07-27-2023, 12:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-29-2023, 08:53 AM by Aneeqs. Edited 2 times in total.)
[Interior of a small apartment. A young man records video on a cell phone. Open blinds reveal a dark pre-dawn sky]
ORION: What’s up, guys. Game day today – first one in a while. Excited to hit the field with my fellow rookies today, start to turn some heads, make a name for ourselves. Let’s go get it.
[Cut to: interior of a locker room. A black football uniform with the number 29 in gold on the front, pristinely arranged, and a helmet to the side. “Pirates” is visible on the chest. The camera swivels to show the same young man in street clothes]
ORION: A week ago I’d have told you I didn’t believe in fate, because fate implies pre-destination, that things were always meant to be a certain way. That I believe in work, in making your own choices and creating your own luck. That I didn’t get here because it was meant to happen; I got here because I made it happen. But…a black and gold uniform? The Pirates? For a Purdue guy who got the nickname “Raider” because he was always stripping the ball away on punt returns? That’s a hell of a coincidence, my friends. Maybe it’s not fate, but more like a confirmation – a wink from the universe that I’m on the right path.
Sorry, I get philosophical before games, in the calm before the storm. Alright, time to suit up.
[B-roll of spectators filing into the stadium, painted fans high-fiving, children waving homemade signs. Percussive music begins quietly as a stately voice speaks over the images]
NARRATION: It’s been a whirlwind of a week for the young safety. A former walk-on at Purdue who cut his teeth on special teams before breaking into the starting lineup, Orion knows how to make the most of every opportunity. It’s been an uphill climb, but now he’s crested the first major hill. The same determination and dedication that fueled his rise from stranger to team captain have led him here: the Prospect Bowl of the DSFL. The end of an amazing journey, and the beginning of another.
[The final words of the National Anthem are sung. The crowd cheers. Footage of the opening kickoff rolls as Sam Spence music plays, full of eager horns and frantic strings]
NARRATION: Enthusiasm and agility are the hallmark of Orion’s style. He reads the offense quickly and pursues the play with relentless focus. But late in the 1st quarter of his first game, that eagerness gets the better of him.
[Game footage plays]
ANNOUNCER: Wilson takes the snap, play action fake, rolls out to his right, all kinds of time. Looking, looking, throws across the field…caught by Roubs! And he’s behind the defense! It’s a footrace now, finally caught from behind by Orion. But it’s a huge play on a catch and run from Roubs, a gain of 31.
COLOR COMMENTATOR: You can see here, the defense bites on the play action just enough, the safeties pulling forward. Wilson with the rollout buys enough time for Roubs to work his way across the field and find an opening. Normally you don’t want your QB throwing across the field like that, but Wilson has time to set his feet, square his shoulders, and deliver an on-target throw for a big gain.
NARRATION: A humbling experience for the young rookie, and his play reflects this. He becomes more cautious, careful not to over-pursue. His true self only re-emerges in the games’ final moments, as he watches the dramatic finish from the sidelines.
ANNOUNCER: This is the ball game. 10 seconds to go, 24 yards to the end zone. Here’s the snap, 3 receivers all running deep. Bamford flushed, rolls to his right, finds some time, heaving it downfield – AND IT’S CAUGHT!! Hands has it in the end zone! It’s a touchdown! A miracle play to cap an amazing final drive!
ORION: LET’S GO! LET’S GO! That’s how you DO it!
[the next play]
ANNOUNCER: Here we go, the extra point that could decide the game. Jepthat’s kick is up – and through! What an improbable finish, as the Pirates come from 10 down in the final quarter and win it on the final play of regulation, 17 to 16!
[Cut to: Orion in front of the locker room after the game. A single reporter holds a microphone for him to speak into]
ORION: Yeah, definitely some early jitters out there. Really wanted to make an impact, kind of over-pursued on a few plays there. Gotta focus on my job, trust my teammates, trust the game plan. But, you know, even if I didn’t get the numbers next to my name, we got that last stop when we needed it, and gave the offense a chance to win it, and they came through.
NARRATION: It’s a new day, and a new opponent. But despite the struggles of the first game, Orion remains committed to his style of play: fast and ferocious.
[Cut to: Orion sitting on the bench. There are teammates nearby, but his eyes are forward and he seems to be talking mostly to himself]
ORION: Gotta get after it today. No one’s gonna give us anything, we gotta take it for ourselves. Time to raid, time to pillage and plunder, time to make ourselves everyone’s problem. Let’s go!
[He puts on his helmet and trots onto the field. Cut to game footage]
ANNOUNCER: 2nd and 4 from the 41-yard line. Gausman drops back, floats a pass over the middle, it’s high – and it’s PICKED OFF! Orion came down with the football, he’s tackled and it will be first down for the Pirates! Gausman put a little too much air under it, the ball went over the head of Lopez de Castilla, and Orion was there to nab it!
