Meet the Mission High School Football Team

Curtis Burns Jr.  #25

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: FB/LB

“I play football because I like contact. And I want to stay active and keep my body in shape.”

Oscar Campos #60

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: DT/G

“I play football because I like to hit people and not get in trouble for it. I get my anger out.”

Amine Houri #51

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position: LB/OG

“I play football because I’ve played my whole life. I like contact and I want to play in the future, so that just motivates me.”

Jaleel Stancil #10

Age: 16
Grade: 12th
Position: LB/FB

“I play football because my uncle and my dad played football so they want me to keep it going — follow behind them.”

Mane Fale #79

Age: 16
Grade: 10th
Position: C/G

“I play football because it’s something to keep me out of the streets and keep me busy. It’s something to put my grades up, too.”

Gilberto Mejia #66

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position:  DL

“I love football because it’s a new challenge. This is my first year ever playing football, and I really like how different cultures are being mixed together.”

Oscar Portillo #64

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position: OL/DL

“I play football because I like to do something productive. It’s my last year and I want to make it to the playoffs — have something to tell my sons in my future.”

Christian Mata #72

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: DT/DE

“I love football because you have to give your 100 percent in every single play, and when you’re with a team, it’s like a big family.”

Jamal Abdul Hubbard Muhammad #74

Age: 16
Grade: 12th
Position: G/DT

“I love football because it keeps me athletic and aggressive.”

Wilmer Abrego #31

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: DB

“I love football because it’s a very physical sport. Since I was little, I always watched it on NFL Sunday, and one day I’d like to play pro.”

Alec Tatum #6

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position: WR/OLB

“I love football because I’ve been playing since I was like 7 years old, and it’s always been in my family. My dad played football in high school, and he always encouraged me to play.”

Travis Price Moku #21

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position: WR

“I like football because it’s a very rough sport, and I think I’m built for it. And it’s very fun.”

Gabriel Leota #50

Age: 16
Grade: 12th
Position: DT/G

“I play football because it gives me activity to do after school. I’m not really big on hanging out with friends, so I might as well hit someone while I’m graduating.”

Algeron Malbrough #4

Age: 17
Grade: 11th
Position: WR/LB/OLB
“I play football because I love the contact. I like to bring out my aggression, so that’s the best time. Can’t beat that — hitting somebody without going to jail or something like that.”

Davonta Gaines #11

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position: RB/LB

“I like to play football because it’s a sport that I can hit people and not get in trouble. I like to play with my friends.”

Laron Davis #12

Age: 17
Grade: 11th
Position: RB/S/LB

“I like to play football because my whole family likes it, and when I was little, that’s what I was taught to do. I’ve been playing it since I was like 7 years old.”

Darius Grays #58

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: DE/OT/G

“I like to play football because it’s fun. You get to take your anger out and the stress that you had during the week on other people.”

Guillermo Gonzalez #94

Age: 17
Grade: 12th
Position: OT
“I like to play football because…it’s one of the few sports I can actually play well because it’s for big people. I just started playing this year. I used to play soccer before. This year I’m playing both.”

Davon Hargraves #8

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: QB/S

“I like to play football because…I understand how to play. I like touchdowns, scores, tackling, everything.”

Sidy Fall #33

Age: 16
Grade: 12th
Position: TE

“I like to play football because it is the ultimate team sport. Everybody has to cooperate in order for the game to go smoothly or to win in general.”

Jorge Mejia #95

Age: 18
Grade: 12th
Position: DL

“Football, that’s the only game that I like to play…’cause you have to be strong and have power.”

Kevin Hall #24

Age: 17
Grade: 11th
Position: CB
“I play football because it helps me get a lot of frustration out because I am going through some things. It’s like a challenge to try to tackle other people and see if they’re stronger than me or not.”

Jaime Montejo #92

Age: 16
Grade: 11th
Position: DL

“I like to show my strength — and to hit. I like to dedicate myself to a sport.”