It was early 1980, and Split River High was thriving as usual. Highest grades in the area, best sports scores ever recorded, etc.

There was a new student in the school, Wally Clark, and he gathered simply from the first few weeks of being here that this school didn’t take messing around like his last did. But it was already bad enough as the coach had thrown him into the football team despite him having no passion for it at all.

So he had no choice but to get into the game. He went to every practice, won every single goal, even pushing himself up the league unintentionally and making his way to the top of the team, soon becoming captain.

The big game was coming soon, a few days to be exact, and coach was pushing the team further than expectations. Further than what they were capable of. Wally, despite being scared out of his mind, pushed himself to reach the best he could during practice.

Now there was only a few hours to go until they were on the pitch, playing the biggest game they’d ever played. The one that would decide everything for the school and its success.

THE GAME.

The game had started, and was going in Split River’s favour so far. They were so close to winning, the score being 3-3 and these final few moments being the decider for who took top of the table. Wally was taking over the ball, running and swerving every attack from the other team, and he was inches away from the goal.

And then it all happened.

A slide to the ankle, a sly tackle, and he went straight for the floor. Lost control of the ball, slipping head first, and the sickening crack filled the room. And the horrific sight was there for them all to see.

Wally, dead on the field, with a broken neck.