The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
Long Beach Poly was in desperate need of a statement win after starting the season 0-3 and picking up a lopsided win over an overmatched Jordan team last week. It was a rough start for the Jackrabbits against Lakewood, as the Lancers jumped out to an early two-score lead. But Poly scored 47 unanswered points to end up winning comfortably, 47-20.
“It felt very gratifying because I’ve seen these kids work every day tirelessly, never giving up on each other,” said Poly coach Stephen Barbee. “Lakewood had great energy and they gave us a couple of shots early tonight. It’s a telltale sign of a good team that they took those shots and there wasn’t any panic on the sidelines. The defense and special teams played lights out tonight, I couldn’t be more proud of our boys and how they responded.”
The Jackrabbits were led by quarterback Deuce Jefferson on offense, as he scored five total touchdowns with four through the air and a 79-yard run.
It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for Jefferson, as UCLA commit QB Madden Iamaleava has transferred into Poly’s program, where he’s awaiting CIF-SS clearance to play.
“(Deuce) has been a great teammate,” said Barbee. “He’s just looking to get better, as we all are. He had a great game tonight. He made the right reads and he got busy with his feet.”
Jefferson finished 9/18 for 184 yards passing with four TDs, plus 112 yards rushing on four carries with another TD.
“We didn’t want people to define us off of the first three games,” said Jefferson. “We’re a young team, but it doesn’t mean anything. We’re all mature enough to handle what’s being thrown at us. Coming out on top feels amazing—we just got to stay together.
The game couldn’t have started much better for Lakewood. The Lancers received the opening kickoff and proceeded to go on a power-run drive that took four and a half minutes and 12 plays to go 74 yards for a score. Kade Casillas used his feet and his arm on the drive, including an 18-yard completion to USC committed tight end Caleb Tafua. Jojo Apisala took a two yard run into the end zone to give the Lancers a 7-0 lead.
The Lancers pooched the kickoff after that and were able to fall on it and recover it after it hit the turf unclaimed. Literally the next play, Casillas aired it out to Cecil Xavier Smith who hauled in a 33 yard touchdown to put Lakewood up 14-0 with 7:25 left in the first quarter, with Poly not having yet touched the ball.
The Jackrabbits did move the ball effectively after they got it back. Deuce Jefferson mixed in runs along with completions, and then on a 4th and 1 at the Lakewood 29, he hit Jayden Coley for a 29 yard seam route touchdown to put Poly on the board. The extra point was wide left leaving the Jackrabbits down eight.
After a Lakewood three and out, the Jackrabbits moved quickly, as Jefferson hit Coley for a 47 yard touchdown, and then found Dylin Bruce for the two-point conversion to tie it 14-14.
The Lancers once again went three and out, and Poly took the lead on a quick series that saw Coley haul in a ricochet deflection at the one-yard line, setting up a one-yard Ben Harris touchdown run that put Poly up 21-14.
Lakewood went three and out after that, then Poly’s ensuing drive stalled due to penalties. That put Lakewood on their own 41 with the ball with 5:33 till halftime. They ate up nearly all of the time on the clock and drove to the Poly seven in 11 plays—but ultimately came up short on a 4th and 2 from the Poly seven, giving Poly the ball back. They knelt it to go to halftime up 21-14.
The Jackrabbits took control of the game quickly in the second half, as Jefferson sprinted down the right sideline for a 79 yard touchdown on the first place, which put Poly up 28-14. The Jackrabbits held the Lancers to a three and out, which they did seven times in the game including Lakewood’s first three possessions of the second half. Poly got another touchdown as Jefferson his Kamarie Smith, and then on the ensuing Lakewood three-and-out, Toa Tamasoa blocked the punt and Cash Quiroz scooped it for the touchdown, putting Poly up 40-14. The Jackrabbits put the cherry on top as Jefferson found Jaden Hernandez for a 13 yard score midway through the fourth that made it 47-14 with 6:18 left to play, after 47 unanswered points by the Jackrabbits.
“The biggest thing is trust,” said Jefferson. “I trust my coaches to call the right plays, they trust me to make the right read. I love my O-Line, my receivers, my running backs.”
Lakewood would rally for a touchdown late in the game, driving down the field as Nytrell Miller punched it in for the final score.
Poly’s defense stifled the Lancers in the second half, as Jaden Hernandez had three sacks, Tamasoa had a punt block, and Poly’s DBs broke up four passes, and forced a string of eight consecutive incompletions.
Lakewood was led by Casillas, who had 200 yards passing and a touchdown, as well as Apisala, who had 30 rushing yards and a touchdown. Poly was led by Jefferson as well as Ben Harris and Tristan Ventura, who combined for 111 yards and were part of a 223 yard rushing attack for the Jackrabbits with Jefferson included. Coley had five catches for 124 yards and two scores for Poly.
Long Beach Poly (2-3) will face Mission Viejo at SoFi Stadium next Friday at 7pm while Lakewood (3-3) will travel to Cabrillo.
The Diablos are the highest-ranked team Poly has played thus far, and will provide a big test for the Jackrabbits as they’re starting to find their footing.
“Coach Johnson does and incredible job over there,” said Barbee. “To quote Hoosiers, that field is the same measurement as the one at 1600 Atlantic. So we’re going to enjoy our victory tonight and start getting ready for Mission Viejo in the morning.”
