Top Wing by Matt Christopher Page A

the sudden change on the scoreboard, the Rams dug in. As soon as they got the ball, they moved it right across
     the center line. Within seconds, they were deep in Anchors territory.
    But the Anchors were revved up, too. They pressed as hard as they could — just a little too hard.
    As Louie Ladd tried to position himself for a goal attempt, Tucker moved in to steal the ball from him.
    Tweeeet!
    The referee pointed at Tucker. “Holding!” he announced.
    Dana had seen it happen. Tucker had lost his balance and started to slip. He automatically reached for something to keep from
     falling. It hadn’t seemed like an intentional violation, but the ref had decided it was.
    “Direct free kick,” he called.
    This could be the final straw for the Anchors, Dana thought as he saw the Rams get set.
    But the kicker was too anxious. The ball was way too high. It sailed over the goal by about two feet.
    Maybe there was still time for the Anchors to win the game after all.
    On the coach’s signal, Mike Vass got into position for the goal kick. He gave the ball a good wallop downfield, right to Steve.
     Steve trapped it with his chest, turned, and headed with it toward the Rams’goal. Before he got very far, he was hemmed in by two Rams tacklers.
    Abe was nearby, but a swarm of Rams was waiting to descend on him. Dana was in the clear on his right. Steve flicked the ball
     over to the Anchors’ right wing.
    Dana caught it on his shin, let it drop, then started dribbling toward the goal. He was just about to kick it when he noticed
     Benton nearby.
    Benton was all by himself. There wasn’t a single Ram within ten yards. It was a perfect spot for a goal attempt.
    Dana was in a predicament. He could pass it to Benton or go for the goal himself.
    He kicked.
    Thud!
    The minute his toe made contact with the ball, he knew it was all wrong. The ball went flying too far to the left — and out
     of bounds.
    Benton shot him a look that would have peeled the skin off a crocodile. Dana turned red and looked away from him.
    Had he gotten greedy? Or was it Benton? Would he have passed the ball if someone else had beenwhere Benton was? A goal that late in the game could have won it for the Anchors.
    To everyone else, it was just a missed goal, but Dana was sure Benton thought it was more than that.
    Meanwhile, now that the Rams had control of the ball, they got ready for a final push. A few lucky breaks and a tired Anchors
     defense worked to their advantage.
    With just seconds left to play, Louie Ladd made a “do or die” attempt. Breaking away from a tangle in the center of Anchors
     territory, he wasted no time. He booted a twenty-yard kick that sent the ball scurrying by Jazz and into the net.
    Whistles blew all over the field as the score went up on the board and the game ended.
    Rams 4, Anchors 3.
    As the two teams trotted off the field, there wasn’t much cheering on the Anchors’ side. No one had much to say. The members
     of the team drifted away in groups of two or three. A few straggled off by themselves.
    Dana was one of the stragglers.

    There was no practice the day after the game. Instead, right after school, Mrs. Bellamy took Dana and Christy over to the
     hospital.
    “Dad, they got you into a chair!” Christy shouted.
    Mr. Bellamy laughed. “No, I did it all by myself. I worked on it before you got here and — presto! — here I am.”
    Dana went over and hugged his father. He was too happy to speak.
    Mrs. Bellamy kissed her husband, then asked, “They’re releasing you tomorrow?”
    “Right. But don’t bother coming over before eleven o’clock. That’s when the whistle blows and the prisoners make a dash for
     freedom.”
    Dana smiled. Mr. Bellamy’s good humor was back in full force.
    “So, what’s new back there? How’d your game go yesterday, Dana?”
    Dana told him the sad result.
    “But Dana, two goals! Wow! You must have passed Steve Rapids by now,” said Mr. Bellamy. “Imagine … top wing, Dana