You might have expected to see some long faces.  Last year, the Cabrillo Jaguars went 0-10, and were outscored by 360 points—and yet, hope continues to spring eternal on the Westside, where second-year head coach A.J. Luke has bolstered his ranks, nearly doubling the number of players practicing with he and his fellow coaches.  The added numbers have meant some added depth, and, more importantly, some added size.  “I’m just happy to see that we’ve got some committed kids,” says Luke. “They’re starting to get it—they come to practice every day, and where last year I had 16 guys at this time ineligible because of grades, this year I had three.”

Luke says it’s all about changing the culture.  “We have higher expectations.  They’re going to wear shirts and ties on game day, present themselves as young men.  I’m real big on how they act outside of football—when we take care of that, the field becomes easier to handle.  It’s all about accountability.”  Last year, Luke told us at the end of the season that he’d accomplished everything he wanted to with his kids, in terms of teaching them, and helping to improve their lives.  The only result they didn’t get was on the field, which is why Luke says, first and foremost, “We need wins.”

Luke has big plans for Cabrillo—he wants to build a football team that can improve its neighborhood, and its school.  To do that, he’s going to need more kids coming out, and more kids buying in.  That’s not likely to happen if he finishes his second season 0-20—which is why he and his players seem so set on making sure that doesn’t happen. 

Their biggest advantage this season over last season?  The passage of time.  Cabrillo started an unparalleled number of sophomores last year (“We were a really good JV team,” says Luke), and those kids are a year older now, with a year of football learning and weight room sweat behind them. 

Only their ten games will determine how that progress translates on the field—but with 15 returning starters, and an unrelentingly positive work ethic and attitude, it’s easy to imagine the Jags will begin their climb back up off the mat. 

Cabrillo Jaguars 2009 Schedule (Games at 7pm unless noted)

Week Zero: September 4th

Lincoln (Saturday, 4pm)

Week One: September 11th

@ Paramount

Week Two: September 18th

St. John Bosco

Week Three: September 25th

@ Bell Gardens

Week Four: October 2nd

Millikan

Week Five: October 9th

@ Compton

Week Six: October 16th

Lakewood

Week Seven: October 23th

Wilson

Week Eight: October 30th

Bye

Week Nine: November 6th

@ Poly

Week Ten: November 13th

@ Jordan

Schedule Analysis

The Jags (rightly) downgraded their nonleague schedule this season.  Last year, the 0-10 program started off against powerhouse Edison, and finished their nonleague against Tesoro.  They were definitely punching above their weight, and they lost those games by a combined 100 points.  This year, they have winnable games with Paramount (who they only lost to by three points last year), and more reasonable opponents in Lincoln and Bell Gardens.

They’ll get Millikan early, which could be a blessing or a curse for this team—our coaches’ poll predicts those teams will be battling each other to stay out of last place, so it would be nice to see their contest come a little later.  The final two games, on the road to Poly and Jordan, could dampen the Jags’ spirits even if they do have some wins under their belts at that point, as both those teams are likely to get better as the year goes on.

Five Players To Watch:

Danovan Cruz, QB/WR/DB, junior #8

Cruz has what football scouts universally refer to as a “D-1 body”—he’s 6’3”, 205 pounds, quick, and powerful.  He was listed as the team’s starting quarterback, and captain last year as a sophomore—his development this season will be a good watermark for how the Jags are progressing.  With the arrival of a transfer quarterback from Poly, who will likely get most of the snaps under center, Cruz is freed up to move around, a role coach Luke says he relishes.  “Oh, he was happy—he smiled and said, ‘Put me at receiver, put me at safety.'”  Luke will likely use him in both places, and probably others this season and next as Cruz continues to grow and muscle up.

Tyrone Swinton, RB, senior #25

Swinton was a hidden gem last year as an undersized junior.  He’s still undersized, but the shifty, explosive little back is a senior now, with his last chances to prove his ability is big enough to contend with the big boys.  He’s also got great out-of-the-backfield catching ability, and has a low center of gravity that helps make him difficult to bring down.  The Jags need a big performance out of Swinton if they want to start turning things around this season.

Jonathan Daniels, LB/FB, #30

No high school team is complete without the contact-loving, hard-hitting, maybe slightly deranged fireplug.  Daniels is that guy for Cabrillo—”Oh, he just goes and gets it,” says Luke.  “He’s a nasty football player.”  With a developing back in Swinton, Daniels has reason to go seek contact—and you can bet that he will, all year long.

Christian Gooden, DB, senior #1

Gooden has the potential to be the big-play guy this year, something Cabrillo desperately needs on defense this year.  He’s a hard-hitter with sure hands—in other words, a perfect safety.

William Curley, DE, junior #72

Curley, who last year as a sophomore was 220 pounds with a little quickness in his feet, has the potential to be the most improved Jag this year, if he merely continues his development in the weight room, as well as with his technique on the field.  The Jags were burned often by mid-range and deep passes last year, so they could definitely use some disruption in their opponents’ pass rush.