To say that 2024 was a difficult year for the Long Beach Poly football team would be an understatement.
A young Jackrabbits team went 0-4 against a tough nonleague schedule (with three blowouts), then lost their first Moore League game since 2009 in a 53-40 defeat at Millikan. The Jackrabbits were unceremoniously bounced from the quarterfinals of the Division 4 playoffs by Pacifica, after being outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter. To wrap it up, Poly coach Stephen Barbee stepped down after the season, effectively hitting the reset button after the toughest season the Jackrabbits had seen in decades.
First-year head coach Justin Utupo didn’t inherit a broken program full of players mired in self-pity, however. He was surprised at the energy up and down the roster.
“I think the culture was the biggest surprise, it was already really strong,” said Utupo. “There’s a standard here, and it brings out the best in these kids, and in myself and the entire staff. This is a really hungry group, and a very talented group. I think for us it was just instilling discipline and structure, and I think that’s going to set us apart.”
Utupo’s wife, Leilani, was his programs’ strength and conditioning coach during his coaching tenure at his alma mater, Lakewood. She made a difference there and watching a recent Poly practice, it’s obvious she’s made a difference with the Jackrabbits too. Poly, long known for strength and discipline in the weight room, was underdeveloped and not physical last year, especially on defense–with an extra year of experience and a daily offseason weight room schedule, the Jackrabbits look like a completely different roster this year.
“She’s helped them with the importance of nutrition as well as the weight room, but it’s night and day in the weight room for sure,” said Utupo. “Coach Sabrina (Vaifanua) as well, those two female coaches on our staff have the most respect from the players. You win games in the fourth quarter based off your offseason weight room program. We track everything, we have a spreadsheet of starting height/weight, what they’re repping and maxing on an initial test. Eight weeks later the entire program is in a very different place.”
Senior tight end/defensive end Jaden Hernandez, a Colorado State commit, said that the change from last season to this season has been dramatic.
“I think leadership is a big thing, and the connection we have as a team this year,” he said. “Everybody’s young, but everyone played varsity so they know what to expect. And also the weight room–the weight room is critical. We had kids under 200 pounds playing D Line last year at Poly. That’s not really acceptable. The weight room has gotten everyone bigger and stronger this year.”
There’s no shortage of talent at 1600 Atlantic this year, with 13 players entering the season carrying at least one Division 1 scholarship offer. On offense, Weber State-committed QB Deuce Jefferson will lead a balanced attack that features running backs Elijah “Bubba” Dawson, Harry Johnson, and Tristan Ventura. Running routes will be alpha dog Kamarie Smith, a Sacramento State commit who’s one of the most electric players in SoCal this year, as well as Jayden Coley, Zion Anderson, Kymere Smith, and highly-rated DBs Julius Johnson and Donte Wright as well.
“I think we’re a lot better than last year, coach Utupo has done a good job of running practices more like a pro style, everything is more efficient, it’s faster, we aren’t wasting any time,” said Wright.
Most encouraging though is the size upgrade up front, where Poly will feature linemen Anthony Rodriguez, Langston Gibson, Savion Day, Denzel Rosen, Tyler Gaines, Sammy Timu, and Brian Mercardo. When Hernandez stays in to block, Poly will have four blockers with Division 1 offers–a big change from last year, where an undersized Poly front got bullied.
On defense, Hernandez, Timu, Toa Tamasoa, and Ray Umi form a ferocious front with Legend Galeai and Kevin Alexander in as well. LInebackers Patrick Taliauli, Jordan Moreno, Dezmen Howard, Toa Cagnolatti and Taj Bordeaux will all contribute as well, and Poly’s defensive backfield is loaded with five-star recruit Julius Johnson, Georgia commit Donte Wright, Cal commit Deon Jackson, Kasim Shepherd, Steven “Budda” Hunter, Kavika Afemata, and others.
Poly also returns kicker and punter Jonas Mendoza, who will solidify the team on the special teams side.
Every time his team’s talent level is mentioned, Utupo shrugs it off and focuses instead on their work ethic.
