Touchdown Maker Author:Dick Friendlich Russ Harkness was through with football. At least that's what he thought when his parents moved to the small town of Maywood and Russ began his senior year at the local high school. Fresh in his memory was the humiliation he had suffered at Portland Polytechnic the year before, when he was blamed for costing his team the state championship. Now... more » all he wanted was to be left alone.
But Maywood Union High School badly needed a fast halfback, and when a brief item alluding to his football ability appeared in the school newspaper, Russ felt the pressure on him to play steadily increasing. So he went out for football, making little effort to conceal his lack of interest in the school's activities, football included; and although for a time he played brilliantly, he soon alienated most of his teammates.
It was only after his father was seriously injured in an accident, and Maywood responded promptly and generously, that Russ re-examined his attitude. With the most important game of the season coming up, he decided to show his gratitude on the football field.« less