[coach 1] Good, good, good, good, good! Yes! Let him go now!
- [coach 1] Come on, somebody! - [coach 2] You gotta run!
This ain't for the week at heart man!
- Down! Let's go! - Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
That's a perfect example of what not to do.
Do it again, I want it hard, you hear me.
I'm personally getting sick and tired of losing for the last two years.
Let's go!
We know that we're getting enough to play at the next level
But we haven't really done anything to prove to anybody
that we can do it as a team.
This is like another family to me so whenever I put my helmet on
and run out with the boys, having that brotherhood.
You can't get any better than that.
Get set, get set. Let's go, let's go.
The experience is there, the chemistry is there.
What more can you ask for, other than just to go out there and do it.
[Denny] We're gonna play fast. We're gonna play aggressive.
- Yeah! - Yes sir.
We're gonna walk out there with an ambition in our heart.
And that is to take this victory, and we're not gonna come away without it!
When Pastor Denny became the head coach again
that's when everything started to click.
[Denny] Everybody listen up, get in here, get in here close.
- Father God, - [All] Father God,
- bless my worship today. - [All] bless my worship today.
We have God. He makes us unified, he makes us strong.
And when you love each other and you're a family
you're gonna do great things.
That's why we have a motto here and that's God. Family. Football.
- In Jesus' name, Amen. Let's go. - [All] In Jesus' name, Amen.
[intro theme playing]
[wind blowing]
Evangel is the result of just one miracle after another.
My Mom has started this little school here in Shreveport Back in 1980,
she named it Evangel. This school was created
to give kids that might not have a future, a future.
There are teachers and administrators, who had this dream with my Mom
of starting this-- this school.
I played two years of professional football
but the call of God was for me to resume preaching the gospel.
1989 she said "You promised to give them a football experience."
So, I said, "OK Mom, you know, how hard can it be?"
The first year we only won two games.
Third year of our program, we did not lose a district game.
In the fifth year of our program, we won the state championship.
At that point, we were on our way.
[reporter 1] Evangel Christian Academy has transformed
into a high school football behemoth in Louisiana,
the eight state titles, national title in '99.
[reporter 2] The Eagles have the nation's longest home district winning streak.
81 straight wins dating all the way back to 1991.
[epic music playing]
[reporter 3] After Evangel's worst season in school history,
Famed head coach, Denny Duron returns to the program he built.
Everybody is wondering can he bring them another state title?
I never planned to come back as the head coach.
But four years ago we lost 68 upperclassmen
in two graduating classes.
When we arrived at 2020
seventeen ninth and eighth graders were starting on that team.
I knew they were gonna be good when they grew up.
And so I wanted to make sure that they continued to believe
and that they weren't so discouraged that it began to spoil things for their future.
And so I came back.
Everybody run, let's go.
Check Alabama, check Alabama!
[Parker] Two years ago when we went 0-9
people said "Man this is gonna be bad for y'all for four years."
And we knew we had to keep our head up and push through that.
Let's go!
[Kody] Sophomore year we didn't win a game, it was super tough
'Cause we had a lot of potential to win a lot of games.
The caliber of kids that we have. They strong, they big, they naturally physical.
Go Kyre!
[whistle blowing] I think we can win the state championship.
I'm sorry I shouldn't say that, we will win the state championship.
Fifteen is coming on that board.
[radio host] This is the Evangel Eagles' radio network, welcoming all you listeners
to the 2022 season.
Expectations are high here for this group of kids
to restore the glory after years of losing seasons.
As a senior, I think I'm gonna go out there and absolutely destroy some kids.
Which I've been waiting for this moment ever since I first stepped on that field.
I'm Toad, number 77. I'm a utility lineman because I play everywhere.
I moved here for my senior year and I was just
Nervous because I've always heard of Evangel being this big ol' school,
I didn't think I'd have a chance.
But the day I walked in and I talked to Pastor,
and everybody came up to me, acted like I'd been there.
Shook my hand, introduced me.
I was like you know what these guys are gonna be a good band of brothers.
I got my name Toad from my Mama.
I love it, it's like a symbol. She said whenever I was a little baby
that I would sleep up on her shoulder with my arms and legs tucked in.
She gave it to me and it stuck ever since.
You take a mullet, toad, and a 1990 F-150.
When you see a kid like that you're like "Yep, that's definitely Toad."
Wait did we pass a red light?
[rock music playing]
[ping pong balls tapping]
My name's Parker Fulghum, I'm number 13 and I play receiver.
