Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell gets a throw in during a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson assistant coach Larmar Avila addresses players during a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback loosens up with teammates during a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Logan Trafas participates in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Logan Trafas chats with teammates during a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson head coach Raudric Curtis oversees a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Paramount Pirates players participate in a a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos head football coach Demel Franklin looks on during a spring showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, hosted by Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson running back / defensive back Jemel Grigsby takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson running back / defensive back Jemel Grigsby takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson receiver and defensive back Kyle Harris takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell throws a pass during a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson receiver and defensive back Kyle Harris takes part in a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Wilson quarterback Jacob Powell gets a throw in during a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Wilson football program has a new standard after winning the Moore League title last season for the first time in decades.
Freshman quarterback Jacob Powell, who transferred from Servite, is expected to be a big part of the team’s success going forward.
He made his offseason debut at Wilson’s four-team spring football showcase that included Cerritos, Paramount and South East High Friday night. A handful of college coaches attend the event.
“It was a showcase of all the hard work we put in day in and day out,” said Powell, who already has a scholarship offer from San Diego State. “I work with my receivers four times a week.”
Wilson went 9-2 last season, including 6-0 in the Moore League. It was the first time the Bruins won an outright league title since 1991.
“I think last year is going to remain for success here for everybody after,” Wilson coach Raudric Curtis said. “Nobody is going to be the first team to beat Poly, nobody is going to be the first team to upset a stalwart, perennial power like Millikan, and to win a championship for the first time in 34 years.”
Powell is ready for the challenge.
“That just means that we have to keep that trophy,” Powell continued. “It’s not just Moore League anymore. We run Long Beach, and we need to run California. We need to win a CIF state championship.”
Coach Curtis believes Powell, who is 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, has all of the intangibles to be a three-year starter.
“I know that Jacob is ready,” Curtis explained. “Jacob has shown that in the weight room, in the locker room, on the field in tournaments and he is a baller.”
The soon-to-be second-year coach also believes junior quarterback Logan Trafas, the team’s backup last season, is also more than capable.
“They’re both going to have their opportunity to show what they’ve got this year,” Curtis added.
Powell is ready for the competition.
“We’re not throwing each other down,” Powell continued. We’re lifting each other up and we’re lifting the team up. It’s like having another friend who plays quarterback. We’re just building that (quarterback) room.”
Meanwhile, Bruins sophomore receiver Kyle Harris, who recently ran a school record 10.65 in the 100, is eager to keep improving.
“It shows that I worked and I have to keep working,” Harris said. “I’m not the best. I’m not better than anybody else. I have to keep working and reach my goal and that’s to be the best.”
Harris said he’s known and played with Powell since middle school, and he played junior varsity football with Trafas, so he has a relationship with both signal callers.
Wilson’s nonleague schedule includes an early-season game at JSerra on August 28.
“I think it’s about leveling up as much as you can within a place of we’ve earned a chance to go compete at that level,” Curtis said.
They will play a four-game league schedule against Jordan, Long Beach Poly, Lakewood, and Millikan.
Cerritos head football coach Demel Franklin looks on during a spring showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, hosted by Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cerritos football is moving up into the Gateway League
Cerritos coach Demel Franklin said he’s enjoying the process of building a more competitive program entering a move from the 605 League into the Gateway League.
“Our new league, every week is going to be a dogfight,” Franklin said. “We have to play our best game just to get a win. I’m excited but we have to execute better. I like what I saw but we have a lot of work to do.”
In his first season, Coach Franklin led the program to a CIF Southern Section Division 12 title in 2023. Cerritos has continued to make the playoffs but has not found the same level of postseason success since.
“They have to know it’s going to be bigger, stronger, faster,” Franklin explained. “We’ve been hitting it super hard in the weight room. We have a bunch of pr’s and the quality of football is better.”
The Dons went 9-3 overall and won the 605 League last season. Cerritos’ season ended with a loss in the Division 9 quarterfinals.
“I want to put us in uncomfortable situations,” Franklin continued, “so then I can see what we’re really made of because we’re going to be in some games and it’s going to be uncomfortable and I have to know who I can count on.”
Paramount football has a new head coach
The Paramount football program is hopeful it is in the midst of a quick turnaround despite a losing season.
The Pirates went 3-7 overall, including 0-5 in the Gateway League last season.
However, Malik “Fig” James has been hired as the program’s new coach. He said he decided to take on this opportunity because he has a 9-year-old son that he wants to inspire through a new form of leadership.
“Everything for me is new,” James said. “I’m excited. My staff is excited and we’re ready to gear it up and get ready for August.”
Coach James is well known behind the scenes in the high school football landscape, most recently as an assistant coach who helped develop Inglewood High into a Division 1 playoff team alongside his brother Mil’von James.
He is also known in the 7-on-7 world as the founder of Premium Sports.
“The plan is still the same,” James continued. “Keep the main thing, the main thing. Hard work and dedication, which we believe in. Fast, physical and efficient. As long as you have those philosophies and you go with that mantra, your program can definitely move forward. You just have to stick to it and be true to yourself.”
The Pirates will play in the Mid-Cities League this fall. James replaced longtime coach Matt Howard.
Paramount Pirates players participate in a a spring football showcase on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wilson High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)