The Lunas

by Keith R. Rees

Chapter 21

  The Game

  It was a warm and mostly sunny afternoon in Aloha Stadium on Oahu when the Lahainaluna Lunas took the field in the state championship against the ‘Iolani Raiders. The stands were nearly filled on both sides of the stadium. The forecast called for scattered showers, which was typical on Oahu, but otherwise it was a perfect Hawaiian afternoon for some football. The fans wore their respective colors throughout the stands with Raider fans in their dark blue and white and Luna fans in their signature red.

  On TV the scene looked even more surreal to the Lahainaluna faithful back on Maui who were all gathered at an outdoor viewing party. The large gathering cheered loudly as their team ran onto the artificial turf of Aloha Stadium for the opening kickoff. Comments ranged from ‘let’s win it guys!’ from the men and ladies speaking their approval of how nice the players looked in their white jerseys and reddish orange pants and matching helmets. One could hear a person even saying how they did not care for the dark blue uniforms the Raiders were wearing.

  Peter sat next to Kaila and Taney in the crowd and watched the game being projected on an outdoor screen. “This is so cool. I can’t begin to tell you,” Peter said. “Look at all the people.”

  “Yeah, it’s amazing!” Kaila concurred.

  The crowd of people watched anxiously as ‘Iolani took control of the game early. The fans collectively groaned as they scored the first touchdown of the game and took an early 7-0 lead. The crowd became even more tense as they scored yet again and added a two-point conversion to go up 15-0. The mood had quickly turned sour amongst the crowd in thinking this could be a long day for their team.

  “Oh man, this is making my stomach churn,” Taney moaned. “I think I need some Tums.”

  “Ah, they just look nervous,” Peter said. “They’ll turn it around. They hardly allowed any points this season.”

  As if right on cue, the Lunas defense did begin to put the clamps on the high-flying Raider offense. They held for a punt, then promptly put their offense in gear and marched sixty-five yards, capping the drive with a nifty long touchdown run by the quarterback. The crowd leapt to its feet in jubilation as the Lunas finally got on the board, pulling them to within eight points, 15-7.

  “That’s what I’m talking about!” Peter yelled. He was very much into the game, as was everyone else. High-fives went flying all around the excited crowd.

  Once again the Lunas defense held the Raiders to another punt and quickly took the next possession all the way down and scored again on a long pass. The crowd on TV and in the viewing party went crazy as the Lunas made it 15-14.

  “Oh, I’m feeling better now!” Taney laughed as she clapped for her team.

  “Oh man, that was a freaking great play!” Kaila shouted. “I feel better too!”

  However, the Raiders put together their own impressive drive right before halftime. The teams went to the locker rooms for the break with the score 22-14. Although they fell behind early, the Lunas proved they were up to the task against the Raiders and made an exciting game out of it.

  The people watching the contest got up and stretched their legs and talked and mingled with one another. Peter nodded in satisfaction that they were clearly in it.

  “Wow, they did good in coming back there,” he said. “All they need to do is make some adjustments in the locker room and I bet they can beat these guys. Our quarterback is awesome.”

  “He’s also cute as he can be too,” Taney added.

  Kaila shook her head and laughed, “You think the whole team is cute!”

  “It’s true. I do.” Taney chuckled.

  “Anybody want some bottled water?” Peter asked. “I’ll go get us some.”

  “Sure,” both girls said.

  Kaila and Taney both watched as he went over to some ice chests to get some water for them. He high-fived his friends from the dorm and they talked about the first half together.

  Taney looked over at Kaila and said, “He loves you, you know that don’t you?” Kaila did not answer. She just kept watching him with soft eyes, loving everything about him. “I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.”

  “I know,” Kaila finally said. “It’s pretty scary too, I have to admit. Just something about him though. I can’t explain it. I just feel so at ease with him.”

  “Have you talked to him about after graduation?” Taney asked, a hint of concern in her voice. “I mean, what he’s gonna do?”

  “A little bit. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “I bet your mama and your aunt will though,” Taney continued. “He probably hasn’t even thought about college. I know guys like that.”

  Kaila began to get annoyed. “Don’t worry about it, Taney.”

  “I’m just sayin,’” she pressed.

  “He and I will cross that bridge when we have to,” Kaila assured her. Peter came back carrying three water bottles. He could see the discouraged look on Kaila’s face.

  “Here you go,” he said. “Everything OK?”

  “Yeah, I’m good. Thank you.” She gave him a light kiss on his lips. “Third quarter is about to start.”

  The game resumed and the crowd’s excitement grew yet again to a fever pitch. It became a tough and exciting see-saw battle in the third quarter. As soon as the Lunas would pull within a point, the Raiders would answer with another score. It went back and forth this way on into the fourth quarter. The crowd became tense as the final stanza ticked down and the Raiders held a 29-20 lead. The Lunas became hampered by some costly turnovers, but then their defense created one of their own. However they found themselves deep in their own territory. But with great determination and fortitude, they meticulously drove the length of the field in one of the game’s most impressive drives. With eleven minutes remaining, they scored on a sensational run from nineteen yards out, pulling within two points, 29-27. The stadium went crazy as no one knew how the game was going to turn out.