Peyton Fulghum comment #12 and I play quarterback.
- We're twin brothers. - Twin brothers.
[Peyton] Making friends is a big part of football.
[boys hollering and chatting]
Our Mom always told us, "It's not about how important you are,
it's about how important you make other people feel."
And so that's our number one goal, even above football.
No matter who they are, or what they've been through,
Me and Parker will always be the ones that take them in and make them feel welcome.
[indistinct shouting]
[chattering]
[laughing]
My name is Sara Fulghum, and I am the mom of Peyton and Parker Fulghum.
[exclaiming]
I love football, it is teaching my kids so much character.
It's teaching them strength, teaching them to work hard for something that you want.
And to be a family outside of our family.
Peyton, Chris keeps tricking me, he says Mom and I think it's you and Parker.
- He says it exactly like y'all. - 'Cause he does a good voice.
- Mom! - I keep thinking it's y'all.
- Hey Mom. - He's got me like four times.
They want everybody to feel welcome, they want everybody to feel included.
And I just love that.
- Bro, you gotta come here. - [Rodrigo] What's up, buddy?
Buddy, Mama done whipped up something special.
- What's that? - This is the dessert
known all across the South, best thing by far.
This is a little bit of that banana puddin'.
- Banana pudding? - No, it's not a "G" it's an "N"
- Puddin' - Puddin'
You're in the South, it's an "IN" not an "NG"
Puddin' there ya go.
- Man-- Man you're tearing it up! - Mmm... mmm!
- Tell me that ain't good, son. - [Rodrigo] It's good.
Let's just cut right to the chase here.
When it comes to homecoming,
y'all got a date?
- [Laughs] - Come on buddy.
I have spoken to crowds of thousands.
I don't think the world has changed that way.
I think the world has changed in small rooms,
Where you look into people's eyes and you help them develop character.
Pastor has anybody said anything to you about the game, Friday?
- No, tell me, talk to me. - There's gonna be a game,
but it's just like the disrespect level that they have for us.
- Like they don't respect us at all. - Oh, I know it.
So, when they kick off the next place it's gonna be on.
You know, I think this could be one of those games that we're able to build on.
Gabe, I think your dad's real excited about all this isn't he?
How's y'all's repartee, how's y'all's relationship over the football thing?
Well, my dad every time I come to him after a game
First thing he says "Man what you doing there, what you doing right there?"
"You could've did this, you could've did that."
Sometimes I'm like "Dang Dad you don't think I did good?"
He's like "Nah man you just gotta do better."
I'm Gabriel Reliford I play defensive end,
little bit of running back and I'm number nine.
My plan is to go to college and play ball, and eventually, go to the NFL.
You know, that's not an easy path.
- Does that bother you? - No, I mean...
It's been like that since I was little, you know.
I gotten to the understanding that he's wanting for me to do better.
He knows the type of potential I have.
My sophomore season woke a lot of people up.
Had a hundred titles last year, and I had 15 sacks.
In my first year, Pastor Denny, he always just be in my ear telling me
that I'm gonna be the best player to come from here so I went out and chased it.
You will get there, sometimes God just has to work it out, you know.
Yeah.
[Radio host] The pressures on Coach Duron to turn around the team's fortunes
and win a state title, my goodness!
Evangel has won 14 state titles, a remarkable feat
for this little school in West Shreveport.
[Fabian] Hit! Let's go, baby, let's see it, baby!
Get on the field! Get that, get that!
Good! Yes Sir, I like that!
I love this drill.
[Carter] Get there, get there, get there!
[Denny] I have never seen a donut tackle.
Like he did, that was crazy!
[Fabian] Reset it coach, here we go, baby,
Show 'em, make sure you get this, I'm gonna make a film out of this, baby.
Our first game we played the Neville Tigers.
They were tough opponents, I'm talking about state-ranked opponents.
Set, Hut!
[Denny] Man, y'all are walking around and stuff.
Look at me, stop right where you are.
If you don't pick it up, I'm gonna replace you right now, do you understand me?
- Yes Sir. Yes, Sir. - Now you start picking it up.
[Denny] If I'm easy on these boys, they will lose.
What's the deal? Why aren't you running?
Work fast, work fast, work fast!
It's gonna be quite a slugfest.
If we win, we'll show 'em we're ready to play.
And we're ready to play with the big boys.
- Set, Hut! - [Denny] There you go, good!
Gosh, what a throw! Great throw, great throw give the man a hand.
