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Another week flashed by, and the weekend arrived. The Medford football team boarded the bus, heading to Austin High School.
Thanks to Assistant Coach Wayne's networking, Austin High had agreed to this invitational match against Medford.
Trailing the team bus were two private vehicles.
One car carried Meemaw (Connie) and Dr. John Sturgis.
The other was driven by Mary, transporting the "young genius squad": Sheldon, Missy, and Paige.
For this special "family outing," Mary had specifically requested a day off from the church.
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As a long-established sports powerhouse, Austin High's student body was just as fanatical about football as Medford's.
When Mike and his team arrived, they were greeted by a sea of students holding "Go Austin!" signs.
The tables had turned. After enjoying the home-field advantage for several games, Medford was finally getting a taste of the hostile away-game environment.
To stabilize the players' psychological state, Coach George began a pep talk as soon as they disembarked.
At that moment, Jack the reporter, accompanied by two colleagues from the newspaper, approached the Medford bus.
"Hey, Mike. We meet again." Jack, eager to continue his "Project Star Maker," looked visibly cheerful.
After greeting Mike, he zeroed in on Coach George.
"Coach George, good to see you," Jack said with familiarity. "May I take a few group photos of the team? You know the state paper is currently chronicling Mike's rise, so we need more raw data..."
Coach George was no stranger to Jack and knew he was the architect behind Mike's media push.
Therefore, he readily agreed. "No problem. How do you want us arranged?"
Being in the newspaper wasn't just about Mike; it was an excellent opportunity to expand the Medford football program's brand recognition.
With the agreement reached, Jack's colleagues set up their equipment and snapped several group photos of the team.
Afterward, they took a few solo shots of Mike.
"Don't forget about the business negotiation after the game."
After finishing the photoshoot, Jack smiled and offered encouragement. "Good luck out there."
This invitational was equally critical for Medford High and the newspaper.
If Medford continued their winning streak, they would solidify their status as a legitimate sports powerhouse. Simultaneously, the newspaper could push "Project Star Maker" with greater efficacy.
After Mike bid farewell to Jack and rejoined the team, Georgie (Little George) rushed over, practically vibrating with excitement. "Mike, do you think our group photo will make the color front page?"
For a sixteen-year-old boy, the allure of fame was irresistible.
Nearby, the other team members were also silently tuning in, eager for the answer.
"The probability is high," Mike gave a satisfactory answer.
Based on the newspaper's continuous seven-day coverage cycle, it was highly likely that the team photo would appear in next week's issue.
"Awesome! I never thought I'd see the day I'd be in the paper!" Georgie cheered.
The other players, overhearing Mike's assessment, also broke into smiles.
That was the look of satisfied vanity.
"Alright, cool your jets. We can discuss the newspaper later. Right now, the only variable you need to solve is how to defeat Austin High." Coach George reeled in their wandering minds.
After emphasizing the importance of the match one last time, he sent the players onto the field for warm-ups.
Preparation is key...
Perhaps due to the recent media coverage, the Medford team had attracted scrutiny.
During warm-ups, Mike noticed several men in baseball caps lurking in the crowd—scouts.
Of course, to Mike, their presence was statistically insignificant.
Soon, the clock hit 10:00 AM, and the invitational kicked off on schedule.
Coach George, exercising patience, stuck to the "Variable Passing Attack" (short/long ball) for the first quarter.
This was a stress test for the team's baseline capability.
Compared to their previous opponents, Austin High was significantly stronger—a solid top-ten team in the state.
Last year, they were the ones who had eliminated Medford and advanced to the summer league semi-finals.
"Aaron! Monitor your receivers' coordinates! Focus on synergy!" Competing against a team with deep reserves made Coach George nervous.
Fortunately, Medford's rhythm in the first quarter was excellent.
With Captain Aaron performing as a competent quarterback, Medford ended the first quarter without letting the opponent widen the score gap.
"Good work! Aaron!" During the quarter break, Coach George acknowledged Aaron's contribution.
Then, he pivoted to address the rest of the squad. "You're all doing great. Now, it's time to counter-attack. Second quarter: switch to the Dual-Core strategy..."
Having gauged the power differential, Coach George wanted to seize control of the game's tempo.
Subsequently, Medford, driven by an aggressive offense, overtook the score in the second quarter.
"Alright, catch your breath. Third quarter, we switch to the 'Star Player' protocol. Mike, are you operational?" During halftime, Coach George adjusted the strategy based on the data.
Mike's overwhelming individual capability had made it clear to Coach George that in the Dual-Core system, Captain Aaron was increasingly becoming a supporting character.
Rather than forcing the team to grind through an inefficient strategy, it was better to let Mike off the leash.
Star Player Strategy: The outcome rests on one man.
In the following gameplay, Mike did not disappoint.
Amidst the sparse cheers from Meemaw, Paige, and the family on the sidelines, Mike used his precise handling and brutal force to tear through Austin's defensive line again and again.
As the saying goes: A defense under constant siege will eventually crumble.
By the final whistle, Mike's hyper-efficient scoring had led Medford to a landslide victory.
"Mike, hello. I'm a scout from Baylor University. Interested in hearing about our football program?"
"Mike, I'm with the University of Dallas..."
"Rice University football program, take a look..."
As Mike walked off the field after celebrating the victory, he was instantly swarmed by university scouts.
Clearly, this high-stakes victory hadn't just defeated the opponent; it had conquered the observers.
College football leagues operated closer to professional standards, meaning they sold tickets.
In this ecosystem, a star player capable of driving ticket sales was a critical asset.
Based on today's game, Mike had demonstrated that potential.
"Apologies. I am currently in eleventh grade and have no intention of accelerating my graduation timeline to enter university..." Holding a stack of business cards, Mike coolly rejected the invitations.
He knew exactly what these scouts were after.
Due to NCAA regulations prohibiting salaries for student-athletes, the system was essentially exploitative.
While the rule was ostensibly to maintain the "purity" of amateur sports, it allowed the collegiate athletic associations to profit immensely while the labor force got paid in "exposure" and scholarships.
It wasn't hard to deduce that these scouts were here to secure cheap, high-value labor.
Therefore, even after Mike rejected them multiple times, the scouts refused to disperse.
Jack noticed the situation and, along with his two colleagues, intervened to escort Mike away.
"You are statistically very popular right now."
After helping him evade the scouts, Jack teased Mike with a smile, then continued, "Have you finalized your decision regarding the partnership with the newspaper?"
"Affirmative. I have recruited several consultants specifically for this matter." Mike was never casual about making money.
As he spoke, Meemaw and the rest of the group arrived.
Among them, holding a folder and wearing a serious expression, looking like a miniature businessman, was Sheldon. He stood out immediately.
After Coach George finished the handshake formalities, Mike grabbed him and Georgie. The group then followed Jack to the state television headquarters (where the newspaper office was likely co-located or affiliated).
As for the rest of the team, after Mike promised to fund a future party, Assistant Coach Wayne took charge of bussing them back to Medford.