Page 119 of Scored

She moved as three hundred volunteers unfurled a stadium-sized American flag. A well-known music sensation sang our national anthem. When she hit the final sustained note, SoFi Stadium rumbled as military jets roared overhead. The planes were close enough that their shadows flew over the massive, semi-transparent canopy roof, leaving goose bumps on my arms and legs.

The fans from both teams cheered.

Once the flag was removed from the field, Troy and Malik met the Eagles’ captains back on the NFL shield in the center of the field.

“Gentlemen, welcome to Super Bowl sixty-one,” the official said. “We have our honorary flipper here today.” The camera showed Bob Lilly, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the oldest living NFL players to have played in a Super Bowl.

Cheers filled the air.

“Before we flip,” the official said, “I want to show you the coin. This is our specially minted commemorative coin. This is heads.”

Up on the jumbotron, the camera zoomed in on the face with the NFL shield.

“And this is tails.” He turned it over showing the Lombardi Trophy with an Eagles’ helmet on one side and a Coopers’ helmet on the other. “By NFL rules, the Eagles are our visiting team today, so you will make the call.” He turned toward the Eagles’ players. “What do you choose, heads or tails?”

“We choose heads.” Their voices came through the official’s microphone.

“The Eagles choose heads.”

The official handed the coin to Bob Lilly. He tossed it into the air, and it landed on the field.

“It is heads.” The official turned back to the Eagles’ players. “What do you want to do, receive or defer?”

“We want to defer.”

The official confirmed aloud. “The Eagles have elected to defer their choice to the second half. Coopers, you will receive the ball.”

Our kick return team went out onto the field.

At exactly six thirty p.m., the Eagles’ place kicker sent the ball toward our end zone.

Our player caught the ball in the end zone for a touchback. The ball would be on the thirty-five-yard line. I hugged the clipboard as Troy and the offense ran onto the field.

CHAPTER 50

Fin

Standing near Coach Pratt, I listened to his play calls. The first one was one of the newer plays. They were only used in the championship game and therefore were more difficult for the Eagles’ coaches to have studied.

Our offense lined up in shotgun formation with an empty backfield. This forced the Eagles’ defense to adjust their setup and compelled their linebackers to defend against our fast receivers. Dennison received the snap. He stepped back and passed to Ramel Patel who ran for a gain of seven yards.

In the next series of long and short plays, Dennison moved the chains three times. The Coopers were now on the Eagles’ twenty-yard line with second and three. The Eagles completely covered the receivers. Dennison tucked the ball and ran ahead, sliding for a first down.

The Coopers’ fans cheered.

I didn’t believe that everyone in SoFi Stadium wearing amber began this season as a Coopers’ fan. The media made us out to be a Cinderella story. A small-market team that made it to the big game. A team that succeeded through injury and tragedy. The Coopers were the little engine that could, and Vee was the face appearing on all the sports programs.

The first drive of the game ended with seven points on the scoreboard for the Coopers. By the end of the first quarter, we were tied seven all. When the minutes ticked down to halftime, our scores had doubled. Dennison had the ball on Philadelphia’s thirty-two-yard line for second and eight.

Whistles blew.

“Illegal motion, offense, No. 67, Jordon. Five-yard penalty. Still second down.”

That put us on the thirty-seven-yard line.

Pratt called an RPO.

Spencer snapped the ball to Dennison.