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 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 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 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 back Jeron Johnson breaks free vs. Inglewood during 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 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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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 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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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)
INGLEWOOD — Long Beach Poly senior Donte Wright Jr. fulfilled a childhood dream inside SoFi Stadium on Friday night.
Wright started at quarterback for Long Beach Poly in a 36-10 loss to Inglewood High in a nonleague game.
The 6-foot-2 Wright started out as a quarterback when he began playing youth football at 7 years old. He became the Jackrabbits’ QB1 this week after junior quarterback Ace Fa’agata was sidelined with an injury.
“I feel like I’m a ball player so I’m going to step up to anything,” said Wright, who is a five-star recruit who is committed to the University of Miami as a cornerback.
In his first career start, Wright completed 10 of 24 passes for 123 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He ran for a team-high 21 yards and 10 carries and had two fumbles.
Poly dropped to 1-4 overall and is on a four-game losing streak.
“I feel like it taught me something different about football today,” said Wright, who also played his usual position, defensive back, against Inglewood. “It taught me something else about myself. I can fight and push through. It wasn’t the outcome like I wanted, took some hits, made some mistakes but we’re just going to learn from it.”
“He just came out here and showed us how tough he is,” Long Beach Poly first-year coach Travon Patterson said of Wright. “He took on that role when we needed him the most. We respect everything he did today. He played hard.”
Poly senior receiver Jayden Coley caught a 15-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter at the NFL stadium.
“It’s a dream for sure,” Coley said. “That’s the goal I want to get to. That’s the goal I want to reach. I just have to execute to get there, just keep working, be patient, trust God.”
Jackrabbits senior running back Jeron Johnson had four receptions for 70 yards.
Inglewood (4-1) was led by junior quarterback Lincoln Jahn, who completed 13 of 16 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the first half.
The Sentinels led 12-0 early in the second quarter.
Jackrabbits freshman linebacker Jeionn Johnson sacked Jahn at the Inglewood 6 late in the second quarter, which forced an Inglewood punt.
Poly junior receiver Zion Anderson, a four-star recruit, tried to field the ensuing punt but was carted off the field after a hard hit.
The Jackrabbits benefited from two Inglewood penalties totaling 20 yards but settled for senior kicker Jonas Mendoza’s 35-yard field goal, which cut it to 12-3 with 55 seconds left in the first half. Wright completed 4 of 10 passes for 24 yards in the first half.
Poly senior linebacker Dezmen Howard’s sack forced a turnover on downs early in the third quarter. However, the Jackrabbits did not capitalize and punted the ball away.
Inglewood senior running backs Marlon Watson and Semaj Welch combined for 207 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, which extended their lead to 28-3 early in the fourth quarter.
Jahn’s 74-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Allen Wilson made it 36-3 with 7:38 remaining in the game.
Wright stayed in the game and led Poly on a 65-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Coley, which made it 36-10 with 3:06 to go.
Poly’s onside kick was unsuccessful, and Inglewood ran out the clock to secure the victory.
“We’re just trying to build and rally together,” Wright said. “You have ups and downs, but the main thing is keeping the guys inside the circle locked in, so if we all get on one page and get locked in and circle around each other, we can make this turnaround this season.”
Poly will conclude nonleague play at Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 25. The Jackrabbits will begin Moore League play against Lakewood at Cabrillo High on Oct. 2.
“We’re going to go with the motto that it gets greater later as we keep pursuing this state championship,” Coley added. “At the end of the day, it’s my senior year. It’s a lot of my brothers’ senior year and we’re just trying to end it with a ring. We can’t never give up. This is a dream we’re chasing.”
Miami 2027 CB commit Donte Wright Jr. after starting at quarterback for Long Beach Poly.
Wright is a five-star recruit. He went 10-24 for 123 yards, 1 touchdowns and 1 interception. pic.twitter.com/Jkh3wUe7mG
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 19, 2026
Long Beach Poly 2027 WR Jayden Coley on his 15-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter of a 36-10 loss against Inglewood at SoFi Stadium.
Coley, a three-star recruit, said his goal is to make it to the NFL.
He believes Poly can win a 2026 state championship this season. pic.twitter.com/rmWOpcp8kR
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 19, 2026
Long Beach Poly football head coach Travon Patterson after his team’s 36-10 loss against Inglewood High at SoFi Stadium.
Coach Patterson said he liked the way his 5-star CB recruit Donte Wright battled when asked to play quarterback.
Wright is committed to Miami. pic.twitter.com/T3ku9Erexy
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 19, 2026