It's Mojo Radio back on the air. Slammin' Sammy here.
Football time in Texas.
Let's go to the phone. We got, uh, Butch on the line with us.
Butch, what about it? We'll have a great year, or what?
- How you doin'? - Good, Butch. Tell me about this season.
We're gonna have a hell of a season this year.
Winchell's gonna take us all the way.
- Deep slant tripps stacked right? - Primary receiver's inside flanker.
- "Z" burst. - My linemen are an 80 pass block.
- How deep is your drop? - Five steps.
Five steps. Tripps stacked left?
- Inside eight-yard curl. - You gonna get a scholarship?
- Yes, Mom. - "Z" receiver.
It's Mojo Radio, Slammin' Sammy,
and I've got Jerry on the line with us from the Sonic down there.
Jerry, there's a lot of talk that Coach Gaines,
with that $60,000 a year salary...
I know where we're goin' with this.
He makes a little bit more than the principal of the school.
I read the book... Just last week, I was readin' this book about Babe Ruth,
and they asked him if he deserved his salary...
way back in 1910... 04, whatever it was, and he said, "Hey, you know..."
They said, "You make more than the President."
He says, "Well, you know, can the President hit a baseball?"
I'm tellin' you right now,
you know, Coach Gary Gaines, they could give him $100,000 a year,
and if these boys go undefeated, it's worth every single dollar.
I tell you what, the principal, uh, of Permian don't get 28,000 people...
I got two to three seconds of rotation and my linemen are an 80 pass block.
Wide receiver? He runs the... burst route.
If he sees cover two, he... he bends outside, eight to 12 yards.
20 yards, and runs straight to the sideline.
Are you ready for this, Mike?
Yo. Ivory!
Ready to work?
- 'Sup, Boobie? - State.
State? State?
- State. State. - State.
Where your girlfriend at, Water Bug?
- Well... - We ain't got a girlfriend yet?
Come on. Let's go. Snap it up.
You wanna know why you ain't got a girl yet, Water Bug?
- Why? - You got the wrong shoes on, man.
You got on white Adidas. Everybody know the shoe is Nikes.
Nothin' holds a nickel next to Nike. Ask Ivory. Ask Preacher Man.
What kind of shoes on your feet don't matter.
Come on, Preacher. Bullshit!
- Don't matter at all. - You know God made black beautiful.
God made Boobie beautiful, black and strong.
His mouth keeps gettin' bigger and bigger and bigger.
And when Boobie knocks some fools out,
Boobie gonna knock 'em out with black Nikes on his feet. Ain't that right?
I could knock you out in a pair of flip-flops.
Yeah, well, I'm gonna knock 'em out with Nikes on my feet,
and I'm gonna smile when I do.
Let's go. Five minutes. Let's go.
Get up. Let's go.
How y'all doin' up there? Y'all doin' all right?
45, Boobie... That's my nephew out there.
The boy can play some football. I'm telling you.
I think he'll win the Heisman Trophy someday.
The Heisman, really?
- Oh, yes sir. You can bet on it. - I got it. I got it.
- Who's you guys' favorite player? - Boobie Miles.
He can spin left. He can spin right. Don't make no difference.
He can block, tackle, score the touchdown, snap the ball,
hold the snap and kick the extra point.
Hell, the boy will fill up the Gatorade cooler,
walk the dog, and paint your back porch.
I'm telling you, that boy can flat out play football.
Ow! And he can pass!
- Should we believe the hype? - What hype?
- The hype about Boobie Miles. - No, hype is something that's not for real.
I'm all real.
- I'm Chris Comer. I'm a running back. - So that means you're Boobie's backup?
I'm actually Boobie's backup backup. I'm third string right now.
- You know which way you're supposed to run? - Yeah, with strong right...
I ain't talkin' about the play. I know what the play was, okay?
Odessa's a small town, and, uh,
if you screw up, everybody knows about it.
Your dad played at Permian. What's it like to be the son of a local legend?
Hold on to the damn ball, Donnie!
Next question.
- There it goes. There it is. - How are your grades, Boobie?
I get straight A's. I'm an athlete.
- In what subject? - There's only one subject. It's football.
- Ain't no other subject, you know? - Hut!
Hang on to the ball. The ball.
You sure he's part of your gene pool, Charlie?
Shit.
Red alert. Red alert, everybody.
What about the expectations of coaching a team like this in a community like this?
Well, I guess there's always a surprise or two in every community.
Ball. Just concentrate on hangin' on the ball. Both hands.
Hey, Donnie. Hey.
- Come here. Come here. What's the problem? - Get off the field, Dad.
Why can't you hold on to the football?
What's so goddamn hard about holdin' on to it?
- I'm sorry. - All you gotta do is...
...hold on to the goddamn football, and you can't do it.
Tell me why you can't do it. Just tell me. That's all I wanna know.
- I'll try better next time. Come on. - Hey!
- Charlie. - Don't you walk away from me.
Leave him alone.
Don't you walk away from me when I'm talkin' to you, you hear me?
- Tell me why you can't hold on to the ball. - Enough.
Tell me. Answer a question. Mr. Billingsley.
- It's the first day of practice. - This is practice. Seriously.
Enough. Charlie!
Embarrassin' me out here. Jesus Christ.
It's all right, Don.
It's all right. Don't worry about it. Here we go.
Slot right. 38...
Billingsley, you ain't gotta worry about holdin' on to the ball, man.
- Why's that? - 'Cause you ain't gonna get the ball.
Your job is to be blockin' for Boobie.
I don't care if your daddy is over there cryin'.
- You can... - You never shut up, do you?
Our team's been playin' with each other for a long time and, uh,
we got the brotherhood part of it down pretty much.
People here at Permian are already predicting a state championship.
Is there any pressure to that for you guys?
Well, any time they start predictin' the state championships,
there's always pressure, believe me.
You guys don't have a lot of size. How can you make up for that?
We're gonna rely on our speed, discipline.
Come on, Ivory. You're in the game now. You're in the game.
Do football players get special treatment here?
What do you have to do to be a better football player this year?
Do you enjoy playing football?
You quit reading your press clippings, all right?
Because you're smaller, and you're gonna be smaller every week.
- Yo, Boobie Miles! - It is hard to be humble.
Ain't gonna be no growth spurt between now and the first game.
Where does all that anger come from?
They're gonna underestimate you every single week.
We teach you this technique for a reason.
We do not do this to make our heads rattle.
You're gonna use your mind.
You're gonna play with your heart. Come on.
That's what you're gonna use to win the state championship.
Get up, Ivory. Get up. Get up! Get up.
It's a good day, gentlemen. It's a good day to think about responsibility.
It's a good day to ask yourself, if on a personal level...
you're willing to accept that...
if you're willing to accept the responsibility that you have...
to protect this team and this school and this town.
And make no mistake about it, gentlemen,
we are in the business of protecting this town.
We're in the business of winning.
The expectations couldn't be any higher.
We will win state.
Can you be perfect?
Mojo.
- No, I'm all right. - Come on, Mike. Live a little.
- He's not going out, either. - Yeah, he is.
Mike, you're going out tonight.
If I have anything to say about it, you're gonna get laid too.
Billingsley. Billingsley. Party at Taylor's house now, Billingsley.
You better be there. Gonna get wasted. Party at Taylor's house.
Billingsley!
Isn't that guy, like, 35?
Mike. Here's your mom's food.
How much?
No, no. Don't worry about it. It's on us. It's on us.
- How's she doin', by the way? - You never give me free food, David.
- I just gave you free food. - Oh yeah. Oh yeah, I forgot about that.
- Say hi to your mom, huh? - Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Stay out of jail, Billingsley.
- We're not goin' home, Mike. - I ain't goin' out drunk foolin'.
How 'bout I bring your mom some dinner so you can come out with us?
Because we're gonna get laid,
and we're gonna get drunk, and we're gonna win state, but not tonight.
All right?
You been blessed, Mike, 'cause we got a runner.
He's gonna make us all look good. So I'm telling you to lighten up.
All you gotta do is exist in those two seconds between snap,
and you givin' Boobie the ball.
- So lighten up, Mike. - Mike.
- How you doin'? - Hey, Brian.
How's old Gaines treatin' you? Got you all perfect?
We gettin' there.
- All right. How's your mama? - Fine, sir.
All right. You mind if we get a shot real quick...
- ...with the kid, little picture? - Shot?
- Yeah, little picture. - Yeah, sure.
