Original subtitles

- [Narrator] Previously on 4th and Forever,

Glades Central edged out a couple of hard fought victories.

- That scoreboard's too close to leader.

- You guys have to start taking this game seriously.

- [Narrator] And Pahokee struggled

through a bruising pair of back to back losses.

- I'ma find out 'cause I'm gonna find

the guys who wanna play football.

- I think Jesus just got to show up

and speak to the kids himself like,

"Hey, listen stop playing,

get out there and play football"

- [Narrator] This week,

a tropical delude soaks the region

and Pahokee and Glades Central

find themselves playing a distinctly

Murk City style of football.

- Like the old school football raining,

put your hand in the dirt, go at it.

- It will still be in the stance, soaking wet,

we ain't going nowhere.

- [Narrator] But when the storm clouds finally part,

both schools will see their seasons

in an entirely different light.

- For some reason, they just don't understand

gravity of the situation.

How every play is so so important

that we cannot waste a snap.

- We on a mission, we coming to win.

You've gotta dig deep, do some soul searching real fast.

- [Narrator] Sunday morning.

Skies are clear, for now,

and this week in Pahokee, it's homecoming.

In local churches, there might be a few extra visitors,

many of them former players

who've come back for the big game on Friday.

- The churches are very much a big thing here.

There's like 50 something churches in this little town.

- Mighty God, living water, well upon me

water when I'm thirsty, thank you Jesus.

(congregation clapping) (congregation cheering)

- [Narrator] Presiding over one service

is Bishop Kenny Berry,

a former star cornerback at the Pahokee.

- My body.

- [Congregation] My body.

- Is the temple.

- [Congregation] Is the temple.

- Of the Lord.

- [Congregation] Of the Lord.

- We say Amen.

- [Congregation] Amen.

- [Narrator] In the congregations,

it's Bishop Berry son, Damian Berry,

now Pahokee's offensive coordinate.

- You still got work to do boy.

You gotta get busy, that's all.

- Yes, sir.

- [Narrator] Damian is under intense pressure

to win in front of a homecoming crowd this Friday night.

- In this area here, football itself is coming like an idol.

And I mean you've had success over the years.

And now you're not having that same success.

And it doesn't matter whether you've been successful or not,

they wanna blame coaches.

The people in the community, they are saying things.

- That's what really made me mad,

like the little fans be saying

what they be saying because they don't what we battling.

We don't have enough equipment.

- [Narrator] In fact, for the entire season,

Pahokee has been forced to make due

without one of the most essential

resources any high school football team needs,

the team weight room, which has been closed

for renovations to its roof.

- When we did this schedule,

we weren't prepare for our weight room to be closed.

Our weight room and closed the whole season.

Now that's not having that weight room,

that extra which does matter.

Now we got guys getting nicked up,

we got guys getting little bruises,

hamstring, little stuff that don't happen

when you have a weight room.

So that's been part of the issue.

- These are the different things about the battle enhance.

So I mean, we can't allow what they say

in the fan, in the stands and others,

keep your focus, keep your focus

and you dealt with those kids, man,

you just put your heart in there.

- [Narrator] On the other side of Murk City,

Glade Central senior Jermaine Mays,

is headed to what he and his teammates

might call the weight room of the mind,

otherwise known as the after school tutoring program,

something that Jermaine has wholeheartedly embraced.

- I'm a football player but as a student athlete,

so you have to be a student first.

So basically in the classroom,

I just try to be on my P's and Q's.

- [Announcer] Tutoring doors should be locked at this time.

- For the first times,

you've got a classroom full of football players

that are that interested in their academics.

For most times, this is not the norm.

They seem to be seen as athletes first.

You can see on the board is today's date

and so this essay is due today.

- I'ma show y'all how to write a real essay, you hear me?

They thought we dumb out here but we aint like that,

you know what I'm saying.

- He's a very good writer.

His vocabulary is astounding.

- They told me I ain't no writer but my work beg to differ.

- Beg to differ.

- I don't think he wants his buddies

to know how well he writes.

I've even had another teacher to compliment

how well he writes so that's a lot

of what our boys are going through.

They don't want to show who and what they really are

because they have this image to uphold.

- [Narrator] Today, every school in the Glades

sits on the winning side of state academic requirements.

