Ep.188 – Friday Night Frights - This Sport is DEADLY

0:01 In small towns, high school football can be quite a big deal, so why should Strickfield be any different. Weekly Spooky's own terrifying town puts its own spin on the Friday night fights. Tonight on the program, and believe me, it gets deadly. What's that you want to be scared? Come with me. You will experience tales over opera, ghosts and death. It is not recommended at the foot the week at heart listeners in the dark. It's more fun that way way. This is Weekly Spooky. Hello, my spookies, It's Wednesday, and you know what that means. It's time for a little spooky in your weekly. I'm your host and narrator, Enrique Kuto, and I'm so happy to be here with you. We have quite a rah rah sis boom bah kind of show tonight, and I think you're really going to enjoy it. But before we get to the story, I just want

1:32 to say a sincere thank you so much for being a listener. I know it's not necessarily spooky season yet, but for all of you listening in the middle of the year, you're my people. You're the folks who like spooky all year long, and I'm right there with you, and I promise to be here every week bringing the scares just for you. And if you want to help us out, I really sincerely would appreciate it if you leave us a five star rating on your favorite podcasting app after subscribing, whether on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or iHeartMedia. And if you want to support us in a very very direct way and get bonus episodes of the show, just go to Weekly Spooky dot com and click on Patreon. For as little as one dollar a month, you get all kinds of bonus material, including a monthly creepypasta show and so much more. And you can even hang out with myself and some of the other fine folks here at Weekly Spooky. It's the best way to support us directly, and it only costs as little as one dollar a year. Also, for you Freddy Krueger fans out there, and I know there are many of you, head on over to bobbletopia dot com. They have a great Freddie Krueger bobblehead available for purchase, and if you use code Weekly Spooky at checkout, you get a discount, and I get a little bit of that sale to support the show. That's Bobbletopia, dot Com, Code Weekly, Spooky at checkout. But now, my friends,

3:07 it's about time to get a ball game on. After these quick words. Friday Night Frights by rob Fields, It's Friday Night again. We always have that important, heated yearly rivalry game early on during the football season. It's US at Strickfield Academy against Strickfield High. I've been playing for Strickfield Academy since sophomore year. We beat Strickfield High then and last year. Now it's senior year and we're facing them again. Strickfield High isn't the greatest football team out there. I mean, they haven't been to state for as long as I can remember, not since the days of Mick the Demon Night back in the fifties. We've been to state the last two years. Sophomore year we ended up being the runner ups. Last year we won the state championship for our division. But my point is that every time we play against Strickfield High, they always make us work for our wins. It wouldn't matter if they were the suckiest team in the Eerie Shore Conference. They always seem to play their best against us, probably because it's the battle of strickfield. Funny thing.

4:29 We never play them in other sports, just football. It's the fourth quarter. The score is thirty four thirty US. It's down to the final minute. We've been gradually taking the ball down field to run out the clock. Coach Crandon has been riding us the whole game. I really hate this guy. Ever since had mistress Hiltonson hired him to replace Coach Rains after he retired, this guy has been relentless. That's what get when you have a former marine drill instructor. If you've ever seen that movie Full Metal Jacket, you know what I'm talking about. Come on, brand Flakes, We're almost there. Coach Crandon yells at me, my name is Greg brand Lake.

5:18 That douchebag has been calling me brand Flakes ever since he took over his coach, letting me know he doesn't like me. The other team calls time out. I'm ready to go over our next play with the guys, but suddenly Crandon's right there. Two more plays, brand Flakes, He yells, in his drill instructor tone, you fucked this up. I'm going to kick your ass all over that locker room. You get me, You're worthless piece of shit. I hate the guy so much I don't even answer him. I was the top quarterback in the Eerie Short Conference before Crandon came along. Coach Raines was hard on us, but he did it to challenge us. He was always there for us. If he noticed one of us was having difficulties, he worked with those players until they overcame those problems. Not Crandon.

6:10 He's already had three people quit the team because of his shit. In fact, my game's really suffered because of him. I used to throw perfect passes or hand off to the right guy. This time, I threw an interception earlier that let Strickfield High get back into this game. Before halftime, Crandon let me know about it in the locker room. As soon as Crandon's off the field, the game resumes. We get into position. I take the snap and go back. There's a man wide open, and I throw the ball to him. The ball seems to sail slowly, very slowly. It almost reaches my wide receiver when a little guy from Strickfield High seemingly comes from right out of nowhere to leap up and snatch the ball for an interception.

