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.
Even after winning their first Moore League championship since 1991 last season, the Wilson football program and first-year coach Raudric Curtis aren’t satisfied—and the Bruins’ newly finalized 2026 schedule reflects that.
With two more non-league games to fill after Compton and Cabrillo left the Moore League, Curtis used the opportunity to pack Wilson’s schedule with competition from top to bottom. It includes matchups against multiple Division 3 programs along with a Trinity League school before the Bruins gear up to defend their Moore League title.
“This is a tougher schedule than Wilson has ever put together,” Curtis said. “It definitely isn’t just business as usual. I want my team to see that the coach put together a juggernaut of a schedule and think, ‘What does it look like to match his confidence?’ It’s about leaning in, and we don’t feel like we’re overshooting it, but the reality is definitely sobering that we’ve got a tough schedule ahead of us.”
The schedule starts with a familiar face in Week 0 at Mayfair on Aug. 21, as Curtis returns to the program where he previously coached alongside head coach Derek Bedell. Curtis’ relationship with Bedell goes back over a decade, and the pair led the Monsoons to a CIF-SS championship in 2024.
“That’s family,” he said. “I know the quality of play they bring and how well they’re going to test us and our preparation to open the year. They just hit all the markers with having a great sportsmanship environment. It’s going to be good on the field competition and a family affair.”
The Bruins will follow that up with another road game, traveling to Trinity League opponent JSerra on Aug. 28. The Lions will be Wilson’s highest-ranked opponent this year despite missing the playoffs last season, as JSerra was ranked No. 17 in the CIF-SS—13 spots higher than the Bruins’ next-highest-ranked opponent.
“It fits our boldness,” Curtis said. “We’re a team that welcomes the challenge, so the ability to go face a Trinity League team is right on brand for us with the level of talent that we think we can compete against. There’s an expectation that we’re taking these games to succeed and perform. We didn’t put anyone on the schedule that we’re planning to lose to.”
Wilson will begin the month of September with two matchups against Division 3 opponents in Huntington Beach (Sept. 4) and Dana Hills (Sept. 11). Huntington Beach will serve as the Bruins’ home opener before they head to Dana Hills, which handed Wilson it’s only regular-season loss last year in a 41-7 loss at home.
“They taught us a lot last year, and I think a lot of our success stemmed from that game,” Curtis said of Dana Hills. “I wanna see if they have any new tricks to show me. They’re going to test us. We were in Division 4 last year, and in order to move up, we have to schedule teams like this without batting an eye.”
Villa Park is next on Wilson’s list in Week 4, as the Bruins host their second home game of the year on Sept. 18. The Spartans were also a Division 4 team last season and have played Moore League opponent Millikan in each of the past two years, splitting those games.
Wilson closes its non-league schedule with another familiar face in Compton, visiting the Tarbabes on Sept. 25. With Compton also filling two new open game slots, Curtis said it was an easy Week 5 choice among the few options available as he looks forward to keeping the tradition going after a narrow 23-21 win last season.
“I love Compton as far as how they run things, their coaching staff, and the way their program is built,” Curtis said. “It makes it feel like a game worthy of being on our schedule, and they hit all the markers. It was a competitive game last year, and I anticipate that it’ll be competitive again.”
From there, the Bruins will begin their quest to repeat as Moore League champions, opening league play at Jordan on Oct. 2. Wilson will follow that up with a highly anticipated rematch against rival Long Beach Poly on Oct. 9.
Wilson will have a bye week on Oct. 23, sandwiched between its final league home games of the season against Lakewood and Millikan. Lakewood will serve as the Bruins’ Senior Night on Oct. 16, while Wilson will conclude the regular season with Homecoming against Millikan on Oct. 30.
“What got us to that success was day-by-day improvement and having fun—it’s beyond talent for us,” Curtis said. “You’re not going to tower us with speed, size, and experience on the field, because we now match that in spades. I think now the challenge for the Moore League teams is, are you programming at the level Wilson is? For us, it’s about continuing to set that standard for the league.”
2026 Wilson Football Schedule
8/21 – at Mayfair
8/28 – at JSerra
9/4 – vs. Huntington Beach
9/11 – at Dana Hills
9/18 – vs. Villa Park
9/25 – at Compton
10/2 – at Jordan*
10/9 – at Long Beach Poly* (Location TBD)
10/16 – vs. Lakewood*
10/23 – BYE
10/30 – vs. Millikan*