COLOR COMMENTATOR: I think Gausman might have been expecting a cover-2 and for Orion to cover the left half of the field. But he comes forward into more of a robber position and Gausman, trying to lead his fullback past the trailing linebacker, leaves it up there for Orion to grab.
ORION: [holds up the football to the crowd] “Raider” is back! We’re taking this now!
NARRATION: It’s a shining moment for a star in the making. Orion goes on to record 6 tackles and a pass break-up, along with the interception. But the offense struggles to score and, despite some more 4th quarter heroics, the rookie team falls to the Aztecs.
ANNOUNCER: And that will be enough. The clocks runs out and the final score is Aztecs 24, Pirates 21.
[Cut to: Orion behind a podium, with several microphones on it. His head is down as he considers a question from a local reporter]
ORION: Yeah, you’d always rather win. I know this game won’t show up on any standings, I know the focus is on the individual performances, but that doesn’t mean the result doesn’t matter – at least to me. The reason you want to do your best is so the team can do its best. We found some magic there at the end but ultimately we couldn’t get it done.
I’m happy with the way I played, I thought the secondary had some good moments out there. Obviously getting that interception was a big deal for me personally; as a defender you’re always looking for ways to take the ball away, really turn the game around. I feel like I’m improving each day, and now I’ve got one more chance to show everybody what I can do.
[B-roll of massive stadium lights turning on. From complete darkness a football field springs into view, with 4 painted logos occupying a quadrant of the field each]
NARRATION: There’s a reason they call graduation ceremonies “commencements”. It’s not really the end, but rather the beginning of something else. Today is Orion’s final pre-draft performance, the exclamation point on a statement he’s been trying to make to scouts everywhere: you want me on your team. But if he can get them to listen, this last game won’t be a curtain call; it will be the opening act for the rest of his career.
[Cut to: music swelling in the background as Orion and his teammates are introduced, emerging through smoke onto the field. Game footage begins to play]
ANNOUNCER: 1st and goal, the Mountaineers looking to capitalize on the interception and maybe put this game out of reach. Baynes pumps, he’s got pressure off the edge, he has to get rid of it, throws for Julius but it’s INTERCEPTED! The ball was thrown behind the receiver, Orion’s got it, and the Pirates defense steals the ball back and avoids disaster!
COLOR COMMENTATOR: Yeah, Baynes had single coverage on the right and was looking that direction, but the defender got in his face and he pulled it back down. He went back the other way but the throw was a little late and behind Julius, and it got picked off.
ANNOUNCER: Another notch for Orion, that’s his 2nd interception of this Prospect Bowl series.
NARRATION: The combined efforts of the Pirates defense kept the game close, and for a third time the offense came alive in the final minutes. A late touchdown pass gave them the lead with a minute to go, but a missed 2-point conversion gave no margin for error.
[game footage]
ANNOUNCER: Clock is down to 32 seconds now. Baynes gets the snap, looks, tosses underneath to Cauthon and he’s got room! 45, 50, past the 40 and finally tackled at the 38 yard line. A quick timeout and the Mountaineers are just on the edge of field goal range! The Pirates were leaving a cushion to guard against the deep ball, but I think that was more than they were willing to give up there.
[the next play]
ANNOUNCER: It’ll be a 55-yard try to take the lead. Everyone’s on their feet and the noise is deafening! Here’s the snap, hold is good, the kick is up, it’s on target, is it long enough? IT IS! THE KICK IS GOOD! 55 yards long and the Mountaineers take the lead!
[Cut to: footage of black-and-gold clad players walking dejectedly off the field as the scorecard comes into focus in the background]
ANNOUNCER: And there’s the final score! High drama here in the Prospect Bowl as the Mountaineers win the final game against the Pirates 22-20! Congratulations to all the rookies on an amazing series of games here this weekend.
[Cut to: Orion behind a podium covered in microphones and recording devices. His posture competes with the dejected look on his face: face uplifted, shoulders square, back straight]
ORION: I really hope this isn’t the start of a trend, where my numbers go up but the team ends with the losing score. If I had the choice I’d definitely swap that around. Like Michael Scott I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious [laughter]. In all seriousness I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play here today, with my fellow prospects, just putting our whole heart and soul into the game. I’ll always take a win over the alternative but I’m proud of what we were able to put on the field today.
NARRATION: It’s not the ending he would have wanted. But again, it’s not really an ending at all. The scouts have taken notice, and word is spreading: there’s a new safety in town hungry for a chance to play. He’s fast, he’s tenacious, he’s committed, and he’s anxious to hear his name called on draft day. But wherever he lands, one thing’s for sure:
This is only the beginning.
