Friday Night Lights (2006–2011): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot - full transcript

Good morning, West Texas.

Slammin' Sammy Meade coming at
you with Panther football radio.

470 AM on your dial.

It's Monday morning and we
all know what that means,

only four days
till Friday night,

the night
that our Dillon Panthers

bring the hammer down
on the Westerby Mustangs.

Who wants to talk Panther
football? I'm all ears.

Hey, Sammy, this is
Susan, from South Bay.

This new coach...
Coach Taylor, right?

Eric Taylor,
that's right.



Well, he's got himself a
lot of pressure right now.

He does.

And there's lots of expectations on him.

And what the heck
is going on there?

You've got a news crew
following him around

every step
of the pre-season.

Who does he think he is?
Mack Brown?

He's no Mack Brown,
I'll tell you right now.

Well, no, Susan,
I don't think anybody is,

but let me tell you something,

he has stepped into the
number one team in Texas.

That's right.

And he does have
a news crew following him.

I agree with you, that's
a lot of added pressure.



But it's letting him know how important
this football is to us here in Texas.

I want to add...

Okay, Grandma, I made you
two tuna fish sandwiches

and I put your medicine
in the green Gatorade, okay?

Green Gatorade. But I
only want one sandwich.

Well, then, just eat one.

Well, but you made two
and I just want one.

No, no, no.
I'll eat the other one

when I get home
from practice, okay?

You'll be hungry
after that good old practice.

Yeah.

You,

I adore.

I think I'm going
to get me one of those signs

that say, "Landry Clarke,
utterly useless.

"AII-state jerk team. "

Yeah. I'd probably
be on that team, too.

Jason Street has a 72%
pass completion rate.

Not only is that number one
in the state of Texas,

that is number one nationally.
This boy...

Are you even
going to play at all?

Nope.
Seriously,

this is some kind of big misdirected
"Daddy, love me" thing, ain't it?

I can't keep driving you to
this practice and humiliation.

It's not good
for either of us.

You're an insomniac. You're up
anyway. I'm doing you a favor.

You should be thanking me.

You know, that was mean, man.
That wasn't nice.

You got to get up,
little bro.

Probably 49 players
right now, up and at them.

Right now, this minute.

Forty-nine players
on the move.

You're an ass.

Tim, they'll kick you
off the team.

Yup.

You're a brother,
don't forget, not a mother.

You ain't that good.

Twice the player
you ever was, man.

This is life.
This isn't Maxim magazine.

What's that supposed to mean?

Waste of time.

And no going out with
Jason Street this evening.

We're having
a family dinner tonight.

That means the entire family,
dinner together.

Rally rehearsal tonight.

She's going to be rehearsing

how far she can get her tongue
into Jason Street's mouth.

Nip it.

I love you, Dad.
Oh, I love you, too, babe.

How are you doing, Coach?
Tommy Hayskins.

Tommy? Welcome.
NBC Sports.

How does it feel to be head
coach after, what, how many years?

Six years, it is.

Got yourself a
heck of a quarterback.

He's a good boy.
Very proud of him.

Now you two have been at this
together for some time, right?

Yes, sir. He was my coach
all through Pee Wee.

And Coach Taylor's been QB coaching
me since freshman and JV year,

so it's been a while.

So, Coach, is it a coincidence you
finally get the head coaching job

the final season of
Jason's high school career?

It is. It's a very fortunate
coincidence.

You got to feel blessed

to spend your first year
with a young man

who's got the talent
and the moral strength

this young man
right here has.

Hut!

We'd like to get you all
on the field next Saturday

up in South Bend.

There are really no words
to describe the experience.

Sounds terrific.

We're ready
to get this thing done.

I think we are, too.

How good is he?

Mrs. Street, I've been scouting
quarterbacks for Notre Dame for 27 years.

Your son may be the best
I have ever seen.

We expect a lot of him,
and he produces.

And we're very proud of him.

We go in undefeated,
shattering records,

taking these high expectations
to unimaginable new heights.

State champions.

What's after
high school, Brian?

Me and Mack Brown are going
to get our win on in Pasadena.

Get my National Championship
on, my Heisman on.

It's known that
a couple years ago,

your father passed away,

and he's not going to be
able to see you play...

Look, I don't talk about that,
all right?

You want to ask me
football questions,

I'll answer
your football questions.

Okay.

Let's shift gears a minute.

There's been talk of racism
around this squad.

Have you experienced
anything like that?

I don't let that faze me.

