Go Long!

Chapter One: The New “Straw”

Chapter Two: A Shock To the System

Chapter Three: Troubled Times

Chapter Four: The New Guy

Chapter Five: The New Way

Chapter Six: Rock Bottom

Chapter Seven: All Alone

Chapter Eight: Turnaround

Chapter Nine: Reversal of Fortune

Chapter Ten: Coaching The Coach

Chapter Eleven: A Family of Eagles

Chapter Twelve: Make or Break

Chapter Thirteen: Unstoppable

Football Plays

About the Authors

For AJ and Chason—T. B.

For my three Roses—R. B.

To my dad, Sol Mantell, who taught me
to love reading and sports—P. M.

The authors and publisher gratefully acknowledge
Mark Lepsetter for his help in making this book.

EAGLES' ROSTER
8TH GRADE HIDDEN VALLEY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

HEAD COACHES—“SPANKY” SPANGLER (GRADE 7), SAM WHEELER (GRADE 8)

DEFENSIVE COACH—PETE PELLUGI

OFFENSIVE COACH—STEVE ONTKOS

QB

CODY HANSEN, GRADE 9

MANNY ALVARO, GRADE 7

RB

JOHN BERRA, GRADE 9

TIKI BARBER, GRADE 8

OL

PACO RIVERA, GRADE 8

DL

SAM SCARFONE (DE), GRADE 9

LB

RICKY RUSSELL, GRADE 9

GARY, LITTMAN, GRADE 9

WR

FRED SOULE, GRADE 9

JOEY GALLAGHER, GRADE 9, HOLDER

CB

RONDE BARBER, GRADE 8

BILL REEVES, GRADE 9*

K

ADAM COSTA, GRADE 8

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

WILLIAM BYRD JUNIOR HIGH BADGERS—GAME 1 (HOME) — L 20–21

PATRICK HENRY JUNIOR HIGH PATRIOTS—GAME 2 (AWAY) — L 7–14

MARTINSVILLE JUNIOR HIGH COLTS—GAME 3 (HOME) — W 48–3

NORTH SIDE JUNIOR HIGH ROCKETS—GAME 4 (AWAY) — W 31–28

PULASKI JUNIOR HIGH WILDCATS—GAME 5 (HOME) — W 38–3

MARTINSVILLE JUNIOR HIGH COLTS—GAME 6 (AWAY) — W 34–17

BLUE RIDGE JUNIOR HIGH BEARS—GAME 7 (HOME) — W 30–10

REMAINING GAMES

JEFFERSON JUNIOR HIGH PANTHERS

EAST SIDE JUNIOR HIGH MOUNTAINEERS

BLUE RIDGE JUNIOR HIGH BEARS

WILLIAM BYRD JUNIOR HIGH BADGERS

NORTH SIDE JUNIOR HIGH ROCKETS

“I'M BREAKIN' THIS ONE BIG-TIME, RONDE!”

Ronde Barber stared back at his identical twin as they faced each other across the line of scrimmage. “In your dreams, Tiki.”

“Don't blink, or you'll miss me,” Tiki shot back.

Ronde let out a big yawn, patting his mouth like he was bored. “I'm
so
scared.”

Then came the “Hut! Hut!” of the quarterback, Matt Clayton, and Tiki took off like a shot. Ronde backpedaled a few steps, then turned and matched his brother stride for stride.

Ronde did not look back for the ball. He kept his focus on Tiki, waiting for him to make his move. Ronde watched his eyes, knowing they would widen just before the key moment.

Ronde had learned this trick last season. It was part of his education in how to cover wide receivers. But it sure helped when that receiver was your identical twin.

He and Tiki knew each other inside out, backward and forward. They didn't just look alike, they
thought
alike.
Ronde could have covered Tiki with his eyes closed.

Sure enough, ten yards downfield, Tiki's eyes widened for the briefest instant. On cue, he faked to the outside, then cut to the inside, straight across the field.

Matt Clayton had already let the ball fly, a bullet speeding toward its appointed meeting place with Tiki's chest.

But Ronde was one step ahead of them both. He cut in front of Tiki, leapt into the air, and with his outstretched fingertips, knocked away the ball!

He landed hard on the grass, but it was worth it to hear Tiki's disappointed groan.

“Oh, man! You're a pest, Ronde!”

“I try,” Ronde replied, grinning as Tiki reached out a hand to help him up.

“Man, I'm glad you're on
my
team,” Tiki said, shaking his head.

The boys trotted back to the line of scrimmage, where their friend and practice partner, Matt Clayton, was waiting for them.

“Awesome coverage, dude!” he told Ronde. “Did you spy on us in the huddle?”

“No way,” Ronde said, still smiling. “I just
knew
.”

“He finishes my sentences for me all the time,” Tiki told Matt.

“No,
you're
the one who does that!” Ronde protested.

“You
both
do it,” Matt said, laughing. “I've heard you. It's weird.”

All three boys were wearing their old blue Hidden Valley Eagles uniforms from last season. Tiki wore number two, while Ronde had number five.

Ronde wondered if the school would retire the number nine now that, starting tomorrow, Matt, last year's
Roanoke Reporter
All-World quarterback, had graduated and was moving on to Cave Spring High School.

