Hoover High School Cardinals are on their way to the CIF Championship for the first time in the school's 85-year history.
Despite the odds being against them both on the field and in the classroom, Hoover High's football players have overcome it all and will face Christian High School in the championship game at Southwestern College this Saturday.
From problems in academics to behavior and suspensions, these football players were in no shape to become a championship team until one coach put his foot down and showed HHS what a winning team looks like.
"The kids just weren't serious about their grades and they just wanted to play football," said Coach Jerry Ralph. "Everybody wants to play but not put the work in and so that was the first battle I had...getting them to go to class, do their work, be eligible."
Ralph, who took the job of varsity football coach three years ago, said that when he started, 40 percent of his varsity players couldn't make the grades to be eligible to play. Now the entire team is eligible and are on an 8-game winning streak.
By making the team work harder to keep playing, Ralph said his players started to turn things around. He made them volunteer for community service and train with Navy SEALs.
HHS senior and varsity wide receiver and corner Daquan Walker was one of those players who made some serious changes.
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Walker was faced with much more serious adversities this year than just pulling his grades up. He became homeless after a falling out with his mom and has been holding a job while playing ball and attending school.
After a living arrangement with a friend didn't work out, Walker spent a few months living with his coach, who he said inspired him to keep going.
"Every day I wake up with a new goal and a new opportunity to make something happen," Walker said.
Walker said he recently found God, lives at a church and has made the honor roll.
The Hoover Cardinals face off against the Christian High School Patriots, who currently have the longest winning streak in the state. The two teams will battle for the title Saturday at noon.
"Now that we're here, who can stop us?" said Walker.
Both Ralph and Walker believe they'll take home the win.
