Fathers and sons come to a standoff as Clark joins the football team despite his dad's objections. Clark discovers the coach (guest star Dan Lauria, "The Wonder Years") has been affected by kryptonite and is using his fire-starter abilities to hurt anyone who gets in the way of victory. Lex goes saber to saber with his father (guest star John Glover, "Batman & Robin") over the control of LuthorCorp.

What's up with Coach Walt? The 25-year veteran football coach gains fire-starting abilities after steaming in his personal sauna room. The lava rocks were tainted with kryptonite. Coach loses his temper with the principal in two different meetings, discovering his fire-starting abilities. The principal knows that Coach Walt has been encouraging cheating among the football players. In a rage, Coach Walt directs his flames at the principal, as he starts his car. Clark sees the flames, saving the principal just before the car explodes. Later, the coach threatens his players on the field, directing flames from the sprinklers. Chloe gets photos of this for the school paper, as she investigates the cheating scandal.

What's up with Lex? Lex doesn't agree with his father's business decision to cut 20% of the jobs in Smallvile's branch of LuthorCorp. Their disagreement leads to a fencing match, with Mr. Luthor the victor. Defeated, Lex reviews ways to cut workers. He's still uneasy about it, and finds inspiration in Clark's defiance of his father in joining the football team, and Lana's taking a job at the Beanery Coffee Shop, in spite of her aunt's disapproval. In the end, Lex devises an alternate plan so no jobs are lost, defying his father.

What's up with Chloe? Coach Walt threatens one of the players, Trevor, by grabbing and burning his arm, because he thinks Trevor gave info to Chloe. As she edits digital photos in the school's newspaper office, the coach sets her computer on fire. Flames travel quickly, trapping Chloe, sending her screaming at the window for Clark's help. Clark saves her, as the coach is distracted and the flames subside.

How it ends: Before the big game, Clark confronts Coach Walt in the sauna. The kryptonite weakens Clark, Coach Walt punches him and locks him in. As the game begins, Chloe, the Kents, and Pete wonder where Clark is. Jonathan and Chloe search him out, with the coach following. Jonathan finds Clark in the sauna, freeing him. Coach Walt attacks and Clark throws him across the room, flames burning around them. When its all over, Lana meets Clark on the football field. Fired from her job, and with the day Clark has had, they both let out a primal scream on the football field, bonding in friendship and frustration.