How did Long Beach Poly’s CIF Division 1 football playoff opener against JSerra go? At one point the game was stopped for five minutes because the chain on the first-down marker broke. Unfortunately for Jackrabbit fans, that was a symbolic moment in the night for a game that saw every break go against the home team.
Poly’s season ended with an 8-3 record after the 42-9 loss to the Lions.
The Jackrabbits turned the ball over on their first play of the game on a fumble and were never able to get a handle on the ball, fumbling it away four times in the first half and five times in the game.
“We had our moments but five turnovers deep in their territory, that won’t work,” said Poly coach Stephen Barbee. “We moved the ball, we were able to pass and run, but we couldn’t finish drives.”
Poly running back Elijah Juarez had 22 carries for 115 yards and a score, but his hard running was negated by the untimely turnovers.
“It was disheartening,” said Barbee. “We underperformed.”
JSerra’s Chris Street had 146 yards and two touchdowns.
Poly’s Bryson Parham recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff, but the Jackrabbits fumbled it back the next play.
The season ends for Poly with questions swirling about whether or not the Jackrabbits will remain in Division 1. We’ll examine those questions later this week.
