I revived the Demonic Sect in North America

Chapter 166 The Dilemma!

The scoreboard is showing: River Valley College 7, Trinity College 7.

But the momentum, the rhythm, everything on the field had completely swayed towards that deep red ocean.

The Falcons used four brutal, overwhelming drives to not only tie the score.

This completely shattered the slight psychological advantage that River Valley Academy had established at the beginning.

A heavy, suffocating sense of despair struck the hearts of every member of the valley team.

Coach Duke sat back down on the bench, looking dejected.

He covered his face with his hands.

He knew that the worst had happened.

The opponent's offensive line is even more terrifying than expected.

Without Bruce as a pillar, the River Valley defense was too fragile to withstand the opponent's pure power.

The extra kick resulted in a goal, no doubt about it.

Cavaliers: Falcons.

7: 7.

The cold numbers on the scoreboard, at this moment, were a cruel mockery in the eyes of the River Valley team members.

The initial euphoria and lead vanished after the Falcons' four brutal, efficient, and undeniable road crushes.

The atmosphere in the air was no longer one of joy.

It was a heavy, almost suffocating despair.

In the commentary booth, Mike Morales finally calmed down from his earlier frenzied celebration.

But the smug smile of a victor on his face could never be erased.

He picked up his water glass, took a big gulp, wiped his mouth, and adjusted the microphone.

The voice rose again, becoming high-pitched and sarcastic: "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to reality! 7 to 7, a tie! How fair, isn't it? Let's review what just happened!"

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the Cavaliers' defensive players who were walking to the sidelines with their heads down and heavy breathing.

"River Valley Academy, with their number 21, stole a touchdown in the 13th second of the game. Yes, I used the word 'stole.' Because it was just a lucky, unrepeatable return of the first pitch. And then?"

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He deliberately dragged out his words.

"Then, our Falcon, four times! I'll say it again, four times! Pure ground attack, from our 25..."

The yards line, like a bulldozer crushing a sandcastle, rolled straight for 75 yards, sending the ball into their end zone! No fancy moves, no passing, just the simplest, most manly football! Look at River Valley Academy's defense, especially their defensive line!

He let out an exaggerated, pitying sneer.

"Without their big center Bruce, their defense is like a rotten fence without its backbone! Andre? Jamal? They tried their best, I admit, they were brave when they went in."

"But courage is useless against absolute strength and size! The Falcons' offensive linemen are at least 20 pounds heavier on average, and their skills are worlds apart! That's reality, a cruel, stark difference!"

His partner, Kevin Harper, didn't interrupt him this time, but merely frowned slightly and added in a relatively objective tone: "Indeed, the absence of the Cavaliers' defensive linchpin, Bruce, has a fatal impact on River Valley Academy's defensive system. He is not only the core running back of the offense, but also an important source of strength and experience on the defensive line."

"Without him, River Valley Academy has a huge weakness in their run defense, and the Falcons have seized on this and attacked it relentlessly. In the upcoming game, if River Valley Academy cannot solve their run defense problem, even if Li Ang has another magical performance on the offensive end, it will probably be difficult to withstand the Falcons' continuous ground pressure."

Morales immediately chimed in, his tone laced with schadenfreude: "Exactly! Kevin hit the nail on the head! That Chinese kid, Li Ang, he can run, he's as fast as a startled rabbit. But football is a team sport! No matter how fast he runs, can he make up for the fact that the entire defensive line was blown to smithereens? Can he stop Sean and those red bison from running over his teammates again and again? Wake up, everyone in the Valley, your fairytale time is completely over after that 75-yard crushing defeat!"

A burst of laughter, applause, and whistles erupted from the main stands.

"A paper-thin defense!"

"Go home and nurse!"

The deep red ocean exuded a sense of ease and mockery, as victory seemed imminent.

On the sidelines, the Duke coach stood with his hands on his hips, head down, looking at the tips of his leather shoes covered in grass clippings.

He unusually refrained from yelling or arguing back at the commentary booth or on the field.

That face, which was usually flushed and spewing out trash talk, was now filled with a heavy, almost ashen silence.

Sweat streamed down his face, but he didn't bother to wipe it away.

Every word Morales said felt like a needle piercing his heart.

It sounds harsh, but it's the truth.

