The562’s football coverage for the 2026-27 school year is sponsored by Long Beach Poly alums Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
The562’s coverage of Cabrillo Athletics is sponsored by the Cohn Family.
For the Cabrillo football program, the 2026 season represents more than just another opportunity to improve – it’s a fresh start.
After spending years battling some of the area’s top programs in the Moore League, the Jaguars will enter the newly formed Hub City League this fall alongside Compton area programs. For second-year Cabrillo coach Malcolm Manuel, the move presents an opportunity for his program to build consistency and compete for a league title.
“I thought it was a good opportunity right off the bat when they explained what they were trying to do and who was going to be in the league,” Manuel said. “I thought it was a good opportunity for all schools, but especially for us, just to kind of get some traction going, get some winning going, some consistency.”
Cabrillo showed flashes during Manuel’s first season on the Westside, including a hot start while learning his offensive system.
“We lost four seniors, and we return like 40-something kids,” Manuel said. “So I’m just looking forward to the growth, seeing how they really relish the opportunity.”
That experience starts at quarterback with senior Fernando Leanos, who enters his second season running Manuel’s offense. Last season, Manuel praised Leanos’ quick trigger and ability to operate the Jaguars’ RPO attack.
A year later, Leanos’ command of the offense has reached another level.
“He knows it all,” Manuel said. “He knows every single thing in the offense. Everything that we put in during the spring, he knows it.”
That familiarity has also given Leanos confidence entering his final high school season, especially after playing for multiple coaches during his time at Cabrillo.
“This is the first time that I’ve had a coach for more than a year,” Leanos said. “I feel like I’m more confident in the plays, the play calls and stuff like that.”
Leanos has set lofty goals for himself, targeting 3,000 passing yards and a postseason appearance.
“This is my senior year, and I have the best opportunity this year because of the new league — different teams, more our skill level,” Leanos said.
Senior athlete Danny Lopez should once again be one of Leanos’ primary weapons after recording more than 700 yards last season. Lopez was a focal point of Cabrillo’s offense in 2025, when Manuel utilized his versatility at multiple positions.
After producing against Moore League competition, Lopez is confident he can take another step.
“I feel like I can go through the ceiling with my goals because, in the Moore League, I had over 700 yards against some of the best DBs in the league,” Lopez said. “I feel like I can show off.”
For Lopez, showing off would mean reaching at least 10 touchdowns and 1,500 yards while continuing to contribute in multiple phases of the game. Staying healthy will be crucial for a player who rarely leaves the field.
“Just take care of my body, eat right, train in the weight room and see the trainer whenever there’s something feeling off,” Lopez said. “Stay healthy.”
The Jaguars are also expecting improvement in the trenches, where senior offensive lineman Cruz Rivera has noticed a different mentality throughout the offseason.
“I feel like this year, we’ve had a little more dedication,” Rivera said. “I feel like this year we’ve built ourselves to get stronger and have more improvement.”
That confidence could be important for a Cabrillo roster that has routinely dealt with depth issues. The Jaguars had roughly 30-40 athletes in Manuel’s first season, requiring several key players to contribute on both sides of the ball.
For Cabrillo’s seniors, the move away from the Moore League also provides a different outlook after years of facing programs like Long Beach Poly and Millikan.
“I’m looking forward to just the competition in this league,” Lopez said. “I feel like it’s a lot of overlooked schools competing with each other, and it’s going to be fun.”
Rivera kept his expectations simple.
“I’m looking forward to getting some wins with my team,” Rivera said. “I’m trying to build a good bond with my team, and I hope we do good this season, get some wins and go to the playoffs.”
The Jaguars open the season next Friday when they travel to take on Sonora. They’ll open Hub City League action against Centennial Oct. 9.
Projected Starting Lineup:
Offense
QB – Fernando Leanos (Sr.)
RB – Armon Lumpkin (Jr.)
WR – Zyair Hughes (So.)
WR – Stephen Walker (So.)
WR – Danny Lopez (Sr.)
WR – Daniel Rodriguez (So.)
T – Jacob Banuelos (So.)
G – Cruz Rivera (Sr.)
C – Andrew Gutierrez (So.)
G – Jason Kilpatrick (Jr.)
T – Ivan Hernandez (Jr.)
Defense
End – Francisco Bautista (Jr.)
Tackle – Rodolfo Velazquez (Sr.)
Tackle – Jamie Melendez (Jr.)
End – Daniel Garcia (Jr.)
LB – Dwayne Fernando (Jr.)
LB – Carter Lindsey (Jr.)
LB – Amer Hicks (Sr.)
S – Will Colbert (Jr.)
S -Jay’mari Seals-Jones (Sr.)
CB – Armon Lumpkin (Jr.)
CB – Kaydin Men (Sr.)
Cabrillo Football Schedule
8/21 – at Sonora
8/28 – at Big Bear
9/4 – vs. Banning
9/11 – at Maywood CES
9/18 – vs. Marina
9/25 – at Jordan
10/2 – BYE
10/9 – vs. Centennial*
10/16 – at Compton*
10/23 – vs. Dominguez*
10/30 – at Compton Early College*
*= Denotes Hub City League game