Here. All right, sweetie. Just take a picture.
My baby girl and the next Texas state championship quarterback, huh?
Where's the damn camera?
Winchell, boy, you remember every minute of this. I'm tellin' you right now.
You're 17, but it goes fast. Don't sleep. Don't waste a second of it.
'Cause before you know it, it's done.
Nothin' but babies and memories. You hear me?
Babies and memories. Smile, sweetheart. Give us a smile. Say "Mojo." Say "Mojo."
I tell you what, why don't you hold on to her for a little while?
Babysit her for us for a couple hours.
We're gonna go get a drink. We'll be back in a little bit.
All right. I'm kiddin' with ya. Come here. Come here, sweet...
Come here, sweetie. Let's go back over to Mama. All right.
Thank you. Thank you. Hey, hey. Bring it home, huh?
Bring one of these home. Get you one of these.
Christian, get you one of these. Boys? Right here.
Come up here a second. Got some change for you.
Wanna go to that party? Just for a little bit?
♪ It's tricky to rock a rhyme To rock a rhyme that's right on time ♪
♪ It's tricky, It's tricky, tricky tricky, tricky ♪
♪ It's tricky to rock a rhyme To rock a rhyme that's right on time ♪
♪ It's tricky T-t-t-tricky, tricky ♪
♪ I met this little girlie Her hair was... ♪
What I saw was speed out there, but uh, where's the beef, Coach?
- I saw me some small boys. - They're small.
- I think we're gonna be okay. - On defense?
- Yes, ma'am. I firmly believe that. - We got some backs. We're about, what, 180?
♪ Tricky, tricky, tricky ♪
♪ It's tricky to rock a rhyme To rock a rhyme that's right on time, it's tricky ♪
Hi, Mike.
- I'm Melissa. - I know who you are.
- You do? - Everybody knows who you are, Melissa.
Everybody knows who you are, Mike.
Is that right?
- Whole lot of... Arab oil embargo. - Oh, God.
Don't talk about that.
Midland Lee likes to bust it up the middle, too.
- You're right about that. - You know what you should do?
You should play Boobie Miles defense. Work him both ways.
The problem with that is I don't want to get him hurt. We need him to score touchdowns.
Bullshit. That big nigger ain't gonna break.
You wanna beat Midland Lee, you play him middle linebacker.
- Break some heads out there. - Are you ready for Midland Lee, coach?
♪ I got a letter from the government The other day I opened and read it ♪
This is not about Boobie.
This is about the fact that we're sittin' here...
...in the stairwell, while they're out there.
- I wanna be with a ball carrier. - Baby, Boobie is...
Don't you "Baby, Boobie" me. I wanna see somethin'.
Can I get a touchdown? How 'bout that? Can I get a touchdown?
- Why don't you have a girlfriend? - I don't know.
Why doesn't he have a girlfriend?
Is that a rule or somethin'?
No, not really.
Well, then, why don't you have a girlfriend?
- Just don't. - Are you gay?
- What? - Is he gay?
- I'm not gay. - Can you prove it?
Coach, here's to the start of your second season as our head coach.
- We're here, we believe in you and Sharon. - Thank you.
To sittin' here in December as the state champions of Texas.
- Let's bring 'em hell. Go Mojo! - Go Mojo!
- Bring us some glory, Coach.
♪ That's what I say ♪
- ♪ Don't need nothin' but a good time ♪ - Go! Go! Go!
Why isn't anyone allowed at your house?
People come over.
When?
Is your mother really crazy?
No.
Are you crazy?
Do I look crazy?
Look like someone who's gonna get the hell out of Odessa, Texas one day...
and never look back.
Seriously works for me.
See ya.
Get in here, boy.
- Come on. Get this off. - Ow.
That's good.
Ow!
Take my shoes...
- Don't get so prude. - Stop. We're on your couch.
Something for everybody. Oh.
Let's go to your room.
- Let's go to your bedroom. - Dad, can you just go back to bed, please?
Who's this? This Melissa?
- Yes. - Maria.
How you doin', Maria? Damn, girl. You have grown up.
Dad, please. Can you just go back to bed?
What happened to my lamp?
- Hey, y'all. What's goin' on? - Hey, Flippy.
- Hi, Maria. - What happened to my lamp?
- I dropped it. - Yeah, you dropped it.
That makes perfect sense, huh?
He dropped it. Can't hold on to the lamp, can't hold on to the football.
I can hold on to the football, Dad, now get the hell out of here!
Little fumble, can't hold on to the football.
Since when can you hold on to the football?
I haven't seen it. Y'all don't do it today?
How about yesterday? You hold on to the football yesterday?
Have you seen him hold on to the football?
How 'bout tomorrow? You gonna hold on to it tomorrow? How 'bout now?
- Can you hold... hold on to the football. - Goddamn it, Dad.
- Dad. - Maybe this'll help.
- What are you doing? - Hold... on... to... the football!
Dad! Goddamn it, Dad! Knock it off!
That's enough.
I don't think we've felt this kind of expectation in years.
If Winchell shows up like we know he can,
even a short passing game to give Boobie Miles a couple of feet of cushion...
- You boys all right? - Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
- Gonna win state? - Yes, sir.
- Undefeated?
- Yes, sir. - Get it done.
Take this opportunity to support the Permian Panthers...
"The Southern California lifestyle is but one of the bonus features..."
"of playing for..."
- What's that word? - Uh, "distinguished."
- Who's that one from, UCLA? - No, this is USC. That's UCLA right there.
Hey, Mike. You gonna come visit my distinguished ass in California?
See if I can put the damn smile on your face.
You know I'm fittin' to be rich, right?
I'm thinkin' about hiring, uh, Eddie Murphy to lay some of his shit on you...
till you crack a damn smile.
No? Well, what about Richard Pryor?
Bill Cosby? I know you like Bill Cosby.
Mike Winchell, you got a natural ability...
for throwing Boobie Miles the ball.
Any every once in a while you throw a pretty good pass,
so you're going to eat your Jell-O Pudding Pops.
Wah!
Yo, Mike Winchell. You gonna move out of Odessa, Texas one day, baby,
and you gonna come visit Boobie Miles in California,
and you gonna smile,
or I'm gonna stick about four pudding pops up your white ass.
Now, now... Oh, my God. I got Mike Winchell to smile.
Look at this! Wah!
Did y'all see it? Wah.
That's probably the only smile y'all gonna see from Mike all season.
Yeah. Yeah.
- I'm distinguished now. - Hey, Boobie.
- What? - You didn't lift.
Come on, man. This is God-given.
Only thing I gotta do is just show up.
Now, people call this monument out here, the Ratliff Stadium,
the monument to football of Odessa.
They say some of that money should have gone to the school.
What's your feelings on that, D.U.? You played ball.
Ain't that stadium part of the school?
So I say that money did go to the school. What's everybody whinin' about?
This is football country, folks. Come on. Get your heads out.
- Hi, Don. - Hey, Karen.
- It's you. Do you like it? Do you like it? - Think so. What is it?
- Rice Krispy. You like it, right? - Yeah, I love it.
- Thanks. - You're welcome.
- Hey, Gary? - Hey, John. How you doin'?
Good. Um, you real busy?
I got a minute or two. What you got up?
- Well, I got some characters out here. - Well, who you got with you?
- Wilkins. - Well, hey. Hey, Jim. How you doin'?
- How's that pretty wife of yours? - She's good.
- Ready for Friday night? - Sure hope so. Seems pretty good.
- I feel pretty good about it. I really do. - We're just, uh...
Wanted to come by and visit,
maybe talk about defense a little bit, if you got a second.
You got a second?
We got a dog named Mojo. We got a cat named Panther.
- You got season tickets? - You kiddin'? We don't miss anything.
Instead of the cover 2 zone.
Get the D-line in as many gaps and stack gaps as possible.
Double dent, type of technique.
- Hey, Boobie. - Hey.
- How you doin'? - All right.
Strong "B" slide force. Hell, we can look at...
- He'll still be a robber... - Get Ivory out of the board...
- And go! - Go, go, go, go.
Go by the speed and make up for the size differential...
What do you think, Coach?
Now, obviously we're not Division 1, but we got a good program.
You play well enough, we'll find you a spot at Kansas Wesleyan.
- How far is the drive? - What drive?
To your school. How far is it from Odessa to your school?
- I don't know. 10 or 12 hours. - Are you offering?
- Ma'am? - Right now. Are you offering?
