For the second time in two weeks, the Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits found themselves in a dogfight in the fourth quarter of a CIF playoff game. This week it was the Esperanza Aztecs to took them to the brink, as the score was tied 10-10 going into the final period. Then the Jackrabbits, who went very heavy on the run in this game, turned to their quarterback, Morgan Fennell, and asked him to make a big play. He made two, and the Jackrabbits went on to win, 17-10. They’ll now advance to the semifinal round, where they’ll be facing the Lakewood Lancers. You read that right: the Lakewood Lancers, their Moore League rivals who are currently streaking through the postseason.
But, before we get ahead of ourselves: Facing a long third down in the fourth quarter with the game knotted at ten, Fennell rolled right and winged a bullet to senior receiver Damon Smith, who made a great play getting his hands between the ball and the turf as he laid out for the catch. Later that drive, on another third down, Fennell tossed a touch pass to TE Julian Campers, a converted basketball player, on a tackle eligible play. A long 63-yard run later (Campers is 6’5″ 270 lbs, so it was a long run), and the Jackrabbits were in scoring territory, on the two-yard line. Melvin “Boom Boom” Richardson blasted it in, giving him his (and Poly’s) second TD of the night. Poly went up 17-10, the score they’d go on to win by. Richardson finished with 19 carries for 105 yards and two TDs, and his counterpart Daveon “Burner” Barner chipped in 19 for 50. Fennell was 3/6 for 89 yards, including the two crucial third down plays.
The Aztecs, who run the Delaware Wing-T, were hoping to confuse the Poly defense, and never really managed to. They only had one run of more than ten yards in the first half, and besides their first two drives of the second half (which notched a field goal and a TD), never really found any traction, despite trying a few new tricks. “They went away from their tendencies,” Poly defensive coordinator Jeff Turley said after the game. “That’s good coaching.”
But despite the good coaching, and the performance of Aztec running back Jared Moore, who finished with 16 carries for 107 yards and Esperanza’s only score, Poly won the low-scoring, hard-hitting, run-heavy playoff contest. “Hey,” said Poly coach Raul Lara after. “That’s how you’re supposed to win these games.”
The entire city is rejoicing at getting an all-Moore League semifinal (the first time that’s happened in over three decades), but Lakewood’s hot streak hasn’t escaped the notice of the Poly coaches. “Thadd MacNeal has really turned their team around,” said Lara. “They’re the hottest team in the playoffs right now.” Despite that, the Poly coaches and players all say they were pulling for Lakewood on Friday. Said Turley, “We truly root for everyone. It’s all about the Moore League.”
The top talent of the league will be on full display this Friday at 7:30; it looks like the game will almost certainly be at Cerritos College, but check back for updates, as well as incredibly detailed previews of the game throughout the week.
Leapin’ Lara—the coach (on the right) reacts to a call by the refs
Coaches Lara and MacNeal, from Poly and Lakewood, after the game—you’ll see them again next week, in the Moore League Super Bowl Round II.