Chapter 1041: Returning the Favor

Lu Ke was standing on the sideline, warming up and getting ready to come on, when he saw the dazzling scene unfold in front of him. Even he couldn’t help but open his mouth, slightly stunned as he watched the scene. Everything happened so fast. In just a split second, the entire situation was turned upside down. He then watched as the number 22 sprinted into the end zone.

Lu Ke let out a silent laugh.

Anyone who is interested can look up Pete Carroll’s resume. He is a genuine defensive-minded coach. In college, he was a safety, but his skills were mediocre. After graduation, he went directly into the coaching system without turning professional. In 1973, he was only 22 years old when he became an assistant coach. Since then, he has continued his coaching career for nearly thirty years.

Carroll was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 1995 to 1996, and then the head coach for the New England Patriots from 1997 to 1999.

Unfortunately, his record with the Patriots was so bad, and his locker room problems were also unsatisfactory. After being replaced by Bill Belichick, he couldn’t find a job and stayed home for almost two years. In 2001, he came out of retirement to become the head coach of the University of Southern California, where he built his own dynasty. In 2010, he officially joined the Seattle Seahawks.

During his time at USC, Carroll and Jim Harbaugh were constantly outsmarting each other. They actually had a mutual appreciation for each other because they were the same type of person: bold, resolute, daring, and arrogant. The interesting part was that one was in charge of the defense and the other was in charge of the offense, and the teams they built were perfectly matched.

Everyone knows that Carroll’s tactics are tough and heavy. The overall style is relatively classic and traditional. In stark contrast is Harbaugh, who is agile and cunning, constantly seeking change and innovation.

But few people know that Carroll also has his own understanding of trick plays. Lu Ke experienced this firsthand when he was at the UCLA Bruins.

Carroll is conservative and steady at heart. He would never take a risk without thinking. Instead, he would be bold and take a chance at a critical moment to deliver a fatal blow. This is almost impossible to defend against, and it always ensures a very high success rate, which adds value to the team.

This trick play was exactly like that.

Unexpectedly, in such a situation, the Seahawks actually chose to go for it on fourth down.

To put it simply, before this punt, they were facing a fourth-and-10 situation and were forced to punt. This means that even if Carroll chose a trick play, they still had to convert a fourth-and-10, and the difficulty of that is self-explanatory. If they failed to convert, the 49ers would start their offensive drive right there, which would be even more difficult for the Seahawks.

What was even more incredible was that for a fourth-and-10 conversion, Carroll chose to give the ball to the rookie running back Robert Turbin, instead of relying on Matt Flynn to pass the ball. It’s never an easy thing for a running back to rush for 10 yards. This unexpected, bold, and risky choice ultimately resulted in the maximum reward.

In the first offensive drive of the first half, Lu Ke chose to start with a trick play, with Marcus Lynch connecting with Logan Newnam, completely disrupting the Seahawks’ defensive plan and scoring a touchdown in one go. In the first offensive drive of the second half, Carroll chose to end with a trick play, also ending with a touchdown.

So, is this a case of "returning the favor"?

After realizing this, the smile on Lu Ke’s face grew.

"Bambi! Are you serious? You’re actually smiling right now?" Standing next to him, Randy Moss was about to explode. He was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan, becoming very agitated and angrily said, "What’s so funny? If they kick the extra point, they’re going to take the lead!"

Lu Ke shrugged. "So?"

Vernon Davis was also a bit agitated. "So, for the first time in two seasons, we’re behind against them!"

"Oh? Really?" Lu Ke asked with a curious expression.

He was serious. He had no idea about this. In four games over two seasons, had they maintained the lead from start to finish? That’s truly amazing!

Seeing Lu Ke’s nonchalant response, Vernon and Moss felt like they were about to have a heart attack. The frustration was just too much.

Lu Ke patted his teammates on the shoulder. "What’s there to worry about? We’ll just score another touchdown, take the lead back, and that’s it, right? Let’s go, we’re getting ready to come on."

Because Lu Ke’s tone was so matter-of-fact and calm, as if it were as easy as taking something out of his pocket, Vernon and Moss were a little stunned.

After they exchanged a look, they both looked away and toward the field. Their expressions, however, had calmed down.

