Long Beach Poly Blanks Wilson 44–0 in The Big Game
PYNN’d Sports | Fairytale written by Pynnderella
My glass slipper may be off, but my pynn is always down- let's get into it.Long Beach Poly Shuts Out Wilson 44–0: The Jackrabbits Answer the Rivalry Talk on Homecoming Night
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The rivalry needed no introduction, the stands brought the Homecoming energy, and the Jackrabbits had a message to deliver. On Saturday, October 10, 2026, Long Beach Poly football shut out the Woodrow Wilson Bruins 44–0 in the 94th edition of The Big Game, turning an imaginary rivalry fueled by last season’s result into a one-sided finish on the scoreboard. The matchup was played at Cabrillo High School in West Long Beach, an unusual setting for Poly’s Homecoming festivities, but the change of venue did nothing to soften the intensity between two programs that know exactly what this game means to Long Beach.
Wilson entered the matchup as the defending Moore League champion after defeating Poly the previous season. That result gave the Bruins confidence heading into the rematch, and the talk surrounding who runs Long Beach added another layer to an already emotional rivalry. From the pregame atmosphere to the final whistle, this was never going to feel like an ordinary league game. Poly had a result to answer for, Wilson arrived looking to defend its standing, and both teams played with the emotion that comes with believing the city belongs to you.
The Big Game Was Personal
There is a difference between watching a "rivalry" from the stands and spending the night on the sidelines. As PYNN’d News’ Long Beach Poly football reporter, I get to see the parts of the game that do not always make the box score: teammates encouraging each other after a tough play, players celebrating a big moment, coaches pulling someone aside for a correction, and the laughter that breaks through the tension when the team finally gets a chance to breathe.
I watch the energy change after a penalty, the way players respond to a coaching adjustment, and how quickly one successful play can lift an entire sideline. I have even found myself making concession-stand runs for pickle juice and mustard when players come off the field dealing with cramps. That is part of being there, paying attention and getting to know the team beyond the numbers. I am invested in the experience, whether Poly is leading or fighting its way back, and I am not going to pretend a questionable call does not get a reaction out of me.
That closeness is part of what makes this assignment different for me. The players are not simply names in a recap, and the game is not just a final score waiting to be posted. These are young athletes working through pressure, learning how to respond to adversity and relying on one another when the lights are on. When the matchup carries the history of The Big Game, every exchange feels a little sharper.
Homecoming added its own atmosphere. The stands were packed with supporters, the band brought the sound, the color guard represented school pride, and the cheerleaders kept the energy moving. The football field was the center of the night, but the entire event felt like a community showing up for its school. I also made time to connect with the women around the team and interview the captain, because the people and traditions surrounding a football program deserve attention, too.
Poly’s Defense Set the Tone
The Jackrabbits did not need a perfect opening half to take control, but they did need to clean up their mistakes. Poly went into halftime with a 15–0 lead despite a penalty-heavy first half, then came back sharper and pulled away after the break. Head coach Travon Patterson acknowledged that his team had accumulated 14 penalties for 145 yards in the first half and emphasized the importance of correcting those mistakes and regaining composure.
The defense supplied the foundation for the win. Poly recorded three interceptions, ten tackles for loss and its second consecutive shutout, keeping Wilson off the scoreboard for all four quarters. Senior defensive end Sevelino “Seven” Taliauli led the charge up front with 5.5 tackles for loss, consistently disrupting the Bruins’ passing game and helping make it difficult for their offense to find a rhythm.
Wilson’s quarterbacks, Logan Trafas and Jacob Powell, combined to complete three of 11 passes for 52 yards and threw three interceptions. Dezmen Howard picked off a pass in the second quarter, Toa Cagnalotti came away with an interception in the end zone to stop a Wilson scoring opportunity, and Kasim Shepherd added another interception in the second half. Those stops mattered because Wilson had chances to make the game more competitive early. Instead, Poly repeatedly closed the door.
Special teams also made a statement. Sophomore Landon Perkins returned a punt for a touchdown, while Donte Wright Jr. blocked a Wilson field-goal attempt. Wright had also been honored before the game as a Navy All-American, adding another significant moment to a night when Poly’s players made their presence felt in multiple phases.
Trevor Scott and the Offense Find Their Rhythm
Sophomore quarterback Trevor Scott delivered another strong performance, completing 16 of 20 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns while adding 48 rushing yards. His connection with Zion Anderson opened the scoring, with a 23-yard touchdown pass on Poly’s first drive. The offense continued to threaten through the air, but the Jackrabbits became increasingly comfortable leaning on their ground game as the night progressed.
Jayden Coley, wearing No. 3, was Scott’s leading receiving target, finishing with six catches for 103 yards. Coley’s ability to gain yards through the passing game gave Poly another reliable option as the offense worked to stretch the field. Anderson, No. 5, provided the early touchdown that helped establish the tone, while the receiving group as a whole gave the Jackrabbits options beyond simply grinding out carries.
The biggest offensive surge came from Jeron “Lil’ Ron” Johnson II. Johnson rushed for 74 yards on eight carries and scored three rushing touchdowns, finding the end zone on his final three carries of the night. He also caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown, giving him four total touchdowns. His second-half production was especially important as Poly separated itself on the scoreboard and turned a solid lead into a decisive victory.
Johnson credited his offensive line, coaches and teammates after the game, pointing to the collective effort behind the performance. His message reflected what the team had to do after losing to Wilson the year before: return with a chip on its shoulder, execute and play together. The running game finished with 180 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns, giving Poly a physical counterweight to Scott’s passing production.
Wilson Had Opportunities, but Poly Closed the Door
The Bruins did threaten early. Their opening drive reached the Poly 9-yard line, aided by several Poly penalties, and running back Jemel Grigsby made plays on the ground and through the air. But when Wilson faced a fourth-and-one opportunity after a penalty on a field-goal attempt, Taliauli helped stop Grigsby behind the line of scrimmage, ending the drive without points.
Wilson’s John Chapman later blocked a Poly field-goal attempt, and Kingston Meyer returned the ball to the Jackrabbits’ 21-yard line to give the Bruins another opportunity. Cagnalotti’s end-zone interception ended that threat, preserving Poly’s 15–0 halftime advantage. In the second half, the Jackrabbits corrected their execution, sustained their defensive pressure and scored on their final four possessions to complete the shutout.
The result was emphatic, but the performance also gave Poly something more useful than bragging rights: a demonstration of how much more dangerous the team can be when it controls its emotions, protects the ball and plays with consistency. The penalties remain an area to clean up, particularly against opponents capable of turning short fields into points. Still, the response after halftime showed the Jackrabbits could make adjustments and finish.
The Wilson game was about more than reversing last season’s result. It was about the pride surrounding two of Long Beach’s most recognizable football programs, the pressure that comes with representing a school during Homecoming, and the expectation that players show up when the matchup carries extra meaning. Poly came into the night needing to prove its response would be more than talk. The 44–0 final provided a clear answer.
I was there for the game, the sideline energy, the interviews and the moments that do not always show up in a stat line. I interviewed Jayden Coley, Juju Johnson and Zion Anderson, and those conversations are part of the broader story of the athletes carrying this season forward. Their voices belong alongside the numbers because a football program is built by more than its scoreboard.
For Long Beach Poly, the win moved the Jackrabbits to 4–4 overall and 2–0 in Moore League play. Wilson fell to 2–6 overall and 1–1 in league action. Poly’s next scheduled game is against Millikan on October 23, while Wilson was set to host Lakewood the following Friday.
The culture moves fast, but my pynn is ink is quicker.
Pynnderella, The Fairytale Connoisseur
