LONG BEACH — It took more than four quarters of football for Long Beach Wilson and Paraclete to determine which of them was going to advance to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.
With the game tied at 48, Long Beach Wilson, which had rallied and tied the score twice in the fourth quarter, got the ball first in overtime. The Bruins started the drive with a six-yard run, followed by three incompletions and turned the ball over on downs at the Paraclete 19.
Wilson’s defense forced a four-yard loss on Paraclete’s first play in overtime. However, Paraclete senior quarterback Joseph Mesa dropped back and threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Savaughn Gentle for a 54-48 win in the first-round playoff game Friday.
“They never gave up in this game,” Wilson first-year coach Raudric Curtis said. “It could have went either way at the end, like you said. We didn’t get that drive. We had a couple of mistakes that cost us that big moment, but we were right in the fight and that’s what I want them to remember.”
Paraclete, the Angelus League co-champion, was led by Mesa, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 446 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. His night included a 47-yard, Hail Mary pass for a touchdown to Gentle as time expired in the first half.
That score put Paraclete up 41-27 at halftime.
Paraclete improved to 9-2 overall and will host Oaks Christian (5-6) in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 14.
“We have a balanced offense,” Paraclete first-year coach Erick Jackson said. “We have a running back that ran for over 1,200 yards. He’s a dog. Kyle Fulton is the truth, but my quarterback (Mesa) can slang it and Adrian Jones is just flat out special.”
Wilson was led by senior running back Kori Scott with 174 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, including a 54-yard TD run that tied the game at 48 with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Senior quarterback Mack Cooper completed 11 of 20 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
“We had to come prove something,” Scott said. “Even though we might not have won, we proved ourselves. People looked down on us. You can’t do that with a team like us.”
The Bruins, who won the Moore League championship outright for the first time since 1991, finished the season 9-2. They moved up to Division 4 in the playoffs after losing in the Division 9 final last season.
“I think it was a very amazing season,” Scott said. “We proved a lot of people wrong and we made history. Something a lot of people can’t do.”
Wilson sophomore running back Jemel Grigsby’s 3-yard touchdown run cut Paraclete’s lead to 41-39 with 5:19 left in the fourth quarter. The Bruins tied the game at 41 on a 2-point conversion catch by junior receiver Brooklyn Vega on his 17th birthday.
Paraclete responded with 28-yard touchdown pass from Mesa to senior receiver Adrian Jones, who finished with a game-high eight receptions for 184 yards and three touchdowns.
The Spirits led 48-41 with 3:39 to go.
Wilson answered with Scott’s 54-yard touchdown run to pull within 48-47 with 1:53 to go. The Bruins nearly went for 2 to go ahead, but after two penalties, they made a PAT and tied the game at 48.
“Kori is a leader,” Curtis said. “He’s a tried and true football player. He’s one of those old-school, rugged running backs, but he has breakaway speed. He can open it up too. He’s really flying under the radar.”
The teams combined for 68 points and 554 yards of total offense in the first half. Paraclete scored touchdowns on the team’s first six possessions.
Gentle, who finished with six catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns, intercepted a Wilson pass in the end zone early in the third quarter to keep the Spirits in control.
Wilson answered back with Scott’s 6-yard touchdown run. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 41-33 with 3:52 left in the third quarter.
Bruins senior defensive back Andrew Piggue came up with an interception in the end zone that kept Paraclete from scoring late in the third.
Wilson also stopped Paraclete on a fourth-and-1 from midfield and got the ball back at the 45 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“We are a family program,” Curtis explained. “We are Wilson. It is the age of Wilson and though Paraclete got us today, this program is here to stay for a long time.”
Paraclete began the game with an explosive 48-yard kick return by junior Jaivyn Nelson to the Wilson 48.
Mesa took advantage of short field with a three-play scoring drive, capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jeffrey Patino. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 6-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
The Spirits kept up the pressure and extended their to 12-0 on Mesa’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Jones. The 2-point conversion was no good. Paraclete led 12-0 with 6:16 left in the first.
Wilson responded with Cooper’s 41-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Thomas Jones with 6:03 left in the first quarter. It was a one-play scoring drive. Paraclete led 12-7.
Mesa answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Gentle. The 2-point conversion was good. Paraclete led 20-7 with 11 seconds left in the first.
Wilson answered with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Cooper to sophomore Kyle Harris. It was a two-play scoring drive started off by Scott’s 28-yard run. Paraclete led 20-14 with 11:51 left in the second quarter.
On fourth-and-8 from the Wilson 11, Mesa scrambled and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jones in the corner of the end zone. The 2-point conversion was no good. Paraclete led 26-14 with 5:54 left in the second.
Wilson responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Grigsby. The PAT was no good. Paraclete led 26-20 with 2:49 left in the second.
Paraclete sophomore running Kyle Fulton Jr.’s 1-yard touchdown run made it 32-20. Spirits junior kicker Oscar Rivas’ pass on a fake PAT was good for 2. Paraclete led 34-20 with 1:16 to go in the first half.
Wilson’s offense would not be denied as Scott’s 6-yard touchdown run made it 34-27 with 20 seconds to go before halftime.
POSTGAME: Long Beach Wilson coach Raudric Curtis and 2026 running back Kori Scott both said they were proud of Wilson’s historic season.
The Bruins lost 54-48 in the 1st round of the Division 4 playoffs vs. Paraclete.
Coach Curtis said Wilson is here to stay for a long time. pic.twitter.com/t1nTt3LNLz
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2025
MUST SEE VIDEO: Paraclete football ends the first half with a Hail Mary touchdown.
Halftime: Paraclete 41, Long Beach Wilson 27 in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs.
Paraclete 2026 QB Joseph Mesa has completed 13 of 16 passes for 277 yards and five touchdowns.… pic.twitter.com/BpVV1rZbFl
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2025
Paraclete football first year head coach Erick Jackson before his team’s CIF-SS Division 4 playoff opener on the road at Long Beach Wilson. pic.twitter.com/u2v201D7VH
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) November 8, 2025