The562’s football coverage for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Facing the defending champs on the road in their Moore League opener, the Wilson Bruins played like a team expecting to win–and that’s exactly what they did.
Wilson dismantled the Millikan Rams on Friday night at DeHaven Stadium, pulling away late for a 30-7 victory to put the rest of the league on notice.
Football fans didn’t quite know what to expect from the Bruins this season under first-year head coach Raudric Curtis, but after one of the biggest wins in recent program history, don’t go fitting them for a glass slipper anytime soon.
“We’re no Cinderella,” said Curtis. “We’re going to be here for a while.”
It wasn’t a flawless performance for the Bruins, who had 13 penalties for 105 yards, but they did not turn the ball over and made a number of clutch plays throughout the night to stun Millikan on their home field. Their defense held down a potent Rams offense, allowing only 46 yards in the first half with three takeaways on the night.
“It did not exceed expectations. This was the expectation,” said Curtis of his team’s performance. “We knew our preparation would give them trouble. We knew if they didn’t come ready to play a game, that this might be the result. We were ready for a battle, and I think they thought they were gonna play the team from last year … We played relaxed, we played our game plan, we stuck to it. (Millikan’s) a good team, I don’t take anything away from them, they’ve got a ton of athletes. I think they slept on us.”
Wilson got a terrific performance from senior Thomas Jones, who had five catches for 108 yards and a score, two interceptions on defense and a made field goal on special teams. Senior QB Mack Cooper had a super efficient night, finishing 13/16 for 259 yards and a pair of TD tosses.
Sophomore Tremel Grigsby was also terrific, running the ball seven times for 116 yards and a TD, while also hauling in an interception on defense.
“Coming off the bye week, we had two weeks to prepare, we game-planned for them, and we just executed. Everybody, on all levels,” said Grigsby. “This is a message. We’re sending out the message that we’re not the same Wilson from any other time. This is a different Wilson, coming to do different things to make history.”
The Bruins entered the game cool and calm, and made bold decisions that paid off starting early in the game. Facing a 4th & 5 at their own 38, Jones executed a fake punt as he ran up the home sidelines instead of kicking it away. Though he was stopped short of the line to gain, a flag for a facemask kept the drive alive, and he would later open the scoring with a 24-yard field goal to make it 3-0 Bruins.
Jones lived up to his do-it-all reputation on the ensuing Millikan drive, hauling in the first of three interceptions by the Wilson secondary.
“I’m so proud of the way we played,” said Jones. “We started hot and we kept it going all the way through. We haven’t got a win in a while against Millikan. We’ve got older brothers, older siblings who’ve gone through it. Mackey Coop, his brother went three or four years and didn’t beat Millikan, so we knew it had to be done. It’s our senior year. It’s a great way to leave.”
When Millikan faced a similar 4th down situation late in the second quarter, they came up a half-yard short on their fake punt attempt, turning the ball over to the Bruins inside the Millikan 30 with 1:31 until the half.
Cooper linked up with sophomore Kyle Harris (3 catches, 102 yards, TD) for a 35-yard gain to get on the doorstep. Grigsby finished off the drive with a three-yard TD plunge, giving the Bruins a 9-0 lead at halftime.
Millikan’s one scoring drive came at the start of the fourth quarter, as freshman QB Jonah Tuaniga went to senior Jude Nelson four times for 42 yards on a nine-play, 91-yard scoring drive. Landon Ross (6 catches, 86 yards) finished it off with a 7-yard catch and run for the score, cutting the deficit to 9-7 with 9:51 left.
Grigsby then changed the game completely on the next drive with a terrific individual effort. He took an end around on 3rd & 7 and looked like he was tackled for a loss along the Wilson sideline. However, he was able to put his hand down and roll over the Millikan tackler, popping to his feet and racing 67 yards for a score to stun the Rams’ crowd and sideline, putting the Bruins up 16-7.
Grigsby hauled in an interception on the next drive, and the Bruins were aggressive in putting the game away. On 3rd & 14, Wilson went to the air and Cooper connected with Harris, who sloughed off a trio of Millikan defenders en route to a 68-yard score.
Wilson had similar success on their next possession, as Jones put a cherry on top of the win with a 49-yard TD reception on 3rd & 8, capping off a decisive 21-0 run for the Bruins in the fourth quarter.
Jones said it’ll take a couple days to put this win in its proper context, but there’s no doubt this will be a memorable one for him and the program.
“I take a lot of pride. I love Wilson, and just to be able to contribute to this football team in a small way, it means the world to me,” Jones said. “The fact that I’m able to get some interceptions, put up points on special teams and score, it just means the world to me that I’m able to help our school like this.”
Wilson (4-1, 1-0) will be back in action next Friday night when they host Compton. Meanwhile, Millikan (1-5, 1-1) hits the road to take on Jordan next Friday.
