Son of deceased rap star plays on

Naijiel Hale is having a fantastic season. Only a sophomore, the Lakewood cornerback led the Moore League in interceptions. He's gone above and beyond any expectations set out for him by head coach Vince Lobendahn. "He's one of those super sophomores that I have and he's unbelievable outside on the corner," said Lobendahn. "He really is one of the best corners I've seen play (and) just naturally be able to do his job." Playing cornerback comes easy to Hale, which is ironic because it almost never happened. Hale almost didn't play this season. He thought about transferring. He even thought about quitting the game of football all together. Which would have fell right into the hands of what some people thought of him anyway. "People think I have it easy," Hale says, "but I'm still like a regular kid. I go through it everyday. "(People think) because of who my dad was I don't have to play football, I could just try to rap or something and (follow his footsteps) but I want to go somewhere in football." Most people would think that about a kid who was the child of a famous entertainer. Hale's dad, Nathaniel Hale, better known as rappersinger Nate Dogg, passed away earlier this year at the age of 41. Like many of Nate Dogg's fans, Hale still hears his father's voice. "It's crazy how I still hear his voice in songs, but I miss him talking to me and telling me things-like if I got in trouble at school, he would talk to me about it," Hale said. His dad was also one of his biggest supporters on the football field. Devastated, without his father, Hale didn't feel like he could go on anymore. "When it first happened, I actually wanted to quit and just stop but I had people talk to me, telling me it makes me stronger," he said. "I felt like something was missing." The sophomore had to pick up the pieces. He had some help from his new head coach. Lobendahn's father passed away during the summer. Going through what his young cornerback was going through, he was able to provide some guidance. "I'm many ways we share something together," said Lobendahn. "Since it happened, I've been real close with him because he helps me with things because he's been through it before," said Hale. But still, Hale ran into some obstacles along the way. During passing league he dislocated his shoulder. After popping it back in place, he continued to play with the injury. On the Lancers first day in pads during Fall Camp, he dislocated it once more, leaving him sidelined for all four of Lakewood's non-league games. Still, he persevered. Once he got on the field, he took advantage of his chance. He had two interceptions in his varsity debut against Compton. He finished the regular season with seven picks in just six games. "What a year he's having after the year he's had. In many ways this kid is playing through some pain," said Lobendahn. "This kid is playing lights out. I'm really proud of him." Hale helped Lakewood (7-3, 4-2 Moore League) to a second place finish in the Moore League and will travel to San Clemente (9-1, 3-1 South Coast League) Friday for a first round matchup in the PAC-5 Playoffs. It's the Ford CIF-Southern Section Game of the Week on Fox Sports West at 7:30 p.m. It's been a tough year for Hale, who continues to deal with the loss of his father daily. His dad was there for support but was never critical of his play on the football field. Instead, he was more concerned about what was going on in the classroom. Now, Hale has a support group around him that include's Lobendahn, rapper Snoop Dogg or "Uncle Snoop", and a host of others. He's gotten past the stage of quitting and can now look at himself for support during his personal struggles. "I just think I'm strong and I don't know how I did it but I did it --probably because I got so many people talking to me everyday and it kept me strong," Hale said.