Right there, good job.
Peyton, he is throwing a beautiful long ball.
And great football instincts, great athletic instincts.
One of those rare guys.
To look at him out there throwing that ball, it just takes me back.
- Nice shot! - Peyton, come on, come on!
Because that's how much he plays like his Dad.
- Yes sir. - Single right!
[Denny] Josh Booty was our first great football player.
And there are those that say "Well, he put Evangel on the map."
That's true. Josh was the national player of the year his senior year.
Being recruited above Peyton Manning.
Bingo.
Our dad was a quarterback here and did lead them to the first championship team.
He played in the NFL, played for LSU and so,
You know, some people like think you're Josh Booty's son!
Like you're a good quarterback because of your dad.
But none of that is true at all.
He went 12 years without being around.
Growing up I never threw the football with my dad.
And of course, I wanna be better than him,
And when I go play in college, or if I make it to the league
If he ever tries to take the credit I'll be very quick
to correct him that none of the credit is his.
[indistinct shouting]
[Denny] Perfect, that is like perfect! We're done, we're done, we're done.
I think the biggest part about us right now, is this Bible study.
Going in there at seven o'clock in the morning, sixty of us guys
In that little room in there just talking about the Lord.
We put our faith in Pastor Denny.
Anytime I get to just sit down and be in his presence
and listen to the words he has to say is the greatest.
Let's get ready guys, let's get ready to go into the presence of the Lord
and give him all of our energy this morning.
Father God, right now I speak a Father's blessing over these men.
They're yours, they belong to you, every one of them.
My very first time to even touch a football,
it was like God came into the moment.
And He spoke to me, He said what is in your hand?
And I said well it's a football, it's a football Lord.
[Denny praying]
He said if you will give it to me, I will use it.
I said well Lord, it's yours.
I pray in the name of the Lord for their hearts, for their bodies.
That you will mend their bodies of wear and tear.
And I pray, oh God, that you will allow them to understand, with great confidence,
that you are for them.
And if you're for them, who can be against them? In Jesus' name Amen.
[All] Amen!
[Irv] Thank you, coach, page one, three, five, two
starting with verse nine.
[All chanting]
[Denny] Come on in here, hurry up, let's go.
[indistinct shouting]
- [whistle blowing] - [Fabian] Come on! Let's go!
Superset! Yeah, we gotta get a superset! That's why we light on it.
[clapboard clacking]
My name is coach fabulous Carter...
Cut, I'm sorry.
I don't-- I don't even know where that came from.
I'm the assistant head coach here at Evangel Academy.
I coached Steven Sivak, I'm also the disciplinarian.
So I'm the bad guy. I get to keep everybody in line.
Hey Clay, Dicky let's go!
Come on Greg! Come on Greg!
When I see Coach Carter though, I just-- I laugh.
[whistle blowing] Yeah, buddy!
He be like "Keep going!" I'm sitting there like "You doing a little too much my man."
Beat 45!
[equipment clattering]
Don't be mad I'm not a six, beat 45!
Pastor and I kind of bumped heads when I first came here
because I came jumping off the ship, like a pirate.
I mean I came from a culture where things was different.
It'll be a situation I'm ready to bust head on it, right now.
And the pastor was looking like "That's not how we do it bud."
I said, oh Lord, he gonna be on me.
- [Denny] Alright, popsicle break. - [All cheering]
Now see he ain't as tough as he used to be see now I'm the new gunslinger now.
Let's go, hurry up, you've got 35 seconds.
Thirty-five seconds, eat that popsicle, come on now.
- How about a minute coach? - One minute!
- Give 'em a minute. - Alright, minute 35 seconds
Minute 35 seconds come on, can't get a brain freeze here.
[Radio Host] This is the Evangel Eagle radio network, reminding you
our season kicks off this Friday night.
Come on out and support your Evangel Eagles
And watch 'em, and cheer 'em as they battle it out on the field.
- Toad, you ready? - Buddy, yes!
We've waited all summer to do this, let's see what we got here.
So we gotta-- we gotta take this helmet off.
Ya know, I don't think this thing's been ran for a while.
When I was younger that e-helmet used to work and it was the coolest thing.
For the past three years, I've been here, it's just been sitting over there
getting erosion on it. Rain's just falling on it.
Snow's been on it, it's been through everything.
My goal before I leave, is to get this up and runnin'.
Coming out there with the helmet leading us after we run out of the tunnel
for homecoming, uh, that would be my dream right there.
