The562’s coverage of Millikan athletics in the 2022-23 school year is sponsored by Curtis Boyer.
The562’s coverage of Jordan Athletics is sponsored by John Ross, Class of 2013.
A cloud has settled over one of the most highly-anticipated games of the season, as Millikan welcomes Jordan in tonight the day after the school announced its forfeit its four wins so far this year.
The562 spoke with Millikan head coach Romeo Pellum (now on leave for the time being) and Jordan head coach Jon Nielsen about the matchup prior to the forfeit news breaking–both coaches were tight-lipped about the game.
“They’re 4-0, we’re treating this as a big-time game obviously,” said Pellum. “It’s really about us and our mindset, not about anybody else.”
Nielsen pointed to a CalPreps projection that had Millikan coming out on top and said his team is playing free and easy tonight.
“We have no stress in this game this week, we’re not supposed to win,” he said. “We just gotta play a football game. It’s simple for us: execute in all three phases of the game.”
Both teams hang their hats on high-powered offenses, with Millikan QB Myles Jackson directing a potent offense that features multiple Division 1-offered receivers, and Jordan featuring state sprint star Jordan Washington in a talented backfield that also boasts Khaali Hicks.
Tonight’s game will likely come down to which team can disrupt the other team’s offensive flow. The winner will earn the right to be considered the top challenger to Long Beach Poly, and a Jackrabbits program that hasn’t lost a Moore League game on the field since 2009.
Millikan will host the Jackrabbits next week while Jordan will travel to Lakewood.
