Collision, impact, offense and defense players intertwined, the focus of everyone's vision shifted from Li Wei to Hertz in an instant.
The football, in Hertz's arms!
One could easily see, Hertz was running along the left side out of the pocket, attempting to push forward with the ball himself.
The strategy of Crimson Tide Storm was clear, using Li Wei as bait and Clark to distract, Hertz was to complete the advance with the ball.
Sweeney was confident of victory, he hadn't forgotten how the Crimson Tide Storm had turned around the game against Louisville State University in the second half.
Clemson Tigers' defenders rushed towards Hertz in a swarm.
However, in Clark's mind there was only one belief:
Even though it was fourth and two, if failure came here, it would be a complete defeat, and Alabama Crimson Tide Storm's entire season's effort would come to an end; despite such thoughts spreading broadly in his mind, tension and fear intensely constricting his chest making it hard to breathe; despite slightly sweaty fingertips, trembling knees, and his guts burning...
The belief in his mind overshadowed everything, like walking on a high-wire rope, he had to focus.
Covertly, Clark took the football from Hertz's hand and tucked it into his arms—
Subconsciously, Clark held his breath.
"Focus, Ronnie, focus!"
With a pause, Clark had already followed Li Wei's figure, stepping on the interval and rushing out, holding his breath completely, his attention sharply focused.
Just a moment ago, Clark could see a bustling crowd ahead, making his heart tighten.
The next second, the dark shadows moved like a tide to the left, opening up his vision.
Clark hurriedly started, accelerating forward, seeing Li Wei knocking Watkins away, the two grappling into a tangle, a gap appearing on the right.
Just having crossed the kick-off line, he could see Mus's frontal collision ahead.
But strangely, Clark wasn't nervous; instead, adrenaline continuously surged because he knew he was not fighting alone.
He was carrying Jacobs's belief, the Defensive group's perseverance, Li Wei's trust, and the entire Offensive group's support.
He and they, fought side by side.
Almost a reflexive subconscious action.
Bend the knees. Lean forward. Dip the shoulder.
Clark collided head-on with Mus, instantly releasing power and speed.
Sprint. Collide. Step up.
Clark sprinted forward fully, unreservedly, his strength erupting continuously from the depths of his Dantian, the most physically and powerfully capable in the entire team's running back group, he could not hold back.
The Mus in front of him was directly knocked flying by Clark, the view opened up, Clark's stumbling steps had already broken through the blockade and crashed into the end zone.
The wind roared, pouring down.
Clark stood in the end zone, unable to believe. He looked down at his footsteps, then at the football in his hands, and turned his head towards Li Wei with an inquiring look.
"Touchdown! Master, touchdown!"
Li Wei shouted uncontrollably, bubbles bursting in his lungs one after another, his adrenaline exploding like fireworks.
Joy and happiness swept in, detonating the entire Richmond James Stadium.
Look, the Crimson Tide Storm was devouring the entire field, dyeing the sky a brilliant and bewitching red.
The entire stadium boiled over.
How did all this happen?
Unbelievable, unimaginable. In the most critical moment, the most important offense, fourth and two yards, with no retreat and a must-complete conversion, success or failure hinging on this single play, Saban actually had the audacity to entrust Clark, Ronnie-damn-Clark, with the responsibility.
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That was not a smoke bomb.
Who could believe that Clark's entry was not a smoke bomb – a surprise move indeed. Saban had laid the tactics right out in the open, but then feinted?
He couldn't believe his eyes and was so frustrated and pained that he could not even swear, hands on his head, standing there stunned.
"With only five seconds left in the game, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm managed the unthinkable touchdown that brought the game back from the dead."
"God, the game isn't over, this peak showdown isn't over yet."
"If the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm can kick this next extra point, we will go into overtime."
"This will be the first time since the NCAA's reorganization in 2006 that an overtime is needed to decide the championship; it's also the second nationwide championship overtime since the 2001 season when Ohio State University defeated the University of Miami in double overtime, making it undoubtedly a historic moment we are witnessing."
"Oh, Jesus Christ. Wait, excuse my language, but!"
There was a brief silence in the studio, no words needed to clearly feel the shock and astonishment rippling through the air.
"God, what am I seeing, what am I witnessing!"
"Two-point conversion, the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm chose a two-point conversion. God, Saban didn't opt for a one-point kick, but for a two-point conversion."
Shock, astonishment, impact.
After each touchdown, the offensive team gets a chance for extra points.
One point, kick from the fifteen-yard line before the end zone, if successful, counts as one point.
Two points, another offense from the two-yard line before the end zone, if it's a touchdown, counts as two points.
The difficulty is obvious.
A two-point conversion requires the offensive group to score another touchdown from the two-yard line. The closer to the end zone, the more advantageous it is for the defensive group's tactical layout, so the difficulty of a two-point conversion is evident; hence, both NFL and NCAA usually opt for a one-point extra point, as two-point conversions are not common.
Of course, there are exceptions, with the trailing team choosing a risky two-point conversion to quickly close the score gap, which is also a tactical choice.
However, the problem is—
Look at the score, now the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm are just one point behind, could securely kick a one-point extra point, tie the score, consume the remaining game time, and enter overtime, essentially securing a no-loss situation, waiting for overtime to restart on equal footing.
But with a two-point conversion, it's either heaven or hell, either the conversion succeeds and the Alabama Crimson Tide Storm clinches the nationwide championship in a final move, or the conversion fails, handing victory over to the Clemson Tigers, falling just short after back-to-back touchdowns that closed the score gap at the final moment.
Saban, to take such a risk?
Suddenly, Richmond James Stadium went mad, the game's dramatic twists and turns culminating in such a tense and thrilling ending.
In the next five seconds, they would witness the crowning of the 2016 season's NCAA nationwide champion, akin to soccer's golden goal rule, abruptly ending, instant death, even more thrilling than a penalty shootout, as the rationality of the entire audience instantly vanished, plunging into madness.