LONG BEACH — Back in Division 4 for the first time since its 2021 CIF-SS championship, the Poly football team showed off its skill in its playoff opener on Friday.

In an imperfect game for both sides, Poly’s talent won out as the Jackrabbits sprinted past some early miscues and held on late to take down previously unbeaten Northview 28-19 in a CIF-SS first-round game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Poly (6-5) moves on to the Division 4 quarterfinals, where the Jackrabbits will be on the road at Pacifica of Oxnard next week. Poly lost in the quarterfinals of Division 1 and Division 2 in each of the past two seasons.

Valle Vista League champion Northview (10-1) took its first loss after its first undefeated regular season since 2018. The Vikings also won a 2021 CIF-SS championship down in Division 10. Northview lost in the first round in Division 5 and Division 6 the past two seasons.

Benjamin Harris paced Poly with 90 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 10 carries. Jaden Hernandez ran in a touchdown, and Deuce Jefferson threw a 33-yard touchdown to Kamarie Smith.

Keanu Tauvao shouldered the load for Northview with 127 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Vikings quarterback Erik Jimenez was scrappy in the second half and threw a late touchdown pass to AJ Flores.

Poly held onto a 15-7 lead after a shaky first half, but the Jackrabbits burst forward in the second half to take this game the distance.

On the first play of the second half, Harris jolted up the middle for a 59-yard sprint touchdown and 22-7 lead.

Both teams traded fourth down stops before Jefferson found Smith over the top on a 33-yard touchdown pass to end the third quarter and it was 28-7.

Northview clawed its way to another Tauvao touchdown run in the fourth quarter to get within 28-13, and with just under two minutes remaining, Jimenez found Flores for the short TD throw and it was 28-19.

However, Poly got the onside and ran down the clock.

To open the game, Northview looked to get a jump on Poly, and Tauvao delivered with a 63-yard burst on the opening play of the game. After a Poly penalty converted the third down, Tauvao spun, battled and extended to the goal line for the 4-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

Poly came back with a stuttering first drive, but a huge defensive play jump started the Jackrabbits.

On the first play of the ensuing Northview drive, Juju Johnson ripped the ball out, and Jonathan Weston recovered at the Northview 46-yard line, setting up a Harris 13-yard score.