The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
Long Beach Poly assistant coach Ryan Simmons wore a shirt with an apropos message on it at a practice last week. Over a picture of roses, the text reads, “Flowers Grow Back Eventually, Even After the Harshest Winters.”
It was a harsh winter indeed for the Jackrabbits, who hit a low point in the vaunted 130+ year history of city’s flagship sports program. Poly is second all-time in wins in California history with 829, four short of first place and more than 120 wins ahead of third place. The Jackrabbits have produced 80+ NFL players, more than any other high school in the nation. They’ve also won 21 CIF Southern Section titles, most of anyone.
And yet–the Jackrabbits have not won the Moore League title in back-to-back years for the first time since 1976 and 1977; they missed the playoffs last year for just the second time in a half-century; and the team was rocked by transfer ineligibilities and forfeits last year that led to the firing of their coach, and the school’s administration withdrawing them from the playoffs.
First-year coach Travon Patterson is aware of the challenges the program has been through, and aware of its storied history as an alum–Patterson is the first alum to coach the Jackrabbits since Raul Lara’s historic five-CIF-SS title tenure. He’s been embraced as the new coach, drawing rave reviews on social media from Jackrabbit alums who wanted to see a Poly guy in charge of the program. As a Jackrabbit and a Trojan, Patterson knows how long that goodwill lasts, however.
“Poly is just like USC, you winning then everything’s good,” he said. “The minute you lose, people are on your head–I understand what’s at stake. But at the same time I’m just here to focus on the kids. We’re getting them ready for the season, we’ve got a great staff, and we’re confident we’re going to get the job done.”
Patterson said he understands that the only thing that will earn Poly their respect back is how they play on the field–and he also understands that nobody feels sorry for them. The Jackrabbits are probably the only team in America who could be at a low point for their program, and still enter the year with two five-star recruits: Miami commit Tae Wright and UCLA commit JuJu Johnson. The pair of four-year Jackrabbits are both rated among the best in the country–and Poly is the only program in America this year with two consensus five-star athletes. Wright and Johnson know that football fans don’t care about the adversity Poly has faced, from key injuries to linemen to the ineligibilities.
“The last two years we dealt with a lot of shit as a team,” said Wright. “Inside the team and outside the team–a lot of things we had to deal with. This year we’re coming in just able to play free and play football.”
“It’s a new year, a new day, and we really just want to ball and play,” said Johnson. “We don’t have to worry about any of those setbacks and teams the last two years.”
That duo will be all over the place for Poly–as star defensive backs, as offensive skill players, and as return men on special teams. Getting Johnson back after injuries forced him to miss virtually all of the last two years will be an immeasurable boost for the team, and create a unique challenge for opponents to deal with two All-American caliber players.
“They’re two five-star guys there’s a lot of attention and everything surrounding them,” said Patterson. “I love that they’ve continued to develop as leaders and knowing the Poly way.”
They won’t be the only impressive players on the field for the Jackrabbits. Offensively, the team’s offensive line looks healthy and strong after a number of injuries last season. Sammy Timu is one of the unquestioned vocal leaders of the team and connects with Poly’s history in the trenches as he leads a group that will feature Denzel Rosen, Ray Umi, Jared LamSam, Poncho Kereti, and Sue Tonise–all but one of whom will return next year as well. The backfield is drastically improved for Poly this year with Steven “Budda” Hunter and Elijah “Bubba” Dawson both back after playing their way into starting roles last year, with senior Jeron Johnson another great options in the traditional Poly mold.
Out wide, four-star junior Zion Anderson holds offers from Georgia, Alabama, and virtually anywhere else while is a heavily recruited three-star pass-catcher who’s been their most productive option recently. Johnson and Wright will see time there as well as Landon Perkins, Kymere Smith and others.
Jonas Mendoza will return as kicker after being a consistent strong performer the last two seasons.
The biggest question mark offensively is at quarterback, where at least the options are good, with three players who should all be an improvement over last year. Sophomore Mater Dei transfer Trevor Scott, junior Ace Fa’agata, and junior Kingston Stokley are all in the mix and getting plenty of reps.
