The562’s football coverage for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
It was a long and successful non-league slate for the Compton football team (5-1, 0-0), which starts league play this week as the Tarbabes host their first-ever Hub City League game against Dominguez (3-3, 0-0) on Friday for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
The two teams have plenty of familiarity with each other but haven’t faced off since 2021, when Dominguez dominated Compton in a 44-0 win. Now, the Compton football program has been revamped on its new campus, and the Tarbabes are favorites after recently being ranked No. 137 in the CIF Southern Section to Dominguez’s No. 219, according to HsRatings.com.
Compton finished off an otherwise successful non-league slate with a 41-7 loss against former leaguemate Wilson after starting the season 5-0. That undefeated streak came with wins over Jordan, Orange Vista, Bishop Alemany, Gardena, and Narbonne, and the Tarbabes outscored those five opponents a combined 184-55.
The Tarbabes’ gameplan has been based around senior running back Edward Rivera, which was ineffective against a disciplined Wilson defense last week. Rivera had just 21 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown in that game, but will look to return closer to his season totals of 90 yards per game with seven total touchdowns against a Dominguez team ranked somewhere between Compton’s first five opponents and Wilson.
Through the air, Donnie Johnson III will look to rebound after completing under 45% of his passes last week for 99 yards and three interceptions. His top target has been Rivera out of the backfield, who is averaging nearly 40 receiving yards per game with an additional five touchdowns, while Ronnie Mixon leads all wideouts with over 25 receiving yards per game and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Compton had a bright spot last week in Jay’Rome Norwood, who had 10 total tackles and three tackles for loss against Wilson. He’ll be key in stopping a Dominguez rushing attack that’s averaging nearly 125 yards per game with 10 total touchdowns, led by senior tandem Terrell Malone and Darrell Frazier.
All signs lead to a battle in the trenches, as Malone will be at the helm at quarterback for a passing game that’s been less utilized, with him averaging just 84 passing yards per game with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Jaymier Williams has been his favorite target and was on the receiving end of both of those touchdowns.
Dominguez picked up wins over Maranatha and Hawthorne before falling in three straight games to Paramount, Oakland, and Bellflower. The Dons are coming off a 19-12 win over Hamilton last week as they enter their Hub City League opener.
Compton will continue league play next Friday at Compton Early College.
