Long Beach Poly Shuts Out Banning

Long Beach Poly’s football team lost its biggest weapons from the last few years when quarterback Chris Lewis, wide receivers Kareem Kelly and Samie Parker and defensive back Darrell Rideaux graduated.

But the Jackrabbits still have plenty of game-breakers.

And will have them for three seasons.

Sophomore running back Hershel Dennis and sophomore tight end Mercedes Lewis played key roles in Long Beach Poly’s 13-0 intersectional victory over Wilmington Banning on Thursday night before 8,000 at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach.

Dennis, 5 feet 10 and 170 pounds, gained 150 yards in 16 carries. Lewis, 6-6 and 200, caught a 17-yard pass to set up the Jackrabbits’ first touchdown in the second quarter and scored on an 18-yard reception in the fourth quarter.

Their performances helped Long Beach Poly (2-0) beat Banning for the eighth consecutive time.

“Lots of spectators didn’t think we would have it this year because we lost all the superstars,” Dennis said. “But the sophomores stepped up tonight. So did the offensive line and the defense.”

Senior linebacker Reggie Butler had 13 tackles and led a Long Beach Poly defense that held Banning running back Chris Howard to 132 yards in 22 carries--an impressive feat considering Howard gained 230 yards and scored three touchdowns in last week’s victory over Woodland Hills Taft.

Howard broke off a 17-yard run on his first carry, but that was his longest run of the night. He briefly left the game because of cramps in the third quarter.

“They [Long Beach Poly] came out aggressive and played hard,” Howard said. “They were just disciplined and much of the time they were just keying on me.”

Howard’s fumble in the second quarter set up Long Beach Poly’s first score.

On third and five at the Banning 31, Howard picked up seven yards before Butler nailed him and forced Howard to drop the ball. Marley Tucker recovered for Poly at the 37 with 1:29 left in the first half.

After two incomplete passes, quarterback Brandon Fasavalu connected with Lewis over the middle for 17 yards. On the next play, Fasavalu found Dante Washington on a slant pattern on the right side. Washington bounced off a would-be tackler and ran into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass play with 56 seconds left.

Long Beach Poly scored its second touchdown early in the fourth quarter after failing to convert when it had first and goal from the seven on its previous possession.

The Jackrabbits got the ball back by forcing Banning to punt and took over at the Pilot 35. A pass interference call against Banning (1-1) moved the ball to the 20. After a two-yard run by DeAndre Parks, Fasavalu threw to Lewis in the right corner of the end zone for a 13-0 lead.