I just keep my blinders on and
keep moving. I got things to do.

That's not racism, man.
I just don't like him.

He could be from Saudi Arabia
or Sweden or Czech.

That dude could be Santa Claus
and I still wouldn't like him.

My name's Tim Riggins
and I play fullback.

It's known that you're one of
the more aggressive players.

What do you find appealing
about that?

I just like to hurt people,
just put them down.

This is a very good
football team

and we all know each other
extremely well,

so that's how we play.

Saracen, go take a look in that
trash can for a yellow play sheet.

I think I accidentally
threw it out.

That's the ball right there
we want...

Tim, I don't mean
to be inappropriate,

but I do smell alcohol
on your breath.

Have you been drinking?
No.

Not at all?

No.
Okay.

Hey, you want to
play football today?

What the hell is going on
with you right now?

Are we not clear

that in five days a group of men
are going to be coming down here

to try and destroy you?

Does that...
Is that not clear?

Thirty-two.

Get up, Riggins.

These same men are going to
be coming down here

and they're going to use
everything they have to hurt you.

Eighty-four!

I'm tired of seeing that
out here on this field!

Eighty-two.

Get up, Riggins!

Get up!

Do you feel a little
extra responsibility?

There is a little bit
of extra responsibility.

Of course, that comes with the
territory. It's to be expected.

You want to do that,
you take it somewhere else!

How good is this team?

We're a very good team.

Man, this team's
the best team.

They got me.

Get up, Riggins.

They're going to attempt
to do this

in front of your mothers,
in front of your fathers,

in front of your brothers,
in front of your sisters.

Eight!

Come on, son, get up!

You're making us look weak.

I hate that guy.

One person fumbles the ball,
we all fumble the ball.

Hate him.

One person shows up half drunk,
we all show up half drunk.

Twenty!

This is business.
I keep it football.

We ain't got time
for your games, Rig.

Leave all
the other stuff at home.

We got a game to win.

Get up, son! Get up!

This is where
pretty much everybody eats.

I come here and get the
Aztec burger every day

leading up to a game.

Oh, yeah?
Is that an endorsement?

Endorsement, sir?

That could be your first professional
endorsement, the Aztec burger.

No, he doesn't have
any endorsements.

No endorsements.
No way.

I got some endorsements.

What you got?

Nike, Adidas.

Nike and Adidas? Isn't
that a conflict of interest?

Not the way
the Smash does it, baby.

I got so much skills,
there's room for everybody.

Reebok, too.

I'm gonna do Big Macs and
Whoppers. Coke and Pepsi.

Look, I'm going to bring the
whole world together, baby.

Then, I'm going to bust up
Paris Hilton's marriage.

Is that right?

The Smash is going to
be running hotel chains.

So, you going to go for it?

No,
it's the coach's daughter.

I know
it's the coach's daughter,

but is that
some kind of rule?

I mean, we can't talk to
the coach's daughter?

I wasn't aware of that rule.

Come on, let's go.

Yes?
I'm in your English class.

Okay.
So is he.

Yeah.

We were just wondering if you
want to, maybe, have some lunch.

You know, talk some
Moby Dick.

You're on
the football team, right?

Actually, no. I don't play.

He's technically barely on
the team. He never plays.

I hold extra points
sometimes.

He held two last year.

Not well.

But he's kind of the
backup extra point person.

I'm the backup quarterback.
Street plays. I don't play much.

But you're still on the team.
Mmm-hmm.

And I don't eat
with football players.

You know,
I'm not a football player.

And I don't eat
with you either.

No problem.

How do you see him handling
all these enormous expectations?

You know, Sports Illustrated
has this

as the number one high
school football team in Texas.

Oh, I know.
That's what I've been saying.

Oh, really?

You know, he just
handles it really well.

How interesting.

On the field, he's so
competitive, but after,

when we're alone,
he's not like that.

That is so interesting.
Really.

I'd be hard pressed to remember
anything in my entire life

that's ever been
so damn interesting.

Whore.

Smash? What's up?
Hey.

Can I eat a bite of
your burger?

Hey, baby, you can get a
bite anytime you want to.

Hey.

Hey, babe.

How are they looking?

They're fast and they run
a lot of counters.

So, I heard an ugly rumor.

Really?
It had to do with you and me

and a certain car dealership
opening tomorrow night.

Oh!

Shoot.

Did you forget to tell me?

I think that
I did forget to tell you.

Alaska.
I know.

