For the first time ever, Long Beach coaches and select players gathered Monday morning at Jordan High School for the inaugural Moore League Media Day.
“I thought it was pretty cool, a lot of leagues do it,” said Millikan coach Romeo Pellum to open the media day. Pellum worked alongside Jordan’s Alfred Rowe to make the event possible. “It’s just to give exposure and notoriety to our league, our coaches, our students, and the great things that these men are doing for our league, helping kids day in and day out.”
The media day opened with questions for the Moore League coaches, giving the media a chance to hear from five new head coaches starting at a new school: Justin Utupo (Long Beach Poly), Mario Morales (Lakewood), Raudric Curtis (Wilson), Alfred Rowe (Jordan), and Malcolm Manuel (Cabrillo).
Alongside Pellum, Compton’s Calvin Bryant is the only returning head coach and the league’s longest-tenured. Entering his 17th year with the Tarbabes, Bryant was asked about the recent changes in the Moore League and discussed the familiar faces now in new head coaching roles at the table.
“It’s great to see the changes and see these guys bring something back and build successful programs,” he said. “It’s a testament to our league to retain coaches that bring something back. The league has changed. It’s a lot of young guys developing programs. I’m very excited about what the future holds.”
The562 will have the full previews of each Moore League team released on Aug. 15.
Millikan
The defending Moore League champs were the first team to sit at the table following the coaches’ conference, where five players represented Millikan: Landon Ross, Jude Nelson, Ashton Pannell, EJ Enriquez, and Peyton McCutcheon.”
Millikan will be the first team to take the field this season when they hit the road to Henderson, Nevada, to face off against Foothill on Aug. 15.”
“(Pellum) puts a championship standard on the program that we all have to live by and perform to,” Nelson said about the standard this year. “We’re trusting our brothers and we’re ready to perform this season.”
The Rams offense will look much different this season without Moore League Player of the Year and Cal Berkeley running back Anthony League, while Pannell will be the new quarterback. When asked about the balance of his offense this year, Pellum simply said they’ll do whatever it takes to win.
“It’s just been us vs. us,” Pellum said. “I’d be doing everyone a disjustice if I said we were going to run more or we’re going to pass more. We’re going to see what it’s like when we line it up against someone else.”
Long Beach Poly
Players Anthony Rodriguez, Jaden Hernandez, Deon Jackson, Donte Wright Jr., and Deuce Jefferson were present to represent Long Beach Poly, alongside first-year and former Lakewood coach Justin Utupo.
“I just want this team to come together and trust one another,” Utupo said. “It takes 11 (players) to get a stop and score and it only takes one to commit a penalty and send that thing back. I would love for these guys to come close as brothers and if we can do that then special things will happen on the football field.”
Following a disappointing season last year for a young Poly roster that included the team’s first Moore League loss in 15 years, each player expressed excitement to get back on the field after a long offseason of hard work.
“It lit a fire in us,” Jackson said. “We weren’t supposed to lose those types of games, but I feel like if we just focus on ourselves and take it day by day then we shouldn’t worry about that. That’s our “why” this year.”
Utupo, a Lakewood alum, previously had coaching stints at Millikan and Lakewood before accepting the position at Poly last December. He says that the players have understood the assignment and lived up to his expectations as the season approaches.
“These guys have been practicing 100 miles per hour,” Utupo said. “I’ve been in a program where you have to beg the team to be physical. What I love about this group is that they’re all committed to go play at the highest level but they’re all humble as well. I think that’s what’s gonna make our team special this year.”
Lakewood
Mario Morales has stepped up as the new head football coach at Lakewood and was joined by five seniors at Monday’s media day: Jaiden Gray, Joe Joe Togiola, Quan Morgan, Troy Norried, and Taiwan Jones Jr.
“I’ve been very blessed to be around these kids since the spring and there’s something really special about them that I like,” Morales said. “I’ve felt that at my previous stops so now it’s about cultivating that and making it something that’s going to be pleasurable for them and something for them to remember for a long time in a positive way.”
Morales has been on campus at Lakewood for 14 years and brings a sense of familiarity. The players agreed that not much has changed since the arrival of the new head coach.
