The two rivals will play Saturday night in an event that helps raise money for military families and veterans.
The majority of the games have been within one score. In 2021 the teams met twice, and last season’s game was called at halftime with Poly leading due to a crowd disturbance.
This season, the teams will take their rivalry out of town, down to San Diego to play in the Honor Bowl, which raises money for military families and veterans.
The game Saturday is at 7:30 p.m. at Cathedral Catholic High School.
“It’s a great rivalry,” Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. “People were not sure how we were going to play it (this season). We love the Honor Bowl, we think it’s an amazing thing … We love the game and this was a great opportunity.”
“We’re not looking at their scores thinking that they’re chopped liver,” Altenberg said. “We understand exactly who they are. We know they’re really good and they’re young and with young teams, especially super talented young teams like they are, they just get better and we know they’re going to give us a lot.”
Serra dropped its opener against Orange Lutheran, but defeated Warren 36-0 last week, although the game was stopped at halftime due to a crowd issue on the Warren side.
“We’re still searching for our identity,” Altenberg said. “Defensively, we’ve played outstanding our first two games.”
He noted that Poly is “young up front, both sides. I think that’s where we have to take advantage.”
This is the first of six consecutive games for Serra away from home. Altenberg knows the importance of his group keeping its composure, especially in a game like this, where the players know each other.
“For the most, I’ve thought we’ve been fairly composed (this season),” Altenberg said. “We have some older guys on this team, so we should be composed. … But you know, it’s Poly, it’s the spotlight game of the whole event. I assume we’re going to have some emotions, it’s going to be a little crazy, but I need them to just play four quarters.
“Losing the last two quarters of the last game (last week against Warren) hurt us, just for our experience and conditioning. We have to overcome that.”
Altenberg is confident the Serra-Poly series will continue, possibly at a neutral venue. SoFi Stadium has shown interest in hosting high school games and the L.A. Coliseum is involved with local high school teams.
“We’re going to have something next year and we’ll figure it out,” Altenberg said. “For us, it’s too good of a rivalry not to play this game. There’s a lot of respect, history, big-small, public-private … It’s kind of neat.”
(*OFFICIAL*) Long Beach Poly vs Serra LIVE STREA.Ms High School Football ON TV Channel 07 September 2024
The Serra (Gardena, CA) varsity football team has a neutral non-conference game vs. Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, CA) today @ 7p.
🔴✅➡️LIVE➡️ 👉 https://liveespn.com/hs-football/
🔴✅➡️LIVE➡️ 👉 https://liveespn.com/hs-football/
Game Details: Honor Bowl
The two rivals will play Saturday night in an event that helps raise money for military families and veterans.
The majority of the games have been within one score. In 2021 the teams met twice, and last season’s game was called at halftime with Poly leading due to a crowd disturbance.
This season, the teams will take their rivalry out of town, down to San Diego to play in the Honor Bowl, which raises money for military families and veterans.
The game Saturday is at 7:30 p.m. at Cathedral Catholic High School.
“It’s a great rivalry,” Serra coach Scott Altenberg said. “People were not sure how we were going to play it (this season). We love the Honor Bowl, we think it’s an amazing thing … We love the game and this was a great opportunity.”
“We’re not looking at their scores thinking that they’re chopped liver,” Altenberg said. “We understand exactly who they are. We know they’re really good and they’re young and with young teams, especially super talented young teams like they are, they just get better and we know they’re going to give us a lot.”
Serra dropped its opener against Orange Lutheran, but defeated Warren 36-0 last week, although the game was stopped at halftime due to a crowd issue on the Warren side.
“We’re still searching for our identity,” Altenberg said. “Defensively, we’ve played outstanding our first two games.”
He noted that Poly is “young up front, both sides. I think that’s where we have to take advantage.”
This is the first of six consecutive games for Serra away from home. Altenberg knows the importance of his group keeping its composure, especially in a game like this, where the players know each other.
“For the most, I’ve thought we’ve been fairly composed (this season),” Altenberg said. “We have some older guys on this team, so we should be composed. … But you know, it’s Poly, it’s the spotlight game of the whole event. I assume we’re going to have some emotions, it’s going to be a little crazy, but I need them to just play four quarters.
“Losing the last two quarters of the last game (last week against Warren) hurt us, just for our experience and conditioning. We have to overcome that.”
Altenberg is confident the Serra-Poly series will continue, possibly at a neutral venue. SoFi Stadium has shown interest in hosting high school games and the L.A. Coliseum is involved with local high school teams.
“We’re going to have something next year and we’ll figure it out,” Altenberg said. “For us, it’s too good of a rivalry not to play this game. There’s a lot of respect, history, big-small, public-private … It’s kind of neat.”