The ball is on the line. The quarterback shouts for the snap. Consistently putting out the fire of the opposing front, Poly’s offensive and defensive line played a crucial role in securing the first win of the season on Aug. 23 with a score of 18-15 against Herbert Hoover High School. Despite the game’s ups and downs and the overall sense of uncertainty with the first game of the season, there was one thing that did not change. Whether the ball was in Poly’s hands or those of the opponent, senior left tackle and defensive end JP Bryson remained a dominant force, providing resistance to rushers and a challenge to Hoover’s offensive line.
“JP is a team player. He is always looking to help everyone get better and is dedicated to perfecting his craft,” said freshman Mateo Rangel. “JP is an anchor to our football team.”
Bryson has contributed to Poly’s varsity roster all four years of his high school football career, playing left tackle and defensive end. When asked about continuing his career throughout college, Bryson stated that he has received a few Division III offers, which he is currently considering. Throughout his years on the team, Bryson has had an overall positive experience playing football. He said, “It’s been a big part of my development as a leader, a teammate and as a person. I think it’s a great way for students at Poly to step away from all the academic pressures and still do something productive and beneficial. As a senior now, I really enjoy getting to introduce that to the younger guys and just show them how they can be the best they can be.”
The younger players have noted Bryson’s leadership. Freshman lineman Theodor Faraon said, “JP is an excellent leader and fellow lineman. He works hard and makes sure to get the job done.” Besides his four years on varsity, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Bryson. For his entire sophomore year, he suffered a broken hand which largely impacted his game. During his junior year, Bryson faced many shoulder injuries throughout the season, preventing him from playing defense, until he was forced to get shoulder surgery, cutting his season short. Despite Bryson’s setbacks, he has many goals for this year. “I’d like to just keep on winning and ideally we win the CIF. We’ll see because the team is really different this year. I think we have a strong group of guys. We are all pretty close, so I think we just keep having fun and change the narrative for Poly’s sports.”
Bryson’s future in football is bright, and the entire team knows it. Freshman Alex Pamon said, “JP is going to do really well throughout the rest of his football career. I know this, and the rest of the team knows this, because he always looks out for the team and helps each and every single one of us get better. His leadership has largely improved the team as a whole.” The entire Poly community is in support of Bryson, and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes this year.
