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 Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
For the third straight year, the Lakewood football program will open its playoff run on the road. The Lancers landed in the CIF-SS Division 5 bracket for the second consecutive season and will square off in a battle of the Lancers on Friday when they visit La Serna in the first round.
“Well, it is what it is. They’re a good program and they’re well-coached,” said Lakewood coach Mario Morales of the draw. “We just have to be ready and work hard this week to prepare. I think the kids will come ready to practice on Monday. We’re excited to see what happens, but I have no doubt they’ll be ready.”
The fellow La Serna Lancers finished the season 7-3 and a perfect 4-0 in league play to capture the Del Rio League title. They enter the postseason on a hot streak, having won five straight games including a narrow victory over Edison, the same Chargers team that handed Lakewood a lopsided loss back in Week 3.
Lakewood is back in the Division 5 bracket for the second straight year and played a pair of close games in the division last season. The Lancers earned a first-round win over Valencia a season ago before falling in a tight 38-35 matchup against Foothill.
Lakewood went 6-4 through this season and 4-2 in the Moore League for a third-place finish. The Lancers are coming off a loss to Wilson in a matchup to claim a share of the Moore League title.
“Our morale is up because we feel good that we had the opportunity to get in on a [Moore League] championship there at the end,” Morales said. “But now we’ve closed the chapter on that part of the season which is the regular season, and now we’re in a new chapter which is the playoffs. That’s what I told my team and I think they’ll come ready to go.”
The Lancers have some familiarity within the bracket, including Torrance, who Lakewood hosted for a scrimmage at the start of the season. Also in the mix is Moore League rival Millikan, and the two could meet again in the second round if they each come away with a first-round win. Lakewood narrowly defeated the Rams earlier this season in a 3-0 defensive battle.
Lakewood hasn’t hosted a playoff game since its CIF-SS Division 8 championship against Northwood three years ago, as the team gears up for its fourth straight playoff game on the road. The Lancers have key veteran leadership with postseason experience from recent years, including a couple of seniors who were freshmen during the 2022 championship run.
“Like it’s been all year, it falls on them from a leadership standpoint,” Morales said of his seniors. “We’re going to rely on them once again to make sure the younger guys see and understand how it works. It’s the playoffs now and we have to stay locked in and focused for Friday.”
With a win, Lakewood would either host Aliso Niguel or face Millikan, with the home team determined by the preflips.
