Segerstrom varsity and alumni players pose for a picture after Friday’s alumni game. (Photos courtesy Harrison Zhang, For OC Sports Zone)
Segerstrom’s varsity football team wrapped up summer drills Friday with the annual alumni game on campus.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
There was plenty of scoring and lots of action, but the emphasis was on having fun, said Jaguars coach Joseph Tagaloa, who helped the alumni win 36-18.
“Coming out here, it’s not whether we win or lose, it’s just being out here to have fun and letting our kids see how the tradition is to come back and still be a part of it,” Tagaloa said.
“We didn’t have too many guys out here today because people had to work, but it was good to see these guys. Some of these guys I haven’t seen since 2005 (when Segerstrom opened) and 2006.”
The game was 7-on-7, two-hand touch with each team getting chances to score and achieved what it set out to do.
“This is the last day before we go on our dead period (regulated by CIF) so we want to make sure we stay healthy and have fun out here and we accomplished that,” Tagaloa said. “We got out of here injury free so that’s a good thing.”
Tagaloa, a former Saddleback High standout who graduated in 1998, had some fun. He stepped in at quarterback and threw a few touchdown passes and also caught one.
“Any time I can get out there and play it’s nice,” said Tagaloa, who played running back and defensive back in high school. “It’s fun, it’s what I have done my whole life. I love coaching and I love building these guys up and making them love the game and have the same passion I have for the game.
“Ultimately when it’s all said and done, the lessons that they learn here on the field they will be able to take for the rest of their lives.”
Among the standouts for the varsity were Anthony Gomez, Jonathan Mota and Andrew Schouw. Senior Andrew Contreras handled most of the quarterback duties for the varsity with starter Angel Vega away at a football camp in Washington, Tagaloa said.
Among the alumni players were Alex Partida, who graduated from Segerstrom in 2013.
“It was fun, we got to teach the guys a little bit of what we had to go through maybe and the intensity that we have to show on the field,” said Partida, who was a running back and safety. “It’s good to see that they have the enthusiasm that they do and they have the team spirit. Being a team is everything.”
Partida said he graduated from Cal State Fullerton earning his bachelor’s degree in business economics..
“I’m getting my first job and training for the Air Force as well,” he said.
-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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