Young Again
Copyright© 2018 by Edward Douglass Patterson
Chapter 28: The Big Game
The Woodside football team was in the locker room getting ready for the game. Moses was watching a news program on his tablet. “Hey, Bert. Sarah just said on national television that the two of you are dating.” He laughed. “She added that you are the best thing to happen to her at Woodside. I think she really likes you.” Moses and the rest of the team saw the half-dressed Bert’s blush covered more than his face.
“That’s nothing!” said Ben, another linesman and Moses’s best friend. “Mark Sawyer mentioned all the records Bert and Jimmy are breaking, which should bring a lot more scouts to the games.”
“Well, I have heard from a few who will be here today.” Coach Marraccini walked into the locker room. “Bert, I want you to mix up the pass plays more. Let’s see if some of the other guys can earn some scholarships. They will be in double coverage on Jimmy. Let the backs carry the ball also. I only want you running if you get in trouble; then you should still try to get a pass off. I don’t want to let them know how fast you are. I want to save some surprises until the fourth quarter when we might need them. The Bears won the state championship last year, and they will be our toughest opponent until we get into the playoffs.” He looked around the room. “I want to see all of you out there in fifteen minutes, or we will have some laps to run after the game.”
Bruce Canham was on the sideline scanning the crowd for threats when he heard quick footsteps behind him. “Hi, Dennis, who are you scouting today besides Bert Wilson and Jimmy Pierce? You can forget having to recruit them. They already plan to go to Stanford to become engineers. Coach Bradley will just have to convince them to play for him, which I don’t think will happen.”
“Don’t they want scholarships?” Dennis accepted Bruce’s hand and shook it.
“The Sawyers are paying their way through undergraduate and graduate school. They’re already working for them part-time. Don’t count on them, but if they will play, they’ll be your starters. They keep improving.”
“Hey Bruce, who’s your friend?” Sarah, accompanied by Ashley and Kelly, had walked up behind Bruce.
“Dennis Bookholtz, he’s a scout for Stanford. Dennis, this is Sarah Pierce, Ashley Sawyer, and Kelly Wilson.” They shook hands.
Sarah looked at Kelly. “He’s here scouting our brothers. Do you think Bert will want to play football in college?” Sarah winked with her eye away from Dennis.
“He’s enjoying playing again. It would be good for him. Of course, his schooling and what we’re doing will come first.”
“Do you think John will play baseball again?” Ashley’s voice was hesitant, but she had found an opportunity to ask about why John had stopped playing.
“Same reason as Bert with football. He should go out for the team.” Kelly looked over at Ashley. “He would if someone would encourage him.”
“You need to tell me more about that.” Ashley nodded and looked at Sarah. “Do we need to bring Jenny into our conspiracy?”
“She’s going to be my sister-in-law. She should have a say.” Sarah turned back to Dennis. “You should check out Moses Iscow, sixty-four, and Ben Stapley, seventy-four. Right guard and tackle. Jamal Gilbert, 14, safety, would be the next most likely. Troy Stevens led Menlo-Atherton to the state championship last year, and they are unbeaten so far. Don’t count it too much against him when Woodside wins today. His parents both are medical professors at Stanford, so he wouldn’t cost you a scholarship. I don’t know much about the rest of their team, but Troy wouldn’t be the only reason they have been winning.”
“No, they have two more I really want to look at. Tell me about Moses and Ben.”
“They’re the reason Bert has time to wait for Jimmy to be open. Last week, the line averaged giving him two point one seconds more per play by keeping the defense contained than they did any game last year. Jamal had five interceptions last week to raise his average per game to two point seven five. He’s the third fastest player on the team.
“Who’s faster?”
“Jimmy and Bert, but they are doing the new exercises.”
“New exercises?” Dennis hadn’t heard of exercises which increased speed.
“Sarah worked with Masters Chang and Overton. It’s part of the new training program.” Kelly was also participating in the new training.
