Nothing Could Be Cooler Than That
The ejection of Tennessee's DeAndre Johnson, the man responsible for guarding Moi's blind side, ended up handing Moi a pair of wings.
(Brad Nessler) — CBS Play-by-Play
"Second down for Georgia at the 32-yard line. The Georgia O-line is looking good. The pocket is holding up nicely. He's got it. He throws, and ohhh—TOUCHDOWN!! George Pickins!! Georgia's wide receiver hauls in the first touchdown of the game!"
(Gary Danielson) — CBS Analyst
"That's what happens when you give a quarterback like Moi too much room to operate. Just look at that composure. He knew perfectly well that he was protected. First he looked right, confirmed there was plenty of coverage on that side, then rotated through his reads to find somewhere to send the ball. A play that showcased exceptional vision and a beautiful throw."
(Brad Nessler)
"That makes seven touchdown passes in three games now. And there's plenty of room for that number to grow."
When a play is called in the huddle, each player only has to think about his own assignment.
For the O-line, it's establishing the line of scrimmage and the direction of their blocks.
For the receivers, it's their own routes.
But a quarterback has to see through exactly how every single player at every position is going to move on every single play.
Just talking about sheer memorization alone—
it's ten times that of any other position.
NCAA and NFL schemes are far more complex and varied than those of the level below, which is exactly why players declare for a redshirt season, or treat their entire rookie year as a preparation period.
That's why true freshman quarterbacks in the NCAA and rookie QBs in the NFL tend to struggle early on.
(Gary Danielson)
"Look at this Georgia play and you'll see four receivers moving in fairly complex patterns. What I'm wondering is how a true freshman quarterback can control a play like that so completely. From the huddle to the play call, it's like watching a seasoned NFL veteran."
(Brad Nessler)
"Dwayne Moi Stone said in a high school interview that he prefers utilizing his running backs or the passing game over running it himself. What do you suppose the reason is?"
(Gary Danielson)
"I honestly couldn't say, but it does surprise me. The kid holds age-group 100-meter records—he's clearly blessed with tremendous physical tools."
(Brad Nessler)
"Right. Well, here's how Moi answered back then: If I run it in myself, the numbers only go up for me. But if I throw for a touchdown, it counts double. Hard to argue with that logic."
Football is a team game.
But the meaning of that phrase is subtly different here than anywhere else.
No sport is divided up more thoroughly, which makes sharing a single set of metrics remarkably difficult.
For a running back, the most important evaluations are average rushing yards and touchdown count.
Receivers, likewise, are judged heavily on average yards per catch, touchdowns, and the one-on-one metrics that measure how well they beat cornerbacks.
At the professional level, for the offensive skill players whose fortunes are tied to touchdowns, every one of those numbers translates directly into money.
So when a quarterback suddenly shows up and scores a pile of touchdowns with his own legs, it might help the team win—but it actually hurts his own career and his own paycheck.
One reason dual-threat quarterbacks struggle in the pros is that, compared to pure passers, they simply don't earn the same respect from their receivers.
And consider this: the average NFL running back's career lasts just 3.4 years, with wide receivers faring only slightly better at 4.7.
That means the second contract, signed after the rookie deal, is often the last real chance to make money—which is why a quarterback who lifts everyone else's salary is always welcomed with open arms.
That was exactly what Moi had been talking about.
It counts double.
When the touchdown comes through the air, the quarterback's passing touchdown numbers climb, and the receivers' all-important touchdown numbers climb right along with them.
In college, too, the more touchdowns a receiver piles up, the higher his draft stock rises.
And O-linemen, too—only when they have a quarterback who performs in the pocket do their own mistakes go largely unnoticed.
That's why people in the game say this:
One quarterback.
Feeds an entire offense.
(Brad Nessler)
"A hole opens up! He's penetrated into the pocket—but he slips away from it! It's a scramble!! Moi takes off to the right! Toward the sideline—but he's still behind the line of scrimmage. Moi. He throws it. Ohh!! What on earth did he just do?!"
Even though the space had opened up enough for him to run it in himself, Moi somehow found a man to receive the pass.
The throw wobbled a little as he released it on the run, but Jermaine Burton was the best among Georgia's receivers at hauling down a difficult ball.
Jermaine Burton carefully cradled it into his chest with both hands, toppled backward, and—standing right at the mouth of the end zone—punched in the touchdown.
(Brad Nessler)
"IT IS MAGIC!! Dwayne Moi Stone's absolutely magical play strikes Tennessee right in the heart once again!! 34-17!! That drive by Tennessee just died on the vine!"
(Gary Danielson)
"Unbelievable. How is that the play of an eighteen-year-old true freshman? He sidesteps the right outside linebacker who's about to drag him down, escapes the pocket, and even while running, finds his man at the very last instant. I want to grab him and ask—how on earth do you do that?"
(Brad Nessler)
"That's a lock for Play of the Week. Dwayne Moi Stone just shredded Tennessee's defense."
10 07 17 14 — 48 Georgia (3)
00 03 14 00 — 17 Tennessee (14)
With the team's final drive handed off to Stetson, I'd been resting on the bench for a while.
