Long Beach Poly Manhandles Esperanza, 10-3

For once, Esperanza got sand kicked in its face.

Long Beach Poly did to the Aztecs what it has done to others so many times before. The Jackrabbits manhandled them.

Their 10-3 victory Friday at Valencia High School was so complete, Esperanza Coach Gary Meek could only admire it.

“That was the best defensive team we’ve played in my 18 years at this school,” Meek said. “We could not block them.”

That was evident from the start. It was just surprising.

After all, Esperanza is famous for building superior linemen. The Aztecs have a well-deserved reputation for bumping and grinding opponents into submission.

But on Friday, it was the Aztecs who cried uncle.

Poly (4-1), the fourth-ranked team in Division I, became only the second non-Empire League team to beat Esperanza since 1989. The Jackrabbits didn’t do it with finesse.

“We wanted to come here and attack people,” said Jerry Jaso, Poly’s co-coach.

They did immediately.

On the first play of the game, Esperanza quarterback Chris Stretch was hit as he threw. The ball wobbled into the hands of linebacker Jerry Sprewell. The Jackrabbits got a 43-yard field goal by Ryan Downey out of it.

It was the beginning of a long night for Stretch. He was facing a defense that has four college prospects--defensive linemen Brandon Whiting and Dan Juan Magee and defensive backs Lamont Morgan and Kelly Malveaux.

Stretch completed six of 22 passes for 61 yards and had three passes intercepted, two by Morgan. It’s tough to throw when you’re worried about surviving.

“We wanted to establish ourselves and get in their face,” Whiting said.

Poly’s defense hasn’t given up a touchdown since the opening game of the season, when the Jackrabbits lost to Rialto Eisenhower, 12-6.

The Aztecs (3-2) gained only 137 yards. They got only a 37-yard field goal by Jason Florence, but that was the offensive highlight.

“We showed that we play some pretty good football in Long Beach,” Jaso said.

It could have been worse for the Aztecs, but their defense matched the Jackrabbits blow by blow.

Linebacker Jim Stewart was a particular problem for the Jackrabbits. He had a sack, a pass deflection and spent the good part of the game in the Poly backfield.

But when quarterback Robert Toler was given time, he picked part the Aztec secondary. He finished 13 of 25 for 175 yards. His 25-yard completion to Isoke Murphy gave the Jackrabbits a first down on the Aztec four in the second quarter. Damien Murphy scored on the next play to give Poly the lead.