Chapter 435 Another Buzzer-Beater

On the sideline, Kip Kester let out a wild roar, unleashing all his pent-up excitement and elation. He grabbed anyone he could see, pulling them into a tight embrace to share in the joy and happiness.

It wasn’t just Kip. All the coaches and the other players on the team stormed the field, pumping their fists, roaring, and celebrating with all their might. They even started running victory laps, and the field instantly became a sea of red.

In an instant, Lu Ke became the center of attention. Every player rushed toward him, slapping him with one high-five after another and pulling him into passionate hugs. The celebration was spiraling out of control.

Heaven on one side, hell on the other. Fire on one side, ice on the other. The two sidelines at Candlestick Park presented a stark contrast.

Jim Hubble pumped his fist hard, but his celebration was brief. He immediately started shouting, “Extra point, extra point!” They still had the extra point to kick. The game wasn’t over, and they hadn’t taken the lead yet. Right now, the two teams were only tied. “Extra point!”

But Hubble’s voice was completely drowned out by the cheers and shouts. Not even the referees could interrupt the 49ers’ wild celebration. Hubble gave a helpless smile and shook his head lightly. He could only grab the players nearest him and relay the message from one to the next, “Extra point!”

Tom Coughlin took off his headset, his face a mask of frustration and dejection. He stood frozen on the spot, trying to say something, but no sound came out. Even his anger was caught in his throat, leaving only… a profound sense of powerlessness. After such a roller-coaster ending, to lose the game this way.

Standing beside him, Eli Manning was stunned for a moment before he let out a wry laugh. A strong sense of absurdity washed over him.

‘To be honest,’ he thought, ‘after all the twists and turns in those final moments, both teams played at their absolute best, regardless of the outcome. They’d left everything on the field, physically and mentally. There’s sadness, but no regret or anger.’

On the contrary, Little Manning felt a sincere sense of admiration—for the victors and the vanquished alike.

…

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! What an incredible offensive drive!”

Teddy couldn’t stop gushing. On television, the replay of the final drive and the last catch was looping, not just for analyzing the offensive tactics, but also to confirm if the catch was legal.

“Without a doubt, that’s a legal catch. No question, no question at all. Crabtree’s reception was clean, and his control of the ball at the last second was simply perfect. God, that was like dancing on a razor’s edge. He was completely surrounded but muscled his way to make that catch. Beautiful! Just beautiful!”

Teddy’s repeated exclamations perfectly captured what every viewer at home was feeling. He then turned to Kirk. “So, what are your thoughts?”

Kirk had remained silent since the touchdown. Amidst all the clamor and excitement, his calm composure seemed somewhat out of place, which was especially unusual for him.

“Unbelievable.” Kirk finally spoke, his opening word his classic trademark. But the slight tremble in his voice betrayed the excitement surging within him. “What’s unbelievable is the sheer tenacity of the Giants’ defense in the final moments, and the absolute ruthlessness of the 49ers’ offense. What’s unbelievable is that Michael Crabtree, after being plagued by penalties all day, cleanly made that incredibly difficult catch!”

“And what’s even more unbelievable,” Kirk paused for a moment, “is the calm, assertiveness, and audacity shown by the 49ers’ rookie quarterback under extreme pressure. Everyone’s attention was on Logan Newman in his one-on-one matchup, but Lu Ke chose Crabtree as his target. Why?”

“Aaron Ross, a talented cornerback, was plagued by injuries in 2009 and 2010. His performance declined sharply, and he didn’t even play a single game last year.”

Kirk explained simply, “This season, because of Terrell Thomas’s injury, Ross returned to a starting position. However, he’s never gotten back to his peak form. It’s not just his game-readiness; his stamina and energy haven’t been able to keep up with the intensity of the regular season. So, he’s primarily been used as a rotational player.”

“Even though Crabtree has been struggling with penalties today, his receiving has been outstanding. To target Crabtree, exploiting the difference in their current form against Ross, was undoubtedly a risky choice, but it was also an ideal one.” Kirk’s eyes began to light up.