He knows better than anyone what Bruce means to this team.

A sharp blade for offense, a rock for defense.

Without him, the Valley Knights were like having one of their sharpest and strongest fangs pulled out.

Facing an offensive line of the Falcons' caliber, his worst pre-game fears came true.

It's unstoppable, absolutely unstoppable.

That sheer overwhelming power rendered all tactical arrangements pale in comparison.

If this situation doesn't change, Coach Duke closed his eyes tightly, not daring to think any further.

He knew that, given this momentum, losing the game was not a possibility, but an inevitability.

Moreover, it will be a complete and utter defeat, with no chance of fighting back.

The defensive players walked off the field dejectedly.

Andrei ripped off his helmet and slammed it to the ground with a loud thud.

His chest heaved violently, his face a mixture of sweat, bits of grass, and extreme resentment.

Jamal rubbed his aching chest and shoulders, walking with a limp and a vacant look in his eyes.

Jordan and Devin were both covered in mud, looking dejected, and they didn't dare to look the coach or their teammates on the bench in the eye.

The feeling of being treated like a toy and wantonly trampled is more unbearable than simply failing.

Li Ang walked last.

His face remained expressionless, but his breathing was slightly heavier than usual.

He walked over to his dejected teammates and patted each of them on the shoulder and back.

"Lift your head up."

Li Ang's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a strange, steady power: "Look at me."

Andrei, Jamal, and the others subconsciously looked up at him.

"They are very strong. Stronger than we thought."

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Li Ang's gaze swept over every dejected face: "But the competition has only just begun. It's just one touchdown. We just got one too, remember?"

.

Andrei spoke in a muffled voice, his tone filled with frustration: "But Leon, we can't stop them at all! It's like a wall crashing into us, if Bruce were here!"

'

"Bruce is injured, that's a fact."

Li Ang interrupted him, his tone calm but undeniable: "Complaining won't change anything. The people on the field right now are the entirety of the Valley Knights. They're overwhelming us with strength, so we have to fight back with something else. With this."

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He tapped his temple.

"Use speed, use even more desperate tackling. If you can't stop it once, try twice. If you can't stop it twice, try three times. Keep going until you stop it. As long as the game isn't over, we haven't lost. Don't forget what we said in the locker room."

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His words were like a bucket of ice water poured on the team members' hearts, which were burning with despair.

Although the flames couldn't be lit immediately, it at least suppressed the overwhelming sense of powerlessness that threatened to engulf a person.

The team members looked at each other.

The lifelessness in his eyes eased slightly; at least, they weren't so empty anymore.

At that moment, Bruce suddenly stood up from the bench.

The arm, bandaged, trembled slightly with excitement.

His face was still pale, but his eyes burned with an almost insane flame.

He rushed over to the Duke coach and Li Ang.

The movement was too violent, which aggravated his injury. He felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth from the pain, but he endured it with all his might.

"Coach! Let me play!"

'

Bruce's voice was hoarse, filled with a desperate resolve: "Give them a painkiller injection! Wrap the bandages as tightly as possible! I can handle it! I have to go! I can't just sit here and watch my brothers get bullied like this by those bastards!"

Coach Duke looked up at Bruce's bloodshot eyes and his face contorted with pain and anxiety.

My heart felt like it had been violently clenched.

He took a deep breath, and his usual stern expression returned to his face.

But beneath this sternness lies a deep-seated pain.

"I told you, no, Bruce."

6

The Duke coach's voice was dry and firm: "To ruin your shoulder and your future playing ability for this one game? Don't even think about it! Sit down!"

"6

"But coach!"

'

Bruce practically yelled, "I can't sit still! I fucking can't sit still! Look at them!"

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"Bruce".

Li Ang stepped forward and pressed down on Bruce's uninjured shoulder.

The force wasn't great, but it instantly calmed Bruce down from his agitation.

Li Ang looked at him, his eyes calm and deep: "Bruce, relax, please trust us."

"I believe you, Li Ang, I've always believed in you!"

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Bruce said urgently, "But I believe even more in myself that I can help! Me!"

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What you need now is rest and recovery.

6

Li Ang's tone softened, carrying an undeniable concern: "Your battlefield isn't here, not today. It's in the future, after many matches. Today, leave it to me, to every brother on the field."

