{"id":453567,"date":"2026-09-04T17:32:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T17:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/453567\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T17:32:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T17:32:08","slug":"long-beach-poly-football-qb-ace-faagata-is-ready-to-be-leader-press-telegram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/453567\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Beach Poly football QB Ace Fa\u2019agata is ready to be leader \u2013 Press Telegram"},"content":{"rendered":"

LONG BEACH \u2014 Junior quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata is cherishing his opportunity to lead the Long Beach Poly football team into nonleague games against quality opponents.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an experience playing here right now,\u201d said Fa\u2019agata, who celebrated his 17th birthday on Sept. 1. \u201cI have athletes surrounding me. I think the only thing we have to do is execute, but anything besides that, we\u2019re cold. We\u2019re one of the best in Cali.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fa\u2019agata led Poly to a 24-7<\/a> 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<\/a> against Yorba Linda in the program\u2019s final game at Veteran Stadium on Aug. 28.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think against Yorba Linda I could have got my team rallied up,\u201d Fa\u2019agata continued. \u201cI think we came out kinda soft. We were thinking we were better than them. We weren\u2019t 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\u2019re our level and play to our standard, not theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata 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)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata 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)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata (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)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata (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)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata said he\u2019s ready to step up and lead his team\u2019s talented offense this season. Fa\u2019gata celebrated his 17th birthday on Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by John W. Davis)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata said he\u2019s ready to step up and lead his team\u2019s talented offense this season. Fa\u2019gata celebrated his 17th birthday on Sept. 1, 2026. (Photo by John W. Davis)\n<\/p>\n

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Long Beach Poly junior quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata 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)\n<\/p>\n

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Fa\u2019agata, 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.<\/p>\n

Scott, who is a 6-foot-5 three-star recruit, is currently sitting out the team\u2019s first five games.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a competition, but you still have to be buddies,\u201d Fa\u2019agata explained. \u201cYou can\u2019t get ahead of each other. You have to play as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I think you have to grow up,\u201d Fa\u2019agata added. \u201cYou have to mature. There\u2019s nobody bigger than the team. You guys are all equal. With Trevor, he\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Long Beach Poly first-year coach Travon Patterson said Fa\u2019agata, who will start Friday\u2019s road game against Tustin, has adjusted well to his new team and a higher level of competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a new environment for him being at Poly,\u201d Patterson said, \u201cdifferent for him a little bit but I think that he understands what\u2019s at stake, what the expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coach Patterson said confident in Fa\u2019agata\u2019s ability to be an impactful player, especially as a 6-foot-1, 220-pound dual-threat quarterback.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want him to play his game,\u201d Patterson continued. \u201cBe Ace, have fun. Be composed out there and put the old plays behind you. If you make a mistake, just move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meet Long Beach Poly football\u2019s new starting quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata. @FaagataAce<\/a> said all his team has to do is execute to be successful this season. pic.twitter.com\/DLfEPYCnKg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly football head coach Travon Patterson on his team\u2019s new starting quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata, losing to Yorba Linda in the program\u2019s final game at Veterans Stadium and what it is going to take to go into Orange County and beat Tustin. pic.twitter.com\/M7bi0xc3zO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) September 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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