With so many CIF Southern Section and State titles coming to Long Beach year in and year out, it’s rare to see regular season wins land this high on our year-end lists. But high school football commands a different level of attention, and perhaps no win sent shock waves through the Long Beach sports community quite like Wilson’s rivalry win over Long Beach Poly.
For the first time since 1991, the oldest rivalry in Long Beach went Wilson’s way, as the Bruins converted on a late two-point conversion to snag a 22-21 victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
After a Jemel Grigsby touchdown brought the Bruins to within a point, head coach Raudric Curtis dialed up a two-point play that his team had been waiting to use. Senior Mack Cooper hit Brooklyn Vega for a sliding grab, setting off a raucous celebration that reverberated through generations of Wilson Football.
“It just feels amazing,” said Cooper. “It feels like a roller coaster. I mean, just like a shock of adrenaline, and it feels so good to be on top now. We’ve got a target on our back, but we’re ready to protect it.”
That two-point conversion in the final minute completed a comeback from a 21-6 deficit,and was a landmark victory for the program. It was only the third win for Wilson over Poly since 1967, and it set the Bruins on a path toward a Moore League title.
In the final week of the regular season, Wilson took care of business with an impressive 23-0 win at Lakewood, claiming the Moore League title with a perfect 6-0 league record.
Their rise to the top spot also made some interesting history for Moore League football. With Poly and Millikan winning in the two seasons prior, 2025 marked the first time in 50 years that there were different league champs in three consecutive seasons.
