“We’re almost back where we started from,” he said happily in the huddle. “Okay. Flat pass to Bob.”
The play succeeded for nineteen yards, putting the ball on the Cheetahs’ twelve. On the next play Vince carried the ball through left tackle for their second touchdown. Then he booted it between the uprights to make it fifteen points against the Cheetahs’ twenty.
“Another six points and we’ll beat ’em,” said Lumpy, grinning from a sweat-smeared face.
Vince chuckled. “Good adding, Lumpy. And you did it without a calculator, too.”
“Smart mouth,” snorted Lumpy.
Vince’s kickoff was the poorest since the season had started. It was a bouncing kick that Charlie Jarvis snapped up on his own forty and carried to the Eagles’ forty-three.
“Save that energy for your runs,” said Michael, as Vince disgustedly kicked up sod with the toe of his shoe.
“Oh, sure,” replied Vince. “As if we’ll have another chance.”
“We’ll have another chance. We have to,” Michael growled.
At that moment, Coach Cotter called a time-out. Michael rushed to the sidelines ahead of the rest of the team.
This is my chance! he thought wildly. I’ve got to get to Tom and tell him what the team wants from him.
He had no time to waste. As his teammates gathered around the coach, he slipped onto the bench beside Tom in the wheelchair.
“Tom,” he whispered urgently. “Listen closely. You’re going back in the game.”
Tom gave him a sharp look. “But you’re playing so well— ,” he started to say.
“Cut it out!” Michael hissed. “I’m not playing any better than you usually do. There’s only one difference: confidence. I’ve got it, and you need to get it, because that’s what your teammates want from you.”
“Tom!” Coach Cotter barked. “Get over here and listen up!”
Michael stood up but gave Tom one last meaningful look before he rejoined the team.
The horn blared, signaling the end of the time-out. Michael hesitated, waiting to feel the vibrations that indicated Tom was trying TEC. But no vibrations came.
Come on, Tom! Michael’s mind called out. There was no reply.
Abe Abrams had the Cheetahs fired up as he led them down the field like an army on a triumphant march. Then, on the Eagles’ four-yard line, they were stopped, and stopped cold. Three line plunges and a pass try failed to get them into the end zone.
“T-forty-three drive! On two!” Michael ordered in the huddle.
The play went for two yards. The Cheetahs, too, were holding.
Michael’s forehead glistened with sweat as he faced the guys in the huddle.
“We’ve got to do it now or they’ll break through when they get the ball,” he said.
Suddenly, he felt the tingling. Tom was trying TEC! Michael immediately tuned in— and moments later found himself back in his wheelchair.
Okay, Tom, go for it! he urged silently.
As he watched, the huddle broke with a clap. Tom took the snap and stepped back into the pocket a couple of yards. Michael realized he was planning to throw a long bomb. Both ends were sprinting down the field, Bob at the left side, Stan at the right. Both were covered.
Then Stan buttonhooked in, and for a moment he was in the clear. Tom pulled his arm back and shot him a pass. The ball hit Stan in the gut, and Stan took it from there. He galloped down the field like a horse running a close race, and made it with yards to spare.
Cheetahs 20, Eagles 21! The Eagles were ahead by a point!
Moments later, the whistle blew. The game was over. The Eagles grabbed one another and cheered.
“One point, boy, that was close! But we won!” Jack cried, throwing his helmet into the air and catching it.
“Right!” said Lumpy.
“And you came through for us, Tom,” Vince said, turning to the quarterback and pumping his hand vigorously. “You got us to tie up the score! Who would have thought a long bomb would work? But you called for it with such steel in your voice, I didn’t even think about it. You’re okay, man!”
Tom grinned through the sweat that streamed down his face. “Thanks, Vince. But it wasn’t only me who did it.” He glanced over at Michael and his grin broadened. “It was all of us.”
Michael winked.
Suddenly a girl sprang in front of Tom and threw her arms around him, almost causing him to lose his balance and fall. It was Vickie, and Michael smiled. He wasn’t surprised. For a long time she might have been waiting for an opportunity to throw her arms around Tom. What better time was there than now?