- If you are, we're in. - Mom.
He'll sign his intent right now.
Well, obviously we're interested, Miss Winchell,
otherwise we wouldn't be here, Mike.
- But right now, that's all we are, is... - Interested.
Now, you go get at 'em, you throw some touchdowns,
you win some football games, maybe a state championship, huh?
We'll see if we can't find you a home at Kansas Wesleyan.
Yes, sir.
- Do you like playin' football, Mike? - Yes, sir.
Is it fun for you?
- Lots of fun, sir. - He loves the game.
That's good. It's important. It's... legitimate love of the game.
Supposed to be fun, you know?
Greatest game in the world.
I'm not that good at toastin', but, uh, I'll give it a try.
Um, fact is I don't know if I've ever done a toast myself before.
Been involved in a few, but uh...
Uh, well, here's to Boobie Miles, who...
Well, everything... everything you get this year, you deserve it,
because you... you work hard, and you... I'm real proud of you.
And, um, L.V., to you I... I can't even tell you how proud of you I am,
the way you've raised this kid and what you do for him, and uh...
Here's to a great season, and uh, God bless us.
- God bless us. - God bless.
We been thinkin' about this for four months now.
You seniors have been thinkin' about it for 17 years.
Well, it's here now. It's time.
If any of you have any doubt in your mind,
I don't want you to walk through that door over there.
You shouldn't have any doubt in your mind about what you're supposed to do tonight,
and about how you're supposed to do it.
So let's take care of it!
♪ Don't know we can do this 'Cause we always knew this ♪
♪ Ha, ha Yeah, boy ♪
♪ Bass How low can you go ♪
- ♪ Death row what a brother know ♪ - Way to go.
- Do you understand? - Hut!
Boobie Miles.
You can't turn it back to Boobie Miles!
All Boobie, all the time here.
A Mojo first down.
Boobie around one more.
- Yeah! That's my boy! - Boobie Miles for 45 yards...
Score for Mojo. Touchdown.
Billingsley takes it right. Boobie. Here we go again.
Into the end zone. Touchdown, Mojo.
Boobie Miles has it all, all in one great package...
the speed, the size, the athleticism.
Let me tell you, folks, Boobie Miles is worth the price of admission.
- Yeah! - Yeah, all right!
- Boobie Miles breakin' loose one more time. - Yes, sir!
- Broke the line. - Chavez.
Chavez is playin' like a man possessed.
Whoo!
- God damn, I'm so proud of ya! - Calm down, son.
- Chavez will eat you... - Billingsley. Hey, Billingsley.
- Whoo! - Go sit... Go get on the bench.
- Get on the bench. - Boy, crazy.
I like enthusiasm, but my goodness.
He's gonna throw it. What an arm. Did you see...
Boobie Miles, from 35 yards out,
scores a Mojo touchdown.
You're doin' a great job.
- Thank you, Coach. - Give me a smile. Give me a smile.
Boobie Miles is about as solid as you can ask for.
- He ain't gonna smile. He's more internal. - Why not? Why didn't he ever smile?
- Mojo. Mojo. - Keep watchin' out.
- Let me kick that extra point. - Not this time. You did enough.
- Come on. - Chris Comer! Come in.
Comer! You're in the game. Come on.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, son. Come here! Come here! Where you goin'?
- You don't want me to go in, Coach? - You don't want a helmet?
- Where's your helmet? Go get it! - Yes, sir!
- You see my helmet, man? - Find your helmet, son.
What you lookin' for, Water Bug?
Let me get this real quick. Let me get your helmet, man.
- Come on, come on. - My goodness gracious.
Boobie.
Water Bug, you can't come out here with no helmet, man.
- You seen my helmet right here? - I can't believe it.
28 sweep. 28 sweep.
You don't know where your helmet is?
What are you thinkin'? Where did you put your helmet?
- Right there a second ago. - Well, it ain't there!
Do you not know that you play the game with a helmet on?
- Put your tail end right there. - Hut!
He throws back to Miles.
Miles cuts to his right.
Bailey takes him down.
- Was that a knee? - Could have been.
Hold on. Hold on.
Winchell was still in there. Billingsley was still in there. Unfortunately...
the running back's been taken down hard and it looks like a knee could possibly...
Just gonna touch the kneecap here.
Does it hurt over here, son?
Get up, Boobie.
Let me take a look at this. Let me look at it.
It's definitely his A.C.L. I mean, it's a legitimate tear.
- Do you think he tore any cartilage? - Maybe. I could feel the knee catching.
What do you think?
This kid, it's all about how he responds mentally.
I don't know.
All right, everybody. Listen up.
He's gonna be fine. It's not serious. There's no tear. He'll be back in a week.
That's the good news.
Even better news, y'all played a great football game tonight.
A real good football game.
I'm real proud of ya.
And Mike... Where's Mike Winchell?
Mike, I'm proud of you, son.
You showed discipline. You showed leadership.
You played your butt off, son. I'm proud of you.
All of you. Proud of all of you. And, uh, Wilson...
Now that's body tackle. That's what I been tellin' you about.
Did y'all see him tonight?
Anyway, I'm proud of every one of you.
I'm proud of the coaches, all of y'all, each and every player.
I want you to go celebrate. Feel good about yourselves tonight, okay? Come on!
We only got a minute and a half left in the game, we're leadin' by a good lead.
He leaves the boy in there like that. That makes no sense.
You gotta protect your best asset. What's the matter with this man?
He could have ruined the whole season for us right there.
We were up. We were winnin' big, and the boy stays in the game.
Yeah. What's... You don't need any more. You don't need to accomplish any more.
I think Coach Gaines is a stupid f... in' idiot.
Hey.
Well, he sh... You know, he shouldn't have put him in.
I mean, we had a big lead and everything.
I don't understand what that was all about.
- We can't do anything without Boobie. - We had the game won...
I'm feelin' some damage on the right side here.
- Well, can I play on Friday? - I think you got a slight tear.
- Can he play? - Yeah, can I play?
Can he play football?
Can I?
You need to get up to Midland, get an M.R.I.
Can a M.R.I. fix your knee?
Is he the one player you can't do without?
Well, I... I never looked at it that way.
A football team is not about one player or two players.
A football team is about the team.
This is a unit, and that's the way we have to play.
Uh, it's gonna be a... It's gonna be a challenge.
You are makin' some bad decisions!
You're playin' like the village idiot.
You want people to think you're the village idiot? Is that what you want?
The Eagles take down the Panthers, 49-6,
and for Coach Gary Gaines, it's gotta be back to the drawing board.
That's gonna be the word around town all week.
Coach Gaines, what are you gonna do?
The loss of Boobie Miles can not result in the loss of this season.
- Hell of a game. - Gimme the keys.
- Way to take care of business. - Gimme the keys, Dad.
We, uh... We just need a few more days, Coach, and we be back.
You go into Midland, get that M.R.I.?
I don't need nothin' in Midland.
Those rich hillbillies ain't never seen nothin' as pretty as Boobie Miles.
Them M.R.I. machines wouldn't know what to do with it.
He gonna be just fine, Coach Gaines.
Uh, we gonna go back to the clinic but they already said ain't no tears.
- No tears? - Ain't no tear.
Is that what they said?
Yes, sir. Uh, we gonna go back for some double confirmation,
but when it come time to play Midland Lee, we be good to go, Coach.
That's good, then.
He designed his offense around one player.
- We're dead. - We're not dead.
We just need to start throwin' the football.
We're dead.
Dead. Pull it.
We gotta lighten up. We're 17.
Do you feel 17?
I don't feel 17. Pull it.
We will win state.
Chavo, you're like a human pinata.
You get your ass all beat on more than anybody I know,
and you just sit there and spit out candy.
That's 'cause he's out of here. He's got the grades.
No matter what, if we win or lose, he knows he's gettin' out.
- He's like the one foot out the door man. - It's true, Chavo.
- You're gonna be drinkin' martinis, - Gimme the gun.
eatin' lamb chops, gettin' manicures.
- You're just jealous. - Removin' your freakin' shoes.
What's it like being the quarterback?
I mean, this is a big responsibility for a 17-year-old kid.
No. That is not acceptable.
Uh... It's sort of... I mean, uh...
It's not too bad. I know, uh...
- You are playin' like a fool. - Do you think you can handle it?
If you got a receiver gettin' jammed inside, what will you do with your brain?
- Yeah, I hope so. - What will your brain do?
