The Calhoun Final Four: Tesoro vs. Long Beach Poly
December 9th, 2008, 8:49 pm · 25 Comments · posted by Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004
PAC-5 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Long Beach Poly (13-0) vs. Tesoro (13-0)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Angel Stadium
TV: Prime Ticket
Outlook: The old guard against the new kids on the block -- and I’m not talking about the boy band from the '90s.
This game features the Jackrabbits and all of their tradition (17 CIF titles) and famed alumni (Cameron Diaz, Snoop Dogg, etc.) facing the Titans, who will be playing for their first Pac-5 title.
Long Beach Poly hasn’t played its best during the playoffs. The Jackrabbits had to rally to defeat Bishop Amat and Lakewood, they they needed a late touchdown to defeat Esperanza.
Has it been a case of a team struggling or just a hard-nosed, battle-tested team finding ways to win? We’ll see.
For the Titans, everything starts with their offensive line. This group (Evan Finkenberg, Josh Cabral, Ty Vanderford, Sil Ajawera and Brad Handfield) can block out the sun.
But can they handle the Jackrabbits' defensive stars, such as Iuta Tepa (13 sacks), Eli Edwards (five sacks) and George Daily-Lyles (140 tackles)?
Can the Tesoro defense slow down the Poly ground attack that is led by Daveon Barner (1,127 yards) and Melvin Richardson (1,306 yards)?
Long Beach Poly is a predominantly running team, so if the Titans can take away the run like they did against Orange Lutheran, then a Pac-5 title and a CIF State bowl game will be next up for Coach Brian Barnes and Co.
Will it happen?
MORE OF THE CALHOUN FOUR:
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Tesoro beats Poly and it might not be close. Tesoro puts alot of pressure on their opponents with their schemes and are quick enough & physical enough to go toe to toe with Poly. Tesoro will rattle the big kid on the block.
I am writing down the names of the bloggers who say Tesoro over Long Beach Poly, so I can create a folder of people who don't know what they are talking about. Tesoro better have a repeat of the OLu game to beat Poly. However Poly will create turnovers and pressure for Picazo and company. I getting tired of hearing about the mighty Tesoro offensive line and what they are going to do to Poly. Yea yea will see, I have heard that song and dance before. Let's wait and see.
I hear so much about how big there offensive line is and Its nothing new to poly. In preseason in their game in Miami they went against an o-line that averaged 6'3 275 pound linemen so I don't think its new to these players. you also have to remember that polys offensive line isn't far from undersized either so they practice against big linemen. I dont think picazzo had to throw against defensive backs like poly which all of them have division 1 offers. This defense is just tremendous. I have seen tesoro play and I don' t think I have ever seen them down and come back to fight and win. When I got to see a poly game I literally couldn't believe my eyes at first because they were losing then second half I see them just come out and demolish their opponent so I feel polys experience and hard nose football will be the winner of this game.
Tesoro is a class act but Poly is tried and tested. I do not think it appropriate for Papa Barnes to help the son coach this team because he works for Los Alamitos HS.
I think Poly wins in a close game 24-17- then bring on De La Salle! Now that would be a great game for either Poly or Corona Centennial. I do not think Tesoro would get the nod to play De La Salle provide they beat they will be representing the CIF Northern Section.
Keep talking David of Anaheim Hills , you act like you went to Poly and love them so very much .. I bet you are a USC frontrunner too ? right ? You'd like to think , you know how everything is going to play out ..Well we will see how it turns out Saturday. We'll definitely pat you on the back and say job well done, if Poly wins . I am rooting for Tesoro , but I am actually a Centennial fan. Good luck to you on Saturday !!..
When you get down to it, this game will come down to who makes the right adjustments and calls on critical downs during the game.This will be a coache's battle against the already battle tested Lara against the new kid on the block Barnes, who was taught by Yoda( daddy Barnes).It will definetly be an interesting game to watch,almost like a UFC battle being fought on the ground. Who will get tapped out first ?
I agree with B....this game will come down to coaching. I'm a Tesoro booster, but I remember what a relatively small defensive line (San Clemente) did to neutralize Tesoro's offensive line. In short, Tesoro's running game was stopped cold. This game will come down to the adjustments made by each coach.
I expect a defensive struggle. Then again, I expected a defensive struggle between Tesoro and Orange Lutheran too, and Orange Lutheran turned out to be one of the easiest opponents of the year.
John,
You obviously didn't see Tesoro play San Clemente or Dana Hills. Poly is a great team, but they haven't impressed me so far in the playoffs. They should have blown out Esperanza and Amat.
At this time of the year, both teams are battle tested. Though LB has been severly tested, it has passed every test. The same is true for Tesoro. Winning three in a row over Los Al, Mater Dei and O Lu is a major accomplishment for Tesoro. The keys to the game (IMO) will be: (1) Turnovers; (2) Can Tesoro stop or limit LB's rushing attack; and (3) Can Tesoro move the ball effectively against LB's defense. Depending how the foregoing play out, the team with the better kicking game may win in the end. It should be a great game!
dovecanyonfan they probably haven;t impressed you because their not blowing out opponents but from what Ive seen is the classic play of smash mouth football by this team (Long Beach Poly). I have seen the tesoro vs San Clemente game but it really didnt impress me. You have to understand the level of play poly is playing at. They may not win by a big margin but the bottom line is that they win. I don't see picazo picking apart this defense because they've been tested and answer back. Like that old saying goes OFFENSE WINS GAMES AND DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Poly will come out on top. These kids at Poly understand the situation their in and know how to play in big games and for most of their players they've been playing on varsity since their sophomore year. I see one player maker that will be the big play maker and that is their defensive ends Iuta Tepa 6'3 245 kid who has wreaked havoc against opponents and has 14 sacks on the year and their other defensive end Eli Edwards 6'2 225 and both of them have been the difference maker in most of the play off games..If tesoro O-line can control these two then they have a chance if not expect picazo to throw alot of interceptions....
