Gladiators of the Gridiron

‘I’m Jackson Woods and I’m gonna be the best Wide Receiver (WR) of all time!’ It was the first time I had said my promise out loud to anyone other than myself.

The man sitting behind the plastic, fold-away table chuckled and smiled at me.

‘Okay kid, no need to get so worked up. I just asked for your name,’ he said. ‘Can you fill this out for me? Just give your best estimate if you don’t know the exact answer.’

He held out a form and a pen to me. I took them both and stepped aside so the next hopeful kid in line could speak with the man. Before filling the form out, I couldn’t help but look around again and take in the exciting atmosphere.

Just from looking at my surroundings, they didn’t seem like anything special—it was just any other high school football field, but it was the people there that made it so exciting. Today, this unassuming school was the location of the football camp I’d been looking forward to for months.

The drive to get here had taken over four hours, but it was worth it for the chance to show off my skills in front of some of the best college players in the nation, as well as a handful of scouts.

I wasn’t the only one though, there must’ve been a hundred other kids, with ages ranging from those about to enter into their senior years of high school, to others like me who were about to be freshmen at the end of summer.

It didn’t matter how many others were here, I’d prove I was going to be the best.

I looked down at the form as I hunched over the table and began to fill it in. It was only simple stuff, things like my name, the school I was going to, height, weight, and date of birth.

Name: Jackson Woods.

D.O.B.: February 28th, 2008. (Fourteen years old.)

School: Central High School, Freshman.

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona.

Height: 5’7” (170 cm)

Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg)

Preferred Position: WR

The camp was specialised and focused only on prospective Wide Receivers or Cornerbacks (CB), so the form asked me to circle my preferred position out of the two.

After I was done filling it in, I looked at the man behind the table again.

‘Uh, I just give this back to you, right?’ I asked.

‘Yeah, I’ll take it off your hands,’ he said and held out his hand to take it back.

I handed it over as well as the pen and in return, he gave me a large square sticker with a number on it.

‘Stick this on your shoulder.’

I did so and looked my number over—“77”

‘There’s still fifteen minutes before the camp gets underway, but feel free to go and get to know some of the other kids,’ the man told me.

I nodded and thanked him before rushing off. My heart was already pounding as I made my way back to my parents who were waiting off to the side.

‘Are you excited son?’ my dad asked me.

‘Of course!’ I said as I looked up at him.

My dad was a tall man and had always said that one day I might shoot right past him. He’d played Tight End (TE) in college at Arizona State and had a great career, even breaking the record for most receptions by a TE in the history of the school, a record that he still held to this day.

He didn’t go pro though but was happy with becoming a trainer for the college team after his playing days were over. He still worked there now, and one day I wanted to play on that team and win the National Championship with him.

We had the same amber eyes, and mom said we shared the same smile too.

It was at college that my dad and my mom met each other. They were the classic cheerleader and football player couple and got married right after they both graduated.

Mom was tall and athletic as well, though she looked so small next to dad. After college, she became an accountant.

I had her blond curls whenever I let my hair grow out, which I hated, so I usually kept my hair shaved extra short, just like today.

Dad ruffled my almost non-existent hair quite roughly.

‘I know you’ll kill it, Jack. Just do your best and show ‘em what you’ve got.’

‘We’re so proud of you, dear, and we know you’ll do great so don’t be nervous,’ my mom said.

‘I know, I know.’ I flashed both of them a wide grin.

‘Oh but do be careful of the sun, it’s so hot today. Here, let me put some more sunscreen on your face.’

‘Mom!’ I whined and scrunched up my face as she lathered my cheeks with more sunscreen. I wriggled out of her grasp and stepped away, cheeks red with embarrassment rather than any damage from the sun.

‘Stop, please,’ I begged as my eyes darted around to see if anyone was watching the mortifying display.

‘I just don’t want you getting burnt.’

‘I know, I’ll be fine. Come on, it’s gonna start soon.’

I led them over to the actual football field, where we parted ways as they went off to find a seat in the simple bleachers that had been set up for the day.

Plenty of other parents were already filling the seats to watch their kids, as well as a few scouts from interested colleges around the area, hoping to find the next big star coming out of high school.

The rest of the kids themselves had gathered around on the field, sitting on the turf as they waited for it to get started. A buzz of chatter filled my ears as I took my place amongst the crowd of athletes.

Off at the centre of the field, were the three collegiate players who would be leading the camp, as well as some other helpers and trainers. I couldn’t hear what they were talking about.

It felt like an hour passed as I sat there, waiting for things to get underway. My heart was going a mile a minute the whole time, and I couldn’t seem to calm it down no matter what.

Each deep breath I took filled my nostrils with the nervousness and sweat of the other kids as we sat in the midday sun, and under that scent was the smell of the freshly cut grass of the field.

Eventually, the three stars of the camp made their way over to the crowd of kids and a hush fell upon us all.

‘Hey guys, are you all excited to get this show on the road?’ Darius Johnson’s question was met with raucous cheers from us all.