In Ronde's opinion, Matt deserved the honor of having his number retired. He'd broken every Hidden Valley record for passing. During the Eagles' run to the District Championship this past season, college scouts had come around to see Matt play—and the ninth-grade wonder hadn't disappointed them.

This would be their last practice together for two years, until the twins made it to high school and they were all reunited.

And starting tomorrow, for Tiki and Ronde, it was back to school—back to the Eagles for another season, this time without Matt as their leader.

“Why'd you have to go and graduate?” Ronde asked Matt. “
Now
what are we going to do for a quarterback?”

“You guys'll be fine,” Matt assured them. “The Eagles are even better and deeper this year. And if you're worried about Cody Hansen, don't be. He's a great athlete, and he's
got a great throwing arm. I saw him play Peewee League, back when he was in sixth grade.”

“He didn't play so great last year when he was subbing for you,” Tiki said.

“Don't worry,” said Matt. “He just couldn't handle the pressure of coming off the bench. He wasn't prepared to be a starter, that's all. He's much better than he showed last year. You'll see.”

Ronde had to admit it was true. He and Tiki had been subs last year too. And when they'd gotten their chance to play, they'd had their moments—but they'd also made bad mistakes.

This year would be different. As eighth graders and second-year men, the twins would be key starters—Tiki at halfback, Ronde at cornerback. The team would be counting on them—and Ronde was sure he and Tiki had the talent to carry the team to victory.

He just wasn't so sure about Cody.

“Trust me, it's going to be fine,” Matt said as they lined up for another pass play. “I mean, just think—last year, you two guys barely played! That alone is going to make the team so much better. And remember, we won the District Championship last year. So . . . can you say ‘State Champions'?”

“Man, don't jinx us,” Tiki said. “It's bad enough you're gone, and we have to put up with that hot dog, Cody Hansen.”

“Tiki, he's just immature,” Matt said. “I was the same way in seventh grade.”

“Like fun you were,” Ronde said. “You were never like Cody, so don't even go there.”

“True, he's got better hair.”

“Dude, you never say anything bad about anybody!” Tiki complained. “Stop being so nice. Cody is a ball hog, and that's all there is to it.”

“If that were all,” Matt argued, “Coach Spangler wouldn't have made him the starter this year.”

Ronde had to admit, there was truth in what Matt said. Coach Spangler was really smart, and he knew what he was doing with his team.

“I'm telling you,” Matt assured them, “as long as Spangler's in charge, the Eagles are going to win. His teams have made the playoffs seven out of eight years since he became coach. He can get the best out of anybody.”

“Even Cody?” Ronde asked.

“Even Cody,” Matt said. “He's talented. He just needs to get some experience.”

“And a better attitude,” said Ronde, rolling his eyes.

“Man, you got that right. Cody's a head case,” Tiki complained. “He thinks he's all that and a bag of chips.”

“I saw him the other day in Kessler's, bragging about how we're going to dominate this year,” Ronde said. “I hate to hear that stuff, you know? It's bad luck to run your mouth like that.”

“Don't worry so much,” Matt said. “Hey, think about
me
—I'm losing the coach who taught me everything I know!”

“Aw, man, I pity you,” Tiki said, pretending to play the violin.

“I'm about to start crying,” Ronde joked. “Come on, yo—let's play some football! Show me something I haven't seen, dude.”

“All right, now you went and made me mad,” Matt said, smacking the football between his hands. “Let's go. You're toast, Ronde.”

Matt put his arm around Tiki and whispered the play into his ear. Tiki lined up, and Ronde saw the corner of his mouth curl up into a secret smile.
They're up to something tricky,
he said to himself.

“Hut! Hut-hut!” Matt dropped back as Tiki took a darting step forward.

Ronde dropped back into coverage, but Tiki was only faking a forward move. With Ronde back on his heels, Tiki stopped and turned to face Matt.

Matt tossed him a quick lateral, then raced downfield, and before Ronde could recover, Tiki threw the ball into Matt's waiting arms!

“Touchdown!” Matt yelled, spiking the ball and doing a crazy little song and dance in the end zone. “Oh, yeah—go Ma-att, it's your birthday . . .”

Ronde wasn't thrilled about being beaten on the play. But Matt's celebration was so corny, he couldn't help laughing.

Hotdogging wasn't Matt's style at all. He never got into that sort of thing, like so many other players did. When he threw a touchdown pass, Matt just raised his arms in the air and yelled “YES!”

Ronde admired that about him. Unlike some people, Matt Clayton was a class act.

“I'm hungry,” Tiki said. “My stomach's talking to me. It's saying, ‘Let's go get some lunch!'”

“I'm in,” Matt said. “Kessler's?”

“Yeah, baby,” Ronde said. “I'm up for a burger and a double-thick shake.”

“Trying to bulk up?” Matt teased.

Ronde and Tiki were small for their age—at least compared to the rest of the football team. Matt, already over six feet tall, towered over them.

Someday,
Ronde thought,
he'll be a star college quarterback.

He and Tiki would be stars too—but only if they kept getting taller, bigger, and stronger. Burgers and shakes might not be health food, Ronde figured, but they were a sure bet if you wanted to gain weight.