The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
Moore League flag football got off to a hot start for the 2025 season as defending champions Long Beach Poly held on for a 20-14 victory over the Millikan Rams Monday evening on Burcham Field.
High temperatures delayed the start of the game by 30 minutes, and the offenses arrived about 30 minutes late, too. Both teams were locked in a defensive stalemate over a scoreless first half, before the teams finally started hitting the scoreboard over the final 24 minutes.
The host Jackrabbits wasted no time in opening the scoring in the third quarter as QB Brooklyn Richardson hit Ki’ele Ho-Ching on a crossing route on the very first play after halftime. The senior captain navigated through the Millikan defense and took it all the way to the end zone to give Poly the 6-0 lead.
That play immediately shifted the whole flow of the game, and sparked a 20-0 run for Poly which proved to be enough for the win.
“I just had to remember to relax,” said Richardson about the change at halftime. “I know I have people that I can trust to catch the ball, and one of them was definitely Ki’ele, so I knew, if I just throw it to her where it’s perfect, that she’ll catch that ball. After that (touchdown), everybody’s energy changed, and we went up.”
Richardson then shifted her focus to defense, where she made a game-changing play from her safety position. On a deep ball over the middle, she was able to reach up and intercept a Millikan pass on her own goal line. From there, she weaved and juked her way 80 yards in the other direction, finishing an exhilarating Pick 6 up the Poly sideline to increase Poly’s lead to 12-0.
“Just keep running. Just keep running,” Richardson told herself. “Once I saw they were rushing at me, I couldn’t stop, because if they’re rushing at me, they’re just gonna break down and pull my flag. So I had to get outside as fast as I can, move my hips as much as I can, and not give up that Jackrabbit speed. Because I was about to get taken down. That was a lot of running for me.”
The Jackrabbits eventually took a 20-0 lead when Richardson connected with Kali Soth on a short TD toss to open the fourth quarter, but there was a lot of game left and Millikan did not go quietly.
On fourth and goal with just over 3 minutes left in the game, QB Holly Ibarra connected with Kate Martin for a terrific TD grab, and the two-point conversion cut Poly’s lead to 20-8. A few plays later, Martin stepped up again for an interception, nearly returning it for another score less than a minute later.
On the ensuing offensive play for Millikan, freshman Penelope Cleven ran in a score, bringing the Rams within a 20-14 margin. Cleven played a great game for the Rams, collecting a pair of first-half interceptions and even a blocked punt.
But that’s as close as Millikan could get, as time expired during their final possession.
While Ho-Ching scored the game-changing TD to start the second half, she was probably even more impressive as a defender. She easily led the Jackrabbits in flag pulls, and had five tackles for loss including four sacks. She said her family is to thank for how well she’s able to focus on pulling the opponents’ flags with such regularity.
“I would say a lot of tag,” said Ho-Ching on where she developed this skill. “And I also have two little brothers who are so bad, so when I’m chasing my little brothers, I’ve gotta grab them and wrap them up. I think it’s the same thing to me, I think these girls are my little brothers, and I’m like, ‘I better get them, and if I don’t, they’re gonna get away.’”
However the skills develop, it’s been working for Ho-Ching and the Jackrabbits, who have still not lost a Moore League game in program history. They survived a tough challenge in their opener, but head coach Rob Shock knows there’s a lot to improve on if they’re going to keep that unbeaten streak going.
“Just get the ball in our athletes hands and let them play, that’s the biggest thing for me,” said Shock. “I’m proud of the girls. We’ve got growing pains. We’re young and still learning. I’ll take the win anytime. Millikan is always tough, it’s not an easy game to open up the season with them.”
Both these teams will take on Compton in their next league matchup. Poly travels to Hub City on Wednesday while Millikan will host them the following Wednesday.
