The562’s football coverage for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by former LBUSD superintendent Chris Steinhauser.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
Opening Night for Moore League Football brings the defending champs to the Northside as the Wilson Bruins (1-5) visit the Jordan Panthers (0-6) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Those records tell a tough story for both teams in non-league play, but the visiting Bruins should feel heartened by their performance last week against Compton. After facing a gauntlet over the first month of the season, Wilson went to Hub City and dominated their former league mates, 41-7 for its first win of the 2026 season.
All-around playmaker Jemel Grigsby went off for over 200 yards of offense and 3 TDs to lead the Bruins to victory, and he’ll be a tough matchup for a young J-Town defense. The Panthers will also need to be careful on special teams, where junior Kyle Harris is an elite returner.
Wilson also collected three interceptions against Compton, with Grigsby, Brooklyn Vega, and Cahmarr Davis each recording takeaways. They’ll be a tough matchup for Jordan’s junior QB Caydyn Hampton behind a young offensive line.
Hampton was solid in last week’s game against Cabrillo, throwing for 386 yards and 3 TDs against the Jags. However, the Jordan offense couldn’t quite keep pace in a 58-48 loss.
Senior wide receiver Sama’jay Jackson was the main target, racking up 180 receiving yards, including a 66-yard touchdown. Jordan Thomas was also heavily involved in the second half, catching a pair of TDs for J-Town in their back-and-forth battle.
It’s no surprise that there have been growing pains for Jordan this year, and they’ll look to keep improving as they venture into league play. Jordan has lost two in a row against Wilson after winning a 49-43 thriller on the road back in 2023.
Wilson has its big rivalry showdown with Long Beach Poly next Saturday night, so this is the final tune-up for the Bruins as they look to shake off a disappointing start and get ready to defend their Moore League crown.