IM A BISHOP AMAT FAN & I HAVE 2 SAY THAT POLY HAS A GOOD PROGRAM & EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD SUM LUCK ON THERE SIDE THAT NIGHT...MAKE NO MISTAKE IT WILL TAKE ALOT MORE THEN SUM LUCK & A COUPLE OF TURNOVERS..POLYS DEFENSE IS OVERATED & WILL BE NO MATCH 4 THE HIGH POWERED TESORO OFFENSE..LOOK 4 TESORO 2 RUN SLANTS & POST PATTERNS BEFORE THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE TEETH OF THE DEFENSE & ESTABLISH A RUN GAME..IF POLY FALLS BEHIND IN THIS EARLY ITS OVER..FINAL SCORE..TESORO 31.....POLY14....I CALLED IT HERE 1ST...
31-17 Tesoro
I'm going to go nuts if I read or hear someone say tremedous again!
Well I guess if you call ripping the ball out of a running backs hand luck.....last time I chekced that was called skills.....Mayne regardless of what people say poly wins games and thats what they do...They've played with the best of them...people say poly is not the underdog and from the research I ve done on most of the county networks everyone is againist them(POLY). I looked at some film of poly and let me say that this defense can hit. I dont think tesoro has seen a team that could hit like this. Look at these videos....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYHApJCX3xI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bope6ldzzaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F1LrSoAiYY
I never believed TESS would advance this far and now have to refer to them as Tesoro. Beating LA and Pops wasn't nearly as credible as getting past two Trinity League teams. Poly plays in a league and hosts opponents over and over at their peer level. I am a football fan and expect a battle on the field. Execution of the plan will be the difference. For the Poly men this is tradition and alumni/family take notice. For Tesoro this is new territory and if Poly pulls ahead early I expect the the wheels off of the wagon. I think this is going to be a very, very physical game and a (expletive) good game overall.
Sometimes the unexplainable happens. The Tesoro demolition of OLU was just one of those things. Like they say sometimes xyz happens! The moons and the stars were in alignment for Tesoro that night. If they expect things will be as easy tonite....they could experience what OLU did last week. Speaking of moons. Did you know Coach Barnes last game as a player for his father at Los Al ended in a first round loss to Poly in 1997?
POLY WON
20-17
Like I said poly knows how to answer bakc
Congrats to Tesoro's coaches and players as well as Poly's. Both teams played their hearts out tonite. The bunnies did it again with their defense and ground game. Preston King did an xlnt job on both sides of the ball tonite and proved once again he is a baller. Melvin Richardson stepped up big for Poly when they really needed him, again. Well worth the money!
This was my blog 5 days ago. LB POLY is not OLu, the DEFENSE can up big when Tesoro went three and out. This was a evenly matched game. But the better, more experienced team won. Poly made the plays to WIN. Not in your face, just the truth.
I am writing down the names of the bloggers who say Tesoro over Long Beach Poly, so I can create a folder of people who don’t know what they are talking about. Tesoro better have a repeat of the OLu game to beat Poly. However Poly will create turnovers and pressure for Picazo and company. I getting tired of hearing about the mighty Tesoro offensive line and what they are going to do to Poly. Yea yea will see, I have heard that song and dance before. Let’s wait and see.
Craig Says: The only rattling was knees of Tesoro when they went three and out on the biggest drive of the season, with 4 minutes left in the game. A couple first downs and Tesoro is CIF champions.
P.S. They are one heck of a team and my new second favorite player is PRESTON KING. Melvin Richardson #29 is first.
CoronaBruin: It was Poly in the clutch that came up with the key plays. Tesoro showed their lack of experience in the big game. Tesoro had great field postion 3 times early in the game and only managed 7, missed opportunity.
I don't care about USC, why do they lose ONE game to some lame team every year.
CoronaBruin I watch teams, read the paper and try to gather info. Then make a pick.
Good luck to Corona Centennial they are a special team( great QB)
P.S. I did go to Long Beach Poly '79, now live in Anaheim Hills
Dovecanyofan are you impressed yet? They don't win in blow-outs, but they WIN!!!! Long Beach Poly 20 Tesoro 17
Give these boys credit.
They do it, when it has to be done.
CARLOS VILLAREAL tell me what you think now? Over-rated? Three times Tesoro had the ball deep in Poly territory and only came away with 7 points. Tesoro's high powered offense, super QB, 300lb lineman, all-world runningback and PRESTON KING; what did they get ? 7 points on a miscue by # 15 of Poly: who let the QB get open. Poly's defense was great when they had to be. I know you remember when they shut down Bishop Amat offense after that big kick-off return in the final minutes of Amat/Poly. I guess you call that luck as well.
Poly beat everyone they faced because, THEY MADE THE BIG PLAY when they needed it. This is not opinion or rheoric it is the truth and Long Beach Poly is the PAC-5 Champion for 2008.
P.S. I do have a favorite player on Amat #45 Daniel Canales
Good luck to the Lancers.
Tesoro fan you guys have a excellent team. How can you NOT like Preston King? I think the Teosro program can only build off of this tough loss to Poly. I have nothing but respect for coach Barnes and the Tesoro family. Poly 20 Tesoro 17