We definitely gotta clean that all up, look at that, that's not good at all.
- Should the seats be redone? - I was thinking more of
like a two-inch lift with Chrome rims and tires.
We gotta put an air conditioning in and heating in.
You pick it up about like that and drive it around.
You gotta have your Subs, and you gotta have your rims.
- Dixie horn in it. - You gotta have the LED lights
Lifting it up, Chrome tires and rims.
Throw everything on there, new paint, new stickers.
Decking it out and it's gonna be awesome.
Alright, alright, alright. Good Lord, it's hot outside but it's hotter in there.
Woo-hoo!
Alright.
[whistle blowing]
- [player] Ready up! - [All] Ooh!
[Denny] Anybody excited to play a game tomorrow?
[All] Yeah!
- Who we playing against tomorrow night? - [All] High school kids.
Are those high school kids better than you?
- [All] No, sir! - Alright.
Our first game, we need to win.
Because that win is going to be the thing that everyone's hopes hinge on.
Set go! Got it? Down, set go!
I mean just make 'em jump.
Ready ready! Down, set go!
Nice action! Hey, it's OK, it's a nice action man.
I think-- I think you turn your shoulder just a tad too early.
Down, set go!
[Denny] We teach and preach and practice
playing one play at a time, 'cause that's all you can play.
Championships are not made of just the tangibles.
They're made of the intangibles. You've gotta have unity.
You've gotta have a group of guys that really love each other.
That really are a family.
It's tough to beat a great team,
but it's almost impossible to beat a great family.
[Radio host] Eagle fans, tonight promises to be a barn burner.
Can Evangel pull off an upset against number three in the state
The Neville Tigers?
[Jacob] Let's go, game day, baby!
[Caleb] What do y'all think about the game tonight?
If everything fails it's gonna be one in the trenches.
[Parker] First play of the game, I will get a catch.
- Wait what is the first play of the game? - First play of the game
it's uh, ace right 70 Cob.
Poggers thrown in the comeback, he's gonna score, then he's gonna do the sensei.
Watch, mark my words right now, he's gonna do the sensei.
Our team's ready for our first game, we're excited to go out there
and throw it all over 'em and light it up.
Last year we didn't have very many wins, so, that's our number one goal.
We work all week and watch film all week and prep
for the game, because that's all you wanna do is just win, win, win.
- Are y'all excited for the pep rally? - I'm super excited.
[drumline playing]
[Crowd cheering]
[indistinct shouting]
At the end of the day, like playing Nevilles, it doesn't intimidate us.
So, we're gonna go out there, really fight.
[cheerleader] Y'all come out to tonight's game!
- [rain pattering] - [thunder rumbling]
[Radio host] Fans looks like we're gonna have rain this evening.
So, it's gonna be ugly.
Let me tell you we're gonna support these boys that have been working out
all summer long, getting ready for tonight. Grab an umbrella.
[Denny] Hey, hey, hey. [Whistles]
Put on your headgear and strap it up. Now listen to me,
there's a scripture that says this,
"Faith without works is dead." Again!
[All] Faith without works is dead!
You're gonna have to go out there and take the right step.
Faith without works is dead! And you know what we worked hard!
- [All] Yeah! - But all the work that we've done
doesn't translate to tonight unless we do it!
- [All] Yeah! - Yes sir!
And we're gonna have the privilege and honor of whipping those guys!
[All cheer]
[announcer] We pray tonight for protection for the players on this field.
Thank you for these two football teams comprised of some great players,
and great leaders.
Here we go! That's what we want!
If we win this game right here, we're gonna have a great season after this.
I mean it's the first game of the season so I'm like it's time to eat.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and dessert.
Kick-off, kick-off, kick-off.
- Bust 'em on three! One, two, three! - [All] Bust 'em!
[announcer] Here we go Shreveport, the Eagles won the toss.
They elected to kick off, the Tigers get the ball first tonight.
[grunting]
[Carter] Luck, lucky, lucky!
Go, go, go, go, go!
[announcer] The Eagle defense led by Gabe Rellerford is locked in tonight.
Punt return! Punt return!
[annoncer] Neville is forced to punt.
It's a bad snap, the Eagles are after it!
The kicker recovers, and he boots it downfield.
Evangel's got great field position to start this possession.
- Ace left. - Go, go, go!
[Peyton] Hey, let's take it to these boys, let's sort 'em out.
Here we go, ace left, ace left! Seventy cob.
