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"Gentleazes for a beat before ao out there, we either win or we lose If e keep going You keep doing your jobs If you lose, we’re done for the season" He shook his head, taking off his hat As he did, he rubbed a hand over his hair before putting the hat back into place "For the veteran players, you kno I get during playoffs I don’t believe this is the last ga We always keep going Soo all the way and soo hoood season so far, but the playoffs…" His voice was soft, but everyone could hear him Everyone was so still "The playoffs is where we oing, to rereat we can be as a teaame" He pointed out the door "Do you hear that?" He paused and the buzz from the crowd filtered into the room "That’s our fans Those are your fans We love therateful to them, but we’re not here for theainst the other teaaao, and we’re at fourth down It’s the next play that’ll ao hard Every play, you strive to be perfect Every play is fourth down You got that?"

No one said a word No one looked around We were all focused on hi?" he asked us

As one, we answered, "Fourth Down?"

"How?" he raised his voice

"Fourth Down!"

"HOW?" He cupped the backs of his ears "I WANT TO FUCKING HEAR YOU!"

The other coaches waved their arms in the air "Stand up!"

"Get to your feet!"

We stood The ones ere kneeling clambered up and as we did, Coach jumped up on a chair He yelled, his hands around his mouth, "HOW ARE WE PLAYING?"

"FOURTH DOWN!"

"HOW?"

"FOURTH DOWN!"

"I WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY IT ONE MORE TIME!" He ju their hands They started to chant, "Fourth Down Fourth Down Fourth Down"

Matteo was intense He aiting next toour coach When he nodded at Matteo, it started Matteo ju up and down They were still chanting Fourth down, but it was going to change Any second The adrenalin was coursing throughout there We were going to conquer, and Coach was right It was us against ourselves To be better To be the best To be perfect Every single word he said resonated through h all of us We were proud to be at Cain U We were going to keep being proud Matteo tipped his head back and let out a battle cry