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 Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Last year when the Wilson football team made the CIS-SS playoffs, they made it in as an at-large in Division 9.
Now, the Bruins (9-1) have jumped five divisions as the Moore League champion and will host Paraclete (8-2) who finished tied for first with Cathedral out of the Angelus Football League, on Friday.
After reaching the championship round, the Bruins have had a historic year under first-year coach Raudric Curtis – who stated that Wilson had “unfinished business” during the Moore League’s media day.
Since then Wilson has gone on a historic run defeating Millikan in dominant fashion and then put the league on notice when they went on to defeat Poly and Lakewood to cap an undefeated Moore League season.
“Maximum pressure,” Curtis said after learning where the Bruins will be to start the playoffs. “We’re representing 562.”
Curtis has been confident about the experience he brought when he took the Wilson job and had continued to stress that his team takes everything in stride.
“Every day, every week has looked identical since spring, summer and through league,” Curtis said. “That’s the challenge – to keep this consistent no matter the noise. I’ve been to the state championship. I know what a run should look and feel like and I’m going to create those elements here.”
After completing their undefeated league run, senior Zackariah Salcedo said that the outside doubt as fueled the team to perform.
“We took it to heart,” Salcedo said. “Everybody thinks Wilson is not good at football. Wilson isn’t this and that. And we decided we’re not going to let that happen. We’re just going to take it and we’re going to keep moving. No matter what, we won’t back down. Wee’ll keeping winning.