I'm just saying.
I know.

A much more
relaxed lifestyle.

It's under advisement.

I'm starting to look
at this whole damn town

like a big, old,
out of tune guitar.

You know what I mean?

And it's smashed up like
some demonic crossword puzzle.

You know,
42 across, 11 letters...

Could that be?
Yes, it is.

It's Satan's horns.

And is that a word?

Because I'm seeing it
growing out of Street's mom

whenever she gets within 20
feet of a Notre Dame recruiter.

Stop.

Thirty-three down, eight
letters. State of bliss.

Starts with S. Dude,
you're just being random.

Try "serenity,"

a quality that's in dire
shortness of supply out here.

You know what?
It doesn't even matter.

I'm thinking about starting
a Christian speed-metal band.

You in?

Matthew?
You need to get a new friend.

Okay. Fine.

Mr. Street, is it true

that you can throw
a 400-yard touchdown pass

to three different receivers
at the same time?

This is true.

Then you must kiss me.

Is it true that you have
super-human powers

and can demolish buildings
and hurl fireballs?

This is true.

Then you must kiss me.

Is it true, Mr. Street...

That I love Lyla Garrity?

Yes, is that true,
Mr. Street?

That you love Lyla Garrity?

More than anything
in the world.

More than football?

More than almost anything
in the world.

Ah!

All right,
listen to this, y'all.

"Large, bright family home
nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac.

"Three large bedrooms,
a pool

"and his and her closets. "

His and her closets.

Relent.

I'm just saying.

I know.
I know what you're saying.

Darling, his and her closets.

Moby Dick is actually the
perfect metaphor for this town.

The cold black sea
representing the season

and all its uncertainties.

Dad?
What?

The magical white whale
is the Holy Grail,

State Championship.
Mmm.

The boat, I mean, the
whalers are the team, right?

The players and the coaches.

Smash Williams is Queequeg,

the hulking, African, Zulu,
harpoon-hurling whale-killer.

Who does that make me?
Coach Ahab?

Absolutely.

Coach, captain,
hunter, hunted.

Mmm-hmm.

Driven near the point of
insanity. His and her closets.

Driven to capture
what may be uncapture-able.

I'm not
so sure you're mine.

I'm going to have to order up
a DNA test on you.

Did you hear me?

If we can see
over this front line

and not bite
at those counters,

we may
just capture that fish.

His and her closets, baby.

Leonard, welcome.
What's on your mind?

I'm getting tired of
listening to people up here

worrying about the coach.

These people got nothing better
to do but worry about that?

We got boys
who can play football.

Well,
how's Westerby looking?

You get down there, coach?

Yeah, I just got back.

Yeah? What do you know?

I know they run some of the
fastest son of a bitch counters

I've seen in a long time.

Now, the front line's big,

not particularly heavy,
but tall.

That's going to make it hard
to follow that ball.

You're going to need to add
some height on your defense.

Maybe play Dillard and Oliver
on those defensive ends.

That way,
it'll give you some height

and you can see down
on them counts.

Yeah, I like that.

The hell with what you like.

You have got to
win this football game.

Now, Coach,
I'm dead serious.

You got no excuses and that's
a lonely place to be starting.

With expectations like this,

the only place
you can go is down.

That's the problem
with being this good.

Yeah, I know.

Now you got to
drill them on counters.

I will. Thanks, Coach.

How's the family?

Everybody's feeling fine.
Well, enjoy,

'cause it ain't gonna last.

Coach, it ain't that serious.
It's only football.

It's only football?

It's only football.
It's only football.

All right, now.

We have a few introductions

that we need to make
at this time,

starting with our mayor,
Lucy Rodell.

Thank you. Thank you.

And welcome, everybody,

to the opening of this
beautiful automobile dealership

owned and operated
by Buddy Garrity.

Congratulations, Buddy.

Of course we want to extend
a special welcome

to Coach Taylor
and his coaching staff.

Gentlemen,
can you join me up here?

Come on up. We want you up
here on the stage with us.

Well, this is your team,
ladies and gentlemen.

I'm gonna make this quick.

A lot of you know

my wife does most of the
talking around the house.

Going to get in a lot
of trouble for that, too.

Thank you, Mayor.

I want to second
what Buddy said.

I want to thank you, everyone,
for coming out tonight.

And I just want to say
what a privilege it is

for each and every one
of us standing up here

to be part of the mighty
Dillon football tradition.

We all, and I speak for

each and every coach, player
and trainer up here,

we all feel honored.

