In one of the more dramatic showdowns of the season, Long Beach Poly eked out a 24–22 victory over rival Millikan Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
A Win Built on Adversity
Poly’s path to victory was hardly routine. The Jackrabbits faced multiple personnel challenges over the past week — injuries, eligibility issues, and coaching changes left the roster in flux. Despite that, the team leaned on depth, resilience, and opportunistic plays to pull it out. Coach Justin Utupo emphasized that it was a “complete team win.” Backup kicker Zadie Kuykendall, thrown into duty after a midgame injury to Jonas Mendoza, converted a crucial extra point in the second half.
Game Flow & Key Plays
- Turnover sets tone early: On Poly’s opening drive, a mishandled snap squirted behind the quarterback, and Millikan recovered at the Poly 17. The Rams capitalized with a field goal to take a 3–0 lead.
- Poly answers with ground game: The Jackrabbits leaned heavy on their backs — Steven “Budda” Hunter and Elijah “Bubba” Dawson combined for nearly 150 yards rushing. A play-action pass from Legend Galeai to Jaden Hernandez capped one drive for Poly’s first touchdown.
- Millikan fights back: Quarterback Jonah Tuaniga, especially in the second half, found success through the air. He completed 9 of his 19 passes for ~130 yards, throwing multiple touchdowns (though also tossing an interception).
- Defense holds in clutch moments: Late in the second quarter, Millikan was driving, but defensive tackle Savion Day picked off a pass at the Poly 24 to thwart the momentum. Day played both ways on the line.
What This Means for Both Teams
With the win, Poly remains undefeated in league play and tied with Wilson at the top of the Moore League standings. Meanwhile, Millikan’s loss, their second in league action, puts pressure on them to win out—starting with a must-win against Lakewood next week.
Looking Ahead
Poly and Millikan is more than just a rivalry—it’s a litmus test for title aspirations in the Moore League every season. With this win, Poly has extended the edge in that rivalry for now. Millikan, however, is far from out of the fight.
