Will’s father is happy that Will’s football season is a go. Even so, he comments on the irony of a big sneaker company—similar to the ones that put Forbes Flyers out of business—saving the day.

Will returns home for his bike, intending to track down his teammates and share the good news. While there, Ben Clark—whose family moved to Castle Rock and who quarterbacks for their team—calls Will to offer him a spot on their team. Clark heard that Forbes’s 12-year-old team was canceled. Will confidently turns him down since Forbes will have its own team in the league.

By the end of the week, Will’s joy turns to worry. Even with himself, Tim, and others recruited from last year’s team, there are only 10 players. They cannot convince any other boy in the seventh grade to join. Worse, they have lost Bobby Carrington, their quarterback, and his father, Mr. Carrington, who coached their team. Mr. Carrington is moving the family so he can take a banking job in Toledo, Ohio. Another player, Carlos, intends to play soccer for Castle Rock instead of football for Forbes. A boy named Brendon cannot play due to a broken arm.