Saturday afternoon will see the Cabrillo College football squad take the field at 1 p.m. against the Big Bear Jaguars, a matchup that carries the weight of last year’s 43‑0 drubbing. The memory of that shutout still fuels a quiet determination in the Cabrillo locker room.
Coach Malcolm Manuel has turned the loss into a catalyst, spending countless hours poring over film of Big Bear’s offense and defense. He says the extra study has given his team a clearer picture of the tempo and spacing that the Jaguars rely on, and that preparation is already showing in practice.
A Turnaround in the Making
Fernando Leanos, who burst onto the scene with a 300‑yard passing performance in the season opener, is expected to be the catalyst for a more balanced attack. His ability to shift the rhythm of the game could be the key to keeping Big Bear’s defense guessing.
Big Bear, meanwhile, enters the contest with a run‑heavy scheme that proved devastating a year ago, but the departure of several starters means the Jaguars will field a different look on both sides of the ball. The early season clash will serve as a barometer for how quickly Cabrillo can translate preparation into performance.
The excitement is palpable among the players, who speak of confidence and a belief that the tide is turning. If the trends from the opening weeks hold, this Saturday could mark the first step toward a markedly different outcome for Cabrillo’s 2026‑27 campaign.