- February 12, 2025
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Matanzas Pirates mom Rachel Mills creates video highlights of the team’s football games for the school and to post on the family YouTube channel. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Rachel Mills runs to capture the football team breaking through the Pirates banner before the game. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Rachel Mills conducts pregame interviews with Pirates coaches. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
Rachel Mills’ eldest son, Jackson, recently returned from a mission trip in Colombia and showed up to cheer on his brothers Jordan and Tyson in the Sept. 24 matchup against Orange Park. Photo by Christine Rodenbaugh
by: Christine Rodenbaugh
It started with filming highlights of their kids playing sports. Now, with more than 673,000 YouTube followers, Matanzas mom Rachel Mills spans the football field recording all the action.
Mills keeps an eye on sons Jordan and Tyson when they are playing, but she is mindful to capture the best moments of every player, even the competition. Players from the opposing team cross the field after games to give Mills a big hug.
In addition to running up and down the sidelines for the entire game, it takes about 8 hours to edit the footage to a short highlight reel.
“I’m grateful to do it and that they value it,” Mills said.
Hits on the Sunshine Mafia YouTube channel peak with each video posting and include viewers from all over the world.
“We have fans in Washington, Pennsylvania … they order Matanzas Pirates merchandise,” Mills said. “We’ve even had a few show up on our doorstep.”
Abe and Rachel Mills have six children; five are home schooled. Their call to action on the Sunshine Mafia page is to “fill the whole world with sunshine.” Jackson, 20, recently returned from a mission trip in Colombia.
In sports competition or serving others on mission trips, count on the Mills family to spread sunshine.