Press-Telegram football previews: Moore League race begins, huge test for Long Beach Poly

The Moore League kicks disconnected what ought to beryllium a astir intriguing contention with 3 absorbing matchups Friday nighttime portion Long Beach Poly continues its challenging nonleague docket by taking connected nationally ranked Centennial of Corona.

FRIDAY

Moore League

Compton (1-2) astatine Wilson (0-3), 7 p.m.

First-year Bruins manager Scott Meyer knows what helium has, benignant of. “We’re a precise young and precise inexperienced team. … What we don’t cognize is however acold we tin bring these guys along.” Wilson is inactive searching for an individuality connected offense, and anticipation QB Zander McLaurin, whose limb was injured successful past week’s nonaccomplishment to St. Anthony, volition beryllium available. Compton has a batch of talent, but excessively overmuch of it — including prima halfway Elijah Morales and OT Jonah Laamusa — has been sidelined, and there’s not a batch of depth. If Wilson’s defense, led by OLB Cordae Jones, tin grip Compton’s double-wing, this could beryllium a choky one.

Lakewood (0-3) vs. Cabrillo (1-3) astatine Veterans Stadium, 7 p.m.

First-year manager Justin Utupo is figuring retired what the Lancers tin and can’t bash and looking to simplify things aft throwing a spot excessively overmuch astatine a young roster portion maneuvering done a pugnacious schedule. Lakewood volition stress its tally crippled down RBs Auggie Lyons and Zion Smith and an O-line that “has impressed” Utupo. Cabrillo, besides precise young, utilized its defence to bushed Lynwood past week, with 4 sacks from Dylan Nugent-Sugamele and pick-6s by Isaiah Miranda and Luis Haro.

Millikan (1-3) astatine Jordan (2-2), 7 p.m.

The Rams person accomplishment successful abundance connected some sides of the ball, but person been beaten precocious successful some of their adjacent games. QB Myles Jackson seems to amended each week, and the instrumentality of Matt Martinez, who has been the astir effectual of a beardown radical of receivers, aft a “precautionary” lack past week makes them better. Jordan has a spot of skill, too, particularly Damian Henderson, who has returned 2 kickoffs and a punt for TDs.

Nonleague

Long Beach Poly (1-2) astatine Corona Centennial (3-0), 7 p.m.

The Jackrabbits haven’t enactment unneurotic a implicit crippled yet, but they offered a glimpse of what’s doable successful the  3rd 4th past week against Leuzinger, fueling a 35-21 triumph with 3 agelong TDs. Building connected that won’t beryllium casual against Centennial, a 44-point victor implicit Poly 2 years ago. Will Poly manager Stephen Barbee telephone connected pro-style QB Shea Kuykendall, who passed for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns past week, oregon the fleeter Darius Curry oregon usage both? The Huskies, ranked No. 18 successful the federation by MaxPreps, usage 2 QBs efficiently (junior Izzy Carter has an Oregon offer), a beardown moving crippled (led by Jayson Cortes, 9.6 yards per carry) and a superb defence that unopen retired JSerra past week successful a 48-0 victory.

Long Beach Poly’s Titus Bordeaux tries to interruption escaped from Leuzinger’s Josiah Topui arsenic the Jackrabbits instrumentality connected the Olympians successful Long Beach, CA, connected Thursday, September 9, 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. Anthony (1-3) astatine St. Pius X-St. Matthias (4-0), 7 p.m.

Raul Lara notched his archetypal triumph arsenic Saints manager past week, 23-13 implicit Wilson, and it was defence that made the difference, limiting the Bruins to 4 yards rushing down an exceptional show by DE Eric Sam Suluai. SPXSMA has averaged 44 points successful 4 romps down QB Dieter Barr, who has deed connected 68 percent of his throws for 889 yards and 18 TDs.

La Mirada (3-1) vs. Foothill (3-0) astatine Tustin HS, 7 p.m.

The Matadores’ blue-collar attack is paying disconnected arsenic they person won 3 successful a row, including past week’s 27-26 triumph implicit Millikan. RB Eddie Lafferre ran for 133 yards successful the triumph and scored the winning touchdown with 45 seconds to play. He has topped 100 yards rushing 3 times. Quarterback Neheul Garcia made respective clutch plays down the agelong to flooded a 17-point deficit, and that followed his 4 touchdown passes successful a 31-21 triumph implicit St. Margaret’s connected Sept. 3. Foothill is the toughest squad yet connected the Matadores’ schedule. The Knights who person 2 prime wins (over Cypress and Tustin) and person enactment up 360 yards per game.

La Mirada’s Nehuel Garcia (6) looks to implicit a walk during a nonleague shot crippled betwixt Millikan High and La Mirada High astatine Millikan High successful Long Beach CA connected September 10, 2021.(Photo by Michael Goulding)