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big.”
    “You did it.”
    Fiorelli stuck his head between them. “The goalposts were rattling after that tackle,” he said. “Anthony made the ground shake.”
    “We are lightning and thunder, Jason,” Anthony said. “You got the speed and I got the power.”
    Manny took a good look at his two teammates. They had everything he didn’t have—strength, height, confidence. Fiorelli jogged onto the field. Anthony rested a hand on Manny’s shoulder. “Hope you get to play some,” he said.
    “So do I.”
    Hudson City kicked off to start the second half, and again stopped Newark well upfield. Manny had to admit that the new lineup was working.
    Late in the third quarter, Hudson City had the ball near midfield, facing a third down and seven. Everyone in the stadium expected a pass play.
    “Got to get it to Jason,” Manny whispered to Donald.
    Jason Fiorelli was split wide. Manny and everyone else had expected DiMarco to be the star of this team, but it seemed as if Jason was emerging as the standout.
    DiMarco dropped back and looked toward the secondary, searching for an open receiver. Seeing no one, he rolled toward the sideline, tucking the ball close to his chest and trying to run for it. But just before crossing the line of scrimmage, he spotted Fiorelli angling back toward the sideline, a step or two ahead of the defender.
    DiMarco stopped in his tracks and heaved the ball toward Fiorelli, who stretched to his maximum and caught the pass with his fingertips. He hauled it in close and never broke stride, running straight to the end zone for the touchdown.
    Fiorelli jogged over to the bench and slapped hands with his teammates. Donald smacked him on the shoulder. DiMarco’s kick made it 14–6, and the Hornets and their fans could sense a victory on the way.
    The defense remained steady, forcing Newark to punt on its next possession. Anthony stopped the next opportunity with a ferocious sack of the quarterback on a fourth-down play in Hudson City territory.
    DiMarco then led a steady, time-consuming drive for Hudson City as the fourth quarter wound down, finally connecting with Fiorelli on another touchdown pass that all but sealed the victory.
    Coach Reynolds made a fist and pumped his arm. He grabbed hold of Fiorelli and shook his hand. “Take a rest,” he said. “You’ve earned it.”
    Coach looked around. “Donald!” he shouted. “Get out there for the kickoff. Give Jason the break he’s earned. Let’s do it!”
    Donald jammed his helmet onto his head and quickly snapped the chinstrap as he ran onto the field. Manny stood alone on the sideline.
    The kick was high and deep, giving the Hornets a good chance to get downfield before the runback. The return man fielded the ball and hesitated slightly, not sure which way up the field would be best. He cut toward the sideline and angled upfield, but Donald and two others were right in his path. The runner gave a juke and turned back to the center of the field, then eluded one tackler and swerved back toward the sideline. Donald hit him low and another hit him high, and the kickoff team had its third straight stop without any major runbacks.
    Donald came racing off the field with his fist in the air. He jumped the last two yards to the sideline, landing with both feet right next to Manny.
    “ Big-time hit!” Donald said. “Squashed that guy like a bug.”
    “Nice job,” Manny said, trying as hard as he could to sound enthusiastic.
    Donald walked over to the bench, joining the other kickoff team members, who were laughing and pounding each other. “We’re back in business!” Donald said.
    Manny let out his breath and looked at the field. That could have been him.
    But it wasn’t.

11
    The Wrong Sport?
    M anny sat quietly on the bus ride back to Hudson City, looking out the window as his teammates celebrated the victory. Donald was next to him, but he kneeled on his seat and faced the back of the bus, shouting and laughing like the others.
    “Come on,