Odessa, Texas—a blue-collar town where high school football is central to the community's identity.

The superstar tailback whose injury forces the team to find a new identity. Lucas Black

The season's trajectory shifts dramatically when star player James "Boobie" Miles suffers a severe knee injury in the first game. Major Characters and Cast Character Note Coach Gary Gaines Billy Bob Thornton

The team faces immense pressure from a community that views anything short of a state championship as a failure.

Released on October 8, 2004, is a sports drama film that follows the Permian High School Panthers during their 1988 run for the Texas state championship. Directed by Peter Berg, the film is based on the 1990 non-fiction book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger. Core Overview

The "straight arrow" leader balancing community demands and the well-being of his players. Derek Luke