Journee Tonga’s Game-Changing Play Sparks Leuzinger’s Stunning Upset Over Palos Verdes at SoFi Stadium!

Leuzinger High’s football squad is making waves across the Bay League, toppling rivals with a heady mix of grit and guts. Even after losing their starting QB, Russell Sekona, to a fractured hand early in the game, the team refused to blink. Instead, they leaned hard on their rock-solid defense and the electrifying performances of Journee Tonga, who slipped seamlessly from running back to quarterback, turning the tides at SoFi Stadium with a commanding 40-14 win over Palos Verdes. Tonga wasn’t just filling in; he was rewriting the script—scorching through the Sea Kings’ defense with touchdown runs and a striking 61-yard throw that no one saw coming. This wasn’t just another game — it was a statement that Leuzinger is firmly holding court at the top of the league. LEARN MORE

With back-to-back wins over Palos Verdes and Inglewood, Leuzinger High’s football team has vaulted to the top of the Bay League hierarchy.

On Thursday night, despite losing quarterback Russell Sekona to a fractured hand in the second quarter, Leuzinger (5-0, 2-0) relied on its defense and the play of running back-turned-quarterback Journee Tonga to come away with a 40-14 victory over Palos Verdes at SoFi Stadium.

Tonga contributed touchdown runs of 14 and 21 yards on option plays. Then Leuzinger’s speed back, Kelton Strickland, ran 84 yards for a touchdown late in the third quarter. And Tonga added a 61-yard touchdown pass. All this came with Palos Verdes (4-3, 1-1) thinking the 5-foot-8 Tonga wasn’t going to be much of passing threat. Aided by his offensive line, Tonga found holes in the Sea Kings’ defense.

The Olympians’ defense frustrated Palos Verdes quarterback Ryan Rakowski, who was ejected with 11:41 left after getting into a squabble with Leuzinger linebacker Samu Moala. The game was delayed as the officials talked to both coaches trying to determine ejections. Moala was ejected along with two teammates.

“High emotion,” Moala said. “Lesson learned.”

Those ejected can be sidelined for one to three games depending on the officials’ report.

Rakowski had 12 yards passing at halftime and finished with 87 yards.

Palos Verdes made a brief rally in the fourth quarter, recovering an onside kick, recovering another fumble and closing to 27-14 on two touchdown passes by senior quarterback Giorgio Di Mascio. But Pakipole Moala clinched Leuzinger’s victory with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. Then Tonga added his third rushing touchdown of the night.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.