Drew Smith is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Cortez High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – For brothers Michael and Jamerrius “Pac” Anthony, sports have been a part of their lives for as long as the two can remember. 

Both attend Cortez High School where Michael is a senior and Pac is a sophomore. The school is located in west Phoenix and has about 1,100 students. The Anthony brothers are the only siblings on the football team.

Cortez Athletic Director Brian Galbreath called the Anthonys “outstanding leaders and athletes.”

The Colts are 5-4  this season, but winning and losing does not affect the leadership that the Anthony brothers bring to the program. 

“They have always been high-character young men since I've known them,” said Cortez football coach Daniel Hopper, who took over the program five years ago. 

Hopper described Pac as the ‘point guard’ for the Colts offense. Cortez fell 35-19 to Phoenix Christian last weekend, but it wasn’t due to a lack of Michael’s leadership and inspiration. 

“When we're down, I'm trying to get myself together,” Michael said. “I try to push myself up first, and then I try to provide positive energy so I can boost the team.” 

When Pac finds his team down, he turns to breathwork, something that he credits to his coaches. 

“When we get in a stressful situation, I just breathe first,” Pac said. “I take my breath, look down and breathe again.”

Then Pac looks at coach before going back into the huddle. 

“I ask, “is y'all good’” Pac said. “The team says yes as I double check.”

Character and culture is a mission stressed by Hopper. 

“We don't talk much about wins and losses as a measure of success,” Hopper said.

With a smaller student population, building a community is super important to the athletic programs at Cortez. 

“We sing the fight song after every game, regardless of the outcome,” Hopper said. “I think that is one thing that Cortez has that is unique to create that atmosphere.”

Growing up, the Anthony brothers contributed their leadership skills to their mother, Mickey Peters. It goes back to simple things at home, such as doing the dishes. 

“She's an interesting person,” Pac said. “Once you really know her, you really love her. You do something that’s out of the ordinary, she will point that out or tell you to stop doing that.”

The brothers see these skills that they learn at home and then translate them to the field. 

“As a captain, we got to have responsibility for our team and our mindset as well,” Pac said.  

“If you can do that at home, then you can bring it over there to football,” Michael said. 

Michael has his sights set on playing sports in college, but is not sure where or what sport(s) quite yet. He plays running back and is an outside linebacker for Cortez. 

Pac spends a lot of time watching college and professional football while studying games. 

“I am looking at the tendencies that quarterback has and how the line moves and gets balls off to the receivers,” said Pac, who plays quarterback and strong safety for the Colts. 

One game remains on the 2024 schedule for Cortez as they’ll close out the season at home against Glendale Prep on Friday.

As for the Anthony brothers, Michael also plays basketball and runs track (as does Pac) for Cortez. When it comes to playing multiple sports, Michael does what he can. 

“It's rough, but at the same time, I fight through it,” Michael said. 

Pac enjoys the fact that it helps keep him in shape.

“It's fun actually, because I still get to be active and keep my body healthy for football,” Pac said.  “Because if I keep doing sports, and if I know I can stay healthy. I am still going to work on my energy, speed, muscles and all of that.”

Hopper encourages and supports his players to participate in other sports and activities. 

“Those skills that still translate into football, basketball and wrestling,” Hopper said. “Less than 1% of high school players are making football a career so we are trying to build young adults that can be successful in life.”

“The Anthony brothers are great competitors,” Galbreath said. “But, most importantly they are great kids.”