Carpe Diem

By Mick Peterson

With the prospect of a career-changing opportunity looming, along with a series of other challenges that pop up during the week, Coach Ben Reynolds zeroes in on preparing his Hillmen squad for trying to pull off one of the greatest upsets in his coaching career and a berth in the State Championship game. However

Bubba Brown is back--vengeful, desperate, and determined to ruin the man he feels responsible for his demise, Hillsdale High School football coach Ben Reynolds.

Jeremy Johnson, once a part-time starter for the Hillmen early in the season, has other goals on his mind, primarily head varsity manager Jennifer Kirby. Yet, his recklessness and audacity create another threat to the squad as they prepare for their ultimate challenge.

Running back and linebacker Matt Gerard, a steadying influence both on and off the field for Hillsdale, must choose whats best for him or whats best for his team, as they face a semi-final opponent like no other.

The Hillsdale Hillmens team slogan for the season, Carpe Diem (Seize the Day), provides the backdrop for this third and final installment of the Hillsdale trilogy. When opportunity beckons, people become judged as to how they respond at that moment. Its no different in Hillsdale, with the chance to be the first team in school history to play for the State Title staring at them right in their faces. How will they respond?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 23, 2009
• ISBN: 9781449043926

Mick Peterson

The Old Gays, best friends Robert, Mick, Jessay, and Bill, have won over the hearts of fans young and old alike with their heartwarming and humorous content on TikTok. In addition to sharing hilarious reactions to pop culture and their excitement about their growing celebrity following, the guys, who live in Cathedral City, California, have also become educators on the strides made in the LGBTQ+ community over the past five decades. With endless experiences and wisdom to share, and their fan base continuing to flourish, the Old Gays are inspiring, shining examples of how to make the most of life no matter your age.

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Prologue

October 1

Several beads of sweat trickled down his nose. As he settled into his favorite chair, Coach Ben Reynolds noticed that his entire coaching shirt was still damp from the night’s activities. He was tired, yet happy. He was a little spent, but glad. He was back…back in the arena that had meant so much to him, back on the football field coaching a group of young men who rallied around his presence.

The Homecoming game that night against Willbury had been anything but a model of beauty, but somehow Hillsdale found a way to win. A loss might have sent his Hillmen squad spiraling towards a losing season, something Reynolds had not experienced in a long time, certainly not recently. The emotional win, however, now could propel them on their way towards a late season playoff run.

Not that they were a threat to win State. That wasn’t even the issue. Just the thought that they now had a good shot to keep playing in November was enough, for now. He had dreaded the idea of coming to practice the next Monday IF they had lost that game tonight. It might have been too much.

He also thought of his mentor, J.W. Wilson, who was lying in a hospital bed after collapsing on the field after the game. It was J.W. who had spearheaded this whirlwind of activities the past week that had breathed some life back in the school, the community, and the team. Ben could still see the old coach riding on that float in Friday’s parade, playing that song on his guitar with the amp blaring away. A slight smile came to his face.

Ben and his wife Julie had just returned home from the hospital. The weird situation between Wilson, his son J. T., or Tom Thomas, or whatever his name was, and the girl Amber Sloane and her off-the-wall mother was enough to keep both of their heads spinning. Julie had enough and had gone to bed.

Ben felt he needed to unwind a little bit by watching some of the game on DVD first. He had just popped it in and flopped into his chair when the phone rang.

Reynolds’ initial reaction was alarm. Who would be calling at one in the morning? Was it the hospital? Was it one of his coaches? The police? On the other hand, he was also annoyed, annoyed that someone would have the gall to call this late.

Fortunately, the phone was in the kitchen, and Ben could pick up another slice of pizza that his son Tommy had left for him on his way to answer it. He already had spilled a little sauce on his shirt from the first piece.

He didn’t want it to ring again because it might wake up his family who were sleeping upstairs. He picked it up and looked at the caller ID. It read Unknown Caller.

Ben thought about not even answering it, not at this hour. But he decided it might be urgent.

Hello.

This Reynolds?

Yeah. He thought he recognized the voice.

You might’ve thought you heard the last from me, you sonuvabitch! You screwed me over, and I’m going to get you before I’m through!

Hey !You got no right…!

Listen! I’m watchin’ ya’ now, and I’ll be watchin’ ya from here on out! You can’t run! You bastard! Click.

Ben ran to the front door as a pair of taillights vanished down the street. He looked at his phone. He did know that voice.

Bubba Brown!

Part 1

Saturday

Chapter 1

November 12

Twenty-three seconds to go! Holy Name is out of timeouts! Richards takes another knee. He tosses the ball to the official! The Hillsdale Hillmen are about to complete a miraculous comeback! Rick Meiner of WZJE Radio was on his feet, jabbing his forefinger out to the field below him.

Can you believe this? Look at that sideline over there, would ya’? Analyst Bob Scott could hardly contain himself.

We don’t have to run another play! The Hillmen bench is running out onto the field! Ten… He grabbed his partner’s forearm.

Look at the fans! They’re streaming out of the bleachers!

