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continued to glare at them all. 
    “I expect nothing less than perfection out on that field tomorrow night.  Is that understood?”              
                  “Yes,” the Panthers responded in fatigued unison.
                  “Is that understood?” Harmon shouted.
                  “Yes!” the Panthers shouted back with equal zeal.
                  “You’ll play to win!” Harmon shouted, the spittle flying from his mouth.
                  “We play to win!” the players shouted with a fierce unity similar to that of an army preparing for battle.
                  “What’s our creed, gentlemen?” Harmon yelled, pacing back and forth.
                  “Show no mercy!  Show no weakness!  Crush and conquer, then send 'em home!” the Panthers shouted. 
                  “Good.  Now go shower and head out.  No laps tonight,” Harmon instructed the boys.  He then added, “And no acting like fools.  Save the partying for Friday night after we win the game.   I need to have strong and alert players out on that field tomorrow.”
                  Friday night came more quickly than Jake had anticipated.  The night was fueled by an intense excitement emanating from the animated crowds that gathered in the stands. A news truck had parked behind the back entrance to the stadium, and a news crew was seen lugging in heavy equipment onto the sidelines.  A news reporter was smoothing the folds of her skirt while an assistant worked to control a few flyaway strands of her golden mane.  Carly checked out the gathering crowds in the bleachers above and felt a surge of electricity.  She looked at the brightly-lit field and waved at the Panthers’ mascot, who was getting ready to perform a few somersaults in front of a crowd of young children with red P’s painted on their cheeks. 
                  “Come on, girls!” Susan piped, prompting the cheerleaders to hype up the crowd with a new cheer they had been working on for the past few weeks.  Carly readied herself and released a torrent of loud, stressed incantations which sent the crowd into an even further ecstatic frenzy.  She felt that same electricity surge through her again.  She relished the excitement of these games.  They made her feel so alive.  She felt almost like a celebrity amid the cheering crowds, the adoring fans, the pounding music from the school band, the flickering camera flashes, and the many reporters from the local newspaper and local news channels.  Carly gazed upward and noticed Amanda and Aaron among the crowd of people.  The twins were seated next to her own parents, who waved at their daughter.  Carly couldn’t help but smile when she noticed the book on Aaron’s lap.  She shook her head at him to let him know she had seen the book, and he shrugged sheepishly in response.  She placed her hands to her mouth and shouted at him, “When are you going to learn to leave those things at home, Aaron?  You’re supposed to be paying attention to the game!” 
    Aaron shrugged again. 
    Just then Susan yelled, “Here they come, girls!  Let’s support our guys!” 
    The crowds’ shouts and cheers nearly drowned out the cheerleaders’ own roars of support as the Panthers jogged onto the field, the commentator announcing their arrival.   Carly immediately knew which player was Jake.  Not because of the number on his jersey, but because he was usually one of the tallest players out there.  Roy was never too far away, and she found him almost instantly.  As usual, he seemed almost too relaxed and calm, as if the football field was his home.  
                  “He is so gorgeous,” Susan whispered next to Carly.  Her eyes were transfixed on the Panthers’ tall quarterback.  “Do I look okay?” she asked, adjusting her short skirt.