Tonight, an offseason worth of chest beating will be settled on the field as Millikan hosts Long Beach Poly in a game that both football teams are very confident about.
The Rams spent the offseason saying they were going to run Long Beach this year, and haven’t been shy about making predictions social media. The Poly players have been just as confident, promising a statement win for a Jackrabbits team that hasn’t had one yet, starting 1-3 with a pair of lopsided losses.
“It doesn’t matter how they started,” said Millikan coach Romeo Pellum. “They’re always a good team and they have talent. But we’re confident in ourselves in every game.”
One thing is clear: both teams have a lot of alumni bragging rights on the line. Pellum is a North Long Beach native who grew up with friends that went to Poly. His coaching staff includes Jackrabbits like Carlos Lara, Derek Jones, and Matt Rowe. On the Poly sideline, Kurt Eifert and Terrence Oriee are both Millikan alums who played on the 1979 Rams team that shut Poly out 35-0.
There will also be a healthy contingent of Rams from the 2009 team that beat Poly 35-34 in double overtime at the game. Poly hasn’t lost a Moore League game on the field since, and have averaged victories of 50-6 over the last decade.
More than the alums on the sidelines have something significant at stake, however. The game will also feature a pair of brothers on the field, as Poly defensive back Jigga Gravelly will be on the field at the same time as his brother, Rams running back Ajae Gravelly.
The game is at 7 p.m. at Millikan.
