EL CAJON – When Gerald Kendall was 5, he lived with eight family members on a ranch in his native Guam.

Kendall's life revolved around fishing. Some of his older siblings hunted wild boar.

Their lifestyle was not about sport. It was a matter of survival.

“That's how we ate,” said Kendall, a senior running back for the El Cajon Valley High football team. “Oh, once in a while my dad (a pastor) would get some Spam, but that was rare.”

A series of divorces scattered the family and Kendall wound up moving to Ogden, Utah, with his stepfather and two older sisters.

LAKESIDE – Football is a game of passion, regardless of a player's size.

Take versatile junior Anthony Lima of El Capitan High. At 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, Lima might be the most unheralded impact player on the Vaqueros' roster.

“He's not a huge guy, but he hits like a guy 6-1, 200 pounds. He's just fearless,” El Capitan coach Ron Burner said.

There's not much Lima doesn't do. Although primarily a cornerback, he plays slotback, returns punts and kickoffs and holds for field goals and conversion kicks.

When Tracy Shields began his high school football career as captain of Monte Vista's freshman team, he was known for being bossy. He seemed to rule by fear.

“He was more of negative reinforcer back then,” Monarchs varsity coach Page Culver said of his senior middle linebacker, now the cornerstone of the defense. “He really hated to condition as a freshman, but he did it and he'd really get angry with those who didn't work hard.”

Perhaps not the best philosophy, but Shields' method prevailed.

SANTEE – Senior Kris Kimmel is a hit at Santana High. Whether playing football or lacrosse, Kimmel makes an impact.

“He's not a verbal leader, but by his play he's one of those guys who always gets that great hit in a game that gets everybody excited,” Sultans football coach Dave Gross said. “He makes guys around him play harder. It doesn't matter whether it's offense or defense, he's always looking for someone to hit.”

That's why the 6-foot-3, 196-pound Kimmel plays lacrosse in the spring.

• Versatile athlete is serious about the game - all of them
• The biggest home run
• Once troubled teen finds his way through football
• Four-sport athlete jumps for a record
• Fire and ice
• Zeidman hopes NFL's Panthers fancy his footwork
• Full contact
• Brother, sister use rivalry to excel
• Coach seeing things from umpire's point of view
• Ace on the mound