From LBPOSTSports.com: It’s the 2007 CIF semifinals, and Poly is locked into a defensive slugfest with Orange Lutheran. Late in the first half, Poly is up 2-0, and the Lancers are facing a 4th-and-goal from the one-foot line. They’re going for it. Quarterback Bobby Wheatley turns and hands the ball to his running back, who’s heading left—he has room. Then Poly linebacker Kenny Tuiloma spots a gap between the O. Lu left guard and tackle, and he explodes through it, wrapping up the running back and slamming him to the turf, literally inches away from what would have been a game-winning touchdown. Poly wins the game, and next week, the CIF championship. Tuiloma is credited with a solo tackle.
It’s the Wednesday before the 2008 CIF championship game, against Tesoro, and Poly’s linebackers are gathered after practice—present are Tuiloma (#15), Matt Jones (#44), middle backer George Daily-Lyles (#55), and honorary starter Mac Iosia. All four players are focused to the point of edginess, bristling with intensity. Jones has a simple explanation for it. “Championship week,” he says.
“It’s always intense championship week,” adds Daily-Lyles. That Poly seniors have multiple championship week experiences is a testament to the team’s consistency and depth—few positions have been more consistent than the team’s linebacking corps, which this year returns all three starters from last year’s championship team. The trio of Tuiloma, Jones, and Daily-Lyles expect a lot from themselves—last year’s defense was the stuff of legends, and they’re the only unit that didn’t graduate its big names (all four Poly DBs signed D-1 scholarships and DT Jurrell Casey is at USC).
“A lot falls on us,” says Tuiloma. “Since the offseason, we’ve tried to be the heart of this team.”
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