The562’s coverage of football in 2024-25 is sponsored by The Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
This isn’t the season that Wilson hoped for, but they reached the goal they hoped for. All of the Bruins coaches and players said during preseason interviews that reaching the postseason was the number one goal.
Wilson (6-4, 3-3) not only got an at-large bid into the CIF-SS Division 9 playoffs, but they’ll also host their first round matchup against Victor Valley (8-1, 3-1) on Friday. The Jackrabbits finished second in the Desert Sky League and took their only loss to league champs Barstow.
“I think these kids deserve to play in the playoffs,” Wilson coach Travis Clark said on Friday after the loss to Lakewood in the regular season finale. “It was a pretty good season. It wasn’t the season I wanted. We had destiny in our hands and that’s frustrating. Hopefully these kids learn from this.”
Wilson (6-4, 3-3) had a chance to clinch third place in the Moore League and the last automatic playoff bid, but lost to Lakewood. The Bruins haven’t reached the postseason since 2019.
“These seniors haven’t been in the playoffs and they know it’s special because I preach it all of the time,” Clark added. “They deserve the opportunity to roll the dice.”
The Bruins thought they were going to have an influx of transfer talent to bolster the ranks this season, but they were denied by the CIF Southern Section.
“You’re practicing with them and you become friends with them, and almost brothers, and it’s not the same without them out there,” Wilson quarterback Mack Cooper said. “It killed some mojo. In practice they provided some great looks to help us get better.”
Cooper completed 64 percent of his passes this season for almost 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. Senior receiver Max Barbee racked up a team-high 1,021 all-purpose yards this year.
Seniors Jalen Nelson (82 tackles) and Kaden Draper (75 tackles) have been the stalwarts on defense.
“(I want to play in the playoffs so bad,” Cooper added. “I dream about it every night. But we have to eliminate mistakes. Protect the football. We have to play as a team in general. Playing as an individual never helps. We have to play as a team to strive for greatness.”
Wilson beat Portola, Sunny Hills and California in lopsided non-league competition, but then lost big results to Millikan, Long Beach Poly and Lakewood at home. The six wins are also the best since 2019.
