Chapter 13: Chapter 13
The referee blew his whistle, and Shane came slowly towards the ball, indicating he would hit it low and slow, but instead, on the very last minute curled the ball with a powerful shot that went rocketing into the roof of the top left right corner of the goal! Shaw just stood there expecting a timid shot; instead, he got a thunderbolt of a shot to deal with for which he was just not prepared! The score was two-all on eighty-five minutes of play!
“And Shane Foster successfully converts from the spot ladies and gentlemen! His run is slow, but his shot is powerful as he puts that one beyond Shaw Pippin on the eighty-fifth minute! Aberdeen High has leveled matters here, and they can very well thank their ‘Good Keeper’ Shane Foster for his superb effort in this one! I wonder what Blackrovers High will do next!” said the commentator after witnessing those incredible scenes as the Aberdeen High supporters had gone berserk with applause for their High School team.
“Shane, you did it! You successfully did it!” said his mum relieved after Shane successfully converted from the spot.
“Yes! He’s done it!” said Oliver happy as a clam as their coach, along with the rest of their bench were all jumping with joy at the spectacle they had just witnessed.
“I’m so proud of you!” said Kevin coming forward to congratulate Shane along with every other member of their team on the pitch.
“Yes, our cheer worked! It worked! We’re level with them, and Shane scored a goal! He saved a penalty and scored a penalty in this match!” shouted Marissa jumping up and down, having gone crazed with happiness.
“I agree with you on this one! We’ve got the advantage now since we’re a man up, and they’re down to ten men after that red card!” admitted Sam before reminding.
“No, this can’t be happening!” moaned Butch Buchanan, pulling his long hair in frustration.
“Ugh, this can’t be happening!” wailed Michelle, who was being a sore loser right now.
“What do you want us to do?” asked Nick as they got prepared to resume the match and kick-off.
Butch thought for a second and then replied, “We’ll run the clock down on them while keeping possession to ourselves, and then I’m going to request to the referee to bring the match straight to penalties and skip extra time! I’ll challenge their captain to it as well, and then we’ll win on penalties!” suggested Butch.
“But isn’t that risky!” cautioned Nick.
“There is no success without the risk!” said Butch with an obsessed evil grin.
“And these boys have kicked-off, and we can only wonder what possible strategy they will adopt for this final five minutes of the match here!” said the commentator as Blackrovers High had got their kick-off underway.
Like their captain’s plan, they kept possession within themselves and were very careful not to lose it. They passed to each other near their goal in an attempt to run down the clock just as Butch had planned.
“And the official confirms on the switchboard that there will be two minutes of time added on here! Goodness, gracious, these Blackrovers High players have not even lost possession once since their kick-off after having just conceded! What possible strategy could they be opting for in these last dying moments of the game!” said the commentator wondering what strategy Blackrovers High was possibly adopting in the final two minutes of standard time.
“What could these guys be up to,” asked Shane to Kevin suspiciously as they were patiently waiting for their next move.
“I don’t know, but we’re sure about to find out!” answered Kevin, not letting his guard down.
“What could these guys have up their sleeves?” asked Marissa, wondering.
“I don’t know, but we’re sure about to find out!” answered Sam.
Butch and his teammates continued passing to each other, and soon enough, they had entirely run down the clock for standard time.
Soon the referee had blown his whistle for the full time of standard time, and the match was to go to extra time after that.
Just as the referee had blown his whistle, Butch came rushing forward and explained his case that the match is brought straight to penalties and that there be no extra time.
‘I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. It’s against the tournament rules! And I certainly can’t do that without the opposition team’s captain’s approval!” replied the referee for the final.
“Then I demand Shane Foster be brought here right now so that I can challenge him to a penalty shootout!” said Butch frustratingly, sending two of his teammates to call Shane Foster.
Shane was called by the two teammates who told him that the referee and Butch Buchanan want to have a word with him. Shane subsequently went after seeing the referee wave at him to come and talk to them.
“What’s going on out there!” remarked Marissa wondering.
“We’re surely about to find out!” said Sam patiently.
