Wilson’s Thomas Jones (1) tries to stop Long Beach Polys Jayden Coley (3) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Dylan Sula (33) and Ken Rogers (24) stop Long Beach Polys Kymere Smith (12) as the two teams battle for first in the Moore League in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Jemel Grigsby (10) and Thomas Jones (1) ooks to stop Long Beach Polys Kymere Smith (12) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly’s Elijah Dawson (26) celebrates his touchdown as they take on Wilson in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Brandon Cruz (12) tries to race around Long Beach Polys defense in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption
1 of 5
Wilson’s Thomas Jones (1) tries to stop Long Beach Polys Jayden Coley (3) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
LONG BEACH — Long Beach Wilson football coach Raudric Curtis knew his senior quarterback Mack Cooper was prepared to help his team beat Long Beach Poly in the crosstown rivalry game.
That’s why with his team trailing 21-20 with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter he trusted Cooper’s decision making.
Wilson had just scored on a 2-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jemel Grigsby. The Bruins could have tied the game with a PAT. However, after the game Curtis said they were always going to go for 2 from the 3-yard line, but an illegal substitution pushed them back to the 8.
Curtis was not deterred and still went for 2. Cooper threw an 8-yard pass to junior receiver Brooklyn Vega for a 2-point conversion, giving Wilson a 22-21 victory over Poly at Veterans Stadium on Friday night.
“We’ve been practicing that play for six months,” Curtis said. “It’s designed to get 8 yards. I figured an extra two would not hurt it. It’s designed to clear out and get somebody hooked up with some space and that’s exactly how it was executed.”
After the touchdown and conversion, Poly sophomore Steven Hunter returned the kickoff to the Wilson 42. However, Wilson’s defense forced Poly senior quarterback Legend Galeai’s to fumble, the Bruins recovered and kneeled out the victory.
“We fight,” said Cooper, who completed 6 of 11 passes for 115 yards, one touchdown and one interception. “We’re not going to give up in those final quarters when we go down. We’re always going to strive to get that final touchdown or that edge over someone else to get the win.”
Wilson improve to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Moore League. It was the Bruins first victory over Poly since 1991.
Poly dropped to 3-5 overall and 3-1 in the Moore League.
Trailing 21-14, the Bruins defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs at their own 21 with 5:57 to go.
A 34-yard run by Grigsby and a 24-yard run by senior running back Kori Scott moved the ball to the Poly 21 with less than five minutes to go.
“We can’t allow explosive plays in the fourth quarter,” Long Beach Poly Utupo said before the game.
A 13-yard pass from Cooper to senior receiver Thomas Jones picked up a first down and moved the ball to Poly 7. Grigsby’s 2-yard touchdown run made the game-winning two point conversion attempt possible.
“You have to love the competition,” Utupo said before the game. “You have to love when you get a quality opponent. It will help us continue to get closer and closer to our goals, all three phases of the field and what we want to do as far as winning league.”
The game began with explosive plays from both teams.
Poly junior Donte Wright Jr.’s 48-yard kick return put the Jackrabbits at the Wilson 40. Poly sophomore running back Elijah Dawson capped off the scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown run. The Jackrabbits led 7-0 with 8:51 left in the first.
On Wilson’s first play from scrimmage, Cooper threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jones. After an offside penalty on Poly, Wilson’s 2-point conversion from the 1-yard line was unsuccessful. Poly led 7-6 with 8:39 left in the first.
The score remained the same until late in second quarter when Hunter’s 57-yard run moved the ball into red zone to the Bruins’ 13. Dawson finished off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown. The Jackrabbits led 14-6 with 2:10 to before halftime.
Hunter and Dawson combined for 135 rushing yards on 15 carries in the first half.
On the next possession, Cooper threw an interception, which was hauled in by Poly junior linebacker Armon Cagnolatti, which stopepd the Bruins in their tracks.
Poly got the ball at the Wilson 45 with a shot to extend the team’s lead before halftime. However, senior quarterback Legend Galeai threw an interception to Wilson senior defensive back Keian Rogers to end the first half.
On fourth-and-3 from their own 27 early in the third quarter, Wilson attempted a fake punt. Senior Jagger Kohagura’s run off a direct snap was stopped short. Poly capitalized on the short field on a drive that began from the Wilson 29 and went up 21-6 with 6:26 left in the third on Hunter’s 9-yard touchdown run.
Trailing 21-6, Wilson sophomore Kyle Harris responded with a 80-yard kick return for a touchdown. Junior Branden Cruz’s 2-point conversion run was good. Poly led 21-14 with 6:12 left in the third.
Poly will play at Cabrillo (1-7, 0-4) on Oct. 24.
Wilson will host Long Beach Jordan (1-7, 0-4) on Oct. 24.
Originally Published: October 17, 2025 at 10:10 PM PDT