And we feel fully prepared to
represent this beloved community

this Friday night
and every Friday night

until we bring home
that State Championship.

Let's see where that love is
if he loses a game.

I know.

Panthers going to
play extreme.

Westerby going to cry
and scream

Panthers going to get
diabolical

Hold on, hold on, hold up

Like Tom Cruise
gets Scientological

Panthers going to
whoop that ass!

Long as Street
gets Smash the pass!

Come on!
Get it up! Get it up!

Put them rings in the air!
Put them rings in the air!

Make some noise.
Get up on your feet!

Hey hon.
Hey!

How are you?

Oh, how you?

I'm great.
How are y'all doing?

Oh, fantastic.
Good.

Now, Tami, how come you
never join us for book club?

Oh, well, you know with the
beginning of the season...

Oh, come on, Tami. Wednesday
night's our next meeting.

A little wine, a little
gossip. It'll be good for you.

That would be great.
It'll be fun.

That would be fun.
We would love to have you.

Oh, thank y'all.
Wednesday night.

We can't wait.

All right then.
We'll see you.

Aren't you the cutest thing
I've ever seen.

She is. She is.

Okay, we'll see you.
Bye.

Bye.
Thank you so much. Bye.

Stop it.

Excuse me.

How about a little space, huh?

Coach. Coach, let me see you.

Hey, Pete, how you doing?

Well, great to see you.

Hey, Tom. How are you?

Hey, good luck
tomorrow night, huh?

You know, we've been watching
your offense for five years.

Shoot, it's your time now for the
big money. Right? You're the boss.

You know, your name goes next
to that W or L after this one.

It's not like the last
five years, is it?

If he lets you call anything,
throw the ball, son.

Yes, ma'am.

Air it out there.
Yes, ma'am.

You know you got the skills.
You know it right there.

Well, thank you.

You've got what it takes.
You just let her fly.

Yes, ma'am.
You're a nice boy.

Why, thank you.
You've got great manners.

Yes, ma'am.

Knock it off.

You can't go into the game
tomorrow night like that.

The second most important thing
after defense is the kicking game.

And then they can get
their offense in there.

We're hoping we're gonna throw the
ball a little bit more this year.

Carpet bomb 'em.
Do you understand?

Chew 'em up, spit 'em out.
Yes, ma'am.

So we understand
each other, right?

Yes, ma'am.
Excellent. Good, good.

You like early Black Sabbath?

Black... Black Sabbath?
It'll make you mean.

You know, the other thing
some people think

is you've got to have a great
quarterback to win a championship.

That's obviously not true.

I am so confused about
what a blitz is.

It sounds a little sexual.

We've been by there
a couple of times

and didn't see any cars, and the lights
were off, and it concerned us some,

but you have been working.
We've been working.

We've been
looking at the film.

Have you ever blitzed
an older woman?

You could, you know.

Hi, Jason.

Tyra.

So, where's Lyla?

She's meeting me
here tonight.

Oh, that's too bad.

Why's that?

You know, it's got to get
a little old, Jason.

Like drinking milk
all day every day.

You ought to try a milkshake
every once in a while.

What are you gonna do tonight? What
do you do the night before the game?

You ever been a head coach
the night before the game.

You don't even know what
you're going to do, do you?

Jason, do you mind?

Smile for us.

Oh, is that
your new girlfriend?

No. No, sir.

No, excuse me.

Lyla.

Lyla, come here. Come here.

Look, I'm sorry.
It shouldn't have...

I don't even know
how it happened.

She snuck up on me, cameras
started flashing, I started smiling.

I'm sorry.
It shouldn't have happened.

What's your favorite
football team?

Well, you know. USC.
Oh, yeah.

Hey, Smash.
Hey.

I got to roll.

How are you doing there,
angel eyes?

Bored as hell.
I hate these things.

Yeah?

I mean, you got that, kind of
that deer-in-the-headlights look

that I'm
a little worried about

you stepping up
to the plate, here.

Hillary, I did not have sexual
relations with that girl.

What are you doing?

You know, just chillin'
on top of the world.

Picking diamonds
off the clouds, baby.

I'd love to pick you one.

Oh, is that right?
Yeah.

Funny. It's time to go home.

No, I'm having
a conversation.

It's cool, man.

Do yourself a favor, Williams.

Shut your face
while I talk to my girl, here.

Say that again.
You guys, stop.

Come on, Rigs.
You know?