Mostly the backup lineup was on the field now, so with the headset clamped over my ears, I traded words with the coaching tower.
Most of it was just congratulations on a job well done.
And a little bit of film breakdown.
【—That Upset play earlier was genuinely brilliant.】
"I told you it would work."
【—Haha. How did you make such a bold call?】
"Because we were ahead. If we'd been trailing or tied, I'd have told everyone to just keep hammering it with Zamir."
The last touchdown our team scored today was a gimmick play we call Upset.
The word gimmick itself carries the sense of something without intrinsic value—a contrivance or idea built purely to grab attention or dress up the real appeal of a thing.
Every football team has gimmick plays like this floating around—jokes they toss about, or things that could only happen in their imaginations.
But almost nobody actually runs them in a real game. I figured that if we pulled it off, it would make today's victory taste even sweeter.
Of those gimmicks, the one we call Upset puts our true freshman defensive end, Jalen Carter, to work.
Jalen is a mountain of a man at 6'3" (191cm) and 314 pounds (142kg)—yet surprisingly, he can really move for his size.
While we were goofing around before practice one day, I thought it'd be fun to use Jalen as a fullback, and that thought became the Upset play.
From inside the five-yard line.
A play that should work exactly once.
The formation is a classic I-Formation, stacking up an eight-man offensive line, with Jalen and Zamir lined up behind me in that order—the quarterback under center.
Usually, that look makes the defense think of a QB sneak, or a run with Zamir carrying behind Jalen's lead block.
In fact, Tennessee's middle linebacker had been pointing at Zamir while setting his defensive call, and the moment I saw that, I knew the play was going to land.
And after the snap?
I really did fake it.
Darnell shifted right, collided with the linebacker keying on Zamir, and—deliberately letting himself get beaten—spilled out toward the sideline.
Then came the handoff fake.
Having faked the give to Zamir, I instead slipped behind Zamir's protection, found Jalen, and lobbed him a short pass to complete the touchdown.
"We won't be able to use that one for a while."
【—Still, it was beautiful.】
"Yeah. Though it stings a little. The second it was over, I caught myself thinking, should've saved that for the Alabama game. Like I keep saying—I've still got a long way to go."
【—Haha. You do realize I'm saying that with full knowledge of how you played today, right?】
(Brad Nessler)
"Dwayne Moi Stone. Georgia's true freshman quarterback delivered yet another dazzling performance today. A 67% completion rate (21-of-31), four touchdown passes, and two interceptions."
"My passing touch was pretty rough today."
【—Your touch was rough? What does that make the other quarterbacks?】
"Not my problem."
【—Pfft, hahahaha.】
The man on the other end of the line was Buster Faulkner, who shared the coaching tower with Coach Jacob Russell.
His exact title is Quality Control – Offense; the team carries seven Q.C. coaches split between offense and defense.
Depending on the game and on how the play calls are landing, the man in the tower changes constantly, while the ones who don't go up stay on the sideline helping out from every angle.
Anyway.
My passing touch really had been bad.
The run game was clicking today, so.
I leaned on the running backs a lot.
That meant my pass attempts dropped off sharply from the second quarter onward, and once a play misfire turned into an interception, my mood went straight downhill with it.
It wasn't enough to affect the game.
But it had affected me.
I reflected on it.
I've still got a long way to go.
On the other hand, it felt like a good vaccine shot ahead of the Alabama game, so maybe it was all for the best.
"Good work out there."
"Yes, sir."
The game over.
I walked out onto the field.
To the Tennessee players I crossed paths with, I offered a curt but sincere great game; when I reached my own teammates, I put a little more heart into it.
Week 3.
Three wins.
We were cruising, sure—but plenty of teams besides us still hadn't tasted defeat.
Just like in high school, one or two losses a season is the bare minimum entry ticket to a championship run in college, so for a program like Georgia, going undefeated is simply the baseline expectation.
It's only in the NFL that the competition truly sharpens.
Where sensible win-loss records and realistic winning percentages start to exist.
Up through college, this is just how it goes.
(Brad Nessler)
"And that sets up a truly mouthwatering game next week. Georgia and Alabama, both off to perfect starts, now face each other. As you well know, these two are rotating rivals who meet once every three years—but with the COVID-altered schedule, this year they clash for the first time in two. There will be no shortage to talk about. We'll get into all of that come game day."
"One more great win!!"
"…"
"…"
"Normally I hate putting pressure on you boys, but the Alabama game is something special! It's a matchup with the entire nation watching, and ESPN is bringing the College GameDay TV show to Alabama. A lot of those boys remember exactly how they handed us two painful defeats! If you get your revenge—there's nothing cooler than that! Take extra care with yourselves this weekend! We start preparing for Alabama first thing Monday! And… JC!!"
The head coach had decided to give the game ball to Jalen Carter.
It might be the first—and last—game of his college career with a touchdown in it, so taking home the touchdown ball he'd already pocketed and the game ball was only right.
We piled on JC from all sides.
"Heyyyyy—!!"
"Touchdown, baby!!"
