{"id":461415,"date":"2026-09-12T07:18:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T07:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/461415\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T07:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T07:18:10","slug":"carson-football-gets-defensive-to-beat-long-beach-poly-daily-breeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/461415\/","title":{"rendered":"Carson football gets defensive to beat Long\u00a0Beach\u00a0Poly \u2013 Daily Breeze"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Preston Leomiti, right, stops Long Beach Poly quarterback Ace Faagata (18) during their nonleague game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Jorge Valencia (24 jumps over Long Beach Poly\u2019s Eris Swift (43) as Swift trips up Carsons Chris Fields III (1) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jayden Coley (3) tries to get past Carson\u2019s TeeJay Hamilton (27) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Logan Kirk (21) tries to stop Carson\u2019s Chris Fields III (1) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Derric Myers (12) tries to take down Long Beach Poly\u2019s Elijah Dawson (6) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Tytus Salagi (2) tries to get past Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ian Douglas (56) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Preston Leomiti (9) stops Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jeron Johnson II (9) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Chris Fields III (1) looks for an open teammate as the Colts take on Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jayden Coley (3) breaks free from Carson\u2019s Preston Leomiti (9) and runs the ball in for a touchdown in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Logan Kirk (21) stops Carson\u2019s Nathan Williams (6) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jayden Coley (3) races for yards as the Jackrabbits take on Carson in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Eric Myers (7) is stopped by Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ian Douglas (56) and Dezmen Howard (8) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jeron Johnson II (9) races around Carson\u2019s defense in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Jayden Coley (3) tries to get through Carson\u2019s Darren Panton (8) and Derric Myers (12) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kasim Shepherd, left, tries to stop Carson quarterback Chris Fields III as he runs with the ball during their nonleague game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Aj Umoh (11) tries to stop Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ace Faagata (18) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Zion Anderson (5) looks to get around Carson\u2019s defense in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Kasim Shepherd (24) is on Carson\u2019s Darren Panton (8) as he misses a touchdown pass in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Ace Faagata (18) looses the ball while trying to score for the Jackrabbits in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carson\u2019s<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Chris Fields III (1) tries to break free from Long Beach Poly\u2019s Zion Anderson (5) in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Long<\/p>\n

Long Beach Poly\u2019s Zion Anderson (5) tries to get thorough Carson\u2019s defense in Long Beach, CA, on Friday, September 11, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 21<\/p>\n

Carson\u2019s Preston Leomiti, right, stops Long Beach Poly quarterback Ace Faagata (18) during their nonleague game on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, in Long Beach. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

LONG BEACH \u2014 The little details mattered most Friday night in the nonleague football showdown between Carson and Long Beach\u00a0Poly.<\/p>\n

The Colts took advantage of a fast start, both offensively and defensively, and held on late for a 17-14 victory after the Jackrabbits missed a pair of field goal attempts \u2013 including a late try that would have tied the score.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Carson (3-1) got a crucial 34-yard field goal from kicker Monico Flores-Segovia with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter that proved to be the difference and pushed the lead to 10 points.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt meant the best for me and my team,\u201d Flores-Segovia said. \u201cI\u2019m just thinking about the extra points on the board.\u201d<\/p>\n

https:\/\/x.com\/tracy_mcdannald\/status\/2098618729672454149?s=46<\/p>\n

Colts coach William Lowe credited his kicker for having \u201cice in his veins\u201d despite a lack of prior experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kid never even played football before,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cBarely didn\u2019t know much about it. \u2026 He\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poly (1-3) answered and cut the deficit to 17-14 on running back Jeron Johnson II\u2019s 1-yard touchdown run with 9:22 remaining.<\/p>\n

The Colts had a chance to put the game out of reach, but quarterback Chris Fields III was hurried on a fourth-and-9 at the Poly 26-yard line. The high-arcing throw reached the end zone, but it was a wild toss that landed a few feet away from the intended receiver and resulted in a turnover on downs with 5:42 to play.<\/p>\n

Twenty-two seconds later, the Jackrabbits thought they pulled ahead on an apparent 66-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ace Fa\u2019agata to wide receiver Kasim Shepherd. Instead, it was called back for a penalty.<\/p>\n

