Super sub

 We've all had the Walter Mitty dream before. Come on, admit it.

Like the character in fiction with the hyperactive imagination, we've all fallen asleep and dreamed we were, I don't know, a fighter pilot or renowned surgeon or a basketball player who could elevate like the Otis company cooked him up in a lab somewhere.

Bob Knight sends us in to save the day and we're Michael Jordan, or at least Jordan Hulls. Roger Penske sticks us in Will Power's ride and we win the Indy 500. We write a Notre Dame game story that wins the Pulitzer Prize.

(OK, so that's just my fantasy)

Anyway, you get the gist. But you know what's even better than all that?

It's when someone becomes Walter Mitty in real life.

You probably didn't watch Texas State hold off North Texas yesterday in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, on account of it was Texas State and North Texas playing in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Which means you've probably never heard of a young man named Drew Mestemaker, and likely still haven't.

That's too bad. Because yesterday the kid lived that dream we've all had.

A freshman walk-on who hadn't started a game at quarterback since his freshman year in high school, Mestemaker found himself starting his first game in four years for North Texas because the starter had transferred. And, wonder of wonders, he set the place on fire.

Completed 26-of-41 passes for 393 yards and two scores. Broke off a 70-yard run for another six. Compiled 448 total yards on the day.

Only thing Mestemaker didn't do, sadly, is win the game for North Texas. The Mean Green fell 30-28 as Mestemaker threw an interception in the waning seconds that ended it.

Nonetheless, it was a dream-like day for the kid. Even if he did remind everyone he was still human by ralphing into a sideline garbage can after his 70-yard sprint.

Somehow that made the super sub even more super. A super-duper sub, if you will.

Now all he's got to do is write that Pulitzer gamer. Piece of cake.