7:00 Little peewee Richter intercepted me earlier too. He's also fast enough to run around our tacklers. I manage to get close enough to him to make a diving tackle. He jumps up and with great height for me to slide right underneath him. Richter runs the rest of the way and scores a touchdown. Strickfield High takes the lead thirty six to thirty four. Instead of going for the extra point, they go for a two point conversion. They hand the ball to peewee Richter, who gets the two easily to make the score thirty eight to thirty four. Strickfield High fixed it so we can't tie the game on a field goal and go into overtime. We have to score a touchdown.

7:45 We have just enough time for one attempt. Strickfield High kicks off, and then we really have a meltdown on the return when a Strickfield High tackler makes our returner fumble the ball. Strickfield High picks it up up and runs it in for a quick and easy touchdown and the win forty four to thirty four. Final Crandon slams my back up against some lockers. Give me one goddamn reason why I shouldn't kick You're worthless fucking ass all over this locker room. Brand flakes. He pulls me back and slams me into the lockers again. You do not throw two interceptions on my team. You do not even throw one. He lets go of me and backs off. Then he grins and points at me. I'm gonna lay it out for you, real simple brand flakes. We so much as lose one more game, I'm gonna cut your rass from the team. Head Mistress Hiltenson says, you're supposed to be good so far, you ain't showing me jack shit. Well, one more loss.

8:56 Then he pats the side of my face. See you at practice on Monday. He's about to leave when he stops and adds speaking to all of us now, Oh, and all of you can plan on extra duty every day next week. When the bastard finally walks away, I look at the others. No point in expecting any of these guys to help me out. We're a football team when we're on the field, but most of us aren't really friends. I can even see their sour looks. Yeah, they're blaming me for our loss against Strickfield High. I'd have told Crandon to kiss my ass and quit the team. But I know next week's the big game where the scouts are coming. I know I have to make a good showing if I want to try and land a scholarship. Otherwise I can forget about getting out of Strickfield. I'll be stuck here working at one of the many mir In factories to make a living. What am I going to do? The one good thing I've got going for me is Katie Kleine, my girlfriend and an Academy cheerleader. I'm so glad I can always count on her. She gives me a sympathetic look. Do I even want to ask? Crandon got to you again? Didn't he? Am I that obvious? I reply, half joking us cheerleaders. Could hear him hollering at you? I swear he's even louder than our cheers. We even hear the filthy words he's not supposed

10:28 to be using at the Academy. Yeah, but Hiltonsen ain't going to do anything. She knows how big football is here. She'll look the other way as long as we win another state championship. Then I tell her Crandon threatened to cut me if I don't show improvement at next Friday's game, I groan, He'll probably cut me anyway, whether we win or lose. If I don't get a full ride to college, I'm done again. Katie give me a sympathetic look. We talk about other things as we head home. Before we part ways, Katie suggests we spend the day together Saturday and just have fun. I decide to take her up on that. It's Saturday afternoon.

11:16 Katie and I have been walking around the village, just going wherever. We even go to the Strickfield Town Center mall. Nothing going on here. I figure any day now this mall is going to close. But Christmas ain't far off, so the mall will start getting packed as stores open in here for the season. We look down a far section of the mall. Nothing open. We're about to turn around when we see a light. We go to it and see there's only one store there called Tinkers. Hey looks like an oddity store. Katie says, you know, places that sell junk and stuff.

11:56 I take her hand. I know you want to look. Let's go in. We walk into the store. Katie's looking at one piece of junk after another. It doesn't look like she's going to buy anything in the past, Katie would tell me there's always that possibility of a rare find in places like these. Katie sighs and turns to me. You know you haven't said much of anything today. Are you still worried about Crandon? I sigh sadly. I'm sorry. I know we're supposed to be having fun and I'm ruining it. I can't help it, Katie, I'm just sick of how Crandon keeps riding me. If I don't get back to where I was, I can kiss both high school football and the possibility of a scholarship could buy.