“Just imagine: in a critical situation like that, Lu Ke’s anticipation, play-calling, decision-making, and execution not only show the potential of an elite quarterback but also reflect his thorough pre-game preparation. Of course, we can’t rule out that it was a lucky choice,” Kirk joked lightly. “But considering all the variables in the final moments of the game, Lu Ke’s performance was all the more outstanding.”

…

The on-field ruling was a successful touchdown. But to avoid any errors, the referees gathered to review the play, repeatedly checking the footage to confirm the legality of the touchdown and to see if any penalties occurred during the catch.

Those brief forty-five seconds felt like a century. Especially after the roller-coaster finish, the tension and anxiety grew even thicker. This was true for the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers alike. Everyone fell silent, watching the referees’ every move with a mixture of anxiety and impatience.

However, the sea of red inside Candlestick Park surged on. The fans cheered and shouted tirelessly, not just because they had won the game, but because the team’s spectacular performance had earned everyone’s support and admiration.

Ryan Baldwin couldn’t hold himself up any longer. His knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily back into his wheelchair.

Jonathan, standing beside him, noticed the movement and quickly knelt down, giving Ryan a concerned look. Ryan, however, was beaming. He waved a hand, panting too hard to speak, but his expression was enough to convey his deep satisfaction and joy.

Now, Ryan finally understood why Jonathan had been willing to bring up the team in his presence again. What was once a taboo topic had once more become a shared passion between the brothers.

Raising his head, Ryan looked around, taking in the roaring tumult of the entire stadium. The dazzling sea of red was intoxicating. Then, in unison, the crowd began to chant a single name. “Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!”

The massive wave of sound echoed ceaselessly, uniform and earth-shattering. Even the two teams and all the referees were completely swallowed by it, like a small boat tossed about in Fierce Waves, unable to do anything but bob up and down, powerless to resist.

Involuntarily, Ryan also opened his mouth and murmured softly, “Bambi.”

…

After finishing the review, the referee returned to the center of the field and switched on his microphone. “After review, the ruling on the field is confirmed. Touchdown!”

The words had barely left his mouth when the roar of the crowd surged even higher, drowning out the rest of what the referee was saying. He had to raise his voice and repeat himself. “Next, the San Francisco 49ers will attempt the one-point extra point.”

It was all so familiar. Once again, they had tied the game in the final moments. Once again, they had the chance to win the game with the extra point.

At that moment on the sideline, the San Francisco 49ers were already celebrating the victory now within their grasp. Lu Ke, however, moved away from his celebrating Defense Team teammates and walked briskly toward David Akens, who was warming up on the sideline. He waited for Akens to make the sign of the cross on his chest before stepping forward and giving him a big hug.

“We did our job. It was a hell of a struggle, but…” Lu Ke didn’t finish, just beamed at him. “Now, it’s your turn. You got this!”

Special teams. The unit that’s usually overlooked, yet the one everyone’s talking about in the clutch. But for the team, special teams are an absolutely indispensable component.

Akens clapped Lu Ke on the shoulder and gave him a cheerful smile, not saying much as he jogged onto the field.

Both special teams took the field and lined up. Akens stood in that familiar spot once again. He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, feeling his heart rate and pulse gradually calm down. ‘This is just another routine extra point in the regular season,’ he told himself. ‘Just another routine extra point in a long career.’

Standing in place, Akens went through his familiar routine, hopping a few times to loosen up his muscles. Then he planted himself firmly, ready to kick, and gave a nod to the holder and the special teams line.

As the backup quarterback taking the field as the holder, Scott Torsin’s palms were sweating. But seeing Akens’ calm and composed expression, his nerves settled a bit. He thought back to Lu Ke’s incredible performance in the final moments, and the spectacular play of the entire team, and gave a firm nod to signal he was ready.

The referee’s whistle cut through the air. The New York Giants were out of timeouts, so there would be no more delays. The play proceeded smoothly.

The snap. The hold. The approach. The kick.

The moment Akens’ foot made contact with the ball, he sent it flying. It spiraled through the air in a perfect arc, soaring over the leaping players of the Giants’ special team, and sailed cleanly through the uprights.

The officials under the goalposts raised both hands high, signaling in unison: the extra point was good.

On the stadium’s large screen scoreboard, CLICK. The numbers flipped over. 28-27, with the home team in the lead.