Chapter 337 335: Stadium Frenzy

"TWEET..."

The referee's whistle blew, signaling the end of the game. The final score was locked in at "49-3." The San Francisco 49ers had secured a resounding victory at home by a massive margin. This was not only the team's most impressive win of the 2011 season, but also their most outstanding and flawless performance since the preseason began.

From the offense to the defense and on to the special teams, the San Francisco 49ers operated in perfect harmony. For the first time, they showed the caliber of a top team in the National League West, not the pushovers everyone had taken them for. More importantly, their opponent was no slouch. They were an excellent team, currently sitting at the top of the National League South. A victory after such a clash of titans was undoubtedly all the more precious.

After the game, the San Francisco 49ers players erupted in celebration, high-fiving each other. The entire offense swarmed Lu Ke, with players stepping up one by one to pat his helmet and shout their congratulations.

Lu Ke tried to take off his helmet, but Jonathan Goodwin chuckled and stopped him. "This is the special treatment for rookies. Just enjoy it." The deeper meaning was clear: it was a veteran's sign of approval for a rookie.

Still, Lu Ke couldn't shake the feeling that this was a prank from Goodwin. He narrowed his eyes, showing his skepticism. Before he could figure it out, Lu Ke broke away from his teammates and strode quickly toward the center of the field, preparing to shake hands with the opposing quarterback, Josh Freeman.

He jogged over, pulling off his helmet and shaking out his sweat-drenched hair. Lu Ke reached the center of the field, but after scanning the area, he couldn't see any sign of Freeman. He paused, confused. Spotting a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player in the crowd, he walked over and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where Josh Freeman is? I'm the 49ers quarterback, looking for him for the post-game handshake."

Lu Ke's first thought was that he had spent too long celebrating with his teammates and forgotten the time. 'Maybe he got tired of waiting and left.' But thinking about it again, he realized he hadn't been delayed that long at all.

"Sorry, he already went back to the locker room." The Pirate Team player gave a wry smile and patted Lu Ke's arm. "Great game today." With a helpless shake of his head, he turned and walked away.

At midfield, Jim Hubble was shaking hands with the Pirate Team's head coach, surrounded by a bustling crowd of players from both teams. Lu Ke stood a short distance away, looking utterly bewildered. He couldn't find the person he was supposed to greet and had no idea what to do—

Then Lu Ke spotted Alex Smith standing nearby and walked over. "Uh, they said the other team's quarterback already went back to the locker room. Is he allowed to do that?"

Alex chuckled. "The handshake is just a friendly gesture, not an official rule."

"I thought it was an official rule. Every time a game is broadcast live, don't they always..." Lu Ke asked in surprise.

Alex nodded, picking up where he left off. "That's exactly why—the broadcast. When it's a national broadcast, everyone needs to look friendly. 'Friendship first, competition second,' you know? So the quarterbacks and head coaches from both sides will shake hands. If the situation calls for it, a head coach might shake hands with the opposing quarterback, too. But it's all just a friendly gesture."

Lu Ke certainly hadn't expected that. After all, no other quarterback had ever taught him these unwritten rules. After blinking in surprise, he nodded in understanding. "If I were him, I probably wouldn't want to shake the other quarterback's hand either. I mean, not after a game like this."

His deadpan tone made Alex burst out laughing.

One quarterback had five passing touchdowns, leading his team to a resounding victory. The other had thrown four interceptions, and his team had only managed a single field goal all game. For those two quarterbacks to stand calmly on the field and shake hands as a show of friendship would indeed be a bit strange and awkward.

"One more! One more! One more!"

As they spoke, a passionate chant began to swell, quickly merging into a single roar that grew louder, more frenzied, and more powerful. The very air in Candlestick Park seemed to boil. The sound cut off Lu Ke and Alex's conversation, and they both looked up, searching for the source.

But they couldn't pinpoint the source, because it was coming from everywhere. The sea of red in their line of sight was endless, a vast and magnificent ocean that began to roil. The entire stadium was on its feet, hands held high, everyone screaming at the top of their lungs, "One more!" Gradually, all seventy thousand fans abandoned their individual celebrations to join the unison chant. As they shouted, smiles overflowed from their lips and eyes, sweeping across the stadium.

