Long Beach Poly beats defending national champ Miami-Northwestern 29-7<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->
From Staff Reports
<!--date-->Article Launched: 08/30/2008 08:54:16 PM PDT
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; </SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; ** </SCRIPT>If one game means anything, Poly High is certainly in the hunt for the national title.
Behind a strong running attack, the Jackrabbits trounced defending national champion Northwestern, 29-7, in their season debut Saturday night in Miami, proving the No. 6-ranked team in the country by Maxpreps.com is among the leading contenders for the honor this season.
With rain falling on the wet artificial turf, Poly ran rampant on the Bulls, rushing for 253 yards - led by the running back tandem of Melvin Richardson and Daveon Barner. Seeing how well the running game performed was a nice surprise for Jackrabbits coach Raul Lara.
"Coming into the game, we had some question marks - the offensive line and the passing game," Lara said. "Obviously, the offensive line did a great job. They surpassed by expectations. They kicked some butt."
Tackles Joseph Croom, Daniel Perez and Tyller (sp) Robinson, guards Ryan Edwards and Wilson Edwards, and center Albert Parrish opened big holes for Richardson, who finished with 124 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, and Barner, who had 96 yards and two more TDs on 18 carries.
"I'm pretty sure if you talked to (Richardson and Barner), they would tell you the offensive line blocked very well," said Lara, whose team led 21-0 following Richardson's 36-yard scamper midway through the third quarter.
The passing game, on the hand, was nearly20 non-existent with QB Morgan Fennell going just 1-8-1 for 17 yards. Lara
didn't blame the weather on his team's passing woes.
"The passing game needs some work," Lara said. "We are going to focus on that, get that going. We'd like to be as 50-50 (run-pass) as possible. I don't think (the rain) had anything to do with it. We didn't execute."
Meanwhile, the defense, led by defensive end Luta Tepa's eight-tackle, two-sack effort, stymied what was an outstanding offense a year ago. Poly gave up 94 yards rushing and 153 passing, limiting the Bulls to only a 3-run TD run by Tyrese Jones in the third quarter.
"We gave up a couple of big plays, but for the most part we did OK," Lara said. "We gave up only seven points to a team that last year averaged close to 40-50 per game."
Poly faces Newport Harbor in its next game Sept. 19.
