LONG BEACH — Junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata is cherishing his opportunity to lead the Long Beach Poly football team into nonleague games against quality opponents.
“It’s an experience playing here right now,” said Fa’agata, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Sept. 1. “I have athletes surrounding me. I think the only thing we have to do is execute, but anything besides that, we’re cold. We’re one of the best in Cali.”
Fa’agata led Poly to a 24-7 road victory with two touchdown passes against Downey in a season opener on Aug. 21. The Jackrabbits, who were marred by self-inflicted penalties, faltered in a 30-13 loss against Yorba Linda in the program’s final game at Veteran Stadium on Aug. 28.
“I think against Yorba Linda I could have got my team rallied up,” Fa’agata continued. “I think we came out kinda soft. We were thinking we were better than them. We weren’t playing them as a team but I think the only thing we have to do coming into games like that is we have to play like they’re our level and play to our standard, not theirs.”
Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata made his first start as helped defeat Downey in a non-league game and season opener for both teams on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata made his first start in a non-league game and season opener for both teams on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata (18) looks to pass against Yorba Linda in a non-league game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach on Friday August 28, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata (18) looks to pass against Yorba Linda in a non-league game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach on Friday August 28, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach Poly quarterback Ace Fa’agata said he’s ready to step up and lead his team’s talented offense this season. Fa’gata celebrated his 17th birthday on Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by John W. Davis)
Long Beach Poly quarterback Ace Fa’agata said he’s ready to step up and lead his team’s talented offense this season. Fa’gata celebrated his 17th birthday on Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by John W. Davis)
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Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata made his first start as helped defeat Downey in a non-league game and season opener for both teams on Friday August 21, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Fa’agata, who transferred to Poly from La Mirada and Desert Pines in Las Vegas before that, is competing with sophomore Trevor Scott, who transferred from Mater Dei, for long-term playing time.
Scott, who is a 6-foot-5 three-star recruit, is currently sitting out the team’s first five games.
“It’s a competition, but you still have to be buddies,” Fa’agata explained. “You can’t get ahead of each other. You have to play as a team.”
“Honestly, I think you have to grow up,” Fa’agata added. “You have to mature. There’s nobody bigger than the team. You guys are all equal. With Trevor, he’s a good teammate. He helps me, even on the sideline, even when I have a bad drive or a good drive. He tells me what I have to do or what he sees.”
Meanwhile, Long Beach Poly first-year coach Travon Patterson said Fa’agata, who will start Friday’s road game against Tustin, has adjusted well to his new team and a higher level of competition.
“This is a new environment for him being at Poly,” Patterson said, “different for him a little bit but I think that he understands what’s at stake, what the expectations.”
Coach Patterson said confident in Fa’agata’s ability to be an impactful player, especially as a 6-foot-1, 220-pound dual-threat quarterback.
“We want him to play his game,” Patterson continued. “Be Ace, have fun. Be composed out there and put the old plays behind you. If you make a mistake, just move forward.”
Meet Long Beach Poly football’s new starting quarterback Ace Fa’agata. @FaagataAce said all his team has to do is execute to be successful this season. pic.twitter.com/DLfEPYCnKg
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 4, 2026
Long Beach Poly football head coach Travon Patterson on his team’s new starting quarterback Ace Fa’agata, losing to Yorba Linda in the program’s final game at Veterans Stadium and what it is going to take to go into Orange County and beat Tustin. pic.twitter.com/M7bi0xc3zO
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 4, 2026