J. R. Steele

Maynard knew that some day, his son would be the greatest quarterback in Wylie High School football history. This fall J.R. would be a sophomore and Wylie High School had a senior quarterback returning from a team that had won eight games and lost two the previous year. The loss in the semifinal game led Maynard to believe that J.R. had a shot at being the starting quarterback his sophomore year. Maybe he wouldn’t start at the beginning of the season, but surely he would by mid-season. It didn’t matter to Maynard that Seth Cutler was an excellent quarterback and this was his senior year. He was experienced and solid. In fact, Maynard didn’t even care to think about the fact that several colleges had expressed interest in Seth. His only concern was J.R. and his success. If the truth be known, Maynard already had dreams for J.R. to play major college football and then be successful in the Pro’s.

J.R. was afraid to fail. He remembered a time in Pop Warner, a national youth football league, when his team was leading thirty to nothing. His dad called for an option play to the right side. J.R. would have the option to run or throw. The wide receiver would run downfield fifteen yards on an “out” pattern. If he was open, Maynard expected J.R. to throw and pick up the yards. If the receiver was covered, J.R. would run the ball. J.R. knew the receiver would be open. He had been all day. As soon as J.R. threw the ball, he saw his receiver slip. The pass was intercepted and the cornerback ran down the sidelines twenty-five yards before J.R. was able to tackle him. J.R. got up off the ground and helped the cornerback up. He turned to go back to his side of the field knowing that his dad would be waiting for him. A thirty-point lead wouldn’t matter. The receiver falling down wouldn’t matter. In his dad’s mind, J.R. was the only one responsible. Sure enough, Maynard was waiting for him. He grabbed J.R.’s facemask and began to read him the riot act. The other players froze. They knew what was coming. The parents and spectators in the stands became still and quiet as seemingly the whole town watched. They all knew it was coming and it did.