THEY MURDERED HIM. As he turned to take the ball, a dam burst against the side of his head and a hand grenade shattered his stomach. Engulfed by nausea, he pitched toward the grass. His mouth encountered gravel, and he spat frantically, afraid that some

The use of figurative language helps us to understand the ferocity of the hit he endured. But in reality, the game was not a literal war.... there was no dam, nor was there a hand grenade.

".... a dam burst against the side of his head and a hand grenade shattered his stomach."