Long Beach Poly overcomes mistakes to beat Grant

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Missed opportunities and a change in gameplan proved to be the two keys that led to Long Beach Poly's redemptive 24-23 win over host Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) on Saturday.

The Pacers, who defeated Long Beach Poly (Calif.) in the 2008 CIF State Open Division Bowl Game 25-20, intercepted three Chaiyse Hales passes in the first half and also recovered a fumble. While those turnovers led to 17 first-half points for Grant, they could have led to much more.

"We killed ourselves with penalties," said Pacer coach Mike Alberghini. "We had a receiver who wasn't even in the play get a penalty that cost us a touchdown and we had another penalty put us out of field goal range. Just ridiculous."

Meanwhile Long Beach Poly (1-0) survived the initial Pacer blitzkrieg, switched up its gameplan in the second half and overcame a mistake-plagued first half for the win.

"We played an absolutely terrible first half, but we were still right in it," said Poly coach Raul Lara. "We told the guys if we just cut out the mistakes, we could win this ballgame. And that's what happened."

After committing four turnovers in the first half, the Jackrabbits had none in the second half. The offense also put together a pair of scoring drives and shut down the Pacer rushing game, which never got on track throughout the contest.

"If we can't run the ball, it makes for a long night," said Alberghini. "We have three linemen out for the year and we have all first-year players on the line so we are still learning."

Grant took a 17-8 lead in the first half following Poly's first touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run by Gerard Wicks. Pedro Fair scooped up a Poly fumble at the Jackrabbit 14 to set up the Pacers' first score of the game, a 10-yard pass from Terry Shine to Isaiah Adams.

The Pacers took the lead at 14-8 when linebacker Johnathan Iulio intercepted a screen pass at the 14 and returned it for a score. Charlie Vue's extra point put Grant ahead 14-8.

Long Beach Poly continued to have trouble as David Jones intercepted Hales on the first play following the kickoff. However after Jones was dragged down by a horse-collar tackle, he threw the ball at the Poly defender, resulting in a 15-yard penalty.

The penalty put Vue just at the edge of his range and his 39-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar on a line drive.

Grant (1-1) had another golden opportunity to extend its lead just moments later when All-American candidate Shaq Thompson intercepted Hales and returned the pick 52 yards to the Poly 4. However an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Grant moved the ball back to the 22 where this time Vue was successful on a 39-yard attempt for a 17-8 lead.

The Jackrabbits switched up offensive strategy just before the half, going with the running tandem of Manusamda Luuga and Wicks. A 29-yard run by Wicks and a 10-yard burst by Luuga helped set up a 27-yard field goal by Hayden Hunt to cut Grant's lead to 17-11 just before the half.

Poly continued to use the ground game in the second half, scoring on a 78-yard drive on the first possession of the third quarter. Hale plunged over from the 1 and Hunt kicked the extra point for an 18-17 Poly lead with 6:59 left in the third quarter.

The teams traded punts until early in the fourth quarter when Luuga came up with the biggest play of the game. With the ball at midfield, Luuga burst through the middle and outraced the last Grant defender, Shaq Thompson, 45 yards for the touchdown.

"I just saw that lane open up and I went for it," said Luuga.

Grant blocked the extra point, leaving Poly with a 24-17 lead with 10:03 left in the game.

Unable to get its offense on track all game long, the Pacers finally put a drive together midway through the final period. Shine connected with Adams on a 33-yard play and Poly was hit with a pair of penalties that ultimately put the ball at the Poly 6. Following a sack, Shine threw to Adams for the 12-yard pass that cut Poly's lead to one point, 24-23, with 4:40 remaining.

Poly preserved the lead, however, by breaking through to block Vue's extra point try.

The Jackrabbits were able to run down most of the remaining time, but Grant got the ball back with a minute remaining. A bad snap lost 20 yards, however, while a sack brought the game to an end.