Jack stood next to Tony Thompson on the sideline. Jack was calm; Thompson fidgeted.
“What do you think he’s gonna do?” Thompson said.
“I think we’re about to find out,” Jack said.
The snap went to Lonnie. He shifted the ball to his right hand. He stood in the pocket, still and calm. He searched the field with his eyes. The first option was covered. So was the second. And the third.
Lonnie stayed there, waiting to see whether any of them would create enough daylight to deliver a pass. The walls began to close around him.
He spun to the left and sprinted for the sideline. He was heading directly for Jack and Thompson.
Jack’s eyes narrowed as Lonnie got closer. Lonnie switched the ball to his left hand. Jack didn’t move. Thompson started to step aside. Jack grabbed Thompson’s shoulder pads and held him in place.
Lonnie kept coming. Jack’s eyes widened as the distance shrunk to ten feet. Jack and Thompson raised their forearms and braced for impact.
At the last instant, Lonnie stopped and threw the ball. It sailed forty yards through the air. A receiver caught it in stride and ran into the end zone.
Applause filled Jack’s helmet. Lonnie spun to look at Jack.
“Why didn’t you move?” Lonnie said.
“We knew you wouldn’t run into us,” Jack said.
“How did you know that?”
Thompson laughed. “Because you didn’t.”
Lonnie turned away and jogged back to the huddle. The other players buzzed over what they’d just seen.
Thompson tilted his head toward Jack. “You ever seen a guy throw lefty like that?” Thompson said.
Jack kept his eyes on Lonnie. “Plenty of times,” Jack said. “But they were all left-handed.”