Long Beach Poly senior kicker Zadie Kuykendall had been patiently waiting for her moment to score a point in a varsity football game since she began playing the sport as a freshman.
“You don’t just kick by luck,” Kuykendall said. “It’s hours and hours of work.”
When Poly’s starting kicker Jonas Mendoza went down with a serious injury before halftime in a Moore League football game against Millikan last week, Kuykendall knew it was her time.
“When I found out I was going in, first and foremost, I was worried about the other kicker Jonas and making sure that he was OK,” Kuykendall said. “But after that, I just felt blessed and I didn’t feel pressure to get ready because I’m always ready. I stay ready even when I’m probably not going to go in the game as second-string kicker. I’m still doing all the same warmups for every drive as our starting kicker.”
Kuykendall’s PAT sailed through the uprights at Veterans Stadium and put Poly up 24-3 in the third quarter.
“It was huge moment in the game,” Long Beach Poly coach Justin Utupo said. “I’m proud of Zadie for stepping in there, stepping up and delivering, staying calm and composed and just leaning on her preparation.”
If she would have missed the extra point attempt, the game might ended differently.
“I just feel blessed and honored that I got an opportunity to play for Poly and to get some points on the board,” said Kuykendall, who also plays on the school’s girls soccer and flag football teams.
Long Beach Poly senior kicker Zadie Kuykendall talks about scoring her first point for the Jackrabbits 11-person football team. Kuykendall, the team’s second-string kicker, made a PAT in Poly’s 24-22 victory over Millikan. pic.twitter.com/yRKwy8RBkF
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 14, 2025
Millikan scored the game’s final 19 points and cut Poly’s lead to 24-22 with 1:07 left in the game. But because the Rams missed a PAT that would have made it 24-17, they had to go for a 2-point conversion to try to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.
The Poly defense broke up a pass on the 2-point conversion and secured the victory.
Kuykendall was happy to do her part in Poly’s victory.
“I can’t waste any opportunities and I’m glad I didn’t,” she said. “It wasn’t on my mind the gravity of it because it’s just going out there and making an extra point and making the coaches believe in me.”
The Jackrabbits improved to 3-4 overall and 3-0 in the Moore League.
They have a showdown with Long Beach Wilson (6-1, 3-0) for sole possession of first place in the league standings on Friday night at Veterans Stadium.
“We have a job to do,” Utupo said. “We have to prepare the same way, each and every week and go out there and play Poly football.”
Justin Utupo talks about the importance of Zadie Kuykendall’s PAT, which helped Poly beat Millikan 24-22.
Utupo said he was proud of how she stepped up and delivered. pic.twitter.com/zpzZ1CQqUz
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 14, 2025
NORWALK RUNS FOR 10 TOUCHDOWNS
The Norwalk football team is coming off its best game of the season, a 70-0 victory over Compton Early College in Mid-Cities League play.
Norwalk ran for 381 yards and 10 touchdowns on 21 carries. The Lancers did not throw a pass in the contest.
Senior running running back Diego Cerritos ran for a team-high 213 yards and five touchdowns on nine carries.
Senior running back Daron Walker had 148 yards rushing and four touchdowns on nine carries.
Senior running back Keshawn Williams added a 5-yard touchdown run.
Through seven games, Cerritos has rushed for 1,131 yards and 18 touchdowns. Walker has 1,081 yards and 17 total touchdowns (15 rushing, two receiving).
Norwalk (7-0, 2-0) will play at Gahr (4-3, 2-0) on Friday. The winner will have sole possession of first place in league and clinches an automatic playoff berth.
LOS ALAMITOS VS. EDISON AT SOFI STADIUM
Los Alamitos will host rival Edison at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.
It is a big game for the Griffins (7-0), who lost at Edison 21-10 in last season’s Alpha League opener.
Los Alamitos this season is led by senior quarterback Colin Creason and senior Lenny Ibarra (Army commit).
The Chargers are 5-2 entering league play.
Los Alamitos is ranked No. 10 by HSRatings.com and Edison is ranked No. 44.
The Griffins finish the regular season with two league games. They play at San Clemente on Oct. 24 and will host Mission Viejo at Artesia High on Oct. 30.
Originally Published: October 14, 2025 at 1:35 PM PDT