With a playoff position all but guaranteed, these two league rivals battled to prepare for their respective postseason.

The Grant Lancers celebrated their seniors before kickoff and celebrated again at the end of the night as they won in convincing fashion, 41-10, over the Poly Parrots. The Lancers were coming off a strong bounce-back win against Arleta, probably their best cumulative four quarters of football this season. The Parrots, meanwhile, also won their previous game over Fulton, but it was not without attrition. Poly was forced to move up numerous players from their junior varsity team for the final game of the regular season.

The Lancers were not about to go easy on the Parrots, opening the game with an attempted onside kick that Poly recovered. The Grant defense forced a punt and their offense wasted little time capitalizing on their opening possession. Junior quarterback Carson Rinka fought through the line and scored an 8-yard touchdown to give the Lancers the lead. Three minutes later, Rinka found Liam Connolly for a 25-yard touchdown reception.

Poly was not about to roll over, despite their relative youth and inexperience on the field. The Parrots worked their way deep into Lancers territory, but ultimately settled for a 24-yard field goal to get on the scoreboard. That excitement was short-lived, however, as Rinka and Connolly connected again 90 seconds later on a 44-yard touchdown. Grant held a 21-3 lead following the extra point, and took that advantage into halftime.

The Lancers opened the second half with possession, but it took them until the midway point of the third quarter to increase their lead. On 3rd and 25, Rinka threw a pass to junior Sean Palomino, who caught the ball between two defenders and then broke free for a 46-yard touchdown. Grant then successfully executed an onside kick to regain possession. That subsequent drive concluded in a 9-yard touchdown rush from Samuel Villagrana. A failed 2-point conversion attempt left the score at 34-3 in favor of the Lancers.

Five minutes into the fourth quarter senior Israel Castaneda punched in a rush from 7 yards out to give Grant a 41-3 lead and trigger the running clock. Even with their fate sealed, the Parrots pushed until the final whistle. Their quarterback, Alejandro Ojeda, one of those called up from the junior varsity squad, broke a 37-yard run for a touchdown with 1:50 left in the game. The ensuing extra point would be the final play, as the clock expired as both teams were lining up for the kickoff and Grant celebrated the 41-10 win.

“I told the boys it’s a new season next week,” said Poly head coach Derrell Daniels, “It’s a race to win four games, if we can stick together we have a shot to do that.”

“I feel we’re playing our best football going into the playoffs,” Lancers Head coach Franco Stasili reflected after the win. “I think we’ll be a dangerous team. We haven’t had a (playoff) home game since 2016, my first year here. This team definitely deserves a home game after a 2-8 season last year and all the work they put in coming into this season.”

Both teams turn their attention to the playoffs. Grant will host the first round in the CIF City Section D2 playoffs as the eighth seed with Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School visiting on Friday night. Poly earned the #1 seed in Division 3 and will host George Washington Prep. Kickoff for both matchups is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.