In the first home drive of the first game played by the IC Chips, River Angelos handed the ball to Gerry Sun. Dodging a multitude of Humboldt attackers, Sun took the ball twenty yards. River threw a short completed pass; the receiver was pushed back; River found an opening down the middle, ran for four yards. In the stands, his father appeared, holding a "River, pack your bags” sign. River looked up; three Humboldt defenders took him down. Huygens punted to the Rangers.

With three long passes, Jed Beau moved the Rangers to the red zone. His subsequent pass to a receiver in the end zone would have been completed if it hadn't been intercepted by the Cornerback from New Jersey, Caydance's home state. Terrell glanced at Coach McGuire before deciding whether to fall down or run with the ball. Griff pointed to the Humboldt end zone 100 yards away. In the midst of dense defense, Terrell Orsino Washington, aka T.O., rapidly out-distanced Humboldt pursuers. In the stands a handsome woman with luxurious long black hair was making her way to where Angelos senior sat. In her hands was a medium weight frying pan. "Go!" River yelled. "Don't worry, Coach, Mom's frying pan is not heavy enough to kill Dad."

Carrying the ball, Terrell plunged into the end zone just ahead of a pack of Humboldt pursuers Before he could decide if there was something he should do next, he was engulfed by his teammates. Six points appeared on the new electronic scoreboard. The Huygens band began to play a rousing version of Laurie Anderson's "Big Science": In his first appearance on the field, Will O’Arragan kicked the ball precisely into the center of the space between the goal posts. Humboldt 7 Huygens 7. In the Huygens stands, River's Father sat slumped beside his Mother. "My Mom owns half the restaurant," River explained. "The problem began with a blond waitress."