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TONIGHT IN LONG BEACH
Millikan vs. Fountain Valley, 7pm
The Rams are the surprise of the league at 3-0, but the teams they’ve beaten are a combined 2-5, with all those wins coming from Gahr. Fountain Valley, their foe tonight, is 3-0, has scored at least 34 points in all three games, and beat CIF runner-up Tesoro 35-14. In other words, it’s a big test for the Millikan squad.
The Barons are big and fast, and will try a small Millikan roster—one of the biggest things to pay attention to might be how much the starters play tonight. QB Paul Slater has struggled with a shoulder injury since week one, and the Rams play too many players both ways to afford any injuries—every time you talk to a player or coach, they bring up that fact. With a competitive group and a league that’s up in the air, Millikan may decide to take it easy this week and focus on Cabrillo and Wilson for their first two weeks. Or, they may stay true to character and play all-out, trying to keep the momentum rolling. This one could be a barn-burner, and there could very well be over 70 points scored, so if you’re going, don’t forget your seatbelt.
Jordan vs. Dominguez, 7pm
Two things are certain in J-Town tonight: 1. You will not see any of John Timu. 2. You will see a lot of the Wing-T. The Dons run the same system Compton runs with backfield motion and misdirection. Jordan coach Scott Meyer got this game on purpose this year because he knows the Compton/Jordan game will have playoff implications, and he wants his defense to have seen the tricky Wing-T. Also, and win over Dominguez and then Compton will give Jordan a boots in local North Long Beach recruiting, which happens whether the schools participate or not. But accomplishing all that will be extra difficult as this week will be the first without QB/DB John Timu. Coach Meyer said he has a few guys who might take snaps tonight.
Compton vs. Dorsey, 7pm
The Compton juggernaut just keeps rolling, with almost 100 points scored in their first two games, and James McConico looking just as scary as ever. He has four TDs on 21 carries, with an average of over 15 yards per-carry, and a per-game average of 163. Since he’s taking the snaps for the Tarbabes this year, he has an added threat as a passer—his only attempt was a 60-yard touchdown completion last week.
Their opponent tonight is a Dorsey team coming down out of the City Section. The Dons are a better team than the one Compton blew out last year, but frankly probably not enough better to hope to shut down McConico and co—don’t be surprised if Compton keeps it rolling for another week, before traveling to play Lakewood next week.
Lakewood vs. Verbum Dei, 7pm
This is the game Lancer fans have been waiting for, or at least they hope it is. The Eagles are rebuilding their football program right now, and Lakewood would love to pounce for a blow out win. Yes, they have won by double digits the last two weeks, but it was a seven-point game in the fourth quarter against Mayfair. For a team as highly touted as the Lancers, it’s time to put a team away in the first half, so sports writers will stop begging for high scores like this is college football or something.
St. Anthony vs. Montclair Prep, Clark Field 7pm
The Saints have plenty of experience on the offensive and defensive line and loads of talent in the backfield, but you can’t win if you don’t have the ball. St. Anthony has turned the ball over four times in all three games, and they look to right the ship against a Montclair team that gave up 50 points last week.
ON THE ROAD
Poly @ Oceanside, 7pm
The Jackrabbit schedule is the toughest in the Moore League, and this week they face their biggest challenge so far. Down the I-5 waits the Oceanside Pirates who are trying to win their sixth straight North County Section Championship. A core group of seniors who are three-year starters have the Pirates at 3-0, and players like Thomas Molesi (allegedly ran a 4.8 40-yard dash. He’s 270 lbs) and J.J. Whitaker (receiver/running back/defensive back) have lived up to the hype. On defense, however, it’s two juniors leading the way as T.J. Sunia and Noah Tarrant have a combined 46 tackles (1/4 the team total). For the Jackrabbits on defense, it will be a game of cat and mouse with eight speedy running backs for O-Side having already carried the ball more than once this season. With these two defenses, don’t be surprised if the video highlight is lots of tackles, not touchdowns.
Cabrillo @ Bell Gardens, 7pm
A twelve-point loss to Paramount may have been the Jags’ best chance to snap the long losing streak trailing out behind them—after an enormous loss to Bosco last week, they now travel to face Bell Gardens, who are 2-0 right now. Coming out of the Almont League, the Lancers like to run the ball, and they do it well—starter Steve Ibarra is averaging 18 yards per-carry, and he gashed Azusa last week for almost two hundred yards. If Cabrillo wants to get off the schneid, they’ll have to stop him first—and then hope they can establish a running game for the firs time this year.