- You'll throw outside! - Throw it outside.
You'll throw outside! Now you think you can do that?
- Yes, sir. - Well, show me. Show me!
Hey.
Yeah, well, I thought maybe if you came home it would help out a little bit.
She's sick. She's not doin' so good.
It's just kinda hard. Football's startin' and this is a lot.
Well, I thought if maybe you could come home, it'd help out a little bit,
'cause she's your mother, too.
Okay. Okay.
Okay.
Can you get the job done, Mike?
- We're pretty small. - I didn't ask you if you think we're small.
I asked you if you think we can get the job done.
Think so.
Well, you're gonna have to do better than "I think so." Is that clear?
It's clear.
Now I'm gonna assume that by now you've learned that the world's not fair...
and sometimes you get the short end. That's all you get.
And if you don't do something personally to fix it,
that's all you're ever gonna get.
Yes, sir.
Mike.
Do you wanna play college ball? Do you wanna get out of this town?
Think so.
Well, why aren't you doin' something about it?
My mind's not right.
One of these days you're gonna have to get out of this house.
You're gonna have to leave her.
Yes, sir.
You gotta accept the fact that people have to take care of themselves,
and that includes you.
- You understand that? - Yes, sir.
Okay. The truth is,
against some pretty overwhelming odds,
if... if you do decide to accept that...
Look at me, Mike.
If you decide to accept that,
you're gonna seriously fly, son.
Same song, different verse.
Middle of the second quarter, Cooper has a 14-nothing lead.
Things are really going south in a hurry.
But when you got an offense play built around one player,
that's great, as long as the player's there.
When he gets hurt, in this case like Boobie Miles did, what do you do?
I don't know, but Gaines better come up with a plan quick...
'cause the unthinkable's gonna happen.
The Panthers are gonna lose two consecutive district games.
Wilson gets the hand-off and he's got room to run on the left-hand side.
Across the line. Clotheslined.
And he's down.
Gimme a running back! We got a running back?
Permian has lost Boobie Miles, now Wilson,
- Comer! Comer! Come on! - Yeah.
leaving him with third-string running back Chris Comer.
- Hut! - Comer around the right side,
has some room to run and... runs out of bounds.
What is that?
- I didn't have a block. - You are so dumb! Are you scared?
- I didn't have no block. - Football is a contact sport!
- I think he's a sophomore. - May be lookin' for a badminton...
...scholarship or something.
That's not gonna cut it.
Blue 40. Hut.
The snap. Lookin' to throw. Here comes the rush.
Winchell avoids the rush, throws the ball, Comer turns from blocker to receiver.
Has the ball, crosses the 20-yard line, crosses the 30.
Comer to the 40. Comer to the 50.
- Where did this speed come from? - Go, go, go!
- Who was that? - It was Comer.
- Our Comer? - It was Comer. It was Comer!
Comer has a Mojo touchdown.
Chris Comer with his first varsity T.D.
Not letting go of that ball. Gimme the ball.
- 85 yards, the second-longest power play... - Gimme the ball. Gimme the ball!
...in Permian history.
Interception, Brian Chavez.
Abilene Cooper back to punt. It's blocked.
Touchdown, Permian.
- That's a Mojo touchdown. - Jesus!
Billingsley up the middle,
- picks up a great block from Comer. - Run, Donnie!
Forearm shove behind him, in for the Mojo touchdown.
There's your old school football.
♪ Oh yeah ♪
♪ Got my Mojo working, baby ♪
Where did this guy come from?
Chris Comer afforded a couple of fantastic runs and one fantastic pass reception,
leading Mojo from a 14-nothing deficit.
Hello?
I'm feelin' great. How are you?
I feel much better than I did before the hit.
This team has a swagger. They're walkin' tall. They're playin' tough.
I love these kids. I love the way Winchell's playin'.
Real good. They came together after Boobie went out...
He's got him. Touchdown in the corner.
You know, we just have to dig deep...
Comer's amazing. You know, he's stepping in just nicely.
My concern is that he doesn't have the experience in the long run.
If they can just stay strong, not get overconfident,
and take out Midland Lee I think we're goin', man.
I think we're gonna go all the way, but I'm a little worried.
Oh no, sir. It's just a small sprain.
- It was just, uh, a precaution. - We're on a roll.
Don't get started on the celebration dance. We got Midland comin' up.
Midland Lee is the real deal.
You don't need to be slackin' right now. You gotta be playin' and practicin'.
Permian zips past North Shore Galena 17-3.
Come on. We're five and one. The team is winning now.
They all win, but who we playin'? Come on. Mediocre teams.
Two losses could shut the door on the Permian Panthers.
Let's not start tootin' the horns just yet, you know what I mean?
You lose two division games in this football climate,
and you're done, Sammy. You're done.
- Midland. - Boobie.
This the best damn hospital in Texas.
The very best.
My son, Andrew, played for Midland, and ended up back East at Penn.
Oh, he playin' with, uh, Joe Paterno.
University of Pennsylvania. Uh, premed.
- Oh. - Just let it relax. You have any pain?
- Not at all. - Does this hurt?
- Nope. - None of that hurts?
Nope.
Okay. Go ahead and sit up and just let your legs hang over the side.
In fact, why don't you go ahead and get dressed and let me look at the scan.
I- I'm sorry. You're James' dad?
No, I'm his uncle.
Come over and let me... let me look at the scan with you.
Uh, this is the scan we just did today of his knee...
and this is looking right through the middle of the knee.
What we're looking at right through here is... is the A.C.L.,
and what this shows is that he's had a fairly significant, fairly serious injury.
James, let me show you. Right through here is where the injury is,
and it looks like you've had a pretty serious injury to that part of your knee.
Significant enough that...
that I have concerns about what you can do from here on.
So when can I suit up?
Well, let me just say...
with how your knee felt when I examined it and what I see on the scan...
With... with the... the things that you do well...
The reason that you're great is that you can run and cut and hammer people...
and you don't hesitate because you've got a solid knee.
When you don't have this ligament, you can't do that, so it's really out of the question.
What? No, no, no. That's... That's not what Dr. Spencer said.
He said three weeks. Three weeks is up, and I'm ready to play.
I understand. I understand, but again, when I...
Based on what I see when I feel your knee, examine your knee... What I see here...
You... You really can't play with this kind of knee.
What are you talkin' about, "I can't play"? I'm gonna play.
I'm ready to play. My team needs me. I'm ready to play.
- Listen to me. - I am listenin' to you.
I- I want... I want what's best for you.
- You and I are on the same page... - We ain't on the same page.
How you gonna want what's best for me? Hold on. Hold on.
How you gonna want what's best for me? You from Midland, right?
You from Midland? Huh? This is bull, man.
You just jealous 'cause you from Midland.
- What I recommend... - You jealous 'cause you from Midland.
Who paying you?
- Who paying you? - Come on, Boobie. That's okay.
You tryin' to take my football career!
- You tryin' to take my football career. - Boobie, let's get out of here.
Tryin' to take my football career.
Whatever you're sayin' to me, listen to me.
- Come on! - Pig!
Here back on Mojo Radio, it's Slammin' Sammy Stands.
I knew tonight's game was gonna be a big game, but it just got bigger.
Earlier today, Cooper beat Woodland, which means that if Permian wins tonight,
they're in the play-offs.
If they lose, though, they fall back into a three-way tie for first place,
and that means the tie-breaker is a coin toss.
So what'd the doctor say?
'Cause, see, if you go out there before your knee's ready...
Coach, my knee's fine.
You okay with this, L.V.?
Yeah, I'm good with it. Hundred percent.
Go get dressed.
The most storied rivalry in the state of Texas...
is Permian hosting the Midland Lee Rebels at Ratliff Stadium.
Tonight one of these teams could take a step toward the play-offs.
Permian has one district loss, both Cooper and Midland Lee have two.
There's no doubt about that.
A win tonight puts Permian in the play-offs, no coin flip needed,
plus it'll send the Lee Rebels home for the season.
Well, what do you know, folks. Look at this coming out of the locker room.
Number 45 has emerged from the locker room.
Boobie doesn't look like he's limping at all.
He looks good to me. He looks like he's ready to go.
Now the question is, decoy or player?
- He ain't gonna play. - I don't think so either.
From what I know about Coach Gary Gaines,
nobody holds his cards closer than Gary does.
- Come on, guys. Let's go! Let's go! - Hut.
Winchell pitches to Comer. Flipped on his head.
