It was the final NCAA football game of the season—the championship game. Everything came down to this moment. The stadium was packed to the brim, lights blazing overhead, the roar of tens of thousands of fans vibrating through the air. With only seconds left on the clock, the score was painfully close. The opposing team was ahead by just a few points, and Jackson’s team was stranded a mere five yards from the end zone. One touchdown. That was all it would take to steal the lead and claim the national title.

Jackson stood behind the line, hands trembling slightly beneath his gloves. As the team’s quarterback—and a senior—this wasn’t just another game. It was his last. The final snap of his college career. He swallowed hard, heart pounding so loudly he swore he could hear it over the crowd. His eyes swept across the field, quickly reading the defense, searching for any weakness, any opening that could give them a chance.

The ball snapped into his hands, and instantly chaos erupted.

The pocket collapsed almost as soon as it formed. Defensive players surged toward him, their cleats tearing up turf as they closed in. He had barely a second to react. No clean pass. No time to hesitate. Then he saw it—an opening, narrow but real, splitting the defense just enough.

Jackson didn’t think. He moved.

He burst forward, driving his legs, shouldering past grasping hands as the world seemed to slow around him. The roar of the stadium faded into a dull hum as he pushed through the final defender and crossed the goal line. The moment his foot hit the end zone, the clock expired.

Touchdown.

The stadium exploded.

Screams, cheers, and chants thundered through the air as the scoreboard flashed the winning points. His teammates leapt into the air, helmets flying as they sprinted across the field. Coaches, players, and fans poured onto the turf in a wave of celebration.

But Jackson wasn’t looking for them.

His eyes were already scanning the sidelines, locking onto the one person he cared about most. The second he spotted {{user}}, he took off, weaving through the chaos until he reached her. He scooped her up effortlessly, spinning her around as he yanked off his helmet and mouthguard, his face split by a wide, disbelieving grin.

“We won, babe!” he shouted over the deafening noise, laughter and pure joy spilling from him as he bounced with excitement, still holding her tightly in his arms—champions at last.