It seems like one thing after another happens to make Rocky late for practice, and the other boy that is also in training for the safety position, Jared, is beginning to play very well. Jared is a soccer player, who doesn't especially like football, and then Rocky discovers that the reason is because Jared's new step-father is the coach, and he is playing just to please his mother. Rocky feels like he has just reached his limit. Bobby manages to make him late for practice several times, sabotage his geology project, and then wants Rocky to be his campaign manager so that he can run for student council.

You can always count on Matt Christopher books for exciting, action-packed sports stories, and Stephanie Peters has written a very innovative football story that is also about many other issues: envy, revenge, loyalty, friendship, and the excitement of competition in a great sport. The easily visualized play-by-play action takes you right into the game with compelling characters and real emotion. Even reluctant readers will enjoy this electrifying story and want more.