There are no failing or even near failing schools here.

This academic success is stoking ambitions

of students like Jermaine that stretch

far beyond the football field.

- Being a senior, they always stress to us that

you gotta know what you wanna do.

And so I wanna study business, entrepreneurship.

That's what I'm trying to do.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] The week starts off beautifully in Pahokee,

where the Blue Devils will be taking on Seminole Ridge,

but storm clouds are on the horizon for Friday,

effective life and Muck City,

a community that was literally reshaped

by severe weather nearly a century ago.

- We had a hurricane in 1928

that pushed the wa inland for miles,

creating a huge flood, extremely high winds.

3,000 people perished.

- And as a result of the flood,

a lot of the muck from the bottom of the lake

actually kinda spilled out into our lands

and it actually left the black, rich soil,

it can grow anything.

- [Narrator] After the 20 foot floodwaters subsided,

the entire lake shore was reinforced

and redesigned to be storm ready.

- A lot of it was built after the hurricane.

Pumping stations and canals and all sorts of means

to deploy water south and that prevented any water

from draining out of the lake.

- [Narrator] The flood threat

that once loomed over Murk City is now gone.

(drums beating)

But severe weather remains on the horizon

for Pahokee's upcoming game,

putting extra strain on coach Boldin

to be prepared for whatever the other team

and Mother Nature throw at them.

- Rain does not stop football here.

Actually, it betters our kids.

This whether on any level forces guys to focus more

and when you put in an inclement weather

it actually heightens our sense.

Keith, come out here.

- [Narrator] But the weather

isn't the Pahokee's biggest concern.

It's their defense.

- There you go, good job.

- [Narrator] Recent opponents scored a combined 90 points

against the Blue Devils defense.

Time for seniors like defensive of end

Tamarick "Caveman" Best to step up.

- I got the name Caveman like 10, 11 years old.

I used to come to practice with no socks.

The head coach over at Glades,

he came up with the name caveman

because that's how they walk around.

They walk around no socks, no shoes or whatever.

Even college coaches call me that now.

- [Eddie] Caveman, he's aggressive.

- You all right?

- Matter of fact, he's one of the most

aggressive players on the team

and he's the player that everybody rally around

because he's always gonna give you 150%.

- You good, let's go.

- [Narrator] Caveman is fired up to play

on homecoming night and sees the team turning things around.

- I feel us winning the rest of this season,

mob ball, first round, second round,

third round, state championship.

(players chanting)

- [Narrator] Down the road in Belle Glade,

The Raiders are also depending on their seniors

to deliver a win, in what could be a rain soak

showdown against Park Vista.

- Good job guys, good job.

- [Narrator] One of the Raiders best

and most heavily recruited players

is wide receiver and defensive back Jim Davis,

who's played alongside fellow senior

Jermaine Mays all his life.

- That's my little cousin.

We all used to grow and go and just play

and tell on turn street.

We used to ride our bicycle around the whole Belle Glade.

Wherever y'all done drove y'all car at around Belle Glade,

best believe, we've been in all the spots.

- Homeboy used to come four AD.

- [Narrator] Like many kids in Murk City,

Jermaine and Jim grew up perusing

the Glades on their bicycles.

Here, style points a.k.a cat walking are everything

and how you ride is as important as where you're going.

- This is cat walking.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] While Jermaine's early season knee injury

kept him off the radar of most college recruiters,

his cousin Jim continues to attract attention

from across the country.

- We need to visit one of these schools,

which one do you wanna visit first?

- [Narrator] So much so that sorting through all the offers

has become a de facto second job for his mother Zetta.

- Wow, look at this, what's up what Utah?

- Utah showing a lotta love.

- We need to check them out too.

- I've been getting offers

since going to my tenth grade year.

They even sent me a meal plan.

- They sent your meal plan?

When I first had this boy, I knew he had a gift.

I knew he had a gift, just looking at him

'cause I always like football,

different stuff like sports and stuff.

So I say when I have a son boy,

I can't wait till he gets older

and the baby to play football.

- My mom, she never miss the game

and try me any activity.

I even played baseball and she never miss a pitch.

- [Narrator] Zetta also made sure

that Jim hasn't succumb to the bad decision making

that has led some of his peers down a path of no return.