Butch explained to Shane his case that he and his teammates don’t want to play any extra time football and that they want to go directly to a penalty shootout.
“But isn’t that riskier for you and I both?” questioned Shane.
“Well, guess what! There’s no success without risk, and that’s why my teammates and I ran down the clock after you scored because we’re challenging you to a penalty shootout so-called ‘good keeper of Aberdeen High! Let’s see how well you fair off against us in a penalty shootout! And if you reject my proposal, then my teammates and I are going to run down the clock in both periods of extra time, thus bringing it to a penalty shootout anyways! So what do you say!” answered Butch with an obsessed grin on his face.
“Well, if you’re going to run down the clock in both periods of extra time, then I guess there’s no point in playing extra time! ….I accept your proposal! We’re going to settle the tournament final via a penalty shootout!” agreed Shane to the penalty shootout.
“Well, then we’re going to have a coin toss to see who will take the first penalty said the referee as he informed the officials of what was actually going to take place.
“And I am being informed here that there will be no period of extra time and that we are going straight to a penalty shootout here, ladies and gentleman!” announced the commentator as the coin toss was being taken place between the two captains.
“My word! Shane, please perform well!” said Shane’s mum looking on nervously.
Both team’s supporters first gasped then cheered their respective High Schools on for the upcoming penalty shootout.
“Oh my gosh, this is so nerve-wracking!” said Marissa crossing her fingers.
“I know what you mean! I’m getting chills just standing here like this!” agreed Sam.
“What in the world are they thinking?” questioned Oliver at the decision taken by the two captains for the evening.
“Now we’re going to find out whether I should have been in goal or not!” said Marcus folding his arms sitting on his seat.
“This should be very interesting!” said the college scout from Manchester University.
“Butch, I hope you know what you’re doing!” thought Michelle as she looked on.
Both team’s coaches looked on tensely as they each knew what was at stake.
“And Blackrovers High has won the coin toss and will take the first penalty!” announced the commentator as Nick Rogers was putting the ball on the spot to try and score with.
Shane was consequently in goal, trying to defend the eventual penalty-kick.
“Before Shane starts saving them, I want to give him a special cheer to know we’re behind him! Now come on…
Give me a G
Give me an O
Give me an S
Give me an H
Give me an A
Give me an N
Give me an E
Give me a G
Give me an O
Give me a G
Give me an O
Give me another O
Give me a D
Give me a K
Give me an E
Give me another E
Give me a P
Give me an E
Give me an R
Give me a G
Give me an O
Give me an A
Give me a B
Give me an E
Give me an R
Give me a D
Give me an E
Give me another E
Give me an N
Give me an H
Give me an I
Give me a G
Give me an H
Go Shane Go Good Keeper Go Aberdeen High! Go out there and save every single penalty, Shane!”
cheered Marissa on leading the cheer for her team.
“Shane looked on towards Marissa and said to himself, “Marissa! This one’s for you!”
“These girls really do have something special for Shane Foster here, ladies and gentlemen as this young man receives the most number of cheers from his side’s cheerleading team!” remarked the commentator.
“Hmpf!” pouted Michelle at what she had just seen.
“My baby’s got a girlfriend in that pretty blonde girl Marissa Walker there! And he was too shy to even tell me about it!” said Shane’s mum with a small laugh.
Soon enough, Nick had made his run and was coming charging forward with full speed ahead. Shane tried reading his movement but wasn’t adequately able to since he was charging so fast. In the end, he decided to stay exactly where he was and try to dive once the shot had already been taken. Lucky for him, he didn’t jump as the ball came straight towards him with full power and speed. All Shane had to do was punch the ball and the shot parried away as it was coming straight at him. Shane subsequently saved the first penalty Blackrovers High had sent his way!
“And he does it once more! Shane Foster saves another penalty from Blackrovers High this time a relatively easy one as he just had to stand where he was and punch the ball away!” said the commentator.
Aberdeen High fans started cheering Shane’s name.
“How could you miss?” asked Butch, frustrated.
“These things happen sometimes!” said Nick with a whimper after seeing Butch’s angry face.
