Inglewood running back Marlon Watson stiff arms Long Beach Poly defender on his way to 80 plus yard TD in fourth quarter of football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Inglewood’s Allen Wilson breaks free during game vs. Long Beach Poly Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Inglewood fans celebrate. Long Beach Poly vs. Inglewood football Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly receiver Zion Anderson is taken away by paramedics after injury vs. Inglewood in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly QB Donte Wright has nowhere to run vs. Inglewood in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Inglewood back Marlon Watson with big run in first hals against Long Beach Poly during football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly punter Jonas Mendoza is tackled by Inglewood’s Jordan Williams after bad snap in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly back Jeron Johnson breaks free vs. Inglewood during football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Inglewood back Semaj Welch breaks off nice run against Long Beach Poly in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Inglewood QB Lincoln Jahn eyes receiver for TD pass against Long Beach Poly in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly receiver Zion Anderson gets grabbed by Inglewood defender Derion Long during football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly receiver Jayden Coley takes an awkward hit vs. Inglewood in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly QB Donte Wright looks to pass under pressure vs. Inglewood in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly kick returner Prince looks for opening vs. Inglewood football Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly receiver Zion Anderson is take away by paramedics after hit on kick return vs. Inglewood in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
Inglewood QB Lincoln Jahn is sacked by Long Beach Poly’s Jeionn Johnson in football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
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Inglewood running back Marlon Watson stiff arms Long Beach Poly defender on his way to 80 plus yard TD in fourth quarter of football game Friday September 18, 2026 at SoFi Stadium (Photo by Robert Casillas, Contributing Photographer)
INGLEWOOD — The anticipation of a Friday night under the big bright lights at SoFi Stadium had the Inglewood High football team tuned in this week.
“I feel like we had our best week in preparation for this game,” Inglewood defensive lineman Elija Harmon said. “Everybody was locked in, all the leaders just being the right leaders we needed to be.”
After the early-game struggles gave way, Inglewood leaned on its stingy defense and big-play offensive ability to pull away from Long Beach Poly for a 36-10 nonleague win in the home of the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.
“When we first came in here, I just took it all in,” Inglewood defensive lineman Myels Smith said. “It was kind of like motivation for me. I feel like we just came in here and we handled business.”
Inglewood, ranked fourth in the latest Daily Breeze rankings, led 12-3 at halftime on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Lincoln Jahn to Andre Williams and a 12-yard strike to Brandon Crawford.
The third quarter started off slow for the offense, turning the ball over on downs twice. Later, an interception by Darion Long seemed to give the Sentinels (4-1) some life.
Inglewood turned a 12-3 lead into a 36-3 rout in seemingly a blink of an eye.
“We realized defense really had our back,” Inglewood quarterback Lincoln Jahn said. “It didn’t matter what we did out there, they were strapping up. So run, pass … two dynamic backs (Semaj Welch and Marlon Watson), they were leading the way.”
Welch reached the end zone early in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard run, and he converted the two-point conversion for a 20-3 lead.
After a quick three-and-out by the shorthanded Long Beach Poly offense, it was Watson’s turn.
“It was an inside zone (run), I think,” Jahn said. “Our left tackle London Alex, great job climbing to the second level. … He’s (Watson) got that big-play ability.”
Later in the quarter, Jahn lived every high school quarterback’s dream when he connected with Allen Wilson down the sideline for an 82-yard touchdown. Welch added a two-point conversion for a 36-3 lead.
“I was telling Coach, Cover Zero, I like my guy (Wilson) over their guys, so ran a little get him open play, got wide open and that’s what we like to do,” Jahn said.
For Jahn, it was the perfect ending for his first game in the big stadium.
“I’ve been here as a fan, never as a player, so it was amazing,” he said. “I know especially that touchdown to Allen, that was just a dream. I mean, who doesn’t want to throw a deep bomb touchdown like (Rams quarterback) Matt Stafford.
“We thought it (the game) was going to be at El Camino (College), we thought it could be here, we didn’t know. We got the word that it was here. I couldn’t have been more happy. I was like man, who doesn’t want to play in SoFi Stadium?”
The Sentinels have one more nonleague game, next Friday against Downey, before the start of Bay League play on Oct. 2 against Mira Costa.
Offensive coordinator Dylan Lemle filled in for head coach Milvon James, who missed the game. An attempt to get clarification for his absence was unsuccessful, but James is expected back on the sidelines.