LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Poly football team scored six touchdowns in the first half on its way to a 56-7 victory over Jordan in a Moore League season opener Friday night.
“That was our challenge to the team, start fast,” Long Beach Poly coach Justin Utupo said. “We hadn’t done that all season long, so it was good to see us clicking early on.”
Poly, which had 319 total yards of offense in the first half (189 passing, 130 rushing), scored touchdowns the first two times it had the ball. The Jackrabbits finished the game with 453 total yards of offense (277 passing, 176 rushing).
Poly sophomore receiver Zion Anderson finished with three receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Anderson put his team’s first points on the scoreboard when he recovered a blocked punt and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown that gave the Jackrabbits a 7-0 lead.
“That just came to me,” Anderson said. “I scooped and scored. Luckily, my teammate Deon Jackson (Cal commit) blocked the punt for me and I had to go get that.”
Senior quarterback Deuce Jefferson completed 7 of 10 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Jefferson also ran for 20 yards on one carry.
Poly junior receiver Kymere Smith had three receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
The Jackrabbits improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Moore League.
Jordan (1-3, 0-1) was led by senior running back Marcus Williams, who finished with 75 yards rushing on 11 carries, including a 43-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Panthers senior defensive back Kymani Hill had an interception in the third quarter.
The Panthers, who were held to 52 yards of total offense in the first half, faced a fourth-and-1 at their 32 on the opening possession but drew the Jackrabbits offsides to pick up a first down. However, that drive later stalled near midfield.
“They said they’ll be growing pains and tonight was a growing pain,” said Jordan first-year coach Alfred Rowe, who is a Poly alum. “We just have to figure it out.”
Poly blocked Jordan’s punt and Anderson, who recently picked up a Division I scholarship offer from Georgia, scooped the ball up and scored. The Jackrabbits led 7-0 with 8:08 left in the first quarter.
“That (offer) means a lot,” Anderson said. “Coming up, Georgia is one of my top schools. I always wanted to go there so getting an offer is pretty great.”
On the Poly offense’s first play from scrimmage, senior running back Harry Johnson scored on a 70-yard touchdown run. The Jackrabbits extended their lead to 14-0 with 6:35 left in the first.
Jefferson threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Anderson to put the Jackrabbits up 21-0 with 4:18 left in the first.
“I just feel all the hard work that I’ve put in over the years since I was 5 is finally paying off,” Anderson explained. “I’m grateful to be here.”
Jackrabbits senior running back Tristan Ventura scored on a 14-yard run to make it 28-0 with 1:50 left in the first.
Jefferson’s 16-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jayden Coley made it 35-0 with 10:05 left in the second quarter.
Jefferson’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Anderson, their second connection of the game, made it 42-0 with 4:46 left in the first half.
Jordan will host Charter Oak (3-1) in a nonleague game Friday, Sept. 26.
Long Beach Poly will play its next league game at Lakewood on Friday, Sept. 26.
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