"Just take it!! No reason needed!!"
"JC!!"
Three straight wins to open the season.
The mood couldn't have been better.
After the game, before heading back to the dorm.
I found Alexi waiting in the holding area.
"Hey."
After a warm embrace.
I asked if she wanted to grab dinner together.
At which point Katerina announced she'd bow out.
I told her she was welcome to come along.
But she'd already turned away.
"Have a good time—"
Whoa.
Did not see that coming.
Hating the awkwardness that had just settled over us, I turned and asked one of the school staff nearby whether it was okay to bring Alexi inside.
We could have met at the Tate Student Center, but if we just walked in together now, we could slip straight out through the other entrance.
"Your girlfriend?"
"Yes."
"Oh. Then no problem at all."
Ah—
Dammit.
What I'd actually been hoping was that he wouldn't ask if she was my girlfriend.
And yet, considering that—didn't I answer awfully fast?
Like I said.
The alternative would have been way more awkward.
Comforting a girl who feels slighted is the one thing I'd rather die than do, so the moment that dreaded question came out of his mouth, I just said yes and made it official.
Truthfully, any other girl was pure fantasy anyway.
Those ones are basically celebrities.
Maybe once I go pro. As a college student—during COVID, no less—the ceiling is low.
Above all, Alexi is beautiful.
Weighing all the conditions—
Accepting wasn't the best outcome.
But it was a perfectly serviceable second-best.
However.
"Alexi?"
"Shut up. Close your mouth and just do it."
"Ulp—"
Alexi, her whole body already burning hot.
Just lifted that second-best up into first place.
My first time in this life.
I had nothing to hide.
So I brought every ounce of capability I had to bear.
And therefore.
On the bed.
"…"
Looking down at Alexi—wilted, spent, and completely unconscious—I was feeling a very, very large sense of satisfaction.
Sleep well.
I've still got to break down today's game.
Click.
Leaving Alexi asleep in the bedroom, I stepped out.
I sat down on the living room couch.
Come to think of it.
I never checked my phone.
The group Snapchat was on fire.
Originally, the plan had been to grab dinner, summon Zamir and JC to my place, and run through Madden or CoD together.
Or at least order a pizza.
Somehow I'd ended up with a girl I'd officially made my girlfriend—and even gone to bed with her—but honestly, that felt pretty great too, so I cracked open a cold can of Coke and focused on the tablet.
Watching my own performance on video.
It looks a little different from how it felt in the moment.
Subjective turns objective, you could say.
"Damn it. That side was wide open."
I'd missed on ten passes today.
So there was far more to regret than usual on the film.
Of course, 67% is well above average.
Come to think of it.
Should I check some other numbers?
I closed the team's scouting app.
And pulled up the ESPN site.
Clemson had beaten Miami 42-17.
Trevor Lawrence completed 70.7% of his passes (29-of-41) for 292 yards and three touchdown passes.
The Alabama–Ole Miss game was a flat-out shootout—the score was a staggering 63-48.
The winner, of course, was Alabama.
But Nick Saban had to be in a foul mood.
Uneasy even in victory?
Scores like that almost always feel that way.
And then.
"Huh. Pretty good."
Mac Jones—the very man whose play had been the decisive factor in turning my heart toward Alabama—was flawless today.
Only two touchdown passes.
But an 87.5% completion rate (28-of-32) and 417 yards through the air showed that Mac Jones had played a beautiful game.
No other quarterback really caught my eye.
They're all more or less the same tier anyway.
"…"
Maybe some highlights?
College football gets its highlight films up nearly as fast as the NFL does, so finding clips on YouTube was easy.
Hmm—
Alabama's strength has always been its defense.
By last year's defensive metrics, they were the best in the country.
But what's even scarier is this:
this team knows how to score.
Nick Saban is Nick Saban, but Steve Sarkisian—the offensive coordinator Alabama brought in last year—is simply that good.
He was once fired as a head coach at USC over his drinking problem, but he seems to be doing fine now, thriving at Alabama.
He took Alabama's spread offense and made it even more devastating—first with Tua last year, and now with Mac Jones this year, he's turned his quarterbacks into the best signal-callers in college football.
My guess?
It'll be an offensive slugfest.
Pure defensive ability, I'd take our Georgia over Alabama any day. But O-line and receiver talent, unfortunately, looks like it belongs to the Crimson Tide.
Quarterback?
Well. Obviously me.
Naturally.
Creeeak.
"…"
I checked that Alexi was sleeping soundly.
Then closed the door again and sat back down on the couch.
Other games, I don't care about.
But I refuse to lose to Alabama.
Of course I want to win every game—but if you asked me to name the one game I have to win even if it kills me, it's Alabama, without question.
What's that?
Redshirt?
Or a backup role?
They can shove it.
Whether Mac Jones rated me highly or rated me low—until I smear it right across Nick Saban's smug face, I don't see myself sleeping soundly with both feet stretched out.
Just like Coach said.
Beat Alabama.
And there's nothing cooler than that.
"Whew—"
I knew that greater effort leads to greater results.
So I pushed through the fatigue.
And finished the film review to the very last play.