Winchell, pressured by Olivera, swings a pass out to Billingsley... Picked off!
It's Dominguez. Dominguez will take it in from 25 yards away.
And Lee brings home points.
Hang on to the ball, son!
Don't worry about it. Shake it off. Shake it off.
Don't worry about it, Coach. Let me spin. Let me spin, Coach.
Y'all wanna win, put Boobie in.
Set. Hut. Hut.
- Winchell will swing it out to Billingsley. - Come on, Donnie.
And the ball is tripped by Dominguez.
Kevin Lane, and a blatant body slam...
- by Billingsley. - Donnie! Donnie!
What's up?
My goodness. Son, is there something wrong with you? Are you mentally okay?
What are you puttin' your helmet on for? Take your helmet off, son.
You're gonna sit on the bench for a little while. You don't need that helmet.
Third down, with less than two minutes to play in the half.
Strandler over the left side, uncontested. 32 yards down to T.D.
Permian came in with a four-game win streak but they haven't been tested all year.
Coach Gaines is gonna have to find a way to get his offense on track...
or start feeling his season slipping through his fingers.
Do you think you're playin' football? Do you think you're playin' football?
You are showing me nothing.
Do you understand me? Do you think you got it made?
Because if that's what you think,
you're gonna find out what it feels like to sit on your asses...
and watch Midland Lee take your season!
No offense tonight for Mojo, and still no sign of James Boobie Miles.
Y'all wanna win? Put Boobie in. I'm about to spin.
Come on, Coach. Come on, Coach. Let me get this for you.
Under five minutes to play and Lee still leads 14-7.
Weak defense, weak offense and no Boobie. If you're Coach Gaines, what do you do?
Right now Mike Winchell can't get this offense going,
and the Midland coach has seen Boobie on the sidelines.
If you don't put him in, he knows you're bluffing. I'd put him in.
All right. Move out!
Come on!
- Boobie! You're in. Let's go! Let's go! - What you want, yo?
Well, we apparently are all gonna get what we wished for,
because here comes Boobie Miles, and this is certainly what the fans came to see.
That's number 45 back in the Permian backfield.
- Back slam, 37 stretch... - Break!
Now Boobie the senior, number 45, lining up behind quarterback Mike Winchell,
and offensive line is rarin' to go with room to run.
Three, 12, hut.
Miles going left. Hesitates just a bit.
Get off! Get off!
- Let's go with 60-Cheetah. - 60-Cheetah!
Let's go! Let's go!
They're gonna cheat up close to the line again
and see if they're gonna run Boobie one more time.
He will go to the right. There is a hole.
He gets a block. The Dominguez brothers take him down. He spins and he's down.
Take it easy. Stay down.
- Don't touch it. Don't touch it. - Try to relax.
Let me take a look at it.
I'm gonna get up on my own. I can get up on my own.
Folks, the utter joy of watching Boobie Miles trot back on to the field...
has been replaced by the sheer misery of watching him being carried off of it.
We unfortunately may have seen the last of Boobie Miles...
...in the black and white of Permian.
Let me see. He's done.
- We're gonna go jet fire, Coach. - Well, you better go somethin'!
One minute 35 seconds left to play in this one.
Panthers move immediately to the hurry-up offense.
Boobie no longer a factor. Comer, following the tackle, will dig up near midfield.
The clock now inside of 1:20. It'll be second down, Permian.
Lee clinging to that seven-point lead and time becomes a factor.
- 60 Cheetah. - 60 Cheetah! 60 Cheetah! Hut!
Again, Winchell to Payne, beating Preston.
Only 40 seconds left.
Mike Winchell trying to keep Permian's play-off hopes alive.
- Completes the pass. - He's got it. He's got it.
Winchell was drilled, but he seems to be okay.
- Back it off! - Winchell, past time, he's lookin'.
Again, Winchell to Payne. The clock continues to run.
- 25 seconds left. - Go, go!
Let's go! We got four up!
Hold it. Hut.
Mike Winchell trying to keep the play-off hopes alive. Complete.
We gotta go with...
This is for the ball game. The clock is still moving.
Come on, front line!
Mike Winchell will go for the shotgun,
- steps back and he drops the ball. - Pick it up! Pick it up!
Picks it up, steps into the pocket, looking for Allen Wyles, he's open.
Here's the pass, and it's... too tall.
Midland Lee wins the ball game.
- It's all right. - No, man.
- I'm sorry. - It's all right.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- Thanks for nothing, Permian. - Go home, cowards.
I don't understand what's gonna happen at this point. How do we...
Another loss, and that's thrown us into a three-way tie.
- They're going to have a coin toss. - You gonna be all right?
- I'm okay. - You're serious?
That's right. We're gonna get the three coaches, they're all gonna toss a coin.
I love you.
What the hell kind of way is that to make a decision?
When you assemble the kind of talent that we have here,
and then you just throw it away like that.
It started with him playin' Boobie when we had a big lead.
And now... This is a once in a lifetime thing to be able to see these people...
I mean, we could have been in the history books.
And now? Ain't no way.
- I mean, that's it. - What about Winchell's play tonight?
Well, what do you think?
- And that Billingsley couldn't hold on... - They all suck.
And I think it just goes to the coachin'.
That's what it is. You know what else it is, too?
They been doin' too much learnin' in the schools.
My daddy used to take a bullwhip,
and he'd cut it up...
And he'd tie 13 knots in it.
Then he'd beat me and beat me in my gut...
till I got a sick feeling in my stomach.
Well,
that's how I feel...
when I watch you...
play... football.
Sick at my stomach.
Oh, I need some fresh air!
- Aah. - What the hell are you doing?
Get this sickness out of my stomach.
- Yeah. - Goddamn it, Dad.
You were sent down here to learn how to play football.
And you haven't.
You have not!
And I gotta take that as a personal... failure!
Nobody in Mojo football wants to win in a coin toss.
But that's the way it is. That's the way the tiebreaker is.
Well, they oughta change that.
They ought to change coaches... Make a lot of changes in executing.
I was supposed to make a man outta you.
Shit.
You know what that is? Do you know what that is?
That's a state championship.
- I won a state championship. - Just calm down, Dad.
Can you touch that?
Can you... touch... that?
Can you... touch... that!
Hell with it.
What the hell are you doing?
You drunk bastard!
You ever feel cursed, Coach?
Like, no matter what, inside your heart you feel that you're gonna lose.
Like something's hanging over you,
following you like a witch...
- What is wrong with you? - or a demon that just...
- Why you gotta be so messed up? - You can't win.
I feel like that all the time.
Even when things are going good.
When we're winnin', it's there.
And when we're losin', it's there.
What is wrong with you?
It took me a long time to realize that, uh,
there ain't much difference between winnin' and losin',
except for how the outside world treats you.
But inside you, it's about all the same.
It really is.
Fact of the matter is, I believe that, uh,
our only curses are the ones that are self-imposed.
You know what I'm sayin'?
We, all of us, dig our own holes.
God, Dad.
♪ Breaks somebody's back ♪
What is wrong with you?
What's wrong with you?
Ladies and gentlemen, this is truly unbelievable.
A three-way tie for first place.
So, in less than an hour, this truck stop,
which we're not allowed to reveal the identity of,
will serve as host for a coin toss...
that will send two of these teams to the state play-offs...
and one of them home empty-handed.
Okay, Skip. We're on in three, two, one.
Folks, we're here with the three winning coaches.
Now, we've all agreed on the rules. Two out of three here, odd man out.
If you got one tails, they're out. If you got one heads, they're out.
It's a tough way after a great season for these coaches,
but this is the way it's gonna be.
When I give the word, we're gonna toss our coins.
And then the district's gonna have its two representatives.
Let's see the coins, guys.
All right, uh, Coach Doug McCutcheon from Abilene Cooper's got...
What is it, Coach? A 1922 silver dollar.
'22 silver dollar, all right.
Coach Gary Gaines from Permian, you got a...
'69 nickel. '69 nickel.
And from Midland Lee, Coach Earl Miller's got a...
Well, that's just your basic U.S. quarter.
Okay. Coaches ready?
- One. - Ain't no curses.
Two.
Three. Toss 'em.
Coins are down.
This one looks like it's heads.
Okay, that's heads for Abilene Cooper.
That's mine.
It's heads.
Okay. Midland Lee is also heads.
Hey, we got a third one over here, Skip.
Coach, that's you.
