It was Homecoming night for the Moorpark Raiders football team and they were hosting the much favored Bakersfield Renegades.

The Moorpark squad stood in two single file lines, resembling a military platoon in formation the battlefield. The 76 men that comprise the team are led onto the field by defensive-back Michael Hightower.

Hightower, a sophomore transfer from Illinois College is dressed in the Raiders all-black uniform. The light blue numbers on the front and back of his jersey have a neon glow to them as the sky darkens and stadium lights brighten.

“I NEED MONSTERS TONIGHT!” he screams.

Hightower treads back and forth in front of the team in an amalgam of antics, jumping, stomping and shouting at the top of his lungs to get the battalion of men ready to defend their home field.

The Raiders’ record on the season was 2-3 coming into the game, Bakersfield standing at 4-1. This would be the first conference game of the year for both teams.

For the 19-year old Business major from Lancaster, football is life. Since the age of six, Hightower has been playing full contact football. He was talented enough to play on both offense and defense throughout youth and high school, when he was recruited to play at Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL. He would eventually be transitioned to cornerback by Illinois after initially being brought in to play on the offensive side of the ball as a wide receiver.

“You have to just understand football… Every position kind of has the same fundamentals, it’s just one thing that makes it special.”, Hightower said. “Trying to keep up and run with faster and faster receivers. I’m used to jamming up a tight end now and I can run with them pretty easily.”

Growing up, parents Michael and Rochelle Hightower ensured their son was always as equally focused in the classroom as he was on the field. Since high school, Hightower has maintained great grades and has continued those great habits into college.

“Michael has always been an A student,” said Rochelle Hightower. “If he wants to be a chemical engineer with a wife and kids or a professional football player we always support him.”

Hightower made the decision to leave Illinois College following his freshman year. He considered other opportunities before coming to Moorpark but it wouldn’t be until Moorpark’s first day of summer practice that Hightower would consider playing for the Raiders.

He came to the Raider’s practice that day to see his long-time friend J.J. Dirdin practice for the first time in college. Watching from the sidelines as a spectator, he was approached by Head Coach Mike Stuart where the two talked football and where Hightower would eventually be invited to come out and play for Moorpark College.

With one returning cornerback from the 2015 season and two freshmen recruited to play cornerback, Hightower understood he would have to compete for a role on this team.

This semester Hightower is a sophomore and full time student, hoping to use the 2016 season as an opportunity to transfer or possibly receive a scholarship to play for a larger program.

“Hightower is most definitely a leader on the team,” said teammate Kameron Prentiss-Brown. “He is the one who makes sure everyone is doing what they’re supposed to be doing, makes sure everyone’s on their P’s & Q’s. He’s probably the most physical player on the team, definitely on the defensive side.”

Now halfway through the season Hightower has found a couple different roles on the roster, from his situational position as a cornerback on the defense’s Nickel and Penny packages to the team’s vocal leader in meetings and before the game. He is used in the majority of 3rd down and long 2nd down situations where he is often lined up with one of the opposing teams best receivers.

“When you look at an overall football player that demonstrates what we want at Moorpark College, Hightower’s the guy,” said Stuart. “On and off the field, he keeps himself out of trouble and takes care of himself in the classroom as well.”

Stuart is confident that after Moorpark College, they will find Hightower opportunities to play football at a higher level of competition.

The team would take the energy and excitement Hightower displayed before that Homecoming game and go on to upset the Bakersfield Renegades in a 30-27 win.

“I don’t see my life without football.” Said Hightower.