- Early on, Jim was getting looked at

by a lot of different schools.

And then he had to take a step back.

Around here in our neighborhood,

a lot of kids lost their life.

There's a lot going on at the high school.

He changed schools before things start to get bad.

- She made it happen but she doesn't really wanna fundle.

- [Narrator] Mother Zetta isn't the only one

who's working behind the scenes to help him find his way.

So is KD Fletcher, the Director of Student Aces.

- I purposely wanted to send him away,

because I felt like he was really going down the wrong path.

I'ma call it what it is.

So I told his mom, get him out of Dougley

because that was gonna be the only way we save his life.

I was crucified for it because he was the star

football player and he was so good.

But I promise you, I've never stopped believing in you.

And if you come back home,

you gotta promise me

that you were not gonna die in these streets.

And I'm so grateful to having back home, I promise.

(audience clapping)

- [Narrator] Now back at Glade Central,

Jim's future in football is brighter than ever

and his focus on success is laser-like.

- I tell some of my teammates, what you plan for?

Just to have a jersey?

If you on this football team,

your dream should be going to the next level.

- Everything is back where it were.

He's giving it his all and he's getting there.

He's getting there so this is his here.

Pinky promise.

We can do this, we gone show them what we can do.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] The predicted foul weather has yet to hit

and it's a perfect night for football.

- We just asking God to be with us tonight God,

help us on every assignment that we do God,

in Jesus name we pray, amen.

- [Players] Amen.

Raiders.

- All right, let's go guys let's go.

- [Narrator] All eyes are on Jim Davis and his teammate,

senior wide receiver number nine, Desna Washington.

Both are looking to put up big numbers versus Park Vista.

A team played central always expects to beat.

- I'ma team so this is our ride.

I aint never lose against the Cobras, we gotta get right.

- What's up Raiders.

- [Narrator] Davis, Washington and number 18,

QB, Mari and Moreland.

- Get it out, get it out.

- [Narrator] Carry Glades Central to an early lead.

- [Commentator] Touch down.

(crowd cheering)

- [Narrator] One part of Glades Central coach

Jessie Hester's game plan is clear.

Whenever possible, get the ball in Jim's hands.

- Come on Jim, run Jim.

- James, he's a speed star, I mean,

this kid can get it from anywhere and take it a distance.

(upbeat music)

All right, let's go.

Get in there.

Good cut, Jim.

- I like number one.

- My son James is having a great game tonight.

From the time he touched the ball,

he just gone take it on end to the end zone.

It's just a great feeling.

The child is out there, doing all that great stuff,

that's my son.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] The Raiders roll confidently into halftime.

- I told y'all we got this.

I told y'all we got this.

- [Narrator] But at the start of the third quarter,

Park Vista counter punches with a 98 yard kickoff return.

(audience cheering)

- Oh man.

- [Narrator] After that,

Jim Davis and his teammates fall out of rhythm.

- I know the kids are really bickering amongst each other

but they not really close as a unit.

Right now we just not really focused

on small details of a team aspect.

- [Narrator] That lack of rhythm

on the defensive side of the ball

soon leads to another Park Vista touchdown.

- Oh my goodness.

- [Narrator] With less than two minutes play,

the score is now Cobras 19, Raiders 20.

Park Vista decides to roll the dice and go for two.

If they make it, it could be a potentially

crushing defeat for Glade Central.

- Hey, they going for it, we gotta stop them here,

we gotta stop them here.

- They going for the two?

- Hey, put your hands on them man.

- [Narrator] The Glade Central D sets up to make a stand.

But a Park Vista running back

finds a way to soar into the end zone.

- Alfin let's go.

- Go, go, go.

- [Narrator] Glade Central still has a chance.

They use Jim Davis as a decoy

in hopes to freeing up number nine

Desna Washington on a deep rawl.

(audience cheering)

- Game over, Glovers victory 21 to 20, great game.

- [Narrator] It's an unexpected

and embarrassing loss for coach Hester.

- Just sick to my stomach at this point.

Just realizing that the kids not really stepping up

and trying to seize the moment,

they had an opportunity like this to seize the moment.

You guys are undisciplined.

Simple stuff man we asked you guys to do on a daily basis.

At the end of the day, man,

you guys have to play for each other, man.