Sarah realized they were getting into things they didn’t want made public. “We need to go before Miss Swenson wonders where we are. Kelly, your aunt and uncle are probably wondering about you.” Sarah and Kelly turned and left.
“Bruce, do we have any concerns?” Ashley seemed now older.
“No, ma’am.”
“Good, I don’t anticipate any changes.” Ashley moved to catch up with Sarah.
Bruce saw Dennis looking at him with a questioning look.
“I work for Sawyer Security. I’m in charge of their security today.”
Dennis then realized who the girls were.
“They are trying to keep a low profile. Looks like Bert and Jimmy will be playing for Stanford. Give me a call later and we can talk. I need to make sure no one tries to kill them again.” Bruce waved and followed Ashley and Sarah.
The football game was close and would probably be high scoring. Woodside led fourteen to seven and again had the ball after an interception by Jamal. The first play was a short pass to the halfback who ran for another eight yards. Jimmy had been double-teamed during the first quarter and Bert had used that to complete passes to the other receivers. As the Bears lined up, they switched to single coverage on Jimmy. Bert called an audible which would have him throwing a long pass to Jimmy.
Sarah was concerned about the boy covering her brother. Since the change of possession after Jamal’s interception, he had become aggressive and very excited. As they completed the cheer, she moved closer to Ashley. “The guy covering Jimmy.”
Ashley just nodded and watched Jimmy and the player covering him.
When the ball was snapped, Jimmy made a move which should have gotten him free, but the opposing player dove at the back of Jimmy’s legs and sent him sprawling.
Bert saw what had happened to his best friend and though he was upset with the flagrant foul, he knew one of his other receivers would be free as the other defensive players reacted to the foul. Looking left, he saw Sam, his tight end, free and looking at him. Sam caught the pass and was running down the field before the defense noticed.
When Sarah and Ashley saw the player dive at Jimmy, they dropped their pompoms and ran onto the field.
The linebacker got to his feet and started towards Jimmy who was just starting to rise. He stood over Jimmy and brought his foot back to kick him in the ribs.
Ashley, reacting to what was going to happen, leaped. Her feet struck the linebacker on the back of his shoulder pads. He went flying across Jimmy.
Sarah leaped over her brother and landed straddling the linebacker. As he started to rise, she jumped and dropped with her knees striking the numbers on his back, which drove the air from his lungs. Looking around, she pointed to two of the defensive linemen. “Something is wrong. Keep him from hurting anyone.” She reached down and unsnapped the chinstrap, then pulled the linebacker’s helmet off. As he again started to rise, she rolled twice to the side to be clear of him. She waved the two defensive linemen towards him.
Ashley didn’t pay attention to what Sarah was doing. She knew Sarah would handle the berserk player. Instead, she ran to Troy Stevens on the sideline. “Troy, something is wrong with your linebacker. We need a doctor. Get your parents to come down and help.”
Troy had been surprised at Paul’s flagrant foul. When Paul had started to kick the Woodside player, he knew something was wrong. Seeing Ashley Sawyer send Paul sprawling, then Sara Pierce keeping him on the ground had kept Troy standing stunned at their swift and effective action. Ashley’s words caused him to turn and stare at her.
Ashley repeated what she had said. “Troy, something is wrong with him. We need a doctor. Get your parents to come down and help.”
Ashley Sawyer knew his name. And that his parents were doctors. Then what she had said registered with Troy. Yes, something was wrong with Paul. He jumped up on the bench, waving his arms. “Mom, Dad.” He yelled. When he had their attention, he pointed toward Paul and waved them to come onto the field.
As soon as Troy jumped onto the bench, Ashley ran to the Bears coach. “Something is wrong with number twenty-seven. Troy is getting his parents’ help. They’re doctors.”
Coach Morris had been trying to understand what had happened. Paul’s foul was wrong in so many ways. When Paul went to kick the other player, he was relieved to have the two cheerleaders subdue him. Now the blonde cheerleader had told him something was wrong with Paul and doctors were on the way. Troy’s parents. “What should I do?”
