Original subtitles

- [Narrator] Across America, at all levels of the sport,

there are great football rivalries that captivate people's

hearts and minds.

In the NFL, there's the Packers and the Bears.

At the college level there's Ohio State, Michigan,

and Auburn, Alabama.

But in the world of high school football,

there are rivalries and then there are rivalries.

And if you're measuring it by the heart of the players,

by the passion of the fans, and by the sheer number of

NFL player who've suited up over the years,

the battle between the Pahokee and Glade Central,

AKA, the muck bowl, stands head and shoulders

above the rest.

- Pahokee and Glade central...

they have commanded so much respect.

From people and organizations from all over the country.

It has a lot to do with all the players they have produced

that have gone on the the NFL and done great things.

They make the most out of the little that they have.

Everything that they do is homegrown.

- [Eddie Rhodes] One of the Mason's

top high school football go round

because of the athlete that it brought out of it.

You know, the bulls and the San Antonio hawks

and these guys.

- [Narrator] Pride in the schools,

and their legendary roster of former players,

takes many forms in Muck city.

On the road into Pahokee, there's a billboard paying tribute

to NFL hall-of-famer, and Pahokee native, Ricky Jackson.

- [Rhodes] Ricky played defense in the end for me

and they did such a great job there.

It was a pleasure coaching him.

And he always let people know that he was from a little town

called Pahokee.

I'd say he put us on the map.

- [Narrator] At nearby Poppa Jimmy's catfish house,

a shrine of photo's and news clippings serves as its own

sort of hall of fame for the Muck bowl greats of yore.

- Everybody'll tell you about it.

Everybody comere.

They're a very popular place

They... He has a lot of great athletes.

Some that made it to the NFL, some that made it to college.

Some that didn't even make it, but they were great.

- [Adam Lichenstein] High school football's a big deal

and these towns invest a lot of time, a lot of money,

a lot of energy into these teams.

- [Steve Messam] You've got to play for yourselves,

for your dad who may have played,

for your brother who may have played,

for the community at large.

- Now all the other games that happen before

and after the Muck bowl, they definitely do mean something.

But when we're talking about the Muck bowl,

this is something that's a part of your life.

Whether you're a player, a coach, a fan,

a support staff member, or just even a student

or community member, this means everything to you.

So, you want to go out there and prepare.

You want to go out there and support your team.

Do your part to make sure that your team comes out on top

every single year.

Because when you do lose,

it's a stinging feeling that never goes away.

- [Narrator] For four decades, Pahokee anade Central

have waged this all out annual war.

Last year, Glade Central prevailed 22 to 12,

Which forced the outsting of Pahokee head coach,

Foreston Waltz.

- When you're the head coach,

there's no such thing as job security.

You're going to win

or there's going to be another head coach.

You have to find way to win, whether it's realistic

or not.

That's what the community expects.

- You don't win, you won't be the coach very long.

- [Narrator] This year, for both coaches, the game is

a must-win for a myriad of reasons.

For starters, the teams are fighting for

a single playoff berth.

For embattled sixth-year Glade Central coach, Jessie Hester,

a victory would relieve the pressure that's been mounting

after his Raiders team had to forfeit several games

due to the accidental use of an ineligible player.

- [Jessie Hester] When that happened,

it really did hit them in the wrong way.

A lot of the kids were really just struck.

Especially the kid in question.

You, know, he was extremely distraught.

- Jessie Hester, he knows the pressure that comes with being

a Glade Central head coach.

He knows what the community expects.

He knows what the school expects.

He knows what everybody expects.

Yet, he is brave enough to take the job,

and do the best he can.

For D. Boldin,

a victory would not only secure a playoff berth,

it would erase the bitter taste of the team's brutal

012 start at his Alma mater.

- This is a testament to Coach Boldin that he kept the team

together, man.

Because the town is, they're very tough.

It's a very, very tough time when we don't win.

- We've go the toughest crowd in Palm Beach county.

D.J. Bullet has to be respected to the hihest degree

just for letting his players actually play that tough

of a schedule.

They have to go through the adversity.

They have to go through all the hard times to see

what it's like to come out on top.

- [Narrator] But more important than playoff berths,

or putting past missteps behind them, for both teams,

there's a much larger goal at stake: a year's worth of

bragging rights and a chance to cement your legacy

as one of the Muck Bowl's all-time greats.

- This is going to be kind of like a toss up this year.

But, Muck bowl, throws the ruckus out the window.

It's one of them things, that's kind of hard to tell.

We're just looking forward to the good game.

- [Narrator] This year's Muck bowl is being hosted

by Glade Central.

