This episode wasn’t planned.

We had a whole outline ready to go—a deep dive into what it means to be “built on grit.” But then last weekend unfolded, and it became clear: this was the story. The chaos, the leadership, the quiet moments that said everything.

Three days. Three games. Two cities.
Friday night: a U14 season finale.
Saturday morning: a shot at the league lead.
Sunday afternoon: all hell breaks loose—red cards, injuries, and a sideline full of tension.

But that’s where the story turns.

When the coach gets ejected for sideline behavior (not his own), there’s no one left to manage the game. And what happens next? A group of teenage girls step into leadership like they’ve been waiting for this moment.

They organize.
They sub.
They compete.
And they draw 3–3 in a game they were supposed to lose.

In the background is Ella, one of the team’s captains for the day, and the coach’s daughter. At 11, she lost a State Cup Final in the closing seconds. Now at 14, she’s back in the final—but thinks her dad won’t be able to coach it. What she says after the whistle is raw, beautiful, and unforgettable.

This may be the last run they have together.

This episode is about that moment—about what happens when you trust your players to lead themselves. About what it means to coach with no timeouts. To stand in the corner of the field and believe. And what it really looks like when a group of girls, backed by years of work, rises.

There’s leadership here.
There’s heartbreak.

There’s grit—before we ever defined it.

Listen to Episode 9 — “It’s Up to You Now”
Only on The Line Ends Here.

#BuiltOnGrit #TheLineEndsHere #PlayerFirst #EaglesRise