Friday Night Lights (Finish)

The final parts of the book deal with Permian's playoff run and the subsequent careers of the graduating seniors. First, Permian finishes their season in a three-way tie for the league title. Since only two teams can go to the state playoffs, there needs to be a tiebreaker to determine the league champions. This tiebreaker takes the form of a coin toss. The rules are simple: three coaches toss coins, and the odd one out loses. Permian manages to barely survive the toss and their next three playoff games. This sets up a semifinal match against the Carter Cowboys, a team that mans four future NFL players, including 5-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Armstead. While Permian players get preferential treatment at school, the Carter players barely have to go to class. They routinely received answer sheets along with tests, and were beneficiaries of a grading system that valued tests as much as showing up to class everyday. Even so, there was an academic scandal surrounding that year's team that would lead to Carter forfeiting its eventual state title. After Permian loses to Carter on the last play of the game, the book splits off into briefly covering how the graduating seniors react to the end of their careers. Some, like Ivory Christian, attend college, looking to play football. However, most burn out after realizing that college football cannot match the Mojo intensity. Don Billingsley, one of the hardest drinkers and partiers on the team, returned to Odessa and, while not exactly finding Jesus, quit alcohol and lived a healthier, cleaner life. "Boobie" Miles, the running back who tore his ACL, never quite recovered the breakaway speed that had made him a Division 1 college prospect. He bounced around at a junior college before finally returning to Odessa. Just about the only success story out of the Panthers is the one guy everyone knew would be a success. Brian Chavez, the #1 student in the class and Harvard-bound tight end, completes his term of study at Harvard and then goes on to law school at Texas Tech. After going to one Harvard junior varsity football practice, he realizes the enthusiasm is not there and never plays competitive football again.