Montana Joe

After stealing and crashing Bill Trasks pick-up truck Joe Tall Bull a young Native American teenager is saved from going to prison when the judge agrees to the rancher’s suggestion that the youngster helps out on his ranch until he has paid off the bill for the repairs. Taking a break from work, the pair attend a local High School game where Bill Trask, himself an ex-NFL quarterback who had quit the game many years ago for a life of obscurity discovers that the teenager has a natural football ability. Despite his reservations, the old rancher begins coaching him and a bond quickly develops between the two of them. While taking time off to watch a local high school football game, with the home team being humiliated by the opposition the old rancher convinces the coach, someone who is aware of his footballing past, to play Joe at quarterback. Reluctantly, the coach agrees and thanks to Joe the home team end up winning the game. Days later however after discovering that Joe wasn’t on the team roster and therefore ineligible to play, the opposing coach lodges a complaint with the Montana Football Commission. With the team facing disqualification to resolve the problem Bill tries to convince Joe to return to school. Met by a blunt refusal to his suggestion by Joe their relationship quickly deteriorates and Bill terminates their agreement. However, on the morning Joe is to leave, having thought over what Bill had said about him being good enough to go on and play College football, plus a desire to get to know Shannon, one of the football team’s cheerleaders, Joe has a change of heart and agrees to return to school. Determined to save the team from disqualification by admitting his part in the deception Bill gate-crashes the disciplinary hearing. Recognized by a committee member, his past and the tragedy which made him quit the game is revealed. Swayed by this revelation the committee agree to have the game replayed, and with Joe as their quarterback, the team win through to the Montana State High School Championship final. But as the day of the final approaches, finding himself having doubts about his ability and fearing that he might let his teammates down, Joe turns to his grandfather and the traditions of his people for help. Thankfully, when the big day arrives, after undergoing a cleansing ceremony in a sweat lodge, with his mind cleansed of fears and doubts, Joe walks onto the field and with his mentor looking on, he leads his team to victory.