The Lakewood Spartans are having a season to remember. The Spartans finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 1988, a big reason why is the defense which posted six shutouts this year.

A big reason for the defensive success is junior Cortez McKenzie, one of the leading tacklers in the state in 4-A

"Cortez is an unbelievable young man, great character, he’s an acquired taste.

Cortez: I was always the goofy kid that liked to make people laugh and stuff like that", says head coach Corey Moore when I asked him to describe his outside linebacker.

On The football field, each game is a forty-eight minute battle, one this Miami commit is ready for each and every night.

Off the field,.. tells a much different story. Cortez's mom Kanique went to prison before her son would go to kindergarten, three years later, his father, Cornelius was sent away for 10-years, the game of life started before he was ready.

"I had to grow up fast, remembers Cortez, life hit me like, fast".

The middle child of six, Cortez’s escape from life was out on the football field.

Cortez: When I step out on the field, I just think about how hard my mom worked everything she sacrificed, everything she’s done

High School, football came easy, by his sophomore year Cortez was already a team captain, but three games into the season, life and football had yet another test.

Last year during a post game hand shake after a loss, a fight broke out between the Lakewood players and their opponents, Cortez ran to try and break it up, but was shoved to the ground by one of the other players, he got involved and he paid the price.

Cortez would be suspended by the FHSAA for six games, and decided to transfer from Lakewood to Superior Collegiate Academy that season.

Cortez would play just one game at Superior before the suspension was upheld.  He would transfer back to Lakewood in the spring.

Cortez had to earn back the respect of his teammates, especially as a former captain, he did it with his work on and off the field.

"I think he showed a lot of perseverance, says coach Moore, he also showed a lot of character of him just sticking in there and also sticking with the process and from that, those are mistakes I feel he’ll never make again".

Cortez knows with everything he has gone through in his young 17 years, had it not been for his love of the game of football, he might be running the streets and getting into trouble with his friends.

He will be the first to tell you, "Football saved me"

Now Cortez has a full varsity season under his belt and the future looks bright, already committed to University of Miami, other schools are now beggining to call and Cortez has a lot to think about. 

Right now, he is enjoying a perfect season and looking to add to it as the post season begins.