Leland Stanford Junior University Offensive Preview

Photo by Matt Cohen/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Stanford player graciously allows his body to be used as a door mat.It’s late in the 4th quarter, and K.J. Costello can feel the pressure mounting. He could feel the sweat beading upon his brow, as a drop slowly dripped down onto his face. Costello surveys the field: he has tight end Colby Parkinson in the slot to his left, wide receiver Simi Fehoko lined up to the outside on his right, and running back Cameron Scarlett in the tailback position. Costello looks up and watches as the game clock ticks down. Nine, eight, seven seconds left in the game. With no timeouts left, this would be the final play. He feels the enormity of the weight of expectations upon him: pulling off a victory in the Big Game would be enough to salvage this season. How did we even get here, needing a win to keep our bowl hopes alive? Suddenly, he sees it: a late shift in the defensive alignment. They had spent all week watching tape, and it was about to finally pay off. Costello takes the snap. He’s reading linebacker Evan Weaver on the play, because he knows he only has a second to get rid of the ball before the wind is to be forcibly excavated from his chest. He rolls out to his left, quickly stops, and flips the ball just over the outstretched hands of Cameron Goode. Parkinson, with his gangly 6’7” frame, dives for the football, and... he’s got it! He made the catch! Raucous cheers erupt from all around the stadium. They’ve done it! Costello couldn’t believe it. He rushes to embrace Parkinson, still lying prone on the ground. Soon, more Stanford players begin piling on top of them in joyous celebration. Tears begin to well in Costello’s— nay, everyone’s eyes. They’ve done it, they’ve finally done it! They scored a touchdown in the waning moments of the game!

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