And in the fist half, the Rockets crowd, Glade Central's

custom all-black uniforms,

and the hard hitting action on the field,

lift up to all the hype.

- It's like a reunion.

It brings back people from all over the country.

That they can come back just to watch this game

and support their school.

- [Narrator] Glade Central's superstar, Jim Davis,

helped carry his team to the game's first score.

His equally stellar play on defense,

coupled hitting of junior defensive vet Jacob Camacho

kept the Pahokee offense on their heels

and out of the end zone.

But a couple of second quarter adjustments, and the critical

deception by senior Perry Moles, with the Blue Devils

in scoring position.

Coach Boldin and offensive coordinator, Damian Barry,

utilized the "one-two punch"

of quarterback Jermaine Roberson and running back

Corey Pulp to find the end zone.

But a missed extra point leads Pahokee trailing Glade's

Central 7 to 6 at half time.

- It's all fresh.

We came back and scored because of the crowd.

So many people was cheering.

Making some like, noise.

Can't even focus on the game.

You'd be trying to impress the crowd

but you've really got to play for the team.

- [Narrator] The Raiders' fastest player, Jim Davis,

starts the second half by blowing past the Pahokee defense

on the rever

And puts Glade Central back in the red zone.

(crowd cheering) (whistle blows)

- [Boldin] Freeze. They don't say nothing.

Freeze! They don't jump. If they don't jump, don't throw it.

- [Narrator] Back on offense, number two, Jermaine Roberson

fakes the reverse and explodes for a forty-five yards gain.

(crowd Cheering)

- Got a flag on the play.

- [Narrator] But then the long game is called for holding.

On the very next play, Roberson his a receiver for

another long game.

But the refs blow the whistle again.

- It's a screen, man.

You're killing me, man. You're killing me, man.

Who told him? I don't want to talk to him, man.

- [Narrator] Despite the back to back penalties,

Jermaine Roberson's quick feet keep the chains moving and

the Pahokee fans sense another touchdown coming their way.

That is, until Roberson tries to throw off the middle

against the grain and Glade Central defender, Jacob Camacho,

intercepts the pass.

(crowd cheering)

Backed up on their own goal line,

the Raiders turn to their bruising running back,

Desmond Washington, who carves out some much needed

breathing room, only to fumble the ball away

while stretching for more yardage.

The turnover provides the Blue Devil offense a chance to

score before the end of the third quarter,

and gives Jermaine Roberson

another chance to showcase his talents.

Pahokee then ties the score

with a successful two-point conversion.

Those gathered here tonight know this:

The fourth quarter in a Muck bowl is like the final rounds

in a heavy-weight fight.

A furious trading of blows, with each team

looking to score a knockout.

- The Muck bowl is always a game where come down to the end,

there's always going to be an opportunity for either team to

win the football game.

- [Narrator] Back on offense, Glades Central hopes

Desmond's brother, senior receiver, Desno Washington,

will use his long arms and blazing speed to help score

that knockout punch.

After a steady fifty yard drive, they target Desno

in the end zone.

The Pahokee secondary has him on lockdown,

leading Glade Central to settle for a field goal.

And their fans clamoring for an interference call.

- What's the fussing about?

Look, you've got to take it like it come, man.

You got away with some, we're going to get away with some.

(crowd cheering)

- [Narrator] Heading into the final minutes of the game,

it's Glade Central seventeen, Pahokee, fourteen.

- Somebody get some water. We've got a score to drive.

- We got the ball back in four minutes.

Some seconds left on the clock and we went immediately

into our four minute offense.

- [Narrator] Coach Boldin's hope

is that his offense can chew up enough clock so that

if they manage to score a goal by touchdown,

Glade Central won't have enough time to mount a drive

of their own.

- You got it!

Get it!

Control the ball.

You don't got to do nothing fancy.

Just control the ball.

That's what you want to do, control the ball now.

(crowd cheering)

- We didn't sweat, it was the third down a couple times.

- [Narrator] On the third and long near midfield,

the Blue Devils hand the ball to runniack Corey Pulp.

He weaves his way to a fist down.

But a few plays later, the Blue Devils find themselves

facing a fourth down and long

just inside Glade Central territory.

Once again, Coach Boldin calls Jermaine Roberson's number.

- It was fourth in ten.

All the crowd yelling.

You've really got to focus.

I said "hut" Jim Davis, he had come up to try to stop me.

Be he left Jeremy Jones wide open down the field,

so when I looked back up, I saw him like, oh.

I threw it to him.

(intense music)

- I was the fourth in eternity.

(intense music)

- After the catch, everything just erupted.

