PHOTOS: Balanced offensive attack helps Segerstrom win third game in a row

Isaiah Valdivia of Segerstrom scores the first touchdown of the night as California’s Anthony Orizaba defends. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

By ALEX SUAREZ

For OC Sports Zone

Segerstrom High School’s football team achieved its third consecutive victory to start the season defeating California 34-14 in a non-league game Friday night at Segerstrom. 

The Jaguars (3-0) executed a well-balanced game plan, accumulating 228 rushing yards and 199 yards through the air by the end of the game. 

“As the game started to go on we found our groove a little bit,” said Segerstrom Coach Joseph Tagaloa. “It wasn’t a perfect game but the intensity was definitely there.” 

Tagaloa said he wants to see his team be more consistent playing hard for the entirety of the game going forward the rest of the season. 

“I felt like we got into the locker room and said all the right things and then came out here in the second half and did nothing we talked about,” said Tagaloa. “This is a learning experience, last year at this time we were 1-2 and now we’re 3-0.”

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Senior running back Isaiah Valdivia led the Jaguars in rushing, amassing 101 yards on nine carries. Junior running back Noah Tagaloa consistently broke tackles throughout the night, concluding the game with two touchdowns and 64 rushing yards, in addition to leading the Jaguars with 86 receiving yards.

Tagaloa scored early in the second quarter on a 36-yard catch and run from junior quarterback Jesse Lopez. 

“This off-season just running routes and building chemistry with my quarterback were important,” said Noah Tagaloa “It was just like practice running the 10-yard routes, it was just up to me to go and make the guys miss and I was able to score.” 

Lopez tallied 199 passing yards and three touchdowns by the end of the game. Lopez connected with wide receiver Nick Cervantes for a 50-yard touchdown, giving Segerstrom a 27- point lead heading into halftime.

“I was just putting the ball where our guys could get it tonight and they were making the plays for me,” said Lopez. “It makes it easier on all of us when the offensive line is able to set the tone for us early and I can just get the ball to our playmakers.”

Senior wide receiver Jonathan Castillo had a 14-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to open up the scoring for California. Castillo later scored on a 18-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

Segerstrom will face El Modena (0-2) on Friday night at 7 at Segerstrom. 

“Just go week by week, come Monday we have to come out again and be mentally prepared for El Modena,” Noah Tagaloa said.