In one of the most shocking finishes in Long Beach high school football history, Woodrow Wilson High School pulled off a stunning 22–21 victory over Long Beach Poly, marking the Bruins’ first win over the Jackrabbits in 93 years.The rivalry, which dates back nearly a century, has long been dominated by Poly — a program nationally recognized for its football legacy. But on Friday night, under the lights at Wilson’s home field, history was rewritten.
First Half: Defense and Grit
Both teams opened the game trading defensive stops, with Poly holding a slim 7–6 lead after the first quarter. The Jackrabbits looked poised to pull away in the second, using a strong ground attack to extend their lead.Poly’s offense found rhythm midway through the second quarter, driving deep into Wilson territory before punching in a 1-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14–6. Moments later, Poly capitalized on an interception, but Wilson’s defense held firm to limit the damage heading into halftime.
Third Quarter: Momentum Swings Both Ways
Poly struck first in the second half with another rushing touchdown, pushing the score to 21–6 with six minutes left in the third quarter. It looked like the Jackrabbits would once again dominate their cross-town rivals — until Wilson answered with a spark that changed everything.The Bruins’ special teams delivered a game-changing punt return touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion, narrowing the gap to 21–14. The crowd erupted, and suddenly the momentum shifted toward Wilson.
Fourth Quarter: The Comeback of the Century
Both defenses tightened in the final quarter. With under six minutes to play, Poly turned the ball over on downs deep in Wilson territory, giving the Bruins one final chance.Behind determined runs and clutch first downs, Wilson drove downfield — reaching the Poly 7-yard line with just over a minute remaining. On the next play, Wilson broke through for a rushing touchdown, bringing the score to 21–20.Instead of playing for overtime, the Bruins made a bold call: they went for two. The conversion was good, giving Wilson its first lead of the night — and, ultimately, a historic 22–21 victory.
