CRACKBACK aptly describes the action on and off the field in
this debut novel by John Coy. A crackback block comes from the
outside and it can destroy you if you're not careful. Miles
Manning, a junior and a star football player, is blindsided by some
crushing blows that seem to come out of nowhere.

Miles is under a lot of pressure. He is a starter on a winning
football team that is favored to win the conference and have a
chance to go to state. Everyone is pressuring Miles to be bigger,
stronger and faster, including his pushy new head coach, his
demanding father, and his best friend. They all expect more of
Miles than he may be able to deliver. When he finds out that his
best friend is willing to do anything to win, including taking
steroids, Miles must decide where he stands.

Woven into the plot are details about a long-hidden family secret
that explains why Miles's father expects so much of him. If his
junior year isn't tough enough, he also has to navigate the rocky
waters of teenage romance. His friends have ideas of who he should
go out with, but Miles has to decide who is really right for
him.

John Coy, who is both a teacher and a writer, obviously knows
football, and CRACKBACK is filled with nail-biting drama from the
football field. The novel, written in first person, made me feel
like I was in each game --- even though I've never played football
in my life. Football fans will pass a copy of this great catch to
their friends when they finish it!

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