Reynolds Demands a Shot at the Game Winner - And He Delivers
By "Gary Gray"

Playoffs 2131 (Washington, DC) - He never juked or jived; no head fakes or shoulder shakes. He just ran. And ran. And ran.

When Jesse Reynolds finally turned around to find the ball, no defenders were even close. After securing the go-ahead touchdown with no time left on the clock in the 2130 Sundby Cup, Jesse collapsed in the end zone.

Just a few minutes earlier, he pleaded with head coach Tommy Sheppard and quarterback Cornell Millen - 'Look, I played against Otis [Thomas] in college. He can't keep up with me. Just throw me the ball!' Although Reynolds compiled less than five hundred yards and only one touchdown during the regular season, Sheppard agreed to call the play.

At the post-game press conference, Sheppard recounted the scenario. 'We had one shot and one shot only. Sixty four yards and three seconds on the clock - who's gonna be our best bet? When Jesse started begging me to call it his way, I could tell he wanted it more than anyone on the team. And he's one of the fastest guys I've ever seen. This guy has some serious after burners. I decided to let him do what he does best. I told him - 'Don't worry about a route, son, just run down the field and catch the ^&%* ball!''

The Redskins faced almost the same exact scenario in the 2127 championship game. The Patriots were leading by less than one score, with three seconds left on the game clock. Millen dropped back deep, avoided one defender, and then was slammed to the ground by Alex Smith - game over.

Millen gives all the credit for the 2130 trophy to his offensive line. 'They didn't allow those D-linemen any where near me, the whole game. Not a single sack. You can't do a better job than they did this season, and especially this game. Grant [Elliot] is the man, really. I think he's the best player in the league at any position.

'I gotta give props to Jesse, though. He told me he wasn't going to let me down. I knew he'd be open, but after I launched it, I just dropped to my knees and prayed he would catch it. When I heard the crowd roar, I looked up at the big screen and saw this amazing photo of Jesse hauling in the pass. The clock said 00:00, and then they updated the score. I could hardly believe it. A couple minutes earlier, I thought this whole season was a waste. And then all of the sudden, we're champions. We're champions. Man it feels good to finally say that.'