Anderson senior Mo Hursey has been playing football since he was in third grade. A friend of Mo's mother that played for Shasta College got him interested in the game.

Mo began his career in the Pop Warner Program. He then began playing as a freshman for Anderson in the position of middle linebacker. Mo also played his sophomore year then took his junior year off. When his senior year began, Mo decide that he wanted to play football again. His first Varsity game was the Centennial Celebration game.

"At first, I was really nervous before the game and excited to be involved. It was also exciting afterwards, when we won the game," said Mo.

Over the years, Mo has developed a love for the game of football. Before playing football, Mo was a soccer player but found that he enjoys the physical contact and the release of tension while playing and practicing.

Mo's mother Melanie Benner is by far his biggest inspiration on and off the field. While playing for Anderson, Mo has found that his coaches were a big part of his success on the field.

"Coach Gosch is an amazing coach. He is always helping with different skills, perfecting skills and keeping the attitude of the team positive. He always told us, if you start a day with a good attitude, it always makes your day better. He also told me, 'You can be the hammer, not the nail,' that helped me to strive to be one of the first ones on the field to try to fill a hole, instead of getting laid out. You don't have to be big to hit somebody," said Mo. "Coach Trotter would always tell me, 'You are man,' and gave me a lot of encouragement. The things he taught me, always worked. He also encouraged us to have a positive attitude at practice and to feed off one another's good vibes."

In the preseason, the football teams attend a football camp. This year, Anderson went to Southern Oregon University. The only other local team there was from Corning. The team was able to spend time with others developing skills, and then playing scrimmage games against one another. Football camps also help to build a bond among players and strengthen friendships.

"When we played our scrimmage games at camp, it helped bring more intensity to the game and unity as a team," said Mo.

Mo also plays tennis for Anderson. He is in his second year on the team. Mo got his start out on the court last season, when a friend said as a joke, "lets go play tennis." Mo and Derek went out and tried it and have been playing since. After tennis practice and matches, Mo goes directly to the gym to work out. He enjoys the self-discipline that it takes and also takes part in Mixed Martial Arts.

"Tennis is relaxing and fun. It is something I would possibly like to do in college," said Mo.

Mo plans on starting college at Shasta and then transferring to Simpson University or Chico State University, taking classes in business management, but his over all major is still undetermined.

Mo also enjoys spending time working out, hanging out with friends, playing X-box and going paint balling with friends in Shingletown.

Mo is the son of Melanie Benner and has three brothers and one sister.