- Come on, Gaines. - Come on.
Don't touch that. Just leave it alone.
- Well, that's heads. - Yup. That's heads too.
Permian is also heads. Man.
- Yeah. - Well, that figures.
The way you guys' teams played each other this year,
it'd take more than one toss, so...
Hang on a second. You know, this coin's pretty worn.
Does this look like heads to you, Doug?
I can't tell the difference. It might be tails.
Folks, there might be some controversy here regarding Cooper's coin.
It's tails.
So, the good news is that life continues for both Midland Lee and Permian high schools.
At least for another couple of weeks.
That's the good news. The not-so-good news is...
that it looks like all roads are eventually leading to Dallas Carter.
And what a monster of a team Dallas Carter is.
This Dallas Carter team appears to be completely unstoppable.
I mean, the rumor is they've got nine players...
that have already signed Division 1 letters of intent.
Damn, them boys big.
They are a very, very good football team, people.
I'll get that car fixed today.
Yeah.
I don't want this to sound like an apology, but, uh,
- I didn't mean half the things I said la... - I know.
You just... You ain't gettin' it.
You don't understand.
This is the only thing you're ever gonna have.
Forever, it carries you forever.
It's an ugly fact of life. Donnie, hell.
It's the only fact of life.
You got one year, one stinkin' year to make yourself some memories, son.
That's all. It's gone after that.
And I'll be damned if you're not gonna miss it.
No guts.
What's up, Water Bug?
What's up, Boobie?
Water Bug!
- Play-offs belong to you, baby. - I'll make you proud.
What you all lookin' at?
Play your ass off! Win state.
Be perfect, all that shit.
This is a gift for you. It's gonna be worth a lot of money.
I bet it will.
You be perfect, Preacher Man.
What's up?
Now what we gonna do? I can't do nothin' else but play football.
Hey, hey. Don't worry about that.
Don't worry about it? I can't be doin' nothin' else.
You'll be all right, son.
I can't do nothin' else but play football.
- Why? We practiced and we practiced. - It'll be okay.
You told me we were gonna go to the pros.
What the hell am I gonna do without my knee?
You'll find somebody else. Don't worry about it, son.
No! I wanted to buy you a house!
They won't let me play, though.
It's play-off time in Texas.
And who cares if Permian snuck in on a coin toss?
You know there's been a lot of expectations for this Permian football team.
And you gotta love this play-off atmosphere.
They call this the thinning of the herd, the survival of the fittest.
Win, you go home. Lose, you play basketball.
Quarterback Mike Winchell. Runs back, pulls right, throws long.
- Caught. Touchdown. - Whoo!
The Panthers defeated Dallas Jesuit to advance to round 16.
They're goin' to the 20, to the ten, to the five.
It's Comer, folks, into the end zone for another Permian touchdown.
Chris Comer with another sensational performance.
Permian cruises past San Angelo and into the quarter...
Permian was afraid of that. Dallas Carter...
- Brian Chavez, touchdown. - A great reading player...
Permian defeats Nimitz 48-7.
Moving into the semi-finals of the Texas 5-A play-offs.
Advancing to the state finals.
Mike Winchell drops back, throws a 50-yard bomb.
It's gonna be caught by Parker. It's going out of bounds.
What a good team...
And that's it. Permian's gonna battle Dallas Carter...
for the Texas Class 5-A State Championship.
What would it take for you to come up to Texas Stadium?
How about if y'all come out here?
- Where? Yeah. - Over at Ratliff Stadium?
I still think there'd be a problem with our fans sittin' with your fans.
I don't see any problems.
We can bring in extra police to handle the crowd-control issues.
Mr. McClary, perhaps you're not aware, but we have an all-black community.
And frankly, between our communities, there are some issues.
Wait a minute. What issues are we talkin' about?
You know, I'm not gonna get into it at this table.
It's just different.
How about if we went with a neutral site?
Say College Station, or San Anton.
Somewhere like that?
Or, you know what we could do,
is the Astrodome.
Astrodome.
- I got no problem with that. - Good.
Let's discuss officials.
I think the simplest thing to do is get a zebra crew...
outta some neutral place like San Antonio, or somethin'.
Now are these zebras gonna be white or black?
Well, as far as I know, zebras are white and black.
What are we talkin' about here?
How many black stripes these zebras got?
I believe a zebra's got...
...about the same amount of black ones as he does white ones.
How many black stripes you think a zebra's got?
It makes sense to hire a crew as-is. That's how we always do it.
- Don't make sense to me. - It makes sense to me.
Not me.
Well, not a whole lot does make sense to you.
Yeah, there's a lot that makes sense to me.
So you think having an all-black officiating crew...
...is gonna somehow help you win the game?
Watch your mouth.
- Hey, Coach. - How you doin'?
- Ben, how you doin'? - All right, Coach. You?
- Oh, pretty good. - Hi, Sharon.
How you doin'?
We're just out gettin' flowers for the ladies.
Secretaries Week.
Oh, is that right? I'll be dogged. Well, see, I don't have a secretary.
So I don't have to worry.
You win state, Coach, we'll get you two secretaries.
- Everything all right? - Well, yeah.
Everybody's gonna be just fine.
Everything's all right, as long as we get out there...
and get what we need to get done...
and, uh, you know, win state.
- Boy, I sure hope so. - Yeah, me too.
Yeah, I want it bad as y'all do, believe me.
Yes, sir.
'Course, you know, Dallas Carter. That's a... That's a tough team.
- Real tough team. - Yeah? Well.
- We're a pretty tough team too, Coach. - Yeah, that's true.
So, uh, beat 'em.
Or what?
"Or what"?
Or...
You know, that'd be a real bad deal for you, Gary, so...
All right? Let's just get out there and get it done.
Get that state championship.
Well, I sure appreciate your support.
- We believe in you. - I'm glad you do.
- We're behind you, Coach. - See you, Sharon.
Well, that was subtle.
- Yup. - Are we gonna move again?
- No, baby. - It's possible.
No.
What do you think about Alaska?
- What about Alaska? - Well, you know,
I bet that they are not nearly as serious about their football in Alaska.
I think that's a real nice idea. We should go to Alaska.
Stay there for a couple years... 20.
- Okay. - Just somethin' to think about, baby.
- Mm-hmm. - I think it'd be really nice.
Build us a nice little igloo.
Baby, these boys are big.
Yeah, they are. Sure are.
- You get any sleep last night? - Oh, yes, sir. I did. I did.
Good. We got a six hour ride, so you can get you some more.
All right, Coach.
Coach.
- You got room for one more? - Absolutely. Hop on.
Mojo has come to Houston.
This is the Astrodome, the eighth wonder of the world, and today...
it's gonna be Odessa Permian versus Dallas Carter.
This is a moment these kids have been looking for their whole life.
They started playing as eight year olds in the Pop Warner fields of Odessa,
or in Dallas.
They've dreamed of the state championship laying in bed late at night,
dreaming of their chance to bring home the title, for their town,
for their team, for their school.
Folks, you better lock the doors, turn up the radios, strap yourself in.
We've got east Texas versus west Texas.
We've got Texas high school football at its finest.
No doubt. This crowd is jacked. This is gonna be an all-out war.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen...
Welcome, Dallas Carter fans.
Permian will be the home team in white. Carter will be the visiting team in red.
To the 1988...
Come on, fellas. Let's shake hands. Have a good ball game.
Texas 5-A...
I'm gonna ring your bell all day long, Mexican.
Football championship.
- Let's not fumble. - You too, Goldilocks.
Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!
Let's play football!
All right, Dallas kicking off to Permian.
We're underway in the state championship.
Harold Jones kickoff carries eight yards. Comer should down it there.
Wait. He's gonna bring it out. No. What are you doing?
Howser makes the tackle on the three-yard line.
And now Chavez is very slow to get up as he was just blasted to the turf.
Mike I want you to be patient in there, all right? Keep your cool.
Yes, sir.
- Be a leader. Okay? - Yes, sir.
The run's two-seven-seven dolphin. Let's go!
Saturday is finally here. The Texas Bowl is underway.
Winchell now first and ten for Permian inside their five-yard line.
- Winchell, under center will back up. - Here comes Stuber.
Dad gum it! Dad gum it!
And just like that, Stuber has given Carter a 2-nothing lead.
Which game are we in?
And Whitaker will find Grande and pass as Chavez is leveled.
And Grande will take this one to the half from more than 50 yards away in play.
