Across
- 4. - Danny starts to feel like maybe he doesn’t actually need the support of Ms. Rait and Mr. Crenshaw when he is getting lots of praise for his football success, he thinks he can take the easy way out but after he injures himself he realizes he actually wants and needs this from them (P)
- 7. - This character ends up being a calming person for Danny. He is quiet and Danny considers him someone he can talk to about his struggles with his inability to read and also how he feels about losing his dad to a heart attack and seeing it happen. He also helps Danny consider who he wants to be morally, uses non-tradtional ways of helping, and helps him see he doesn’t need to live in his father’s shadow (Mr.) (C.)
- 8. Creek - It’s warm and we live in this small town in the big state of Texas.My dad sold farm machinery here and we listen to country music on the radio. Football is important to the people here. (S)
- 9. - This cool room with games, a bookshelf, and a fish tank initially made DAnny feel nervous but then became a place where he could share his feelings in a safe, quiet, supportive space (S)
- 11. a delightful fluffy treat with icing, the one you eat might be small but he's definitely not little. he got this nickname because he is big and strong but wasn’t always tough and had to learn to defend himself
- 12. - Rival grade 8 football player on Danny’s team who is constantly pushing Danny physically and verbally, constantly competing with each other (C)
- 14. - This character was a lineman on Danny’s team and starts a fire in Ms. Rait’s chicken coop. He is known to like fire. (C & P)
- 15. - After all his hard work and dedication with the help of Ms. Rait Danny finally was able to achieve this in his English class (P)
- 16. - She's a tough teacher who won't pass people just because they have famous parents. she might seem strict but really just wants the kids to learn and improve and not just scrape by doing the bare minimum or cheating off others. She does not turn a blind eye. She helps ensure Danny is eligible to continue to play football but most importantly, still play in the championship game (Ms.) (C)
- 17. -his character had high expectations, played football in Pittsburgh Steelers and won a Super Bowl
- 21. - Something that both Ms. Rait and Danny had to build between them to get him to the championship game and succeeding in school (P)
- 22. - He's in the seventh grade but the same age as me. He's the most important character in the book dealing with seeing his dad pass away from a heart attack, trying to live up to him being an NFL player, dealing with his inability to read that nobody knows about. He has a lot of anger and sometimes comes across as arrogant but really is more just sad and insecure.
- 23. - In order for DAnny to avoid suspension for starting a fight with Markle and because of all the things going on in his personal life recently the school principal gives him a chance to make amends by seeing attending appointments with this person (P)
Down
- 1. - When Danny was pushed both verbally and physically by his 8th grade team rival on the football field right after his father’s death it resulted in this (P)
- 2. Kinen - this man tries to act as a mentor to Danny after he loses his dad who he has a complicated relationship with. When he tries to quit football he takes the time to see him outside of school and talk to him about how he is feeling and managing his sadness. He wants him to succeed and even helps him out when he is caught cheating (C)
- 3. - Danny does this for the first time when talking to Mr. Crenshaw in his office and realizes he feels responsible for his father’s heart attack as his dad was helping to train him for his football (P)
- 5. - Danny had this when they pulled both Markle and Port from the game before the championship game, they were losing then he managed to make some plays to give them this (P)
- 6. - She has brown eyes and freckles and is best friends with the most important character. She keeps him on track with school. Sometimes people can be mean and call her miss fancy pants.
- 10. - Danny is out of football for six weeks after having this happen to his foot in a football practice (P)
- 11. - The game that Counselor Crenshaw and Danny play together when they start to share and talk and Danny finally starts to open up about his feelings (P)
- 12. - This cat and her kittens are important to Danny’s teacher and tutor Ms. Rait. They live in the chicken coop outside her home (C)
- 13. - Danny comes to Ms. Rait’s house the night of the bonfire to find her chicken coop engulfed in this that was set as a prank by his school mates (P)
- 18. - This term describes someone who cannot read. Danny struggles to read and write at his expected age level. Ms. Rait picks up on this and wants to help him knowing he is capable but doesn’t want him to take the easy way out just so he can play football. She wants him to truly learn and not sign out of her class. But he really wants to play in the championship game which means he has to pass the class (P)
- 19. - In Mrs. Rait’s English class Danny was found looking at Janey’s pre-test and copying answers and was accused of this (P)
- 20. - A bald headed man who shows his anger in his face by going from red to purple, he is authoritative and does not seem to get along well with Ms. Rait (MR.) (C)