Rumors began circulating about midway through this summer, that the Cabrillo Jaguars had been looking pretty good in scrimmages and passing league games. The optimism was handled with a grain of salt, and a wait-and-see attitude.

But on Friday night, Cabrillo put any doubts to rest by winning their first Moore League game since 2007, a 38-16 victory on the road at Millikan.

The Jaguars (2-3) won their first overall game in three seasons earlier this year with a 24-6 victory over Lynwood. But Friday’s win probably means more to the team, proof that they can hang with their local rivals and that the curse of the past three years is now fully behind them. Head coach A.J. Luke admitted before this season that the winless streak had been a burden and getting one win out of the way could do a lot for his team.

Now that both monkeys are off the Jaguars’ backs, they can focus on making their mark on the Moore League standings. No one is quite sure where this team fits in compared to the others, but with a little momentum and some consistency, the potential for a very successful season is there.

Of course, despite the spoiled Homecoming loss, Millikan (1-4) also has the ability to sneak up on teams this season. We’ll learn much more about both teams in the coming weeks as Cabrillo looks to begin a winning streak by hosting Compton (2-3), and Millikan will get a chance to reverse their fortune when Wilson (2-2) comes to town.