Two Years Later, Rambo Gets Revenge

Kenyon Rambo was on the 1994 Long Beach Poly team that lost a heartbreaker to Los Alamitos in the playoffs.

On Friday, Rambo got his revenge. His 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed Poly’s 22-16 victory against Los Alamitos before an estimated 9,000 at Veterans Stadium.

The play was critical, because moments before Los Alamitos (9-2)had scored on a three-yard touchdown pass from Sean Stein to Ryan Dunbar to shave Poly’s lead, 15-13.

Poly (8-3) advances to the second round to play either Bellflower St. John Bosco or Trabuco Hills.

“I’ve been waiting two years for payback,” said Rambo, who also caught three passes for 35 yards. “All week I had been telling the team about 1994. I’m so happy.”

Los Alamitos had not lost a first round game since 1990, when Newhall Hart beat them in overtime.

But the Griffins would have had a difficult time handling the Jackrabbits speed if completely healthy. Without their best defender--safety Ife Ohalete was idled with a deep thigh bruise--the task was even more daunting.

On the ground Poly had Herman Ho-Ching run for 175 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, while quarterback Chris Lewis passed for 116 yards.

Just as important, Poly had only one turnover--an interception--that Los Alamitos was able to capitalize on, as Stein would burst up the middle on a 23-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for the Griffins first score.