‘Way to go dude!” said Kevin giving Shane a thumbs up.
Shane’s mum felt relieved.
“Yes, Shane saves for Aberdeen High!” jumped Marissa with overwhelming joy.
“That was a great moment for us!” admitted Sam
“First up for Aberdeen High is Benjamin Cross, who will be looking forward to putting it in the back of the net!” announced the commentator as he saw Benjamin adjusting the ball on the spot in the middle of the box.
Benjamin came lightning fast with his run and hit the ball with a lot of force to bury it in the bottom left corner. Aberdeen High was winning One-nil on penalties!
“And he successfully scores to put Aberdeen High ahead!” announced the commentator as the Aberdeen High supporters started cheering Benjamin’s name.
“Yay, we scored!” said Marissa overjoyed.
“Hip hip, hooray!” said Sam.
Good job said Shane while giving Benjamin a thumbs-up.
“Yes! He scored!” said Oliver relieved after the ball had gone into the back of the net.
“And next up for Blackrovers High is their goalkeeper Shaw Pippin who fancies taking a penalty this evening!” announced the commentator as Shaw was placing the ball with which to take his penalty.
“Go out there and score!” ordered Butch from the near distance.
Shaw made his run-up slowly and waited for Shane to make his move before he kicked the ball. Little did he know that Shane would never guess before the ball was kicked, and as a result, due to Shaw stopping his foot at the last moment and Shane not diving made it very obvious where Shaw would kick the ball, his bottom left corner. He felt frightened of what he had just done after he saw Shane still standing where he was. Nevertheless, he kicked the ball with as much power as he could muster up, but in the end, it was an easy save for Shane who simply dove to his bottom right corner and managed to save another penalty in this penalty shootout, albeit this was an easier one to keep out!
“And Shane Foster saves another one! Although a relatively easier one this time! Shaw Pippin should have done better with his effort!” remarked the commentator as Shane managed to save another penalty.
The supporters of Aberdeen High were getting noisier than ever.
“I’m so proud of you, Shane!” said his mum looking on in from the stands.
“And he’s done it again! Shane does it again for Aberdeen High!” said Marissa jumping with joy.
“Yeah but let’s see who takes the next penalty for Aberdeen High to see how much of an advantage we can take from this!” added Sam
“Noooo! Shaw, you’re an idiot!” shouted Butch at Shaw.
Shaw felt very demoralized after this.
“And next up is Kevin James, who’s going to take the spot-kick for Aberdeen High!” announced the commentator as Kevin was adjusting the ball in the middle of the box.
“Oh my gosh! Kevin’s about to take the next penalty!” said Sam getting over-excited.
“Calm down! He still has to take it!” said Marissa smiling, calming down Sam.
“Go for it and enjoy yourself!” said Shane passing a smile to Kevin.
“Thanks, I will!” said Kevin smiling back.
Kevin made his run slowly and steadily and suddenly unleashed a powerful shot that went rocketing into the roof of the top right corner of the goal. It was a similarly taken penalty as compared to the one Shane had sought to draw the scores level. Shaw stood no chance of stopping that one!
“And it’s gone in! Kevin James takes a brilliant penalty, similar to the one Shane Foster had taken to draw level with during normal time!” remarked the commentator.
Kevin was met with a warm round of applause from his teams' supporters.
“I knew you could do it!” congratulated Shane.
“And I know you will do it in the next penalty!” said Kevin.
“You think so?” asked Shane.
“I know so!” said Kevin, who was hinting that Shane takes the next penalty for Aberdeen High.
“Kevin scores! Oh my gosh, he scores!” said Sam, unable to control her excitement.
“That was a great penalty that he took!” admitted Marissa.
‘Well, this has turned out very positive!” said the coach putting one arm on Oliver’s shoulder as they were anticipating the next penalty to be taken.
“Ugh! It looks like I’ll be taking the next penalty if I want my team to win this one still! When you want something done, it looks like you just gotta do it yourself!” said Butch snatching the ball to take the penalty with.
