The Long Beach Wilson football team’s faith never wavered against rival Long Beach Poly, according to first-year coach Raudric Curtis.
“Our aggressiveness is a stance not a ploy,” Curtis said.
Wilson won 22-21 last week by scoring the game’s final 16 points. The scoring run included two 2-point conversions by Wilson, including the go-ahead score with a minute to go in the game.
“It’s about a culture of confidence,” Curtis said. “We won the body language game, so even when we’re down in halftime, nobody is hanging their head. We’re talking about positive framing and teaching to our coaches. We’re talking about looking to the guy next to us and believing in each other and telling each other and speaking that confidence into ourselves.”
The Bruins improved to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Moore League. It was Wilson’s first win over Poly since 1991, which was also the last time the program won an outright league title.
“This is our practice,” Curtis explained. “What you saw in that victory is what we practice, and we came out and we executed well.”
The Bruins are in sole possession of first place in the league standings. They will clinch at least a share of the league title with a win at home Friday against Long Beach Jordan. Wilson can secure the outright league championship against Lakewood on Oct. 30.
Curtis said his coaching staff and the team’s players have fully embraced his concept of game theory. Wilson never attempted a PAT in the game. Instead the Bruins chose to go for 2-point conversions after all three of its touchdowns. They converted two of the three conversion attempts.
“Game theory is only we know the rules,” Curtis said. “Only we know the game.”
The Wilson Bruins gather and celebrate their historic win over Long Beach Poly putting them in first place in the Moore League in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson senior quarterback Mack Cooper completed 7 of 12 passed for 130 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Cooper’s first pass went for an 80-yard touchdown to senior receiver Thomas Jones, which made it 7-6. Wilson’s 2-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Sophomore receiver Kyle Harris’ 92-yard kick return for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion by Branden Cruz cut Poly’s lead to 21-14.
Sophomore running back Jemel Grigsby’s 2-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion by Brooklyn Vega secured the 22-21 victory.
“It starts with everyone on the team,” said Cooper, a three-year starter who is committed to Prairie View A&M. “It’s a team sport. I don’t give props to anyone but everybody on the team.”
Wilson is ranked No. 50 in the CIF Southern Section by HSRatings.com, which would likely slot the Bruins into Division 4 for the playoffs.
Curtis wants his program to be respected as one of the best teams in Southern California.
“We’re going to find ourselves somewhere where we want to be, which is in the upper echelon of schools around,” Curtis said. “We don’t want to squeak our way.
“We’re not trying to fandangle our way into a lower division. We want to reach for the top. We want to believe in our talent. I keep hearing about everybody else’s talent and I think it’s time for people to respect what we have over here. So if anything else, it’s time for everyone to respect Wilson. Don’t invite us to homecoming anymore.”
Long Beach Wilson football coach Raudric Curtis said the Bruins were always going for 2.
Wilson beat Poly 22-21 at Veterans Stadium and took the lead for the first time in the game on a 2-point conversion with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter. @raudriccurtis pic.twitter.com/fV1fr9cfuD
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 18, 2025
ST. JOHN BOSCO’S AERIAL ASSAULT STRIKES AGAIN
St. John Bosco’s passing game was on full display in a 27-14 road victory over Santa Margarita on Friday, Oct. 17, as the Braves claimed sole possession of first place in the Trinity League.
Sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu completed 17 of 21 passes (81%) for 289 yards and four touchdowns. Senior receiver Madden Williams had a team-high six receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown. Williams is committed to Texas A&M.
Senior receiver Daniel Odom had five receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown. Odom is committed to Oklahoma.
Sophomore receiver DJ Tubbs had four receptions for 26 yards and one touchdown. Senior receiver Carson Clark had a 62-yard touchdown catch. Clark is committed to San Jose State.
Malau’ulu’s ability to spread the ball around has created havoc on a weekly basis for Trinity League defenses.
Bosco has also been able to rely on the team’s defense, led by senior defensive end Dutch Horisk, who is committed to Oregon. The 6-foot-2 edge rusher had eight tackles and three sacks against Santa Margarita. Senior defensive back Joshua Holland (USC commit) had an interception.
St. John Bosco (8-0) will host Servite (5-3, 1-2) on Friday. It will be the Braves’ first home game in league play.
Bosco is ranked No. 1 by HSRatings.com and Servite is ranked No. 8. Both teams are projected to be in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.
The Braves will finish Trinity League play at home against Mater Dei on Oct. 31.
DOWNEY VS. WARREN AT DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK
Downey will host rival Warren at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson on Friday at 7 p.m.
It is a big game for the Vikings (7-1, 3-0 Gateway League), who are on a four-game win streak and can secure at least a share of consecutive Gateway League titles with a victory.
Downey senior quarterback Oscar Rios has completed 101 of 174 passes for 1,784 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. Rios has run for 465 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries.
The Arizona commit’s top target is junior Damani Porras. The 5-foot-11 two-way player has 45 receptions for 935 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on offense and 25 tackles and five interceptions as the team’s top cornerback on defense.
Downey won last year’s game 27-7.
Warren (2-6, 2-1) is coming off a 26-20 loss to Mayfair.
Downey is ranked No. 22 by HSRatings.com and Warren is ranked No. 151. The Vikings are trending toward a Division 2 playoff berth. Warren is on track to play in Division 9.
Downey will finish league play at Dominguez on Oct. 30.
Warren will finish league play at last-place Paramount on Oct. 31.
Originally Published: October 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM PDT