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 Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Long Beach Poly entered Friday night’s game at Wilson in desperate need of a victory, following last week’s loss at Millikan that snapped their 81-game Moore League win streak. The Jackrabbits found themselves in a closer game than the majority of their 92 meetings with their rivals in another incarnation of the Big Game, the longest-running sports tradition in Long Beach. But with a big second half that saw them pull away from the Bruins, the Jackrabbits won 42-19 to secure another rivalry win–they haven’t lost to Wilson since 1991.
“The team was ready to put forward a full game, after a week of hearing what we couldn’t do, it was a week of what we’re gonna do,” said Poly coach Stephen Barbee. “We went into this game knowing that we were going to run the ball and we did just that…It was an outstanding game by our running backs and offensive line, and the unsung heroes of the night were our wide receivers. I saw more big hits and blocks from them–they were getting dirty. That’s unselfish play.”
Poly piled up nearly 300 yards rushing and five touchdowns, as Tristan Ventura had 24 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns, Jaden Hernandez had three carries with two scores, QB Deuce Jefferson ran one in, and speedster running back Ben Harries had 10 carries for 89 yards before leaving the game with an injury.
It was a big night for Hernandez, who had two offensive touchdowns, four tackles on defense, served as Poly’s punter, and also fell on a muffed snap for a touchdown on defense.
“I love this game, any time I can be on this field, I just cherish it and do my best,” he said. “All the hard work all week pays off on the field.”
Hernandez said Poly did a good job of turning the page at practice this week.
“We just shook it off and looked to the next game,” he said. “You can’t look at the past, it messes up the future. So we practiced 10 times harder and we came in with a fierce mindset tonight.”
The game started out tilted in Wilson’s favor, as the Bruins had a four-plus minute opening drive for a touchdown, with Mack Cooper hitting Maxwell Barbee for a big gain, and then finding him again on a 25-yard touchdown to put the Bruins up. The teams traded three-and-outs before the Jackrabbits got the ball and started pounding it with backs Harris and Ventura, who had every play called for them as the Jackrabbits got down to the Bruins three yard line, where Jefferson took it in himself.
Poly linebacker Jordan Moreno intercepted Cooper on the next drive, and Harris put Poly on the one yard line for Hernandez to take it in, giving Poly a 14-6 lead.
The Bruins’ answer was impressive though, as Cooper and Barbee hooked up for another 26 yard gain–Barbee would finish with four catches for 91 yards. Cooper hit Jaden Frauchiger for an 11-yard score that brought the Bruins within two points at 14-12.
Then followed a strange sequence where there were four turnovers in five plays, as Wilson’s Kaden Draper recovered a fumble by Harris, then Tracy Jones III picked off Cooper, then Barbee picked off Jefferson, then Hernandez fell on an errant snap into the end zone to put Poly up 21-12 at half.
The Jackrabbits also led the Rams at halftime last week, before the Rams steamrolled them with their running game in the second half. Poly came out with a statement drive that featured 11 runs and one pass, taking more than seven minutes off the clock as they set up a one-yard score by Ventura that made it 28-12. The Bruins defense stepped up on their next drive, with linebacker Jalen Nelson getting a big sack on third and short.
The Bruins scored on a touchdown from Cooper to Thomas Jones but elected to kick an extra point rather than try to make it a one-score game with a two-point conversion; that left Poly up 28-19, and they quickly grew that lead with another ground and pound drive capped by a Hernandez TD that made it 35-19.
Jones III effectively ended the game with an interception on the next drive, which set up another score by Ventura to finish the scoring for the night. It was a big night for Jones, who had two interceptions to lead the Poly defense.
“It was a good night, we had to lock in,” said Jones. “We have to show the world what we’re about.”
Jones III, like a lot of Poly players, had plenty of ties on the other sideline, which factored into his motivation.
“I’m happy to show them, they were talking head and we had to show them what we’re about,” he said.
Barbee complimented Jones III on the second interception he made.
“He had a great night, that second pick was awesome,” Barbee said. “The first one was a nice play on an overthrown ball but that second play, that was driving on a tight ball through contact. We’ve preached growth, and that’s something we’ve continued to have. We have two more weeks to get ready for the playoffs.”
Long Beach Poly will host Cabrillo next week for Homecoming while Wilson will travel to Jordan.