“And by the looks of it, Blackrovers High team captain Butch Buchanan is himself going to take the next penalty to try and keep his side’s recent slim hopes of winning this still alive here!” announced the commentator as Butch was carefully placing the ball. Butch was in a state of deep rage while he was putting his ball for the penalty.
‘Come on, baby, score!” said Michelle as she watched Butch place the ball for his penalty kick.
Suddenly Shane had an idea, a very devious idea.
“Hey, Butch! You were right! You can’t succeed without taking any risks! So thanks for taking the risk while my team took the success and try to keep your chin up after my team lifts the cup tonight!” said Shane aggravating him further.
“I’ll put you in your place, you little weasel!” said Butch as he dashed forward with his spot-kick making it very straight-forward for Shane to guess where he was going to strike. Shane’s devious plan had worked! He thought turnabout was fair play, right? He subsequently jumped to his right side and blocked Butch’s shot that was coming with so much power, but which Shane could predict from beforehand.
“And Butch misses it as well! Just like the rest of his team this evening! This man Shane Foster has saved a total of four penalties this evening! A new tournament record, and he pulled it off in the final! How about that!” said the commentator, impressed with Shane’s performance.
“Hallelujah!” chanted Marissa and Sam after watching Shane save for their team.
“Way to go, buddy!” said Kevin giving Shane a high-five before Shane himself put the ball on the spot to take his penalty.
“I’m so happy!” said Shane’s mum, nearly about to cry after watching her son play so well.
“Aww, man Butch!” wailed Michelle, disappointed, holding her head in her hands.
“Well, this has gone very well for us!” shouted the coach of Aberdeen High, who couldn’t believe their luck.
“No fair, you tricked me and got me angrier than I was before!” confronted Butch.
“Turnabout is fair play, Butch! You tried messing around with my head, and now, I returned the favor to you! Now watch me win for my team as I take the last and final spot-kick for the evening!” replied Shane as he stepped up to take the penalty for Aberdeen High.
“Grrrr” grunted Butch.
“What’s this? Shane Foster, captain for the evening, is himself going to step forward and try to win this one for Aberdeen High! He’s placing the ball on the spot as his side will seal victory if he scores on this one! He’s taking possibly the last kick of the tournament! His entire High School’s hopes and expectations are on his shoulders! Let’s see what becomes of this!” said the commentator as Shane got ready to make his run.
The Aberdeen High supporters, along with the rest of the stadium, were quiet as they were focusing on Shane and how he was going to take his penalty.
Shane’s mum looked at Shane very closely and desperately wanted her son to score this penalty.
“Oh my gosh, Shane could win it right here for all of us!” exclaimed Marissa, unable to calm herself down.
“Let’s hope for the best outcome possible!” said Sam as they tensely waited for Shane to convert his penalty.
“I just hope he scores, then we’re champions!” said coach, feeling optimistic of Shane.
“Me too as it’ll give Shane a night he’ll never forget!” said Oliver, who wanted Shane to convert his penalty successfully.
“Best of luck, dude!” said Kevin giving Shane a thumbs up.
The college scout was looking at Shane very closely.
“I hope that conniving weasel misses!” said Butch, who was so frustrated that he was pulling his hair.
The entire stadium had their eyes fixed on Shane.
As soon as the referee blew his whistle, the commentator said, “And now Shane Foster will take what could possibly be the last kick of this tournament! Let’s find out what the outcome is!”
Shane surprisingly didn’t seem to shoulder much pressure on himself as he knew the spirit of Shaw Pippin, the opposition goalkeeper, was destroyed by Butch, their team captain after Shaw’s missed penalty. So Shane very quickly charged forward and struck the ball with a lot of power straight towards the roof of the net towards the top left corner post. Shaw stood no chance of saving that after his own team captain destroyed his confidence. Shane had won the match and the tournament for his team after his successfully taken penalty!