Still, Poly marched to the Carson 16-yard line for a fourth-and-3 with 1:16 left. But the Jackrabbits missed a 34-yard field goal wide left \u2013 their second missed kick of the half.<\/p>\n

4Q (1:13): Carson 17, LB Poly 14 @breezepreps<\/a> <\/p>\n

A missed 34-yd FG that would have tied the game for the Jackrabbits pic.twitter.com\/4wWrW4U9as<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tracy McDannald \ud83d\udcce (@Tracy_McDannald) September 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Lowe credited his defense for holding serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur defense, they only gave up one touchdown,\u201d Lowe said. \u201cThey just played solid. Like I told the guys after the game last week, we just gotta learn to play 48 minutes. I\u2019m really proud of the guys that they were able to play a full 48, with full effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colts linebacker Preston Leomiti had one of the bigger contributions. His forced fumble on a Fa\u2019agata dropback and the recovery for a 49-yard touchdown return pushed the early lead to 14-0 through the game\u2019s first two possessions.<\/p>\n

Leomiti said the defense\u2019s film session helped make the play possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe saw the week before that the lineman is not picking up the linebackers\u2019 blitz, so we took advantage of that,\u201d Leomiti said. \u201cWhen he cocked back, I slapped it out and took it.<\/p>\n

\u201c(The run) felt great, it felt great. The stands cheering, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the previous drive, the Carson offense exclusively ran the ball right at Poly to open the game. All 10 plays on the 73-yard scoring drive were runs split evenly between Fields and running back Tytus Salagi.<\/p>\n

Fields\u2019 first two carries went for 15 yards apiece before he capped the drive with a 6-yard keeper for the touchdown.<\/p>\n

1Q (6:47): Carson 7, LB Poly 0 @breezepreps<\/a> <\/p>\n

QB Chris Fields III on the 6-yd keeper for the TD. The Colts exclusively ran the ball 10 times on the drive. pic.twitter.com\/qKCZG6ednl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tracy McDannald \ud83d\udcce (@Tracy_McDannald) September 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Fields ran for 113 of his game-high 160 yards in the first half. He was able to overcome throwing a first-half interception and fumbling early in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing into the game, we knew that we were the stronger team, the tougher team, the more athletic team, the better team overall,\u201d Fields said. \u201cWe just wanted to come out and give it to them. We knew that they couldn\u2019t stop anything that we had to give to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Fields\u2019 fumble, Colts defensive back DeShawn White immediately got possession back with an interception.<\/p>\n

The Carson defense also got a sack from linebacker AJ Umoh, a tackle for loss from tackle Trent Afusia and a quarterback hurry that forced an incompletion from defensive end Kingston Sula.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Our defense) is the MVP of the game,\u201d Fields said. \u201cI made some mistakes down the stretch, but they had my back and we played together as a team and came up big.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Colts overcame a strong performance from Jackrabbits receiver Jayden Coley, who finished with seven catches for 98 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n

2Q (10:57): Carson 14, LB Poly 7 @breezepreps<\/a> <\/p>\n

Poly WR Jayden Coley breaks a tackle on his 29-yd TD catch. @johnwdavis<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tDQ3n65RNN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tracy McDannald \ud83d\udcce (@Tracy_McDannald) September 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Defensively, Poly has got an interception from Shepherd.<\/p>\n

Lowe was impressed with his team\u2019s resolve against an opponent that includes five-star Miami-bound cornerback Donte\u2019 Wright Jr. and four-star junior receiver\/defensive back Zion Anderson.<\/p>\n

Poly, though, was without UCLA commit and cornerback JuJu Johnson, who has been out since rolling his ankle in the season opener.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got guys at DB, you know?\u201d Lowe said. \u201cOur kids are really good about not being selfish and trying to do what it takes to win. We knew our game plan was going to have to be to establish the run early.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll their guys are just so dynamic. They\u2019re dangerous with the ball in the their hands, and you saw we didn\u2019t kick it to them, we didn\u2019t punt it to them. We just tried to limit as much damage as they could do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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