No, Rigs, bring that.
Say that again.

I need to ask you something.

You're all about God,

but at the same time you
got that bling right there.

Guys, seriously.

You're some mouth,
aren't you?

We don't want you to go out
there and be soft and be scared.

Oh, we're not going
to be soft and scared.

We want you to be
aggressive, now.

Are you going to be able
to answer the bell

and bring championships
back to this town?

We want to win championships.

Play your drill!

Now, you guys really want to
focus on learning these plays,

because these are the
exact same plays that we run

and if you learn it
right here, like we all did,

you'll have
a pretty solid understanding

of what's going to be expected
of you once you get to varsity.

All right?
Yes, sir.

Mr. Street?
Yes, son?

Are you going to play
professional football?

I'm thinking about it.
I think you should.

I think you should play
for the Cowboys

and that you should be
better than Roger Staubach

and better
than Troy Aikman.

I'm going to think about it, but
I'm going to go through school first

and we'll see
what happens, son.

I think you can be better
than Peyton Manning.

Oh, I appreciate that.
All right.

Let's pray.

Mr. Street?

Do you think
God loves football?

I think that
everybody loves football.

Me, too.

Our Father
who art in heaven...

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

It sure is nice.
Mmm-hmm.

And you saw
the room in the bathroom.

I am telling you,

room in the bathroom is
what has saved more marriages

than Oprah
and Dr. Phil combined.

It is so peaceful, isn't it?

It is peaceful.

So why don't you have your
wife come down and take a look?

I'll tell you, I don't
think I have to do that.

I think she's going to
like this just fine.

Oh, I'm sure she will.

So you going to
make an offer? Hmm?

I'll tell you what.

Let's see how we play
Friday night

and then we'll be
getting back to you.

You're going to
kill 'em, Coach.

Well, I hope so.

Bring 'em hell.

I'm a little concerned
about Coach Taylor.

He's not been
a head coach before.

He's not experienced.

You know, he's going to
rely on Street too much.

The thing is is that you can't
just keep on throwing all the time.

I mean, this ain't
the West Coast, you know?

This is Texas football.

I understand.

He's got a running back like Smash
Williams. I don't think he's planning...

Here's how I figure
it's going to work.

Correct me if I miss
something here, but...

I'm cool just hanging out
right here, man.

You go do your, what,
maybe 10 years in the NFL,

say at five mil a year.

You give me one percent
of every paycheck.

When it's all said and done,

you and me are going to have
ourselves a big old hunting ranch.

I'll keep it stocked
with some ladies...

What?

Hello! Look, there's only
one little problem, Rigs.

I don't want you
living on my land.

Yeah, you do.

I'm the caretaker, Streeter,
whether you like it or not.

Here's to God and football
and, 10 years from now, Street,

good friends
living large in Texas.

Texas forever, Street.

Texas forever.
Yeah, Texas forever.

Yo, everybody, listen up!

Let's do it.

Let's touch God this time,
boys. Let's touch God.

Radio 470 AM and it is on.

It is game day, people.

And I have never felt this kind
of electricity. Not in years.

This town of Dillon, Texas
is on fire,

and I mean really on fire.

The Panthers
should win this game,

there's no question
about it.

With all the buildup
and hype this season

and the talent they have
on this team.

It's that great offensive backfield
for Dillon that has everybody's eye.

Jason Street
the quarterback

and Smash Williams
the tailback.

There's nobody better,
probably, in the entire country.

...finally got here after
a long summer of practice.

A lot of expectations on this
Dillon Panthers ball club.

The Panthers are
the team to beat.

Feed the dogs, spit in the
fire, lock up your daughters,

turn on the radio,
sit down and shut up

because it is game time,
people! Whoo!

Gentlemen,

there's been a lot of talk
about expectation lately,

expectation of what
we should be able to do.

To win.

People are expecting.

People are expecting
quite a bit.

I see us
winning out there tonight.

I have no trouble seeing that.

That is not
what I'm expecting.

I expect you boys
to go out there

and not take
this team lightly,

because I promise you,

they're going to come at you
with everything they've got.

I expect you boys
to execute.

Yes, sir.

I expect you boys
to play football.

Yes, sir.

Clear eyes,
full hearts can't lose.

Can't lose!

You deserve this.
Do you understand?

Yes, sir.
You've earned this.

The right to win.
You put that in your head.

You too, coach. Expect to
win. You've earned that.

We are underway.