Six…five…four…three…two…one…that’ll do it! The Hillsdale Hillmen…in a shocker…have come up to Holy Name High School…and come from behind…in the fourth quarter….to snap one of the longest winning streaks in the State….27 in a row! The final score Hillsdale 24…Holy Name 13! One for the history books, folks!

You can say that again! We are in the semis! I can’t believe it! Things just happened so fast. Halfway through the fourth quarter…it didn’t look good for the Hillmen…but then…

Just look at that mob scene on the field! Players slapping each other…players jumping on each other….just utter joy from a group of kids who refused to lose today. Tim Hallion is down on the field. Tim, take it away!

That’s right, Bob and Rick. Down here on the sidelines…with the Hillmen…it’s chaos….I don’t know if you can hear down here…It’s crazy!…..We can’t say enough about the guts…and …courage…and determination…that these Hillmen players showed….It might be the greatest game in Ben Reynolds’ coaching career.

I don’t know about that, Tim, but it has to rank up there, Rick replied. The two coaches, Ben Reynolds and the Saints’ Rick Rogers, have exchanged handshakes in the middle of the field…and the Saints…they look like they are in shock…helmets off…some of the players are on their knees…in front of their bench…they look like they’re crying.

Not our Hillmen, though! Bob shouted. Look at Tim down there. He’s running around just like the rest of them. Tim? Tim? No response. Tim must have his microphone off.

Let me hold my mike out of our radio booth for you folks back home to hear! Listen to the crowd roaring as the Hillsdale Hillmen…head towards the locker room…upset winners today over the state-ranked Holy Name Saints 24-13…advancing to the State semi-finals next week in Hillsdale…against Number One Marmion Christian! Bring ‘em on! yelled Meiner.

That’s one…tired…happy bunch of football players…I’m tellin’ you!

They should be….. because today….they showed the Saints….they showed the whole State, for cryin’ out loud….about the meaning of Green and White!

It happened so fast…when did it turn…I almost forgot…

It was the punt…the blocked punt….!

Oh, yeah, how could I forget? That will go up there with Fairchild’s play back in the opener…..

What a crazy…crazy year!

Tim…is your mic on? Tim? Tim? I can see him but we can’t get him…the problems with live radio….Oh, well! Who cares? We are in the semi-finals, folks! We are in the semis! Bob shouted. He and Meiner high-fived each other and then banged fists.

Chapter 2

November 12

A gentle rain splattered the windows of the Hillsdale Hillmen team charter bus as it trudged out of the parking lot of Holy Name High School. Not a word could be heard from anybody in the seats. The players had just collapsed wherever they felt they could stretch out the most, exhausted from had just transpired earlier that afternoon. The coaches flopped into their chairs as well, mentally strained to the max.

Not Ben Reynolds, though! He had been the last to get on. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. He stood up and surveyed his warriors up and down the aisle. His eyes then fell onto his assistants who stared off dreamily into space. Coach Danny Michaels looked like he had fallen asleep already. Ben reached down and slapped the young coach across the bill of his cap.

Hey, Coach! Would you just look at these guys? he shouted. Everybody, especially Michaels, almost jumped out of their chairs. All the faces quickly zeroed in on the head coach.

Men, when you are older and have your own kids and grandkids, you’ll be able to tell them about today! he began again passionately. You will be able to tell them how you pulled off one of the greatest victories in school history! The day you believed! The day you decided to make a statement! To the entire state! You will be able to tell them….how you beat a team that had won 27 games in a row…on their HOME FIELD! he shouted.

I know I told you this in the locker room, but I’ll say it again. To become the best, you have to beat the best! You’re not the best yet, but today you sent a huge message! You earned it! Congratulations again! He paused to let the moment sink in. His voice was starting to crack. Now, it’s time for…!

A voice came from the back.. Coach?

Yeah, Jack. It was Jack Norton, the young man who had endured a great deal himself this season but who would most likely remember this day for a long time.

We’d hate for you to lose your voice? he began. We need you next week. Besides, I think we’d all just like to go to sleep for awhile.

A murmur of laughter filled the bus. Oh, sure, Jack, Coach Reynolds smiled. Did you even play today? More laughter. You guys get your rest. You deserve it.

With that he sat down and stared off into the night. Ben Reynolds was anything but tired. He was pumped up. He was excited. The adrenalin rush was still a 10! He pulled his hat down over his eyes. The smile just wouldn’t go away.

The bus motored down the road towards the interstate.

Chapter 3

November 12

Jack Norton sheepishly grinned. Frankie Thomas smacked him on the shoulder while others chimed in, Yeah, rookie! ‘Bout time you did something!

Just as quickly, though, once Coach Reynolds sat down, the rest of the players resumed squirming in their seats, trying to find a comfortable spot to rest their weary bones. Norton hadn’t felt soreness like this in a long time, at least not after a game. The only time he had been achy had been after a particularly hard Wednesday practice when he had quarterbacked the scout team. On that day, he had been sacked five times in twelve plays against the first-team defense as the Hillmen prepared for their final regular season game back in week nine.