“Wasn’t he great?” a voice broke in beside Michael. “You must sure be proud of him, Michael.”
Michael glanced around at Carol, who was leaning against his wheelchair and resting a hand on it. Her dark eyes glistened as they met his, and before he knew it, she threw an arm around his neck and hugged him.
His heart pumped like crazy as she took her arm away and looked at Tom, a smile beaming on her face. Wow! Michael thought. What a surprise! Whatever made me think she was a creep, anyway?
Just then Michael saw a familiar figure coming toward them, a wide grin on his face.
“Nice game, boys,” Ollie Pruitt said.
“Thanks, Mr. Pruitt,” said Tom, and shook his hand.
Then Mr. Pruitt’s eyes met Michael’s, and the old man winked. “How do you feel now, Michael?” he asked as they shook hands.
“Just great, Mr. Pruitt,” Michael answered proudly. “Just great, Thanks to you.”
THE #1 SPORTS SERIES FOR KIDS
MATT CHRISTOPHER®
Read them all!
Baseball Flyhawk Dirt Bike Runaway
Baseball Pals Dive Right In
Baseball Turnaround Double Play at Short
The Basket Counts Face-Off
Body Check Fairway Phenom
Catch That Pass! Football Fugitive
Catcher with a Glass Arm Football Nightmare
Catching Waves The Fox Steals Home
Center Court Sting Goalkeeper in Charge
Centerfield Ballhawk The Great Quarterback Switch
Challenge at Second Base Halfback Attack *
The Comeback Challenge The Hockey Machine
Comeback of the Home Run Kid Ice Magic
Cool as Ice Johnny Long Legs
The Diamond Champs The Kid Who Only Hit Homers
Dirt Bike Racer Lacrosse Face-Off
Line Drive to Short ** Snowboard Champ
Long-Arm Quarterback Snowboard Maverick
Long Shot for Paul Snowboard Showdown
Look Who’s Playing First Base Soccer Duel
Miracle at the Plate Soccer Halfback
Mountain Bike Mania Soccer Scoop
Nothin’ But Net Stealing Home
Penalty Shot The Submarine Pitch
The Reluctant Pitcher The Team That Couldn’t Lose
Return of the Home Run Kid Tennis Ace
Run For It Tight End
Shoot for the Hoop Top Wing
Shortstop from Tokyo Touchdown for Tommy
Skateboard Renegade Tough to Tackle
Skateboard Tough Wingman on Ice
Slam Dunk The Year Mom Won the Pennant
All available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company
Matt Christopher®
Sports Bio Bookshelf
Muhammad Ali Randy Johnson
Lance Armstrong Michael Jordan
Kobe Bryant Yao Ming
Jennifer Capriati Shaquille O’Neal
Dale Earnhardt Sr. Jackie Robinson
Jeff Gordon Alex Rodriguez
Ken Griffey Jr. Babe Ruth
Mia Hamm Curt Schilling
Tony Hawk Sammy Sosa
Ichiro Tiger Woods
Derek Jeter
THE GREAT QUARTERBACK SWITCH
Can Michael and Tom read each other’s minds?
Michael and Tom Curtis are identical twins who share a love of foo
tball. Unfortunately, because of a tragic accident, Michael must watch from the sidelines as his brother calls the plays on the football field. During one game Michael concentrates very hard on a play he thinks could help the team, and Tom calls the exact play a second later! Is it coincidence, or can the boys communicate through ESP? The boys try a daring experiment in which they push their telepathic powers to the limit… and suddenly, impossibly, Michael is running the ball for a spectacular touchdown!
Matt Christopher is the name young readers turn to when they’re looking for fàst-paced, action-packed sports stories.
Check out other exciting football novels:
For a complete list of all Matt Christopher titles, please turn to the last pages of this book.
* Previously published as Crackerjack Halfback
** Previously published as Pressure Play
The Great Quarterback Switch Page 6