Out to the left side, gets away
from one man, breaks another tackle

and gets about a 25-yard gain
out to the 40-yard line.

They can't wait on that.

It's a great way
to start the season.

We've got strong left I, Y
- flip, 24 counter, on one, on one.

Ready?
Break!

Let's see what this young
superstar's got for us.

Let's go, now!

First chance to see the 6'2",
190-pound quarterback, Street,

along with Smash Williams,
Tim Riggins in the backfield.

Hand off to Williams.

He tries that right side,
gets away!

Oh, this kid
can move.

Insufficient
by "Smash" Williams.

He bounces it outside
and breaks a tackle.

I want barracuda 550.
Barracuda 550.

And the hand off
this time

to big Tim Riggins,
the fullback.

He gets 10 yards
before being pulled down.

And you've got to love
Tim Riggins when he runs.

Strong left Atlantic,
27 stretch, on one, on one.

Ready?
Break!

Panthers on a roll just
like we thought they'd be.

First attempt
at the 35.

Street drops
straight back to pass.

He has Eugene Williams
open over the middle.

He's there! Touchdown!
Touchdown!

The first touchdown
of the season!

So, it's Westerby's turn
to respond, now,

after the easy
touchdown drive from Dillon.

Troy Holly brings back
the kickoff for Westerby

and up the left side,
the near side.

He gets away and gets a beautiful
run back to the Dillon 40-yard line.

And the first down call.

A little bit of misdirection
as they always do

and Campbell bounces
it out and gets away!

He's going to go
all the way to the end zone!

Westerby scores on its
first play from scrimmage.

You've got to be kidding me.

Wow!

We heard about these counters,
and man, are they fast.

What a great misdirection,
and it fooled the Panthers.

We're already into
the second quarter.

Westerby's Chaps giving us
all we can handle right now.

Big block, Tim Riggins!

Jason Street brings them out,

takes the snap,
drops straight back to pass,

looks left,
finds Tony Dolia.

He's there,
he's got the catch.

Dives for the cone. Did he
get in? Yes! Touchdown, Dillon!

Don't you fall for that!

That's
the sign of a great leader

and that's who
Jason Street is.

Westerby with a first down at
ten at the 30-yard line, though.

That's it!

And Ferguson with one-on-one
coverage is open over the middle.

He's got it!
Yeah!

Touchdown Westerby.

I'll tell you, Westerby's
showing up a lot stronger

than anyone thought
they would.

Coach Taylor
has got to do something

to get his defense
into this game.

You need to get your
head out of your butt

and start playing up your
home district potential!

Because you ain't doing it
now! He's having to help you!

How come we got one guy coming
and he's having to help you?

What are you seeing
out there, Street?

I'm seeing a lot of Texas
defense, Coach. Texas?

Yes, sir.
Our corners are jamming.

They're staying out there
in the flats.

It seems like I'm getting a
lot pressure off the outsides.

Coming off the ends
like crazy.

I can't...
I can't even see them.

The safeties are staying
pretty deep,

so we've got
a lot of short stuff.

We've got to come up
with a quick slant...

More slants
and crosses, I think.

What about fading them
over the top?

We can fade
if I have some time,

but they gotta beat
that jam off the line.

Plus, I'm getting blitzed
like crazy off the weak side.

I ain't even see it coming.

You are
not that good!

Let's see what's going on,
now. We need some more time.

Coach, they are running
a box down on us.

We have not been
communicating.

We're going to pick it up now!

Hey, you guys going to
communicate now?

Yes, sir!

We are going into a fistfight!

Smash gets
the call, tries to go outside.

There's nothing there and he
gets thrown for a five-yard loss.

That didn't work.

They're totally out of sorts
here in the second half.

Fellas, this is our field.
They do not push us around!

Street tries to find Corey,
but he gets bumped hard.

And even the passing game's
out of sync, Casey.

Nothing is working
right now.

It is really
a dangerous time.

Westerby blew out that
offensive line that time.

Fifty-four Manning,
and Street, they're fast.

Run your routes.
Have faith in your routes.

You will catch the ball.
It will be there every time

and we will take this
down the field.

Nobody expected Westerby to be
giving us this kind of trouble.

The Panthers are looking
completely out of sync.

Oh, come on!

Westerby right now clearly
with the momentum.

Ed, that was horse crud.

Watch yourself, Coach.

You let a team like Westerby
stick around long enough,

they think
they can beat you.

And the give is
to Campbell, and the counter,

give again
and he gets a long way!

