Football Genius

Troy lands in the water and swims to the surface. Tate has jumped in with him. When they make it to the shore, Tate asks him what he was doing. Troy tells her the story of what happened at the game.

They climb up the riverbank and swing from a tree until evening time. Troy tells Tate that if he was ever going to have a girlfriend, that it would be her. She says she would do the same. Troy says he wishes she were his sister, and Tate comments that she kind of is already. When Troy gets home, his mother is standing in the kitchen with the stolen Falcons football in her hand.

Troy tells his mom the truth about stealing the ball, leaving out the part about Tate and Nathan accompanying him. Tessa yells at him, saying she is ashamed to call him her son. When Troy responds that perhaps he should go live with this father, his mom gets angry and slaps the sofa cushion beside his head.

Troy goes to his room and yells into his pillow. Angered, he reasons that a kid without a father is not likely to ever get a chance. Finally, he falls asleep. The next morning, Troy’s mom drives him to the Falcons’ facility along with the stolen football.

Troy’s mom tells Cecilia that they have come to apologize to Seth. Cecelia dismisses them. On their way out, Troy and Tessa bump into the team owner, Mr. Langan. Troy’s mom tells Mr. Langan the whole story.

Mr. Langan is empathetic and tells Tessa that he will speak to Cecilia and work it out.

Later that day at school, Jamie and Troy have another conflict. That afternoon, halfway through the practice, another team unexpectedly arrives; Coach Renfro has arranged a surprise scrimmage against the Norcross Knights. As the scrimmage is about to begin, Jamie collapses, suffering a mild allergic reaction. Troy quickly takes to the field.

Knowing he is short on time, Troy works quickly. He ignores the coach’s call for run plays and calls his own deep passing play to wide receiver Rusty instead. As he throws the ball, Troy uses his anger for fuel, thinking of his father who abandoned him and channeling the energy through his arm. Rusty catches the pass for a touchdown.

Coach Renfro is not happy. He yells at Troy for changing his play and tells him to do 10 penalty laps for being disobedient. The Knights coach is impressed, however, and he compliments Troy on his pass. By the time Troy has finished his laps, the scrimmage is over.

Back home, Troy is grounded for a week. On Friday afternoon, Tessa tells him that Seth Halloway is coming by the next day and asks him to prepare an apology. Tessa reminds Troy that he cannot steal, no matter the circumstances. She also brings up the subject of Troy’s father, asserting that Troy’s father simply couldn’t own up to his responsibilities and ran away to Chicago.

Later that night, Troy is awoken by the rumble of the midnight train on its run to Chicago. The next day, Seth Halloway arrives in Troy’s front yard.