FOOTBALL: Poly has started the season strong. Now, it has to learn how to finish.
By Jared Kanouse, Sports Writer
You hear it all the time; the playoffs are what really count. And as this season winds its way to a conclusion, Poly attempts to make these all-important playoffs for the first time since 2010. At this point during last year’s campaign, the Bears seemed certain to join perennial favorites Rancho Verde and recent powerhouses John W. North but ended up falling short. However, with an older, more mature varsity group, this should change.
Before we can look to the future, we must look to the past. After dropping a tough opener to Citrus Hill, Poly still felt confident heading into what was to be an easier period of non-league play. The Bears rallied off four straight wins against Ramona, Rubidoux, Kaiser and finally a league win against Canyon Springs. Poly played the undefeated Cougars during their homecoming, both shocking the crowd and placing a somber mood over the opponents’ side of the field as the game drew to a close with the Bears on top.
All of this led up to what is still being touted as the Inland Valley League championship: Poly versus Rancho Verde. Teams were talking trash over the Internet and even a little bit of principal-to-principal banter ensued. This was for good reason: both teams came into the game expecting to win and with loads of momentum; Poly with its win over Canyon Springs and Rancho had just beaten a Valley View team that continues to impress opponents.
When it came time for the game, Poly played with passion, pushing around the Mustangs’ offense and locking in the score at halftime as 9-7 in favor of the Bears. However, Poly was not able to keep this pace up for the remainder of the game and fell to the powerful Mustangs.
At 4-2 overall but 1-1 in league, the Bears were faced with a choice: either man up and start grinding out the wins necessary to reach the playoffs, or fall just a bit short like they did last year. On Thursday night they chose their path, declaring that they would work even harder in the trenches of the game.
Poly moved to 5-2 and 2-1 in league with an impressive victory over a senior-heavy Arlington, which approached this season as its final solid chance in a while to be successful. Looking forward to its Homecoming game, Poly’s football team couldn’t help but smile at the gift of a game against league opponent Vista del Lago (2-7). Poly handled the Ravens with ease, dispatching them in the first half with four touchdowns before allowing the non-starting players of the team to play.
This strong showing allowed Poly to jump North in league standings and move into second place behind Rancho Verde. Now the only thing left to do is win their last two games and hope that Rancho Verde drops one so they move into a draw. The two remaining games for the Bears are as follows: away at Valley View (5-3), and finally the season finale, a home game against the JW North Huskies (2-5).
With their remaining schedule looking more than beatable, the Poly Bears look towards the rest of this season and the playoffs as a chance to do something truly special.