On Monday, Drew and DeShawn tell Mick that the loss isn’t his fault. They tell him that Foothill’s linebacker was such a big guy that he had to be on steroids. Mick wonders if this is true.

A rumor begins that day that Coach Downs is quitting. On Thursday, all of the football players are summoned to a meeting after school. Downs enters with the head custodian, a man named Hal Carlson. Downs tells them all that he has accepted a job as offensive coordinator at Pacific Lutheran University, and that Carlson is going to be their new coach. Downs leaves to allow Carlson to handle the meeting. He immediately tells Drager and Clark to leave, since they are currently on suspension and the meeting is for active players only. Carlson then asks each player to state his name and position. Then he announces that in one week they will be traveling to Tacoma to watch the 4A championship game. Attendance is mandatory. The meeting ends. Mick realizes that if Carlson kicks Drager and Clark off the team, he and Drew will be the only options. They’ll get another chance.

Mick goes to the library later that day and looks up Carlson on Google.