Segerstrom prepares for Troy before starting play in competitive Foxtrot League

Segerstrom players enter the field for Friday’s game with Arlington. (Photo courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone).

Segerstrom football players and coaches have never backed down from a challenge.

And that’s the approach the Jaguars will likely be taking as they start play in the competitive Foxtrot League in three weeks. Segerstrom, coached by Joseph Tagaloa, was in the Kappa League also consisting of St. Margaret’s, Westminster, Brea Olinda, Esperanza and Garden Grove the past two years.

As part of this year’s Orange County releaguing cycle by the Orange County Football Coaches Assocation, which lasts for two seasons, Segerstrom moves up two notches to the Foxtrot League, which also includes El Toro, defending CIF Division 8 champion Beckman, Orange, El Dorado and Irvine.

Orange is 4-0 overall, Irvine 3-1 and El Toro 3-1, El Dorado 2-1 and Beckman 1-3.

Segerstrom (2-2) still has one more non-league game Friday against Troy (2-1) at Fullerton, before a bye week then the league opener on Friday, Oct. 2 against Irvine at home.

Segerstrom was 8-3 last season and won the league with a 5-0 record. The Jaguars were 8-4 overall and 4-1 in league play in 2024.

“We were in Kappa and we moved up two leagues,” said Coach Joseph Tagaloa after his team’s 42-12 victory over Arlington Friday night. “We don’t really know too much about anybody, other than Beckman because we scrimmaged them the last couple years. We haven’t played Irvine and Orange in years, we’ve never played El Dorado or El Toro.

“It’s going to be a new experience, a good challenge for us and we’re excited to get out there and compete.”

Tagaloa was pleased with the effort of his team in Friday’s win at home.

Quarterback Noah Martinez threw four touchdown passes three to Adrian Cervantes, Eddie Anuu had two touchdowns and the defense, led by Tupu {Paepule} and Joe Garcia, had 11 quarterback sacks.

“I’m just proud of our boys, they came out here and responded after losing two tough games in a row, I’m really proud of their effort,” Tagaloa said. “Great team win today. Our losses we’ve had have been against quality teams and we just had to get back on the winning track going into Troy with some positive progress.

“We’re still working, still learning, still getting better so we’re excited. We will be ready to go against Troy. We got a tough opponent in Troy, they’re a wing team like us, it’s going to be fun, we’re excited about it, and then we go into league with a bye. We will be ready to go.”

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