MENDOTA -- Approach this west side town from any direction and a massive white water tower and set of light standards can't be missed.

They are separated by only a mile, but so much more.

The tower fronts a $250 million federal prison virtually empty of inmates and, more importantly, potential hires from a community dogged with 40% unemployment. Conversely, the lights at Mendota High's stadium illuminate the most remarkable prep football team from Chowchilla to Arvin, breathing Friday night life into this area like never before.

"It's been very uplifting to our community," 16-year City Council member Joseph Riofrio says.

As the wins have mounted -- a school-record eight straight for an unbeaten team that has outscored the opposition 407-45 with four shutouts -- so has the support.

Suddenly, dropping $4 or $6 for a ticket is more acceptable in a town whose median household income is less than $25,000, with 42% of the population below poverty level, according to the city's website.

That same website's calendar for October apologizes, "Sorry, this month we have no events," yet the Aztecs' last two homefield victories -- particularly in a historic win over Dos Palos -- had cars spilling out of the stadium parking lot, into the streets and down more than a quarter-mile west on Belmont Street to the public biblioteca.

That's Spanish for library and the word is included on a permanent structure out front.

"We insisted on it, and we're the only library in Fresno County that has it," beams Riofrio, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant for whom a downtown street is named.

A third-generation owner of Westside Grocery on Seventh Street, he speaks for a community whose population of 11,014 is 95% Hispanic. And that Hispanic portion actually grows in the 721-student high school (98.6%) and the 37-player varsity football team (100%).

Edgar Segura doesn't run from the percentages like he does defenses.

"Our parents work in the fields -- 99% of them," Mendota's super sophomore says. "That's all we do; we're Mexicans, you know?"

But he makes this clear: "I don't want to work in the sun. My main goal is to go to college and the NFL. And if I don't make it to the NFL, I want to be a P.E. teacher. I want to work in an office with air conditioning."

A two-way starter with 1,409 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns and 13 of 14 conversion kicks after taking over that role the past two weeks, Segura is on track for State Sophomore of the Year honors.

He's fast and strong, has moves and is football savvy -- and, he'll be the first one to say, running behind a great line -- but he will have to beat the odds of his size (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) and history to play college ball.

Many players from Clovis to Bakersfield have earned college football scholarships, but never one in the 18-year history of Mendota.

Then again, never has the program attracted attention like now, especially entering Friday's Battle of Highway 33 at Firebaugh (8-0).

The difference?

To a man, to a woman, to a player, the answer here is consistent: Robert Mejia, the team's first-year coach.

They call him Beto.

The coach

Beto Mejia certainly knows where he draws his own inspiration: Son Isaiah arrived three months premature at 1.7 pounds eight years ago.

"My son fought for his life," Mejia says. "I was 20 years old, working on a college degree and spent seven months at Valley Children's Hospital watching my son grow in an incubator.

"It's built me to be a mentally tough person. Coaching is much easier."