III
A Thousand Miles From Home
Sprinting down the field at full speed, Mike glanced over his shoulder at the appropriate moment. Perfectly timed with his route, the football spiraled through the air toward its intended target. He caught the pass and pulled the ball to his chest. A cornerback bore down on him from the side, and there was just enough time to take a couple steps and gain an extra yard or two. Arms stretched in an effort to reach Mike, the defender caught him on the shoulder. He struggled to take one more step before crossing the sideline. His next step was out of bounds and Mike eased his pace, hoping the yardage enough for a first down.
A sudden hit from behind sent him reeling. Those on the sidelines scattered to get out of his path. Tucking his body to prevent serious i
