Under the Lights: Poly’s Tough Night at SoFi

PYNN’d News Sports

There was something surreal about watching Long Beach Poly take the field at SoFi Stadium on Friday night. The home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers provided an NFL-sized backdrop for a matchup between two Southern California programs, giving the Jackrabbits and Inglewood Sentinels an opportunity to experience the kind of stage many of these young athletes hope to reach again at the next level.

The setting certainly delivered. With plush seats, towering lights and vendors moving through the stands with popcorn and cotton candy, the evening carried the atmosphere of professional football. For the community, it was a special opportunity to watch local high school players compete inside one of the country’s most recognizable stadiums.

But once the lights came on and the football began, the night became considerably more difficult for Long Beach Poly.

Inglewood defeated the Jackrabbits 36-10 on Friday, September 18, improving to 4-1 while dropping Poly to 1-4 on the season.

For a program accustomed to being one of the teams opponents circle on the schedule, the loss continued a challenging start to the 2026 season.

Poly arrived at SoFi already dealing with significant adversity.

Starting quarterback Ace Seve was unavailable because of injury, while UCLA-offered sophomore Trevor Scott remained ineligible until after next week’s game because of the CIF-SS Sit Out Period. A third quarterback had also transferred from the program after not playing in Poly’s opening game.

That left the Jackrabbits without a traditional quarterback option.

The solution was as unexpected as it was demanding: five-star Miami cornerback commit Donte Wright Jr. moved from his usual position in the secondary to quarterback.

Wright had not played quarterback since youth football, but accepted the assignment and gave Poly an opportunity to compete. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding 20 rushing yards.

It was an unusual circumstance for any high school player, particularly on a night when the stage was an NFL stadium and the opponent was one of the area’s top programs.

Inglewood immediately applied pressure, opening the game with a physical, run-oriented drive that ended with Lincoln Jahn connecting with Andre Williams for a touchdown.

Poly responded with a promising drive that moved into Inglewood territory, but the Jackrabbits were unable to convert after reaching the Sentinels’ 30-yard line. Inglewood capitalized on the ensuing possession and extended its advantage to 12-0 early in the second quarter.

The Jackrabbits continued to search for an offensive breakthrough. Wright used his legs to extend possessions, while Zion Anderson contributed a nine-yard reception. A roughing-the-punter penalty also kept one Poly drive alive.

The opportunity ultimately ended at the nine-yard line when Poly’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Poly finally found the scoreboard through special teams, with Jonas Mendoza connecting on a 35-yard field goal to make it 12-3 heading into halftime.

The Jackrabbits’ defense continued battling in the third quarter and created several opportunities for the offense.

Sophomore linebacker Jeionn Johnson came up with a significant sack, while Dez Howard added another sack and Ray Umi delivered a big hit that helped energize the defensive effort.

Poly’s defense repeatedly gave the offense opportunities to narrow the deficit, but the Jackrabbits struggled to capitalize. A dropped pass ended one possession after just three plays, and after the defense stopped Inglewood again near midfield, Wright’s next pass was intercepted.

Through three quarters, Inglewood maintained a 12-3 lead.

The fourth quarter changed everything.

Inglewood broke through with a pair of long touchdown plays, turning a nine-point game into a much wider margin and ultimately securing the 36-10 victory.

Poly’s lone touchdown came when Wright connected with Jayden Coley, giving Coley the only Jackrabbit touchdown of the night.

The emotions surrounding the game did not end with the final whistle.

With seating open to both fan bases, home and away supporters had been sharing the same stands throughout the evening. Following the game, a fight broke out in the stands, creating a tense scene that quickly drew the attention of players on the field.

Several Poly players recognized family members involved in the situation and moved toward the sideline nearest the stands. The frustration of a difficult loss suddenly became much more personal as players watched the situation unfold involving people they knew and loved.

The scene became heated, particularly among Poly’s Polynesian players, who were visibly affected by what they were seeing in the stands.

It was an unfortunate ending to an already emotional night and a reminder of just how deeply high school football can connect players, families and communities.

Afterward, Poly head coach Travon Patterson acknowledged the team’s frustration while emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure and continuing to fight through the adversity surrounding the program.

That message carries particular weight with Poly sitting at 1-4.

Long Beach Poly’s football history carries expectations that few high school programs can match.

The Jackrabbits have produced generations of standout players, sent athletes to major college programs and established themselves as one of the most recognizable names in Southern California high school football.

That history makes a difficult season feel even heavier.

A Friday night at SoFi presented an opportunity for the Jackrabbits to create a memorable moment on a stage that looked and felt like the professional game many of these athletes hope to reach. Instead, Poly found itself dealing with another difficult result in a season that has already tested the program.

The disappointment is understandable, but one loss does not define the players who took the field.

Poly still has football ahead.

The Jackrabbits will travel to Rancho Cucamonga next week for their final nonleague game before Moore League play begins. The upcoming end of the CIF-SS Sit Out Period will also make additional players, including transfers, available to the program.

That could give Poly a different look as the season progresses.

For now, however, the Jackrabbits have to regroup.

The walk out of SoFi after a 36-10 loss carried a different feeling than the excitement that surrounded the stadium before kickoff. The night had offered everything that makes high school football special—the NFL setting, families in the stands, young athletes competing under enormous lights and a community gathered to support its players.

It also offered a difficult reminder that the road to becoming the team Poly has historically been is not always easy.

The Jackrabbits are 1-4, and there is no reason to minimize that reality. At the same time, there is still an opportunity to change the direction of the season.

Rancho Cucamonga is next.

Then comes Moore League play.

And with more of the roster expected to become available, the Jackrabbits will have an opportunity to write a different chapter.

SoFi may have provided the grandest setting of Poly’s season so far, but the next game does not require an NFL stadium.

It requires a football team ready to respond.

Final: Inglewood 36, Long Beach Poly 10

Long Beach Poly: 1-4

Inglewood: 4-1

Next: Long Beach Poly at Rancho Cucamonga

Holler,

Pynnderella, The Fairytale Connoisseur