12:43 Before Katie can reply, we realize we're not alone. A man who looks like he's in his early fifties is right there. I'm sorry, young man, I couldn't help overhearing, he says, I think I may have something that might help you more confidence, right, I reply, You've got something in a junk shop to help me win football games. You'd think the man would have been insulted, but he just chuckles a little. Come with me, please, Katie and I follow him to the display case at the cash register. Then I see it all framed up on the wall behind the register.

13:24 Remember what I just said, about making that rare. Fine. Guess Katie was right. No freaking way. My jaw drops for a moment. You actually have Mick the Demon Knight's original Strickfield High football jersey. Ah, so you know who he is? Then the man asked, do I know him? I exclaim, uh, yeah, he was the guy you wanted to be in football. Nobody could touch him. I know he was big in the fifties, but he was the greatest quarterback that ever came out of Strickfield. His team went undefeated for the years he was there. They won state championships. He went on to the nc Double A to play for Michigan and was unstoppable. Then he went to the NFL to play for Shore City and won a lot of championships before there were even Super Bowls. I've idolized Night for years and want to be just like him. I was well on my way until Crandon got to be coach. I saw and look at the jersey again. I see the back with the big numbers zero zero and demon above them. Yeah, this was supposed to be his lucky jersey. I continue Knight supposedly wore it under his team's jersey when he was in college and again in the NFL. Then I get to the bad part of what I know about Night. He was found dead in his condo in Shore City about midway through his final season in the NFL. Rumor had it that certain people

14:56 were looking for his jersey. This jersey his body was found with. No, I don't want to say it. I look at the jersey again. Then I turned to the man, how did you end up getting it? Well, that's my business, Isisley Tinker at your service. I've come across many interesting artifacts and oddities during my times and travels. I just happened to come across this football jersey in an auction. I picked it up cheap, but I know to the people of Strickfield it's worth so much more. I shake my head slowly. I don't think I could ever afford this jersey. Tinker and I end up talking figures. He comes down on the price a little, but I really want that jersey. Fortunately I have just enough on my debit card to buy it. Normally I don't collect sports stuff, but this is Mick Knight, the Demon. Yeah, this guy was built like a brick shit house, but he could really really throw a football. He could hit his mark nine times out of ten times, ten times out of ten. When he ran the ball himself, he could knock other players out of the way like they were just pesky little flies. Yeah. I just had to have that jersey. A collector's item. If anything, Katie and I leave the store, Well, at least you're finally smiling, Katy cracks, even if you had to spend good money to do it. I put an arm around her. I don't expect you to understand, hun, but

16:26 this jersey, I just have to have it, She smiles. You don't have to explain it to me. It's no different than some of the items of classic rock and roll that I collect Believe me, I totally get it. Katy and I hang out for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. When our date's over, I'm finally alone in my room with my prize. I'm holding the original Strickfield High jersey that Mick the Demon night War. I don't know. It feels like some kind of energy is in my hands when I hold it. Now, when it comes to collector's items, like an original jersey, you wouldn't even think about trying it on. But that is exactly what I was going to do. I put the jersey on right over my T shirt and look in the mirror. Then I gasp when I feel like I'm wide awake. I was tired from my day with Katie, but now I'm feeling like I'm on top of the world. Yeah, I should, since I have this jersey. Truly, it's a one of a kind collector's item and it belongs to me. Now, deep down, I'm feeling like things are going to start changing for the better. Don't go away, weekly, Spooky will be right back. Monday after school, I'm on the football field at practice. That's when Crandon starts on me again about

17:57 how I cost us the game on Friday. He keeps going on and on about how my position's going to come open after next weekend, and how those who want to throw for him had better start practicing for tryouts. Crandon points right at me, you might as well just walk off the field right fucking now, you worthless piece of shit, Go fuck yourself. I hear myself saying. Everybody's looking at me right now. Boy, you should have seen the look on Crandon's face. In fact, he marches right up to me and shoves me what's that boy? Come on, say it again. I shove him back. Yeah, you heard me the first time. You want to replace me, just try it. You know, none of these guys are anywhere near as good as me. Crandon and I have a standoff.

18:48 Then he grins before he turns away from me. Okay, brand flakes. He thinks he's such hot shit on a cold plate. I want you guys to destroy him. I don't want him even getting a Friday Night's game. We have practice. I'm feeling like I've been rejuvenated as I'm completing one pass right after another. I'm even knocking people out of the way who are trying to tackle me. Crandon's fuming so bad you could probably fry eggs off him, especially the times when I run the ball in myself. For once, he's not giving me hell. He's actually screaming at the other players. Now, for the first time ever, he doesn't even keep me around for extra duty. The others are going to be running laps Friday Night comes again.

