Poly Parrots Triumph Over Arleta Mustangs on Senior Night

In a clash between two of the East Valley League’s best, the Poly Parrots came out on top against the visiting Arleta Mustangs 14-6 on the Parrots’ senior night. Poly held Arleta to a pair of field goals en route to the Parrots’ first championship since 2010.

It has been a long road for Poly since then, capturing just two winning seasons since the 2010 season.

“It’s a big one man, not just for the boys, not just for the school, (but) for the city…. my goal was to win league,” said Poly head coach Broderick “Boo” Williams. “The emotion from all the coaches, they’re excited man but they know the job is not done.”

A coach and a player proudly pose together holding a championship trophy on a football field at night.

It was an impressive defensive performance on both sides. Coming into the game, Poly and Arleta were seen as high-powered offenses, averaging 35.4 and 31 points per game, respectively.

Arleta forced a three-and-out on Poly’s first drive of the game, allowing Arleta to start with good field positioning at its own 45-yard line.

“I told my boys right after the senior night… it’s not going to be easy… because it’s a rivalry, you just got to get through that first quarter,” said coach Williams.

Arleta running back, sophomore Samuel Mendez-Perez broke off a 45-yard rush on the second play of the drive to reach Poly’s 5-yard line, threatening an early score.

A high school football player in a red uniform runs with the ball while being pursued by opponents in blue uniforms during a night game.

An Arleta false start, followed by Poly’s stout run defense, kept the Mustang offense out of the end zone. They settled for a field goal to go up 3-0.

A high school football player prepares to kick a football while a teammate holds it on the ground during a game.

The heavy rushing attack from both teams caused the clock to be running for the majority of the game, leaving slim margins for error.

Poly followed Arleta’s field goal up with a 17-play touchdown drive, converting on an early fourth-down attempt, along with bouncing back from a botched handoff and a 60-yard rushing touchdown being called back for holding.

The score came by way of play-action. Quarterback Alijah Ochoa connected with Aiden Elias for a 10-yard passing touchdown. Poly connected on its two-point conversion to go up 8-3, early in the second quarter.

Football players on the field with one player celebrating a touchdown while others are on the ground.

Despite the total passing yardage being low for the game, Ochoa contributed both touchdowns for Poly through the air.

Arleta would punt on its following drive after a three-and-out – a punt that would be tipped, giving way for Poly to start its possession on the Arleta 31-yard line.

Arleta, staying aggressive, forced a fumble on Poly’s first play of the drive, gaining back possession at its own 22.

A high school football scene showing an action-packed moment with a player in blue and yellow trying to evade a tackle from a player in red, while two other players watch from behind.

Two football players engaged in a tackle on the field, one in a red jersey and the other in a blue and yellow uniform, with spectators in the background.

A couple of first downs was all Arleta could manage. After a quarterback sneak on a third-and-short brought the Mustangs to their own 46, Poly’s George Gordillo blew up Arleta’s next rushing attempt for a 3-yard loss.

The Mustangs would be forced to punt after a scramble by quarterback Jesse Rios left Arleta 6 yards short of a first.

Poly would get the ball with 50 seconds left in the half, but could not muster up a quick score, entering halftime with the score settled at 8-3.

Arleta would receive the ball first in the second half. Quickly finding itself in a fourth-down situation, they could not convert the aggressive attempt, turning the ball over on downs and giving Poly the ball at their 35.

Poly’s Justice Brown contributed 16 yards of rushing along with Alejandro Ojeda’s 19 yards receiving on the drive, including a 10-yard catch and run for Poly’s second score of the night, quickly taking advantage of Arleta’s turnover.

Two teams playing football on a field, with one player in blue attempting to evade multiple defenders in red.

A football player in a blue jersey with the number 8 throws a football while running on the field during a night game, with an audience visible in the background.

The Parrots led 14-3, after a failed two-point conversion.

Arleta, sticking with its run game, marched down the field on the following drive, utilizing the duo of Mendez-Perez and Jayden Canseco to reach Poly’s 10-yard line.

After a false start brought Arleta back to a third-and-15. A pass breakup by Ojeda forced Arleta to settle for its second red zone field goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 14-6 early in the fourth quarter.

The next few drives saw Poly and Arleta struggle to gain momentum, going back and forth with a three-and-out apiece.

A football player in a red uniform tackles another player wearing a blue helmet and jersey during a game.

High school football players in action, one in red uniform running with the ball while being pursued by a player in blue uniform.

In trying to avoid their second straight three-and-out, the Parrots went for a fourth-down conversion on Arleta’s 44-yard line. An incomplete pass gave Arleta the ball near midfield with 5:15 remaining in the game.

The Mustangs, would be stumped by the Poly defense once again, going for a fourth-down conversion of their own. They failed to convert and turned the ball over at their own 49-yard line.

“They were a lot faster than us,” said Arleta head coach Bill Coan. “Our kids tried their best, their nose guard was really manhandling.”

A football player in a red uniform tackles another player in a blue uniform during a game, with additional players in the background.

A football player in a blue uniform with yellow accents runs with the ball, evading opponents on the field. Another player in a red uniform trails behind.

With three-and-a-half minutes remaining, Poly would continue to pound the ground game, reaching the Arleta 32-yard line, until a failed fourth-down conversion gave Arleta the ball back with just 20 seconds remaining.

“They never gave up…we just went with our guys and did our best,” said coach Coan

The final play would end with a sack from Poly, not allowing the turnover to affect its effort.

“We’re an aggressive defense.” Williams said. “I feel that our defense not only tonight, but all year has been putting pressure on the opposing team’s offense.”

The home crowd erupted, with players and family celebrating the coveted East Valley League title.

A group of football players celebrating under stadium lights, holding a trophy high in the air.

Polylooks to stay hot next week in the opening round of the CIF City Section D1 playoffs as the 12-seed when they face an undefeated 5-seed Marshall on the road. Arleta earned the 8-seed in D2 and will host George Washington Prep.

All photos by VST Senior Photographer Benjamin Becher