In Virginia, high school football is a way of life. It's bigger than Christmas day.
Up until 1971, in Alexandria, there was no race-mixing. Then the school board forced us to integrate. They combined the white school and the black school into one ca...
We had been practicing all day and we were heading into the night. It was dark, so we used the headlights from the buses to keep light on the field. Coach Hinds blew his whistle.
"All right. We'll be out here all night until we get this thing right." Boone said as we reset, "Let's go. On the ball, Rev."
"Come on, everybody. Get it right!" Blue said.
Rev started, "Ready! Set!"
"Check Blue!" Someone shouted
"Hut!" Rev shouted. We ran the play. I braced myself as I ran to Ray, who was supposed to block me, but he just let me go right past him.
"Get him! Get him! Get him!" Someone yelled as I tackled Petey to the ground.
"What was that, Ray? Whatever it is, it ain't blockin'!" Gerry yelled as he stormed up to Ray.
"Give me a break, Gerry." Ray says bitterly.
"You want a break? I'll give you a break!" Gerry quipped, shoving Ray back, "If we get to Rev once, just one time, I swear to God, I'm gonna hit you so hard by the time you come to, ooh, boy, you're gonna need a new haircut. You understand me?" Gerry threatened as he pushed Ray again before laughing, "Ha ha ha ha! Let's play, fellas!" I smiled a bit.
Boone blew his whistle. "On the ball. Let's run it again." He said.
~ Grace's POPV ~
I watched as everyone got into position and nodded to Rev.
"Ready! Set! Hut!" Rev shouted and they all started running. Julius slammed Ray to the ground and took off running after Petey, diving and bringing Petey down with him.
"Get off me!" Petey grumbled as he scrambled to get up.
"You all right, big Petey. You all right" Julius said, smiling as he repeatedly hit Petey on the back as he walked away.
"You really stuck him, Campbell." Gerry said, walking up to Julius.
"Yeah, I love me a little contact, Petey!" Julius said proudly, laughing.
"This is left side!" Gerry yelled as he pushed Julius. Julius stood and stared at him for a few seconds before pushing him back.
"Strong side!" He yelled.
"Left side!" Gerry yelled again as he and Julius began going back and forth shoving each other.
"Strong side!"
"Left side!"
"Strong side!"
"Left side!"
"Strong side!"
"Left side!"
"Strong side!"
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