There's not a Panther within ten yards of him. That's a Carter Cowboy touchdown.
Carter will go for two. They will not kick.
No surprise. This team has not kicked an extra point or a field goal all year.
Whitaker now will make his play. Going left will get the two-point conversion.
Cowboys, ten. Permian, nothing.
- What's it like out there, Ivory? - They're big.
They're fast.
Fun ride, huh, big boy?
They're dirty.
- Ball's gone. Ball's gone! - He's holding me, Ref!
- Plus, they fast. - Yeah, you said that already.
Hut!
Do not fumble against a team...
- Two runs to deep turn! - Keep your head in the game!
- Help me out! - 45-2 split!
It's gonna be Whitaker to Cane from 26 yards away.
He levels Chavez.
Oh, and another Carter Cowboy touchdown.
Go, Cowboys.
- Yeah! - Whoo!
All day long, baby. All day long.
- That's it. - Oh, yeah.
You're gonna have to wake up.
- You understand me? - Yes, sir.
Are you gonna let the offense do everything, or are you gonna help us out some?
- I'm gonna help us. - You gonna help us out some? Okay.
You gonna have to keep them out of the end zone
'cause if they score more than we do, we lose the game, 'kay?
- Right. - All right? So wake up.
It's been all Carter here in the first quarter.
Carter over 161 yards already, and Panthers minus 21.
Winchell is trying...
Comer stopped at the line again.
Great grandma's drawers! I can't believe that!
Winchell's downed again.
Right now I don't know if we need to worry so much about the scores,
just whether or not we'll be able to take all these boys home.
Permian's offensive line is being...
What in the world are you doing? Did you see that?
- Did you see that? - Back up, Coach.
He almost killed him!
Clay, this game is quickly spiraling out of control.
At some point you worry about the safety of the kids.
Tell you what. The Panthers came into this ball game really fired up.
Right now they've got the wind just knocked out of'em.
You've got to get your head in the game. Are you in the game?
- Yes, sir. - You have to wake up out there!
Yes, sir!
Five minutes left to play in a half that's been all Carter.
They lead 18-nothing. Third and one on the Permian 40.
Come on, Preacher!
Whitaker with a pro set in shotgun. Looking once again to throw the ball.
Gotta come off it. Let's go!
McCleery's comin' on the zone blitz.
Robert Whitaker will look to throw. Looking right. Ball is in the air.
And it's picked off by...
And I'm pretty sure the Preacher Man is headed for the promised land.
He may take this one all the way.
- He clears... - Yeah!
Finally a spark of life in the form of Ivory Christian.
Whitaker has taken him down.
Inside the Mojo's 5.
We've got plenty of time to get in this game.
Y'all need to wake up out there and play football, okay?
You need to find each other. 'Cause you need each other right now, so find each other.
Go field goal. Let's get on the board. Elephant-37. Count it on one. Ready.
Break!
Jump on the ball!
Left to Winchell, drops back, rolls right.
He's gonna run it inside the five.
Winchell throws this play towards the end zone.
Anthony has him, but Mike Winchell...
will stretch himself into the end zone for the Mojo touchdown.
Winchell strives for the goal line.
- Holds the ball out over the plane. - Yes!
- He didn't break the plane! - Coach, we've got him...
Hey, Ref! Did you see that?
- What? There's no way he got in. - He got in.
- How you gonna... - Coach James!
Winchell's without a helmet. Kicked in his face.
There's not a flag anywhere on the field! How can you miss that, Ref?
Time has run out in the first half.
Coach Gary Gaines and his Mojo Cats trail Carter by 26-7.
- What in the hell happened on that... - That's right, Green. You understand that?
Forty yards? Hell no!
You guys are not doin' any pass blockin',
You're just steppin' aside and lettin' 'em walk in...
Pop, pop, pop! That's what I want! All of you around that ball!
To go for two and get it every single time? That is ridiculous.
Do you realize they have not even...
- kicked a field goal yet? - Just relax.
We not tryin' to coach y'all now.
Coach done gave y'all all these adjustments, okay?
If you do everything the coach told you to do...
Two-point conversions,
I want those gone. Here is what we're gonna do.
We're gonna use our speed. We're gonna run Texas power...
What's wrong with y'all? Y'all are playin' like some little girls!
Y'all act like you never played football before! These guys are nothin'!
- You hear me? - They bleed just like we do.
- Yes, sir! - And sweat just like we do.
- Do you hear me? - They went through two-a-days.
We went through two-a-days in 110 degree heat!
Yes, sir!
I want you to hit everything that move! If the ref gets in your way, you hit him!
- Okay, then. Let's play! - They're cheatin' us too!
They're against us too. This is our team. This is us!
Let's go right now! Let's get it off now and let's go!
Permian is gonna have to step up here and establish some offensive confidence.
Let's go.
Well, it's real simple. You got two more quarters and that's it.
Now most of you have been playing this game for ten years.
You got two more quarters...
and after that most of you will never play this game again as long as you live.
You all have known me for a while...
and for a long time now, you've been hearing me talk about being perfect.
Well, I want you to understand somethin'.
To me, being perfect...
is not about that scoreboard out there.
It's not about winning.
It's about you and your relationship to yourself and your family and your friends.
Bein' perfect...
is about being able to look your friends in the eye...
and know that you didn't let them down.
Because you told 'em the truth.
And that truth is, is that you did everything that you could.
There wasn't one more thing that you could've done.
Can you live in that moment...
as best you can with clear eyes...
and love in your heart?
With joy in your heart?
If you can do that, gentlemen,
then you're perfect.
I want you to take a moment...
and I want you to look each other in the eyes.
I want you to put each other in your hearts forever.
Because forever's about to happen here in just a few minutes.
I want you to close your eyes...
and I want you to think about Boobie Miles,
who is your brother.
And he would die to be out there on that field with you tonight.
And I want you to put that in your hearts.
Boys, my heart is full.
My heart's full.
Ivory.
- "Our Father..." - "Who art in heaven,"
"hallowed be thy name."
"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done..."
"On earth as it is in heaven."
"Give us this day our daily bread..."
"and forgive us our trespasses."
"As we forgive those who trespass against us."
"Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil."
- "For thine is the kingdom..." - "The power and the glory forever."
Amen!
That's it, baby!
Hut.
Let go offense!
- Lead and roll. - Spread right Eagle.
- Are you hungry? - Thank you.
They're killin' us with their size.
They're playing some hard-hitting football.
- Whoo! - Get off the ball!
Drive hard!
Sit!
We will not be able to live, do you realize that?
- Let the boy play. - Get your guys back.
Golly bum!
"Z" up 543. Get to the first landmark or I'm gonna hit you as soon as you get there.
- On one, ready. - Break!
- Get hell into the snap! - Show me somethin'!
Whoo!
Did you see that? That's the way to play ball.
You know that was a bad call!
Now if he backs up on the next series, it'll be over.
- He can't drop back fast enough, all right? - Yeah, it's good.
After the blowout of the first half,
we've seen a showcase of defense here in the third quarter.
The score closing with Carter on top, 26-14.
10:25 remains in the fourth quarter.
It's third and ten for Carter as Whitaker is pinned and hit Drake for six.
Tackled by Thomas. It's gonna be fourth down.
You know Carter's going for it on fourth.
Unbelievable. James is not even gonna consider a punt.
So now Whitaker on fourth down as Carter will go for it.
He's gonna look for Graf. Graf's the main receiver, and this one bounces off the turf.
Oh, incomplete.
- No way. - Got that touchdown.
- Look, did you see it? - I'm gonna talk to him.
Well, I wanna talk to whoever did see it!
I wanna talk to whoever did see it!
This is big, man. Anybody get a better look? Gary?
- Did you turn? Jason? - I turned and looked, but I was lost.
- That ain't no catch. - I couldn't see it.
- Are you sure he caught that football? - His was a catch, Ref.
Lee, Mack, set 'em up. We got first down.
What are you talkin' about?
That was a bad call!
This man has it. This man had the catch.
There's no way. The ball came off the turf.
That is bullshit!
Here's the pass. Whitaker has found Graf.
Graf makes a one-handed phenomenal catch for another Carter T.D.
Chavez in frustration...
- levels him in the end zone. - Personal foul on the defense.
And that's gonna cost Permian 15 on the kickoff.
Called on the Carter two-point conversion. They now lead 34-14.
These Panthers are gettin' beat physically.
They're gettin' beat mentally. They're really down.