19:36 I'm wearing the Micknight jersey underneath my Strickfield Academy one. We're playing Ridgeway Academy as in Ridgeway Heights, in fact, they were undefeated last year. They're currently undefeated this season. They won the state championship last year in their division. The scouts are even here tonight. Crandon's yelling his bullshit at me as we play. He doesn't like that I've been showing him up all week. Just hurry up and get your ass off my team, brand flakes. But I've been completing my passes. I've been keeping those bigger guys away from me. I've even knocked a few out of my way as I run a touchdown in People just aren't believing what they're seeing. Ridgeway Academy has been destroying everybody they've faced, often winning with real high scores. Now we've got a sixty seven to seven lead. The only reason Ridgeway Academy even puts points on the board was because of a fumble recovery. Nothing to do with me. I can tell the scouts are impressed. Katie's really beaming as she looks my way.

20:41 Our cheerleaders are really kicking things up with how they're cheering. You could actually hear them over Crandon's screaming for once we get down to the final minute, we're up eighty four to ten. Now I take the snap and run the ball down the field, knocking a few of those big guys out of my way. Again, I cross into the end zone for one more touchdown for the final score of ninety to ten. For the first time in my life, my teammates run up to me and lift me up onto their shoulders to carry me around the field. Not only did we just make the biggest upset by handing Ridgeway Academy their first loss in quite some time, but we're back in the playoff picture again. As we pass coach Crandon, I give him that look that tells him I'm definitely keeping my position as starting quarterback.

21:33 Regular season's over and we're in the playoffs. I'm right back where I was when I started playing. No. No, I'm even higher than I've ever been. I'm getting offers on top of offers for full ride athletic scholarships from some of the top colleges. I'm talking SEC and the Big ten here. Ever since I've been wearing Mick Knight's jersey, I've been on top of the world. But there's still one problem. However, I'm in the locker room. I'm the last one to take a shower, after smiling for pictures and doing interviews for the area news stations and papers. After I finish my shower and get dressed, I see coach Crandon standing outside. Crandon wastes no time, must be nice. Huh, you're getting everything you ever wanted. Hell, Gregg brand Lake, You're the talk of the college football world. He looks like he's ready to devour me. Now, let's cut the shit.

22:30 We both know you suck. How you doing it? Huh? Steroids some other performance enhancers. Then he pushes me, ain't no way you're gonna be a college star brand Flakes. You're really a fucking pussy. You know it. I know it. You better fess up because when I find out, and I will, you're gonna be out on your ass. You're gonna go back to being a fucking pussy like you've always been. I smirk and shake my head a little. I have to go, but Crandon moves and stands in front of me. Finally I've had enough of his shit. I pick him up like a pillow and throw him right through the doors leading into the swimming pool. I can't believe I just did that. Man, does this feel incredible? I move toward Crandon. As he's getting up, he growls and comes running at me. I draw back, ready to punch him.

23:22 I growl with all the anger I'm feeling as I take his head right off. The head flies all the way to the back wall and bounces into the pool. The body falls back and the water gets red fast as blood pours out of his neck. And then I see myself in the wall nearer. My eyes are glowing red, bright red. Then I growl, Wow did that come from me? It's like a growl you hear in one of those cheesy horror movies. I even feel so much stronger, a special when I killed Crandon. This is fucking awesome. Now I'm understanding why Mick Knight was nicknamed the Demon. I don't know how he got this shit, But now that I've got it, I can have whatever I want, whenever I want it, I can have it all. You just knew things would get bad between Katie and me. She's been bitching and moaning that I don't have time for her anymore. Hey, we're both on the football field every day after school for practices. Right, We're there on the field for our games.

