BELLFLOWER, Calif. -- Josh Love painfully watched from the sideline.
Mater Dei was handing Long Beach Poly one of its worst defeats in program history -- a 30-0 loss in the PAC-5 semifinals last season. The offense was stagnant and Love wanted in.
As a junior in 2013, Love split time at quarterback with Tai Tiedemann.
Both quarterbacks had the opportunity to play in the PAC-5 semifinal loss against the Monarchs but neither had very much success trying to solve the Mater Dei defense on that night as the Poly offense was only able to muster -4 yards of total offense in the first half.
Love felt he could've done more.
"I was really upset during the Mater Dei game," Love recalled. "It was hard to get a rhythm splitting time. I feel like if I was in there more we could've won that game."
In 2014, Love believes he will do more, given the opportunity and is expected to be named the starting quarterback for Poly under first-year head coach Antonio Pierce.
Love's days of splitting time under center at Poly appear to be in the rearview mirror.
"I expect to be the guy and I know I'm the guy," Love said. "I think I'm a great leader and a competitor and I want to win."
The Poly offense is expected to be stacked with skill position players in 2014.
For starters, national recruit Iman Marshall is expected to have an enhanced role on the offense.
The wide receiver position, according to Love, is "loaded."
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In that group is senior Johnnie Rucker and junior Douglas Curry.
The running back tandem of James Brooks Jr. and Jeremy Calhoun II return as well.
All of this equates to Love being a happy quarterback and he's hopeful he'll be the only quarterback.
"It's so much better to get a rhythm when you're playing every series," Love said. "Last year I never had two series in a row the whole season.
"This year I should get a rhythm and put up a lot of points."