We've seen games like this before, but Permian's always been on the other end.
All right? We're lookin' for the next play.
Comer got across the five.
Comer, to the 30, to the 35.
Comer could go all the way, folks.
Comer, 25, 20, 15,
10, 5. That's a Mojo touchdown.
Chris Comer has brought Permian back one more time.
We're in this ball game now. We're in this ball game.
- 5:27 to play. Carter still leads 34-21. - Come on, Chavo!
They will pitch it to Grande. Ripped away by Chavez.
Let's go!
Yeah! Come on!
Now strong right, 81 Trojan horse.
All right. Here we go, fellas. Let's shock these punks.
Strong right, 81 Trojan horse.
Me and you, baby. We got it. Throw it deep. On one, ready.
Mike Winchell to Don Billingsley will go right.
They're on the run, but stop, wait. Instead he's looking for a receiver.
Winchell's open.
Winchell's open in the end zone. Winchell make a tremendous catch.
Winchell, with a touchdown reception, scores the Mojo touchdown.
- Whoo! - Yeah!
One more, one more.
But is it too little, too late for Coach Gary Gaines?
Mojo defense is really gonna have to step it up...
if they have a prayer of winning the state championship.
Grande, across midfield. Dropped at the 40.
- First down! - Let's go, baby!
The clock now has to be a concern for Coach Gary Gaines and the Permian staff.
We need to stop right now.
First and ten now for Carter from the Permian 30.
Less than two minutes to play.
One more Carter first down, folks, and that will be it.
- Grande hit. - Yeah, baby!
They do know how to tackle. All right!
What's my edge? What's my edge?
Second down and long. Promptly falls back.
Just keep rollin' it, baby.
Come on!
The clock continues to roll. This will set up third down.
Permian desperately needs a stop to get the ball back.
Grande right up the gun over Chavez.
Maybe just doing what he needs for a first down.
First down here, and the game's over.
- It didn't make it. - It's short.
- Short. By inches. - Okay. Mm-hmm.
James immediately signals he's goin' for it.
James is gonna gamble.
He can get these four inches and win the state championship, right here, right now.
Okay, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna do a Texas stunt.
Now, Ivory, you and Steen, I want you to twist.
Yes, sir.
- Steen, you go first. - Yo, Coach.
Ivory, you come off his butt into the "A" gap.
Yes, sir.
Lucas, you crash the "A" gap, too. Let's shut these cocky sons-of-guns down!
Now let's go! Let's shut 'em down.
Go, Donnie, go!
Let's go! Let's shut 'em down right now. Let's shut 'em down.
- Right here! - Take 'em.
West Texas football, baby.
Whitaker comes to the line.
- Okay, let's go. - Come on, D.
Looks across. Calls the cadence.
Hut!
Hands to his running back. Grande.
- Let it go. Let it go. Let it go. - Damn it, boy!
Yeah!
- Mike, I want you to show 'em who we are. - Yes, sir.
- Okay? Show 'em who we are. - Execute.
As Winchell gathers his teammates up into a huddle,
he can see on the big clock down in the end zone...
- one minute and 40 seconds to play. - Break!
One time out left, and he has 75 yards of Astrodome turf to go.
Green, 12, hut, hut, hut!
Winchell wings it off to Comer. Comer has it, picks up a block.
- That a way, Comer! - On three!
- Off to Billingsley. - Billingsley breaks out a big event.
We're at a first down.
- Way to go, son! - Stop the clock for goin' out of bounds.
Okay. Let's go. Let's go. Let's get wild!
Come on, Michael!
- He wasn't ready! - Let's go! Let's go!
Winchell adds time as he drops back. He's looking to the right.
Payne is wide open down the right sideline.
The pass is in the air.
This Tennessee-bound tracer comes halfway across the field to knock the ball loose.
Payne had it.
I'll tell you. Mike Winchell, folks,
- showin' how tough he is. - Come on, baby, get up!
To hang in there under unsurmounting pressure.
Winchell appears to be okay, folks. He's one tough dude.
- He's back on his feet. - Let's go, baby! We need you, Mike!
- "I" right. 90. - Mike, you all right?
- You all right? - Yeah, I'm all right, man.
Under a minute to play... 52 seconds...
Winchell will scan, pick it to Comer. It's a bootleg pass.
He's latched onto it. It's Wyles, down to the Carter 25.
Look, I want you to feel it.
Show me some heart!
Permian showing what a tough out they are.
Come on, Donnie! Go!
That's a first down! Whose game, baby?
Whose game is it? Come on. There we go.
Clay, he's hurt. He's hurt. He grabs his shoulder.
Trapper helps him off the field. Feels like he dislocated his shoulder.
- See ya, fella! - Bye-bye!
Shake it off. Get back out there.
- Strong left 90 "Z" five, ready? - Break!
Permian with 35 seconds to play go to Comer.
And Comer over the red zone.
- Ooh, God. - Ooh!
Did you see that? I'll back up when I'm through talkin' to you.
Comer is on Queer Street, walking towards the Carter sideline.
Winchell on third down, again, will drop the pass...
Hard to the turf. And Permian will now have to burn their final time-out.
Third and final time-out.
You have to pass. You have no choice but to pass.
All their backs are out.
- We gotta go to the air. - You gotta throw the football.
- They ain't got no runnin' back. - Trapper! Trapper! I need a runnin' back!
All right. Just relax. We'll pop this back in.
- On the count of three. One, two... - Aah!
We're good to go.
You're gonna set a Bronco stunt, then drive into the full pass three-man coverage.
- You got that? - Got it.
So, Clay, if you're Gary Gaines, what do you do?
Coach Gaines is done out of running backs.
We've got to go to the air.
- A vertical smash and go to a reverse. - I agree. I agree.
Coach, we gotta get number one across the goal line.
- Squeeze it. - I agree.
Hang on a second, hang on a second. Billingsley, can you do it?
- Yes, sir. - You sure?
- Can you hang onto the ball? - Yes, sir.
Okay, then. All right, now here's what we're gonna do.
We're gonna do "I" right wiggle, 34 switchblade. Now, let's go, Mike.
Hey, Billingsley. They gonna try to strip the ball from you.
Cover it. Cover the points. Roll with it. Don't resist it.
You got it, baby. No more fumbles. That's right! That's right!
Let's go, baby. It's in your hands.
Don't think about that shoulder. Just keep driving your feet.
"I" right wiggle, 34 switchblade.
For the state championship. I love all y'all, baby.
- I love all of ya. Let's go on one, ready? - Break.
Fifty-five thousand people in the Houston Astrodome, folks,
and every seat is empty because everyone is on their feet.
His offensive line digs in.
The Carter defense digs in to face it.
- Down! - Switch.
312. 312.
Come on. Run it right down his throat.
- Hut. - He hands it off to Don Billingsley.
Billingsley is lookin' like Larry Csonka.
Come on.
Billingsley holds it, runs over another Dallas Carter Cowboy.
Down to the one-yard line.
What guts to call that play. Fooled everybody on the field.
- Clay, wait a minute. - Holding!
I'm seeing a hold call by the official.
- Dad gum it! - Ten-yard penalty. Still fourth down.
- That's bullshit! - What?
Strong right, 20 to Frasier.
Winchell has to hurry. The clock will start as soon as the ball is reset.
Let's go! Hurry up!
32! 3! 30! Set! Hut!
It's Mike Winchell down to the five.
Is he in?
- You got him short. - That's the ball game!
I'm gonna miss the heat.
I'm gonna miss the lights.
Yeah, me too.
Stay low, boys. Keep those feet movin'.
Hey, Chavo. Be perfect.
You be perfect.
See ya, Mike.
See ya, Don.
See ya, Chavo.
Hey!
♪ Seagull, you fly across the horizon ♪
♪ Into the misty morning sun ♪
♪ Nobody asks you where you are goin' ♪
♪ Nobody knows where you're from ♪
♪ There is a man asking the question ♪
♪ Is this really the end of the world ♪
♪ Seagull you must have known for a long time ♪
♪ The shape of things to come ♪
♪ Now you fly through the sky ♪
♪ Never asking why ♪
♪ And you fly all around ♪
♪ Till somebody ♪
♪ Shoots you down ♪
♪ Mmm, yeah ♪
♪ Seagull, you fly ♪
♪ And you fly away today ♪
♪ And you fly away tomorrow ♪
♪ And you fly away ♪
♪ Leave me to my sorrow ♪