I was never supposed to play D-end. I mean, I was, but that was last year. This year, what the team needed was a pulling guard who would run through the hole first and make way for the running back to score touchdowns. A thankless role, but one that we needed, so I stepped up and I was proud to do so. This conflicted with my current position as a D-end which I played my whole junior year. In the end, my defensive coach moved me from starting to backup so I wouldn’t be tired the whole game. Fast forward to September 6th.
My friend Ryan (who played middle linebacker) had to miss the game for reasons. We’re a small team this year, so my coach thought the best course of action would be to move Cole (our current D-end) to linebacker and have me fill in at D-end. I did not like this because what that meant was that not only would I be playing every snap of offense and special teams but now defense, too. But we persist, I put on my best “game day” face and got ready.
It was a hot day even without the pads on. Sweat ran down my back like a waterfall. We were on defense first. The team we were playing was relatively new with only juniors on their varsity but they were still formidable. It was the third play of the game when the Condors had a bad snap and the ball went loose in the backfield. I threw my defender out of the way and pounced on it, turning the ball over to the Cardinals, setting the tone!
On the offense side it was play after play. I downblocked like my life depended on it and pulled up the field when my number was called. For those of you who are asking yourself “what does pulling mean?” It means I’m a human shield. Three guys on my right block left while I run past their butts to the right while my running back has his arm on my back guiding me and when I spot an open man, BOOM, hit them as hard as I can making way for my running back. We scored two touchdowns from using that one play.
Back to defense: one of the highlights was a nice sack (tackling the quarterback). I closed the gap for the QB to run through and he ran through the hole. An outside linebacker (Vlad) went for the tackle but missed completely. Why this was bad for me was because he was flying right at my legs. If tackling a 6’3 210 pound quarterback isn’t hard enough, try having someone fly through your legs. Luckily though I’m a pretty athletic guy so I spot this Indiana Jones boulder going Mach 10 at my shins, so I jump over him, wrap up, and fly four yards in the air before the QB as I fall to the ground.
It’s about the mid-second quarter now and we’re up by two touchdowns. Another run to my side so I throw my defender off again and grab the RB. This was anything but a textbook tackle. Both of us are stand straight up but I’m grabbed onto something and driving my feet pushing him backward. Finally he loses balance and falls to the ground WITHOUT THE BALL! It is in my hands! Ladies and gentlemen Walker Young is going to get a touchdown! An empty backfield, a ball in hand, and— a whistle? They called the play dead?! Now, let’s add some context before we go beat up the refs in the parking lot. The guy fell on his stomach and my back was to the refs hiding the ball. It looked like a routine tackle however I HAD THE BALL. Those idiots called the play dead as I was running to the end zone. If anyone asks, I have two touchdowns.
I think it may have been the adrenaline but the play after I started having some weird coughs. From the sideline, my coach asked me if I was okay. I nodded my head playing through but one set me off. I ran off the field, took my helmet off, and found a quiet place to get rid of what was in my system. I won’t go into too much detail because it was kind of gross but I was out for five plays due to throwing up in the bushes. Those were the only five plays I was out of the entire game.
Much later in the third quarter Walker Young takes no plays off. Playing for an hour and throwing up in the middle won’t stop me from making plays. The quarterback loves running to my side for some reason so I had to stop him once and for all. He had the ball loose in his arm so I put my arm on it and stripped it from him. It wasn’t a turnover but it was a fumble. Walker Young doesn’t stop!
Okay, I will admit I was getting tired in the fourth quarter. The Condors QB ran out for a pass and I was on his hip. It was me, him, and an open field. I had two options, I could make the tackle and be a hero or I could drive him outside and risk him making a pass. I chose the latter. This guy is way faster than me and I had no help. If I missed the tackle (like I knew I would), they would get big yardage, so I drove him outside. Everyone was saying how I should have made that tackle or pressured him in some way but I was tired. My head coach from the sideline however jumped to my defense. “Walker is too nice of a guy!” he yelled. Not a highlight or stat but I thought it was noteworthy.
Well, that’s about it. We won the game 28-0 (should have been 35) and had a great time doing so. I talked with the opposing lineman and made jokes with my friends on our side. I played every snap except for the ones I was physically throwing up; I am the only person on our team to do that.