Ever since Jack had been allowed to return to the squad the week of Homecoming, it had been hard for him to get any kind of playing time. The surprise lifting of the suspension by the State Officials had taken everybody by surprise, and, even though he had stayed in relatively good physical shape, being new to the school and the team, and then getting all of the terminology down in a short span had been difficult.

The coaches and the players had been fair. They welcomed him with open arms, but Jack knew that in Hillsdale, nobody gets handed anything. You have to earn your spot, especially if you’re new. He hadn’t done that yet. Until today.

Even though the game had ended over an hour ago, his hand still stung, and his elbow throbbed. Blood had dried on his chin, and he had refused to wipe it off. He wanted to wear it home. His parents were going to be very proud of his red badge of courage.

That’s what happens when a guy blocks a punt.

People who weren’t at the game and just heard about it later probably figured that Jack sprinted through a gap, laid himself out, dove headlong, and then just took the ball off the punter’s foot. They wouldn’t be farther from the real truth. Everything had happened so fast that even most of those fans at the game just saw the result. Norton blocked the punt, the ball rolled all the way down to the Holy Name twelve yard line, the Hillmen recovered and, three plays later, scored to take a 17-13 lead. The Saints never recovered, and Hillsdale added a late TD to finish with a 24-13 upset victory. No doubt in everyone’s mind that the blocked punt turned the game around.

The truth was Jack wasn’t even supposed to be on the field for that play to begin with. Joey Lincoln normally lined up next to Jeff Fairchild, the special teams’ captain on the punt return team. Fairchild had been a solid performer all season, going back to the season opener, when he cold-cocked star running back Brad Brown from Valley Forge late in the game near the Hillsdale goal line, causing a fumble which rolled into the end zone. Somehow, he then dove into the ensuing pile and miraculously knocked the ball out of bounds for a touchback, preserving the come-from-behind victory for the Hillmen. Then there was the time in the Homecoming game when Jeff went airborne and dove over a blocking wedge on a kickoff to make a tackle, causing another fumble that Hillsdale recovered.

For his part, Lincoln had been Hillsdale’s most dependable receiver on offense and an equally integral part of the secondary on defense at safety, ever since he had become a starter. However, on the prior play before the punt, Joey had the wind knocked out of him when he broke up a third down pass and collided with a Saints receiver. He had landed on the ball and left the field, gasping for air.

Hillsdale trailed at the time 13-10, and the clock was stopped with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The coaches almost forgot to get in a replacement; they were too busy attending to Lincoln. All of a sudden, right before the snap, linebacker Matt Gerard motioned from the field, waving one finger frantically. Feeling a nudge from behind, Jack just reacted. Helmet in hand, he was the closest to the action, so he sprinted out onto the field, snapping his headgear along the way.

He screamed out, Where do I go? Where do I go? Suddenly he felt a yank on his jersey. It was Fairchild. Next to me! Next to me!

What’s the call? What’s the call? Jack muffled from his facemask. Fairchild yelled something in reply, but Norton couldn’t make it out. Everything was a blur.

Jack got into his sprinter’s stance and just shot across into the backfield on the snap. Jeff had disappeared, apparently peeling off for a return.

There was no turning back for Jack, though. He had only one way to go. Straight ahead. A blocker tried to cut him off and chipped him in the hip, but Norton kept on going. He really didn’t know where he was going; he was just going as hard as he could.

The blocker’s left foot caught Jack’s left toe as he bolted by, causing him to lose his balance. He fell forward with his arms outstretched to brace for the fall on the ground. Instead, he caught the ball off the punter’s foot flush on his left hand. The punter’s follow-through kicked Jack right on his chin, and the two of them tumbled to the ground on top of each other.

The ball squirted loose and rolled towards the Holy Name goal. Gerard beat everybody to the pigskin, and the Hillmen were in business.

As Jack scrambled to his feet, he stumbled down towards the ball. He jumped up and down, once he saw Matt with possession, stabbing his finger towards the Saints goal. He turned to jog towards the sideline, but he didn’t get far. Six teammates dove on him in celebration.

Jake Lewis found paydirt three plays later, and the Hillmen were wild men after that. They swarmed the Saints, sacking their quarterback three straight plays, causing another fumble that Big Gus, Jim Gustafson, recovered, leading to another Lewis TD. The upset was complete.

That’s why his elbow hurt, he thought. When everybody had jumped on him. No matter. It was a good kind of pain. He belonged now. He was a Hillsdale Hillmen football player.

Chapter 4

November 12

Three seats in front of Jack Norton, another member of the Hillsdale Hillmen massaged his left knee with an ice bag. This, however, was not the good type of pain a guy had from a tough victory. No, this was the kind that made kids worry, because they know something wasn’t right.

Linebacker Matt Gerard never was one to say much. He just went about his business each and every day. This co-captain led his team by example, by hard work, by extra effort, and by discipline. He always knew where to line up and the call that was made. He made plays week after week, just like he did when he recovered that fumble. It seemed like Matt had a nose for the ball. He always scored very highly each and every game on Coach Smith’s grading system. He was a certain repeat all-conference player, and he