Last year the best football teams in Long Beach were happy to ride the talented arms of their senior quarterbacks, so now it’s time for the next generation of signal callers to step up for teams like Long Beach Poly, Wilson, Millikan and St. Anthony.
The Jackrabbits have high hopes for 6’3” sophomore Nico Iamaleava. He already has highlight videos all over the internet that show off his raw athletic ability and poise in the pocket. The Bruins will have a very tough time replacing three-year starter Ryan Pettway, but they could just move senior Nick Timko into the backfield. The slot receiver had a breakout season last year with 10 touchdowns on 35 receptions after playing quarterback for his first two years at Wilson.
The Rams also have to replace a record-setting quarterback in Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell who threw 61 touchdowns while at Millikan, and the Saints will need to find another one-year starter after the graduation of Lucas Lehmar.
Football
When Super Bowl LVII arrives on Feb. 12, it will be a special moment for one of Long Beach’s biggest football stars. After the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday evening, it sent Long Beach Poly’s JuJu Smith-Schuster to the big game for the first time in his NFL career.