Ready, ready! Down set go!
[announcer] Peyton Fulghum looking, he tries to connect
with his brother Parker, he's too high.
[crowd groaning]
I need a towel, I gotta have one. Freaking slipped out of my hands.
You know, going into Neville week, the whole week we're like
OK, corners play 12 to 15 yards back but we'll be able to throw all over,
and so that's what we repped all week at practice.
And then it gets to game time and it's muddy.
Ready, ready! Down, set go!
[Anouncer] Rain is really coming down now,
that makes an air attack really tough for the Eagles.
[Peyton] It is just straight slob. We can throw a wet ball,
but not only was the ball wet, it is muddy.
There is no way you can throw a ball that's been sitting on the ground.
Give me footballs, come on hurry up!
Guys this is-- this-- the game's riding on this!
Dadgummit, let's go!
Set, go!
Hey, I need a new ball!
Everybody execute!
Dammit!
It was like there's no point in even trying to throw it because you can't.
- We gotta run it. - Oh, I know.
This game is a knockdown, drag out in the mud bowl.
I can't tell who was who.
They're all wearing solid brown uniforms and helmets.
Out there fighting it out. Anything could've happened.
We're gonna do everything we can to win this football game.
[announcer] That's the end of the first half, no score.
Neither team has been able to get any traction on this field.
Our guys, they've held their own,
but let's see what adjustments Coach Duron can make in the locker room.
[Denny] As soon as we came in the locker room
I said, "Change into the blue uniforms."
I don't care, you gotta get it off! What you gonna do cut your ankles off?
Everybody's gotta change, hurry!
Everything dry, let's go! Hey, hurry, hurry, hurry!
This is what's called a home-field advantage, come on!
Let's go, everybody out! Everybody out, let's go, everybody out!
[announcer] Second half now,
neither team has been able to adjust to the pouring rain.
The field is turning to mud.
[Fabian] Go, go, go, go, now!
[whistle blowing]
[indistinct shouting]
[Fabian] Good, good, good! Go 40, go 40!
Nice job people.
- Set, go! - Go, go, go!
[announcer] Peyton passes, it's another incomplete pass.
That makes it fourth and 14, the Eagles will have to punt.
[Fabian] Punt it, punt it, punt it, punt--
[announcer] It's a short punt, Neville picks it up!
Number three has it, lots of daylight ahead.
All the way down to the Eagle's 30-yard line!
[Denny] I need a turnover!
[announcer] Neville's quarterback, he's deep in the pocket,
he looks, he's got a receiver!
[Denny] What is that!
Oh, now there's a flag on the play! This could be costly.
The Eagles need a big stop right here.
Here's the snap, quarterback gives it to the running back
he cuts through the middle! There's a missed tackle, oh no!
Touchdown Neville!
That will rip the heart out of these Eagles.
And they push in for the two-point conversion.
[horn wailing]
The Eagles fought hard tonight, but the rain
and a bad punt proved too much in the end.
We're gonna start this season 0 and 1.
[Denny] You're gonna be alright.
Listen to me!
You guys played your hearts out!
We wanted to win that one! Thought it was ours!
Well, all of our hard work, everything we gave,
is not for nothing!
If the Neville Tigers are rank number three in the state.
Then we're dadgum in the top five too.
You are a great football team already!
Next Friday night we get to do it again.
Get on in here, and let's pray. Father God, we're hurting...
[Duron] You're quitting! You've got a game in about 48 hours!
You either gonna get with the program or you gonna get gone with the program
[Denny] We made ourselves this promise, never again, that it would be different.
[Crying] I wanted this win so bad!
Come on! Do this! This is where you win!
[arguing]
- And you know what, we worked hard! - [All] Ah-ooh
You don't let him go outside!
[Peyton] I pray that you bring him back better and stronger Lord,
we need him on this team Lord.
- Get your head out your ass bro! - It's football let's have some fun.
I wanna play with some guys that have some energy and some zeal, alright?
Get your hair on fire and let's do what we know how to do, alright?
High school football, nothing like it!
[announcer] Another bad snap, Peyton's sandwiched by the defense!
I don't care whose fault it is! Go do your job, you gotta win!
- You gotta win! - Get back in the game!
We got something to prove!
[Denny] I declare that you're gonna find out who you are tonight.
All the work that we've done doesn't translate to tonight unless we do it!
[crowd cheering]
[Denny] I declare that tonight you're gonna walk off of this field...
With the feeling that you have rarely had in the last three years.