Darius was the star Quarterback (QB) for Oregon, he had just won the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

He looked like he had been built in a factory designed to create the perfect athlete. He was tall, had a cannon for an arm, and rockets for legs. He carried himself like he knew just how great he was going to be.

Darius was flanked on either side by his fellow teammates, Harry Kerrigan—his favourite target and a Wideout who was on pace to smash every receiving record for the school—was on his left.

Harry was only just taller than me in truth, but in my eyes, he stood taller than a titan. He was the oldest of the three—about to be a senior whilst the others were going into their junior years—and his blue eyes were full of experience and expertise. It was as if they could see through whatever he was looking at.

And to Darius’s right was TJ Wallace—the team’s star Cornerback who was the runner-up for the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

TJ oozed confidence. He wore his heart on his sleeve, literally as his arms were covered in tattoos, all of them representing something that was dear to him. He was always grinning, even when he was playing. He knew there was no one that could beat him.

They weren’t just men among boys that day, to me, they looked like gods among men.

Together, along with the rest of their team, they’d only just fallen short of winning the National Championship and were the favourites to win it this upcoming year.

‘Alright, we’re gonna start today off with something a little fun for you guys,’ Darius said. ‘We’ll just do some one-on-one to begin with, let you put your skills to the test against each other and show off a bit, sound good?’

He was met with even more cheers.

‘Alright, that’s the kind of excitement I like to hear! Now, we’ll show you guys how it’s done. I’ll be throwing the passes, you’ll get three shots. Receivers, it’s your job to catch as many as possible. DBs (Defensive Backs, you’re trying to stop as many as possible. Simple, right?

‘Don’t be discouraged if you don’t catch any, or if it’s the opposite and you can’t stop any. We’re just here for fun, alright?’

After he finished his explanation, he and the other two moved away to the centre of the field. Us kids stood up and crowded the near sideline of the field, and TJ came over as Harry and Darius planned amongst themselves.

‘Who wants to bet he doesn’t get a single catch?’ TJ asked us. Half the kids cheered for him and told him there was no way Harry would get a catch.

The other half booed and jeered, saying the opposite, that there was no way he’d be able to stop Harry even once.

It wasn’t long before Harry came over and lined up in front of TJ. They had some friendly taunting between each other, playful shoving and laughing before things started.

Harry nodded at Darius and all the playfulness evaporated. All of them got serious and silence enveloped the whole field.

‘Hut!’ With just one word, they exploded into motion.

It was a thing of beauty. Never had I seen three plays of such intensity and of a level that high so close up before.

Each throw was right where it needed to be, and both TJ and Harry fought tooth and nail to win the ball.

In the end, Harry came away with two catches out of the three passes and was the victor that day—though TJ argued that he only won because of Darius’s perfect passes.

‘Who’s up next?’

There was a chorus of “me”s and a flood of hands sticking up in the air as everyone was eager to show what they had.

Harry and TJ got us organised and split us into an equal set of Cornerbacks and Wide Receivers.

Some Receivers had to be moved over to the Cornerback side, but they were placated by saying that we’d do two rounds, and everyone would get a turn at either role if they wanted.

They also did their best to pick out pairs from the same age range to make things as fair as possible.

Everyone gave it their all, and whilst their technique, skills, and athleticism could never match the level of Harry and TJ’s duel, the intensity was exactly the same.

Eventually, I was picked out of the WR group, Harry pointed me out with a grin and showed me over to Darius.

‘Hey there, what’s your name, kid?’ Darius asked me.

‘J-Jackson.’ He laughed a bit at my stuttering.

‘Alright, Jackson, what do you wanna run as your first route?’

Wow, I was getting to pick my own route for one of the best Quarterbacks in the nation to throw me the ball.

‘Um… how about a ten-yard out route?’

‘If that’s what you want, sounds good to me.’ He nodded and then told me to go line up.

I walked back over to near the sideline, standing just outside the numbers. And there I saw who was going to be competing against me.

He didn’t look like anything special. He looked like he was indifferent about being there.

There was no sparkle of joy or excitement in his black eyes. He wasn’t breathing rapidly with nerves or energy. He wasn’t sweating under the pressure of the moment. But he didn’t look bored either.

He was just shorter than me, maybe only an inch and his frame was thin but toned, he must’ve played a lot of sports in middle school.

His black hair was styled into short, thick dreads, and his dark brown face had freckles going over his cheeks.

‘Hey, I’m Jackson,’ I said as I extended a hand to him.

He looked at my hand, and then into my eyes. He took my hand in his grasp and we shook firmly but respectfully.

‘Ty.’ His voice was as unassuming as his appearance, but he did have irregularly sharp teeth.

‘You guys ready?’ Darius called out.

I limbered up a bit and got into my stance before flashing him a thumbs-up. Ty shook his arms and legs a bit before sinking into his stance as well, eyes staring into mine.

He was giving me a few steps of space; I could work with that.

‘Hut!’

I shot off my line quickly. Ty jumped back and watched me closely. I sprinted forward and he kept backpedalling.