(players cheering)

- Yeah, I caught it. I was like, Oh my god.

We really got to change the win on it.

(crowd cheering) - Let's go!

- As a couple players hit that drive,

Jermaine Roberson worked his magic.

- And I was like, we like on the five yard line.

I'm like, cool. They put the ball in my had.

It's gonna happen.

(crowd yelling)

- We knew we needed that extra blocker.

And to help with the protection and held his own for his.

Gave Jermaine enough time to work his miracle and find

Jeremy Jones in the corner of the end zone.

- Jermaine just floated the ball over

and John had caught the ball.

I was like, I was shocked.

(crowd cheering)

- After that, we got back on defense.

It was like, fourteen seconds left.

- [Narrator] The Blue Devil touchdown seems to be

the game clincher.

But this is the Muck Bowl, where anything can happen.

(marching music)

- [Narrator] And on the very next play, Jim Daivs hauls in

a thirty yard pass that puts Glade Central at midfield.

And in position for one final play.

(intense music) (crowd cheering)

- [Narrator] For coach Boldin, the win triggers a wave of

emotions that spans from the rocky start of the season

to the joy of right now.

- [Boldin] So for me, being a first-time coach,

at my home town, alma mater, to come in and to win

the Muck bowl, it's pretty big for me.

(victorious music)

- [Narrator] On the other side of the field,

Glade Central coaches, players, and fans,

are overcome with grief.

- It's just unfortunate on the losing end. ou

But the kids fought hard, as always.

There was some costly mistakes,

mounted up too much where we couldn't overcome it.

I said home, you know the hurting,

it's made more painful 'cause of that home.

The teens don't want to lose the expression they had home.

So, they had a long, really a painful debt for them to hold.

Hard pill to swallow, so to speak.

Knowing that his is something they'll have to deal with

for the rest of their lives.

- Hey man, great game.

- I like you a whole lot, boy.

- Good job

- [Narrator] The traditional post-game handshake

is intended to be the olive branch that brings the community

back together after a hard fought game.

- Good game, folk

- Alright, all right

- Good game, bro

Good game, good game, coach.

- [Narrator] Even with emotions riding high,

the players line up and bid farewell to their rivalry

until next year.

As the Pahokee players and coaches celebrate their victory

on Glade Central's home turf, one of the last people

to leave the field is defensive coordinator,

Emmanuel Hendricks.

Tough he coaches at Pahokee and is a Blue Devil allumnist,

Hendricks teaches science at Glade Central.

So the victory comes with mixed emotions.

- I'm just drained. I'm weak and feeling the joy right now,

overjoyed with emotions.

It feels like I'm singing to the heavens, man.

(drum beats)

- The Martin Luther King Parade here in Pahokee

is kind of one of the biggest events in Pahokee.

It's a special time of year for our community.

- [Narrator] It's also a special time for coach Boldin.

Pahokee's Muck bowl ory helped fuel a playoff run

that carried them all the way to the semifinals

before enduring a heartbreaking one-point loss to

North Florida power house: Madison county.

But the team's surprise performance and the grit they

demonstrated in rebounding from their 0 and 2 start earned

coach Boldin the coveted title of Palm Beach county's

coach of the year

- [Boldin] I'm being honored for coach of the year award.

Such a prestigious award

I'm kind of happy I got the award

my first year as a football coach.

So just to be in a parade and drive around in the community

and everybody recognizing just the hard work

that was put forth this season.

- Congratulations DJ!

- [Finney] Coach of the year's bigger than an Oscar

and he won Muck bowl too. (laughs)

Yeah, that's our cup. They gave that award

Not only "you did a great job, coach," but he won Muck bowl.

- [Narrator] On the other side of Muck city, Glade Central

mulls over a season where stand out performances

bon the classroom and on the field were tarnished

by the ineligibility issue that upended the team's season.

Shortly after the loss to Pahokee, Jessie Hester was let go

as the coach of the Raiders.

Today, he's seeking solace in the same place that was

so influential in shaping his kindhearted player's first

approach to coaching.

- Anytime you can come to church,

it's definitely a stress reliever.

You get to listen to the word, and kind of put things

in perspective to your real reasoning

for doing what you're doing.

You know, being here today, I most certainly have refreshed

my mindset that something good will come out of this.

(soft music)

- [Narrator] After being honored during the MLK day parade,

coach Boldin and his big brother, Former NFL star, Anquan,

joined their father, Carl Boldin, at a church service

in Pahokee, not far from the field.

Both their names are now legendary.

- [Carl Boldin] I called my sons and I invited them.

And they said, "yes, we will be there dad."

