A trip to North Long Beach has never meant more to Wilson High School.
With a win over Jordan, the Bruins would clinch a playoff spot and set up a game at home next week against Lakewood for the co-Moore League championship. They got that victory last night, in dominant fashion, 47-3. But ultimately, that’s not even why the football game held such meaning.
With their helmet “W” flipped to make an “M” and black “MR” stickers on the back, the Bruins took the field for the first time since last week’s tragic death of student/athlete Melody Ross. The week of practice was pieced together around the pain, the mourning, the vigil near campus and visits from fellow Moore League teams.
“To be honest, I was concerned,” said Wilson coach Mario Morales of his team’s preparation for such a big game. “None of us— the coaching staff, the kids, this school— have ever been through anything like this. There were a lot of far away eyes and it was very hard to stay focused.”
All things considered, the Wilson family did the right things before Friday night because from the first snap it was clear the Bruins had one thing on their minds.
“We wanted to win this for Melody,” said Morales after that’s exactly what Wilson did. “These kids are so drained, and they went out and played a very physical, up-tempo game. I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Bruin defense set that tempo on the first Panther drive when linebacker Adonis Voulgaris scooped up one of Jordan’s four turnovers. The Wilson unit only allowed 95 total yards (7 passing yards) in the first three quarters before the starters were pulled. The Jordan drive chart for the first half went fumble, three-and-out, three-and-out, field goal, three-and-out, three-and-out, interception.
“We pulled from deep for Melody and played with a purpose, with a fire,” said Voulgaris, who recovered two fumbles and tallied five solo tackles. “We all care about each other, we love each other, we’re a family out there and that helped us push through everything.”
A 44-yard run in the second quarter by Princeton Fuimaono set up the only Jordan score, but he left the game in the second quarter with an injury, and you could feel all the air leave the Panther balloon. The Jordan coaching staff had planned to feed the running back/linebacker since it was a must win for the Panthers (2-7, 1-4), who are now officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Meanwhile on offense for the Bruins (6-3, 4-1), it was a highlight show for running back Ezell Ruffin, receiver Josh Bell and quarterback Brett Harper. Ruffin only recently started lining up at running back, but his sheer speed was too much for the Panther defense. The Wilson running game ended up turning into that old USC student body left, student body right with Ruffin turning the corner untouched almost every time. He finished the night with 16 carries, 155 yards and two touchdowns plus a 16-yard touchdown catch.
With the running game nearly unstoppable the play-action passing game was on point and Harper took full advantage. He finished the night 9-for-18 for 203 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those TD passes were to Bell— who only had three catches for 109 yards— the first of which was one of the best catches this year in the Moore League.
“We knew this whole thing was going to be rough,” said Ruffin. “But we came together as one and did what we had to do. Now it’s time for Lakewood.”
Every time a Bruin went into the end zone they pointed to the sky for Ross, and after the game the team went to the Ross family residence to give the game ball to Melody’s parents. CLICK HERE to see the video.