L.B. Poly Runs Win Streak to 27

With rain falling and all-star defensive backs on both teams, the Long Beach Poly and Bishop Amat running games figured to play a key role in their Southern Section Division I semifinal Friday night at Veteran’s Stadium.

And they did.

Poly got 230 yards from Larry Croom and ran to a 38-12 victory.

Mike Wagner had 173 yards in 33 carries for Bishop Amat.

The teams combined for 417 yards on the ground, while Poly quarterback Chris Lewis was held to 151 yards passing, with only 24 yards in the first half.

“I was able to just cut and go,” Croom said “This weather worked to my advantage.”

The victory extends a 27-game winning streak for the defending champion Jackrabbits (13-0), who play the winner of tonight’s other semifinal between Santa Ana Mater Dei and Los Alamitos in next Saturday’s championship game at Edison Field at Anaheim.

“This is a great feeling,” Croom said. “To me, this feels better than last year.”

The Lancers (11-1-1) got on the scoreboard early, as Poly’s Peter Laban couldn’t handle a squib kick to open the game. Bishop Amat’s Othon Nolasco recovered the ball at the Poly 42. Seven plays later, Wagner scored on a one-yard run, his fifth carry of the drive.

He added another one-yarder to make it 31-12 halfway through the fourth.

“The defense played great,” Poly Coach Jerry Jaso said. “Everybody talks about the offense but the defense was great.”

While the Jackrabbits had All-Southern Section cornerback Darrell Rideaux, the Lancers countered with Dennis Wyrick. Amat cornerbacks Jason Jones and Julian Cummings provided excellent coverage on receivers Samie Parker and Kareem Kelly in the first half, making Croom the go-to guy for Poly.

He was up to the task, carrying the ball 10 times for 130 yards in the first half, including a 52-yard touchdown run. The Jackrabbits led, 10-6, at halftime.

“When they scored that first one, I thought, ‘Oh hell, it’s going to be a long night,’ ” Jaso said.

In the second half, Croom continued his rampage, running 48 yards to set up the second Poly touchdown, a 12-yard Lewis pass to tight end Jeremy Johnson.

Lewis finally got the big play, connecting with Kelly on a 68-yarder to open the scoring in the fourth.

Kelly finished with three catches for 81 yards.

His third touchdown pass made it 31-6 before Croom ran in from 19 yards to make it 38-12 with 3:28 to play.

Bishop Amat quarterback Chris Rix was sacked five times for losses of 51 yards. He completed six of 17 passes for 77 and one interception.

The game was played in a steady rain.