The562’s football coverage for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The Compton football team is off to a hot start as it prepares for Friday night’s contest against Gardena.
The Tarbabes enter the matchup 3-0, with wins over Jordan, Orange Vista and Bishop Alemany. Compton showed some grit in its win over Bishop Alemany in their home opener last week.
Compton has shown plenty of firepower on offense, averaging 29 points per game, while its defense has allowed just 15 points per contest.
Senior Edward Rivera has emerged as the offensive centerpiece. He leads the Tarbabes with 89 rushing yards per game, 34.7 receiving yards per game and six total touchdowns. Nate Willard has also been a major contributor, while junior quarterback Donnie Johnson III has helped keep the offense balanced.
Defensively, senior linebacker Jay’Rome Norwood is averaging 7.7 tackles per game, while junior lineman Andre Mayo has recorded two sacks. Willard has also made an impact on defense with two interceptions.
Gardena enters Friday’s matchup 0-3, but the game comes with plenty of history between the two programs.
The last time the teams met, Compton rolled to a 69-6 victory in 2018, improving to 4-0 and giving the Tarbabes their best start in a decade at the time.
The two are set to meet Friday at 7 p.m..