All the way down
towards the goal line!

He is down
at the one-yard line.

They just seem to have no
answer for these counters.

Triple stack formation,

fakes once, fakes twice, gives
to Cameron over the top, dives,

and he's in the end zone!
Touchdown, Westerby!

The Westerby Chaps lead
with six minutes to go.

And Coach Taylor and his boys are in
deep trouble with time running out.

The Panthers cannot believe
what's going on.

Eric Taylor's got to do something
to figure this thing out.

Dillon trying
to rally from down ten.

A flick pass to Williams.
That's another first down.

Move the ball.
Move the ball.

We're going to come back.

Look at me. Are you
ready to play this game?

We've got strong left, 89
gun, 453 heat, on one, on one.

Ready?
Break!

...on the Panther 38.

Come on now, offense! Let's
go! Let's get it going!

Well, they've got to get
something going, down by ten.

They need two possessions and
score those two possessions

to win the ballgame.

Third and five.

And Street looks like
he's in command,

like we've seen him
look before.

This is a critical play
for the Panthers.

Three! Hut!

Street takes the snap,
drops back to pass.

Has protection,
throws a wobbler.

It's picked off by Chandler!
Interception!

He's got a good wall in front
of him down the left side.

Street the only one who
might be able to get to him.

A fumble on the play!
A fumble!

It's loose! Get the ball! Get the ball!

That's a gigantic hit
on Street!

He's down on the ground.
He is down.

Who is that? Street?
That's Street.

Trainer!
What happened?

And he's not moving.
That was a heck of a hit

when Street met Chandler,

and he was the only one that
could have stopped him from scoring

what would have been a game-ending
touchdown, basically, for Westerby.

He's not getting up.

It's very quiet here
in this stadium.

Doctor!
Honey, he's not getting up.

Let's go. Let's go.

You know this is obviously

the worst nightmare
for a coach.

And especially for a parent.

Well, you know, his
entire family, of course,

was in the crowd tonight.

Even some folks
from his family

from out of state
making the trip.

Why isn't he getting up?
Lyla...

It's okay.
No, he's fine.

Can you hear me?
Yes.

Okay,
let me check your eyes.

Sweetie?

No, no!

Jason, get up! Please!

I think it's a spinal injury.
I'm not sure yet, but he...

Can you squeeze
my hands for me, buddy?

Squeeze it. Good, good, good.

Can you move your feet for me?
Yes.

Good, good, good.

All right, so, we'll try to get
him on the backboard real quick.

Let's keep him steady, guys.

Oh. it looks like they're going
to have to take him off. In fact...

They've got him strapped
to the headboard now

and they're lifting him up and they'll
put him in the ambulance shortly.

Just move him sideways slowly. Perfect.

You're doing really
good there, real good.

Thank you.

We're going up.
One, two, three.

Okay, we're going up.

You know,
the amazing thing is

we've got the number one
football player in America

carted off on a stretcher,

but this game has to go on. It
has to be finished... Saracen.

Saracen! And the
third-string quarterback,

no one's seen this guy play, is Matt
Saracen. Start throwing the ball, son.

I don't know
if he's taken a snap

in practice.
Good God.

Well, you can see the look
on his face right now.

I don't think he ever
expected to play in this one.

Come on, let's go.

You know, here he is in, maybe,
the biggest game of his life.

Yeah, this young man's going to have
to get down to some serious business

because his team needs it.

And he's going to have to
communicate with this team

and get them back
in the game.

Coach, I need
your captains, please.

Captains!

Saracen,
quarterback's the captain.

Yeah!
Go, Saracen!

Okay, you guys.
Everybody all right?

We have just under
three minutes to go.

I want you to play hard
and I want you to play fair.

And I want you to go back and tell
your players to keep your heads up.

Hit only what you see.
Y'all understand?

I want you to take that back
and tell your guys, all right?

Let's finish this thing
up with style.

Best of luck, guys.

You've got to be calm
in this situation.

Don't turn the ball over.

Don't do something
foolish.

All right we're going
pro-right-90.

No, we're going pro-left-90,
pro-left-90.

You know the play, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Okay, okay, okay. We're going
pro... Come on, step it up!

We're going pro-left-90,
25 blasts, on one.

Ready?
Break.

Matt Saracen,
the sophomore, comes out

and leads his team
to the line of scrimmage...

Come on, Matthew!
... to take his first...

All right. Set! ... meaningful
snap probably in his life.

