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.
History holds sway over big games. Any unprecedented feat is a comparison to the past.
Any Long Beach Poly Moore League football game is historic as the Jackrabbits try to extend their 15-year long league winning streak, and any Millikan game against the Jackrabbits is a chance for the Rams to repeat the magic of their 2009 upset of Poly.
Friday’s showdown between Poly and Millikan at DeHaven Stadium has a little bit more juice because of the recent history.
Last year, it took overtime for Poly to fend off Millikan’s upset bid in a 26-23 Jackrabbits win.
The last time Poly lost a league game was in 2009 when senior star Alden Darby led the Rams to a 35-34 overtime upset a week after Lakewood handed Poly its first league loss since 1996.
Since that night, Poly has beaten Millikan 14 straight times by a combined score of 684-88, but Millikan coach Romeo Pellum is telling his team to concentrate on themselves in this moment.
“We feel like if we execute, we can do what we need to do at any time against anybody,” Pellum said. “It’s about us."