The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Wilson football coach Raudric Curtis can lay claim to being the frontrunner for the Moore league’s Coach of the Year–but with three weeks left in the regular season he has a good shot at Pundit of the Year as well. It was at the Moore League’s Media Day before the season that Curtis took issue with those present referencing the fact that the Long Beach Poly/Millikan game had decided the league title the last several years.
Curtis expressed confidence that his Bruins would be in that game this year–and he was right. The Bruins (6-1, 3-0) travel to Long Beach Poly (3-4, 3-0) at Veterans Memorial Stadium at 7pm Friday with first place in the Moore League on the line. There are still two weeks left after that (with Poly facing Cabrillo and Compton and Wilson facing Jordan and Lakewood) but still–only one team will be left atop the standings after Friday’s incarnation of The Big Game, the 93rd meeting of the Jackrabbits and Bruins.
As much historical significance as the game has had over the last near-century, the series has been dominated by Poly lately, with the Jackrabbits having won every game since 1991. But rarely has a Wilson team looked as resurgent in the Moore League as this year’s Bruins team, which has defeated Millikan and Compton already to stand atop the Moore League with Poly in mid-November.
On the other side, Poly has looked vulnerable–they lost 56-7 to Mission Viejo and a host of injuries forced them to play new players at quarterback, running back and linebacker last week in a narrow win over Millikan. In addition, the Jackrabbits lost starting kicker Jonas Mendoza during the Millikan game.
Poly Offense vs Wilson Defense
The most question marks will certainly come with Poly’s offense and Wilson’s defense on the field. The Jackrabbits could have starting QB Deuce Jefferson back this week or could go with converted defensive end Legend Galeai again after he turned in a solid 11/14 performance last week. The running backs could range from the tangent of Steven “Buddha” Hunter and Elijah “Bubba” Dawson who were used last week, to Tristan Ventura or Harry Johnson.
The certainties for Poly are an offensive line that’s gelled after struggling to replace injured players early. Savion Day and Anthony Rodriguez have been among the standouts. The other strength is the skill positions, with Zion Anderson, Jayden Coley, and Kamarie Smith all standout Division 1-offered receivers along with tight end Jaden Hernandez.
For Wilson’s defense, much of the game will rest on their shoulders. The win over Millikan came with the Bruins D allowing just seven points, and they held Compton to 21 before shutting out Cabrillo. However, the Bruins D was not sharp in a 41-7 loss to Dana Hills.
Leading the way for the Bruins is a front seven that’s shut down the run this year, with linebackers Dylan Sula and Luis Castro anchoring the middle. Linemen Zackariah Salcedo and Daelon Foster have been successful playing the run as well as rushing the passer, along with Jagger Kohagura.
The secondary is led by all-around athlete Jemel Grigsby and Thomas Jones, both of whom are two-way skills standouts for the Bruins.
Wilson Offense vs Poly Defense
The Bruins’ offense has taken a massive step forward from last year under Curtis’ staff, despite returning much of the same core. QB Mack Cooper has been the best in the Moore League to this point with 1,445 yards on a 58% completion rate with 16 touchdowns to just three interceptions.
He’s been able to hit a variety of weapons but especially fellow senior Thomas Jones. His other favorite targets have been Kyle Harris and Brooklyn Vega, and Kohagura and Grigsby both have receiving touchdowns as well.
The running game has been massive for the Bruins, with the two-headed monster of Grigsby and Kori Scott; the workhorse has been Scott, who has 758 yards on the ground and eight touchdowns, while Grigsby has been the “flash” with more than 10 yards per carry.
None of that works without the guys up front, as Wilson’s offensive line has been stellar, with an experienced group that’s developed a lot of chemistry. The group is led by seniors Salcedo, Eddie Flores, and Andrew Nunez.
Poly’s defense is talented, but have been inconsistent. After a big letdown against Mission Viejo (giving up 56 points), they largely shut down Millikan until the fourth quarter, when two touchdowns allowed to the Rams made a game that seem in hand turn suddenly very competitive.
It starts up front with Hernandez, Day and Toa Tamasoa. Linebackers Jordan Moreno and Armond Cagnolatti have been excellent, and the Jackrabbits will hope to get Taj Bordeaux back from injury after he missed the Millikan game–they’re a different defense with and without him, and with stars like JuJu Johnson and Sammy Timu out, Poly can use all the help they can get.
As usual at Poly, the defensive backfield is talent-rich, with Tae Wright, Deon Jackson, Anderson, and Kasim Shepherd.
Special Teams
Arguably the biggest question mark in the game is whether Mendoza will return for Poly. Zadie Kuykendall filled in for him after he was stretchered off during the Millikan game and made her extra point, but Mendoza’s leg on kickoffs as well as field goal attempts is important for Poly. The Jackrabbits have yet to pop a huge return but with Wright, Smith, Anderson and others ready to return punts and kicks, they’re always one opportunity away.
For Wilson, Jones is a big factor kicking off and the Bruins have used Grigsby, Scott and Harris in the return game.
