In 1962, nothing pulled the people of a small West Texas town together more than a high school football game against a neighboring community. For Tom Hopson, the star linebacker and center for the Badwater Tigers, there is pressure from many sources to beat their hated rivals in the homecoming game. His coach, Jim Tabor, wants to use the victory as a stepping stone to better positions. His quest to win the game puts Toms future football career in jeopardy.