24:37 Right, where's the problem? When I told her I can't give myself to just her anymore, she just looked at me like I just dumped her. Yeah, I guess that's what did happen. I don't need Katie, I don't need anybody. I've got the Micknight Jersey. I'm the demon now and Strickfield Academy has been cruising right through the playoffs. We're the team to beat now we're the number one seat in our division. As for head Mistress Hiltonson, she's definitely pleased. Yeah, she seemed been out of shape when it came to Crandon's death. No one ever came to talk to me about it, so I think it's safe to say no one saw me no big loss when it came to Crandon had Mistress Hiltonson appointed our gym teacher mister Rickles as our temporary coach until she can get a new full time one. At least with mister Rickles, it feels more like old times when Coach Rains was behind us. He was also the assistant coach until Crandon pushed him away. I can tell the morale is up more with Crandon gone. Believe me when I say nobody misses him I'm lying on my bed and thinking about the future.

25:53 When my door slams open and Katie marches in. I get off the bed and point at her. You can't just come into my house like that. But Katy's not the least bit afraid. Your parents aren't home. She points right back at me. I see you on Friday nights, Gregg Brandlake. I see you. You've been intentionally hurting people on the field. She comes right up to me and gets in my face. You think I don't know it's that jersey you bought at Tinkers. I'm not stupid. Want to know something else. I went back to the store to ask questions about that jersey. Tinker isn't even in the mall anymore. It's like it never even opened there. I shrug. And I should care because you've changed, Greg, She yells, you've really changed. You used to be a great guy.

26:47 That's why I loved being with you. Now I don't even know you anymore. You dropped me like a hot skillet and started sleeping with every girl who throws herself at you. I know, head Mistress Hiltonson won't expel you. Not when we're about to win another their state title. But that's all you care about now, championships, money, girls, and fame. But we both know why you're getting everything, don't we. Katie shrieks when I suddenly lift her up. I take her to the wall and slam her against it to hold her there. She starts punching me. Let go of me, Greg, God damn you. I'll break you in half, you skinny little bitch. I fire back. Shit was that me? Katie screams like a girl from those cheesy horror movies after hearing my demonic voice and seeing my glowing red eyes. I'm still holding her to the wall. When I look into her terrified face, I'm going to have some fun with you now. I'm going to break you as many times as I can. Wow. I fucking love this demon voice. No, no, Katie wails. Then she kicks me right in the balls. I can't believe this. I'm supposed to be the demon now, and that skinny little bitch just brought me to my knees.

28:02 Oh damn, this really hurts, Like Holy hell. I fall on my side and hold my groin as Katie escapes. Bitch, I growl, just you wait. We've been destroying every team in the playoffs. Now we're at the state championship finals. Wouldn't you know it, it's US against Strickfield High. They didn't have the greatest season, but they did manage to get a good enough record to barely make it into the playoffs. They are the number seven seed. And there's that little Peewee Richter. One of the main differences between US and the high school is that we have enough players to make a separate offense and a defense. Strickfield High has to play both sides with their starting lineups since they're just a village high school and only so many people there go out for football. Yeah, little Pewee Richter's definitely on the menu tonight. I haven't forgotten about how he embarrassed me earlier on in the season.

29:07 We're playing the game. I can definitely see why Strickfield High made it to the finals. They're relying on little Peewee Richter. He wasn't a full starter when we played at the beginning of the season. It was until about halfway through the season that he was moved to first string. Since then, he's really made a difference for Strickfield High. He's a little shit, but he's so fast that people can't catch him. Well, he hasn't gone up against the demon yet. He's going to learn the hard way. As the game progresses, little Peewee Richter is really pissing me off. Our team scores a touchdown, then he answers it. When he answers the touchdown, I ran in with one of his own. He points right at me and does a little dance. The score is tied at sixty. I'm definitely going to kill him. It's the final minute of the game. I'm ready to take the snap when we're up again. I got my eyes on little Peewee Richter.

30:11 He's got his eyes on me. And then I feel such power surging right through me. The next thing I know, I can feel my cleats coming apart, I can feel my helmet breaking. I'm literally growing and changing. Then I can hear the crowds gasping on both sides of the stadium. Little Peewee Richter practically shits himself when he sees his worst nightmare come to life. You belong to me now, little man, I growl in my full demonic voice. I'm ready to throw the ball right at him and hurt him bad. But I decide I want to face down Peewee Richter myself. As the strickfield high tacklers come at me, I knock them out of my way like pillows. Then I make my way down field towards Peewee Richter. I can't believe this little shit wants to try me. There I am with my double o's, that's my Micknight jersey and the tatters of my pants and my new demonic looks, and he wants to be David to my Goliath. You made this personal, little man, I tell him. As I'm right up to him, I raise the football and roar. Everybody's screaming in the stands now not little Pewee Richter. Though. Before I realize what's going on, he fucking climbs right up me like a pole. Then he snatches the football, drops it and runs like hell. I turn around and roar as I