ORION: What’s up, guys. Game day today – first one in a while. Excited to hit the field with my fellow rookies today, start to turn some heads, make a name for ourselves. Let’s go get it.
[Cut to: interior of a locker room. A black football uniform with the number 29 in gold on the front, pristinely arranged, and a helmet to the side. “Pirates” is visible on the chest. The camera swivels to show the same young man in street clothes]
ORION: A week ago I’d have told you I didn’t believe in fate, because fate implies pre-destination, that things were always meant to be a certain way. That I believe in work, in making your own choices and creating your own luck. That I didn’t get here because it was meant to happen; I got here because I made it happen. But…a black and gold uniform? The Pirates? For a Purdue guy who got the nickname “Raider” because he was always stripping the ball away on punt returns? That’s a hell of a coincidence, my friends. Maybe it’s not fate, but more like a confirmation – a wink from the universe that I’m on the right path.
Sorry, I get philosophical before games, in the calm before the storm. Alright, time to suit up.
[B-roll of spectators filing into the stadium, painted fans high-fiving, children waving homemade signs. Percussive music begins quietly as a stately voice speaks over the images]
NARRATION: It’s been a whirlwind of a week for the young safety. A former walk-on at Purdue who cut his teeth on special teams before breaking into the starting lineup, Orion knows how to make the most of every opportunity. It’s been an uphill climb, but now he’s crested the first major hill. The same determination and dedication that fueled his rise from stranger to team captain have led him here: the Prospect Bowl of the DSFL. The end of an amazing journey, and the beginning of another.
[The final words of the National Anthem are sung. The crowd cheers. Footage of the opening kickoff rolls as Sam Spence music plays, full of eager horns and frantic strings]
GAME 1
NARRATION: Enthusiasm and agility are the hallmark of Orion’s style. He reads the offense quickly and pursues the play with relentless focus. But late in the 1st quarter of his first game, that eagerness gets the better of him.
[Game footage plays]
ANNOUNCER: Wilson takes the snap, play action fake, rolls out to his right, all kinds of time. Looking, looking, throws across the field…caught by Roubs! And he’s behind the defense! It’s a footrace now, finally caught from behind by Orion. But it’s a huge play on a catch and run from Roubs, a gain of 31.
COLOR COMMENTATOR: You can see here, the defense bites on the play action just enough, the safeties pulling forward. Wilson with the rollout buys enough time for Roubs to work his way across the field and find an opening. Normally you don’t want your QB throwing across the field like that, but Wilson has time to set his feet, square his shoulders, and deliver an on-target throw for a big gain.
NARRATION: A humbling experience for the young rookie, and his play reflects this. He becomes more cautious, careful not to over-pursue. His true self only re-emerges in the games’ final moments, as he watches the dramatic finish from the sidelines.
ANNOUNCER: This is the ball game. 10 seconds to go, 24 yards to the end zone. Here’s the snap, 3 receivers all running deep. Bamford flushed, rolls to his right, finds some time, heaving it downfield – AND IT’S CAUGHT!! Hands has it in the end zone! It’s a touchdown! A miracle play to cap an amazing final drive!
ORION: LET’S GO! LET’S GO! That’s how you DO it!
[the next play]
ANNOUNCER: Here we go, the extra point that could decide the game. Jepthat’s kick is up – and through! What an improbable finish, as the Pirates come from 10 down in the final quarter and win it on the final play of regulation, 17 to 16!
[Cut to: Orion in front of the locker room after the game. A single reporter holds a microphone for him to speak into]
ORION: Yeah, definitely some early jitters out there. Really wanted to make an impact, kind of over-pursued on a few plays there. Gotta focus on my job, trust my teammates, trust the game plan. But, you know, even if I didn’t get the numbers next to my name, we got that last stop when we needed it, and gave the offense a chance to win it, and they came through.
GAME 2
[B-roll of the run rising over a busy metropolitan area. Cars are already jamming the streets, and the silhouette of a football stadium is just visible against the horizon]NARRATION: It’s a new day, and a new opponent. But despite the struggles of the first game, Orion remains committed to his style of play: fast and ferocious.
[Cut to: Orion sitting on the bench. There are teammates nearby, but his eyes are forward and he seems to be talking mostly to himself]
ORION: Gotta get after it today. No one’s gonna give us anything, we gotta take it for ourselves. Time to raid, time to pillage and plunder, time to make ourselves everyone’s problem. Let’s go!
[He puts on his helmet and trots onto the field. Cut to game footage]
ANNOUNCER: 2nd and 4 from the 41-yard line. Gausman drops back, floats a pass over the middle, it’s high – and it’s PICKED OFF! Orion came down with the football, he’s tackled and it will be first down for the Pirates! Gausman put a little too much air under it, the ball went over the head of Lopez de Castilla, and Orion was there to nab it!
