The Final Moment
The blare of the referee’s whistle signaled the start of all out hell once more. As Ponder shouted, “On one” the rest of the huddled offense clapped while barely managing to say, “break” in between the deep breaths they took grasping for air. On the sideline, the rest of the team watched as eleven of their starting players walked up to the line of scrimmage with the outcome of the game in their hands. Nothing else mattered now, not the victories behind them, our the losses. Today, this moment, this game was all that mattered. Harvin could feel the pressure crushing down on him. There were millions watching at home on the edge of their couches, and the thousands packed into the stadium. History itself paused awaiting the outcome. Poised and ready for the snap, Harvin closed his eyes and took a deep breath taking in his surroundings. He thought back to his days in high school and then college where he tore up the field, smashed records, and won two BCS championships. He whispered to himself, “If you can do all that, you got this”.
As sound started to come back to him, the deafening roar of the cheering crowd echoed around in his helmet. Ponder screamed “Hike!”, and Harvin bolted forward. Running his route was muscle memory and when he turned his head the ball was already in the air spiraling towards him. Time slowed down as he leaped into the air using every fiber in his body. He brought up his hands making the astonishing catch in double coverage. The stadiums noise level cranked up ten times louder, like a car full of teenage girls when Call Me Maybe comes on. Harvin stutter-stepped back into stride and outrunning the secondary. He then turned on the jets and flew into nothing but open green field. “He’s at the 30, the 20, the 10, touchdown! The rush of emotions hit Harvin as he crossed that goal line knocking him to his knees, while he thanked god for this moment. “The Vikings have done it, they’ve done it! Ladies and gentlemen the Minnesota Vikings for the first time in NFL history are Super Bowl Champions!” screamed the announcer.