When the Game Stands Tall Page #6

---

body and spirit.

If this is too hard for anybody,

don't come in.

Why would it be?

All our patients

are here for rehabilitation.

Our job is to help them recover

from injuries received during combat.

It's long and difficult, but we're dedicated

to getting them back to functioning lives.

- Hey, Ma)'-

- Hey.

Hello?

I'll be right there.

Hey, would you do me a favor?

Would you finish up?

Thanks.

What are you looking at?

Oh, no, no, I just...

- You just what?

- Nothing.

What's the matter, boy?

Get on. Pace me.

- What?

- You do speak English, right?

Get on, pace me.

What? What did I do? Did I hurt you?

No, I'm just messing with you, man.

I can't feel anything.

Man, I-

Sometimes my legs hurt so bad,

I'd wish I didn't feel anything.

No, you don't.

No, I don't.

- What's wrong with you, boy? You blind?

- My bad, man. I didn't see you.

No, man. I swear I didn't even see you.

Hey, what the-? Hey! Hey, man!

Is that-? Was that pee?

Well, it sure ain't no Gatorade.

Heck, no!

Hey, nurse!

Come on, man!

Come on, Danny.

You gotta speed this up.

All right. Let him catch up, though.

Oh, great. You're a real gentleman.

On, baby.

Stop. Salinas. Quit it.

- Salinas, enough.

- I don't know if it is fast enough.

Show me what you got.

Let's go, Danny.

Show him what you got.

One night we get overrun.

I just curled up, waiting to die.

Till somebody dragged me

into this deserted mosque.

I look at the guy who just saved my butt.

He's just some hillbilly kid from Arkansas.

Hey, at least you got out.

If they could put me back together,

I'd go back today.

For what?

My unit.

Listen, half of them are still over there.

That don't make no sense.

It's simple. Over there,

who you are in the world don't matter.

Fighting for your country don't matter.

What does?

The guy next to you.

It's a brotherhood.

Let's go, boys.

You're running. Come on.

Come on, Danny.

Spartans for life, baby.

Live together. Die together.

Pick it up. Pick it up. Pick it up.

You wanna go faster?

Let's go faster.

Don't let us down, baby. Come on.

Let's go, baby. Come on, Danny. You

got this, dog. Don't stop, baby. Come on.

Do not stop on me. Do not stop.

You're a Spartan. Don't stop, Danny.

I can't. I can't.

- What?

- He's gonna go forever.

No.

Not forever, Danny.

Just a little more than you.

Long Beach Poly.

By every measure, the best high-school

football team in the nation.

Offensive line,

average over 300 pounds.

Their starters. Beaser.

Meet Buster Matthews.

Three hundred and thirty pounds

of pure aggression.

Poly runs 6O percent of their plays

behind him.

And you're gonna face him

the whole game.

But we have speed, right?

Their number-one wideout

clocks a 4.440.

I don't think we have anyone that fast.

Their key player?

Strong safety Darnell Bing.

Just committed to SC and plays

like he's been there three years.

Tayshon. You're a better match

for this guy's speed.

You're gonna start against Poly.

You're going into the most physically

demanding moment of your life.

Drive, drive, drive!

Let me go again! Let me go again!

Way to go, Beaser! Way to go!

All the way to the line.

One tradition...

...that defined this program

is the willingness of our players...

...to share their emotions

at the end of these meetings.

This team hasn't done that.

You guys are still carrying around the

stigma of losing the streak. Forget that.

Forget it.

Open up.

Talk to each other.

My brother was captain

of the 2000 team.

In four years, he never lost one game.

When we blew the streak,

I couldn't look him in the eye.

I'm done with that.

Everything we've been through

was for a reason:

To bring us together.

I love you guys.

I will die on that field

before I let you down.

Collapse. Not die.

It's just a high-school football game.

I've been on this team four years.

I've never once played

in a varsity football game.

I mean, I'm not good enough.

And that's okay, because

the greatest moments of my life...

...were the times I've spent on this team

with you.

I've never been prouder of anything

than being a Spartan.

When we first watched Poly's film,

and I saw Buster Matthews...

...I was scared.

Then I remembered something Coach

Lad told us on my first day of practice.

"Face your fears."

That night I pasted Buster's name and

his number on my ceiling above my bed.

And every night since,

no matter how tired I was...

...I've been saying:

"Buster Matthews, number 79...

...you are mine."

A hundred times every night.

I promise you, GUYS-

We're not gonna lose

because of Buster Matthews.

My old man is insane.

My mom used to keep him in line,

but he wore her out.

Once I made the team,

I thought it'd be better.

He became an animal.

I hated him.

Funny thing is, what-

What saved me

was being on this team.

I used to play as hard as I could because

I thought that would make him happy.

And then I'd be happy.

You guys love me

whether I'm scoring touchdowns or not.

I was missing that,

and you guys gave it to me.

I could never repay you for that.

But come tomorrow...

...I don't play for him.

L Play for you.

Welcome to Veterans Stadium, home

of the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits...

...where the De La Salle Spartans

of Concord, California...

...have traveled to the Southland for this

matchup of powerhouse programs.

At the end of last season,

these were the top two teams...

...and this was hyped as the game

for the national championship.

Dude, these guys are giants.

Poly is riding high

on 34 straight victories.

De La Salle's 151-game-winning streak

ended two weeks ago...

...and the Spartans come into this game

with an abysmal 0 and 2 record.

This team is struggling

and is nowhere as talented...

...as previous De La Salle teams.

This is the toughest game

on their schedule...

...and the most pivotal

of their season.

If they can't get a win...

...they will go into league play O and 3

and with zero momentum.

And here we go.

The first nationally televised

high-school football game is underway.

Ryan takes the opening kickoff.

And it's gonna be hot as the temperature

on the field has reached 95 degrees.

Poly is big and fast. Their offensive and

defensive lines outweigh the Spartans...

...by over 50 pounds per man.

Set, hut!

Chris Ryan gets pounded into the turf.

That's all you got?

Set, hut!

Salinas drops back, and his first pass

of the day goes to Tayshon Lanear.

- Darnell Bing lays a big lick on him.

- Twenty-two power pass throwback.

Get leverage on the corner,

occupy the free safety.

- Chris will be wide open behind you.

- Let's go.

Hut!

There he goes! That's it, that's it!

Go, go, go!

- Touchdown!

- Chris Ryan somersaults...

...into the end zone,

giving the Spartans a six-point lead.

Ryan is a force on the field

and has D-1 size and speed.

That's one, Chris.

I need two more from you.

Chris. Nice run. Dive in the end zone

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes