Travis lives in the former booming oil town of Oil Camp.  The oil business in town is slowing down and some things are going badly in the community, but what always cheers up the residents is the thought of their high school football team, the Roughnecks.  Travis is a senior in high school and a football god.  The championship game against the town's biggest rival, Pineview, is coming up.

Earlier in the season, Travis feels like he cost his team a win against Pineview, so he thinks of this game as his opportunity to redeem himself.

On the day of the big game, Travis goes through his usual daily routine, but his thoughts are in two places: ahead to the evening's game, and back over the events that have brought him to this point.

It was interesting to read a book that took place just over the course of the day but was so good at touching on all of the important things that led Travis to his place at this time.  Beware the ending of the book, though-it ends before the big game!  Perhaps this is meant to be an indication that the actual contest isn't as important as the journey?