Wilson’s Brooklyn Vega gets the catch in the end zone for a Bruin two-point conversion in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Joseph Mesa (2) tries to break free from Wilson’s Zachariah Salcedo (52) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Savaughn Gentle (10) just misses the pass as Wilson’s Jemel Grigsby (10) is ready to take him down in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) tries to push away Paraclete’s Darren Coleman (1) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Jemel Grigsby (10) tries to break free from Paraclete’s Zachary Iskyian (33) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Dylan Sula (33) and Thomas Jones (1) end the season with a handshake as the Bruins fall to Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Kyle Fulton Jr (8) tries to get past Wilson’s Dylan Sula (33) as the two teams battle it out in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kyle Harris (6) tries to push off Paraclete’s defense in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Thomas Jones (1) tries to break free from Paraclete’s defense in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Kyle Fulton Jr. (8) races through Wilsons Brandon Cruz (2) and Jayson Pimentel (45) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Kyle Fulton Jr. (8) tries to break away from Wilson’s Branden Cruz (2) and Jemel Grigsby (10) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) looks to get past Paraclete’s Dylan Larsen (9) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s quarterback Mack Cooper (15) looks for an open teammate as the Bruins take on Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) twist his way out of the pack as the Bruins take on Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’ Jagger Kohagura (9) tries to stop Paraclete’s Adrian Jones (7) in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Wilson’s Kori Scott (21) races the ball down the field as the Bruins take on Paraclete in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
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Wilson’s Brooklyn Vega gets the catch in the end zone for a Bruin two-point conversion in Long Beach , CA, on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
LONG BEACH — It took more than four quarters of football to determine who was going to advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
With the game tied at 48 all, Long Beach Wilson, who had rallied and tied it twice in the fourth quarter after 14-point deficit in the second half, got the ball first in overtime. The Bruins started the drive with a six-yard run, followed by three incompletions and turned it over on downs at the Paraclete 19.
Wilson’s defense forced a four-yard loss on Paraclete’s first play in overtime. However, Paraclete senior quarterback Joseph Mesa dropped back and threw a 29-yard game-winning touchdown pass to to senior receiver Savaughn Gentle to secure a 54-48 road win in overtime against Long Beach Wilson in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs Friday.
“They never gave up in this game,” Long Beach Wilson first-year coach Raudric Curtis said. “It could have went either way at the end like you said. We didn’t get that drive. We had a couple of mistakes that cost us that big moment but we were right in the fight and that’s what I want them to remember.”
Paraclete, the Angelus League co-champion, was led by Mesa, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 446 yards, seven touchdown and one interception, including a 47-yard Hail Mary touchdown to Gentle as time expired in the first half. The game-changing play put Paraclete up 41-27 at halftime.
Paraclete improved to 9-2 overall and will host Oaks Christian (5-6) in the quarterfinals on Nov. 14.
“We have a balanced offense,” Paraclete first-year coach Erick Jackson said. “We have a running back that ran for over 1,200 yards. He’s a dog. Kyle Fulton is the truth but my quarterback (Joseph Mesa) can slang it and Adrian Jones is just flat out special.”
Wilson was led by senior running back Kori Scott with 174 rushing yards, three touchdowns on 18 carries, including his 54-yard run, which tied the game at 48 all with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Mack Cooper completed 11 of 20 passes for 170 yards two touchdowns and one interception.
“We had to come prove something,” Scott said. “Even though we might not have won, we proved ourselves. People looked down on us. You can’t do that with a team like us.”
The Bruins, who won an outright Moore League championship for the first time since 1991, finished the season 9-2. They moved up to Division 4 after losing in the Division 9 final last season.
“I think it was a very amazing season,” Scott continued. “We proved a lot of people wrong and we made history. Something a lot of people can’t do.”
Wilson sophomore sophomore running back Jemel Grigsby’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 41-39 with 5:19 left in the fourth quarter. The Bruins tied the game at 41 on a 2-point conversion catch by junior receiver Brooklyn Vega on his 17th birthday.