  The Raiders got the ball back and appeared to be taking control on offense. But then the Lunas made a big stop and forced them to punt once again. The Lunas immediately began to march down the field like a well-oiled machine.

  “Oh my God!” Kaila said breathlessly, “I think they are gonna do it! All we need is a field goal and we have the lead!”

  “This is crazy good,” Taney laughed nervously. “I can’t believe this!”

  The Raider defense did their best to slow them down, but the Lunas crept closer and closer to the goal line with each play. With less than eight minutes on the clock, the tension was thick in the stands and in the crowd watching on TV. The crowd quieted down and sat on pins and needles as the next play was run from the two-yard line. Amazingly, the stout running back plunged over the goal line in stunning fashion. The crowds erupted with glee as the Lunas took their first lead of the game, 33-29. Fans were in hysterics, shouting for joy and jumping up and down. It was an incredible comeback and the Lunas only had to hold on for just over seven minutes before they could finally celebrate.

  However, seven minutes is a long time in football. After another heroic stop by the Lunas, the game appeared to be in their hands as they took over near their own twenty-yard line. However a miscue on offense suddenly turned the ball back over to the Raiders with only two minutes remaining. The Lunas fans groaned in agony as they watched helplessly.

  “Come on defense!” Peter yelled. “You gotta stop ‘em!”

  Everyone was yelling for the defense to hold them tight. The Raider quarterback calmly called out the play over the crowd noise, he dropped back to pass, and in one play, threw a perfect strike covering twenty-six yards to score a touchdown. With that, the air went out of stadium and all over Maui like a huge balloon being punctured. In one play, the Raiders had regained the lead, 36-33.

  Peter, Kaila, Taney and the whole crowd sat there stunned and quiet as they watched their team mope to the sidelines to prepare for the kickoff. Less than two minutes remained and it se
emed like a daunting task to once again try and march down the field for yet another score after taking the lead only moments before in thrilling fashion.

  With time running out, the Lunas took the kickoff and began to frantically drive down the field. As they neared midfield, the crowd became hysterical once again. Could they actually drive down and tie, or even win the game before time expired?

  “Oh God, I can’t watch,” Taney gulped nervously.

  The seconds ticked away. With each gain, with each play, the crowd sensed that one last comeback drive was almost inevitable. It was as if the football gods were with the Lunas. They effortlessly and efficiently drove the ball inside Raider territory. The tension in the crowd on TV and at home was incredible. One could slice it in the air with a knife. Everyone was standing on their feet as the Lunas continued their final drive.

  They needed to get closer to possibly attempt a field goal and send the game to overtime. They had miraculously moved all the way to the Raiders’ thirty-four-yard line, but were still too far to attempt a field goal. So, with less than thirty seconds to play, the quarterback dropped back to pass, looked in all directions, then found a man down the middle and heaved the ball towards him. In a flash, the ball went sailing too high over the receiver’s outstretched hands and a defender came diving in behind him. He snatched the ball away before it hit the ground, making a lunging grab. The Luna faithful’s cheers silenced almost immediately as the defender rolled on the ground clutching the ball in his hands with a clean interception.

  “Noooo!!!” yelled the crowd watching on the screen. Everyone was stunned as the referee signaled it was the Raiders’ ball. The interception was made all the way down on the nineteen-yard line.

  The Raider fans at the stadium cheered wildly and players mobbed their teammate who made the incredible catch to seal the victory. The offense took the victory stance for the final play and the quarterback took a knee to run out the clock. Fans cheered wildly as the Luna fans stood quietly shocked, dumbfounded.

  The ‘Iolani Raiders had triumphed and won their sixth straight state title, 36-33. Despite the bitter loss for the Lunas, it was an incredible game for both sides and a hard fought victory for the Raiders. It was one that they certainly had to earn.

  Kaila stood there speechless, as did Taney and Peter. They were not the only ones. The entire crowd was astonished by the heartbreaking outcome to the game that ended in a frantic fury. Some stood and shook their head at the screen, others smiled in stunned disbelief.

  “I think I’m going to cry,” Taney finally said.

  “I can’t believe it,” Kaila echoed. “They were so close! I feel so bad for the seniors in our class that played. Oh this sucks!”

  Peter stood shaking his head as well. “Wow, what a game. Those guys lucked out. I just knew we had at least a field goal coming. Man that sucks. But what a drive there at the end. People will be talking about this one for a long time to come.”

  It was true. It was truly a heartbreaking loss for the Lahainaluna Lunas. But it was a hard fought victory for ‘Iolani and the Luna players congratulated them on the field as an excellent display of sportsmanship. Coaches from both sides commended the players for an outstanding game. It was one that most football experts had chalked up as to being a lopsided affair leading up to the game. But the Lunas proved them all incorrect in putting up a tough challenge. They held their heads high despite the disappointing loss and brought home the runner-up trophy to commemorate one of the most memorable seasons in school history. The Lunas had lost but could only look forward to next year in hopes of returning to the state title game.