“Nothing has really changed but we’ve all bought into the program,” Gray said. “We really want it and we’re trying to show what we can do.”
Jones Jr. has been one of the seniors to step up for Lakewood and will be a key two-way player at receiver and defensive back. The Idaho State commit has emerged as a key leader on the team and Morales even referred to him as another coach.
“Being a three year starter, it’s really helped me see the leaders from my sophomore and junior year and has really helped me add on to what I already can do,” he said. “I can’t not say something if I see something is not going right. I always want what’s best for my team as a family and a football team.”
Wilson
Eddie Flores, Daelan Foster, Jagger Kohagura, Kori Scott, and Mack Cooper were present for Wilson, alongside first-year coach Raudric Curtis who has helped his players buy into the team.
“As a coaching staff, we’re zeroed in on where we can win the margins and where we can devote more time,” Curtis said. “Where can we get the kids to buy in and take ownership? Where can we develop grit where there’s a comfort zone?”
“We have players that are more into the team and more into the game of football,” said the quarterback Cooper. “When I first started here at Wilson it was kinda lackadaisical. It was like half and half with half football, but now everyone is in it.”
The Bruins are fresh off of a CIF-SS Division 9 championship where they fell to Highland by just a point. Each player expressed their emotions about that loss as they look to channel it into another successful season.
“It thrusted us into the off-season,” Kohagura said of the loss. “We really dedicated ourselves in the weightroom and on the field not only as individuals but as a team. So when we’re in that situation this year hopefully we can overcome it and bring Wilson a CIF championship.”
Jordan
First-year coach Alfred Rowe started Jordan’s section of the media day off with a bold statement: he wants to bring Long Beach its first CIF state championship in the modern Moore League era.
“I’m blessed and I’m privileged to have this opportunity to show everyone that this is not the same Jordan,” Rowe said. “I’m trying to build a program. I’m trying to win multiple state championships…and the only way to do that is to build a program.”
Rowe was joined at the table by players Trejon Spears, Deanthione Price, Eduardo Cabrera, and Sama’jay Jackson. Jordan will be debuting its brand-new stadium at their season opener on Aug. 29 against Crenshaw, which has also been key in boosting the Panthers’ morale this season.
“It’s big for me because I’ve played here for the last three years on the same field,” said Price. “Grass field, run down stadium and everything basically. So being able to play on the new field with new equipment is very exciting.”
Cabrillo
First-year Cabrillo coach Malcolm Manuel was joined by four players at media day, including Danny Lopez, Fernando Leanos, Blas Lopez, and Guillermo Ortega, as he looks to raise the bar of expectations this year.
“We have to bring a seriousness about ourselves each day,” said ManueI. “I know we’ve been at the bottom in the last 10 years but it starts with just having expectations. My expectation of them every day is just to compete. I want to see them get better, want to come, show up early, and do the small things.”
Manuel has been focusing on simplifying both sides of the ball and believes he has the right staff to do so. While multiple players are expected to play both ways, they believe it’ll be easier under the new system.
“I think this year will be easier because of the way the coach runs things,” said Leanos. “Everything is fast, simple and efficient. So I think we’ll get more done this year.”
Compton
The entire Compton football program is on the rise this season as they finally return to their newly remodeled school after five years of practicing at a nearby middle school. Compton’s Calvin Bryant was joined by players Troy Joyner, Edward Rivera, Jaelyn Baker-Nelson, Ameer Freeman, and Cash Maluia.
“We’ve been able to maintain through these years with some good times and some bad times but we’re excited about the new campus,” Bryant said. “Our guys are fired up and I can’t get the guys off the field.”
Compton also dealt with multiple injuries last year but is fully healthy going into the new season. With the return to campus, the program now has more than 85 players.
“I’m just ready to show everybody that we are not the same Compton. We’re a whole different team, said Freeman. “We got new players, new coaches, everything. We’re about to run it up this year.”
“We’re ready to throw the pads on and go crazy on everybody week one,” said Baker-Nelson. “Every person that steps in front of us that’s not my brother, we’re swiping by them. Every team. We’re just here to work. We’re eager to play.”
