The atmosphere among the Louisville State University Tigers Defense Squad subtly changed, not just because of Li Wei''s recent advance.
Clearly, they had not expected Li Wei toplete a frontal breakthrough through their tight coverage and forcefully push forward for eight yards with such ferocity.
As they exchanged nces, one could distinctly sense the murderous intent in Adams''s eyes. He didn''t make any special gestures, but his gaze towards Li Wei became more focused, more profound. Those familiar with Adams knew he was getting serious. Not just Riley and Beckwith, but the other two linemen also tensed up, with a cold, deadly atmosphere spreading throughout the defensive group.
Everyone in the Tigers knew about the Crimson Tide Storm''s dominant performance this season, but they would not back down; instead, their fighting spirit was aroused, ready to join forces to halt the Crimson Tide Storm''s winning streak. They were prepared.
Adams and Riley exchanged a look—
One, a spiritual leader; the other, a tactical captain. Their gazes met in mid-air.
Then, both clenched their fists, arranged in battle formation without saying a word, and their momentum rose.
Their gazes, firmly locked on Li Wei—
"Attack!"
Hertz announced the kickoff, and Riley sprang into action immediately, targeting Li Wei without any hesitation, while Beckwith was slightly slower, observing the formation.
Adams was even a beat slower, watching Crimson Tide Storm''s offensive tactics.
Li Wei and Hertz brushed past each other, performing a deceptive handoff that fooled Beckwith, who failed to see clearly. His footstepsunched instantly, subconsciously charging toward Li Wei, as fear of Li Wei''s intimidation prevailed, instinctively looking to assist Riley with the defense.
But not Adams.
Adams was cooler, clearer-headed. He admitted that much of his attention was on Li Wei, but it was precisely for this reason that he was prone to being deceived by a fake run and real pass. They needed to cut off the Crimson Tide Storm''s ground offense and also prevent their passing attack from taking off.
Adams hit the brakes on his forward charge, his eyes scanning wide.
Wait a minute!
Adams noticed it—the handoff was fake, Li Wei and Hertz had notpleted the exchange. It was a pass, a fake run and real pass, and he had guessed right.
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First, Li Wei used his personal ability to open up the ground game.
Then, Li Wei immediately became a decoy to cover for the passing offense.
Adams wouldn''t be fooled.
Halting his forward charge, he quickly scanned the surroundings for potential passing targets and made a split-second judgment, pouncing toward the Tight End Howard.
Adams''s steps were decisive, with all the other Wide Receivers having their respective man-to-man coverage. Only the Tight End stood out like a Hulk in the short pass area, and with this being a ten-yard y, opting for a short pass to the Tight End to open up the game was another one of Crimson Tide Storm''s typical fake run and real pass tactics.
Thump, thump!
Adams caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye; Li Wei alone was tying up multiple yers, causing the Tigers'' pass defense to copsepletely, with virtually every matchup in man-to-man mode. The entire field suddenly buzzed with rm.
If the Crimson Tide Storm could connect on a pass this time, setting aside how the Tigers'' morale would change, it was certain that the Crimson Tide Storm''s spirit would gradually rise. Adams had to intercept this pass.
Determined, decisive.
Then...wait, where was the football? Why hadn''t he seen the arc of the pass yet?
A quick sweep of his gaze.
Adams was astounded as a white figure slipped like a swift dragon from the left side of the offensive line, with an open field ahead and not a single purple jersey in sight—the gate was wide open.
How... what''s going on?
Who is that?
Between the fake and the real, the line blurred between running and passing ys, and it was equally unclear who had the ball. Just a split second of reaction andunch into action, and the Defensive group was plunged intoplete passivity.
Adams didn''t have time to think as he stopped and pivoted in one swift motion, reigniting his charge to desperately cover ground. It wasn''t toote to mend the pen after the sheep were lost.
Hertz!
Hertz?
Could it actually be Hertz?
Seeing the number on the jersey, Adams was stunned. Why hadn''t he realized that the Crimson Tide Storm had suddenly chosen the Read Option Offense?
Damn it!
Just as Adams was about to catch up, Hertz had taken the initiative to dive to the ground in an advanced move reminiscent of sliding into base in baseball. Not only did he avoid the tackle, but he alsonded safely.
Adams lunged at thin air.
First down, secured.
More urately, it wasn''t just a first down – Hertz had pushed forward a full fifteen yards, marking the fourth time Crimson Tide Storm had crossed the midfield line into the opposing side''s half in this game.
The Tigers were caught off guard, utterly unprepared for this scene. Not even a single yer was able to touch Hertz or Li Wei before they had lost fifteen yards.
The situation subtly shifted once more.
Hertz could hardly believe it; this run was like taking something out of a bag, as the Crimson Tide Storm''s offense, which had been smooth and overwhelming throughout the season, seemed to have finally returned.
Hertz tried his best to suppress his excitement, but when he turned his back to the defensive group and faced Li Wei, he still opened his mouth wide in a silent scream, ran up with a quick jog, and high-fived Li Wei in celebration.
Stay cool; they needed to stay cool. Only by keeping theirposure could they press their advantage.
So, what next?
Pass or continue with the run?
Suddenly, Crimson Tide Storm''s offense found its rhythm, the flow bing smooth again, and the struggle between the opposing teams'' offense and defense once more intensified.
On the sidelines, both head coaches were busy moving their pieces and trying to seize the initiative.
First and ten, at the opposing forty-eight-yard line.
"Attack!"
Hertz had regained some confidence. Without hesitation, he dered the ball in y, immediately straightened his knees, straightened his back, raised his hand to pass, and looked straight in the direction of Tight End Howard as the likely receiver.
The pass was not only just a pass but a rapid, short pass that stressed speed over distance.
Such a short pass focused onpletion rate—the two or three-yard connections that put the ball in the tight end''s hands before the defensive group could react, then relying on the tight end''s abilities to gain yards.
In some ways, this bore a simrity to running the ball with no frills, just relying on pure strength for a head-on collision.
Crimson Tide Storm aimed to catch the Tigers unprepared and take the tactical lead once again.
But this time, Orgeron made an urate prediction.
From Riley to Beckwith to Adams, even though their sights were still set on Li Wei, they ensured their attention was sharp and redirected their forward momentum, swerving immediately towards Howard.
For a moment, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.
However.
Just then!
Adams was shocked, wait, wait!
Hertz hadn''t thrown the ball.
Despite Hertz''s passing action being convincingly deceptive, as though he had already let the football fly, in thest moment before the release, Hertz drew the football back.
In the blink of an eye, Hertz spun around and lightly tossed the football—
Li Wei.
Still Li Wei.
But crucially, Li Wei wasn''t positioned on the left wing but remained on the right wing.
Adams'' gaze followed the action like a puppet on strings, his attention shifting from Hertz to Howard and back to Hertz and then to Li Wei in less than a second.
The change was too sudden; his feet had yet to adjust, his mind hadn''t caught up with the Crimson Tide Storm''s tactical y, and his body tensed in anticipation.
Li Wei, advancing with the ball.