Long Beach Poly football relishes chance to play Aquinas in playoff atmosphere

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LONG BEACH – When Long Beach Poly manager Stephen Barbee learned his team’s Moore League crippled this week against Cabrillo would beryllium canceled owed to COVID protocols, helium inactive wanted to play football.

“When we recovered retired we weren’t going to beryllium capable to play, we looked for the champion contention that we could,” said Barbee.

After a fewer discussions, Barbee was capable to scope an statement with Aquinas manager Jordan Brusig, who besides had an opening connected his team’s docket for Friday, Oct. 8.

Barbee said Poly is looking guardant to playing a prime hostile this precocious successful the regular season.

“Aquinas is simply a large team, precise good coached. A precise carnal team,” said Barbee. “We’re excited to beryllium capable to play successful a playoff-type atmosphere, astatine their house.”

  • Long Beach Poly caput manager Stephen Barbee looks connected during the 2nd fractional of a Moore League prep shot crippled astatine Veterans Memorial Stadium successful Long Beach, Calif. connected Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Long Beach Poly defeated Millikan 42-28. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • Millikan caput manager Romeo Pellum, left, and Long Beach Poly caput manager Stephen Barbee, right, hug astatine the extremity of a Moore League prep shot crippled astatine Veterans Memorial Stadium successful Long Beach, Calif. connected Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Long Beach Poly defeated Millikan 42-28. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr, Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Poly’s caput manager Stephen Barbee watches his players during a nonleague crippled against Mission Viejo astatine Veterans Memorial Stadium successful Long Beach connected Friday, September 3, 2021. (Photo by Kyusung Gong/Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Polys Shea Kuykendall looks for an unfastened antheral arsenic the Jackrabbits instrumentality connected Wilson successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Polys Jason Robinson finds an opening arsenic the Jackrabbits instrumentality connected Wilson successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Wilsons Elijah Wilkins tries to halt Long Beach Polys Tyson Bordeaux arsenic the 2 teams conflict it retired successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Polys Shea Kuykendall looks to get past Wilsons Jack Gentile arsenic the 2 teams conflict it retired successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • The Long Beach Poly Cheerleaders observe a touchdown arsenic they instrumentality connected Long Beach Wilson astatine Vets Stadium successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Polys Quarterback Shea Kuykendall runs it successful for a Jackrabbit touchdown successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Wilsons Johnell Gray tries to get past Long Beach Polys Daylen Austin and Austin King arsenic the 2 teams conflict it retired successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Polys Jason Robinson runs done to people for the Jackrabbits arsenic they instrumentality connected Wilson successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

  • Long Beach Polys Shea Kuykendall runs it successful for a touchdown arsenic the Jackrabbits instrumentality connected Wilson astatine Vets Stadium successful Long Beach, CA, connected Friday, October 1, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

Aquinas (3-3) is ranked No. 100 successful the CIF Southern Section by Calpreps, and Poly is ranked No. 75.

Barbee said helium has not thought overmuch astir the mode Calpreps rankings are going to yet find playoff seeding.

“You look astatine it but it changes weekly,” Barbee said. “We person to interest astir everything that we tin control, our practice, our effort successful preparing for Aquinas.”

Long Beach Poly’s defence is making it a precedence to halt the tally and get aft the backmost against Aquinas connected Friday, October 8. #LongBeachVarsityReport @BeachVarsity @LBPoly_Football pic.twitter.com/1Ji5XP2g03

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 6, 2021

Poly is taking its crippled against Aquinas seriously.

They’ve shifted their practices to a earthy writer aboveground to hole for Friday’s contention to simulate game-like situations.

“We’re practicing connected the grass, getting utilized to it. Playing connected writer is wholly antithetic than playing connected turf,” Barbee added. “It’s evidently going to travel down to execution. They’re a squad that wants to tally the shot and we’re going to person to halt that and execute connected offense.”

Long Beach Poly sophomore linebacker Joshua Cason is 1 of the team’s starring tacklers. He volition beryllium a cardinal subordinate connected defence against Aquinas. #LongBeachVarsityReport @BeachVarsity @LBPoly_Football pic.twitter.com/kv2kqRe79s

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 6, 2021

Poly volition besides absorption connected shot security, winning the turnover battle, and executing connected peculiar teams arsenic keys to success.

“We are precise excited to person this crippled popular up and get to play,” Barbee said. “It’s their homecoming and I cognize they’re excited and it’s going to beryllium a precise pugnacious situation to play successful and it volition beryllium a bully situation for our kids.”

Long Beach Poly is getting acceptable for Friday’s crippled against Aquinas successful San Bernardino. #LongBeachVarsityReport @BeachVarsity @LBPoly_Football pic.twitter.com/WzV4cueMlv

— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) October 6, 2021

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