PHOTOS: As first practice nears, Segerstrom players have fun at annual alumni game

Segerstrom varsity and alumni players after Thursday’s alumni game. (Photos courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Segerstrom High School’s football team begins practice Monday with high hopes for the upcoming season.

Thursday evening the Jaguars had some fun before the rigors of the season begin, hosting their annual alumni game, welcoming back former players. The varsity defeated the alumni five touchdowns to four in a flag football game consisting of two halves.

But the event was about more than who won the game.

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

“It was great, we had a bunch of guys come back and we had a little fun,” Coach Joseph Tagaloa said after the game. “We had kids come back from 2012 and 2015 and a couple guys who graduated in 2019 and 2021, it was fun to get these guys running around a little bit. I was excited that the guys came back and we had them tell some life stories and kind of motivate these younger guys as the season starts to approach us.”

Tagaloa has been holding the alumni game for about 10 years since he became the Jaguars head coach.

“It’s been kind of on and off, sometimes we get a big turnout, we try to do it every year and we put it out there and hopefully guys show up, these guys came out so it was great. It was a good time,” Tagaloa said.

The alumni was led in the first half by Aaron Morales at quarterback, Tagaloa said.

“There were a total of five former MVPs playing for the alumni: Andrew Schouw, Nathan Tagaloa, Erik Martinez, Jalen Cervantes and Noah Tagaloa,” Coach Tagaloa said. “Two offensive players of the year, Frankie Gonzalez and Nicholas Cervantes also played alongside three defensive players of the year Julian Mendoza, Mokey Leuma and Cristian Carmona.

“Other alumni included Jason Salazar, Julian Diaz, Alan Tovar, Diego Hernandez, Diego Bautista and Daniel Sanchez. We also had a guest coaching appearance by Coach Olin Jurado. All in all it was great to see these guys get out there and compete as well as taking the time to speak to our guys after the game. I am very grateful to have such great guys come back and stay connected with our program. I’m sure next year we will get another bunch of our amazing alumni to come back and play.”

Jaguars senior Ayden Morales was among the varsity players who seemed to enjoy the experience. Players were treated to pizza after the game.

“It was fun getting to play with old teammates and old alumni who were here and getting to see the way they used to play and getting to learn new things, how they played and their mindset when they played,” said Morales, who is expected to be one of the team’s top offensive threats as a running back. “It was reallly fun to come all together as one and just enjoy each other.”

After the game, all the alumni players shared some advice for the varsity players.

Their advice:

“Just to keep in touch after high school, especially for the seniors, keep a positive mindset and keep a clear view of what you’re trying to achieve and what you want to achieve when you’re older in life after high school and in college,” Morales said. “They also told us, in high school, keep the grades good, keep the mindset high, keep the communication high with your teammates, your fans, your family and keep that clear mind in everything you do.”

Morales and his teammates open the season on Friday, Aug. 22 with a non-league road game vs. Palm Springs. Segerstrom was 8-4 overall last season and finished second in the Kappa League with a 4-1 record, advancing into the second round of the CIF playoffs.

“We will start Monday with our helmets and start to get acclimated for full go,” Tagaloa said. “We have proven through this off-season that we’re going to be a team that is built for success. We had a lot of guys graduate, we had multiple people step up and assume a leadership role and they have really shown they can compete at a high level.

“I’m excited to see where we’re at, obviously, these seven on seven things are fun but at the end of the day it’s going to come down to what happens when we have our pads. We will begin the process of going full gear beginning next week, I’m very excited to see what we can do this year.

“We return multiple guys in key positions who had experience last year, maybe didn’t start the whole season but who got a lot of playing time and we have two really good running backs (Ayden Morales and Joshua Garcia) that are waiting for their opportunity to have a breakout year, so we’re excited for them. Both those guys are very athletic and they look to make some big plays for us this season.”

Morales, who also plays outside linebacker, is a “returning first team All-Kappa League defender and has worked diligently this off-season to increase his speed and overall athletic ability,” Tagaloa said.

Another key player is middle linebacker/tight end Jullian Hernandez, who Tagaloa said, “is the anchor to our defense who is a force against the run and has great instincts vs. the passing game. He is a returning first team All-Kappa League defender as well.”

The Jaguars are also looking to outside linebacker/running back Roman Saucedo for a big season.

“He made the move to our strong side outside linebacker and is looking to have similar success to last season,” Tagaloa said. “By the end of the year, Roman was playing at a very high level flying around.”

Tagaloa expects Gabriel Vergara to move in as the number one receiver and defensive back after a solid junior season.

“Gabriel is going from a role player to a two-way starter and should be a determining factor in our team’s overall success,” Tagaloa said.

In addition, Jorge Briseno is returning at left guard to anchor the offensive line.

“This season he is going to be taking his physicality and motor to the defensive side of the ball,” Tagaloa said.

The Jaguars have some depth on the line.

“Josh Preciado and Vicente Rivera, defensive tackle, both played on our defensive line and solidified our run defense,” Tagaloa said. “This season they both look to put pressure on the quarterback and bring an active pass rush.

“Noah Lopez and Alejandro Duarte, offensive tackles, are both coming back from injury that kept them out of the starting lineup last season, but should be dominant this season on our offensive line.”

Top newcomers include Joshua Garcia, a free safety and runnng back who Tagaloa said, “has great instincts and is always making plays whether he is coming down hill to make a tackle or flying around in the secondary making a play on the ball.”

Two other new players are also expected to contribute.

“Vincent Armijo, defensive back, is going to look to shut down all receivers that come his way,” Tagaloa said. “He loves to compete and will never be out worked.

“Isaiah Gomez, offensive guard and defensive tackle, is athletic and moves really well on both sides of the ball. His pass rush capabilities allow him to play both inside at defensive tackle or outside at defensive end.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com