Missed extra point costs LB Poly in state bowl game

CARSON – With both the Long Beach Poly and Granite Bay football teams riding 11-game winning streaks going in, one team was going to have its streak broken.

Who knew that the Jackrabbits' chances at a second state title would come down to a missed extra point?

Granite Bay (13-3) defeated Long Beach Poly, 21-20, in the Division I CIF State Championship Bowl Game at The Home Depot Center on Friday night.

With the score tied at 14 with just under four minutes to play, Poly quarterback Eban Jackson II found John Smith for a 29-yard completion. That led to an 11-yard touchdown run from Manu Luuga that put the Jackrabbits  (12-4) on top, 20-14, after a missed PAT from Fernando Martinez.

Granite Bay quickly answered as a Poly pass interference penalty gave the Grizzlies the ball on their own 40-yard line.

On the next play, Grant Caraway found Taft Partridge on a 34-yard strike, setting up a 4-yard TD run from John Cooley. The extra-point conversion gave Granite Bay a 21-20 lead with 1:12 to play.

Poly's last-ditch efforts were foiled as Aaron Knapp intercepted a Jackson pass with just under 40 ticks left.

After trailing 7-3 at halftime, the Grizzlies scored on their first two possessions of the second half. Colin Brown kicked a 37-yard field goal and Dylan Keeney intercepted a Jackson pass and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown.

Partridge punched in a 2-point conversion to give Granite Bay a 14-7 lead at the 4:36 mark of the third quarter.

Poly struck back on its next possession as Jackson found John Smith for a 28-yard touchdown pass, tying the score at 14 with 11 seconds left in the third.

The Jackrabbits' run to the state championship game included victories over Orange County powerhouse programs Mater Dei and Mission Viejo.