Long Beach Poly defeats Gardena Serra in overtime of season-opening showdown
Devin Samples scored on a five-yard run in overtime to lift Long Beach Poly to a 27-21 triumph over Gardena Serra in a nonleague showdown between two perennial powers at Cabrillo High in Long Beach on Friday.
“It felt so good,” Samples said of his game-winning run. “I had to break a couple of tackles. It was a stretch play and I followed my blocks. We worked on this all week and we knew we could win.”
Serra got the first possession in overtime, starting at the Poly 35-yard line, but on fourth and 17, La’mar Black intercepted a pass by Serra’s Maalik Murphy at the Poly 15.
The first Friday night of high school spring football had one common theme among players, coaches, parents and organizers: resolve.
Poly took over at midfield with 3:16 left in the fourth quarter and drove to the Serra 34 before Lamont Shamburger intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 24 yards with one second left in regulation.
Murphy, a junior making his starting debut for Serra and committed to Texas, showed poise and patience in the pocket. He threw for two touchdowns, the second a 26-yard laser to wide-open Donovan Roebuck that gave the Cavaliers a 21-14 lead with 8:42 left in the fourth quarter.
Poly responded by driving 87 yards in six plays, tying it at 21-21 on Shea Kuykendall’s five-yard quarterback run with 6:03 remaining.
Murphy found Elijah Davis over the middle for a 38-yard gain on the first play of the game and the Cavaliers proceeded to drive to the Poly 14, but Kai Honda hooked a 36-yard field-goal attempt.
High school football scores from across the Southland on Friday, March 12.
Serra defensive back Rodrick Pleasant opened the scoring when he intercepted a tipped pass near the Jackrabbits’ 30-yard line and followed a wall of blockers into the end zone with 7:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Poly answered on its next drive, marching 65 yards in nine plays, capped by Jeremiah Fort’s one-yard run with 3:11 left in the first quarter.
After three consecutive punts, Poly drove 75 yards in eight plays, taking a 14-7 lead on a four-yard run by Samples. Kuykendall completed all five of his pass attempts on the drive.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
