Down, Set, Win!

In the sweltering heat of small-town Florida, a ragtag high school football team becomes the unlikely battleground for grit, growth, and redemption. Down, Set, Win! is a heartfelt, humorous, and brutally honest coming-of-age tale inspired by true events. Redcrest, Florida, was known more for its mosquitoes than for football—until a hard-nosed new coach pushed a mismatched group of teenagers past their limits. What followed wasn’t just a season. It was a transformation.

Set in the early 1980s and told through the eyes of best friends Kirk and Scott—two hormone-charged teenagers obsessed with girls and gridiron glory—this story blends punishing practices, back-of-the-bus humor, and the raw realities of navigating racial tensions in a town that’s nearly given up on its team—and itself. Under the unrelenting eye of Coach Collins, what begins as pain becomes purpose. For the boys who didn’t quit, they found something deeper than victory: pride, brotherhood, and belief in themselves.

Brimming with nostalgic Southern grit, unforgettable characters, and the soul of Friday night lights, Down, Set, Win! is more than a sports story. It’s a tribute to friendship, football, and the kind of small-town toughness that leaves a lasting mark. Whether you played on the gridiron or just cheered from the stands, this book will leave you laughing, aching, and cheering all over again.