Paraclete responded with 28-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Mesa to senior receiver Adrian Jones, who finished with a game-high eight receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns. The Spirits led 48-41 with 3:39 to go.
Wilson answered with Scott’s 54-yard touchdown run, to pull within 48-47 with 1:53 to go. The Bruins nearly went for 2 to go-ahead for good but after two penalties, they made a PAT, and tied the game at 48.
“Kori is a leader,” Curtis continued. “He’s a tried and true football player. He’s one of those old-school rugged running backs but he has breakaway speed. He can open it up too. He’s really flying under the radar.”
The teams combined for 68 points and 554 yards of total offense in the first half, as Paraclete scored touchdowns on the team’s first six possessions, including a Hail Mary touchdown before halftime.
Gentle, who finished with six catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns, intercepted a Wilson pass in the end zone early in the third quarter, to keep the Spirits in control.
Wilson answered back with senior running back Scott’s 6-yard touchdown run. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 41-33 with 3:52 left in the third quarter.
Bruins senior defensive back Andrew Piggue II’s interception in the end zone kept Paraclete off the scoreboard late in the third.
Meanwhile, Wilson stopped Paraclete on a fourth-and-1 from midfield and got the ball back at the 45 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and later tied the game at 41 and 48 all.
“We are a family program,” Curtis explained. “We are Wilson. It is the age of Wilson and though Paraclete got us today, this program is here to stay for a long time.”
Paraclete began the game with an explosive 48-yard kick return by junior Jaivyn Nelson to the Wilson 48. Mesa took advantage of short field with a three-play scoring drive, capped off with a 33-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jeffrey Patino. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 6-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
The Spirits kept up the pressure and extended their to 12-0 on Mesa’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Jones. The 2-point conversion was no good. Paraclete led 12-0 with 6:16 left in the first.
Wilson responded with senior quarterback Cooper’s 41-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Thomas Jones with 6:03 left in the first quarter. It was a one-play scoring drive. Paraclete led 12-7.
Mesa answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Gentle. The 2-point conversion was good. Paraclete led 20-7 with 11 seconds left in the first.
Wilson answered with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Cooper to sophomore Kyle Harris. It was a two-play scoring drive started off by Scott’s 28-yard run. Paraclete led 20-14 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
On fourth-and-8 from the Wilson 11, Mesa scrambled out of a sack and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jones in the corner of the end zone. The 2-point conversion was no good. Paraclete led 26-14 with 5:54 left in the second.
Wilson responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Grigsby. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 26-20 with 2:49 left in the second.
Paraclete sophomore running Kyle Fulton Jr.’s 1-yard touchdown run made it 32-20. Spirits junior kicker Oscar Rivas’ fake PAT pass was good for 2. Paraclete led 34-20 with 1:16 to go in the first half.
Wilson’s offense would not be denied as Scott’s 6-yard touchdown run made it 34-27 with 20 seconds to go before halftime.
POSTGAME: Long Beach Wilson coach Raudric Curtis and 2026 running back Kori Scott both said they were proud of Wilson’s historic season.
The Bruins lost 54-48 in the 1st round of the Division 4 playoffs vs. Paraclete.
Coach Curtis said Wilson is here to stay for a long time. pic.twitter.com/t1nTt3LNLz
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2025
MUST SEE VIDEO: Paraclete football ends the first half with a Hail Mary touchdown.
Halftime: Paraclete 41, Long Beach Wilson 27 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs.
Paraclete 2026 QB Joseph Mesa has completed 13 of 16 passes for 277 yards and five touchdowns.… pic.twitter.com/BpVV1rZbFl
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2025
Paraclete football first year head coach Erick Jackson before his team’s CIF-SS Division 4 playoff opener on the road at Long Beach Wilson. pic.twitter.com/u2v201D7VH
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2025