On a rainy morning in Ampipe, Pennsylvania, Stef Ddjordjevic walks to Ampipe High School as his father and brother, Greg, return home from working the night shift at the American Pipe and Steel mill. Stef, a star football player, tells his girl friend, aspiring musician Lisa Letski, of his plan to win a college football scholarship, enabling him to become an engineer and escape the fate of his relatives and neighbors, all of whom are financially dependent on a mill that can no longer support them. He looks forward to the impending game between Ampipe and longtime rival Walnut Heights, where numerous college recruiters will be in attendance. As the team prepares for football practice that afternoon, player Brian Riley announces that he has been offered a scholarship to the University of Southern California, while Coach Vern Nickerson develops game strategies that will impress representatives of California State Polytechnic University, who are considering him for a coaching position. Stef is courted by recruiters as well, but declines all offers, hoping for a scholarship from one of the nation’s top engineering schools. On Friday afternoon, Brian reveals that he has impregnated his girl friend, Tracy, forcing him to forfeit his scholarship, despite Stef’s urging to the contrary. That evening, the team arrives at Walnut Heights, a well-funded school in an affluent community. Before the boys enter the field, Coach Nickerson reminds his team how much a victory would improve the morale of their beleaguered town, and of how their school, comprised of working-class whites and African Americans, is an object of condescension to their opponents. The game gets underway and both teams compete admirably, but Ampipe loses by a narrow margin, which Nickerson blames on Vinny “Vooch” Salvucci, a player who fumbled the ball in the final seconds, and Stef, who incurred a penalty that gave their opponents an advantage. When Stef retaliates, accusing the coach of introducing the risky play that cost them the game, he is dismissed from the team. Enraged over Nickerson’s betrayal, Stef unleashes his anger on Lisa as she attempts to console him. At home, “Pop” and Greg admonish Stef for his behavior toward Nickerson, warning that he will likely be ostracized by recruiters for having a “bad attitude.” The next evening, Mr. Bosko, a football enthusiast, rallies the men at a saloon to vandalize Nickerson’s home. Along the way, they offer Stef a ride as he sits by the road in a state of intoxication, but when the boy learns of their intentions, he tries unsuccessfully to dissuade the men. Meanwhile, the coach is unable to sleep, realizing that he was indeed responsible for his team’s loss, and is alerted to the vandalism by his young daughter. As Nickerson surveys the damage, he sees Stef begging for a ride from the retreating perpetrators. Later, Stef offers the coach an apology for his insubordination, but Nickerson refuses it, insisting that the boy was complicit in damaging his property. After school, Lisa berates Stef for rebuffing her on Friday night, and accuses him of selfishness for focusing on his own educational goals, while ignoring her frustrated desire to attend music school. Stef realizes his error and the couple reconciles. In the school locker room, Salvucci informs Nickerson that he is leaving school to help support his impoverished family, which the coach tries to discourage. The conversation is interrupted by Sherman Williams of Boston College, who is interested in recruiting Stef, until Nickerson tells him of the boy’s negative attitude. On the night of the season’s final football game, Lisa visits Stef while he is alone at home, and they make love for the first time. Stef contacts numerous colleges, desperate for a scholarship, but all refuse him. He and Lisa attend Brian’s wedding, where the groom tries to convince his friends and himself that he prefers marriage and parenthood to an athletic career. Later, Nickerson stands by helplessly as Salvucci is removed from class and placed under arrest for armed robbery. At the tavern, Lisa and Stef ask Bosko and his friends to corroborate the boy’s innocence in the vandalism incident, but the men refuse, resentful of Stef’s desire for a college degree. Stef strikes Bosko for insulting Lisa, and the men beat him in retaliation, until the bartender intervenes. Lisa explains Stef’s plight to Suzie Nickerson, the coach’s wife, who promises to discuss the matter with her husband. Suzie reminds Lisa that her relationship with Stef is unlikely to survive if he leaves town, and encourages the girl to pursue a college career of her own. Meanwhile, Stef tries to raise money for school by working weekends at the mill. He learns that Nickerson has been hired by California Polytechnic, and when the two have a chance encounter, Stef apologizes again for his transgressions, but also accuses the coach of abusing his position. The following weekend, as Stef completes his shift at the mill, Lisa and Nickerson greet him at the gate with the news that he has been awarded a full scholarship to California Polytechnic. Stef and Lisa embrace.