And everybody's looking
at young Matt Saracen,

who calls the wrong play
and gets drilled!

He went the wrong way and
he paid the price. All right.

Well, you've got to try
and get a first down.

Come on, come on, Matt!
You can do it!

Okay, here's Saracen
dropping back to pass

and he throws the ball.

Oh, man, this kid
is sure confused.

Hit his own man right in the back of
the helmet. Saracen, what are you doing?

That's not the way to instill
confidence in your teammates.

Get your arm up!

Saracen, get over here.

Panther time-out.

You okay?

Breathe. Slow down.

I want you to try
to read the coverage.

You remember
how to read the coverage?

Not so well, sir.
Look at me.

What you do is
you go out there

and you look
before you throw the ball.

You look and see
where the defense is

and you see
where our guys are.

You with me?
Yes, sir.

Then you throw the ball
to our guys. You got that?

Yes, sir.

Do your best. Go on.

Coach Taylor's
got to just be thinking

about getting out
of this game.

We're going full right, 25
shovel. Smash, this is you.

I got this.
All right. Ready?

On one.
Break!

Big old third down play
now for the Panthers.

Let's see if Saracen can at
least get the snap this time.

He's got to do something with this play.

Saracen back to pass.

A shovel pass to Williams.
Up the left side.

Has some room.
Run!

Up the field he goes.
That's a pretty good call.

That's awesome. Great job and
they needed that play, Casey.

All of a sudden, some life

on the Panther sideline
and in the stands, too.

Strong right eye, 28 tango.
Ready?

On one.
Break!

You can feel the energy
picking up a little bit, now.

Maybe something's
starting to happen.

I'm going in. It's on you.

Set, ready.

Saracen at
the line of scrimmage.

Hut!

Takes the snap,
pitches to Smash.

Come on, Smash! He's got the
room! He's going to go all the way!

Touchdown!

Just like that, the Panthers
are back in the game!

We did it! We did it!
We're back in this thing!

Now it's all
about the clock.

They've got
less than a minute to go.

Coach Taylor's got to be
thinking about an onside kick.

Gotta get the good hands people out
there right up and get that ball!

All right, here's the kick.
It is onside.

A mad scramble.
Westerby misses it!

The ball's still loose!

A scramble for the ball.
Who's got it?

It looks like it could be
a Panther ball.

Panthers have it!
Panthers have it!

Here we go!
All right.

All right!
Yeah!

Timmy Riggins comes up
with the football. Yeah!

Timmy!

Roll right 90, 475 high.

Son, we've got a chance
to win this game.

What a story! Young
Matt Saracen... Come on!

...bringing his team back
into the ballgame. Hut!

He drops back to pass...
No, fakes!

He hands it off and calls the
Statue of Liberty to Smash Williams.

He's got room.

He's going to have to get
out of bounds. And he does!

They're gonna have to
hurry. We gotta line up!

They're going to start as
soon as they move those chains.

Saracen trying to get the
team back onside. ... 994...

Taylor screaming out plays.

It's chaos
in there right now.

Twist right! Twist right!
Three! Three!

Go, go!

First they have to get
the play off.

Saracen calling
for the shotgun.

Come on!
He's back.

He slips, he falls.

He gets up on his feet, being
pursued by two Westerby defenders.

Go, baby!

Come on, Matthew!

He eludes a tackle.

The clock runs out.
He pumps.

Go, go, go!

He steps up,
he hurls that football.

Whoa, man!

Can this kid throw the ball!

He's got Dolia wide open.
He's got it!

At the 20, the 10...
He's going all the way!

Touchdown!
Touchdown!

Panthers win! Panthers win!

And Matt Saracen somehow

brings this team back
to win the football game!

How do you do?

Congratulation, Coach.

Right now it's not really
about who wins or loses, Father.

We just all want to be
with Street right now, God.

We know that
you work in mysterious ways

and we just want to send our
spirit, our presence, our love

just to heal him
in whatever way, Lord,

whatever might
be broke, oh, Lord,

just fix it right now, Father.

Jesus, in your name
we pray. Amen.

Amen.

Give all of us
gathered here tonight

the strength to remember
that life is so very fragile.

We are all vulnerable.

And we will all,
at some point in our lives,

fall.

We will all fall.

We must carry this
in our hearts,

that what we have is special,

that it can be taken from us

and that when it is taken
from us we will be tested.

We will be tested
to our very souls.

We will now all be tested.

It is these times,
it is this pain

that allows us
to look inside ourselves.