“And he wins the tournament for his team with the last kick of it! Incredible! Simply Marvelous! He’s won them the tournament after his successfully taken penalty of which Shaw Pippin stood no chance of saving! Aberdeen High run out winners on the night and winners of the tournament winning three-nil on penalties!” exclaimed the commentator as the Aberdeen High supporters from keeping quiet, couldn’t contain themselves as they were champions of the tournament once more in their history. They kept on chanting their High School name, whereas the supporters of Blackrovers High, although disappointed, showed a lot of respect for Aberdeen High by clapping for them as well.
Shane was buried beneath the slew of teammates who came forward to congratulate him. Even the coach of Aberdeen High was jumping on the pitch rejoicing as his side had just won the tournament that evening.
“Oh my gosh! Shane did it! He did it, and now we’re finally champions of the Inter-State High School Tournament! I’m so excited and happy for Shane!” said Marissa jumping up and down gleefully.
‘Our boys have won the tournament! They finally have!” exclaimed Sam jumping up and down with Marissa in sheer excitement.
“Shane, I’m so proud and happy for you!” said his mum breaking down into tears as she had never felt more proud of him in her life.
The college scout got up from his seat in the stands to have a word with him as soon as he could.
Marcus looked on and thought, “Hmpf, so could I!”
Shane, after having been congratulated by everyone other than Marcus; went over to console Shaw Pippin, the opposition team goalkeeper, as he was sobbing on the pitch after having just conceded from Shane.
“These things happen in life! Don’t let it get to you! Continue doing your best further on in life, and you’ll get rewarded!” said Shane lifting Shaw from the grass and then hugging him
“Thanks! You guys did deserve to win tonight! And you make a great team captain!” stated Shaw while hugging Shane.
“Not only is he a phenomenal figure on the pitch, but he’s also a great guy as well!” remarked the commentator as Shane was consoling Shaw.
“That’s my Shane!” said his mum looking on proudly.
“That’s Shane for you!” remarked Sam.
“Ugh! What a loser!” stated Butch, who was feeling truly bitter while tasting defeat. His plan had foiled and only resulted in Aberdeen High being crowned winners of the tournament.
Soon the Aberdeen High team got together to form a guard of honor for the players of Blackrovers High who were to receive their runners up medals up on the stands.
After the guard of honor was made and done with and the Blackrovers High players were done receiving their runners up medals, the college scout quickly waved to Shane to come and have a word with him in the stands
Shane took a deep breath and then went. “It’s going to be positive, don’t worry!” said Kevin patting him on his shoulder as he made his way.
When he met the college scout, he first shook hands with him upon greeting him, and then the college scout started, “You know why I’m calling you! There was no real competition between you and the rest of them! You were my hands-on selection for this scholarship from the very beginning due to your continuous stellar performances, and after tonight you just cemented it further! So, do you agree to my offer for that sports scholarship to Manchester University?”
“You bet I do! And I look forward to fighting for my place there as well!” assured Shane shaking his hands before heading off to his team.
“Good! That’ exactly what I wanted to hear!” said the college scout as he saw Shane running towards his mother to deliver the good news to her.
“Mum! I got that college scholarship to Manchester University! I’m finally going to a decent college, after all! And I promise to do my best and shape the best sort of standard of living I possibly can after I graduate! I promise!” said Shane hugging her as tightly as he could.
His mum, with tears flowing down her cheeks, replied, “I’m so proud of you, dear! You proved yourself out there on that pitch this evening, and you got that scholarship, and you proved everyone wrong whoever tested you and doubted you! I’m so proud of you!”
She gave him multiple kisses across his face and then said, “Go to your friends! I’m sure you’re dying to go meet them!”
“Thanks, mum!” said Shane as he waved at her while taking off.
Soon it was time for them to walk up the stairs and receive their winners' medals and for the captain to lift the trophy. Shane asked Oliver, “You’re the first choice, captain! Should I put the captain’s armband on you, and do you wish to lift the trophy?”
Oliver replied, “Firstly, I’m not permitted to climb so many stairs, and secondly, …you deserve it more! The way you’ve carried this team after I got injured! You deserve it way more!”
Shane and Oliver hugged after that.
Shane led himself and his side up the stairs with their coach also coming with them. They received their winner’s medals from the officials of the tournament. They were those who were responsible for hosting and putting the competition together.
