The562’s football coverage for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The turnaround didn’t happen overnight.
For the Compton football team, getting back to where the program wanted to be has been a process of rebuilding, adjusting and perhaps most importantly, believing in what was possible.
Now as the Tarbabes (10-1) prepare for their quarterfinal match up against San Marino on Friday – the team knows where they’ve been and how much further they want to go.
Following its 2021 championship appearance Compton found itself facing a different kind of challenge. The team went from operating out of a middle school and dealing with declining participation – to a enrollment boom when they opened their new state-of-the-art campus.
The pieces have gradually come together. And now, the Tarbabes are starting to see the results of that work.
“It’s always a battle when you go into a new school and you don’t know what’s at stake,” Compton coach and athletic director Calvin Bryant said. “I think as a staff, as a group, as our administration and as our district, we did a great job just keeping everything cohesive as we made the transition.”
That transition has brought more than a change of scenery. It has also created an opportunity for a new generation of players to become part of Compton football’s story.
Bryant said the support from the coaching staff, administration and district has helped the program maintain its identity while welcoming players who want to be part of something bigger at the new school.
And lately, more players have been buying into that vision.
The arrival of players such as seniors Jay’Rome Norwood and Edward Rivera has helped raise the standard, giving the Tarbabes impact players who can make a difference on both sides of the ball. But their influence has extended beyond Friday nights.
The culture around the program has started to change, too.
Players are spending extra time working on their craft, coaches including Compton alums Lamar and Lamont Freeman are continuing to develop players and the expectation is no longer simply to show up and compete. It’s to get better.
“Oh, yeah, definitely, it’s been a change,” Bryant said. “Our guys want to get better. Our coaches are developing a lot more. The atmosphere is about getting better and improving and enhancing our skills.”
That kind of environment has become part of the program’s identity. Players want to win, but they also want to be coached, challenged and held to a standard.
Bryant believes Compton is beginning to provide all of that.
“They want to win, they want to play for a program, they want to be coached, and they know they have some quality coaching when they come here,” Bryant said.
The results have started to show up on the field, but Bryant is just as encouraged by what is happening away from it. He pointed to the players’ behavior, character and commitment as important pieces of the team’s development.
That maturity was put to the test during last week’s 30-13 victory over Ramona, when an unfortunate fight broke out in the fourth quarter after an upset Compton parent made their way to the field. No athletes were involved, but the incident was a reminder of what can come with high school athletics as parents want to see their child performing on the field and that frustration can boil over.
Compton’s coaching staff had prepared for situations that could take their attention away from football. Rather than allowing the moment to spiral, the Tarbabes stayed composed, responded positively and got back to the task at hand.
For Bryant, it was another sign of how far the group has come.
“As a staff and as a group, we’ve discussed almost every scenario that can prevent us from winning football games and from being the best that we can be,” Bryant said. “That was one of those circumstances that occurred, and our guys were able to respond in a positive way.”
It’s a response that speaks to something bigger than a playoff result.
Compton is building a program that wants to compete, but also understands what it takes to handle the moments that come with being a competitive program – emotions can run high on and off the field.
The Tarbabes aren’t just trying to put together a memorable season. They’re trying to establish something that lasts.
“We’re glad that our guys are growing and maturing,” Bryant said. “They’re making great decisions. They want to continue to get that impact as we continue to grow.”
