This version of the Battle Of The Blueprint rivalry would be the Moore League game of the week in any other week.
While Long Beach Poly and Wilson battle for first place in league, Millikan is at Lakewood where the winner will get the inside track to a third place finish and a guaranteed CIF playoff spot. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lakewood.
Both Lakewood coach Scott Meyer and Millikan coach Romeo Pellum said their teams are healthy and ready for the rivalry despite coming off of very different performances. Last week, Lakewood rolled to an easy win over Jordan while Millikan suffered a lopsided loss to Poly at home.
“This should be a great battle for the Hamilton Trophy,” Meyer said. “I like the way our guys prepared this week and Millikan is solid on both sides of the ball.”
Lakewood (3-3, 2-0) has won its first two league games by a combined score of 75-19 after struggling in the nonleauge season against top competition. The Lancers offense has come alive thanks to the legs of quarterback Gevani McCoy. The junior rushed for 150 yards in the win over Cabrillo, and 166 yards in the win over Jordan.
“Headed into league we knew that Gio is probably the best runner we have on the team so we wanted to find some ways we could create some room for him to run,” Meyer said. “In the last two weeks he’s done a great job doing that.”
The Millikan offense had its best performance of the season in the league opener against Jordan, but stumbled late last week in its 38-3 loss to Poly. The Rams are 2-4 overall, and 1-1 in league.
“Lakewood is a good tough team,” Pellum said. “They’re big up front and have a few good athletes. But we are in high spirits.”
Lakewood kept the Hamilton Trophy from 2002-16 until former Lancer and Millikan head coach Justin Utupo led the Rams to consecutive close wins. Millikan won 34-31 in 2017, and 28-24 last year.
