FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT / WEEK 1: News and notes, scores and stats on game day around the Valley and Ventura County : FIELD REPORT : Poly Winning the Numbers Game

Two years ago Poly High was among the most downtrodden teams in the City Section. Often, the Parrots barely had enough players to practice, let alone field a representative team.

But Lee Jackson and Bobby Mesa, co-coaches beginning their third season, have infused the program with energy and enthusiasm. As a result, participation is way up.

Poly suited up 54 players for its opener against Kennedy on Friday night, and another 61 players are on the freshman-sophomore team.

Compare that to 34 varsity players and a total of 58 on the two teams when Jackson and Mesa arrived.

“We’ve taken things one step at a time,” Mesa said. “We aren’t a top program yet, but we’ve come a long way.

“It’s tough enough to build pride when your team is called the Parrots. It’s great to see so many kids out for football. There are athletes on this campus and every year we get more of them.”