I reached my mark and then feinted to the inside. He bought it.

I got him. I thought as I switched directions quickly and made a burst towards the sideline.

I looked back to Darius and the ball was already on its way. It was another perfect pass, just like he’d been throwing all day.

I outstretched my hands and waited for the ball to fall right into them—but it never did.

What?! I couldn’t help but be shocked. Ty’s arm had shot out in front of my vision at the last moment and his hand batted the ball to the ground.

It was 0–1 in his favour.

‘Good stuff, good stuff. Head back and get ready for the next one,’ Harry said as he gave me a pat on the back and sent me over to Darius again.

‘Hey that was a good move, you shook him for sure, sorry I was just a bit late letting go. You’ll get the next one,’ he said.

That’s a lie. I knew it, and he did too—that ball was thrown perfectly, at just the right time. How did Ty stop it?

‘Hey, let’s just try a quick slant this time. Get some space and I’ll fire it in.’

I nodded wordlessly and moved back over to my spot. Ty was there waiting for me.

I looked him over again. He was still that same, unassuming kid. Same age as me, just as small. But he felt different.

He was closer this time, and I noticed that his arms were long. He must’ve had one hell of a wingspan, no wonder he was a CB.

But it was still more than just that—he felt a lot closer than he was. I could feel his breath on me, feel his shadow over my body; my feet felt heavier, like I was in quicksand.

I gave Darius a hesitant thumbs-up.

‘Hut!’

I stepped forward. He didn’t back off at all.

I felt as if the air had been sucked out of my lungs.

I didn’t bother with a feint this time and launched myself as quickly as I could past his inside shoulder.

He turned and ran with me, right on my hip. I swiped his arm out of the way and kept the inside leverage.

The ball came zipping my way. I outstretched my arms and was just about to make the catch again.

And then he smothered me.

His arm reached over mine and swatted the ball away, again!

We stumbled against one another, but he pulled on my shirt and we kept our feet.

I panted heavily as I turned to face him. It felt as if I was staring up at him for some reason. His shadow still hung over me and I was trapped within inescapable darkness.

He had a hint of a smile. He wasn’t breathing any different and still hadn’t broken a sweat.

We parted ways and I went back to Darius.

‘Throw me a go route. Wait for me to get open and throw it as far as you can. I’ll catch it,’ I said, eyes blazing with determination and conviction.

Darius smirked at me and gave a knowing nod.

I strode over to my spot and got set. Ty seemed a little surprised at how quick I was with Darius.

Even if it was 0–2 and he had already bested me out of the three catches, I still had one trick up my sleeve—my ace.

No one was as fast as me, not any of the kids here. I was sure of it. My speed was my biggest strength, even though you wouldn’t know it just from looking at me.

I had done track at middle school and had set and broken the record for our 100m sprint multiple different times.

There’s no way he could keep up with me in a sprint.

He got in his stance, so close that he could reach out and touch me if he wanted. And that was when my confidence was thrown out the proverbial window.

Now there was definitely something off with his aura and his presence was unmistakable.

It no longer felt as if there was a shadow hanging over me, or a feeling of claustrophobia or something being too close. Nor did it feel like I was standing in quicksand.

No. Now it felt like I was stuck in the middle of a vast ocean with nothing in sight.

Like I was struggling to keep my head above water, and every time I slipped under the surface I saw a shark closing in more and more.

I shook it off and steadied my breathing before shooting a thumbs-up to Darius for the last time.

Time stood still, and it felt like an age passed before I heard him shout.

‘Hut!’

Ty thrust his hands out into my chest. I fought with him to shove them away and get around him.

You’re too close, idiot! This is perfect if I just get around you, you’re toast!’

I squeezed by him and took off like a rocket. I quickly hit my stride and reached top speed. I was in the open, with nothing but green grass ahead of me.

I turned my head over my shoulder to find the ball, one arm out calling for it.

Darius lobbed it through the air—I’d have to push myself as hard as possible to reach it, but I knew that only I could reach it.

This was it, I finally had him. I was just psyching myself out of it by imagining all that crap with sharks and drowning. Ty was just like any other ordinary kid.

The ball was there, it was mine for the taking.

And then it wasn’t.

I still don’t know how he did it. But Ty was right there. He was on my heels, not because he struggled to keep up with me, but because that was where he wanted to be until he found his perfect moment.

He wasn’t even looking at me. He had his head turned back, watching the ball spiral through the air as he kept a hand on my hip just so he knew I was still there.

He jumped for the ball and his body twisted in midair. I realised too late and jumped back to try and contest him, turning with him but he elevated so far above me, like he was flying.

He plucked the ball out of the air and finished his 360 turn to land on his feet.

I crashed down on my back. My world shattered as I stared up at him.

He was grinning. His eyes were even darker and filled with mirth as he stared down at me.

He wasn’t a shark. He wasn’t even a monster.

It was only in that moment, when I was lost and suffocating in the deepest pit of despair, as he stood there with my life cradled in his hands that I saw him for what he truly was.

I was staring into a black hole.