One of my favorite movies I have seen recently is called "When the Game Stands Tall". Based off a true story, it is a sports drama film that involves the one hundred fifty-one game winning streak of the De La Salle High School Spartans, which was a record setting performance from the year 1992 to 2003 located in Concord, California. Despite the average reviews from other websites, I thought personally that this movie stood out to have an amazing storyline and I thought that it was the best sports film I have ever seen.

The movie begins with Bob Ladoucer, the coach of the De La Salle Spartans, watching his team win the championship of their undefeated 2003 season. Following their tradition, the seniors share their stories of what their team means to them. The juniors, including Ladoucer's son Danny, celebrate with team captain Chris Ryan who has the chance of breaking the California state record for the highest career of rushing touchdowns. During an argument whether to accept a coaching job at the college level, Ladoucer's wife Beverly tells him that he does not spend enough time with his family. A division meeting between coaches arranges to have De La Salle play against Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a team with a similar reputation.

Ladoucer engages the team members in a passage of the Gospel of Luke which states that all good deeds will be rewarded. This provokes a mixed reaction from players who come from disadvantaged households. Reminded of team alumnus Cameron Colvin, Ladoucer pays him a visit in Richmond, California and discovers that his mother is dying. Upon returning home, Ladoucer suffers a heart attack, impacting his own ability to coach in the 2004-2005 season. Later that day, Colvin is approached by his best friend Terrance Kelly who urges him to enroll at the University of Oregon so that they can play together. Not wanting to involve friends in the downward spiral he had found himself in, Colvin protests but eventually agrees. Days later, Kelly is shot and killed while trying to pick up a friend and the Spartan team attends his funeral.

De La Salle's 151 winning streak comes to an end when the Spartans lose a game against Bellevue, Washington. After the game, Chris Ryan's father Mickey hits Chris and threatens further abuse if he does not break the touchdown record. Coach Ladoucer takes the team to a veteran's rehab center, to deconstruct their respective ideas of brotherhood. To prepare for the game against Long Beach, the teammates watch videos of previous games and see that all of the Poly players are faster and more physically imposing. The grueling game becomes a victory for De La Salle after Danny knocks down a pass by Poly in the endzone to help the Spartans hold Poly on all four attempts at the goal line. The Spartans enter the final 2005 game with a renewed sense of confidence and hope that Ryan can make three touchdowns to break the school record.

A number of touchdowns during the game, including two by Chris place De La Salle in a comfortable lead. Mickey cheers that there is enough time left for him to break the state record. When setting up their final play, Ryan gathers his teammates and tells them that it would be wrong for him to end his time with a team by chasing a personal victory. He instead gives up the ball and raises his helmet to Ladoucer. As the audience members do the same, the game and movie ends with a tribute to the coach that brought them there.

To conclude this review, this movie doesn't just teach us about the De La Salle Spartans 151 game winning streak, but it teaches us what the true meaning of sacrifice, commitment, and teamwork is whether it is on or off the football field stated in my padlet background. Sometimes we must make these sacrifices for the greater good whether we like it or not as a person or as a team. Our commitment decides our outcomes good or bad and that teamwork can be a key role to succeeding with the support from your peers around you.