2009 Moore League Football: Top 10 Games, Stories & Videos
by J.J. Fiddler \
Not quite the end of the Moore League football season yet, but let's take a moment to look back on a jam-packed 2009 regular season schedule.
10) Cabrillo's Biggest Moral Victory
The Jags are 0-20 in the last two seasons, but you would have needed a pretty big billboard to remind the Jags of that when they took Poly into the fourth quarter with the score tied at zero earlier this year at Vet's. Because of the schools' locations, a lot of players on both teams know each other, and the rivalry between the Poly tradition and the relatively clean slate that is Cabrillo is a lot more passionate than the final scores indicate. When you're struggling to find your first win, moral victories become important--and there's something uniquely "high school football" about seeing an 0-8 team raise their heads and get excited in a close game. The Jags went on to lose the game, but holding Poly that close for that long is the sweetest of moral victories, to be sure. Click Here for the STORY Click Here for the VIDEO
09) Panther Pride Shines Even In Loss
It was a very different year than Jordan was hoping for--after being mentioned as a preseason CIF Top Ten, they lost a big part of their team with the injury of John Timu in week two against Pasadena. The next game, at home against Dominguez, the Panthers debuted a new-look offense, new-look defense, and new-look special teams in a gritty game against the Dons. Rarely do you see a high school game where both sides so clearly play themselves to the brink of exhaustion, but the pride of the Panther program was on full display in the 13-7 overtime loss to a Dominguez that just last week cruised into the quarterfinals of the playoffs with a 40-point win in the first round. STORY VIDEO
08) Millikan Thrills In Opener
Looking back on it, it's undeniably been a thrilling, historic season for Millikan football--and if you made the trip to see their opening night game, on the road against Gahr, there's no way you could say you're surprised. Rams coach Kirk Diego talked to us before the season about the quality of his team's character, and his players backed his words up enormously in their first game, defeating a physically superior Gahr team 35-34 when they deflected the Gahr two-point conversion attempt to end the game. Several Millikan players left the game with injuries, only to return to make key plays--like QB Paul Slater coming back in after a shoulder injury to return an INT for a TD, scoring the go-ahead points. Sometimes, coaches say good things about their teams--and sometimes, their teams back it up in a big, big way. STORY VIDEO
07) Rivalry Renewed
The tragic shooting that took place after the Wilson Poly football game rightfully overshadowed the atmosphere inside the stadium that night, but before the season ends we want to take a look back. A sell-out crowd, shirts sporting original logos from both teams, and an incredible sense of history as Long Beach celebrated its oldest rivalry. Poly won handily, but with alumni who graduated from both schools over 50 years ago looking on and enjoying the game, here's hoping this game is this exciting every year. STORY VIDEO
06) Poly Finds Footing
All year long, Poly fans were waiting for their teams to "look like Poly." They were waiting for a dominant defensive performance, a running game that took a game over, and a passing game that came up with big plays when they needed them--but in week ten, the Jackrabbits still didn't even have a postseason berth locked up, and were in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in 30 years. Their last game was against a Compton team that also had a playoff spot on the line, and was surely not going quietly--except that Poly "looked like Poly." They outgained the Tarbabes 2-1, dominated time of possession, totally locked down on defense (allowing just one score) in a 42-12 win that sent them into the playoffs with some momentum. We don't know where they'll end up this year, but we know that wherever they go, they owe it to this dominating performance. STORY VIDEO
05) Poly @ Oceanside / Southern vs. San Diego Section
This was just one of five marquee pre-season match ups for the Jackrabbits. The Oceanside Pirates are going for their record sixth-straight CIF Championship this season and this clash of classic, storied programs did not disappoint. Oceanside got a big play and a nice drive for a 14-0 halftime lead, and the second half was the defensive slugfest everyone expected. After Ryan Goforth blocked a punt and Dominique Williams scooped and scored it was 14-7. However, the 'Rabbits couldn't complete the comeback and came up short on a game-winning drive. STORY VIDEO
04) Lakewood @ Crenshaw / Southern vs. City Section
In the second of two Section/Section games that did not disappoint, the Lancers took on the Crenshaw Cougars in Week Zero. DeAnthony Thomas and Geno Hall led the way with a combined 204 yards and 2TDs for the Cougars and Jesse Scroggins led Lakewood with 201 yards and three touchdowns on 17-for-27 passing. After The Lancers took the halftime lead, a blocked punt gave Crenshaw some momentum and the eight-yard touchdown pass from Marquis Thompson to Geno Hall with about two minutes to play proved to be the game-winner for Crenshaw, 28-27. It was clear to see that both teams had their best ball in the near future, and this week they are both at home for the quarterfinals. STORY VIDEO
03) Wilson Wins One For Melody Ross
We couldn't write it better again, "A trip to North Long Beach has never meant more to Wilson High School. With a win over Jordan, 47-3, the Bruins clinched a playoff spot. But ultimately, that’s not even why the football game held such meaning. With their helmet “W” flipped to make an “M” and black “MR” stickers on the back, the Bruins took the field for the first time since last week’s tragic death of student/athlete Melody Ross. The week of practice was pieced together around the pain, the mourning, the vigil near campus and visits from fellow Moore League teams, and the team performed admirably." After the game, the team took the game ball to the Ross residence and presented it to her parents. STORY VIDEO
02) Lakewood Ends The Streak
You've heard the numbers a hundred times by now, we're sure. But here they are one more time. Poly hadn't last a Moore League game in 80 contests, and Lakewood hadn't beaten Poly since 1982. That all changed this year as Jesse Scroggins led his Lancers past the Jackrabbits with an incredible second half. It's hard to not compare this game with the CIF Semifinal between these two teams last year. A few turnovers in the fourth quarter changed the tide for the Lancers in the semi, but this year it was the playmaking ability of Scroggins that ended the streak and started the party in the Wood. Soaking wet from a cooler bath amid a raucous team celebration at midfield, Lakewood coach Thadd MacNeal said after the game, "Hey, no one beats Lakewood thirty years in a row!" STORY VIDEO
01) Millikan Magic Dazzles Poly
It was a just a magic night for high school football. The stands were half full when the second half started, and when the overtime period got underway it was a packed house. The word had spread though the city and every one came out to see if it was true. Indeed it was, and Alden Darby made it so. Millikan had 126 yards in the first half, 119 of them from Darby's arm or his feet. He had 176 total yards production by the end of the game, plus over 50 in the return game. After the game, after the celebration, after Poly's second-straight league loss and Millikan's first victory over the 'Rabbits since 1985, the stunned coach of the Rams stared wide-eyed at the score, and shook his head. "Did you know that pigs fly?" he asked. "Did you know that snowballs do have a chance in Hell?" STORY VIDEO
Written by J.J. FiddlerJJ Fiddler has been covering Southern California prep and college sports for the last six years, working for multiple publications in the area including the Orange County Register. He graduated with a degree in Journalism from Long Beach State and is the creator and co-host of Long Beach's one and only SportsNight, the internet radio show for Long Beach sports. In other words, JJ's just living the dream.
Written by Mike Guardabascio has been a fan of Long Beach sports since he was a kid, playing soccer, basketball, and football in the city's parks. He's been writing professionally for seven years and has published in over 25 newspapers, magazines, and websites. He loves what he does.