“It may be something in your water. Don’t let anybody drink. Sit them down and keep an eye on them. I will go have Coach Marraccini do the same thing. After we have an idea about what is going on, we will know what to check for. I will see about getting some bottled water for both teams.
“When Coach Morris nodded, Ashley ran towards Coach Marraccini.
As soon as he saw Ashley and Sarah run onto the field, Mark Sawyer started towards the steps to the field. “Jim, Sally, follow me.” With his younger body, he quickly moved ahead of them.
Sarah told Bert and the rest of the Woodside team to go to the sideline. Bert had helped Jimmy up. He had glanced at Sarah, but she waved him to go. She was watching the two defensive linemen. They were having a hard time controlling Paul. Sarah directed two others to hold his legs.
She knelt next to the struggling player and checked his eyes. “His eyes are dilated. Definitely a drug.” She looked up at the two officials standing over him. “His behavior was caused by a drug. We can’t assume it is something he knowingly took.” She rose to her feet and addressed the woman carrying a medical bag who had rushed across the field. “Doctor Bernelli, his behavior was caused by some drug. His eyes are dilated. A new drug called Go-Go has recently been causing similar behavior locally. It’s usually put in a drink. Because of the aftereffects, it isn’t something someone takes if they know about it.”
Joy Bernelli was struggling to believe how exact and concise this young cheerleader was giving her a diagnosis.
Mark ran up. “Joy, this is Sarah Pierce.”
Joy now understood the praise May had heaped on Sarah. She nodded to her. “Aftereffects?”
“Mild to moderate chills. Erratic heartbeat. He should have plenty of fluids to flush the drug from his system. Overnight hospitalization has been required. The last I read, there had been only seven people admitted because of this drug. No information on the number who weren’t hospitalized. It was probably administered through the water. We may have other victims.”
Joy examined Paul, who was a friend of her son Troy. His eyes were dilated, and he was still struggling against his four teammates who were holding him. He was also starting to shake with a chill. She looked up and saw Paul’s parents looking down at their son. Their faces showed the confusion and distress. “Paul needs to be hospitalized. He was probably drugged.”
Looking around, Joy saw the EMTs from the ambulance assigned to the football game. They had their equipment. She waved them over. “Dr. Joy Bernelli, Stanford Medical. He was drugged. Signs are consistent with Go-Go. He is going into shock and has chills. His behavior has been wild, so he will need to be restrained. Transport him to Stanford Medical Center and have him admitted under my name.” She handed them one of her cards. “Others may have drunk the water with the drug. I will need to check to see if anyone else needs help.” She waved Paul’s parents over. “These are Paul’s parents, Harry and LeaAnn Tripp. Let them ride with him.” She held her hand out to Harry. “Give me your keys. I’ll have your car driven to the center.”
When she had the keys, Joy hurried to the Bears bench. She saw Sarah examining another player who was being held by his teammates. It appeared he was the only other victim of the drug.
Sirens were heard approaching as Mark and Ashley walked up. “I called Sheriff Hanks and Marsha. She was calling the DEA before she came over.”
“I have bottled water on the way.” Ashley looked at Coach Morris. “Your people appear to be the only ones affected. Luckily, you stopped them from drinking, or a lot more could have been affected. I have Bruce and the rest of my security team talking to anyone who was video recording the game. We may be able to get information which will show us who did this.” She sighed, nodding to her right. “We need to talk to the press. Dr. Bernelli, you should start off and tell them the condition of the two players and what drug we suspect. Grandpa, go get the referee, Coach Marraccini, and Principal Schott, who just arrived.”
“Doctor Bernelli, here is the information on Go-Go.” Sarah handed Joy her phone. “I’ll talk with them first.” She walked towards the two sports reporters and the television reporter and cameraman who had followed them from MSI.
“I am Sarah Pierce. Ashley Sawyer and I saw the change in Paul Tripp’s actions on the first down. When he fouled my brother Jimmy, we ran on the field and subdued him. When I checked him, he had symptoms consistent with someone under the effects of the street drug known as Go-Go. When Dr. Joy Bernelli arrived, I informed her of what I had found.” She waved Joy forward.