And, it does a father's heart good knowing that you raised

young men who are now having their own families

that are raised in the church.

That's first and foremost.

Your faith will take you places your talents can't.

- In Jesus name.

Amen.

- [Narrator] As for Anquan, he believes little brother DJ,

who for so long toiled in the shadow, has found

his true calling as coach of their alma mater.

- I felt it would be a good opportunity not only for him,

but for Pahokee football as well.

You know, hit a point in time where we slipped a little bit.

Didn't live up to the expectations that we have for

the Glades area on a yearly basis.

So having DJ come here and be the head coach would be

a great opportunity.

- So what's the biggest takeaway from this in this season?

- Bettering myself, first and foremost.

We always have expectations with the kids

and we always want to observe the kids.

But I think it's important for me to observe myself

and how I live.

Not only the kids, but the coaches that was there.

- I think the sky's the limit.

I think you've seen the vallies and the peeks of this year.

But I think one thing that the kids understand now and they

know is that he knows what he's doing.

- The expectations are really high.

God's transferring in.

A lot of people are excited about Pahokee.

- Anything coming up from JV?

- Yes! We do. We have a lot of linemen.

I'm excited about the future and what they're going to bring

to the program.

I think anything in life, you never do it on your own.

I don't care what type of success you have;

it's never on your own merit.

I feel like its always on the backs of others

who love you and truly support you.

And to have my father's support

and my brother, Anquan's support.

- I think that'd be wonderful if you just maintain

the discipline, and enthusiasm

that the kids go through for the season.

I think that'd be a great thing.

- Absolutely.

- [Narrator] The bar is no doubt set high for coach Boldin.

As well as for his players.

Both those who will return to defend the Muck bowl title

and those who are new to the program.

- These shoes are a metaphor for what's leaving

but also an insight to what's to come.

A bunch of shoes to be filled.

A lot of guys transitioning out of here.

A lot of new guys coming back in.

- [Narrator] One newcomer will be Glade's Central

standout runningback, Desmond Washington,

who is transferring to Pahokee

so he can play for coach Boldin alongside his good friend,

Mack Williams.

- Mack can be a quarterback. Mack can do a lot of stuff.

He's just dedicated to being a quarteback, but he's going to

play some reviver this year so we'll see how that goes.

- [Narrator] Mack began this past season

as Pahokee's starting quarterback before giving way to the

hero of the Muck bowl: outgoing senior Jermaine Roberson.

Spring practice hasn't even started

but it's clear Mack is back and angling

to take the reigns as team leader.

- I should lead the team 'cause I'm going to be general.

But I'm going to go to receiver

because we don't got tall receivers.

We only got short receivers.

We need somebody to throw the ball to up balls

like fade that two yard line or something like that.

- I'm taken away by how beautiful his posture is

and his ball delivery and I never really had a left handed

quarterback throw with such a beautiful tight spiral.

- My dream for next year is to get more always

and go to college and I want to go to the NFL.

And I want my dad to be in the stands watching.

- Man I got "man of steel" blood

- Yeah, I get it from you.

(both laughing)

(upbeat music)

- [Narrator] Awards.

Parades.

Fans gathering to talk about next season.

These are landmarks on the Muck city landscape,

Where the cycles of football repeat

and rejuvenate the community.

Year by year, player by player, student by student.

- Great kids of character,

Great kids of integrity.

The Muck isn't just athletics.

Athletics is just what they do; it's not who they are.

And at the end of the day, each one of these kids,

whether they're going to school to play a sport or not,

or they're taking up a trade,

they all have the same dream of coming back

and making a change in their community.

Which just shows that it's always bigger than sports.

It's just about the love of community over here.

- [Narrator] It's that same of the Muck that fuels

not only player in the community leaders like KD Fletcher,

but Muck city's defacto artisan resident, Lester Finney.

- [Finney] I step back and I look at it, then come back.

- [Narrator] Like so many residents of the Muck, for Lester,

the rivalry between Pahokee and Glade Central

will always be more than just a game.

It's what drives him to make every mural,

- [Lester] I'm home. This is home

- [Narrator] Every t-shirt,

- [Lester] Got a few modifications.

- [Narrator] And every quirky Muck-inspired creation

that helps make this big hearted football crazed community

like nowhere else in America.

- [Lester] Christmas trees don't grow in the Muck.

But this is my Christ-Muck tree.

Made out of pure one hundred percent Muck.

We let it stay black this year

and had that shower of lights on.

That was pretty cool.

Tree made out of Muck, and this is our third year.

Next year, we're going to make it even bigger. (laughs)

Next year, the Raiders are going to be hard.

Look out Pahokee, look out.