He paused, his gaze shifting to the scoreboard, then to the Falcons celebrating across the field with overwhelming momentum.

"Their offense is very strong. But in a game, both sides need to attack."

Li Ang turned around, looking at Bruce, and also at the defensive team and the offensive team members who were about to take the court.

A faint, yet sharp, smile curved his lips: "They crushed us for 75 yards in four rushes, that was satisfying. Now, it's our turn."

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He gave Bruce's shoulder a final, firm pat, then turned to face the attacking team, whose helmets were already on and whose expressions were grave.

Wide receiver Kevin, tight end Taylor, running back Marcus, and the five offensive linemen who looked somewhat slender compared to the Falcons.

"Attack group!"

'

Li Ang's voice suddenly rose, drowning out the noise from the sidelines: "Get on the field! Forget about the defense! Forget about the score! Now, we only have one task!"

'

His gaze was sharp, sweeping across every face.

"Get the ball into their end zone. Our way. Go!"

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"roar!

'

The attacking team members let out a short, powerful growl.

The tension in his eyes was replaced by a reckless, all-or-nothing determination.

Led by Li Ang, they ran towards the field.

Coach Duke watched Li Ang's retreating figure, then glanced at the scoreboard, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

He placed all his hopes—no, all the remaining chances of this match—on this mysterious and powerful young man.

Morales' voice rang out again, filled with a mocking anticipation: "Alright! River Valley's offense is finally on the court! Let's see what decent performance their offense, especially their Lightspeed Runner quarterback, can put in after being completely overwhelmed on defense. Just a heads-up, the Falcons' defense, especially their defensive line and that Silent Wall Liam O'Connor, is in no way inferior to their offense!"

The Cavaliers' offensive players, following the blue number 21 figure, ran once again into the roaring, deep red court.

On the other side, the Falcons' defense was already on high alert.

Linebacker Liam O'Connor stood in the center of the defensive line, like a gray reef, silent yet exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

The two defensive forwards on both sides were burly and had fierce eyes.

The positioning of the cornerbacks and safetyes also revealed a strong sense of confidence.

The referee sets up the ball: "First down, 10 yards, River Valley College begins their attack from their 25-yard line."

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River Valley College fielded an 11 formation: 1 running back, 1 tight end, and 3 wide receivers.

Li Ang stood at the position of the shotgun.

The Falcons deployed a 4-3 under formation, with their linebackers clearly pushing forward, indicating a clear intention to apply pressure.

"Ready, set, kick-off!"

'

The center forward kicks out the ball.

The Falcons' four defensive forwards sprang into action instantly, making rapid passes and drives!

The right defensive end forward, in particular, is incredibly fast, and in one quick step, he tries to bypass the left tackle from the outside of the valley.

Li Ang received the ball and retreated, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings.

But the Falcons' passing pressure came too quickly, and the pocket was already in danger.

Without any hesitation, he immediately took a step to the right.

At the same time, he waved to signal running back Marcus to move to the outside to receive the pass.

Just as the opposing defensive forward's large hand was about to touch him, Li Ang delivered a quick underarm pass, slipping the ball to Marcus.

Marcus receives the ball.

But the Falcons' linebackers were quick to cover, and he was hit hard as soon as he turned around.

On the commentary desk, Kevin Harper said, "A screen pass! The Falcons' defensive run was too quick! They only advanced 2 yards!"

"6

Morales scoffed: "See? I told you, without a ground threat, their offensive options are pitifully few."

The referee placed the ball, and the situation became difficult: "Second down, 8 yards."

Li Ang carefully observed the defensive formation before the kickoff.

The opposing team's second-line positioning was somewhat loose, seemingly wary of long passes.

He quickly signaled to run a two-wide receivers vertical route tactic, attempting to hit deep areas.

kick off!

This time, the Falcons seemed to have anticipated the pass.

While the four forwards rushed to pass the ball, a linebacker quietly retreated to cover the short zone.

Li Ang retreated three steps; time was running out.

He looked to his left, where wide receiver Kevin was sprinting along the sideline, but the cornerback was keeping a close eye on him.

The right-side receiver was being protected by the safety.

Just as the pressure of financial constraints hit again, Li Ang made a decision.