Newport's Hasson makes Dad proud

Titus Hasson talked to his father last week, after his football game at Newport Harbor High.

Hasson gave him his stats, 110 yards and two touchdowns as a running back and two interceptions as a safety. Anthony Hasson told his son he was proud of his overall performance on the field.

"He said he's my No. 1 fan," said Hasson, a senior.

Hasson's top supporter has never seen him play in high school.

Hasson said his father is in jail. Anthony has been, Hasson said, since Hasson entered seventh grade.

Hasson doesn't know why his dad is behind bars or when he will get out.

Whenever Anthony calls Hasson on the phone, they mostly talk about football and positive things. Their conversation was upbeat last week.

Hasson led the Sailors to a 33-3 victory against Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach. In a way, Anthony was at Davidson Field that night.

"He'll call my uncle during the game and he'll give him like play-by-play," Hasson said. "He was excited."

Hasson is a happy teenager. A big reason why is because of a move he made the summer heading into his sophomore year. It wasn't any easy one.

Hasson left Las Vegas, his mother Raiko Lewis and his two younger sisters. He moved into the area to live with his aunt Michelle Thames and uncle Jehrrod Thames. Jehrrod is Raiko's brother.

To Hasson, the situation at the Thames household is perfect. Sure, he gets in little arguments with the Thames' three kids, but he said he loves his cousins to death.

"It's like a dream come true," Hasson said of staying with the Thames family. "I don't think I would be playing football (if I was living in Las Vegas). I hated it out there. I'm just happy because my aunt gave me a chance to live out here with her. I'm thankful to her."

Hasson is grateful because Michelle pushed him to be a better student.

She didn't allow Hasson to play football in the fall of his sophomore year, his first semester at Newport Harbor. The reason: Hasson's grades weren't acceptable the past year at Cimarron-Memorial High in Las Vegas.

"She wanted me to focus on school, so I had to take a year off," Hasson said. "It was hard because that was the first year I didn't get to play football. I came and watched a couple of games. It just felt weird not playing."

Hasson always excelled at the sport. His father was the one who signed him up for Pop Warner when the two lived together in Rancho Cucamonga.