"One more!"

The game was already over. The fans weren't demanding another touchdown; they were expressing their sheer happiness and joy. They had desperately craved "one more" score, and the team had delivered touchdowns one after another. One, two, three... a full seven touchdowns—five passing and two rushing—truly allowing every single fan to go home completely satisfied.

A game like this was a thing of beauty.

The perfectly synchronized chant erupted with unimaginable energy inside Candlestick Park, surging endlessly. It was as if the "candle" of Candlestick Park had been relit after many long years, illuminating the path forward for the fans and the future of the city. That inspiring spiritual force, rising from the majestic sea of red, was truly moving.

Lu Ke stood at the center of the field, quietly watching the roiling spectacle. A profound sense of warmth and emotion flowed through his chest.

Unlike the frenzy when the fans had welcomed him at the airport, this stadium, this sea of red, perfectly embodied the spirit of the San Francisco 49ers. It forged a true connection between his feet and this land. More clearly than ever before, Lu Ke felt the red and gold blood of the 49ers coursing through his veins, the team's indomitable spirit branded deep in his soul—

They were the 49ers, the first pioneers who came west to build a new life. They came to this land with nothing but their dreams, putting down roots in a hostile wilderness and building a world with their own two hands. They never flinched, never feared. Facing difficulty, setbacks, and hardship, they carved out a world with their every step.

The 49ers. They were trailblazers, wanderers, gold prospectors, and they were also unyielding Warriors! This spirit permeated every cell of his body, etched into the very soul of this city and this team.

He, Lu Ke, was a 49er, too—just like Lu Zhengze and Jiang Youning.

In his chest, his heart beat was so steady, so powerful, and yet so fervent.

Suddenly, his eyes caught a figure holding a "King of the Bay Area" flag high, sprinting around the stadium stands. Wherever the flag went, the crowd spontaneously started a wave, rippling through the stands, rising and falling in an endless, undulating motion. Immersed in it all, each person felt so small, like a single drop of water merging into the vast ocean, becoming a part of those Fierce Waves.

The game was over, but the awe-inspiring spectacle was just beginning.

"One more! One more!" This wasn't the chant of the fans, but the playful shouts of Logan, Marcus, and the others. They rushed over and started circling Lu Ke. Aldon, Scott, Crabtree, Gene, and more came over to join the fun, clearly teasing him.

As the heart and soul of the game, they all knew Lu Ke's contribution to this massive victory was undeniable.

Standing in the center of the crowd, Lu Ke couldn't help but laugh. He raised his hands and joined their chant, "One more! One more!" Amidst the uproar, everyone burst into joyous laughter. The scene was electric.

Up in the stands of Candlestick Park, the fans were still reluctant to leave. Even as players gradually exited the field and many spectators began to leave their seats, at least half of the crowd remained, celebrating in their own way. It was a euphoric, unforgettable victory.

Jonathan Baldwin was one of them, his eyes filled with deep satisfaction. The victory was certainly worth celebrating, but what truly moved him was the team's spirit—the spirit of never compromising and never giving up in the face of adversity.

In the first half, the team, under Lu Ke's leadership, had played with an imposing momentum and dominated their opponent. It was that very quality that had allowed the San Francisco 49ers to win. Likewise, in future tough matchups, especially during critical moments in the fourth quarter, that same spirit would be the key to clinching victory.

He liked a team like this. No, he *loved* this San Francisco 49ers team. As a fan, he felt an unprecedented sense of pride.

"I'm going to the away game next week," Jonathan declared.

"What?" Chris Wilson, standing beside him, was confused. Without hesitation, Jonathan firmly repeated, "I said, I'm going to the away game next week."

Chris stared at Jonathan in astonishment, then broke into a helpless laugh. "Two weeks ago, when I went to Cincinnati, who was it that was giving me a hard time?" Only half a month had passed, but the world had completely changed. Seeing Jonathan's unfazed expression, Chris didn't press the joke. "But what about tickets? What if you can't get one?"

"I'm still going," Jonathan said without a moment's thought. "I want to be there in person. Even if I'm just outside the stadium, I'll be standing there in my 49ers jersey to tell Lu Ke, to tell all our players, that they have our support! As long as they're on that field, they are not fighting alone!"