This one should hurt to the bone.

We had the game under control but we can never put it away.

All we want them thinking about the game

being smart football players but right now,

we're just not a smart football team.

- [Narrator] In Pahokee, homecoming week brings fanfare.

- Today is homecoming parade,

we've got the shinies on right now.

- [Narrator] In Vitam words.

- Finna get this good though.

Finna get this good win.

When you step on Pahokee territory, it's war.

Straight war.

(drums beating)

(players cheering)

- [Narrator] Given this season's lackluster star,

Pahokee players and fans are itching

for a victory on homecoming night.

And with the team's weight room still closed,

there's a chance to Blue Devils

might get out muscled by Seminole Ridge,

disappointing the fans which will include alumni

who played in the NFL.

- This game tomorrow is the enemy

coming to our territory, the Seminole Ridge.

Shit, I don't like talking about last year

but they won last year

so we should have a personal vendetta.

And y'all should take it real personal,

it's your homecoming.

Y'all got the dance tonight so guess what,

we need to cap off homecoming with a win.

Tomorrow night, cap it off,

if y'all going to the dance, be safe.

Y'all have fun, be home by 11.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] One player, keen on going

to the homecoming dance is senior defense event,

Tamarick "Caveman" Best.

- Let me get that, yes sir, yes sir.

- [Narrator] Caveman is the only one

in his crew excited about going.

Fellow senior Carrie Mullins is content

to kick back, play video games.

- No, no, no.

- [Narrator] And think about avenging last year's loss

to this week's opponent, Seminole Ridge.

- Heartbreaking lose too, heartbreaking lose.

- It's crazy.

- I never lost to that team a day in my life.

- Hey, this is my last play up.

- All right.

- I've got to get ready for the dance tonight.

- Who you going with?

- I'm going by myself, I haven't asked nobody this year.

- [Narrator] Caveman might be flying solo.

But he's doing it in style, thanks to assist to Jiniqua.

- I am a college student, substitute teacher

and also a tutor and I am Tamarick's sister.

I really like the way you look in scarfs,

you look really nice.

- Oh, he always been a big fan of scarfs like prom,

he had a purple one, now he had a decorated one.

It was nice, it was nice though.

- I hate this, I hate this.

- You need to start combing up your hair.

- While he was getting dressed,

I was joking with him about his outfit.

I said look tight, turn next fit tight.

He got a lot of muscle,

I thought he was gonna burst out the shirt.

- [Narrator] Tonight, Caveman is stepping out

and helping to revive a bygone homecoming tradition.

- I never had experience like being at a homecoming dance

because since I've been in high school, we never had one.

But this time, it just happened

so I just went to it to have fun.

The homecoming dance was good.

I got a chance to experience a homecoming.

- Caveman told me after the dance, he had a good time.

I should have went.

(wind blowing)

- [Narrator] While the rain held off

for Glade Central's game last night,

just minutes before Pahokee's kickoff

against Seminole Ridge,

a tropical squall opens up over Anquan Boldin stadium.

In wet weather, teams rely on their quickest,

most sure-footed players.

And tonight, the player coach Boldin

will look to the most is his do-everything senior

Jermaine Roberson, who's taken over as the starting QB

after opening day stared Mack Williams

and backup KJ Booey, both struggle.

One of my favorite guys right now is Jermaine Roberson.

He's probably the athlete of the team,

the greatest athlete on the team.

The team is gonna go as far as this kid goes.

- I just told everybody let's play hard

and let's get this one for Clint Bowling.

- [Narrator] In here, players know game time is close

when the music starts.

Just as he stresses the importance of conditioning,

offensive coordinator Damian Berry

is also a proponent of pregame dance.

- Football is supposed to be fun

and we never gonna take that afrom the kids.

We started out dancing, celebrating from day one.

And being an ex football player,

knowing how much that energy fuels people.

And I feel like we set the tempo for a game.

That's how it's supposed to be.

- Come close, it's y'all homecoming man.

These moments are precious

and they're gonna stick with you for the rest of your life.

Let's play balls to the wall,

let's play hard, let's play physical, let's have fun man.

- 103123.

- [Players] Win.

- Lets go.

- [Narrator] There's one trait

found among successful head football coaches at all levels.

They find ways to weather all storm.