Soon after Shane and his team had their medals on their necks, it was time to lift the trophy. Shane appeared in front of the whole stadium on a podium from where he would raise the trophy as captain. “Go for it, you lucky captain you!” said Kevin pushing Shane forward to go and stand up on the podium. “Thank you!” replied Shane courteously.
After standing on the podium, he saw that Marissa and Sam were on the pitch, waiting for him and Kevin to come down so they could meet. He waved at them, smiling, and they waved at him back, smiling.
Then a tournament official came and presented Shane with the trophy. Shane received the cup and, in front of the whole stadium, lifted the cup as captain screaming, “this is for you, Aberdeen High!”
At that moment, fireworks began on the stadium roof, and the whole stadium was lit up with fireworks and balloons started coming down from the ceiling of the stadium.
While Shane was lifting the trophy, the supporters of Aberdeen High were continuously chanting his name and chanting ‘our good keeper,’ and why shouldn’t they, after all, he was their ‘Good Keeper’!
“How gorgeous!” exclaimed Marissa as she and Sam watched the fireworks and balloons coming down from below.
“I’m so proud of you, Shane!” said his mum, who looked on from her seat.
“Way to go, buddy!” said Oliver as he saw Shane lifting the cup from on top of the podium.
“And there Ladies and gentlemen do you have your winners and new Champions of the Inter-State High School Tournament! This team surely has cemented its legacy in their High School’s history books and In the history books of this tournament as they win it for the second time in their history as a High School! That old expression ‘’ attack wins you matches, but a good solid defense wins you title” has been proved tonight, and they’ve got their ‘good keeper’ to thank mostly for it! They’ve also won only their second-ever piece of silverware, and these lads helped achieve it, Well folks, it’s been an entertaining tournament! See you next time and next season!” said the commentator bringing the evening’s action to a close.
Shane got down from the podium and handed over the trophy to his other teammates to lift as well.
When the time came to come down, he was lifting the trophy with Kevin by his side, quickly coming down the steps to meet Marissa and Sam.
He had numerous flashbacks while coming down the stairs, he remembered of him serving as a bench warmer against Pittsburg High and then coming on as a substitute and displaying his heroics against Wellington High and then being offered bribery but rightfully refusing against Cashville High, his man of the match performance against Riverside High and then how he lead his team to victory against a physically superior Crystal High and of finally how his team won tonight. He got to lift the trophy as captain tonight. How he rose from a bench warmer nobody ever noticed, to a captain of a team that lifted the cup as winners of the tournament! He felt grateful for all that he got to experience and take with him from his experience of playing for Aberdeen High’s football team.
As they ran forward to meet, Shane had the trophy in his hand. Marissa ran ahead and kissed Shane on the lips. They continued doing so for a minute or so with Sam having run over to kiss Kevin.
Shane’s mum, who looked on, smiled and said: “Clearly, my baby is not a baby anymore!”
Then Shane delivered to Marissa, and Sam had already told Kevin the excellent news of how he got the scholarship to attend the University of Manchester and how he and Marissa could spend four years in college together.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so happy! And I’m super proud of you for the way you played this evening! I know we’ve had our differences, but let’s patch up and forget this whole thing ever even happened between us! And let’s look to the future to make it as beautiful as possible!” exclaimed Marissa.
This time Shane grabbed her, and he kissed her firmly! After that, he replied, “I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Soon a photographer asked if those four would like to have their picture taken together with the cup.
‘’That’d be great! Agreed Marissa accepting on everyone’s behalf.
While they were posing for the photo, Shane and Marissa on one end, Kevin and Sam on the other and the trophy in between Sam asked “Now that you two are going to University of Manchester and Shane and I will probably go to the same college since we’re both planning to stay locally…Do you think that this is the end of our friendship as a group?
Shane replied while posing for the picture, “No! In fact…it’s only just the beginning!”
The photographer then took their photo. The same photo that each of the four teenagers would keep with them as a memorabilia of that joyful and eventful evening for the rest of their lives to come!