ourth quarter of an action-packed game between cross town rivals South Newport and North Newport, with South Newport on offense and trailing by three points. There are eight seconds left on the game clock with a timeout on the field.

Everything hinges on the next play. If North Newport can stop South Newport, it is the division championship and a trip to the playoffs. But if South Newport can cross the goal, they become the last seed in the playoffs. One team goes on; the other goes home to put away the uniforms with the cry "wait until next season."

With the ball on the two-yard line, South Newport calls timeout. The referee during the timeout calls his wings together for a very brief conference, where he reminds the wings to cover the goal line and be sure the ball breaks the plane.

The last five

Nowhere on the field requires as much alertness as the final five yards regardless whether the outcome means the playoffs or a routine paragraph in the local paper.

What do you need to be aware of?

Continued...