Gang Tackle by Eric Howling

with him. If he’s going to say bad things about Southside on the news, then I’ve got news for him. We don’t need a coach like that.”
    Darnell nodded. “We don’t think so either.”
    “I don’t know what we’re going to do about it though.” The principal wrinkled her brow. “We have a contract. We can’t fire him.”
    “Leave it to us, Principal Campbell,” Jamal said, eyeing his teammates. “We’ll take care of it.”
    The principal continued on her way through the noisy cafeteria. She marched quickly, like she was on a mission. Her face was stern. Her eyes looked straight ahead. Jamal thought she might be going to her office to phone Coach Fort and give him an earful.
    Rico turned to Jamal. “Sounds like you have a plan to get rid of Coach.”
    “Not yet, but I’m working on it.”

Chapter Fourteen
    Game day. The fourth tilt of the season. Southside was up against the Rexdale Rams. This was going to be the biggest game of the year so far, and not just because the Saints were facing the best team in the league. The Rams had won the championship the year before, and on top of that, Rexdale was where Coach Fort had played high school ball. He couldn’t stop bragging about what a star he had been there. None of the players believed him, of course. But he was Coach and could say what he wanted. Jamal knew he would do anything to win this game. Anything to look good in front of the TV cameras.
    Today marked Jamal’s first day back at football. His mom had finally agreed to let him play again. The time off had given him time to think. And plan. He cruised down the hall and stopped by Darnell’s locker. The Saints quarterback had his head buried deep inside, looking for a book. Jamal tapped him on the shoulder. “Be in the locker room an hour before game time. And bring scissors. Pass it on.”
    Darnell pulled his head out of the locker and nodded.
    Jamal walked farther down the hall. Past the computer room where he’d go to work on his video game during his spares. Past a SLAM THE RAMS poster the cheerleaders had painted. All the way to Rico’s locker. He delivered the same urgent message to the running back. From there the news spread through the team like wildfire. Jamal stood on a bench in the middle of the locker room. Everyone had arrived early for the secret meeting. Some had started to change into their equipment. Some were still in their jeans and T-shirts. But when Jamal started to speak, everyone stopped and listened. All eyes were on him.
    “Remember when we voted to take the money from Fort Sports to start the team again?”
    “That was a big mistake,” Carlos said, shaking his head.
    “And then we had to let Mr. Fort coach?”
    “An even bigger mistake,” Darnell said.
    “Yeah, a big fat mistake.” Rico held out his arms as wide as Coach Fort’s belly.
    Jamal scanned the faces in the room. “Well, it’s time to take another vote.”
    “It’s going to be different this time,” Malik said, punching the air. He was still mad at being thrown around by the coach.
    Jamal lifted one arm above his head. “All those in favor of getting rid of Coach Fort, raise your hand.”
    Every hand in the room shot up.
    “So now what?” Eli asked. “We all voted against Coach Fort. But there’s still one big problem.”
    “Yeah, how are we going to do it, bro?” Darnell asked.
    Jamal smiled. “First we’re going to ask him nicely to leave.”
    “You know he’s not going to do that,” Eli said, shaking his head. “What happens then?”
    “Then we use plan B.”
    Carlos wrinkled his brow. “Plan B?”
    “We’re going to use our secret weapon. The one thing Coach Fort fears the most.”
    “What’s that?” Rico kidded. “An all-you-can-eat buffet that’s run out of food?”
    Jamal smiled at the joke but shook his head. “Nope. We’re going to make him look bad in front of the TV cameras.”
    Darnell held up the pair of scissors he had brought. “So what are these