From losing streaks to pounding downpours.

(thunderstorm roaring)

Tonight, Coach Boldin faces both

and after a lengthy delay,

the lightning clears out and the teams kick off in a day.

(players shouting)

- When we are playing in the rain,

it forces us to be disciplined.

- [Narrator] At the start of the first half,

Pahokee's defense snaps to attention

and shuts down the Seminole Ridge offense,

with Caveman diving on a fumble.

Now, it's up to the Pahokee's offensive leader number two

Jermaine Roberson to take the reins

and stear the Blue Devils into the end zone,

but Jermaine and his teammates

can't get a handle on the rain slick ball.

- [Commentator] Picked up by Roberson,

y'all survived 15 yards on that sleet.

- The spirit of the team, everybody feeling down,

feel like nobody was was doing nothing.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] The offensive fails make a first down,

putting the burden back on defensive coordinator,

Emanuel Hendricks and his players on D.

- Being the defensive guy,

we always need the offensive to maintain the football

and move the football in order to keep our defense fresh.

Seminole Ridge, they have been playing pretty good.

We knew we were better in the trenches

and that makes all the difference in football.

- [Narrator] On the next series,

Coach Hendricks' defense again rises

to the occasion when they recover yet another fumble.

This time it's number nine,

senior linebacker Kerry Molens with the recovery.

- Defense game plan they executed pretty good,

had a lot of kids that showed that it wasn't selfish,

showed that there was discipline.

- [Narrator] As the day moves becomes a drizzle,

QB, Jermaine Roberson and his offense show signs of life.

- Come on, come on, come on.

- [Narrator] The Pahokee fan happiest to see the Blue Devils

come alive is the man they named

the stadium after, Anquan Boldin.

The NFL great who knows what's at stake tonight

for his little brother DJ.

All we know is winning and you had coaches get fired

who actually had great seasons and lost they championship

and didn't have a job the next season

so I think the expectation every year

is the same to win a state championship

and has always been that way.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Unfortunately, this burst

from the Pahokee offensive is short lived

as the Blue Devils come up just shy of the end zone.

- All right, that's all right.

- [Commentator] Okay, ladies and gentlemen,

look like the first half go on end

with the scores neck and neck.

- [Narrator] In the locker room at halftime,

Coach Boldin puts Roberson

and the rest of the offense on notice.

They are not pulling their weight.

- Defense put ball to the wall and y'all on them.

Every week, week in, week out.

Friday night to Friday night, it shows, it's homecoming.

You're on a mission, become and win.

Get this crap together.

- Coach Boldin gave the rest a huge powerful speech.

I had told the team I'm not losing to them.

We had lost to them last year on a missed field goal.

I'm like I'm not losing to them this year.

- My offensive is sputtering,

my defense is playing lights out.

Officially, we got it figured out.

I don't care 'cause its wet, we just gotta figure it out.

Lets go, let's go.

- [Narrator] As Pahokee enters into the third quarter,

it remains to be seen whether coach Boldin's halftime speech

will spark something in his team.

- Let's go.

- Poke your ball, poke your ba

- [Narrator] The Blue Devils start to punch holes

in Seminole Ridges' defense,

pushing the ball down field.

- Touch down.

- [Narrator] Thanks to Jermaine Roberson speedy play.

♪ Let's go Devils ♪

(upbeat music)

But Pahokee's celebration is short lived

as Seminole Ridge answers back a few plays later.

And with the extra point kick, takes the lead.

- This is terrible.

- [Narrator] The Blue Devils trail by a point

going into the fourth quarter

and the waterlogged homecoming crowd is none too pleased.

Finally, a minute into the final frame,

the offense finds its mojo.

Once again, it's all number two.

- Defense just got turnt and offensive go a ball back

and everybody just started playing good.

- [Narrator] Because he's the fastest athlete on the field,

Coach Boldin moves Roberson around

from QB to wide receiver,

whichever position makes the best use

of his explosive speed.

- I'm getting rid of somebody, it feels great

they just chase me and I knew

they're not catching me.

I just be laughing about him, why he's so fast.

How he got so fast?

I just be laugh at him, I just be running.

- Touch down.

- I had to take the team, to sacrifice myself

so that we could win that game.

I had to take the team under my wing to make big play.