COLOR COMMENTATOR: I think Gausman might have been expecting a cover-2 and for Orion to cover the left half of the field. But he comes forward into more of a robber position and Gausman, trying to lead his fullback past the trailing linebacker, leaves it up there for Orion to grab.
ORION: [holds up the football to the crowd] “Raider” is back! We’re taking this now!
NARRATION: It’s a shining moment for a star in the making. Orion goes on to record 6 tackles and a pass break-up, along with the interception. But the offense struggles to score and, despite some more 4th quarter heroics, the rookie team falls to the Aztecs.
ANNOUNCER: And that will be enough. The clocks runs out and the final score is Aztecs 24, Pirates 21.
[Cut to: Orion behind a podium, with several microphones on it. His head is down as he considers a question from a local reporter]
ORION: Yeah, you’d always rather win. I know this game won’t show up on any standings, I know the focus is on the individual performances, but that doesn’t mean the result doesn’t matter – at least to me. The reason you want to do your best is so the team can do its best. We found some magic there at the end but ultimately we couldn’t get it done.
I’m happy with the way I played, I thought the secondary had some good moments out there. Obviously getting that interception was a big deal for me personally; as a defender you’re always looking for ways to take the ball away, really turn the game around. I feel like I’m improving each day, and now I’ve got one more chance to show everybody what I can do.
GAME 3
[B-roll of massive stadium lights turning on. From complete darkness a football field springs into view, with 4 painted logos occupying a quadrant of the field each]
NARRATION: There’s a reason they call graduation ceremonies “commencements”. It’s not really the end, but rather the beginning of something else. Today is Orion’s final pre-draft performance, the exclamation point on a statement he’s been trying to make to scouts everywhere: you want me on your team. But if he can get them to listen, this last game won’t be a curtain call; it will be the opening act for the rest of his career.
[Cut to: music swelling in the background as Orion and his teammates are introduced, emerging through smoke onto the field. Game footage begins to play]
ANNOUNCER: 1st and goal, the Mountaineers looking to capitalize on the interception and maybe put this game out of reach. Baynes pumps, he’s got pressure off the edge, he has to get rid of it, throws for Julius but it’s INTERCEPTED! The ball was thrown behind the receiver, Orion’s got it, and the Pirates defense steals the ball back and avoids disaster!
COLOR COMMENTATOR: Yeah, Baynes had single coverage on the right and was looking that direction, but the defender got in his face and he pulled it back down. He went back the other way but the throw was a little late and behind Julius, and it got picked off.
ANNOUNCER: Another notch for Orion, that’s his 2nd interception of this Prospect Bowl series.
NARRATION: The combined efforts of the Pirates defense kept the game close, and for a third time the offense came alive in the final minutes. A late touchdown pass gave them the lead with a minute to go, but a missed 2-point conversion gave no margin for error.
[game footage]
ANNOUNCER: Clock is down to 32 seconds now. Baynes gets the snap, looks, tosses underneath to Cauthon and he’s got room! 45, 50, past the 40 and finally tackled at the 38 yard line. A quick timeout and the Mountaineers are just on the edge of field goal range! The Pirates were leaving a cushion to guard against the deep ball, but I think that was more than they were willing to give up there.
[the next play]
ANNOUNCER: It’ll be a 55-yard try to take the lead. Everyone’s on their feet and the noise is deafening! Here’s the snap, hold is good, the kick is up, it’s on target, is it long enough? IT IS! THE KICK IS GOOD! 55 yards long and the Mountaineers take the lead!
[Cut to: footage of black-and-gold clad players walking dejectedly off the field as the scorecard comes into focus in the background]
ANNOUNCER: And there’s the final score! High drama here in the Prospect Bowl as the Mountaineers win the final game against the Pirates 22-20! Congratulations to all the rookies on an amazing series of games here this weekend.
[Cut to: Orion behind a podium covered in microphones and recording devices. His posture competes with the dejected look on his face: face uplifted, shoulders square, back straight]
ORION: I really hope this isn’t the start of a trend, where my numbers go up but the team ends with the losing score. If I had the choice I’d definitely swap that around. Like Michael Scott I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious [laughter]. In all seriousness I’m so grateful for the opportunity to play here today, with my fellow prospects, just putting our whole heart and soul into the game. I’ll always take a win over the alternative but I’m proud of what we were able to put on the field today.
NARRATION: It’s not the ending he would have wanted. But again, it’s not really an ending at all. The scouts have taken notice, and word is spreading: there’s a new safety in town hungry for a chance to play. He’s fast, he’s tenacious, he’s committed, and he’s anxious to hear his name called on draft day. But wherever he lands, one thing’s for sure:
This is only the beginning.