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 Millikan Athletics for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
The Millikan football team has found some momentum at the right time, and the Rams (3-7) are looking to take that on the road this week in their playoff opener against La Cañada (8-2). The two teams will square off in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs on Friday at 7 pm.
Last week’s matchup against Wilson was a statement win with a playoff spot on the line, and Millikan coach Romeo Pellum said it was his team’s best overall performance of the season. The Rams’ defense earned its first shutout since September 2025 in the 42-0 win over Wilson, with Millikan putting together a complete team effort in all three phases of the game.
“It was win or go home,” Pellum said. “ I knew that if we had had an opportunity to play in the playoffs that’d we’d be in Division 6, 7 or 8, and I think we have a legitimate chance to do some things. [The season] didn’t start how we wanted, but we have an opportunity to change the end of it. If these guys want to get more games then we have to win. They’re all excited and fired up, and I like where we are.”
Millikan’s Division 7 appearance marks the lowest division the Rams have competed in since Pellum took over as head coach in the 2020-21 season. Millikan competed in Division 5 last year and suffered a first-round loss to Aliso Niguel, while La Cañada returns to Division 7 after earning a first-round win over West Covina last season.
The Rams not only have some momentum heading into the playoffs, but also a fully healthy roster after being banged up for much of the regular season. Sophomore quarterback Jonah Tuaniga will get his second shot at the playoffs after last year and is coming off a game where he went 16-for-22 for 268 passing yards and four touchdowns. On the season, he’s averaging 178 passing yards per game with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Running back Ryan Carter has returned to full strength after facing an injury earlier this season, and the junior is averaging 94 rushing yards per game with seven total touchdowns. Jay Williams leads the team with 55 receiving yards per game while Aden Taufa has been a swiss army knife on both sides of the ball, averaging 48 yards per game with six touchdowns.
On the opposing end, Millikan will face a La Cañada team with a spread offense that likes to run the ball often. The Lancers run the ball on nearly 60% of their offensive snaps, led by dual-threat quarterback Joe Bell, who has averaged 14 carries and over 100 rushing yards per game this season.
Bell has accounted for 25 of his offense’s 33 total touchdowns this season. Through the air, Bell is averaging 135 passing yards per game and has thrown 10 touchdown passes with five interceptions. CJ Mattmann is the leading running back behind him, averaging 43 rushing yards per game with three total touchdowns, while Ross Piken leads the receiving group with 44 receiving yards per game and eight touchdown catches.
Pellum says he likes the way his team matches up with La Cañada up front, and he has good reason to feel that way after a dominant performance last week. Junior defensive lineman Toloai Toloai leads that unit and had three sacks last week, while Soren Jensen flew in for a pair of sacks.
La Cañada’s defense is led up front by senior Troy West, who leads the team with three sacks this season. Ross Piken has recorded 43 total tackles and a team-high three interceptions, while Piken leads the team with 82 total tackles, including seven for a loss. Fellow sophomore Jake Bell has added 75 total tackles, including 12 for a loss.
Friday’s winner will advance to face the winner of the matchup between Pacific and Barstow. With a win, Millikan would either host Pacific or travel to Barstow.
