A searing commentary on the "win at all costs" mentality of American high school sports. David Lee Birdsong is the smalltown quarterback hoping to escape with a college scholarship and a pro career. David's father is the overbearing taskmaster vicariously living through his son. The third side of the triangle is Coach Marshall, a hypercritical and cruel man who sees David as the key to his future success. David's lockstep commitment to his father and coach is altered when he witnesses a teammate die after a grueling practice.
| Directing | Jerrold Freedman | Director |
| Writing | Jerrold Freedman | Writer |
| Sound | Randy Edelman | Original Music Composer |
| Camera | Richard C. Glouner | Director of Photography |
| Editing | Gerald Shepard | Editor |
| Production | Tony Thomas | Producer |
| Production | Paul Junger Witt | Executive Producer |
| Production | Joyce Selznick | Casting |
| Directing | Bonnie Prendergast | Script Supervisor |
| Costume & Make-Up | Jack Bear | Costume Design |
| Lighting | Calvin Maehl | Gaffer |
| Art | Thomas Gark | Property Master |
| Sound | Roger Sword | Sound Editor |
| Sound | Don S. Walden | Sound Editor |
| Production | Ronald Jacobs | Production Executive |
