Underdogs

Despite dealing with adversity, players thrive at Friendship, which saw 19 players in the class of 2012 earn college scholarships. A Sports Illustrated Original.

After one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history devastated the town, the Joplin High football team tries to prepare for an emotional season. A Sports Illustrated Original.

Reagan High School is profiled in Austin, Texas. Once a perennial state championship contender, the team is on the long road back as it looks for its first win in over a year. A Sports Illustrated Original.

The Pahokee Blue Devils boast a rich football tradition, but the team -- and town -- have fallen on hard times. A Sports Illustrated Original.

At Ishpeming High, Eric Dompierre, a 19-year-old kicker with Down Syndrome, prepares to take the field after years of petitioning for eligibility. A Sports Illustrated Original.

Players at the California School for the Deaf have learned to turn a disability into an advantage, and seek a third consecutive playoff appearance. A Sports Illustrated Original.

The Prepa Tec Borregos must travel nearly 15 hours each week during the season from Monterrey, Mexico, to compete in Texas. A Sports Illustrated Original.

Players at Malcolm X Shabazz High try to rise above the gang violence and drug use rampant in the neighborhood. A Sports Illustrated Original.

At Fort Campbell High School, living on an active military base means players deal with more than just competition on the field. A Sports Illustrated Original.

Adams City hasn't won a game in four years, but in a town where many immigrant families are living below the poverty line, the team perseveres. A Sports Illustrated Original.