Winning the state championship in football-crazed Texas is the holy grail for high school coaches. Newton, Texas, is a sleepy little town nestled in the piney woods of southeastern Texas where the residents live for what they lovingly call “Friday night church.”

In December 2018 a video of the Newton Eagle coach went viral on sports and non-sports platforms as millions of people watched. In his emotional postgame interview, W.T. Johnston recounted how he had been given only a few months to live. But during his long coaching career, every one of his teams heard the same message. “I told them I was going to teach them football, but I was going to teach them something more important. How to live until you die.”

This is the story of a remarkable coach and the miracle that allowed him to pursue championship dreams. Between the White Lines is a story of courage, faith, and community that will inspire and challenge you.

Dave Burchett

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