The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
It was anybody’s game at halftime as Long Beach Poly hosted Millikan in a Moore League flag football showdown on Monday night.
After a scoreless opening quarter, each team found the end zone in the second, leaving things in a 6-6 deadlock at intermission.
But the host Jackrabbits came out firing in the second half, scoring on each of their first four drives to pull away for a comfortable 31-6 win over Millikan, securing at least a share of the Moore League title with less than two weeks left in the regular season.
“We’re just starting to come together,” said Poly head coach Rob Shock, who highlighted the team’s chemistry as what’s helped them play their best football of late. “I tell the girls to take pride in what we’ve built as a team, and the competitiveness in practice prepares us for these types of games. Plus the leadership from Brooklyn, Maia, Daisy, my leaders out there making plays, it’s coming together.”
Sophomore Neveah Johnson was a key contributor for Poly on both sides of the football. She opened the scoring with a juggling TD grab midway through the second quarter to give her team the 6-0 lead. Then later in the game, she subbed in at quarterback and was able to scramble in for her second score of the night, putting the game out of reach.
“I’m having hella fun,” said Johnson with a big smile. “The team chemistry is really there. I feel like we’re playing better as a team in Moore League, and I feel like that’s most important, to really come together in Moore League.”
The win ensures that the Jackrabbits will claim a fourth consecutive league title–all four that have been handed out in flag football. Millikan shared the title with the Jackrabbits last season, and put up a good fight in the first half of Monday’s meeting.
Sophomore Penelope Cleven had an interception on the first drive of the game, then nearly snagged a second on Poly’s next possession. It was also Cleven who got the Rams on the scoreboard, elevating over her defender in the endzone to bring down a deep ball from QB Holly Ibarra. That score in the final minute of the half made it a 6-6 game at intermission.
But Poly’s defense stifled the Rams’ offense the rest of the night. Rushers Marley Barajas (3.5 sacks) and Sophia Hernandez (1.5 sacks, PBU) applied consistent pressure, allowing Poly’s defensive backs to make plays, with senior Brooklyn Richardson collecting a second-half interception.
“I feel like we really read their offense,” said Johnson, who added a pass break-up of her own on defense. “I feel like we’re great at attacking where the pass is going to be, and our rushes are doing amazing.”
Poly QB Kenzie Paimany threw a pair of TD passes in the third quarter, first connecting with Makayla Lumpkin over the middle before she navigated her way through the teeth of the Millikan defense and in for six. Then Paimany went over the top of the defense to find Julie Lopez for a diving catch in the endzone to make it 18-6 Poly after three quarters.
The Jackrabbits added a pair of rushing TDs in the final period. One from Neveah Johnson and one from Amai’a Johnson–the sophomore running back who took a direct snap and won the race to the pylon to cap the scoring.
Millikan will end the regular season with a trip to Jordan next Monday, while Poly will visit Lakewood on Wednesday. With the playoffs looming, Shock is still hoping to see a little more from his offense over the full game, not just the second half.
“I think the biggest thing for us is just being consistent on offense,” he said. “Finishing in the red zone, and getting off to a good start. We’re starting to get on our roll, and that’s a good thing. Defensively, we gave up one score and put a lot of pressure on, so I can’t say nothing but great things about our defense. We played well.”
