"This riveting story about a high school football team is more than just the intriguing tale of a season. It's also the crucial examination of America's passion for our true national pastime, football."-- Christine Brennan, USA Today "We've read about concussions and worse in the NFL and colleges, and now Kostya Kennedy examines the game at a high school rich in pride, tradition and battle scars. He paints a thoughtful, big-hearted picture of an old-school coach, players whose passion can overwhelm their judgment, second-guessing parents and yesterday's heroes, ranging from a violinist to a convict. 'Make your moment memorable,' one alum tells the team. It is Kennedy, however, who does the most with that advice."-- John Schulian, editor of Football: Great Writing About the National Sport "Takes the energy of Friday Night Lights to a new stage and shows us what comes from playing the game at the center of a great moral debate."-- TourÉ "In a time of football discovery, as we amass evidence for and against the dangerous, exhilarating game, Kennedy reports from the high school sidelines.

He's a reliable witness for both sides, offering a clear, thoughtful reflection that will help parents and fans to arrive at a crucial verdict: Should I let my kid play?"-- Nicholas Dawidoff, author of Collison Low Crossers "An echoing book about what football is about: hard-thought facts and heart. Kennedy has plenty of both. Reading him is essential for those who love the game."-- Terry McDonell, author of The Accidental Life.