The Jaguars have been getting some national attention lately with former coach Jason Brown making a starring appearance on the Netflix documentary series, Last Chance U. On the field though, life hasn’t been very glamorous on the Westside, where Cabrillo has gone 6-13 in the last two seasons and hasn’t made the playoffs since Brown’s departure in 2014.
The administration made what already looks like a wise move this year, however, in hiring longtime assistant and Westside native Mike Ulufale to coach the Jaguars.
“The majority of kids who played for me here played for me when they were younger in Pop Warner,” said Ulufale. “The kids need someone they can believe in because they’ve seen four or five coaches just in four years. I’m honored that the school offered me the position.”
It’s obvious stepping out on the practice field that it’s already made a difference. Numbers are starting to come up and the team is featuring several talented players that could help put Cabrillo back on the map.
“It’s a young team but they’re all from the Westside,” said Ulufale. “We’ve only got seven seniors in the program; all the guys live across the street or down the street. It’s a real community program.”
Ulufale has coached that way–it’s obvious at practice that his players know and trust he and his staff. They’ve also done team bonding exercises like a two-day sleepover camp at Cabrillo where the kids slept in the gym and played video games together after big meals, then woke up early for drills and practice.
Leading the way on the field is senior running back and linebacker Fesoeh Kaowili, an explosive athlete at linebacker who also has power out of the backfield. Kaowili said having Ulufale coaching the team makes a big difference.
“He knows where we came from, a lot of people were happy he came out to coach us,” he said. “A lot of people came out.”
Kaowili has a Division 1 frame and could be looking at scholarship offers by the end of the year with a good season.
Expect the Jaguars’ strength to be running the ball behind a sizable line, with Zen Ulufale, Parako Fesagaiga, Cruz Juarez-Hotaling, and Nicolas Marino among the team’s featured linemen. After several years of losing seasons, expect the Jaguars to have a good record headed into the Moore League schedule after nonleague games against Bellflower, Summit, San Pedro, and Compton Centennial.
Ulufale couldn’t be happier to help lead the program back, and takes pride in being the first Westsider to run the Jaguars’ team.
“The administration finally pulled the trigger and here I am, blessed with the program,” he said. “We’re excited about the future.”
Cabrillo schedule
8/17 vs. Bellflower
8/24 @ Summit
8/31 vs. San Pedro
9/7 vs. Compton Centennial
9/14 @ Wilson
9/21 BYE
9/28 vs. Long Beach Poly
10/5 vs. Jordan
10/12 @ Millikan
10/19 vs. Compton
10/26 @ Lakewood
Projected Starting Lineup
Offense
QB: Brandon Vasquez
RB: Fesoeh Kaowili
OL: Zen Ulufale
OL: Cruz Juarez-Hotaling
OL: Derek Reyes
OL: Jose Lopez
OL: Parako Fesagaiga
WR: Roger McMillan
WR: Marlo Fernando
WR: Arnold Giron
Defense
DL: Cruz Juarez-Hotaling
DL: Derek Reyes
DL: Nicolas Marino
DL: Edgar Haro
LB: Fesoeh Kaowili
LB: Keith Davis
LB: Spencer Cooley
DB: Ta’v’on Burrell
DB: Roger McMillan
DB: Marlo Fernando
DB: Arnold Giron
Long Beach Cabrillo Football Season Preview 2018
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