Long Beach Poly Beats Muir, 28-19

Once Long Beach Poly decided to stop making the type of mistakes that cost the Jackrabbits two first- half touchdowns, Pasadena Muir saw its 12-0 halftime lead disappear and Poly pulled out a 28-19 victory in a Southern Section nonconference game at Pasadena City College Friday night.

Senior Kenyon Rambo sparked the second-half comeback for Poly (2-1) by catching touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Chris Lewis. Herman Ho-Ching and Larry Croom each added touchdown runs.

“I know that I made a lot of mistakes in the first half and we also made a lot as a team,” said Rambo, whose fumbled kickoff return led to Muir’s second touchdown. “We just had to keep our heads up and just go to work. So, I tried to lead and do what I do best and that is make touchdowns.”

Muir took its 12-0 lead thanks to two miscues by Poly over a three-minute span in the first half. The Mustangs scored first on a 100-yard interception return by junior defensive back Rickey Crockett, who stepped in front of a late end zone pass by Poly starting quarterback Robert Hollie.

The Mustangs received a break on the ensuing kickoff when Rambo fumbled in a pile at the Poly 20. Muir tailback Sultan McCullough scored on a three-yard run to cap a four-play drive, highlighted by a 30-yard pass play from LaShaun Ward to Anthony Kelley.

Poly had a chance to score before halftime when Lewis, who replaced Hollie in the second quarter, drove the Jackrabbits deep into Muir territory only to have a touchdown run by Ho-Ching wiped out by a holding penalty as the Mustangs held on to a 12-0 lead.

The Jackrabbits struck quickly in the second half with 22- and 26-yard touchdown pass plays from Lewis to Rambo as Poly took a 14-12 lead with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter.

Poly then took command of the game on an eight-yard touchdown run by Croom that was set up by a 54-yard punt return by Ho-Ching. With Leon Pijpaert adding the third of his four extra-point kicks, Poly led, 21-12, with 1:24 left in the quarter.

“We just didn’t lose any of our confidence once we fell behind,” said Ho-Ching, who rushed for 70 yards in 20 carries. “We kept our poise and everyone knew that we’d be all right.”

Muir responded to cut Poly’s lead to 21-19 early in the fourth quarter after McCullough returned a kickoff to the Jackrabbits’ 43. The Mustangs scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ward to DeAngelo Steward, who tight-roped the back of the end zone to make the catch.

Steward, however, led to Poly’s final touchdown when he shanked his third punt of the game--one was deflected--that gave the Jackrabbits possession at the Muir 26. Ho-Ching finished the short drive with a two-yard run to complete the scoring.

McCullough, who led Muir to victories in its first two games, finished with 60 yards in 22 carries.