle-like motion, he used his hands and feet to keep from falling. His knees started to buckle, and giving in to gravity’s powerful pull, he let his right arm windmill again, subconsciously trying to maintain balance as he continued forward.

One step, two steps, three steps… he was steady. No, not quite. His right hand touched the ground again, providing more stability this time. He pushed off hard with his right hand, his knees finally straightening. Then, hunched low, he surged forward in an unstoppable sprint.

…

“OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!”

Troy Ball’s voice began to warp again, becoming as sharp and piercing as a rubber chicken’s shriek as it tore across the sky. He couldn’t stop the torrent of exclamations. “Logan Newman MAKES THE CATCH! Number eighty-eight, Newman, completes the reception despite tight coverage and what had to be a penalty! My God, that was a one-handed catch under the most extreme pressure! We’re witnessing another one-handed miracle from Newman!”

“He’s running, Newman is still running! He’s stumbling, barely staying on his feet, but he’s kept his balance and is still pushing forward! The ten-yard line is just ahead, the End Zone is right in front of him! The New York Giants are in trouble!”

“Derek Martin! The Giants’ safety, number twenty-two, is coming over to make the tackle! He’s accelerating, Martin is at top speed, charging like a freight train to collide with Newman, but… OH! MY! GOD! Newman finds another gear! At the critical moment, Newman powers ahead and miraculously avoids Martin’s surefire tackle! NEWMAN IS STILL GOING!”

“He’s all alone! There are no defenders in front of him! Newman has regained his balance, he’s striding into the End Zone—oh, no, wait! Newman pulls off an acrobatic move, a high front flip, and lands squarely on his feet inside the End Zone! Behind him, Martin slides across the grass! WOW! OH MY GOD!”

“THAT’S A TOUCHDOWN! Ladies and gentlemen, that is a Touchdown! On third-and-five, Lu Ke connects with his number one receiver, Logan Newman, for a thirty-five-yard gain and a score! God, that was beautiful! Just absolutely beautiful!”

Troy slammed his hand on the desk, unable to keep himself from leaping to his feet. A touchdown that spectacular sent a rush of adrenaline straight to his brain, and it exploded in a wave of exhilarating passion so incredible it made him forget himself.

…

Leaping high into the air, Logan entered the End Zone with a flashy and provocative front flip. His feet landed perfectly on the turf. Then, he raised both hands high, like a gymnast sticking a landing, and threw his arms up in celebration, announcing to the entire stadium:

The performance was complete.

“AHHHH!” Jiang Youning hadn’t even realized it, but a scream had already torn loose from her throat. She leaped into the air, her vision blurring with hot tears. Unable to form a single word, she just pointed at Logan Newman in the End Zone and kept screaming, as if she were saying:

‘That’s Logan! That’s the kid from across the hall from us! I know him! I know that guy!’

In the vast Red Sea of fans, Jiang Youning was just a single drop, and the five hundred Chinese fans were just a small splash. All of Candlestick Park erupted in a thunderous roar. The Fierce Waves of sound created a tsunami-like tide, and the ground itself began to tremble, as if they were shaking the very foundations of the world.

Ryan Baldwin stared at the scene in disbelief, reflexively throwing both fists in the air. He was trembling all over with excitement but couldn’t make a single sound. He just sat there, stunned, silently taking in the thunderous roar of Candlestick Park and the violent hammering of his own heart against his ribs.

Seventy thousand fans. All seventy thousand fans in the stadium were cheering, completely lost in the moment. The ceaseless roar instantly drowned out every sound from the commentary booth.

Tears welled in Logan’s eyes as he gazed out at the Red Sea of fans, excitement and raw emotion coursing through his veins. It wasn’t his first Touchdown, and it wouldn’t be his last. But today was special. This Touchdown was the first time all season he had gone head-to-head in a physical battle with one of the league’s top black cornerbacks and ripped the victory away—like pulling a tooth from a tiger’s mouth.

He hadn’t just shaken off Amukamara’s grab; he had also evaded Martin’s hit. The spark of physical competition from his high school and college days, the pure exhilaration of a dominant Touchdown—it was all finally surging through his veins again.

It was all because of those cornerbacks, because of all those incredibly talented black players. Over the past month, Logan had been more focused and dedicated than ever, training relentlessly every single day with that monster, Lu Ke. It was a horrifying regimen; just thinking about it was enough to make him want to cry. But now, his reward had finally come.

‘Finally!’

“AHHH! WHO’S THE MAN? WHO’S THE MAN!” Logan slammed the football onto the turf and roared wildly. Amid the thunderous din of the crowd, his own shout was like a massive wave crashing against a cliff, its echo reverberating through the stadium.

…

“Incredible. Just incredible,” Kirk repeated several times in the studio. He paused, turned to Teddy, and chuckled. “Incredible!”

It was the only word for it; everything else felt inadequate. “That last play showed us once again why the San Francisco 49ers have one of the best offenses in the Alliance. From the moment he read the defense and set the play, Lu Ke made the right calls and adjustments. By using a variety of receiver routes, he masterfully shifted the defense’s focus and created a one-on-one matchup.”

A replay appeared on the screen, and Kirk quickly broke down the tactic. “So, why did the New York Giants’ defense look so clumsy?”

“It’s also worth noting that, with the tactical advantage, Lu Ke’s release time was just 2.11 seconds. He perfectly seized the opening and the timing—not too slow, not too rushed. His composure in the pocket was what allowed him to complete a perfect pass of about twenty-five yards.”

“Of course, as great as the throw was, the catch was even better. You don’t even need words for it; just watch the replay. And finally, as he entered the End Zone, Logan Newman showed off his athletic gifts to the crowd with that front flip. That was definitely a taunt directed at the New York Giants.”

As he finished speaking, Kirk couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle and look over at Teddy.

Teddy immediately picked up the conversation, nodding in agreement. “That’s right. The San Francisco 49ers pulled off a spectacular, stumbling Touchdown. Now, the New York Giants’ offense is about to take the field, and all eyes will be on Eli Manning’s performance.”