“I am Dr. Joy Bernelli, Professor of Medicine at Stanford. When I examined Paul, I found his symptoms were the ones Sarah told me and that they are consistent with the street drug Go-Go. I have just checked a report on Go-Go and the symptoms match. We had one other victim of Go-Go. Both will be admitted to Stanford Medical and kept overnight for observation. When I leave here, I will go there to check on them.”
Ashley and Mark accompanied Dr. Bernelli towards the first policewoman who had arrived.
The next person to talk to the press was the referee. “After consulting with Coach Morris of Menlo-Atherton and Coach Marraccini of Woodside, we have determined to conditionally call the game a win for Woodside with a score of twenty to seven. If this game should affect Menlo-Atherton’s standing for the playoffs, Coach Marraccini has agreed to replay the game. We all agree the game shouldn’t be continued under the conditions we have.”
As Principal Schott was learning from the two coaches what had happened, Sarah stepped forward to answer the news people’s questions. She pointed to one of the sports reporters.
“Kim Yah, sports reporter for the Gazette.” He was obviously one of the many young reporters used to cover high school sports. “Why is the score twenty to seven? Shouldn’t it be fourteen to seven?”
“Most everyone was distracted when my brother Jimmy was knocked down. Bert found Sam open and threw to him. He took it down the field for a touchdown.”
“But you were fighting with the football player, how would you know?”
“I wasn’t fighting with him. I was behind him and he had no chance to hit me. When I looked for someone to help restrain him, I saw the rest of the play.”
“Chase Evans, CNN. Sarah, how does a young girl know how to ‘subdue’ a football player and then diagnose drug symptoms?”
“If you saw the video from last Sunday, you know Ash and I are proficient in martial arts. For the second part of your question, I will be a doctor. I have been interested in medicine for years and have learned a lot from information available on the internet and from first responders. Young people are especially vulnerable to the drugs, which are available on the street. Drugs such as Go-Go are especially dangerous to us. Someone might slip it into your drink to watch how you react. Others do it because they think it is funny, or because they don’t like you, or for many other reasons. None of them will do it because they like you. Young people, not everyone, should become aware of these types of drugs. They should let their parents, teachers, the police, or someone know if they see these drugs used.”
“Go-Go was probably put in the Bear player’s water. We were lucky that only two players drank the water and were affected. Why only two? My guess is it was put into water and frozen into ice cubes. It took a while to melt and get into the water, or the two players grabbed some of the drugged ice. If the whole team had drunk the drugged water, I believe we would have had a very serious problem if they all had reacted like the one player did.” She pointed to Kim Yah.
“How did you respond so quickly to what happened? Why did you watch the touchdown? You were very busy.”
“I make sure I am aware of what is going on around me. When something unusual like this happens, it could be a sign of something dangerous. As to the touchdown, Bert Wilson and I are dating. With everything going on, I was especially watching him to know he was safe. I saw him look for a receiver and find Sam open. He threw an easy pass which Sam had no problem catching with the defense distracted. Sam was running for the touchdown before anyone noticed.”
President DeSantis was reading a report while sitting with his wife, who was watching CNN.
“We interrupt our regular program with a special report. Ashley Sawyer and Sarah Pierce have subdued a drug-crazed football player at a football game at Woodside High School, south of San Francisco.” Anita turned up the sound when Mario put down his report to listen. “The two girls are cheerleaders at Woodside. When the player went wild, they ran onto the field and knocked him down. Sarah then examined him and determined what drug he was under the influence of. When a doctor arrived, she told him what she had diagnosed. Both girls remained extremely calm throughout. We take you live to where our reporter, Chase Evans, who is the only national reporter interviewing Sarah Pierce.”
The TV image split with the interview on the left and the attack by the player and the girls’ actions on the right. They watched for several minutes.
“How did they get in there and respond so fast?” Anita asked her husband. “They must have already known something was going to happen.”