Defensively Poly looks strong up front with Timu and Umi both going both ways, Servite transfer Sevelino Tuliauli, Elijah Day, Sue Tonise, and Ian Douglas giving them great physicality and improved depth. The linebacking corps features Dezmen Howard, Toa Cagnolatti (who will play some safety as well), Jeionn Johnson, Jace Lockett, and Pat Taliauli.
The defensive backfield is immensely talented even by Poly’s standards, with Wright and Johnson but also Hunter, Logan Kirk, Emmanuel Beaver, Kasim Shepherd, Anderson, and Adrian Martinez.
Patterson’s confident in the talent he has around the field–especially given that only a handful of starters will be seniors this year. In order to grow that next generation, he brought in a nearly all-alumni coaching staff.
“That was intentional, we wanted a lot of people who were around as part of the program in its heydays, people who won championships and knows what it means to build the culture and sacrifice into it,” said Patterson.
One of the key moves Patterson made was bringing back strength coach Gregg Washington, who ran Poly’s weight program for decades and was a secret weapon for generations of Jackrabbits. Patterson said Washington’s return definitely caught some of the current players off guard.
“Gregg doesn’t play no games,” said Patterson with a chuckle. “When they’re in that weight room they’re working. They’re being held accountable and they’re strong this year. The kids are buying into him and he’s buying into them, he’s showing up every day for them and it’s paying off.”
Johnson said he’s excited for everyone to see what Poly is about this year.
“Our defense is going to be nastier, our leadership and our coaching are great, I just feel like every Friday we’re going to be ready to hit something,” he said. “Everyone feels like it’s their time right now.”
Patterson’s excitement to get the season going was visible at practice.
“I feel like I’m going to play,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve been working hard all season–I don’t really care what people think about our team or what we’re doing to do this year. We know what we got here, we know the talent we have with the skills and in the trenches. The kids are working hard and everybody’s going to see what we’re about.”
Projected Starting Lineup:
Offense
QB – Trevor Scott, So. / Ace Fa’agata, Jr. / Kingston Stokley, Jr.
RB – Steven “Budda” Hunter, Jr. / Elijah “Bubba” Dawson, Jr. / Jeron Johnson, Sr.
WR – Zion Anderson, Jr. / Jayden Coley, Jr. / JuJu Johnson, Sr. / Tae Wright, Sr. / Landon Perkins, Jr. / Kymere Smith, Sr.
OL – Sammy Timu, Jr. / Denzel Rosen, Jr. / Ray Umi, Sr. / Puncho Kereti, So. / Jared LamSam Jr. / Sue Tonise, So.
TE – Toa Cagnolatti, Sr. / Sevelino Taliauli, Sr.
K – Jonas Mendoza, Sr.
Defense
DL – Sammy Timu, Jr. / Ray Umi, Sr. / Sevelino Taliauli, Sr. / Elijah Day, So. / Sue Tonise, So. / Ian Douglas, Sr.
LB – Dezmen Howard, Sr. / Toa Cagnolatti, Sr. / Jeionn Johnson, So. / Jace Lockett, So. / Patrick Taliauli, Jr.
DB – Tae Wright, Sr. / JuJu Johnson, Sr. / Steven “Budda” Hunter, Jr. / Logan Kirk, Jr. / Emmanuel Beaver, So. / Kasim Shepherd, Sr. / Zion Anderson, Jr. / Adrian Martinez, Sr.
P – Jonas Mendoza, Sr.
2026 Long Beach Poly Football Schedule
8/21 – at Downey
828 – vs. Yorba Linda (Last Game at Veterans Memorial Stadium)
9/4 – at Tustin
9/11 – vs. Carson
9/18 – vs. Inglewood
9/25 – at Rancho Cucamonga
10/2 – vs. Lakewood*
10/10 – vs. Wilson*
10/16 – BYE
10/23 – at Millikan*
10/30 – at Jordan*
* – Moore League game
All games 7pm, home games played at Cabrillo High