31:45 run after him. I'm catching up to him fast with my demonic legs. Peewee Richter really runs like hell. As I dive to tackle him, he dives himself into the end zone. Naw, I roar. The final score is sixty six to sixty. Peewee Richter just won the game. And the state championship for Strickfield High. I grabbed Peewee Richter off the artificial turf and lift him up to me. He's fighting and thrashing against me. Now, oh, what I'm going to do to him? Yeah, I'm going to break him in half. I lift the little shit up and over my head.

32:28 I'm going to enjoy hearing him scream as I snap him in two. Nobody humiliates me like that. Nobody. I'm the demon. I'm the remaining crowd gasped as Greg brand Lake's demonic head seemingly exploded. The fans that didn't run to escape were too busy looking on at the demonic spectacle and Peewee Richter to see. Katie Klein had pulled the trigger on the double barrel shot unshe'd borrowed from her dad. Katie knew she had to stop Greg once and for all, after what he had done to Coach Crandon in the Strickfield Academy swimming pool that Friday night at the end of the regular season. She had never been so scared as when she realized she had to kill Greg, and it was even scarier for her to break into the morgue at Strickfield General Hospital and steal the Micknight jersey. Afterwards, Katy knew it was the authentic jersey when she started to feel the power surging in her hands. But Katy had no intention of wearing it. As far as she was concerned. She would have to keep it and make sure nobody would ever get their hands on it, especially after she tried to burn it only to find it wouldn't catch fire even after soaking it in gasolene. The only thing Katy kept wondering night after night when she went to bed was how long such a powerful item like Mick Knight's

33:59 jersey would remain safe with her. After all, evil power like that doesn't remain a secret forever. Eisely Tinker certainly knew this as he stood outside her house and chuckled. He knew that he could easily reclaim the jersey from her. However, he had other ideas. No, Ka decline, you may keep the demon's jersey, even though your intentions are good to keep its power safe from others. It will only be a matter of time before you yourself will come to desire the power. However, will you claim the power or will it claim you? Ah? Yes, a most interesting question to be answered, indeed, and it shall be answered in due time. Of this, I am most certain. And with that, Eisely Tinker turned and walked away. That's a ball game right there, all right. I'm not much of a sports fan, but when you get the demons involved, I definitely perk up a little bit and start to pay attention to the scoreboard. And I'm so glad we could go back to Strickfield yet again. I want to let you all know that in June we're heading back to Strickfield for a full blown mini series. I'm not going to tell you what it's about quite yet,

35:29 but I know you're all going to enjoy it very very much. Speaking of enjoying things very much, if you haven't gone to the movie theater to see Evil Dead Rise yet, I highly recommend you do. And no one is paying me to say that. I just love a great horror film in the movie theater. And a massive thank you to everybody who's joined us on Patreon. We have ninety five backers. If you've been considering joining, why not jump at it today and you'll make my week just a little bit sweeter, I assure you, and I want to take a moment to say thank you so much, especially to our Patreon podcast boosters, folks who pay just a little bit more every single month to hear their names on the show.

36:12 And they are Bobbletopia dot Com, Megan Hua, Julia Kersh, Brent McCullough, Gino Lyons, Steve King, Karen Wee, met Jack Kerr and Craig Cohen. Thank you all so very much. And I couldn't be happier about doing the show. I know sometimes I get a little sappy, but I've been working on episode two hundred and just the concept of two hundred is blowing my mind. Let alone the fact that we've told so many great stories, had so much fun, and made so many friends. Speaking of friends, by the way, go to Facebook dot com, log into your little account and type in weekly Spooky Tomb of Terror. If you want to hang out with other spookies, that's where we do it. We share memes, scary stories, and much much more. But now, my friends, I need to get out of here and get ready for our special Friday show for myself, for my executive producer, Rob Fields, my producer Dan Wilder, and our composer Raymadis. I will talk at you next time. Thank you for listening. To make sure to find your way back next week. But for now you are safe. Trust me.