“Since I’ve been here, everyone’s on the same page as far as doing whatever it takes to win,” he said. “There’s a ton of expectations and a lot of responsibility. That’s what I love is that they embrace it. This is one of the most motivated groups I’ve ever been around–in the weight room, in the meeting room, on the field. They want to compete and get after it all the time. I remind them every day that whenever we line up across from an opponent it’s going to be that team’s Super Bowl, and we have to expect everybody’s best.”
There are still plenty of question marks for the Jackrabbits this year. For one, the QB position. Jefferson struggled at times last year, especially in big games–he had five touchdowns and six interceptions in Poly’s four nonleague games. His ability to grow and improve will determine a lot about Poly’s season.
The other biggest question mark won’t be on the field, but rather on the sideline. Utupo has proven himself able to come into a program and re-energize it, which certainly seems to have happened at Poly thus far. But his teams have rotated through coordinators in the last few seasons at Lakewood, without much stability and with plenty of play-calling issues. He said he expects his coordinators, Justin Williams on offense and Brandon Beaver on defense, to be a strength of the program.
“They love Poly, they want to do what’s best for the program and for the kids,” he said. “They’re not looking to catapult into another position–they’re here for the kids, they’re dialed in, they’re holding their position coaches accountable. And I love the competitive spirit with both guys.”
Utupo’s schedule for his first year with the Jackrabbits features Leuzinger to open up, Lincoln, Tustin, and Mission Viejo. Poly will once again be tested by back-to-back games against Mission Viejo and Millikan in the middle of the season, which was a trying two week period for the Jackrabbits last year.
Poly will also enjoy one last season at historic Veterans Memorial Stadium at LBCC, the team’s home since the 1950s when it was built. The iconic stadium will be torn down at the end of the year.
Rodriguez, one of the team’s leaders on the offensive line, said the Jackrabbits are ready and raring to go.
“Last year lit a fire obviously, we had NFL alums talking smack on Instagram on us losing Moore League, we’re just ready to go,” he said.
For Utupo and the Jackrabbits, the focus isn’t on what happened last year, or on expectations about this year–it’s about the daily practice of building and getting better.
“Our guys are challenging one another every day, the competitive spirit is high,” said Utupo. “Whether we’re doing one on ones, we’re doing conditioning, they’re competing. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. What I love about here is each and every day, they’re competing against the best and pushing each other, every single rep.”
Projected Starting Lineup
Offense
QB: Deuce Jefferson, Sr.
RB: Harry Johnson, Sr./ Elijah “Bubba” Dawson, So./ Tristan Ventura, Sr.
OL: Anthony Rodriguez, Sr.
OL: Langston Gibson, Sr./ Sammy Timu, So.
OL: Tyler Gaines, Sr./ Brian Mercardo, Sr.
OL: Savion Day, Sr.
OL: Denzel Rosen, So.
TE: Jaden Hernandez, Sr.
WR: Kamarie Smith, Sr.
WR: Jayden Coley, Jr.
WR: Zion Anderson, So.
WR: Kymere Smith, Jr.
WR: Julius Johnson, Jr./ Donte Wright, Jr.
K: Jonas Mendoza, Jr.
Defense
DL: Jaden Hernandez, Sr./ Legend Galeai, Sr.
DL: Sammy Timu, So.
DL: Toa Tamasoa, Sr.
DL: Raymond Umi, Jr./ Kevin Alexander, Sr.
LB: Patrick Taliauli, So.
LB: Jordan Moreno, Sr./ Taj Bordeaux, Sr.
LB: Dezmen Howard, Jr./Toa Cagnolatti, Jr.
DB: Donte Wright, Jr./ Jeron Johnson, Jr.
DB: Julius Johnson, Jr./ Kasim Shepherd, Jr.
DB: Deon Jackson, Sr./ Zion Anderson, So.
DB: Steven “Budda” Hunter, So./ Kavika Afemata, Jr.
P: Jaden Hernandez, Sr./ Jonas Mendoza, Jr.
Long Beach Poly Football 2025 Schedule
8/22 vs. Leuzinger
8/29 @ Lincoln
9/5 vs. Tustin
9/12 BYE
9/19 @ Jordan*
9/26 @ Lakewood*
10/3 @ Mission Viejo
10/10 vs. Millikan*
10/17 vs. Wilson*
10/24 @ Cabrillo*
10/30 vs. Compton*
*League game
Home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium
