AllMovie

For decades football has served as a rite of passage for high school students across the nation. In Texas in particular, success on the gridiron is viewed as a notable indication as to the success or failure young men will experience in life, with loyal fans doing all they can to literally crush their opponents into submission. In the documentary, filmmaker Don Howard brings the sport of football, as well as cheerleading, under the microscope to view its effect on the students who participate and the families who support them. From following cheerleaders of eight small-town schools through tryouts, to exploring the remarkable energy put into football and following the young participants of both activities into marriage, this insightful documentary attempts to inspect the very foundation of sport as an essential component to life in Texas.