They were both veterans who had been on the battlefield for many years, but they were not as experienced and calm as a second-year player in a critical moment. Perhaps, deep down, they cared too much, which made them overly anxious about winning and losing. The second half had just started, and there was no need to overthink things just because of one trick play from the opponent. The most important thing was to focus on the game.

The random thoughts in their minds were completely cleared, and their focus was once again on the game.

"Offense! Clap, clap!"

"Offense! Clap, clap!"

"Offense! Clap, clap!"

The unified cheers echoed inside Candlestick Park again, creating a thunderous ripple in their eardrums. Before they even realized it, their blood began to boil again. The burst of adrenaline was like the most beautiful symphony, playing deep in their souls.

Emma Watson subconsciously turned to look at Sophie Brook next to her. But she noticed Sophie’s focused and dedicated eyes. A confident and powerful light was shining brightly, and she didn’t seem to be worried about the team falling behind. That firm belief made Emma swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue and look back at the field. She was deep in thought.

The San Francisco 49ers’ offense was back on the field.

The Seahawks’ extra point was successful. "20-21." The visiting Seahawks had taken the lead for the first time in the game. Even though the 49ers had the advantage at the start of the second half, the Seahawks were the first to score a touchdown. The game was now in a stage where they were truly facing a fierce battle.

Even though all the fans were cheering for the home team, the visiting team’s morale and spirit were at a new high. A clever trick play not only fooled the home team’s special teams but also successfully allowed them to take the lead, especially since it was done in a difficult situation where the home team’s defense was constantly improving in morale. This made it even more significant.

After the game resumed, the 49ers’ offensive line faced a severe test of pressure.

First-and-10.

Lu Ke handed the ball to Frank Gore, who was on a rotation. But Gore ran straight into a wall and couldn’t gain much ground. He only managed to move forward two yards with the help of the offensive line’s bulldozer-like push.

Second-and-8.

Lu Ke quickly snapped the ball and passed it. He instantly found Moss in the short-pass area, but Moss was surrounded by three players. A direct physical confrontation was not Moss’s strong suit. He was tackled before he could get his feet going, only gaining three yards.

Third-and-5.

After the snap, Lu Ke was in the pocket, looking for a target, but before he could even release the ball, the referee blew the whistle, and Vernon Davis and Richard Sherman had a physical altercation. The result was a holding-the-helmet penalty on Vernon. The 49ers were penalized ten yards and had to repeat the third down.

Third-and-15.

In the game, everything happens so fast. Before they could even catch their breath, they were in a third-and-very-long situation. The offense was still the same offense, and the defense was still the same defense, but the minor deviations and the shift in morale had put both sides in different positions.

But for Lu Ke, this wasn’t a crisis. It was a thrill. The critical moment had arrived again. The more dangerous it was, the calmer he became. He didn’t think this was the end of the world.

Lu Ke still calmly called the play.

Before the official snap, Lu Ke was still seriously reading the defensive formation. A thought flashed in his mind. He held on to it and stood up straight again. He began to loudly shout, "15! 15! 15!" to both sides. Then, he used another set of play calls as a cover and then crouched down again.

Fifteen. This seemed to be a jersey number. The 49ers’ number 15 was Michael Crabtree, and the Seahawks’ number 15 was Matt Flynn. Obviously, if it was a specific player, it could only be Crabtree, as if Lu Ke was telling Crabtree to change his running route.

But the problem was that a quarterback’s play call couldn’t be so simple and blunt. If he revealed his tactical intentions, it would be a disaster for the offense. What’s more, the quarterback on the other side was a well-known master of tactical games in the entire league. Could he make such a rookie mistake?

So, was 15 not a specific reference to Crabtree, but a running route? Or a crossing route? Lu Ke kept repeating the same number. Was this a smoke screen, or a tactical change? Or was it just to confuse the defensive players?

Lu Ke didn’t give them any more time. He immediately called for the snap!

Holding the ball with both hands, he quickly moved back. In just two steps, after making a slight adjustment to his body, he saw Gore coming over to block him. But Lu Ke raised his hand and passed the ball! It wasn’t a fake. It was a quick release and a quick pass, which meant it was a short pass!

In an instant, the entire short-pass area became chaotic like a hurricane. But a second later, the defensive players realized: What? It’s not a short pass!

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