- Jermaine, he's a champ, the kid is phenomenal.

- [Narrator] And Jermaine isn't the only standout.

After the defense hold Seminole Ridge to a three and out,

Pahokee running back Corey Polk

takes a handoff all the way to the house.

(crowd cheering)

- You ain't seen that move.

- [Narrator] Pahokee seizes this opportunity

and breaks their two game losing streak

with a 20 to seven victory.

- It felt good to finally win in front of the home crowd.

- [Narrator] The storm clouds finally left,

bringing clear skies to the stadium

and newfound hope to the entire program.

- I gave some brutally honest words

and they answer the call.

- [Narrator] Players and fans alike

are overjoyed with the Blue Devils

hard fought homecoming victory.

And Coach Boldin lets his team know

how much the win means to both the program

and to him personally.

- Take and D, take and D.

Hey man, that feels so good.

Coach Boldin gonna get some sleep tonight.

I promise you, thank you guys, man.

And a coke and a burger.

This is tire turning, all right.

I love you baby.

(players cheering)

- I love you.

- I love you too.

- I'm not a prophet, I'm not a seer

but I saw this part of our schedule as a turning point.

Once we got past the tough tide,

the waves, the hurricanes, if you will.

Now that we've won, it's confirmation for myself

and it gives us more confidence as a football team

going to our next opponent.

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Back at Glades Central,

players at after school tutoring

encounter a different kind of storm, a personal one.

Involving Miss Rosemary Cunningham,

the team's beloved English teacher.

- Put your cell phones away, please.

- [Narrator] After successfully defeating cancer twice,

Miss Cunningham recently prepared to face it again.

- I've been absent the last couple of days,

I've had breast cancer two times

and had a PET scan done recently

and it came back with some not so good stuff on it.

So I had a biopsy done on Tuesday.

And so I've not been here for the last couple of days.

It's all good though.

I had my result last Thursday,

I was again cancer free.

To know that God blessed me to be a cancer survivor

and and still be 68 years old couldn't do what I do.

One of the most rewarding things

that I've ever done in my life.

Jermaine's class has been so loving and understanding.

Jermaine was the first one to come

and wrap his arms around me,

really, really interested in my well being.

- [Narrator] The same is likewise true

for Miss Cunningham's interest in Jermaine's future

and making sure he's doing what it takes

to translate his skills in the classroom

into a chance to stand out at the next level.

- You can never have too many college applications,

Jermaine, how many have you done already?

How many?

- College application?

- Yes.

- I need some personal paperwork.

- How many have you done?

- Zero.

- All right.

- [Announcer] Attention writers, tutoring is now over.

- [Narrator] Following the Pahokee's

critical homecoming win,

blue sky continues to appear for Coach Boldin when finally,

for the first time all season,

the Blue Devil weight room opens.

(upbeat music)

- This is the house of pain.

We've been missing it for the last three months.

- I believe I haven't been back in the weight room

since August and it's great to be back

in the weight room today.

- [Narrator] As the workout intensifies,

offensive coordinator Damian Berry

shows his competitive side by challenging

others to keep up with him on the bench press.

- So it started, I just got up on the warm ups,

trying to see how it felt and then Coach Barry,

he said something and then went from there

and then we just started

a friendly competition so it was fun.

We just like to compete,

that's what we're trying to instill in our players.

(players cheering)

- Put a bum here right now.

(players cheering)

- All the successful football teams

I've ever been a part of, they all have camaraderie

and moments like that builds camaraderie.

I think it's something that we've been missing for a while.

Hey fellas, we've been missing this.

I mean, I hope we felt good today fellas,

so this is the new poker way.

Poker proud on three.

1, 2, 3.

- [Players] Poker proud.

- [Narrator] Next time on 4th and Forever.

- And you can smell the cane, you smell it?

When I smell it, that's how I know we're close to a cut.

- [Narrator] A Pahokee linebacker

carries on the time honored tradition

of hunting rabbits in the sugarcane fields.

- The field's burning, when you get close to it,

it's is so hot.

Try not to get too close to it 'cause you will get burned.

- [Narrator] And a former Glade Central star receiver

returns home to help his community.

- I could be anywhere in the country

doing anything but I always told my wife

that I wanted to come back home

to pour back into the community.