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weighted down by something heavy and dark.
    â€œNow, you’re going to have to work even harder than last year to do it—because unfortunately, I won’t be able to be here with you.”
    A gasp went up from the group of stunned players. Tiki felt like he’d been suddenly punched in the gut.
    â€œCoach Hendrik over at Cave Spring High is taking a year’s leave of absence—he’s having back surgery—and the district has asked me to take over for him this season . . . I think you know how much I hate to leave this team . . .”
    He stopped, swallowed hard, and looked down at the ground again. The room was so silent, Tiki could hear the ringing in his ears.
    â€œÂ . . . but I really don’t have much of a choice. It’s, um, an honor to be asked to coach at the high school level, and . . . on the other hand, it’s been an privilege to coach you boys, and lead you to the District Championship . . .”
    Another silence. Suddenly, someone said, “You’re the man, Coach.”
    And then, boys started chanting: “Coach! Coach!Coach! Coach!” The chant echoed deafeningly in the locker room, and some boys started pounding on lockers, making a drumbeat to go along with the chant.
    Coach Spangler swallowed hard. He held up his hands for quiet, and the noise died down quickly. “I know how you boys must feel,” he said. “Part of me feels the same way. But I also know you can overcome this, just like you overcame every obstacle last season.”
    Yeah, Tiki thought, but that was a different team. Half of us were riding the bench last year, like Ronde and me . . .
    â€œWill you be back next year, Coach?” Paco asked. He, like Tiki and Ronde, would still be at Hidden Valley, so it was a very important question.
    â€œI don’t know, son,” Coach Spangler said. “We’ll see what happens. In the meantime, your job is to devote yourselves to winning this year. I expect you all to give the new coach, whoever it is, your full support—just as you would if it was me.”
    â€œWho’s it going to be?” Adam Gunkler asked. He was the Eagles’ kicker—an eighth grader like Tiki and Ronde and one of their old friends from Peewee League.
    Coach Spangler had spotted Adam as a kicking talent, giving him a starting spot as a seventh grader when most other coaches wouldn’t have even let him on the team. Adam had come through with an all-star season.
    â€œNobody knows yet who the new coach will be,” saidSpangler. “It’s not up to me, so I can’t help you there—but whoever it is, I’m sure they’ll be up to the job.”
    â€œNobody’s gonna be as good as you, Coach,” said starting fullback John Berra, who had played two years under Coach Spangler.
    â€œWell, thanks, Johnnie B.,” said the coach, looking down at the floor again. “I’m gonna miss all of you boys—each and every one of you. But I’ll have my eye on you all—so don’t even think about slacking off. Now get back out there and give me ten laps for a final send-off!”
    Everyone just sat there, stunned. A couple of kids started to protest, but Coach Spangler wasn’t having any of it. “Let’s go! Let’s go!” he barked, clapping his hands. “Lemme see some hustle!”
    Slowly, gradually, the team members got up and jogged off down the field. Some were shaking their heads in bewilderment. Others kept their heads down in silence. A few muttered to one another about how unfair it was.
    But Tiki just sat there on the bench, stunned. He looked over and saw that Ronde was as frozen as a statue.
    Tiki knew what his twin was thinking—the same thing he was: How were they going to have a winning team without the winningest coach in Hidden Valley history?

CHAPTER THREE
TROUBLED TIMES
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    â€œYOUR SHIRT