How does football symbolize life for Crash?

For John, sports are where he dominates. John seemingly writes his destiny from an early age when he knocks his cousin down one Christmas while wearing his new football helmet. From that moment on he is known as "Crash" Coogan to everyone except Penn Webb. In some ways John's early physical actions do indeed reflect his life to come; John dominates on the football field, and he is unstoppable. He is unable to restrain himself from scoring touchdown after touchdown to the point where it is excessive and unsportsmanlike. John later explains his strengths, calling himself the Fastest Kid in his neighborhood, school, and town. Adults like the vice principal write off John and Mike's fight because they are leaders on the football team and it is expected that they will take the team far. Thus he is untouchable on the field and off. He approaches everything from the viewpoint of football, even saying "Life is football" to motivate him to approach getting Jane to dance with him as the equivalent as winning a game. He feels that being aggressive and ostentatious on as well as off the field will lead to a clean victory.